Testing Out the Mood Music
Sometimes I wish I had a man with an acoustic guitar follow me around all day, playing songs that fit the mood of the moment. Life would be so much cooler with a daily theme song, wouldn’t it?
But we can’t all be as lucky as J.D., unless of course you’re rich and hire someone to be your personal guitarist stalker. Hmm, now I almost want to save up just so I can go into the city with my guitarist stalker and see how people react. It would be a neat experiment… but I’m getting off-topic! What I’m really getting at is that music has forever been a vessel to convey messages and invoke emotions, and with this power (and the right song) it has the ability to enhance any given moment. Especially important moments, like, oh I don’t know, a wedding ceremony. Yeah, that’s a pretty important sequence of moments.
Since music affects how people respond emotionally to that particular moment, if you make your selections very carefully then your ceremony music will subtly influence their moods and emotions. That’s right, you can manipulate the mood of your guests without breaking a sweat. This is like mind-control, but with emotions! Doesn’t that idea make you want to tap your fingertips together and release a deep cackle that slowly builds into full-out evil laugh? I watch too many movies, I know.
thanks mr. burns / © the simpsons
Okay, okay, so it’s not exactly mind-control, but it is pretty neat to think that your music may subtly influence your guests. For this reason, I’ve been searching for the perfect songs to create the ideal mood for our ceremony. I’ll tell you up front that none of our music is traditional, though some of these songs are starting to make more and more appearances in weddings.
Prelude
I’ve found some fantastic background music that would be perfect for a prelude. In fact, I didn’t even know we would have prelude music until I found these.
I really love Explosions in the Sky’s song, but I’m not sure if it’s too…. somber.
Bridesmaid Processional
For the bridesmaid and groomsmen processional, we wanted something a bit different but nonetheless fun. I don’t know which of these is my favorite yet, but Mr. Bunting informed me last night that they play Tristan Prettyman’s song at his work all the time, so if we went with that one he’d only be thinking of work. That kinda ruins it, so maybe someone else will enjoy it at their wedding instead.
Bridal Processional
While my 12-year-old self may tell you differently (y’know, if you had a time machine and wanted to use it to go visit my 12-year-old-self because you had nothing better to do), I just don’t see myself walking down the aisle to Canon D or any traditional bridal march. I am having a hard time finding just what it is I’ll be walking down the aisle to, probably because this is the most important song. These two songs are very lovely, but they just haven’t clicked with me yet. That probably means I should keep searching.
Recessional
I am SO excited for this song to start playing as our recessional after we’ve been pronounced husband and wife. It’s just so bubbly and happy! I can just imagine us dancing back down the aisle as everyone waves little flags and Daddy Bunting whistles (you know those ear-piercing two-finger whistles? I just know he’s going to do one).
While that wraps up the main contenders thus far, I’ve got one last song to share with you today. It was originally in the running for our recessional song, but I think it would be more appropriate as a reception song to dance to.
I just know all of the Disney-loving girls are going to flip when they hear this one. The Little Mermaid was one of my favorite movies as a child, so this is very fitting for me. Some girls loved Cinderella, some loved Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, but I was an Ariel girl all the way when it came to the Princesses (sorry, Jasmine, you’re my second fav). This remake is just so incredibly awesome-sauce.
What are your plans for your ceremony music? Are you going the traditional route or are you doing something different? Any suggestions that I may not have discovered yet?
Fabric-induced frenzies (aka bridesmaid dresses)
By a chance of fate, Brother Bunting’s fiancee’s mother met a woman while golfing who, after they got on the topic of Brother Bunting’s fiancee’s wedding, turned out to be a seamstress. Did you follow any of that? No? That’s okay, the relationships aren’t important, it was just fun to say. Anyway, this bit of information was passed on to Mother Bunting and after further investigation we learned that this seamstress was not only very passionate about sewing, but very experienced.
image via Male Pattern Boldness
Ha, there’s no way a good sewing machine is the only thing you need for success. You can hand me the best sewing machine there is and I wouldn’t know what to do with it. This seamstress, on the other hand….
She had worked in a prestigious bridal gallery for a number of years but then left when she got tired of them mistreating (and ripping off) their customers. Word of mouth travels well, however, and many of her satisfied bridal clients passed on her name. Long story short, she stays busy with freelance wedding work right out of her home. Mother Bunting and I initially visited her to see if she could alter my dress (the details of which are for another post) and soon discovered that she was not only altering wedding gowns, but making bridesmaid dresses.
That got my little thinking gears churning. I wasn’t fond of the stiff taffeta look of many bridesmaid lines, and most of the dresses are so expensive that I’d feel guilty for making my bridesmaids buy them. Kinda silly, I know, but true. But here was this woman with years of professional experience, making high-quality bridesmaid dresses for next to nothing. I thought surely there must be a catch – the prices were too good to be true. There wasn’t a catch. She works full-time as an accountant so the money isn’t important. Her sewing is her creative outlet and she loves doing it, so to her this is a relaxing hobby.
I admit I had some initial hesitation about having a seamstress make the bridesmaid dresses, but after having Grandmother Buntings inspect and approve the pieces she was working on (they’re so much more knowledgeable when it comes to seam quality and things than I am), we decided that this was a great opportunity to get bridesmaid dresses that are custom-tailored, made of the fabric and color of my choosing, and in the style of our choosing – all on a budget. It opened up a lot of freedom, let me tell you. I’d show her photos of nearly anything, and she would say, “Yeah, we can do that!” I like this yes woman.
our colors for the four bridesmaids
Our first step was to start looking for fabric in the right colors. Hooooooo boy. I must have picked the world’s rarest colors, because this was NOT an easy-peasy task. We’d find some fabric in the perfect shade of peach, but it was too stiff and heavy. We’d find some flowy chiffon in blue, but it was too “baby blue” and not enough “aqua”. I was unwilling to budge, because I’m stubborn like that when it comes to color.
After months of waiting for the fabric suppliers to come out with their spring colors, we finally found some in the PERFECT shades of aqua, peach, and yellow. Annnnnnnnd I still don’t know if I’m happy with it. But before you judge, let me explain! The fabric is a light-midweight satin. Not heavy, but also not as flowing as silk or chiffon. I’m afraid that it might still be too stiff for what we have planned. You see, I asked my girls to pick out their own dress style of the flowy variety, and here’s what they chose (just imagine them in our colors):
image via Val Stefani / style 9118
image via Val Stefani / style 8881
image via Watters / style 7341
image via Watter Wtoo / style 7341
Pretty, right? Pretty flowy, right? Yeah, that’s because these are all made with chiffon. I’m afraid that if we try to make a flowy dress with a lot of ruching using the satin we found, we’ll end up with a hot poofy mess. I discussed these concerns with my seamstress, and she believes that the satin fabric we have is light enough to avoid any bulging poofs, but it definitely wouldn’t be as flowing and light as chiffon. Well then. What do I decide? To continue the search for chiffon in the perfect colors! With a month and a week before our wedding, I’m crazy, right? Because while measurements have been taken and patterns have been selected, the fabric has not even been cut at this point. I’m glad I wasn’t here at the ‘Bee yet so anyone could tell me how crazy I was not too long ago, because then I would have realized how close we’re cutting it and a freak-out would ensue.
Since then, I had a meeting with my seamstress scheduled to look at the new chiffon samples she ordered. I was rather bummed to receive an e-mail from her later that day saying the colors of the chiffon were way off. Game over for chiffon, I guess. Super sad, I know, but we just don’t have the time anymore. Well, we’ll just have to deal and make slightly less flowy dresses.
Are you having your bridesmaids dresses made or are you ordering them? Have you had as much of a difficult time finding the right fabric in the right color as I have?
Bring on the engagement photos!
Before I get to the good stuff, let me give a bit of backstory about my quest for photographers.
I’m a picture person. I could spend hours (and often do) just looking at images online, in books, in magazines, everywhere. For this reason, I always knew that photography would be an important element to our wedding, and after getting engaged it was one of the first vendors I started searching for. I searched high and I searched low. I had specific standards for the photography, and if I was going to pay for it, then I was going to pay for it to be done in a style that I loved. Most of the local photographers I perused were nice, but didn’t jump out at me. When I discovered the online portfolios of our region’s high-end photographers, my standards shot even higher. But the price tag…. they were all simply more than I could afford.
photo by Bryan and Mae Photography
I didn’t give up, though. After approaching some of the high-end photographers with my projected budget, and being politely told it was too low for their packages, I asked them if they had any referrals that were more in my range. Don’t be afraid to do this if you discover someone you love but cannot afford, most of them were happy to make recommendations. Just be sure to be polite and thank them for their time, and don’t be offended if they don’t respond or have no information to share. It’s a competitive field, and while a lot of our regional photographers are on friendly terms with one another, it may not be the case everywhere.
Despite these referrals and despite my attempts to discover the lesser-known photographers’ portfolios (there are so many out there, and some are amazing and affordable but lack the advertisement), it was one of Mr. Bunting’s friends that turned us in the right direction. He had gone to school with someone who worked in the wedding photography industry with his girlfriend (now soon-to-be wife), and showed me some of their work via good ol’ Facebook. I immediately sought out their website and blog and was instantly in love. Their style was fresh, their images crisp, and their compositions absolutely beautiful. Their work reminded me of a refreshing breeze on a summer day, and was creative without being forced and cliché. It spoke to me as a bride and as an artist. That was exactly what I had been looking for. So I contacted them with our date, only to learn that there was another bride with the same date that they were meeting with that weekend. Crapcrapcrap. They told me they’d give her a week after the meeting to make her decision, and if she couldn’t make up her mind or decided against them, our date would be open again. (I should probably note that this was one year in advance, so don’t wait to book as dates can go fast with photographers.)
While I was not-so-patiently waiting for the other bride to have first choice, I discussed pricing with the photographers to see if we really could afford them. They were more than what I wanted to spend, but I loved their work and I felt a strong connection. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? Right! I crunched numbers and dipped into my personal savings, and then fate helped us by sending some freelance art & design work my way. With the extra money and some of my savings I was thrilled to discover we could afford them. Yes, yes, yes!
Now for that other bride… I prayed and hoped and wished that she wouldn’t book them for our date. When one week was up and I hadn’t heard anything, I anxiously called to see if our date was still available. It was! So we set up a meeting over tea with the four of us, went over the contract, and wrote a deposit check right then and there.
I am so glad to have been able to splurge on Bryan and Mae - they are incredibly talented and such an amazing couple. I could not have asked for photographers that are more passionate about their work, their couples, or each other than they are. Even better, they’re so easy to get along with that even the photo-shy Mr. Bunting is excited to be in front of their camera again!
I know you’re all dying to see the engagement photos from our spring session, so I’ll shut up now and let the images speak for themselves.
It’s hard to stay on budget with every aspect of planning, but was there anything you splurged on because it was so important to you? Was it easy to make it work, or did it take some effort?
*All photos by Bryan and Mae Photography
Bow ties & Suspenders: all we’re missing is the monocle
Tuxedos never really fit into the outdoor ceremony we’ve been planning, and though I was slightly sad I wouldn’t see Mr. Bunting all dressed up in one, I’ve never regretted our decision to avoid the tux. They do look snazzy, but there were several factors that turned us away from them and honestly, they never stood a chance. (We really wanted to embrace the atmosphere of our park, and tuxedos were just too formal. We also had to consider the potential summer heat.)
In the beginning, I had told Mr. Bunting that he could choose what he and the groomsmen wanted to wear aside from a tux (unless he reaaaally wanted them). If they wanted to wear suit jackets, they could wear suit jackets. If they didn’t want to (and I was secretly hoping they wouldn’t), then they wouldn’t have to. Of course they didn’t want to wear jackets for an outdoor June wedding, so it was a win-win situation!
I stayed true to my decision of putting Mr. Bunting in charge for the groomsmen. I let him mull it over. He mulled it over a lot (or perhaps too little). I casually reminded him that we needed to start making decisions for their attire. He mulled it over some more. I began to wonder if he really was thinking about it, or if he even cared, so I started probing him more for ideas and answers. I thought maybe if I showed him some ideas, he’d find something he liked. So I started focusing my google and blog searches on groomsmen attire.
Haha, that’s when it all changed.
I found images that I fell in love with. I showed them to Mr. Bunting.
Let me pause for just a moment to give a warning. Ladies, don’t ever go out of your way to show your partner images of styles you don’t like or styles that just won’t work. There is a very high chance that your partner will take one look, point at that very image, and say, “I like that one!” And that’s exactly what Mr. Bunting did.
I didn’t show him any images that I didn’t like, but I did make the mistake of showing him an image that, while so very cool and awesome, simply did not mesh with the rest of our wedding. It was this one:
image via Ruffled / photo by Magic Memory Works Photography
And Mr. Bunting loved it. Le sigh. MOH Bunting and I had to explain to him that it just wouldn’t work with our color scheme or the rest of the wedding’s tone, so I tried to distract him with these:
image via Inspired By This / photo by Aaron Shintaku
image via Pretty Chicky / photo by Dana Grant
image via The Bride With A Blog / photo by Bloom Photography
image via Forage Bow Ties
So much for my vow to let Mr. Bunting pick the style! I was in love, and it was with bow ties and suspenders (and Mr. Bunting of course). Now before you judge, Mr. Bunting still had some opinions that I was more than happy to oblige, like no tan or khaki colors.
We had the guys purchase heather grey pants from Jos. A. Banks, and I found coordinating fabrics in colorful seersuckers and cottons for my seamstress to fashion the bow ties out of. I love the mismatched bow tie look, so each groomsmen will have a different fabric.
We left it up to the guys to buy or find a white shirt and black dress shoes, and Mr. Bunting and I scoured the mall for the suspenders. Kohls had the best selection, and after an hour or so of Mother Bunting, the cashier, and I trying to figure out the best method to get the best deal with all our coupons, we left with 12 suspenders. Okay, okay, I couldn’t decide which style I liked best in the store, so we bought enough of two different types. After seeing them with the pants and a white shirt, this is the one we decided to keep:
Mother Bunting is amazing with coupons, so after the current Buy 1 Get 1 50% off deal and her coupon skills, we got these Dockers suspenders for about $11 each.
I’m not sure if Mr. Bunting loved the idea of suspenders and bow ties initially, but after actually seeing some of the things come together in person he’s completely on board. I know he wouldn’t agree to them if he didn’t like them at all, so again, it’s a win-win! Besides, Mr. Bunting’s outfit is different than the groomsmen and one he really loves, but that’s for another post.
What are you dressing the boys in? Did your partner have a strong opinion or preference, or did he go with the flow like Mr. Bunting ended up doing?
The Hair Flower
I know it’s been a popular wedding trend over the last year or so, but sometimes a trend is so appropriate for your own wedding that you just have to grab a noisemaker and hop on that jolly ol’ bandwagon. Folks, trends typically become trends for a reason (because they’re awesome), and there comes a time in every bride’s life when one trend just cries oh, hell yes. Well, I have heard that cry, and I’m unashamed to tell you that I’ve got two handfuls of noisemakers for the bandwagon ride!
What bandwagon will I be riding these evening? Hair flowers and fascinators, of course!
image via Long Wedding Hair Online
image via Etsy
I think they add a perfect touch of romance and femininity to any bride, and they’d be just beautiful for outdoor ceremonies. There are so many colors and variations out there that it’s easy to find one that fits your personality and style like a glove (without looking like everyone else’s). Okay, maybe it’s not easy but only for the fact that there are SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM. I can’t help but feel like Eric Foreman from That 70′s Show, only substitute the panties for hair flowers.
image via Free to Hide / clip from That 70′s Show
FLOWERS!
GLORIOUS
FLOWERS!
I was unable to pick just one, so I selected my favorite flower-making Etsy seller to ask if she wouldn’t mind making a custom bloom to combine all my favorite elements. Starting with one of her standard double-bloom pieces as a base, I worked with Tania (who is such a lovely lady) from Percyhandmade until we came up with a flower that incorporated everything I could ever dream of having in a hair flower. While it’s still over in Australia, the photos Tania sent have me drooling in anticipation.
photo courtesy of Percy Handmade
photo courtesy of Percy Handmade
It’s blossoming (oh no she didn’t) with visual textures, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The petals are made from very soft satin and lace in pink champagne and ivory, and the little ivory blossom even has some pink pearls in the center. Isn’t it just lovely? I think it will compliment the style of my dress just perfectly. Now bring on those hair trials so I can see it in action! Oh, wait, I need to wait for it to get here first, don’t I?
Are you jumping on the bandwagon for a trend you simply just love? Could it be for the silky hair fascinator, too?
In loving memory
Three years ago on May 8th, Mr. Bunting lost his father. It was unexpected, tragic, and easily the worst day of our lives.
At 5am that morning, I had left with a group of classmates to go on a 2-month geology adventure to the canyonlands of the southwest. By the time I got the call, we were already several states away in our van. There is no greater feeling of helplessness than when your loved one is in need, and you can’t even be there. But I have amazing parents and they arranged an emergency return flight for me, so by 11pm I was finally pulling into his driveway.
I know the anniversary of his father’s death is, and always will be, a sorrowful time for Mr. Bunting. I also know that this year may be especially hard as our wedding day approaches, knowing is father won’t be there. I never once fathomed that we would be missing one of our parents when we finally exchanged vows, but you can never really see sudden tragedies coming.
I think it’s important to honor those who are with us in spirit at our wedding, especially since they have played such crucial roles in our lives. So I’ve taken it upon myself to find a way to incorporate his father into the wedding in a way that will commemorate his memory without detracting from the celebratory mood of the day. I already plan on including some memorial wording on our programs, but I almost feel as if that’s not enough tribute.
image via Daniel D. Eubank’s Blog
Both of Mr. Bunting’s parents served in the Navy, so when his father passed away, his family received a folded American flag as is customary. (If you’re curious as to what the 13 folds signify, read about it here.) I’ve read about weddings that have a single rose or flower placed on an empty seat for those who have passed, but seeing as how his father was not really a flower guy, I thought it might be more appropriate to use the folded flag in addition to a rose. I do need to run this past Mr. Bunting and his mother for full approval, as I don’t want to draw attention if they would prefer otherwise, but I think it’s a touching gesture.
While searching for creative ways to honor the deceased, I came across a multitude of sentimental ideas for all situations. Some of them are subtle, some of them are not, but if you’re struggling with ways to honor a loved one at your wedding then you’re bound to find one that speaks to you or at least inspires you.
Prayer: One of the easiest ways to remember those who have passed in a religious ceremony is to include them in the prayer.
Moment of Silence: Including a moment of silence to acknowledge the dearly departed is another thoughtful gesture that can be including in the prayer, after the prayer, or separate entirely.
Remembrance Table: Setting up a memorial table at the ceremony or reception allows you to display a collection of photos and personal belongings or symbols of those who passed.
Candles: If you’re performing the Unity Candle ceremony, both mothers traditionally light a candle to represent their branch of family. After lighting this candle, the widow can break away to light a separate memorial candle in honor of a lost father. You can also have a special candle lit in memory even without the rest of the Unity ceremony.
image via Flickr
Something Old: Incorporating a piece of jewelry or clothing that belonged to your loved one in your wedding-day attire is a great way to carry them with you. I’ve seen some brides that include a brooch or charm that belonged to their mother or grandmother in their bouquet or wedding jewelry. Don’t have a charm? No problem, you can get a small photo laminated, glued to felt, and woven into the bouquet with ribbon. Or you can sew a piece of lace in the lining of your dress (this can also be a family tradition passed on from mother to daughter over the generations). One bride who had lost her father was still able to walk down the aisle with him with shoe charms that held his photo. I won’t lie, that one really pulls on my heartstrings.
To honor the men, think about wrapping the bouquet stem with the father or grandfather’s vintage handkerchief or having the groom wear a set of his father or grandfather’s cuff links.
Dance Away: Dedicate a song in memory of your loved one either at the reception or even during the ceremony. Though I personally know I would start bawling, you can even consider walking down the aisle to their favorite song.
In Memory Of: Select a reading or poem that was a favorite of that person to be read during the ceremony. If you feel like a reading would choke people up too much, consider including it in the program with a “In Loving Memory Of” line for people to read at their leisure.
image via My Spiritual Wedding
Remembrance Vase: I found these hand-blown glass vases that can be personalized with an etched phrase or name. These would work as a subtle honorarium piece to include on a Remembrance table or to even hold the bride’s bouquet at the reception.
By the time most of us get married, we have already lost someone dear to us. These are people we grew up with or have come to love, who have helped in one way or another shape us into the people we are today. While I don’t think you should focus solely on the sorrow of their absence at your wedding (afterall, this is an affair that celebrates new beginnings), I do encourage honoring them in a way that is personal and special to you so that it keeps their memory alive.
If you or your partner has lost someone, are you planning on including them in some way? How are you going to do it?
This jam, it is mine.
Let’s be honest, Mr. Bunting and I don’t always agree on musical tastes. I can be a little bit country, he can be a little bit in-your-face-with-the-screaming punk alternative rock. Seriously, some of the things that blast out of the stereo when I borrow his car has all of my Senses Fail-ing alright. Okay, okay, so I do enjoy several Senses Fail songs, but the majority of Mr. Bunting’s music involves rocking bass that rocks my head a little too much and throats that I swear must have callouses from all the screaming. I’ve since learned to turn the volume down before the sound kicks in lest I end up like this:
image via GraphicsHunt
I’m pointing a finger at our different up-bringings for this. My dad listens to country and bands like Jackson Browne. His dad listened to bands like The Ramones and punk rock like Rancid and Sex Pistols. But then Mr. Bunting and I met, and it was such a great love that we only focused on where our tastes did cross (musical tastes, not tastebuds. Geez, we didn’t make out all the time). That, and I was so hooked I’d give anything he listened to a try because he liked it, I liked him, and by proxy I liked what he liked. That was my high school girl mentality. It was so strong that our first concert together was Norma Jean (I don’t think I could understand a single word that was screamed, but I had a blast nonetheless).
Truth be told, even though I don’t particularly enjoy some of Mr. Bunting’s bands, he has introduced me to a lot of bands that I absolutely love. Before Pandora came along, I relied heavily on him for new sources of music and he always delivered. He introduced me to Paramore (before the radio discovered them), Anberlin, Mae, and Innerpartysystem. Hoo, do I love me some Innerpartysystem. (I swear I’m going somewhere with this, though, so just bare with me.)
So while we do share some common musical interests, we both have strong(ish) opinions about the rest of the music we enjoy individually, and hive… I have no idea what type of music our reception will have. (See, I told you there was a point to all of this!)
I would love some country songs because that’s what I grew up on, but he still hasn’t grown accustomed to “the twang”. We both love electronica and techno, but let’s face it, not everyone can dance to that without the glowsticks and strobe lights. And the screaming artists that are his favorite? Our guests just don’t share the same musical palate and would be running for cover!
Well then, what about including some popular dance and R&B songs for people to groove to? Oh, I didn’t mention that Mr. Bunting refuses to listen to the radio just to avoid all of those mainstream songs? Why yes in fact, when I borrow his car and he’s forced to take mine, my car is returned to me with the radio turned off because he would rather listen to silence. Oh, silly, silly boy.
So our only solution is to play Journey all night long, because “Don’t Stop Believing” is totally our jam.
image via Meme Generator
Okay, not really, though I don’t think I’d ever get sick of that song.
Realistically I won’t have to worry that much because our DJ will be reading and catering to the mood of the crowd, but as we work on our must-play and do-not-play list, music is a current concern for me. It’s important to me that our wedding embraces the individuality of both Mr. Bunting and I, and music plays such a large role in his life that I don’t want to tell him to just “suck it up and deal”. I also, like most any bride, want everyone to have a blast on the dance floor, but how to accomplish this is beyond me. How much country can we get away with to satisfy my western roots without sending all of our country-hating friends for the hills (cities)? Can we slip in some techno and electronica, or will the older generations cringe? Just how do you please such a diverse group of musical tastes? Just what is it about Journey that brings people together? Wow, I just asked a lot of questions, and I don’t have an answer for any of them. I guess we’ll just do our best to come up with a balanced mix and then find out at the reception!
Is anyone else facing this dilemma of varying musical tastes between you and your partner?
To Top it All Off
I hated cake toppers. It’s true. I thought they were all ugly and cheap-looking, and there was no way I was going to have one on my cake. I’m not big into monogrammed letters, either, so I wouldn’t even consider having bejeweled initials. I was resolved to use real flowers or to make something myself.
Looking back on my naive self, I can’t help but laugh. Not because I’ve changed my mind about monogrammed initials, but because I thought that’s all the wedding world had to offer when it came to cake toppers. Again, this is where I love the internet, especially Etsy, because it opens up a whole new world of opportunities. Granted, I still cringe at the majority of cake toppers (I’m picky about proportions and aesthetics, what can I say?), but there are some reeeeeeally great ones available! So many, in fact, that I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. Let us explore the wonderful possibilities together. Shall we? Yes, we shall.
Love birds have been a popular choice lately, and with good reason. There are plenty of styles to choose from, too:
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
Want something a little more untraditional or unexpected but drool-worthy nonetheless? No problem! Check out these ideas:
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
And of course we can’t forget the ones that feature a bride and groom customized to look like, who else, your partner and you!
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
image via Etsy
Which one is your favorite, and what are your plans for your cake topper? Are you buying one or are you making it yourself? Share the topper love!
The Invitations
I knew right off the bat that I would be designing our invitation suite. I also knew these invites had to follow very specific guidelines set by yours truly. They had to be colorful. They had to include illustrations. They had to reflect our wedding style. And most importantly, they had to be an accurate representation of Mr. Star Wars and I as a couple and as individuals. (This is beginning to sound like a repeat of the save-the-dates, isn’t it?)
That last one is a lot of pressure to put on yourself. I’ve faced this challenge as an illustrator many times before as I struggled to develop an artistic style in college that reflected my “voice”, and I was about to face it again with our wedding invitations.
They had to be us, and man is hard to pin us down into a single design suite. The pressure was almost too much, so once again I procrastinated. A lot. I procrastinated by scouring the internet for inspiration, and just when I thought I found some elements that would be my inspirational focal point, I found another invitation suite that ran in the opposite direction (and was just as cool).
I finally had to gather all my favorite sources of inspiration in front of me and then just sit down and start drawing. I gave myself a pep talk about how there’s no way anyone can create something that embodies everything about us as individuals, so I focused on a starting element and things slowly evolved. Before I knew it, I had a general, consistent theme that just felt right. And despite all my procrastination, I started early enough so that I could pick away at all the little details until I had something I was really proud of. There were many neat elements and ideas that I had to sadly cast aside, but I realized that the illustrations needed to be the focal point and anything else was an unnecessary distraction.
So, without further ado, here are the Bunting wedding invitations!
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They are printed digitally on a lovely linen paper. I bought our envelopes from Paperandmore.com, which carried the perfect coordinating color and proved to be cheaper than Papersource.com. The carribbean blue baker’s twine used to tie it all together is from Etsy.
You want to know a secret little detail? In addition to the unicorns at the bottom of the main invitation, I added in other little unicorns and TIE-fighters (from Star Wars) among the flowers. See if you can find them all:
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So there you have it. Our wedding invitations, complete with unicorns and spaceships. Yeah, that’s just how we roll.
Did anyone else struggle with finding an invitation suite that reflected both of you as individuals?
The Venue: This Park is our Park
I’ve always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding ceremony, so finding a venue with the perfect outdoor location was crucial in my early planning. We checked out banquet centers that had small gazebos. We checked out golf courses with their little designated wedding green. We even checked out a fishing & hunting building which had a beautiful outdoor space, but not-so-beautiful interior. From what was within our budget, everything felt like a little manicured garden with flowers here and a white gazebo there and a nude female fountain right over yonder. They were all pretty in their own sense, but it all felt so artificial and forced to me. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, so the search expanded to involve parks. Some of the parks we looked at would not accommodate a wedding very well, and others still had too much of a manicured feel.
And then we found it. A small park tucked away on a rural road. Set aside from the main park area was a lower grove designated for special events, complete with a large wooden trellis with vines clinging to its structure. There were winding paved walkways, a well-maintained pavilion building with overhang areas, and enough trees to make a squirrel gleeful. But best of all? There was a natural spring on-site, which fed a natural stream that meandered through the park. There were flowers and plants and all sorts of vegetation, and while the park does maintain the greenery, the landscaping is minimal so everything looks oh so natural. Perfectperfectperfect. After scoping out the spot with Mother Bunting and Daddy Bunting, we returned later with Mr. Bunting and he gave full approval.
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Hello, little waterfall!
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I thought choosing a venue for the ceremony was the hard part. Oh, no, that wasn’t so. Falling in love with our park was easy. Booking it was an entirely different story. We soon found out you cannot reserve the building and trellis for a wedding any more than 365 days in advance. So we spent several months waiting patiently (and sometimes not-so-patiently), all the while joking about how we hoped the park would be our official ceremony location.
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When the week of the 365-day mark arrived, we put our heads together to come up with our final game plan. Reservations could be made online, over the phone, or in person. The online option left too much chance to internet connections, so we didn’t want to risk that. Going in person meant you could get to the office early and be first in line, but if an employee got to the office early and wouldn’t let you in quite yet, someone else could be calling on the phone while you’re outside, and game over, phone-person gets the reservation. This system of first-come first-serve is the most frustrating and innane system I have experienced.
So we may have cheated.
image via icanhascheezburger.com
Alright, it wasn’t exactly cheating, though it did involve finding a loophole in the system. But we had to, because in hindsight, we would have lost our date to someone else. I should probably mention that by this time, we had already booked several other vendors with our specific date, so changing dates was not a viable option. Plus, I was already attached to it and was unwilling to give that number up. But back to, ahem, our clever ploy. We discovered that with online booking, dates became available at 12:00am on the 365-day marker. This was a little known secret that the park doesn’t mention, because they consider it a glitch that creates an unfair advantage. I am certainly not below taking advantage of this glitch when it comes to our lovely park. So with several friends and family members, we refreshed our browsers late that night until the booking was available, and then we raced to make the reservation. I was the first of our party to complete the form and submit it. Success! We had a confirmation and booking number! Seven hours later, we had another group ready to start dialing the office number 10 minutes before they officially opened. One of us got through to a person before the others, and we confirmed our reservation. Whew! What a rush! But this was only for the rehearsal dinner. We had to do the same thing again that night for the actual wedding. We had no problems with the online reservation trick the second time, and after sleeping for a bit we got up early to make the phone round again.
Our phones were ringing. Nothing. Hang up and try again. Ringing. Nothing. Hang up and try again. Over and over, until I got a busy signal. Someone must have got through! I crossed my fingers and hoped that it was someone from my calling party while I continued to hang up and re-dial. Finally, a voice picked up and I tried to calmly tell them I wanted to confirm my reservation.
“Oh, are you with the Buntings?”
“Yes!”
“Heheh, you pissed off a lot of people this morning.”
Whoops. Apparently I was the first of my calling party to connect, but there were two separate callers that got through to the operator before me. And they were told that sorry, someone already made a reservation for that day. Wow. We were that close to not getting our park on our day. If it hadn’t been for that online trick, I would have been one sad Miss Bunting. But I’m not, and the park is all ours! (Bwahaha!) What a huge relief! I do feel bad for the other parties who wanted that date, but honestly, they could have very well been booking for an open house or family picnic instead of a wedding and I regret nothing.
Did anyone else have to jump through ridiculous hoops to book their venue or vendor?
