Invitations!

So, our invitations have been sent out.  (Yay!)  Invitations were something that I started looking for at the beginning because I thought they'd set  the tone for the wedding.  I got all into letterpress, embossing, paper weights, foils, etc.  As though I was some sort of stationary connoisseur.  The weird thing was that I found several invitations that were just perfect but weren't perfect for us.  Like, for another couple in another wedding, I loved them.  But they didn't have anything to do with us or our relationship.  Now maybe that sounds ridiculous; it is just an invitation.  That's what I told myself when I was trying to convince myself to settle.  But, the thing was, I didn't want to commit to something because it was just an invitation if it wasn't right.  That sort of commitment cost money, would set the tone for the wedding (at least in my mind), and just wasn't right. 

So, I kept looking.  I ended up stumbling upon onelittlem, which had quirky, handmade invitations.  When I saw our invitations, it was love at first sight.  I just knew they were perfect for Brise and me. A bit of tweaking regarding the colors, some helpful designs by the store owner (Melissa), and we were done.

While the invitations may not be perfect for someone else (the initial wedding designer we had suggested I choose something more classic -- although I don't know anything more classic than Monopoly!), they were perfect for us!

Once they arrived, we pieced them all together.  I realized that I am really terrible at spelling (poor Rob, or is it Ron?), but I can place stickers pretty well!  I'm a bit fearful I forgot to put stamps on one or two of the envelopes, but that's just distracting me from the fact that it's real!   People have actually been invited (from as far away as London & Oregon!) and in 104.6 days, Brise & I will be married!

State of our eventual union

The countdown on my phone says there are 162 days, 3 hours, 25 minutes and 5...well, around 5.5 months to go! I suppose maybe you think that's a lot of time, but I don't.  We have secured food (a pig roast), a cake (but not a design), music (his first name is "DJ" just like on FULL HOUSE!), a place (if you didn't know yet), made (kinda) this website, sent the Save the Dates (in the industry, we call these STDs!), hired a photographer (did you know that the best option I could find is from Canada?  Sorry I didn't use one Made-In-America, Granddaddy, but the exchange rate gives us a 12% discount right off the top!), I did use an American Videographer, but from Wisconsin.  I suppose it's coming together.

However, the bridal blogs (AKA Pinterest) are a constant reminder that we should be in a state of PANIC!!!! also, it's our beautiful day where everything will go wrong but everything must be perfect.  Plus, I need a theme.  Maybe video games?  What about balloons?  Perhaps something involving sand. Whatevs.  We're going to have some paper stuff, some lighted things, food, music and friends.  Plus, at the end of the day, we'll be married.  I'm hoping that's enough for everyone.  If not, there's still cake!

Tomorrow, I (Danielle) am driving from Mooresville to Raleigh to give a speech at NCCSU's Law School and then to Augusta to pick up my mother's wedding dress and then to Atlanta to meet with the lady who made my mom's dress.  Maybe she can do the same thing for me. Minus the 80s sleeves.  Or not.  Maybe that can be our theme -- 80s dance party!

Meeting Families

On August 8-10, Brise's Mom, Dad & Brother and Danielle's Mom & Dad and Brise and Danielle all traveled to Savannah, GA & Tybee Island to meet one another, view venues, taste cake & food, and feel out the area.

Danielle's parents, Brise and Danielle tried two cakes upon arrival.  After the first cake tasting, where the baker made a "mint-chocolate chip ice cream" flavored cake, they went to a smaller baker, Rebekah's Cakes, and fell head over heels in love with the cake.  We didn't sign up then because we had a next day tasting at 8:00 A.M.!

That evening, we ate with Danielle's parents at Stingray's Seafood, which was chosen because it had outdoor seating that would accommodate Bacon.  The food was super tasty!  The Signature Crab soup was our favorite.

Later, Brise's parents arrived.  They were staying at the TreeHugger, which is on the North Side of the island.  The accommodations were very nice and the pictures online are pretty accurate.

Danielle and her parents couldn't get a room for Friday night that would allow pets, so they drove near the Hilton Head/Savannah airport (a REALLY LONG drive) for the night.

The next morning, everyone met up at the third and final cake tasting location.  The cakes were SUPER DELICIOUS and there were so many flavors.  It was certainly a bit overwhelming for 8:00 A.M.  Overwhelmingly tasty.  Despite the superb quality of the cakes and presentation, Danielle & Brise ended up deciding on Rebakah's Cakes, primarily because of her customer service.

After the cakes, everyone went back to Tybee Island (about 30 minutes) to look at the venue, the Tybee Lite Shrine Club.  Despite the ideal location, the convenient elevator and the stunning views, everyone still had their reservations. 

The next stop, and Danielle's favorite, was Magnolia Grill Catering.  Magnolia Grill (technically in Richmond Hill, GA) was the first vendor Danielle contacted after Brise asked her to marry him.  They have been incredibly responsive and calming through the process and their reviews are 100% positive.  After tasting their food, especially the green bean casserole (trust me), Danielle & Brise (and family) were sold!

From the catering, we went back to Savannah to look at another venue, Brockington Hall.  Despite its obvious beauty, Danielle & Brise were disappointed by the owner's forgetting their appointment.  After a number of phone calls and bell rings, we finally met with the owner.  As the tour progressed, Brise realized that his grandmothers would LOVE the home and Danielle already did.  At the end of the 40 minute tour, the owner disclosed that they had already essentially promised the wedding weekend (April 25) to another couple.  This despite the confirmation that it was available.  Danielle even offered to reserve the place that day (on the news that the other bride hadn't confirmed) and was informed that they felt that would be "dishonorable".  Danielle was pretty upset, especially given that everyone had spent so long going through the home during the appointment she set up after being assured her date was available.  A rocky point, but perhaps they dodged a bullet!

A Brewery, an old pharmacy and numerous other places were considered.  In the end, the Shrine Club was chosen as the best place for the wedding.

The trip to Savannah ended with a wonderful brunch at the Westin while listening to a quartet from Jeremy Davis's Equinox Orchestra.  It was a fantastic way to bid farewell to our families and Savannah as we were right on the river overlooking the city!