via Weddings and Cookies

This is such a great cheat for getting beautiful hand-lettered (sort of) calligraphy without having to hire someone to do it. Basically it involves printing directly onto the envelopes/whatever so it’s just visible, then tracing over it with an appropriate coloured pen. I can imagine it being a little time consuming, especially if you have as many people to invite as I likely will, but for that light-lettering-on-coloured-paper look I might consider it…

That said, I don’t get the snobbishness about *gasp* sending envelopes with the addresses just printed on them or on labels in a nice font. Is it really any less personal than paying a calligrapher a few bucks per envelope to write out?

This morning during my pattern making class, I asked my teacher if she knew of any local dressmakers who could make my wedding dress. She suggested that I try making it myself, if the design isn’t too complicated (it isn’t). I’ll already have my basic blocks* and know-how from pattern-making class, and since I was planning on doing the sewing class anyway I can do it as a project there – thus getting some help from a pro and not showing it to The Boy. There’s still a few issues though:

• If I lose as much weight as I plan to, my blocks and measurements I’m doing now will need to be redone. Not a big deal since I’m taking kickass notes though.
• Each block of classes is $220 for 6 classes. I’m not sure how doable finishing a wedding dress, right from drafting the pattern, in 6 weeks is, and if I do several blocks it’ll potentially be costing as much as getting a dress made. I would come away with tons of knowledge though, and it’s something I’m genuinely interested in learning.
• I can see myself being too much of a perfectionist for my skill level, and winding up hating the dress by the time I get to wear it (this happens with lots of things I make…).
• I’d have to be really really careful transporting the thing to and from classes – and I’m not reeeeally a very careful person.
• It could still come out crap.
• I’ve received skeptical reactions to my plans to do my own flowers, hair and makeup, so I’m fairly certain people will think I’m completely crazy for trying to do this.

But on the positive side…

• Bragging rights for making my own freaking wedding dress. Come on, how cool is that?
• Complete creative control.
• My dress would be made from scratch with my body in mind, as opposed to buying made-to-measure or off-the-rack and having it adjusted.
• Apart from the cost of the class, it will be far cheaper (in terms of money at least!)
• I’ll have a professional who has made garments for tons of people before to turn to for help.
• I’ve made dresses in a similar style to what I want before, and completed them in just a couple of weeks with quite a good result.
• Sewing, particularly sewing fun dresses that fit me nicely, is something I really want to get good at – and what greater challenge than a ball dress?
• I’m honestly not so obsessed with the ‘perfect’ dress that I would be completely upset if my handmade dress didn’t work out, I couldn’t get anything else made in time and had to buy something off the rack.

I think I’ll really have to just see how my sewing goes over the next several months, then determine if I can handle the challenge or not!

* a pattern making ‘block’ is a template based on the person’s measurements and shape, which can then be used as the basis for more complex designs. Working from a block means you don’t have to work with a commercial pattern and can get a better fit faster. Currently I’m working on a bodice and a straight skirt block, which would form the basis for most dresses.

Step class tips:

1. If the moves are too complicated/boring, make up your own.
2. Ignore weird stares.
3. Gain extra points for moves that are more vigorous than the actual moves.
4. Decide Pump is really more your thing, and Step is for dorks anyway*
5. Resolve to actually show up on time for Pump class so you don’t end up stuck with Step.

* Kidding! It’s not that dorky (though really, the music for Pump is way better)

via Re-Nest

Loving some of the ideas for decorating using old books posted on Re-Nest recently. The branch using the pages as leaves above is gorgeous, and the one about creating 3D art and ‘vases’ out of books could make a pretty easy, unique and cheap centerpiece. I’d feel a bit bad cutting up books, but if they’re just ones from an op-shop I suppose it isn’t too bad!

I couldn’t resist. When I first started this blog I fully expected to make a couple of posts and then forget about it, so I didn’t put much effort into the design. But now I’ve grown rather attached to it, I figured it was time to give it a bit of a facelift. Or reconstruction. Whatever. I know most other bloggers out there are perfectly happy with simple or default designs, but I’m a web designer and can’t resist the opportunity to show off and play with design.

So here we are! I’m feeling much more pleased with this look, which is inspired by my latest colour-scheme-of-the-moment. Enjoy.

A wedding video is something that I wasn’t really interested in – I know it’s supposed to be one of the things I’d ‘regret not having after!’, but we’re not really the type to sit down and watch home movies. I feel entirely justified in putting any budget that would have gone towards videography into getting an awesome photographer. Maybe getting an uncle to take a basic video of the ceremony to send to anyone who couldn’t make it, if they’re interested.

Then I saw this wedding video by Hello Super 8:

SO much cooler than a long boring video. This is something I would actually watch and feel delighted about. Even if it isn’t my wedding or the wedding of anyone I know, like this video is. It was made with Super 8mm film, which is described nicely here by Layer Cake films. It’s imperfect, there’s no sound, each roll only shoots a few minutes of footage and you’re going to get some unpredictable effects, but I’m a sucker for that delicious retro look.

I haven’t been able to find any videographers who work with Super 8mm film in Perth, but I don’t want to take the budget to hire one back out of our photography budget anyway. So this is looking like a DIY job.

Luckily, I recently came across the Harinezumi Digital – a cute toy camera that actually shoots in digital format. Okay, I’ll admit – I’m not in love with the still photos it takes. Well, not as much as other toy cameras. Although the convenience of it being digital is nice. Anyway, what makes this camera interesting to me is that it takes video that looks a hell of a lot like 8mm film (intentionally, I’m sure). At almost $200 it isn’t exactly cheap for a plastic camera, but I’m going to guess that it’s still a lot cheaper than hiring a videographer or buying a ‘proper’ video camera. Here’s an example of the video:

To convince myself further:

• I’ll totally use it again. I shall become the queen of retro home movies.
• It’s freaking cute.
• Unlike 8mm film, the new version of the Zumi can actually record sound (I’m going to assume it isn’t awesome quality though).
• Also unlike the 8mm film, it can record as long a video as fits on a micro SD card. Haven’t determined how long this actually is yet, but I’m fairly certain it’s longer than 4 minutes.
• I’m geeky enough to find the idea of editing a retro-look video of my wedding extremely exciting.

What are you guys doing for video?

I hate the gym. I think I’ll just stay home and eat shortbread cookies. Will try again tomorrow.

My most recent (failed but still yum) attempt at green tea cookies

Chandeliers are awesome. I would consider hanging chandeliers as decoration, if I wasn’t terrified they would fall on guests. Not really something I want my wedding to be remembered for. Anyway, I was thinking that while a real chandelier could pose a bit of a threat (not to mention cost), a paper cutout would be reasonably safe and potentially possible for me to do myself. I imagine it would look something like this:

via Flat Bird Surface Art

..only as hanging card cutouts rather than wall decals of course. Not sure that they’d go with the paper lanterns I really want to have though, and as the venue doesn’t have your average ceiling I’m not sure we’ll be able to hang anything at all. An idea to consider perhaps.

Surely, somewhere in Perth city there must be a building that will let me use their rooftop for a ‘first look’ like this. Right?

I love first looks, I think it’s nice to have a private moment to see each other and feel prepared for making the next big step together. Practical too, in that you can do photos before the ceremony and actually join in cocktail hour!

I’m the kind of girl who looks for coupons and deals, waits for the sales to buy stuff, bargains with salespeople for electronics, compares prices on anything vaguely expensive before buying it. This is the way I was brought up. I’ll splurge on something if I think it’s truly worth it, but not without looking at every other option, weighing up the cheapest place to buy it, and trying to get the seller to throw in some extras just because.

Unsurprisingly, this has meant that figuring out just how much a 100+ person wedding costs is freaking me out. I mean, wow. For one day. One special day, to be sure, but one day all the same. Initially The Boy and I discussed how much we wanted to spend, and decided $20,000 for our 80 – 100 person wedding would be reasonable. Since then our numbers have increased (still haven’t got anything definite yet, but expecting at least 120 invites to go out), and I’m trying to still make the budget fit by planning to DIY everything I can possibly DIY.

I suppose it’s down to what you want to splurge on and what you want to scrimp on. Here’s my lists:

Splurge

• Food – we want to serve a full, good meal.
• Drinks – The Boy and I aren’t wine or beer connoisseurs by any means, but I do want decent stuff.
• Photography – I love photography and doubt I’ll have any regrets splurging on the right photographer.
• The Boy’s suit – want to go with something he can wear again and again.
• Music – thinking of splurging a little extra for a jazz singer, or even a band if we manage to save enough on other things…

Scrimp

• My dress – I just can’t justify paying thousands of dollars for a one-day-dress. Lucky the style I’m after is simple, doesn’t take up too much material and should be re-wearable. Still pondering making it myself.
• Flowers – I’m not a big flower person. They’re pretty and all, but I feel odd spending so much money on something that will die in a few days. Hoping to buy a bunch of flowers in sort of the right colour the day before the wedding and putting together some simple bouquets.
• Hair & makeup – I hate other people doing my makeup. And I like doing my hair. Between myself and 4 bridesmaids, I think we’ll manage.
• Cake – pondering going with something that I won’t be charged $5+(!) per head to slice up.
• Centrepieces – see the comment on flowers above. Current plan: potted herbs, to give away/plant in our garden after.
• Transport – The Boy wants vintage cars, and I think it would be cool – but we’re doing everything at the same place (or as close to as possible), so it seems a bit pointless to me. Will probably get my dad to drive me if there’s any driving involved, haha.
• Bonfavs – previously decided to be nice but unnecessary.
• Stationery – because I know I’ll have heaps of fun making them!

What are you guys splurging and scrimping on?