bi-coastal favors?

I had hoped of having the time, funds, and free fruit to make a huge batch of jam next summer from Oregon berries to give jar and give away as favors. Then I was trying to figure out how to bring some more Georgia (FH is from Georgia) into the wedding. Peach preserves!!! Wouldn't that be great. Ok. I guess I need to rethink that since I don't live there.

The other idea is that FH and I make something with Oregon hazelnuts, which we love. Maybe hazelnut brittle or just plain roasted nuts and put some Georgia pecans in there too. Put them in little burlap sacks or maybe glasine envelopes with a rubber stamp of our wedding motif.

What do you think? Should I be a nut or preserve myself?

Or perhaps something a little more Dynasty

The dress Joan Collins wore for her wedding in Dynasty is for sale. I like it except for the color.

How good of shape can a vintage dress be in?

I found this gem on a vintage clothing website today. It's by Nolan Miller. I has the mermaid cut and it's got lace and some texture along the bottom and the top of the bodice. But I am wondering how well the fabric has held up and if, even a lot of steaming, and some alterations it could look "fresh".

Turns out I like mermaid dresses

I guess my dream dress is kind of a mermaid dress and after I figured that out I re-found a dress I had seen when I first started this nonsense. It's very pretty from Alvina Valenta but it's still a toss up between this, the Carolina Herrara, and the Liancarlo.

If we could only dance....like this

I want to dance and really have fun doing it and have some tricks up our sleeves. I had an idea to bring in a square dance caller the night before for a fun kind of family icebreaker although I dont know how to square dance. I looked at some videos of wedding square dances and have rethought that one. Then I thought that country swing would be good to learn because I have always wanted to be able to do that crazy rubber-band arm spin swing to country music and old time music but it looks kind of boring when I watched that video. But Dave and I both agree that the funnest looking dance of all has to be lindy hop. So we might try to learn how to do it but I don't know how good we can get in 6 months and since I am recovering from a slipped disk I am a bit worried that all we will end up with is a very slow version of basic and none of the crazy jumps or spins that we are now fantasizing about. Check it out.

Love Quilt

This has been part of my plan since before I was engaged. I have to admit, I had considered why my wedding would be like. I want everyone to send a square of fabric back with their reply card. I wonder if it will work. I think it will be nice especially for the folks who can't be there. Then they will be able to see their little square in my quilt and we can use it as a prop for some part of the event.

Le Menu

My site coordinator sent me some suggested menus. I couldn't help myself and made some edits. I hope they can accommodate. What do you think? Too complicated for a buffet?

I hate to give it away to any of my guests who might be reading this.

Beer, wine, lemonade and sweet tea

Appetizers

Imperial Stock Ranch mini lamb burgers with Summer’s sweet pickle relish (could also have some sort of mini vegetarian burger?)

vegetable crudite with some sort of dip or hummus Display

Smoked Pacific Salmon and
Oregon cheese (including goat cheese/sheep cheese/cow cheese) selection and artisan breads and crackers Display

Buffet Dinner

Salad
some sort of seasonal green Salad w/ an Oregon lavendar honey Vinaigrette

Pacific Northwest Artisan Bread

Entree

Imperial Stock Ranch Roasted Leg of Lamb w/ Hood River D’anjou Pear Chutney or fresh mint sauce

Pan Seared Wild Coho Salmon served with Lemon Beurre Blanc (or a sauce that could also be used on the lamb, to make it easier)

(Is it possible for any vegetarians to get a stuffed Portobello steak with the same sauce as the lamb, upon request?, I wouldn’t put this on the buffet, but I would let them know to ask the server. We will likely have at least 10 complete vegetarians)

Vegetable and Starch
Wild Rice Pilaf or roasted red potatoes (preferably from Oregon)

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic & Chanterelle Mushrooms
Or Locally Grown Asparagus Lightly Sautéed in Olive Oil & Garlic


Dessert
Coffee, Tea
Fresh berries and wedding cake


Late night menu for 50
Repeat mini burgers and serve bottles of miller high life, coca-cola and seltzer water

Do the Bustle

I waited in line at one of those sample sales. I was sure I wouldn't find a dress that I loved and could afford. I wasn't even ready to throw down $1000 that day, but low and behold they had the dress of my dreams...... almost. Wrong fabric but same dress. Carolina Herrara for $1500 and I walked. I walked all over Tyson's Galleria, through Nicole Miller, through Macy's bridal, and all the way to Sak's where they had the dress of my dreams for a mere $5000. How could Carolina do this to me? It's perfect but for the price tag.

I love bustles. Christine knows, not just the little kind but the big boufant ones. Bring on the bustles. Bustles... not just for the reception anymore.

Martha Stewart Weddings (Satoko and Alex). They did some pretty cool stuff. Don't mind if I borrow some ideas.

Look at these cool wedding favors - Wristbands

Looks like bridesmaid and grandpa having a dance. Check it out at www.sumgoods.com

Thoughts on flowers

gerbera daisies
cala lilies
Two kinds of flowers I
don't care for

They don't smell.
Where do they come from?

I like this one too.

A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. Or maybe the taste of spending more than $10,000 on a wedding during a recession.

We decided today, and now on to...... the dress

I am going for the river/ranch wedding. Not really a ranch, but a faux river lodge. These dresses inspired me. I love the victorian/georgian/Mary Poppins style. Not revealing but sexy at the same time, no?