On Eloping

I often feel the need to justify my decisions, mostly because they're a little (read: a lot) different than what my family is used to.  I was the first one to move out of state.  I wear all black, generally.  I am passionately liberal.  I support the arts.  It's quite a change from my conservative family's idea of what I should be doing.  However, this elopement is something I am for 100%.  I read this today and had an "A Ha!" moment.

I don't have to be the typical cupcake dress, tiara wearing bride with spiral curls and "natural" makeup.  I don't have to spend thousands on a stupid DJ that plays horrible remixes and club music.  No thanks.

I am going to elope.
I am going to wear a classic silk dress.
My hair is going to be kind of messy.
My makeup is going to be va-va-voom.
I am not wearing a garter belt.
I am not having a bouquet toss.
I am not having horrible, overpriced food.
I am not having a giant wedding just to show off.
I am not doing anything to make anyone happy, except Chris and myself.

This is our day and we're doing it our way. 

Going Aussie!

Change of plans.

We want to elope.

And you know what?

That's what we're doing!

 

I love that our Marriage Form has little kangaroos on it!

So why did we change our minds and our plans?

I've never dreamed of a perfect wedding with a big white dress and all the frills.  Why waste time and money if I don't even want it?  I thought it was the proper thing to do, but it turns out that everyone just wants me to be happy.

Chris and I both thought it was romantic to just jet away, recite our vows, and be with each other for this momentous occasion.

Why Australia?

We were planning on honeymooning there anyways.  They have surf & turf experiences, great fashion, and you can't forget that great accent!  Luckily we have some friends there, so hopefully we'll get to catch up with them as well.

Centerpieces

Lately, I've gotten the DIY bug in a big way.  I want to make everything!  I've tried to have some focus, really forcing myself to go crazy about centerpieces.  I've been scouring craft sites and the good old Martha Stewart dot com.  I've come to three different ideas. Can you help me choose?

Birch covered pots

I don't know what I would do with these yet, but I love the natural feel of them.  I'm thinking maybe I could add some sort of foliage or flora.  I was also hoping to incorporate coffee beans since Chris and I met at his coffee shop.  Ideas?

Manzanita Branch

I love the idea of using Manzanita branches.  They are also earthy and beachy.  They are relatively inexpensive, but since they aren't "contained," I'm not sure how to work with them.  Again, ideas?

Milkglass Pieces

What do you think about milkglass centerpieces? I love the vintage feel of them and the variation they could bring.  I could easily thrift them and come up with unique looks for each tables.  I also love the giant ranunculus flowers, but don't we all.

What do you think I should go with?

Doing it on our own (mostly)

We don't have a wedding planner.
We don't have a sponsor.
We don't even have Martha Stewart or The Knot.

Martha "freaking perfect" Stewart

We're going at it alone.

With the average national cost of a wedding totaling $26,000, I was scared. BIG TIME SCARED.  And what's even more scary? The average New York wedding is nearly double that at $50,000.  Those numbers are terrifying, especially to an already struggling self-proclaimed shopaholic.  EEK!

How I'm feeling.

We sat down and talked moneys.  Yes, I call it moneys to make it a bit less intimidating.  We figured out a budget, and a high number we knew we absolutely couldn't cross.  All seems well right?  Sort of.  We are both bad savers.  I like Saks Fifth Avenue and he likes Apple products.  However, we knew we would have to sacrifice.  Here's our (hopefully) helpful guidelines to budgeting (especially in New York):

1. Don't mention a wedding to vendors.  Do this and the charge will go up at least 30%.  It's New York and it's someone out there will be willing to pay the price.

2. Be flexible. If you are dead set on a Sunday wedding at 2 PM and the vendors know this, you're going to be taken advantage of.  Look at weeknight, Friday, or Saturday dates.  Trust me, they are a ton cheaper.

3. Look at penthouse and lofts.  Although you may not think of this first off as a wedding spot, you'll be happy you did.  Most are unfurnished or lightly furnished, which gives you ultimate flexibility in decorating.  It's also perfect if you like more of a minimalist or utilitarian look.

4. Be rich and/or have awesome parents.  Ok, so you can't really control this, but it's a huge plus.  First off, moms want to help.  It's like their ultimate calling to do wedding planning.  They eat it up, believe me.  Tell them everything you need to do or need to buy. Wa Bam! It gets done and it's freaking awesome!

5. DIY. Do it yourself.  This isn't just for crafts anymore.  We are making our STDs (save the dates), invitations, guest sign-in (not a book), and decorations.  If you're a control freak, like me, making it yourself is heaven.  You save moneys and you get it done the way you want (pending that it turns out alright).

A big thank you to my mom (for monetary and kick-ass emotional support), my grandma (for dress talk and wisdom), and my aunt (for a little bit of everything).

Just a little thank you...

I just wanted to write a little thank you to boyfriend for being so wonderful.  He's as good as it gets.

1. Thank you being keeping me sane.  I know sometimes I think I have ridiculous diseases after getting caught up on WebMD when my stomach hurts.  I appreciate you telling me that it will all be alright and being optimistic.

2. Thank you for stepping up with the dog.  I appreciate all of your training research, your "time out hallway", and buying the treats and food.  It means a lot that you have taken on a larger role since you know it's been very stressful for me.

3. Thank you for thinking of me.  Last night, you had Indian food ready for when I got home.  You have no idea how much this meant.  I was tired, had a headache, and had ate like a bird all day.  It's always comforting to come home where I know I'll be taken care of.

IFLY. That is all.

Sweetest of the Sweet

I honestly couldn't wait to share this with you today.  I've been bugging the boy about packages, the mailman, and deliveries.  I've been waiting on the sweetest delivery yet.

Our Bunting!

Bunting Cake Topper

Silhouette Detail

So, let me back up a second.  I used to work with Figs & Ginger when I was in buying.  They are some of the nicest people I have ever met in the retail world.  It was started by Rhonda & Elijah, the cutest couple ever.  Sneak a peak at this little video of them below (Warning: This video is extremely charming and you may be very warm & fuzzy inside.)

Figs & Ginger from DuckDuck Collective on Vimeo.

Elijah & Rhonda

They actually began making eco-friendly jewelry inspired by nature and just recently began offering wedding/party pieces!  After I inquired with them about their new collection, they graciously sent me these pieces since my nuptials will be coming up soon.  I can't wait to put them on our actual cake and have them in our pictures.  Since they are wooden, we will be able to keep them for a lifetime and possibly put them in a memory shadowbox or scrapbook.

Please check out their shop, Figs & Ginger.  They have beautiful handmade pieces literally made with love.

Lee Tai Tai

The name change game. To change or not to change, that is the question.

First, I'll give you a little background.  Everyone always calls me Miss Lindsay Moore, regardless of if they have just met me or if they've known me for a while.  When I asked a good friend why everyone calls me that, she said "Because it's your email?."  Oh silly girl!  What about people that don't know my email address?  She said that it was fancy, formal, fun, and it flowed together seamlessly.  Hello alliteration station!  I've always liked it as well.  I feel that it gives me a certain aire.

So...I'm getting married.  Am I changing my name?

YES.

Why? Because I love my future husband and his last name (even if it is pretty common).  I don't want to confuse anyone, especially any future little ones. I also love the sound of 'Lindsay Lee.'  It's cute and fun, don't you think?  Lastly, I want to show my dedication to him by making us more unified as a family.

So there will be paperwork upon paperwork, hassles, and dealing with disgruntled government workers.  Am I going to let that stop me?  Nope!

In June of next year, I will officially be Lee Tai Tai (Mrs. Lee)!

Making It Ours

One of the most important priorities for the wedding is to make it ours.  We don't want a generic fancy dinner, personalized favors, or outgrown traditions.  You all know the types.

We want it to be fun and representative of who we are.  Who are we and what's important to us?

Christmas 2010

• Love
• Family
• Our faith
• Enjoying life

How are we going to incorporate it?

New Year's Eve 2011

Partying our pants off!  Just kidding!  Although we do plan to show off some mean dance moves!

We hope to incorporate some of our likes: cupcakes, wine, and photos!  The exact details will have to be hidden for now because they are so good we haven't quite finalized everything yet.

Dominican Republic 2011

But you can expect one thing, we will be majorly in love and floating in paradise. :)

THE Shoes!

I finally found them! The perfect wedding shoes!

Pink Stuart Weitzman Pumps. I'm in love!

You Are Cordially Invited To

Let's talk about invitations. We could talk about the fun stuff: custom stamps, pretty designs, and even wax seals.

Nope. Not today my friends. Today we are going to talk the hard stuff.

We're going to talk POLITICS. Scary, I know.

Who do you invite? What about your mother's cousin's aunt from the reunion? What about your 7th grade English teach that actually made a difference in your life but that you don't really talk to anymore?

Oh yeah...and those weird relatives or the ones you don't really like.  Considering that we're having a wedding in NY and a reception back home in Ohio, how did we chose?

Rock Paper Scissors.

We did what any normal adults would do! Rock Paper Scissors!  Just joking! First of all, our limit was 75 at the max.  We can't afford more than that for food and most importantly, we have capacity issues (we are in NY after all!)

It was family first, then friends.  In the family section, it was immediate family only.  As much as we love you all, we know that not everyone call fly out to NY for a long weekend.  Next are the friends.  Of course there are friends from work, friends from school, and friends from 'how do I know you again.' At the end of the day again, we only have so much money and space.  Believe me, this process is neither fun nor easy.

One of my best tips is *drum roll* EXCEL! I love organization and crossing things off lists.  For your spreadsheet, you should have the following columns:

Name(s)
Address
Save the Date Sent (Yes or No)
Invite Sent (Yes or No)
Gift
Thank you card Sent (Yes or No)

This will cover your bases and leave you without the hassle of looking up addresses at every turn.  Now just to actually find a great cost efficient, DIY invite....

A Little Inspiration

I found this video over at Sometimes Sweet and I fell in love.  I dare you to watch it without crying.  Just try.  I double dog dare you.

nick+maria • england wedding from Paperback Weddings on Vimeo.

Honeymoon.

It seems like wedding planning has been a breeze so far. It's one fun thing after another.  (And no, I'm not being sarcastic.)  By far, our favorite thing to think about and plan has been the honeymoon.  We both love to travel, get away far less than we'd like, and want to go on adventure memorable for the rest of our lives.

So what are the possibilities so far?

1. FIJI

Paradise aka Fiji.

This would be me.

This is the #1 choice for both of us.  We always thought of going away for this secluded location to explore the natural wonders and Pacific lifestyle.  I'm not sure that the budget will go through, but this location would be ideal.

2. AUSTRALIA

A roo!

The infamous Opera House.

Right now, our second choice is Australia.  Kangaroos, the Great Reef (super scuba diving!!), and the Outback: what more could we ask for!  We could have equal parts water and land time (our respective element signs), along with lots of shopping, a little gambling (for him), and loads of fun with accents.  Plus, I'm making tons of fashion blogger friends that happen to be in Sydney!  Our church is also based in Australia, so we'd be able to include that while we vacation.

3. BACKPACKING (NOT LITERALLY) THROUGH EUROPE

Guadi's most famous: La Sagrada Familia

We would have to take a gondola ride in Venice.

We love the idea of exploring old-world Europe.  We could try tapas in Spain, pasta in Italy, and even chocolate in Belgium!  Culturally, we'd be able to expand our minds in a million museums, visit the lavender fields in France, and see the outstanding public works of Gaudi in Barcelona.  We could even be posh with the best of them at Lake Como, St. Tropez, or Nice.

What do you think? Should we splurge for seclusion & luxury, surf & turf, or culture & food?

Who runs the world?

GIRLS!

And well...Beyonce.

Long story short, I ran into an old friend from Saks Fifth Avenue in Bloomingdale's today.  Turns out he has been doing makeup for Miss Diva herself for a while now.  He needs to design a website.  So.....TRADE! He's going to do my makeup while I create a website for him.  How fab is that? I'm going to look like a million bucks, or bootylicious as B would say.

Our Songs.

Yes, we have more than one. :)

Train "Marry Me"
He played this song when he proposed. It talks about "getting up the nerve to talk to you in the cafe."  It's special because that's how we met and he did take FOREVER to finally ask me out.

Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind"
This was the first song I heard on my Ipod after he asked me out. I still tear up and get butterflies anytime I hear it.  We also consider the Jay-Z version acceptable too!

Hillsong United "Avalanche"
I heard this song for the first time at Hillsong NYC.  It really means a lot because Chris was the one who helped me get back to church.  I will never be able to repay him for that.

Who/What is CWLMO?

CWLMO is a mixture of our names.

CWL=Chris Wayne Lee

LMO=Lindsay's nickname....Lindsay Moore smushed into LMO (pronounced like Elmo)

Now you're in the know!

It's a bird, it's a plane...

It's a contraption on my head!

The official name is a fascinator and boy oh boy, does it fascinate me!  Etsy seller TocameMika made this custom for me once I saw the red version.  She was such a great person to work with and provided prompt responses.  I was a little worried since she is located in Spain, but I couldn't have asked for a better vendor.  I think I might have to start collecting them!

Do you love it as much as I do?

IFLY.

Sometimes it's nice to know you're appreciated. IFLY CWL.

Moore is More is More is More.

As most of you know, I like decadence and luxury. I like everything over the top, glitz and glam, sparkled, shimmering, and all that jazz.  Did you think anything would change? I constantly live in fairytale dreamworld.  Welcome to shoe paradise!

Miu Miu.

 Sky high sparkles.

Valentino.

These are heaven and a little bit more.

Giuseppe Zanotti.

Lots of bling and short heels. They're practical!

Manolo Blahnik.

These are by far my favorites.  They would go perfectly with my hair fascinator (which will be featured soon!). And did I mention that they're on sale? Cha Ching!

Le sigh. They are all still WAY out of my price range, but a girl can dream. (Unless her friends and family can donate to a shoe fund and buy her wonderful pretty things for her feet!)

You Caught Us Red-Handed!

The evidence.

Duhn duhn duhn. You caught us! It's our Save The Dates. And they're all finished!

We're just waiting on some postcard stamps and some addresses and they're on the way!

We really love you.

These will soon be in your mailbox. With one minor adjustment. And a sweet one at that! You'll just have to wait and see!

You should treasure these babies! I cut them out by hand. Yes, each and every one of them. And Chris and I will be adding a little something to each one. 

Seriously made with love.

Our First (and Second) Big Decision

What is the first question everyone loves to ask after you get engaged?

When's the date?

Well, in fact, it's June 22, 2012. Boo ya!

That wasn't so hard for us. Our first date anniversary is 3/11, so 6/22 is double. Easy math!

The real big decision was location. NYC is the land of "location, location, location."  Well, what do we do when we have family and friends scattered all over the place? First it was NYC, then Ohio, then eloping, and back to NYC.  At the end of the day, this is where we met, where we fell in love, and where we began our journey.

So that was the hard part right? Fuhgettaboutit!  New York is a world of small spaces and high price tags.  How were we going to find a space within our budget? I won't take you throughout the whole mess of options, but I will let you know that we found a place! And on 5th Avenue even! Aren't we fancy!?!

 

This is our space! That little podium there will be where the magic happens.  We have some big plans for this place,  you just wait!


CWLMO