Engagement Pictures!

Brian and I had our engagement pictures taken in Cold Spring, New York on October 14, 2008. Our photographer, Rick Helman was great! Our photos were uploaded to his website by that evening and we are extremely happy with the results. Here are a handful of our favorites:

We Are Officially at the One Year 'til Our Wedding Mark!

On this day next year we will be getting married. Anyone who ever told me that the time flies sure wasn't kidding. As a re-cap, this is all that we have done in the first six months of our engagement:

1. We have booked our reception and ceremony sites (which includes catering and the bakery for our wedding cake).
2. We have booked our band.
3. We have booked our photographer and videographer.
4. I have ordered my dress.
5. We have chosen the wedding party.
6. We have decided on our centerpieces and purchased the majority of the supplies (minus the flowers and mirrors).

There is still some ridiculous number of tasks that need to be completed but all in all, I say we're in pretty good shape for the most part. In the last few weeks, we have accomplished or at least started several other tasks as well. Here are the most recent updates on what we are currently working on:

Engagement Pictures: We have scheduled our engagement pictures for Wednesday, October 15th with Rick Helman. They will be shot in Cold Springs, NY in the late afternoon. We are hoping for some good light as the sun starts to set.

Officiant: We would really love to have Judge William Franks officiate the wedding ceremony. Judge Franks not only knows my Uncle but also used to be the Chief of Police for Stony Point before being appointed judge so he and Brian's father knew each other pretty well back in the day. The connection to both of our families makes us feel a bit more comfortable than going with someone who has no ties what-so-ever to either one of us. (Thanks to my Uncle Bill for help arranging this!)

Ceremony: We were able to visit Patriot Hills last week as they were tearing down their afternoon wedding set-up. We wanted to go as close to the one year mark of our wedding date as possible to get an idea as to what it looked like in the fall. The last time we visited, it was at the tail-end of winter so the landscape was a bit dreary. I LOVE how it looks in the fall. We were hoping the leaves would have started to change but it's a bit too early for that. Nevertheless, the grounds are beautiful. They have mums in these large urn-like pots and ficus trees surrounding the patio. I'm almost thinking that minimal decorations for the ceremony would be best - a less is more mentality. It really is beautiful all on its own. Once I get the chance, I will upload the photos.

Ceremony Music: We really don't want to spend money on ceremony musicians given that (1) they aren't cheap, and (2) it doesn't seem worth it for the short amount of time that they would play. Luckily, Patriot Hills has speakers set up on their patio where the DJ (that comes along with the Outlaws) can play the music off a CD for us.

Centerpiece Supplies: We got GREAT deals on our centerpiece supplies and I'm pretty proud of myself for being so thrify. As mentioned below, our vases came from Linens 'n Things at 50% off. The river rock was more than 50% off (got each bag for less than $1.00) and the votives were on sale in twelve packs for 50% off as well (worked out to be roughly $0.33 per votive and holder). Both were bought at Michael's. The newest excitement came when I found the floating candles for dirt cheap at Quick Candles. Even with shipment, they came to less than $1.00 per candle. So the only thing left for the centerpieces are to find cheap 12" round mirrors and pick which stems we want to submerge. I'm really excited about these.

That is all for now! We will be looking for hotel blocks, florists and limo companies next. Before the end of this year, we hope to have created and mailed our save-the-dates.

Second Centerpiece Mock-Up

Over the weekend, I decided to test out another option for our centerpieces. I stuck with the candle theme and ended up really liking the end result.

I always thought that flowers submersed in water in cylinder vases with floating candles look very elegant. After finding an incredible deal on cylinder vases (each set of three was only $10.00 at Linens 'n Things) - I decided to give it a go. We stopped at a local florist and picked half a dozen or so random stems to see how they would work out. We used a handful of the river rock from the first centerpiece mock-up to line the bottoms of the vases. Then, we added the stems and water and topped it off with the floating candles.

Here is the result:

I think this centerpiece affords us more options price-wise as we can forgo flowers all together, choose silk stems or real stems. Luckily, we have a connection with a wholesale flower distributor so we can try to price out what the most affordable option will be.

After a few hours driving throughout New Jersey, countless issues with Mapquest, an almost dead cell-phone and visiting 4 Linens 'n Things stores, I was finally able to stock up on the amount we needed by clearing out their Totowa and Butler store shelves. It was a productive, wedding-related Saturday.

Memorial Candle Mock-Up

As a tribute to those of our close relatives who passed before us, we will be setting up memorial candles at the reception. It is our way of reflecting upon the great impact they had in our lives on account of their love and unwavering support.

The actual candles will be placed in large cylinder vases. I will be creating a wrap to go around the cylinder vase in translucent (or vellum) paper. The front part of the wrap will be the same layout for all relatives. It will contain a picture and the name of our loved ones, along with various other sentiments. On the back part of the wrap will be a saying or poem, personalized to the individual. The translucent paper works nicely as it is heavy enough to hide the candle in the vase but is light enough to allow the glow of the candle to shine through to the outside.

Here is a mock-up of the first wrap that I did. I have blurred out my grandfather's last name for privacy purposes. There is still some minor tweaking to be done (maybe some font changes) but this is the basic format for the candles:

I Ordered My Gown!

One big item was checked off of my wedding checklist today - I ordered my dress! The most I will say about it is that it is a Maggie Sottero. The turnaround time on getting Maggie Sottero dresses in-store is roughly 10-12 months so I'm not ridiculously crazy in ordering this early. I'm very excited to get this out of the way! In the interest of being discrete (i.e. keeping it from Brian), I will not post pictures but if you want to see a picture I took at the bridal salon, let me know!

Dress Shopping

Let me start by saying that I can be a very indecisive person at times and not because I don't know what I want but because I have the tendency to overanalyze just about everything in my head. I take into account all possible scenarios before making a final decision that I am 100% confident in. If I have to make a quick decision, I will. If I don't have to make a quick decision (i.e. not in a time crunch to order my bridal gown right this moment), then I won't.

Straight off the bat, I knew I wasn't going to be one of those brides that just "knew" when they found the dress (for all the reasons stated above). With that said, I didn't have this earth-striking moment where the stars aligned and I realized I had found the perfect dress. In my world, what I felt, was enough to know that I found one that made me very happy and any other dresses I tried on afterwards (and before) just did not compare.

Without getting into too much detail about the gown that is the current front-runner, I will say that it is more elegant than princess-y and more simple than extravagent. I didn't feel like someone I wasn't when I tried it on - maybe just a slightly upscale version of myself. I would have ordered the dress right then and there but my friend Gary would have killed me if he didn't get to see it first. My plan is to go back within the next two weeks and put my deposit down. I'll feel much more relaxed once that is done.

The only issue is the dress throws me a curveball for my color scheme. Back to the drawing board for colors! Luckily, time (until the wedding) is something I have plenty of.

Mock Centerpieces

On Saturday, while Brian was out on the bike, I took advantage of the time and made craft store runs with my mom to try and get inspired for wedding related things. We were walking around Michael's and came upon a display of candles that did just that. I've had a really hard time swallowing the costs associated with floral centerpieces given that flowers only last for a few days so the fact that this particular arrangement was both cheaper and longer-lasting than a floral centerpiece, made me very eager to try and make it work. With a little tweeking, we developed a front-runner in our quest for centerpieces.

The supplies needed for this particular centerpiece (per table) would be three pillar candles, three glass pedestal pillar candle holders, three votive candles, three glass votive candle holders, river rock and a large glass plate. What is under consideration (due to cost) is mini-gerbera daisies which we would need three stems per table.

Here is a picture of the mock-up:

Photography Locations for Pre-Ceremony

We are in the midst of collecting location ideas for our formal photographs before the ceremony. The following suggestions have been made and are currently in consideration:

Haverstraw Bay Park. Our photographer recommended this location as he has shot there before and it is in close proximity to Patriot Hills. Brian and I visited a few weeks ago but were not overly impressed. While Rick's photos look phenomenal, its more of an environmental issue as we will be taking photos mid-afternoon on a Saturday and the park is very, very crowded on the weekends. Plus, I've heard you need a permit so thats an added expense. (See some photographs here)

Matterhorn Nursery. While I have yet to see this location in person, I fell in love with the photographs on Matterhorn's website. It has many gardens, wooden bridges and fountains. The drawback is that there are fees associated with reserving the gardens for pictures. You can pay a cheaper amount and have a partial-garden photoshoot or pay a higher amount for a full-garden photoshoot. It may be a last resort if we really can't find any (free) locations to our liking. (See website here)

New Jersey Botanical Gardens. I took photographs here last year and love this location as well. My only concern is that weddings take place at Skyland Manor on the garden grounds so I don't know if we would be restricted in any way as to the time our photoshoot can occur or the location in which it can occur. While I do not believe there are fees associated with the use of the gardens for pictures, there are definitely other issues to look into. (See website here)

Stony Point Lighthouse. This is a historical landmark and as such, may have stricter rules against photographing here. Not to mention, we have never actually seen the place (it didn't come recommended by anyone) and the on-line pictures seem a bit outdated but we do know its on the water (obviously). Nevertheless, its an option we're willing to explore. (See lighthouse here)

DeWint House. This property is located in Tappan (Exit 5S off the Palisades). The person making this recommendation indicated that the on-line pictures don't do the property any justice and it is beautifully landscraped. It made me curious so we will have to check it out (plus its free). (See website here)

Dutch Gardens. This is located behind the courthouse in New City. Its small but supposedly well-maintained. I believe there is a dog run in the same general area. The plus side is that parking is actually in the parking lot for the town buildings so on a Saturday, there will be more than ample parking. (See website here)

Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park. There is likely a fee associated with photographing here. Not to mention that (1) we don't have a specific location within the park in mind, and (2) if the leaves begin to change, the roads are full of tourists checking out the fall foliage. The draw to the park is that it is close to Brian's house and we do daily trips through the park often (on the motorcycle) so the spot is very "us". For that reason alone, it is worth looking into. (See pictures here and here)

Check back to this post often as we are planning on doing tours of each of the above. I will post photographs from each location.

General Decisions Relating to Wedding

We will be parting from some traditions for our wedding while maintaining others. Here are a few decisions that have been made thus far:

1. Brian and I will be seeing each other prior to the ceremony to take pictures. We did this for a number of reasons. We want to get pictures taken at a location other than Patriot Hills which would be difficult to accomplish any other way given that the ceremony and reception are both at the same location. We want our wedding party (and ourselves) to be able to attend the cocktail hour and spend time with their (our) families.
2. There will not be a Head Table for the same reasons mentioned above. Everyone will be seated with their family, spouse or significant other. Brian and I will be seated at a smaller table together.
3. We will not be doing a bouquet or garter toss. We are looking into possible alternatives but are not sure there will even be a substitute.
4. There will be a Memory table set up with candles or flowers for loved ones we wish would have been able to attend but can not.
5. The bridesmaids (and flower girls) will be able to pick out the styles of their dresses. I will choose a color, fabric and designer (to ensure the colors actually match) and the bridesmaids will be able to pick the style that they feel most comfortable wearing.

That is all for now!

Our Wedding Website

As most of you (if not all of you) know, one of our first wedding related tasks was to launch a website relating to the details of our wedding. It has great features and we’re excited to keep updating it with information as it becomes relevant. It started shortly after we got engaged to help spread the news of our engagement and will continue on until after the wedding to contain our wedding pictures. Currently, the site has information about us (individually and as a couple), events, and brief introductions to our wedding party. Later on, it will contain photo albums, travel information for out-of-town guests, our registry details and a RSVP option. The RSVP option allows guests to visit our website to RSVP in lieu of the traditional response cards typically used with wedding invitations (we will still be sending the traditional response cards anyway given that not everyone will have access to a computer to respond). We also have the option to poll visitors to the site with a multiple-choice answer question (i.e. where should we go on our honeymoon, what appetizer should we choose, etc.). Lastly, we have a guest book for visitors to leave messages for us. We appreciate all the well-wishes we have received thus far. We hope you enjoy!

Rick Helman Photography & Video

It was Brian who made the valid point that after all is said and done and our wedding day has passed, there are few things that we are going to have left to remind us of that day. Photography was it. We only had to meet with one photographer to find what we were looking for. Rick Helman Photography and Video is based out of Pearl River and has been awarded TheKnot.com’s Best of Weddings for 2007 and 2008. He has also received international awards for his work.

Rick has a photojournalistic style of shooting. Most of his pictures tell a story. He will be shooting engagement photos for us in the fall of this year (which is a bit early but we can hopefully use them for some do-it-yourself projects for the wedding) and our wedding photos. While we are using an extremely basic videography package, it will nevertheless capture all that we would wish to see in a wedding video.

We have no doubt that he will deliver amazing work. I have received some requests for must-have photos but need to inquire with others as to their preferences.

For more information or to view his gallery, please visit Rick Helman Photography & Video.

The Amish Outlaws

Before Brian and I even began discussing marriage seriously, we both agreed how great it would be to have the Amish Outlaws, a local cover band, perform at our wedding. We can’t even begin to express how excited we are that they have agreed to be our band for our wedding. Not only are they amazingly talented but they are some of the nicest guys you could ever meet. They will surely be entertainment in every sense of the word.

Here are some excerpts from their website:

"It is a little-known fact that most Amish practice a tradition, similar to the Christian "Confirmation" and Jewish "Bar Mitzvah," called "Rumspringa" (literal translation: "running around") in which Amish children at the age of 16 have an opportunity to live free of the strict Amish code of conduct before deciding if they want to come back and be baptized into the Amish church. Surprisingly, virtually all of the youths return.

But sometimes they don't.

Four out of the original six of the members of The Amish Outlaws were born and raised in Lancaster, PA and had a strict Amish upbringing. No electricity from land lines, no alcohol, no musical instruments, but their spirits were too wild for the Amish lifestyle. Once they trampled in the Devil's Playground (the Amish term for the American way of life), there was no turning back. In the years since Rumspringa, the members of the Amish Outlaws have become very well acclimated to the pleasures and vices of the modern world... music, most of all.

It was this mutual love of music that brought the Outlaws together in a chance meeting at the 2002 Pocono Vacation Park "Rock and Roll Hootenanny." Needless to say, the Brothers were soon like brothers, sharing not only the bond of having left the Amish life behind, but also the deep mutual love of music, and together they delved deeply into the 16 years of American culture they missed, watching endless hours of classic MTV, listening to the radio, CDs, records, tapes... anything they could get their hands on. But just listening and watching was not enough... the Brothers soon decided to form a band that combined their love of the modern world and their traditional upbringing.

There is no "typical" Amish Outlaws show, but the average crowd can expect to see men in full Amish garb releasing all of their pent up energy with an infectious joy. With a set that is always evolving as the Brothers discover more and more music and culture, The Amish Outlaws constantly surprise the audience and keep them guessing as to what they could possibly play next, from Judas Priest to Jay Z, Neil Diamond to Snopp Dogg and Dr. Dre, Queen and Twisted Sister, to theme songs from the TV shows they have come to know. Throughout, The Outlaws spin yarns about the Brothers' upbringing and adventures since Rumpsringa. Amish Outlaw gigs are less performances than they are initiations into the life of an Amish Outlaw and parties celebrating the Brothers’ newfound freedom."

Here are some Sneak Peeks:

Styx - Come Sail Away

Sir Mix A Lot - Baby Got Back

Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive

It is likely to be a wedding band that many have never seen. For more information on the band, visit the Amish Outlaws. For their set list, please click here.

The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills

Brian and I looked at two different venues to hold our ceremony and reception – The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills in Stony Point and the New York Country Club in New Hempstead. Right off the bat, we got a better “feeling” from Patriot Hills. It ultimately came down to:

The Staff. The staff at Patriot Hills seemed to genuinely care about our event. They were beyond helpful and not in the least bit pushy. Plus, they threw in a free fajita station for Brian straight off the bat.

The Interior. The interior, where we will be the majority of the event, is spectacular. The bar areas are huge and the ballroom has phenomenal windows overlooking the golf course. It has a plain elegance that will match virtually anything we plan out.

The Price. We got more for our money at Patriot Hills. Enough said.

As mentioned, our ceremony will be held on-site. Weather permitting, it will take place on the outdoor patio. Cocktail hour tables will be set up both indoors and outdoors (all food will be indoors).

For more information on the caterers and venue, visit the websites for Inncredible Caterers and Patriot Hills Golf Course. We hope our guests love the location as much as we did!

About Patriot Hills. Upon reaching the entrance to Patriot Hills, one finds it hard not to notice the beautiful stone buildings along the site's perimeter. The grounds on which Patriot Hills is located is the former site of Letchworth Village. The facility, named after wealthy Quaker businessman William Pryor Letchworth, opened on July 11, 1911 and was phased out in the 1990s.

The buildings were constructed from fieldstone gathered from nearby fields. Every resident had some hand in the operation of the institution which was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. The schools set up at Letchworth Village focused on academics and industrial classes that supported the facility's operation. There was a large and profitable farm operation, as well as an industrial arts program that provided rugs, furniture and other crafts for sale to local residents. (Information obtained from the Hudson Valley Golf website)

Wedding Checklist

In an attempt to stay organized for the wedding, I've developed a checklist (with help from TheKnot.com) for what needs to be done.

Things to Book:

1. Caterer (Complete)
2. Ceremony & Reception Site (Complete)
3. Band or DJ (Complete)
4. Photographer & Videographer (Complete)
5. Officiant (Tentatively booked - to confirm in the Spring)
6. Florist (Complete)
7. Baker for Wedding Cake (Complete)
8. Ceremony/Cocktail Hour Musicians (In progress)
9. Limos (Complete)
10. Shuttle Services or Area Cab Companies (Complete)
11. Make-Up Artist (Complete)
12. Hairstylist (Complete)
13. Manicure & Pedicure Appointment for Day Before Wedding
14. Hotel Room for Wedding Night (if applicable) (Complete)
15. Honeymoon (Complete - can't wait!)

Things to Decide:

1. Budget (Complete)
2. Date (Complete)
3. Guest List (Complete)
4. Bridal Party (Complete)
5. Color Scheme (Complete)
6. Wedding Cake Design
7. Floral Scheme
   Bouquets (Complete)
   Centerpieces (Complete)
   Reception Decorations (Complete)
   Ceremony Decorations
8. Readers (if applicable) (Not applicable)
9. Ceremony Readings and Script
10. Ceremony Music (if applicable)
11. Formal Dances Music (First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Groom) (Complete)
12. Wedding Day Timeline
13. Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (if applicable)
14. Photography location (Complete - NJ Botanical Gardens)

Things to Do:

1. Register for Gifts (Complete)
2. Pick a Hairstyle
3. Block Hotel Rooms (Complete)
4. Plan Rehearsal Dinner (Not applicable)
5. Finalize Menu and Service Details
6. Get Engagement Photos Taken (Complete)
7. Schedule and Attend Dress Fittings (Complete - final try-on 9/12; pick-up 9/25)
8. Confirm Reservations for Out-of-Town Guests
9. Apply for Marriage License
10. Schedule Hair & Make-Up Trial (Make-Up Trial Complete)
11. Write Thank-You Notes for (possible) Shower (Complete)
12. Make List of Must-Play (and Must-Not Play) for DJ or Band
13. Make List of Must-Take Pictures for Photographer
14. Confirm Wedding Night and Honeymoon Reservations
15. Seating Plan
16. Wrap Bridal Party Gifts
17. Change of Name Paperwork
18. Prepare Toasts or Thanks to Guests
19. Fax Transportation Providers a Schedule and Addresses for Pick-Ups on Wedding Day
20. Give Wedding-Day Directions, Schedule and Contact List to Parents, Bridal Party and Vendors
21. Give Final Head-Count to Caterer
22. Give Seating Chart to Caterer
23. Confirm Final Payment Amounts with Vendors
24. Confirm Delivery Locations, Times and Final Arrangement with Florist (if applicable)
25. Confirm Location, Date and Time with Photographer/Videographer
26. Confirm Date, Location, Time and Playlist with Band or DJ
27. Confirm Date, Location, Time and Playlist with Ceremony Musicians (if applicable)
28. Pack Bags for Wedding Night and Honeymoon (if applicable)
29. Leave Honeymoon Itinerary with Parents
30. Put Final Payments and Cash Tips in Marked Envelopes and Give to Designated Family Member to Distribute on Wedding Day
31. Rehearse Ceremony
32. Confirm Honeymoon Travel Plans
33. Drop Off Required Materials to Venue
34. Write Thank-You Notes for Wedding

Things to Order:

1. My Gown (Complete)
2. My Accessories (Complete)
3. Bridesmaid Dresses (Complete)
4. Tuxedos (Complete)
5. Brian's Wedding Band (Complete)
6. Favors (Complete)
7. Bridal Party Gifts (In progress - one GM left to buy for and RB)
8. Parents Gifts (In progress - groom's parents left to buy for)

Things to Make:

1. Save-the-dates (Complete)
2. Invites (Complete)
3. Cardbox
4. Out-of-Town Boxes
5. Ceremony Program
6. Guest Book
7. Information Sheet with Contact Numbers
8. Wedding Day Timeline
9. Wedding Day Emergency Bag
10. Placecards
11. Kids Packets for Reception
12. Memory Candles

Things to Send:

1. Save-the-dates (Complete)
2. Invites (Complete)
3. Thank-You Notes for (possible) Shower (Complete)
4. Thank-You Notes for Wedding