@AllThisIsNewToMe, that’s what we did. I used the shorter strands in mason jars with sunflowers, and we also had battery operated votives on the tables. @thumper1, our rehearsal dinner was in a private space at a beer hall-type establishment, so we needed to add some personality to what was, essentially, a concrete room with garage doors. 
It wasn’t a sit-down dinner, so I used burlap runners on the tables and used the jars and votives to add less harsh lighting.
Well…I’ll leave anything related to the rehearsal dinner up to the MOG. She is planning this event. And really it’s hers. She likes to make favors so maybe she will do something. Really, I don’t think it’s necessary in our case. But it’s her choice.
Pardon me, but I need to whine a bit. I am sooooo tired of wedding planning. Our son got married last September (massive Indian wedding in the city where he and his wife live), our daughter is getting married next September, and our best friends’ daughter is getting married 53 weeks from now (a couple that has been together for nine years, and whom everyone knew were going to get together at least a year before that).
My wife and daughter are both excellent planners, super-organized, and they agree completely on 90% of everything. But they are also both accustomed to being right on 100% of everything, so that 10% on which they disagree is profoundly irritating to each of them, and I get to hear about all of it in great detail from both. (I am free to give my input as well, but since I am only right about such things as often as one would expect from a random number generator, no one pays any attention to what I think.)
Our friends are not great planners or super-organized, so my wife (and somewhat my daughter) has a large role in their planning, too, which means that their daughter’s wedding is the near-exclusive topic of conversation among us now. Things were bad enough during the run-up to our son’s wedding, and we had a comparatively minor part to play there.
It’s gotten to the point where after 10 minutes or so on the menu, or the serving options, or the differences among hotel rooms, I have to say “Sorry, I just can’t focus on this any more,” and leave the room.
^^^I get that. I have to admit being very happy once our son’s wedding was done - even he and his wife said they felt like they got a whole life back and so much more free time/mind space. And our plans were not even that out there!
I think it’s totally “ok” to feel that way!
There’s more to life, right…?
I woke up this morning all stressed about the wedding. I must have had some kind of anxiety dream, but luckily I didn’t remember it. I told H and he said, “let the planner do the worrying”. Nice, but she’s not helping with the brunch!!!
I felt the same way about my daughter’s wedding. It’s especially nice that we’re all still speaking to each other despite the strains that developed during the planning process.
D1 and D2 are both getting married in 2018. D2 is first, and D1 is marrying (pardon me) big money and is having a more lavish wedding. There is now a bit of envy or second guessing. Heaven help me.
D1 ordered her dress this weekend. It’s very beautiful.
@zoosermom I can relate with your DDs’ situation. My older sister met and married a man that was only 3 years younger than our mom (5 years younger than our dad) when she was 25 and he was 41 - he was a divorced Lutheran minister (she had just gotten out of psych hospital for depression/anxiety disorder) that they were married within 10 months of first date. She wouldn’t let dad walk her down the aisle (the two of them came out of a side door to the front of the church) - they wanted to do it ‘all on their own’ then ran short of funds and allowed parents to put in money. 6 months later, I married the man I waited 2 years to marry (one year delay for parents’ large 25th wedding anniversary celebration). H and my wedding was very nice. Sister was a bit envious, but she did it ‘her way’. Now her H is 80 and she is 64…my H and I are both 61.
We have two DDs - one married last year. One will be a career woman until she crosses paths with a guy she does not want to let go…which may be someone she is friends with now, IDK.
Both ceremonies and receptions can be very nice. They both just need to be happy with their guy and “Married for Life” (actual book which I highly recommend for married couples).
Wondering what others have done (or plan to do) with the best professional wedding photos. Leave them in electronic form only, print and frame a few, purchase or create your own albums with printed photos, use a service to print a book, etc?
DD was extra focused on selecting their photographer and he includes an engagement photo shoot for all couples. Fortunately, the photos and the photographer are wonderful. Has me thinking about how the wedding photos will best be enjoyed over time. If the initial shoot is any indication, many will be “keepers”.
D2’s wedding is 5 mos out. Still not sure they are as organized as they should be, but we got them a party planner (who will help with some limited stuff) as a holiday gift to help them with that and to help deal with the potential family issues if (1) future DIL invites her dad to some limited part of the weekend (2) if he shows up and (3) if he brings his uninvited live in girlfriend. He’ll also probably stay at the hotel where everyone is which will be another challenge for them. Ugh.
We are hosting that family brunch (and friends are hosting a shower the next day) in a few weeks. Amazing how this forces one to get the house fixed up!! The driveway/walkway/brickwork has been pressure washed and the brick repair guy just left (so thankfully our front steps won’t fall down) and the carpet cleaner is coming this afternoon. The yard has been fixed up, the living/dining room updated (ok- I used this party as an excuse to do that!) and the garage has been cleaned out. Whew.
For this party we have hired a photographer and will probably just ask for digital pictures either emailed or on a memory stick. For DS#1s wedding they sent access to pictures but also has a book made which I LOVE and is beautiful. IT sits on the coffee table. I would definitely recommend doing a book.
I can relate. We are getting our landscaping redone from the ravages of the drought. Can’t have the house looking bad with all these people coming to town!
Exactly, @TatinG ! The landscaping was done in the fall. I actually like looking out the window now!
We are fixing up the house a bit too. I won’t try to deal with the yard until we are closer in time. The deep freeze killed some things but it’s too soon to replant.
I had already planned to redo my kitchen. I walked into the kitchen design place in late July but it took her until November to finalize the plans! Believe me, I tried to hurry things along. Demo will start next week so the timeline makes me nervous. We should have 5-6 weeks between the kitchen being finished and the wedding. Should!
We really like our photographer!!
We purchased the package that inclides one album, and it will go to the couple.
We also get a DVD of 800-1000 pictures with no watermark or anything else. They are ours. Next year for Christmas, we will make albums for the future inlaws, and the two living grandmothers using Shutterfly.
We want three prints…and that’s it. No album. We will get those too.
We have download access to the entire portfolio of pictures from the wedding. S and DIL will order an album from the photographer and have encouraged us to order a small album, as well. They printed out two pictures and framed them for us as a holiday gift, and I will be printing a couple for my mother. All she asked is that she be given photo credit if any of the pictures is posted online.
Both S and D gifted us with an album of their wedding photos. They were photos mainly of our side of the family and friends. They also did one for their in-laws.
We think the nice thing for us…is that we will be able to create these Shutterfly albums and use pictures unique to each recipient. For example, my MIL will want pics of her kids, and families…and nothing else. The other grandma will want the ceremony, and her friends and relatives. The MOG will want her family and friends.
We don’t want an album…but I already have the nice frames for my three pictures!
Fun to hear of house updates related to upcoming weddings. With DD’s event 2 hours from us and 4 hours from her, at home festivities are unlikely. We may have family houseguests around the weekend. Think I’d rather do that post-wedding than pre-wedding. Sanity preservation is prized.
Thanks for all the input on photos. We’ll have full digital access also.
I don’t know exactly what we will want with photos, yet I lean toward a book as @jym626 described. Glad so many are happy with their photographers and photos.
@thumper1, your organization has been a help throughout this planning process. Is your certainty about three photos a function of the specific list of photos to be taken or a limit you will adhere to when picking favorites? I may well find unexpected, candid shots that appeal.
Learned the value of limiting number of framed photos by tending the elders; took time to empty those frames.
I just don’t need more picture! I seldom if ever look at old albums I have. I don’t need to add to the collection, even for a wedding.
But I DO want three pictures.
- bride and groom only
- Bride and groom with us, and my son.
- A picture of the women on my side of the family. We have precious few times when all of us are in the same room...and this is one...so it will be the bride, my three sisters, my niece and me.
We will have the DVD, and can also save some on our computer as a slideshow. That’s plenty for me.
We have photos framed in our bedroom and in DH’s office, but the wedding album is GORGEOUS and when guests come they do look at it. It’s also fun to relive the weekend through the photos.