Best Wedding Ever

The Place

2006-06-01T12:20:00.000-04:00

A month or so ago, we drove up to put down the deposit on the place we're getting married. Though there isn't much to show of the reception area as it'll be inside a tent, here's a peek at the Commodore house, which is where we're staying and where we're holding the rehersal dinner. Oh, and here's a pick of Sean standing in front of the gross pool at the motel we stayed the night before - hehe.

Graduation Day

2006-06-01T12:14:00.000-04:00

Yes, the pics are a few weeks old...but here's Sean and I and his fam on graduation day!!! It was so much fun and I'm very glad I flew back for it to be with my sweetie!

Left to right: Sean's Dad, Sean's brother Victor, Sean and I, Sean's Mom, Sean's stepdad (Rabbit), Sean's Grandma

Wedding Weight Race - Week 1

2006-05-30T10:04:00.000-04:00

From Becca:
I'd like to say that I've been trying to lose weight over only the past few months, but honestly, it's been since I started college years ago. This is all very embarrasing and disappointing that I haven't been able to do this...eat right, go to the gym seems so simple on the surface...but as I have to start trying on dresses soon, this is as good as a time as any to get back on the horse. So here goes.

Ideal:
Waist: 24"
Weight: 105

Week 1:
Waist: 29" (gulp)
Weight: 126

Day 1: Luna Bar (180), Salad from TJ's (180), banana (112), small popcorn (15), 6 slices cheese pizza (1116), coke (100) = 1703 calories
Gym: Burned 500 calories

Day 2: Luna Bar (180), iced chai (200), apple juice (180), toasted peanut butter crackers (200), 1/2 chevy's nachos grande (600), 1/2 chevy's chips and salsa (490), 2 slices crab and shrimp quesadilla (250), 2 unsweetened iced teas (0), small slice rum cake (250) = 2350 calories

Day 3: Luna Bar (180), Chef salad (270), frozen grapes (314), yellowtail/scallion roll (150), salmon/avocado roll (300), spicy tuna roll (300), salmon sushi (68), yellowtail sushi (54) = 1636 calories

Day 4: Luna Bar (180), Banana (112), Grande skim chai (230), Tomato, basil, mozzarella panini (700), chips and salsa (200) = 1422 calories

Day 5: Luna Bar (180), 3 banana and strawberry pancakes (), 4 small sausages (), teddy grams, glass of skim milk (100)

Wish me luck!!!

Food!!!

2006-05-05T00:06:00.000-04:00

The food for our reception will be buffet-style. Here is the menu:

Hors d'oeuvres:
Brie and raspberry in phyllo
Skewered tortellini with artichoke dip
Conch fritters with jalapeno tartar

Entrees:
1) Beef Roulade-Butterflied flank steak rolled with roasted red peppers, basil, prosciutto and parmesan cheese, roasted medium-rare and sliced
2) Signature Treats Boneless chicken breast served over a bed of salt air ratatouille with cranberries

Sides:
1) Oven roasted bliss potatoes
2) Wild mushroom risotto

Also included:
Rolls
Caesar salad

Invites - hosting

2006-05-02T13:05:00.000-04:00

So, I'm supposed to be doing a phoner with T.I. right now, but he's late like all hip-hop stars, so I figured I'd put up a small post while I was waiting. I just got an email from the Knot regarding how to phrase the invite. Now, I know we haven't really talked about this at all, but the phrasing seems to usually reflect on who is hosting. I know we're paying for most of the wedding, but are we hosting it? Or do you think we should put both our families as hosting it? Here are the different options the knot gives depending on what we choose.

When both sets host:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Stone and Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Greene request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Melissa Grace and Robert Seth Saturday, the fifteenth of October at five o'clock ("in the morning/afternoon/evening" is optional) two thousand and five First Presbyterian Church Rye, New York.

When couple hosts:
Ms. Melissa Grace Stone and Mr. Robert Seth Greene request the honor of your presence at their marriage Saturday, the fifteenth of October at five o'clock ("in the morning/afternoon/evening" is optional) two thousand and five First Presbyterian Church Rye, New York.

What do you think?

Mark's email

2006-05-01T18:26:00.000-04:00

Hi cutie. Hope you're having fun in DC :) Miss you!

Mark just emailed me back and I transferred the money from our acct. so we can send him the deposit for the commodore. Here are the people he made a list of for us. I added websites if they were available so we can take a look at them easier, and Mark put stars by his favorites.

Photographers:
William T. Clarke 508-775-2552
E.R. Lilley 508-432-2266
Kelsey-Kennard 508-945-1931
Russ Price 508-362-6030
Susan Clemence Crowley 508-896-1977
*Steve Baty 508-385-5677
Steven Albahari 508-896-2500
Brenda Saul Thompson 508-945-9203

Florists:
Flora D’Elegance 508-385-1800
*Positively Floral (Steven) 508-394-6590
Thayer Florists 508-432-0121
White Flowers (Amy) 508-432-5540
Fancy’s Farm (Merideth) 508 255-1949
Petal Carte Flowers 508-432-1203
Magnolia 508-790-0452
Stop & Shop 508-394-4535
Here are others

Justice of the Peace:
Elinor Slade – town clerk 508-394-8300
Royden Richardson 508-398-3053
Tim Pennypacker 508-771-0650
Dorothy Carpinteri 508-432-0404
Marie Sherman 508-394-5633
Jackie Souza- Town Clerk 508-760-6115
Stephanie Lowell 508-398-3123
*Jim Gibney 508-559-2222
Tips from Dorothy and Royden

Transportation:
East Coast Limousine 508-430-0666
*Cape Destinations 508-760-2555
Allen Rodday 508-896-3544
White Tie Limo 508-563-9773

Salon:
Heather’s Hairport Salon and Spa 508-430-1617 - this place looks reasonably priced, though I would want to see their books of course
Your Reflection 385-0095
E-gadz! 398-8055

Bands, Disc Jockeys:
Tom Tuttle 580-255-1141
Keith Lemire580-833-0054
The Music Company580-432-8386
Reggie O’Keefe 580-790-3866
*Joe Depuis 508-759-7986
Bruce Smith 508-548-2435
Sister Spin 508-548-9665

Here are other choices for all categories
more choices

Checklist

2006-05-01T13:07:00.000-04:00

The good news is it looks like we're ahead of schedule. The bad news is there's a ton to do, but I'm looking forward to doing it with you. Here's a checklist based on some wedding sites. Please update and revise if there's anything you think we're missing.

An X indicates the event has been taken care of.

12+ months (June 23rd and prior):
X- Begin envisioning your wedding
X- Decide on a budget
X- Begin interviewing wedding consultants
- Pick your preferences for wedding date and time
- Think about the gown

9-11 months (June 23rd to September 23rd):
X- Book reception/ceremony site
X- Start notebook/file to keep all paperwork in one place
X- Choose wedding party
X- Decide on color scheme
- Have engagement photos taken (are we too far past this?)
- Get ready for engagement party (should we have another or is this silly?)
- Finalize guest list
- Start auditioning DJs
- Set up meetings with florists
- Find officiant and discuss ceremony structure with them
- Interview and get price lists from photographers
- Book DJ, sign contract, send deposit
- Select gown

6-8 months (September 23rd to December 23rd):
- Register for gifts (we really need to update this)
- Think about how I want to do my hair
- Reserve photographer, decide on package, sign contract, send deposit
- Select bridesmaid dresses (I'm not really worrying about this yet as I'm doing them a little differently)
- Reserve florist, send deposit
- Let best man and maid of honor know when you expect of them by providing them with a list of duties
- Send save the date cards to guests b/c the location requires travel (include hotel reservation, city/travel information)
- Select cake design and inform baker
- Order gown
- Plan rehearsal dinner (usually we don't host it - should I ask my parents to host it - esp. if we're asking them to pay for it...)
- Finalize invitation wording and design
- Finalize menu and service details
- Order invitations (order extra envelopes in case we screw up writing them out)
- Purchase wedding insurance

4-5 months (December 23rd to February 23rd):
- Decide on floral scheme, negotiate prices, sign contract with florist
- Decide on where you are getting your kilt, shoes, etc. from
- Book honeymoon

2-3 months (February 23rd to March 23rd):
- Give groomsmen the information they need to reserve their kilts
- Get kilt (or sign contract to have it sent to you on appropriate day) and accessories
- Make sure bridesmaids have picked up their dresses and accessories
- Purchase wedding bands and send them to be engraved
- Decide on ceremony decorations
- Make or buy favors (allow extra time for custom-made favors)
- Send invitations
- Talk to people who we want to have do a performance or read at the ceremony
- Confirm delivery date for gown and schedule fittings
- Arrange for insurance polices to include spouse
- Get anything needed for international honeymoon (vaccinations, etc.)
- Arrange transportation to airport
- Provide guest list to bridesmaids for bridal shower

6 weeks (April 23rd to May 12th):
- Update registry as gifts come in
- Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests
- Purchase veil and shoes
- Write vows and ceremony program
- Submit wedding announcement to newspapers
- Buy guest book and nice pen
- Research marriage license requirements
- Make an appointment to visit hairstylist with veil
- Attend bachelor party (write thank-you to best man)
- Buy gifts for attendants
- Attend final gown fitting

3-4 weeks (May 13th to June 2nd):
- Send rehersal dinner invites (can we include these with the regular invites?)
- Do trial runs of hair and makeup
- Schedule wedding day beauty appts.
- Print ceremony programs
- Get marriage license
- Confirm honeymoon reservations
- Wrap all gifts for wedding party and write notes to each attendant
- Have follow-up phone call or meeting with officiant to go over timing and details
- Pick up wedding wrings and check engravings
- Make sure renter's insurance covers rings and gifts
- Work on list of songs for DJ
- Sit for bridal portrait if doing one
- Do paperwork for name change
- Work out wedding day timing (where the wedding party will dress, etc.) and draw up schedule
- Make sure I have my garter and "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"
- Contact wedding party to relay critical information related to rehearsal and wedding
- Pick up gown
- Get a head start on thank-you notes
- Finalize any special preferences, readings, or ceremony details in writing with officiant

1-2 weeks (June 3rd to June 16th):
- Give final head count to Mark
- Pick up veil and headpiece
- Plan party or go out for cocktails to thank attendants for helping
- Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for wedding or rehersal dinner
- Determine order of receiving line if we're having one
- Determine wedding day assignments for wedding party and make lists/info sheets for them
- Put together seating plan for reception and give to Mark
- Make place cards
- Confirm delivery times, location, and final arrangement count with florist
- Touch base with officiant and give them rehearsal details and wedding schedule
- Try on kilt
- Fax transportation provides schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day
- Confirm all final payment amounts with vendors
- Pack for honeymoon
- Confirm location, date, and time with photographer and must take photo list

Day before:
- Give parents gifts to thank them
- Confirm with people who we expect to give/lead toasts and reception
- Arrange for bridesmaid to pick up wedding dress and other personal belongings after we leave for airport
- Rehearse ceremony with officiant and wedding party
- Confirm honeymoon plans
- Pull together gown, veil, shoes, garter and emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, mints, etc.)
- Drop off favors, guest book, and pen at reception site

Day of:
- Give each other wedding gifts
- Thank parents

After wedding:
- Make sure all vendor bills have been paid in full
- Arrange for gown and bouquet to be preserved
- Write thank-you notes
- Take film to be developed
- Freeze top layer of cake to be eaten at first anniversary

"You Can Call Me Flower..."

2006-05-01T13:03:00.000-04:00

I couldn't resist. The skunk from Bambi was just too cute.

The bouquet I would like is made of sweet peas and sweet akito roses. I'm not sure how much it will run, as we'll have to call around once Mark provides us with that list, but I looked at the knot and wedding channel to get an idea of where we'll need flowers.

Bride's bouquet
Tossing bouquet
Bridesmaid bouquets
Groom and Groomsmen Boutonnieres
Additional boutonniers and corsages (grandparents, special people)
Reception decorations (flowers at gift table, guest book table, buffet tables, reception doors)
Ceremony decorations (arch decoration, aisle decorations)

I'd love to have flowers along the ceremony walkway. They don't have to be rose petals (um, expensive!) but some petals. What do you think?

Guest List

2006-04-28T08:02:00.000-04:00

I had a really fun time with you after work last night. That Pathmark, wow! Ok, admittedly, I feel a little silly getting so excited about a grocery store, but it is neat to have a nice one in the area.

Love you!

I wanted to post our guest list as it stands right now.

YOUR INVITEES: (7 family, __ friends +__ Guests) = __
David Merin +1
Victor Linderme +1
J Ganson +1
Rich Moffit +1
Mom
Dad
Rabbit
Grandma
Uncle Eddie Grogan
Aunt Mary Grogan
Michael Grogan
Carlos Gallostra
Chris Keithley
Bert Reynolds +1
Sam Lee
CJ Santinello +1
Bradford Voegli
Cesar Kuriyama
Damion
Isaac Platinski
Jomo Dixon
Shoeneck Shoaf
Tommy Agriodimus
Craig Farley +1
Ellen Farley +1
Jason Fumian +1
Vipin Varghese +1
JP Delaney +1
Brian O'Dwyer +1
Charlie Pikel +1
Ken Rego
Rosa Fallon
Dana Morse
David Czyprena
Brian Lashway (from home)
Jen Shaplin
Jen LaMariana
Beth Fiore

MY INVITEES (25 family, 40 friends + 29 guests) = 93 (starred likely to come...54)
*Jessica Gauthier +1
*Kristina Hicks +1
*Stefanie Linderme +1
*Kristin Coronado +1
*Mom
*Dad
*Aunt Chris
*Uncle Jim
*Nana
*Pop
*Baba
*Pa
Uncle Terry
Aunt Susan
Aunt Linda
Uncle Henry
Henry +1
*Aunt Inga +2
*Uncle Bob
*Aunt Judy
*Uncle David
Alison Swanner
Lauren Swanner
Josh Swanner
Sam Crosby
Aunt Marcie
Uncle Jim Davenport
Uncle Don Glor +1
Flax Glor
John + 3
*Dustin Lee
*Chris Mulvey
Jeremiah Neal
Annette Keane
*Ryan Ellis +1
*Walter Lee +1
*John Brooks
Luis Aldana
*Matt Van Nuys
*Libe Goad +1
*Jason Buhrmester +1
*Beatrice Basan +1
*Matt Neatock +1
*Ray Franklin
*John McGreevey +1
Tibor CseleyL
Matt Schneiderman
*Kirk Miller
*Cara Shultz +1
Laura Leu
Samantha Judge +1
*Jonathan Stern +1
*Cary Lovejoy
Phil Berry
Adam Tucker
Sam Kohlenberg
Vanessa Jackson
Stephen Rosenquist
*Zach Nederlander
*Nick Wasserman
*Holly Owen +1
*Zac Springer +1
Michael Jerris +3
*Peter Bloch +1
Barbara Rice-Thompson +1
Courtney Eltringham +1

Hmm...

2006-04-27T09:53:00.000-04:00

So for the 12 hours or so, I've been thinking, I know that it would be nice for the guests to be able to hear our vows, but I think that the microphones take away from the intimacy of the situation. Do you take this man to be your husband (you hand me the mic) "I do." Um...yeah. I don't know about that. What do you think?

Nice idea

2006-04-26T14:13:00.000-04:00

I'd like to have a guestbook for people to sign so they can leave notes and we can read back through it years later and smile at the things they say. What do you think?

Screw the budget! Let them eat cake!

2006-04-26T13:52:00.000-04:00

Talking about the budget too much is boring and can be depressing, so I'm going to post on our blog about something we both love. CAKE! Here are some pics of cakes I like. I can't wait to see what cakes you post, my darling! Oh, and sorry if I'm getting carried away with posting (hee) it's just well, I'm the bride and we're obsessive (though I don't think I'll go the Bridezilla route...) and I'm all excited! yippee!

What I am quickly learning from searching for pics of wedding cakes is that a lot of people like cakes that are ugly or just dumb looking. Somehow, I'm not surprised...but I'm half tempted to post pics of god-awful cakes instead of ones I like...::grin:: However, I bet since you draw so well we could combine different elements together into one cake and draw it for the designer and see if they can put it together.

Oh, here's an Irish cake tradition I'm glad we're not following! Ewwww!!!!
"Fruitcakes are also popular in Ireland and Scotland, where the heady, three-tiered confection is laced with bourbon, brandy, or whiskey and each layer is spread with almond paste."

I was just looking at ways to personalize cakes - and someone suggested using a special tablecloth. What if I knitted up something for that day? (personalized coffee cozies for favors, or that tablecloth...or something else entirely?)

What kind of filling would you like?

And finally...the cakes themselves.

Budget

2006-04-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

Hey babe. I bet you can come up with a better way to organize this here budget, but here's what I've got so far. Feel free to come in here and edit.

Ceremony:
Site Fee 14825 ($1200 paid)
Officiant Fee 175
Marriage license 40
Subtotal:

Reception:
Drinks (bartenders) 1380
Placecards
Table decorations (betas)
Subtotal:

My Stuff:
Gown, accessories, hair, makeup 3000
My ring 1600
Bridesmaids hair, makeup 600
Bridesmaid favors
Subtotal:

Your Stuff:
Kilt rental
Your ring (platinum) 1100-1500
Groomsmen favors
Subtotal:

Other:
Invitations/save the date cards 500
Flowers/arch decorations 1000
DJ 550
Photography 1500
Subtotal: 3550

Total so far: 26170 - 26670 ($1000 of which we don't have to worry about)

Items we need to determine how much we want to spend:
Bridesmaid favors (I have no idea.)
Groomsmen favors (dirks)
Kilt rental (http://www.irishtartans.com/ is renting them for $125/day. You'd still have to buy shoes ($125) and socks ($10), but it looks like everything else in included)
Place cards (or whatever we use)
Table decorations
Transportation to airport
Rehersal dinner (maybe I'll ask my parents if they can handle this)

Where do you think we can cut back on costs? One of the big expenses is the Commodore house, but I know we both want that, so that's ok.

Here are places we might be able to cut back on.
- I'm wondering if it will really cost $150/bridesmaid to get them mani-pedis, hair and makeup. That seems a bit steep.
- Will all the paper stuff (program, invites, save the date cards, etc) cost $500? This is something we can really look at now.
- We need to ask Mark if the minister fee includes the marriage license.
- I don't think I'm going to be able to get my hair, makeup, shoes, bag, veil, dress, etc. for less than $3000 but I'll certainly try. However, my ring, is expensive. I need to talk to little kings to see if they can do it for less. If not, maybe I should pick a different ring.

A theme by any other name...

2006-04-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

Hey baby,

What's our theme? Are we going with happily ever after or fairy tale?

My idea from this morning:
buying colognes/perfumes to wear on our wedding day that are different from what we usually wear, but still sexy to the other person.

Here's a pic of a cupcake that inspired me - maybe there's a cake idea lurking in here somewhere?

Cute pics of the happy couple

2006-04-24T15:12:00.000-04:00

:)

2006-04-24T13:30:00.000-04:00

I love you, Sean! I had such a great weekend with you up at the Corsair and Crossrip. Good drives, good getting out of the city, and yummy yummy pancakes. Love you lil' bunny fluff fluff!

xo
Becca