any good ideas for groomsman gifts that aren't a beer mug, flask, or pocket knife? My sister is wondering because she is getting married in 2 months. Send ideas!!!

5/26/2010 10:31:27 PM

Yikes. The Seven place looks cold and unfriendly.

5/26/2010 10:48:44 PM

^^how about cigars?

thats kinda an iffy one though b/c not everyone likes cigars

and this place has a lot of choices!
http://www.findgift.com/Categories/Bridal-Party/Groomsmen/
i just googled it though so i can't vouch if it's any good or not

5/26/2010 10:52:01 PM

My fiance mentioned getting his groomsmen tickets to go do something together that they all enjoy like sporting events. I think it's a great idea. I can have my girls over for a sweet little brunch and he can take his guys to watch hockey and get smashed.

5/26/2010 11:15:55 PM

We're doing ties from this shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/toybreaker

5/27/2010 12:11:04 AM

my bf got monogrammed glass pint glasses fro a groom's gift. a set, i mean. they're really pretty.

OH AND ALSO FOR DJS - tschudi just did a wedding and can provide you with great references and a guaranteed lower quote than 2000 dollars. i can pretty much say with confidence it would be well under 1000. he is new at weddings but he can provide you with SEVERAL great references from his last wedding, including the bride and groom, groom's family, etc.

and i think that seven places looks pretty sweet for pictures!

[Edited on May 27, 2010 at 1:37 AM. Reason : .]

5/27/2010 1:31:22 AM

Here's some more pics of Seven:
http://www.tellingyourstoryphotographers.com/2010/03/boudoir-story-new-location.html






I could see all sorts of funky events going on there.

5/27/2010 2:23:07 AM

I thinkkkkk we're going to be shooting for April 28, 2012.

5/27/2010 8:09:30 AM

Does anyone recommend a particular store or website for wedding bands? Mine will most likely be white gold. Not sure what kind of ring my fiance wants, but we're not looking to spend TOO much.

5/27/2010 2:37:05 PM

All jewelry queries should be directed to QTPie

Even if you don't buy from her store, she'll steer you right.

My husband and I eloped, so we got married with $20 bands from Kohl's
Then we went to see qtpie, and get real rings. When they came, I was all "Uhm...I don't like this?". I couldn't remember what I had ordered, so I called her up and was like "Can we do a return? " Turns out she accidentally ordered Z's two contenders, instead of #1 for each of us. Then the ring vendor sent my ring...in the wrong material (i.e., it wasn't her fault). It ended up being faster and cheaper to have a custom band done than to wait for the right ring, in the correct metal. The guy she uses for customer work is , should you go the custom route. Also, we had chosen very, very simple rings (because my engagement ring is quite fancy). I had actually chosen a men's wedding band.

[Edited on May 27, 2010 at 3:52 PM. Reason : qdf]

[Edited on May 27, 2010 at 3:52 PM. Reason : df']

5/27/2010 3:51:51 PM

holy shit.

rosie hardy is now doing weddings and engagements.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy

5/27/2010 5:07:43 PM

qtpie is awesome! very sweet & helpful. i haven't bought anything but i've visited the store before and she was fantastic!

also she makes pretty amazing cakes... maybe groomscakes for you ladies?? its a hobby but i will say they look professional!! hope she doesn't mind my unsolicited comment

5/28/2010 1:05:16 PM

w00t finished the invite design! Hopefully I'll have a prototype printed up and assembled soon

5/31/2010 1:57:07 AM

so I'm a little sad... it seems that UAB has their finals last week of April and first week of May - basically making April 28, 2012, a no go. I think we are going to go for 5/12/12 at this point... even though I really wanted April.. but school comes first, ya heard?

6/1/2010 8:35:15 AM

You probably wouldn't want to deal with planning a wedding and studying for finals at the same time anyway. Wedding planning is a time suck

6/1/2010 8:58:30 AM

yeah I don't want to have to deal with that during finals... the good thing is, I'll have 2 years so I think I will be A-OK with getting everything finalized by the time finals roll around. Not to mention, most of that semester is clinicals so I think I will only have 2 or 3 actual finals

6/1/2010 9:10:49 AM

I retract my reccomendation for laura manzare.

I booked her for my wedding, and she stood us up for our engagement shoot. No email, phone call, text message, NOTHING. I tried to call her to find out where she was, and she sent me an email 20-30 minutes after I left her a voicemail, apologizing, but had to cancel.

After much research, shes also high priced in comparison to what a lot of other photographers charge - and the ones I have begun to compare have more examples of work to provide.

6/1/2010 2:05:54 PM

^ Wow that sucks.

For people looking at photographers, I highly recommend being able to see an entire wedding shoot, not just their samples. When I was researching photographers, anyone who flat out refused that got the cut. Others who I thought I really liked their work, I saw an entire shoot and realized they really weren't that much better than someone who was half their price.

6/1/2010 8:00:24 PM

^ April from Evoke showed us a whole set of wedding proofs that the couple got to choose from, and then she edited as far as skin smoothness and crap like that goes.... I thought that was really great because like you said, allows you to see their style even more


OH and we are officially.... 05.12.12

6/2/2010 8:12:17 AM

Almost exactly a year after me Yay May!

6/2/2010 8:05:38 PM

if you're looking for a fantastic photographer for weddings, check out Nicole Faby Photography.

http://www.nicolefabyphotography.com/

also she has a fan page on facebook where you can see everything she's done as well. she's awesome! (and also a very good friend of mine)

6/2/2010 8:22:14 PM

speaking of photography check out this badass photo from ben chrisman (http://www.benchrisman.com/)




aaaaaaaaaand would someone like to book this guy for me please?
http://josevillaphoto.com/
HE SHOOTS FILM!!!

[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 9:02 PM. Reason : hkj]

6/2/2010 9:02:21 PM

I don't really get the big deal if they shoot film or digital.

A friend of mine that got married in 2006 made a big deal of how her photographer shot film and she spent so much money on the guy because "he shoots film."

Her photographer was this guy:

6/2/2010 9:11:19 PM

^ those are .....wow.


i'm just sayin.
film is superior because it's tangible (imo)
you don't get to take 40 pics a minute to find that extra special shot.
it's hard.
i can go to a wedding, take 4000 pictures, pick out 300 and edit the shit out of them.

film is a lost art.

and hell - it's hard to find DIGITAL photographers that are as good as that guy (http://josevillaphoto.com/) (imho of course)



[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 9:22 PM. Reason : ^that is actually a perfect example of why film is better. not just anyone can do it!]

6/2/2010 9:18:46 PM

Not just anyone can do digital either. Flickr is a perfect example of that lol.

6/2/2010 9:22:56 PM

aha yeah youre totally right
ahahahah


i think it boils down to what's important to you.

i love pictures. love love love.
i love candid pics of people.
and theres something so nostalgic about film.
and so real about it.
it wasn't a huge series where the best one was picked out.
you have one or two shots and you have to cross your fingers that it turns out ok.
i just think that is the bees knees


i would love to have some film taken at our wedding and reception.
i may have to sweet talk greg


[Edited on June 2, 2010 at 9:28 PM. Reason : -->

6/2/2010 9:27:59 PM

Quote :

"you have one or two shots and you have to cross your fingers that it turns out ok."

You'd be hella heartbroken if it didn't turn out ok at your wedding though

6/3/2010 12:42:20 AM

i think these are SUPER CUTE:

6/3/2010 1:36:17 AM

omg. more cute. my old roommate is a wedding planner and i'm stalking her pictures. this is freaking adorable:





LOVE the umbrellas


fans as programs for an outdoor wedding - cute idea too!


[Edited on June 3, 2010 at 1:54 AM. Reason : ok i'm done i swear]

6/3/2010 1:43:09 AM

I wonder what all it takes to become a day-of coordinator. I think that would be a job I would really enjoy.

6/3/2010 3:19:24 AM

^i have a friend who loved weddings so much she ended up doing it for friends and now shes made a total career switch to day of coordinator (transitioning into full on coordinator)
it does seem like fun

Quote :

"You'd be hella heartbroken if it didn't turn out ok at your wedding though"

youre right and that brings me back to my original point, being a good film photographer is a lost art.


and eeeeeeeeeeeeek.
i love these:

http://ruffledblog.com/2010/05/bob-dylan-freewhelin-inspired-wedding-invitation-posters/

[Edited on June 3, 2010 at 7:57 AM. Reason : dfsdd]

6/3/2010 7:56:06 AM

Man, if I knew how to break into the coordinating thing I would totally give it a hand. I know I'm really good at coordinating stuff, I just need someone to take me under their wing for a bit to learn the ropes of the wedding industry

6/3/2010 10:16:48 AM

my friend started out getting into it kinda like joie's friend. my friend that does it is now a full coordinator and i personally think she's really good, just based on pictures and reviews i guess. she started out doing her own wedding and ended up in carolina bride magazine (on the cover! granted she probably had a connection there, but still). and then i think she loved it so much she started to do friends, etc and then created her own business. and now couple of her weddings have ended up in carolina bride, too. she's in charlotte and i think she's gotten some good local press. i dunno its kinda cool. she works really hard though and it seems stressful!!! i think it sounds like an awesome job though.

this is her website cause i think its cute:
http://www.alysewoodward.com/

^ AND RECENTLY SHE WAS HIRING AN INTERN

[Edited on June 3, 2010 at 12:54 PM. Reason : .]

6/3/2010 12:52:55 PM

the guy i booked...

http://www.bertreed.com

he uses digital, but he uses the old film technique to take his photos instead of shoot and edit later. I have my e-session Sunday.

6/3/2010 2:37:04 PM

I always thought that funeral photography would be a great niche to get into.

6/3/2010 2:43:16 PM

http://www.blueframephotography.com

6/3/2010 10:31:48 PM

So I got the rental estimate today from my planner and PHEW is that stuff pricey. I mean I knew it wasn't cheap, but daaang! Anywho, on the topic of photographers, mine is Heather Forsythe in Charleston SC (for those interested in weddings in that area). I will post an update about her after we have our engagement session in July. She's got some nice stuff (see http://www.heatherforsythe.com/), and one of my fave features of her work is that all clients get an entire proof book, instead of the box or just online proofs. Not to mention her albums are gorgeous

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 9:44 PM. Reason : o]

6/7/2010 9:43:56 PM

for those wondering, if you freeze your cake topper after the wedding, if done properly, it really is just as good and tasty 1 year later. holy crap nom nom nom

6/7/2010 10:24:37 PM

^ that reminds me, who on here has not had (or will not have) a traditional cake? I am considering having a small "formal" cake (2 tiers, the lower at most 7" in diameter) so we can do the cutting thing, and having several different flavors of mini-cupcakes (red velvet, lemon, carrot, coconut, along with basic chocolate and vanilla). Just curious if somebody has seen/done this and what they thought.

I love the following set-ups:




This is more like how ours would be set-up if we did this (not pink and yellow though):



And pretty much all the ones here: http://eventsbyevonne.blogspot.com/2007/09/wedding-cakes-mini-cakes-and-cupcakes.html

6/8/2010 8:26:18 AM

I was trying to convince Eric to do that but he's all gung ho about a traditional cake (well, not really the way it looks but just a cake in general) so I'm giving in but we are going to do cupcakes for the rehearsal dinner (woot!!!)... I like the last set up the best, it looks more homemade

6/8/2010 8:29:50 AM

We're not having a traditional cake. I think they're a waste of money when my mom makes cake far more delicious than most of the stuff I've tried in the area.

Instead we're going to have a big baking party two days before the wedding and make all manners of dessert. Right now the plan is my mom's red velvet cake, lemon cake, cobbler, berry tiramisu, some sort of cheesecake, and probably a few more things. Depends how many guests end up RSVPing.

6/8/2010 7:50:05 PM

i love the cheesecake idea. my cousin did NY cheesecake (all kinds of flavors) for his wedding. it was soooo delicious. i also love the cupcake idea. i think mixed desserts is also a great idea. i am not a big cake person so i'd much rather have cheesecake or cupcakes (for some reason i dig these more than a big cake) or something else altogether. i'm totally fine with a small something to ceremonially cut or whatever but...as for eating other things are preferred.

i also love how i post in this thread and am not wedding planning

6/8/2010 7:58:23 PM

Quote :

"Instead we're going to have a big baking party two days before the wedding and make all manners of dessert. Right now the plan is my mom's red velvet cake, lemon cake, cobbler, berry tiramisu, some sort of cheesecake, and probably a few more things."

i freaking LOVE this idea. love love love.
we were gonna do it but decided against it for certain reasons

we're having cupcakes too!
i gave the baker a collage of about 20 cupcake decorations cody and i like.
as well as one wedding cake (much like you we have decided to have a small formal cake)

we're giving the baker creative license with the cupcakes.
she's gonna come to us with a mock up of what she can do the best. (with different flavors too!)

all we ask is that there be at least 9 unique designs and they fall into the same category (aka they look good together and fit our style )

we're not doing a cupcake tier though. (just not our style)
im borrowing class cake stands from my mom and grandmothers and finding them at flea markets.
and planning on stacking them to make makeshift tiers.
much like this picture


and believe it or not i have not been to a cupcake wedding yet! so i have no clue how this will all go

[Edited on June 8, 2010 at 9:26 PM. Reason : rtrtsew]

6/8/2010 9:23:31 PM

Yeah, we'll see how it goes. Right now my mom is kind of being a pill about the whole thing.

6/8/2010 10:50:53 PM

^^So fun!

Speaking of cupcakes...I got a summer job...at the cupcake shoppe! I am so excited!

One thing I am NOT excited about is my fiance's mother finding more and more people to invite to the wedding...so far she has found 4....plus 2 will have dates. The first two women ASKED her if they could be invited (soooo rude, right?!?!) and then the other couple she went ahead and invited according to the email I got today - read below. Please offer advice on how to handle this. I love his mom and wouldn't hurt her for anything, but we need to set a boundary. The italics are my comments...

Quote :

"I forgot to tell you my friend Penny said we could use the tablecloths for the wedding (I did not ask to use them...I told her to wait and I'd let her know if we needed them). They are round. And I hope it is okay to invite her and her husband to the wedding, since my mom, brother and sister will not be attending. So, that will not add any extras. My mom, sister, brother and his wife said they would come to the reception that we have at our house when you get back from your honeymoon(my fiance and I do not want to have a reception back home...the whole point of getting married far away is to eliminate all those random people we didn't want to feel forced to invite). They don’t go very far from home and they said they would just come to the reception. Penny said she would help us that evening get the tables and room decorated before the wedding, so that will be a big help to me and the girls that are helping. Talk to you later."

[Edited on June 8, 2010 at 10:53 PM. Reason : ^^]

6/8/2010 10:52:39 PM

eh doesnt seem like too big of a deal from the outside

you are borrowing tablecloths but there is no commitment to use them, i mean you could do something else that you decide on

i see how shes justifying inviting randoms since some people aren't coming but if you really do like her, just let it go. you dont want to start beef with the MIL over something that isnt going to matter in 2 years

i try my best to look at issues in this way.... will it matter in 2 days? 2 weeks? 2 months? 2 years? if i can get to 2 years without it being an issue in my life, i just let it go.

i understand you need to set boundaries with her, can you just cite $$ concerns? unless they're paying (and in that case, i think they're allowed a little more flexibility with inviting who they want) then you can use that as an out i would think

Quote :

"i also love how i post in this thread and am not wedding planning "

haha and ditto


[Edited on June 8, 2010 at 11:10 PM. Reason : ksdjkdsjf]

6/8/2010 11:08:06 PM

I would use the financial angle. I don't think there's much you can do about these most recent invites, but would have your fiance say something like, "Hey it's cool you want to invite these people but we really don't have the money to add anyone else after Penny to the invite list. Just a heads up."

And I think it's important it come from him and not you. Your fiance knows her better and hopefully would know how to say it just right to not make her mad

6/8/2010 11:19:57 PM

Agreed with wolfpack... I think it does need to be nipped in the bud though because for all you know she could start adding more and more if she sees this as a go-ahead. :\


Also, this is the cake I want (or something similar):

6/9/2010 8:27:50 AM

Agreed on the future MIL issue.. Mine is fine, but my mom has been trying to do the same thing. She actually told me "Well if you are inviting friends of yours from high school, I get to invite Lisa." Mind you, I don't know Lisa hardly at all, haven't seen her in 15+ years, and this was her response to me inviting a grand total of 2 HS friends (one of whom is technically my godfather). She had been trying to stick her nose in my planning from the get go, and this was what made me finally say ENOUGH. We are paying for the wedding ourselves, and its small for a reason. Like pawprint said, we don't really want all these extra people we feel forced to invite.

A good solution is to just give her something to plan herself. It sucks to go to another event (like a second reception after the honeymoon), but sometimes its worth it if it gets her out of your hair. That way no confrontation is really needed. My mother is now planning a brunch for the day after, so she can focus her energy on that rather than on our wedding itself. OR- have her throw an engagement party before the wedding, and she can invite whoever she wants. That way, the people she wants involved in the wedding can still attend something without getting added to your wedding guest list.

6/9/2010 8:54:16 AM

i always thought it was tacky to invite someone to a shower and not the wedding? is that not the case or have rules changed on that?

6/9/2010 12:20:05 PM