Mature Martinis - A Classy Affair - NOT Spring Break

OK, again, apologies, I know I've been away, that darn work thing always getting in the way!

I thought I'd talk today about cocktails! Maybe its because I could use one right about now (again, pesky work )

So, I found this funny, and chalk it up to the broad range of ages of people who wed. Upon entering our cocktail hour you'll have a multitude of choices for your cocktail. At the entrance you can pick up a glass of champagne or a refreshing sparkling water. Then as you enter there will be 3 martinis butler passed. And, of course, there will be 3 full bars if you choose. The point here is that when the masses (eek 250 of them) arrive there hopefully won't be a long wait at the bar.

When it came to choosing the martinis I couldn't help but laugh at the choices that our wedding coordinator came up with.
Here are some of the names:
Peach JollyRancher
Pink Lemonade Lemon Drop
Melon Martini
and lots of other fruity spring break type libations.

Now, in my day, I would have thought these were awesome, and cheers to you who think that they are. But, my wedding is in a mansion and I am in my 30s, I feel no need for crazy colored cocktails. Although I will say I love the cutesy idea of having a blue cocktail called "Something Blue" but really, do you want your guests walking around a mansion with blue mouths? Nah.

I also love the idea of having a drink named and matching your color scheme. How fun!

But, alas, again, we are in our 30s as are the moajority of our guests and both immediately agreed we would go for the classics.

Here's what we chose:
Dirty Martini
Manhattan
And - I know those of you who know me are shocked: Cosmopolitan! (I don't care if they are not trendy anymore, its my drink and I'll never give it up!)

Are you guys doing any special cocktails? Have fun names for them? Am I being too stiff? I chose 3 different colors and atleast 2 different liquors.

Obamanation meets Bridal Bliss

OK, so I am sure that many of you have heard that you can do this but now that we have a new Commander in Chief I thought I would post what I think is such a fun idea.

Did you know that if you send and invitation to your wedding to the White House you'll get a note back! Chances of Barack and Michelle cutting a rug at your affair are slim to none but who wouldn't love a letter from the president for your scrap book!

Here's the address:
The Honorable Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama
The White House
Greetings Office Room 39
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

From what I have read, only U.S. residents will receive a note back)

OK- so not to out do the president, but, for all of you Catholics out there (me included) you can send one to Pope Benedict XVI as well! This is really special because the response includes a special blessing for your marriage. I'm a little embaressed that I put POTUS ahead of the Pope but its just a little more timely!

Pope Benedict XVI
Prefettura della Casa Pontifica
00120 Citta del Vaticano, Italia

(Title: His Holiness)

Have fun!

More advice needed :)

OK, can you tell I am really down to the nitty gritty now?

If I heard from people after the Save the Date went out that they will not be able to make it, do I still send them a formal invite?

I think YES, because I don't want to leave them out

or NO, because I don't want them to think I am asking for a gift

Example - 2 of the couples that I know cannot make it are not people that I know, they are parent's co-workers, but there are 2 other couple who I know cannot make it and they are close friends.

What do you think?

Advice needed!

OK, so I am getting down to the details now and will have my invitation wording complete and submitted by tomorrow - eek! Seems so final :)

Here's my questions, I will have about 40% of my guests from out of town. There will be a direction card and an accomodation card in the pocket style invitations.

On the direction card - what needs to go on there-

Directions to the church (main directions or specifics from the hotels?)
Directions to the reception hall (specifically from the church or the main ones they list)

How specific and turn by turn do I need to be?

Here's a note- I will have bus for those staying at the hotel to go from the hotel to the reception - the church is only blocks away, they can figure that out.

I will also have a welcome letter, etc. when guests check in and can put real specifics in there.

Hmmmmm, all thoughts welcomed!!!

Ring Bearer- Pillow Alternatives

Dear FH has an 8 year old son that is very much a part of our family and we want to have play a big role in our wedding. We thought that he would be an usher and stand alongside the bestmen (yes I said men, there are two) but when we told him about the wedding he said, "Cool, can I be the ring dude?"

LOL, sure, you can be whatever you want. I think when we get to the rehearsal though, he'll want to stand with all of the guys. He's a guys's guy, and he's 8. There's no question he is a rough and tumble sports fanatic (his father's son.)

Here's the dilemma. While doing all of this wedding obsessed Internet surfing I kept finding the most gorgeous ring bearer pillows.

Like these from blogger extraordinaire, Brooklyn Bride who started Brooklyn Pillow:


I mean, can't you totally see throwing this on a chair to funky it up after the wedding?

Or I love the elegance in a pillow like this from Etsy seller Emici Bridal:



Well, everytime I almost bought them I thought of the face I would get when I told future stepson he had to walk down a church aisle carrying a pillow. It just seems wrong to make this boy's boy carry a dainty pillow.

I started wondering if there were alternatives to pillow carrying. Here are some cute things I found:

Maybe carry a banner like WeddingBee Mrs. Radish did?


HOw about a bell ringer? I had a cousin do this and it was adorable. Although, I'm not sure he would go for this either. If he did, I can assure you it will be quite the ringing. Here's a cute pic from Bridal Party Tees Blog. She also has a nice post on this option.



Do you have any ideas? PLEASE share!

Poem, By the Seaside

I was looking around for some classic poems or passages to put in our program (looooong Catholic ceremony, I'd like to give people something to read :)) and came across this beautiful poem. I think it is perfect since our church is across the street from the beach. We're not getting married on the sand (this is PERFECT for anyone who is) but we're close enough and our pics will be on the beach.

By the Seaside
As we stand beside the ocean tide,
may our love always be as constant and unchanging
as these never-ending waves that pour beneath our feet,
flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea;
your love came softly upon my heart,
just as the foam comes softly upon the sand,
and just as there will never be a morning
without the ocean's flow,
so there will never be a day
without my love for you.
I pledge myself to you this day.
Our love will be as unchanging
and dependable as the tide;
as these waters nourish the earth
and sustain life, may my constant devotion
nourish and sustain you
until the end of time.

I'm wondering if there are other uses I can come up with other than in the program. Thoughts?

Real Wedding: Real Fun, Real Fab Part 2: Place settings, etc

OK, here are some of those details that in my mind, really bring it all together. But, they also maybe the type of stuff that only a wedding obsessed person would appreciate. (Like would FH actually tell his friends how nice their menu and place settings were? I think not)

Either way- looked fantastic to me and I certainly appreciate it all. Actually, while FH may not remember all of the details, I think the likes of him remembers that they were there and how lovely everything really was. OK, he would probably say "Cool" or "top notch" definitely NOT lovely, but you get it.



Let me tell you, I ate that macaroni and cheese like a champion. I was actually embaressed that others could see how much I had on my plate but I couldn't help myself!
How delightful! Love and good fortune to you guys too!

Rehearsal Dinner - Setting the Tone

When it came time to think about the location of the rehearsal dinner, one very convenient place came to mind. Let’s call it Vinny Gumbatz’s or VG’s. VG’s is around the corner from the church, has a parking lot (important in the small parking spot limited beach town), good food, well priced and a private room. What more could you want?

Well, atmosphere.

This place is a local establishment that serves traditional Italian and has no shortage of three piece suit wearing men who all want you to think they are “connected” when really, their only connection is that they may have once served the nephew of Gotti some ziti. FH loved it! He thought it would be great to see his family’s reaction to the kissing Eye-talians as they hug and kiss the men and women and serve you cheap wine out of a jug. Thinking of our rehearsal here, I was somewhat nervous. But, like I said above, it had all the criteria!

The private room…


The private room was decorated with mirrors, marble, rope lighting and fake flowers which hung from the ceiling. Oh! And there was a dance floor made out of marble tiles glued to the floor. Think about that, tiles glued to a carpeted floor.

Enter the voice of all things local and reason…

My cousin's husband sat my FH down and said, VG’s is a great place. A great place to get a good plate of macaroni and gravy; but this is not the place to set the tone for your wedding weekend. He pointed out that the rehearsal dinner really sets a tone for the rest of the weekend, and when I thought about it, I agreed. And after thought, FH agreed too. My cousin and her husband had an amazing wedding in Cape May a few years ago and they are right, their awesome but casual rehearsal dinner definitely set the tone for the weekend - a tone of laid back fun, good music, good people, good fun, and which fab touches of class. The dinner doesn't need to be fancy but there needs to be an element of class. VG’s has everything needed logistically, but, no element of class or anything that matches the "feeling" of the wedding.

We have now booked our rehearsal dinner, and since the contract was signed and deposit delivered today, I can talk about it! I could not be more excited and my gratitude towards the future in-laws runs deep. This will not be the cheapest thing but they have a lot of people from out of town and they wanted to do it right. Kudos to them!

We booked our dinner at the new posh hotel where are guests are staying. And we got the rooftop lounge! I don’t think we’ll get the massive amounts of food that we would at Vinny G’s but we’ll have enough and it will be trendy and great. We are having stations with salads made to serve, tapas, carving station, pasta made to order and kabobs. I think it will be great! And, the best part, it will be on the rooftop deck over looking the ocean.

The place isn’t finished yet but here’s a rendering:


This the view of the Atlantic we will have:

The dinner will be for invited guests from 7-9 and then at 9 we are inviting all guests that came to town for cocktails on the roof. I think it will be perfect! It is very different from the wedding’s dinner at a mansion but still has the same level of style and sass!

Here’s what I have to think of now, let me know your thoughts…What to wear? (We’ve had this rehearsal dinner dress discussion already)
Do I need centerpieces or any decor? (a good friend that I trust with this stuff told me not to waste the time, money or headache, I am starting to lean her way but was thinking of some sand filled hurricane glasses with pillar candles?)
Do favors come to play at a rehearsal dinner?
Anything else I need to think about for the rehearsal?

Do tell, I've been focused on the wedding and since most of those logistics are booked, I am thinking about all of the little details that bring the whole weekend together and focusing on how to make it special for everyone!