Down the Aisle

Soon after I got engaged, I knew I wanted to incorporate this song into our processional:

I love Amelie- it's such a beautiful movie with beautiful music and if you haven't seen it yet, you need to watch it. Right now. This song gives me chills everytime I listen to it. Even though our aisle is relatively short, I'm not sure I can get 5 bridesmaids and myself down the aisle in under 3 minutes.

To solve this I'm thinking about using this for my walk down the aisle... maybe starting at around the 1:10 mark (so that we aren't left waiting for the song to finish when we reach the end of the aisle) or shortening the song.

Since we are using a pianist, I am trying to find the actual scores to both pieces so that she can play them. :) Thus far, these are the only two ceremony songs I've tackled. (Although we will be playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, one of Momma Beagle's fav. songs, perhaps for our grandparents & for FIL's walk down the aisle). Any suggestions for other songs we should incorporate? Is it weird that I'm incorporating two songs back to back from the same soundtrack?

Decisions, Decisions...

On Friday, I have my hair and make-up trial and I'm still indecisive on what I want the stylist to do. I'm stuck between two styles:

Low Updo:

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WB Reader Scooterdoodle

Or Down:

Overall, I want a romantic style with loose curls. My only dilemma is whether or not I should wear my hair up. I always wear my hair up... which is why I would like something a little different for our wedding. I'm also thinking that a low bun might look a little off with the placement of my veil. However, I'm concerned that if it's down, the curls will fall or it will be too hot.
My veil will sit kind of like this:

I'm only wearing the veil for the ceremony, so I would also like a style that is versatile enough to add a flower or headband to during the reception. I'm *hoping* that the stylist will be flexible enough to try two different styles during the trial, but I'm not sure if they usually do that or not.

As far as make-up goes..... I don't usually wear any and if I do it's minimal (like powder or blush). So I think I'll just ask her to do a very natural, minimized look and to make me look less pale than I normally do sans make-up.

What do you think? Any suggestions before I head to the trial?

**all photos via www.projectwedding.com unless otherwise noted

I Must Be Crazy....

...because I found something else to DIY.

Our ceremony will take place in the church I grew up in. They just recently built a new addition to house the sanctuary and I have had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to use for decor.
I wish I had pictures, but I don't. So you're just going to have to picture this in your head: the sanctuary is very open, with stained concrete floors, modern light fixtures, and a high vaulted ceiling. The aisle is very short and leads up to the alter, above which hangs a giant wooden cross .
I wanted simple, minimal decor ideas for the aisle pews. Something along the lines of this:

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Mrs. Peach's Pew Decor

And then, Miss D'orsay posted these:


*sigh*
Aren't they perfect? So... I decided to DIY some pomanders for our church pews (thanks D'orsay!!!). I used the same tutorial as Miss D'orsay. However, instead of using tissue paper, I used ivory tulle (not bridal tulle... just plain, ivory, matte, tulle- the cheap stuff).

When I bought the styrofoam, I accidentally bought 6" spheres instead of 5" (it makes a difference in terms of how much fabric you need). I haven't made any 5" pomanders yet, so the instructions I'm giving are for a 6" foam sphere.

Supplies:
6-7 yards of cheap tulle (this runs about $1.50/yard... and you know I bought mine on sale :))
1 white 6" styrofoam sphere
1 package of 20 gauge floral wire (I bought green wire and it doesn't show, so any color wire will do)
Hot glue gun & glue sticks

To make the individual flowers:
Fold the tulle in half matching bias to bias. Then, fold it in half again after that. I cut 5" strips of tulle and keep the existing folds in place. I accordion folded the tulle to approx. a 1" width. Then I twisted the floral wire around the center of my accordion fold. I then rounded the tops. Adhere each flower to the Styrofoam sphere as is stated in the referenced tutorial. I would like to note that the tulle doesn't fluff out as much as the tissue paper seems to fluff (I haven't made a tissue pom so I don't know for sure). Because of this, I think this project requires more flowers. Bridal tulle is a little more malleable, but it's twice as expensive.

The result:


What Bee DIY projects have you been inspired by?

Crowned

Here is a cake topper option that I hadn't considered before. That is, until I saw these:

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That last one is absolutely my favorite. I love how it seems both rustic and whimsical *sigh*. If I hadn't started making my cake topper (yet another DIY project..I know) I would run out and buy one right. now.

Are you having a traditional or non-tradtional cake topper?

Cocktail Napkins

....or the project that will consume me.

Remember when I posted about this way back when?

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Oh, napkin quilt, you will be my downfall! You see, I'm the type of person who, once they get it in their stubborn head that they will do something, does it... at whatever cost. In this case, it would be making napkins for our guests to be used during the cocktail hour (so that I can later sew them into a quilt).

I was originally going to make dinner napkins, but then I found out our venue would be providing cloth napkins with their fee. By that time I had already purchased the fabric, so I decided the next best thing would be to make cocktail napkins to either be used during the cocktail hour or to be handed out with drinks at the bar. The logistics of displaying them and signage for them is still in the works, but I have, at least, started the sewing process.

Without further ado.... the napkin spread:


I chose fabrics with various shades of blues and purples to go with our wedding colors. I am creating several napkins (so that there will be duplicates) from each cut of fabric. I really love the fabrics. I think this is a major factor in why I have decided to continue on with this project. :)

How-To:
I tried out three different methods of sewing.

Method 1 involved cutting a square of fabric, making bias tape from some left over fabric, and attaching the bias tape to the fabric square with the end result (as shown):


It was rather time consuming to make and sew the bias tape (it would have been simpler if I used a bias tape maker or just bought bias tape ready made). On the other hand, it would have been expensive to purchase enough bias tape for all the napkins, so I moved on to option 2.

Method 2 involved cutting a square of fabric, sewing a 1/4" basting stitch around the edge of the fabric square, and using adhesive tape(stitch witchery also works) to create a final seam for the napkins.

I first sewed a 1/4" basting stitch around the edge of the fabric square so that it would be easier to crease. I seamed one edge at time by first folding the fabric edge at the basting stitch. I then ironed on the stitch witchery above the folded fabric and removed the backing.

Finally, I folded the fabric edge over one last time so that the adhesive tape was sandwiched between the fabric, and then I pressed the fabric to seal the seam. This option was still a little pricey because of the amount of adhesive tape I would have to buy..... so I moved on to option 3.

Method 3 is similar to method 2, but instead of using adhesive tape to seal the seam, I sewed it.

I pre-washed all the fabric and then steamed it before beginning. For each napkin, I cut a 12"x12" square of fabric and trimmed the corners (this prevents the seamed edges from peeking out on the corners when you fold them over).

I used a large stitch width on my sewing machine as a basting stitch. I suppose this step isn't really necessary, but it made it so much easier to make a straight fold along the edges. After I finished sewing a basting stitch with 1/4" allowance, I folded the edges over along the stitch and pressed them so that the folded edge stayed in place.

I folded the pressed edges over a second time, pressed it again, and then pinned it twice on the top of the napkin. This helped to hold the pressed edge in place while I was sewing them.

I found that it was easier to fold, press, and pin the opposite edges first so that I could trim the remaining edges at the corners if necessary to prevent them from peeking out at the sides after I had folded them. When I finished pinning all edges, it was time to sew!

I used a 1/4" seam allowance to sew the edges in place. I used a continuous stitch and pivoted the needle when I reached the corners:

The finished front and back:

What do you think? Should I have place these at the bar to use under cocktails or should I set them out during the cocktail hour to be used with appetizers? And how do I get people to actually use them?

The Week-After-Moon: I Don't Know Where to Begin

I think my ideal honeymoon would involve a three week European tour filled with a combination of exploration and relaxation. This, however, is not possible for us at the moment *makes a sad face*. We have neither the available time off, nor the funds.

Despite foregoing our dream trip, I really want to take a smallish vacation after our wedding because 1) we haven't been on vacation in over a year and 2) after all the events of this year and the stress of the wedding, we need one.

I guess we would be open to a trip to Mexico, but I've been there, done that, and it's kind of scary over there right now anyways. So now, I'm trying to come up with some possible locations in the US (or close vicinity) to throw into the suggestion pot (Mr. Beagle is coming up with his own possible travel locations... you could say I'm just cheating by asking for your help :) ).

So here's what we have in mind: It will take place at the end of October/beginning of November. We will probably only have a few days to a week available, so we would like to spend as little time traveling as possible. We're not interested in Vegas and skiing might not be a good idea either (me = klutzy). We're open to cold or hot weather locations, but please bare in mind that we're from Texas....the coldest it gets here is maybe 30 deg. F, for like one day. We would like something that includes relaxation and sightseeing so that we can do either if we choose. Oh, and we would like to get out of Texas.

Where did/will you go on your honeymoon? Where would you suggest we go?

Alternative Groom's Cake

We've decided on our wedding cake (yes... there will be a post on this soon), but in the south, the groom usually has a cake too. From my experience, the groom's cake is usually chocolate..... but Mr. Beagle hates chocolate.

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In some cases, the groom's cake also represents his hobbies/likes/interests.

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While the idea of representing Mr. Beagle through a cake is nice, I have no idea what type of cake I would get for him. He doesn't have a sport he follows regularly, he's not a "gamer", he doesn't have a favorite team and frankly, he doesn't really like sweets anyways (weird, I know). So I think in lieu of a typical groom's cake, I'm going to set up a platter of these:

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Bunuelos. They are a thinly fried "bread" that is topped with sugar and sometimes honey. Although Mr. Beagle is not big on sweets, he loves these. He will often recall the bunuelos his grandmother made, which were very delicious. Although these may not compare to hers, I think he'll like the gesture.

Are you having a groom's cake? What traditions are you putting your own spin on?

The Other Ring

I'm not talking about my wedding ring, nor am I talking about Mr. Beagle's ring (both of which I will blog about soon!). And no, I have never been engaged or married before.

I'm talking about the other ring... my stunt double ring if you will.

Let me explain. My engagement ring and wedding ring are more or less a set. Even though they weren't sold as a set, they match nicely and look great together. The problem I have is that, although I love them, there are certain places and situations where I don't want to where them. As beautiful as they are, I would hate to hurt them, or worse, endanger their lives. While I work in an office most days, there are times when I am required to be "in the field." The "field" is not a place where I want my precious jewelry going, so I decided to invest in another ring.

Now, I know it may sound ridiculous and even frivolous to have three rings, but I am certain they will equally get the love and attention they deserve. I suppose that I could just remove my rings when I know I'll be in situations where my hands might get dirty. However, I am horrible with losing things and I'm scared that continually taking my rings off might lead to that. I have also gotten so used to wearing my engagement ring over the past year (which is really weird because I never wore rings at all before our engagement), that I feel really odd when I don't have it on. If I'm missing it, I often look at my left hand and freak out for a second until I remember not putting it on.

So, for all the above reasons, I purchased this:


It's a 2mm, white gold band and it was a relatively inexpensive (like under $50) purchase. It fits all my requirements: simple, cheap, comfortable, and it won't get in the way of doing things. I love it! And as an added bonus, it sentimentally reminds me of the rings my grandmothers wear/wore.

Am I the only crazy person that bought a ring specifically for work?

Bridal Blues

I've talked about my fear of PWD and how I plan on handling that bump in the road when I get there. However, recently, I've been experiencing feelings I hadn't expected. In a nutshell, I've been feeling really down about the wedding. I know some of it (okay, a lot of it) must come from my mom's passing, but I think there are other factors also.

Mr. Beagle and I will have been engaged for 16 months when we get married in October. When I first started planning, I wanted a longer engagement to prevent getting over stressed and overwhelmed. In many ways, it's been nice planning at leisure, but it's starting to get old. Really old. The excitement I first felt about many of my projects is gone. The thought of having to entertain people in three months is daunting. I want it to be over. Now.

I've officially reached a point where I am burnt out (and could really use a nice, relaxing vacation *hint, hint, Mr. Beagle*). I'm starting to understand just how important that honeymoon or minimoon is after you get married. You need a break to recover, just breath, and not think about anything wedding related. I think reflection is good, but there definitely needs to be some down time in between.

This brings me to my last thought: I love being creative. The whole reason behind all the DIY projects was because I truly enjoyed it at one point. I want to get back to that point, desperately. And not just because I have a looming deadline. :) I have big plans for this weekend that involve good music, some NPR podcasts, maybe a little Harry Potter, and crafts, crafts, and more crafts. Stay tuned for more wedding projects coming your way!

Have you hit a wall in your planning? How did you deal with it?

Bouquet Preservation

I haven't really decided what I'll do with the bouquets I'm making for my wedding. I'm not sure if I will display them as is or if I will disassemble them and create something new from the remnants. While searching through wedding blogs recently, I somehow came across these gorgeous paintings that are made from pressed bouquet flowers from Curly Art:






If I was having a real bouquet, I would love to do this! I think it's a great way to display your bouquet in your home after the wedding. They're so unique and you could even customize it to match your decorating scheme. :) What did you do (married bees) or are you doing with your bouquet after the wedding?

The Name Game

I think before Mr. Beagle proposed, I always assumed that I would just take my future husband's last name and, in the process, drop my last name. I hadn't really thought of the seemingly endless possibilities of creating a new name or keeping my own or even combining both of our last names.

Then he proposed. And during one discussion soon afterward, he told me that he would be perfectly okay with, even be greatly supportive, if I decided to keep my last name. (Um, how did I find this guy... isn't he great?)

The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. My father had two girls and he's the only son of my grandparents that had children of his own. I liked the idea of carrying on my name and representing my lineage. I've been known as Miss Beagle for almost 27 years now and changing my name- essentially becoming someone new- started making less and less sense.

For the same reasons, I understand why people do change their names when they get married. A marriage is a new direction for two people and from that point on, one union is formed. It's romantic and symbolic to share a last name. It' also nice to have the same family name as your children.

On the other hand, I love Mr. Beagle's last name and I really liked the idea of adding it to mine. I didn't want to drop my middle name, which was also my grandmother's name, to add his last name. So after much thought and deliberation, I've decided to hyphenate, so that my new name will be: first middle mylast- mister'slast.

Surprisingly,(or not) I've been criticised quite a bit about this decision, but not by the people who are close to me. It's the people who I don't know very well that usually ask "why would you do that?" when I explain what my new last name will be. I wouldn't think that hyphenating is that odd or unusual in today's society, but what do I know?

What have you decided to do with your last name? Is you SO supportive or argumentative toward your decision? Has anyone else experienced outside criticism?

Unveiling the Veil

When I started looking for veil inspiration, I wasn't sure what I really wanted. I had tried on a few veils while dress shopping, but nothing really caught my eye (and at $$$, I wasn't really into buying a veil anyways). While I was shopping at JoAnn's one afternoon, I decided to stop by the pattern section to look for veils. It turned out that the patterns were on sale for $1.99 and I ended up finding one that I thought looked okay.

"F" is the pattern I decided to use, minus the bow. I also decided I wanted a two-tiered veil instead of one-tiered and I wanted to add lace trim. Before I go into the details of sewing a veil, this is a list of supplies I bought (from JoAnn's, all on sale):

• Pattern: $1.99
• 6 yards of ivory bridal tulle (based on pattern): $12
• 4-5 yards of ivory lace*: $15
• Clear thread: $2

*Had I bought just lace trim, I probably would have spent less. However, since I have so much leftover (~5yards), I will use the remaining lace on another project (not sure which project just yet).

Cutting the Tulle and Sewing the Veil:

The main reason I bought a pattern was so that I would be able to get the shape of the veil that I wanted. I layed the pattern on the floor over the first 3 yards of tulle (this was the first layer of the veil) and cut the fabric accordingly. After the first layer was cut, I repeated these steps for the second 3 yards of tulle.


Instructions for sewing the veil can easily found in Mrs. Taffy's tutorial (they are the exact same as the pattern instructions). For two layers, simply pin the two layers of tulle together and sew according to Mrs. Taffy's instructions. I decided to wait until the end of this project to sew the veil onto the hair comb.

Sewing on Lace Trim:
Unfortunately, the JoAnn's that is close to my house does not have a large selection of lace trim. (I wish I would have gone to the north location first, because they have a good selection of bridal trim). Even though I didn't find trim that I liked, I did find lace by the yard that had a nice edging. I bought enough yards (see above) and cut off the edging from the lace.

I put my dress on and I held the veil to my head at approximately the place I wanted to place it to figure out if the length was right. I thought the veil was a little long, so I placed pinned the tulle about 8" from the bottom edge of the veil, using the edge as a guideline. I found that sewing on the lace worked best if I spread the tulle out on a flat surface. I sewed lace on the bottom layer first. After pinning the lace on the veil, I sewed through the top-most embroidered sections of the lace like this:

When I got to a place where I needed to start a new length of lace edging, I overlapped the edges and pinned them like this:



I then continued sewing though the cross section of lace and onto the new section. I came back later on and sewed the two sections together and trimmed any remaining ends on either lace section. After the bottom tier of the veil was finished, I proceeded to the top tier. I hung the veil from a bookshelf (so that the tiers were hanging down), and started pinning lace edging to the top tier of the veil. I pinned the lace on the top tier so that it started at the same point as the bottom tier. I then gradually moved out so that the lace on the top tier fell just above the lace of the bottom tier.

I sewed the lace to the top tier using the same process I used to sew the lace to the bottom tier. When I was finished sewing on all the lace, I carefully trimmed all the tulle below each layer of lace edging. I then added a hair comb per Mrs. Perfume's post.
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The finished product (sorry for the fuzzy pics):

Are you making your own veil? What does yours look like?