Dream Wedding on a Budget?? I NEED HELP!!!!

Calling all current brides, former brides, or anyone that has helped plan a wedding before!

We are looking to have our dream wedding on a budget so we are in need of cost cutting secrets, DIY ideas and spots you found a way to save money on your wedding.

We all have this dream that money is made is on trees, we can have it all, that there is no cost to great for your special day but then you see the bottom line of your budget and it literally takes your breath away. 

Or at least for me it confirmed my worst fears. 

We are already over budget.  

Way Over.

I'm not surprised by this truthfully but I didn't think it would be the number it is. 

We, both my future wife and I overspend like crazy and this is the one time where we both are going to have to come to a compromise on things. 

We need to wrangle it in. 

It is harder than it sounds or seems. 

Way harder. 

We know we are gong to have an amazingly beautiful, loving, crazy fun wedding but there are cuts that are going to have to be made. 

This is where any advice, help or tips comes in super handy. 

We are willing to make things for the wedding, we are not scared DIY'ers.

( minus a nail gun, I'm not allowed to work those from past experiences )

Where did you find you could save the most money in your wedding without having to severely cut out things?

What places did you find had the best deals on items you needed?

How long did these items take you / how much manpower to make if any?

We are already making our own centerpieces and our cake / cupcake holder from ideas I found on Pinterest. 

But in all honestly Pinterest is completely overwhelming lately and I can't focus. 

We are ready to put on our creative bride hat and focus on what needs to get done. 

That is why we am reaching out to all of you. 

Thank you for any and all help! 

Kristen and Holly 

xoxoxoxo

It's all in who you know .....

What makes a wedding so incredibly special are the people who are nearest and dearest to your heart standing along side of you. 

It takes careful consideration when deciding who you want in your wedding. 

Or at least it did for me.

I mean this is the day when you need the friends who you can count on through thick and thin. 

They are the peanut butter to my jelly, the ones who I turn to when I need to laugh, cry or just get crazy with. They are my chosen family.

These girls are the cream of the crop, my besties.

I'm blessed. Truly. 

Each one of these ladies brings something unique to the table.  

As I asked them one by one I could visualize them supporting me as I make this lifelong commitment to the woman I love with all my heart. 

I love each and every one of these faces ....

Carrie Vincent : My Maid of Honor, My Monkey, My BFFAA - I can't imagine doing this without her.  

I'm her Banana and she is my Monkey, never to be replaced. I couldn’t be happier that she is now living back in the ROC and close to me!!!! I have missed her more than words can say! Recently this beautiful woman, with a contagious laugh achieved one her huge goals and is graduating from school. I am so super proud of her for making her dreams a reality. She deserves every happiness possible.  I can talk and hang out with her for hours and it feels like minutes, and I especially love when she serenades me with  " All the single ladies"!!!

Michelle Yeager : My Bridesmaid, My Twinsie ( isn't she gorgeous?? )

Put us next to each other and people can't believe we aren't sisters or even twins for that matter.  Same looks, same characteristics and same traits and not related at all. Or as far as we know. By chance we met at work about 4 years ago and we instantly were bonded.  I have so many wishes for this beautiful loving lady and I know that in due time all of her dreams will come true. Timing Michelle, Timing. She is my cupcake tester, my shopping buddy,  and one of these most magnificent photographers I know . Twinforce!!!!

Sarah Fitch : My Bridesmaid and My Residual 

We have known each other for years .. but over the course of the last couple of years we have grown closer than ever. Whether we are enjoying a nice glass (or many) of wine together or time yelling at the damn TV to cheer for the Buffalo Bills we always seem to have so much fun! She has a wonderfully adventurous and determined spirit to her that makes her my Residual!!!

Allison LaPoint : My Bridesmaid, Bestie and NKOTB Lover

Change. That is the best word to describe my BFF of over 20 years and she is having the year of her life. Recently married ( less than 2 months ago ) I feel privileged to stand by her side as her Maid of Honor on her big day. We have gone through tons of things together, some good, some not so good and some just great! We are going seriously going to be the old ladies in the nursing home causing trouble when we are old.  

Brenda Burton: My Bridesmaid, Long Lost Friend and Best Purse Giver in the world
One of the most amazing Momma's I know is a great way to start describing this hilarious dear friend of mine. She has one of the best personalities which is exactly why her kids are probably the most well rounded children I know. We have changed a lot over the years, lost track of one another and reunited. No matter what I know this friend who's family warms my heart is in my life forever. 

Sheila Leatherman Lucyszyn: My Bridesmaid and My Wifey

About 10 years ago we met by coincidence and I couldn't be happier about it. Literally if you want to let loose and have a great time, this girl is the one I call. She is a blast in a glass, no joke. Even if she has a husband (who is pretty great) and one ..two babies, she is still my wifey and Halloween Party Companion!!  

Lists, budgets and pie charts OH MY!

...and so it begins. 

The planning process of what I know will be a traditional  / non traditional beautiful, crazy fun wedding! 

One we are sure not one guest will forget. 

Now come the questions ..

How many guests on the list?
From the average I have heard from brides to be I get the sense it is around 120-140 and I initially thought  

          we would be a wedding of 140-150 people but I was clearly wrong.
The wedding is slowing turning out to be more than 200 ( I think the final count right now is about 210 ).
What can we say ... we know a lot of people. We want to be able to celebrate with everyone we love. 

And you know us ... GO BIG OR GO HOME! 

Now we have this growing amount of peeps at our celebration of love ( that sounds ridiculous but I am not deleting it ) what is our budget going to be?
And how much are we willing to go over the original set amount the we budgeted, cause it happens, to almost everyone 

I mean this day is the most important day to both of us and we want to go all out if we so choose. 

Not everyone believes that a wedding should cost that much or that you don't need all this to bring to people together, but in our household we love to celebrate. Everything.
We plan parties to just to celebrate all our friends and family. Not just any old parties either, theme style, gift giving, food sharing parties.
So when it comes to the wedding it must be spectacular. 

My Maid Of Honor Carrie gave me a wonderful gift, the knot wedding organizer. It has everything I could need for getting this celebration planned in a organized fashion.
It is awesome and such a sweet gesture from my Monkey.

This is my strong suit, organizing and planning.
I can visualize something and completely execute it.
Although my weakness is budgeting and keeping all the money, payments and guest list straight.
Thankfully opposites really do attract cause my love is Finance person by trade so numbers are her thang.
Already there is I believe 3 or 4 different spreadsheets for all our expenses and our guest list.
There are pivot tables, pie charts and I'm just waiting for the Vlookup to kick in.
I have to pop a Xanax just to open this up since it gives me anxiety to even try to read it.
Much to much for me, so that is all her.
I will just continue putting together ideas and presenting them to her.
We work well together in situations like this.
Hopefully this will continue throughout our lifetime together.

More to come ... Next up, wedding colors and bridemaids!

A Country Club Kinda Girl?

Before this engagement ever happened Holly knew where she wanted to get married. 

2 years ago we went to VIP Event hosted by Encore, which my talented brother owns. 

They held this party at the Irondequoit Country Club in Pittsford, NY

It was love at first sight for my lovely wife to be.

I personally thought it was out of reach. Too expensive and too ritzy.

There is immaculate grounds, a beautiful new clubhouse,and huge windows through the reception room to an incredible view. 

The grounds are stunning

The back deck area

The ballroom

Regardless of all those things there is one room in particular that I know made the decision in her brain instantly, The bar / lounge area. 

Shocker! 

If I could have read her mind at that moment I would guess this would be it :

 Her and all her peeps sipping their Macallan 12 year old whiskey in rocks glasses specifically bought for this event. Smoking a cigar and chilling in the tavern-like setting. 

She was hooked. 

Me on the other hand ... I saw things much different. 

A fall wedding for sure, but in a rustic barn setting with cowboy boots, burlap and lots of little lights. 

I thought for sure holly would swoon over that idea knowing her love for the outdoors. 

Shockingly enough, not even close. 

Luckily for her every barn within a 60 mile radius of us was booked through 2016. 

I didn't realize just how popular barn weddings were until that moment. 

So I took my love's first choice and made an appointment to see the Irondequoit Country Club again 2 years later. 

From the moment I drove into this place I knew this was the place we would be getting married. 

It really was gorgeous and I was looking at it in a whole different way this time around. 

When we walked into the Ballroom there is was ... THE WOW FACTOR. 

It hit both of us. 

We started talking about placement of tables, where this would go, where that would go.. we had to have it. 

Plus I knew Holly would be ridiculously ecstatic to have our wedding here. 

  

A week later we brought back my family and some of our wedding party and booked it. 

 Is the cost still a factor? Sure but we have waited for this day for over 10 years. We deserve to have the dream wedding we BOTH want. 

 And is it still Ritzy? Absolutely but possibly not so much after we take over the spot in September of 2015. 

I guess good things come to those who wait ... 

My happiest day thus far ....

The Proposal .... 

Over the last year or two every time there has been a family event, special occasion or anything out of the ordinary I hoped there would be a ring at the end of it. 

Since Holly and I started dating I was planning our wedding in the back of my head. 

If you do the math over the course of a decade that is a lot of thinking, over thinking as many have told me ( I tend to do that, a lot ). 

I knew the day would come.

I prayed.

I had faith.

I annoyed the heck out of my friends and family. 

but I knew, someday it would come.

Being my anxious self, I was growing impatient by the day. I was more than ready to start our next chapter.  
I would think is today the day? When is it going to happen? What is she waiting for? 

So I did what any girl would do ( right ? ) , decide maybe I should propose to Holly. 
I first talked to Holly's best friend Tricia about it who gave me the green light to go ahead if that is what I wanted to do. Then I talked to my parents about it, they were not so sure of this decision and we very good at trying to lure me away from making that choice. 

All because they had a secret. 

And I generally dislike secrets. But not this one... 

My Step-Mom Linda ( key liar in this whole thing ) text me earlier in the week to say that she wants all the family over for family pictures on Sunday. 
I first thought that this is odd seeing as we have never had any family pictures taken, ever. So I question it, cause I question everything. 

 About a month prior to this Linda had a minor stroke, so she used this condition to convince that she was getting sentimental and just wanted to make sure we all had a beautiful family pic if anything was to happen.

I totally bought it.

Hook, Line and Sinker. 

I drove my family crazy all week. I must have called everyday asking questions like : Are we wearing summer or fall clothes? Are we color coordinating?  Will there be props? Is there time for outfit changes? 

Yes, I asked all of these.

They were so tired of me calling. 

My step-mom told me I was crazy at least 3 times that I can remember. 

I think she purposely stopped taking my calls.

But I wanted it to be was perfect. 

Little did I know that it was going to be perfect no matter what I wore. 

So Sunday came. I got up early, got all my cleaning done and was trying to figure out the question of the week. 

What was I going to wear?

I of course threw out my inevitable " I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!! " tantrum. 

A closet full of clothes and I have nothing. It happens every single time. 

Holly was a champ dealing with this side of me and she would just come over to me, whisper in my ear and say ... Babe, you look beautiful in everything. 

I of course response in my charming way with, NO I DO NOT. Not thank you, not awww babe but NO I DO NOT.

It must be awesome dealing with me. 

Moving forward.. 

It's about noon and her boss calls her and asks her to come into the office about 3 for an emergency meeting.  

Now normally I would think this is weird but he really called her and they were really on the phone together. Also she occasionally has emergencies at work on the weekend so I buy it. Again hook, line and sinker. 

She tells me that she will just meet me at my parents house cause the meeting may run late. 

I say ok cause I'm still working out my outfit in my head and still fuming that I should have gone shopping the day prior.

 I'm totally ridiculous. 

I know.  

She leaves, I get ready and then realize I have to go to the store cause I was suppose to bring dessert. 

So of course in natural fashion I am running late cause that is one of traits of Holly I have picked up along the way in our 10 years together.

My brother text me to ask what time I will be there and I explain I'm running late. 
I should have known then. 
He never texts me when I running late. Ever. But again I'm oblivious. 

So I show up at parent's house finally .. 20 minutes late. 

I hurry in with bags from the grocery store in one hand, a bag with about 2 changes of clothes in another. my cell phone, sunglasses .... ahhhh.... I'm disheveled to say the least.  

As I walk into my parents house they basically stop me in the doorway. I didn't even get a chance to put my bags down when out of no where I start to hear music play. 
I immediately knew the song. 
It was our song.
Garth Brooks " to make you feel my love" 
This song represented us and our relationship from the beginning and will forever be held in our hearts as very special. 

I started to shake instantaneously.
I knew this was it. 
This was the moment I had waited to for since I knew she was the one. 
I literally froze for a moment.
That was until my parents & aunts basically ushered me into the breezeway to the backyard. 

My dad went to the doorway and told me to head out to the backyard.
I walked out, shaking the entire way but didn't see anyone or anything.
Just our song playing over the sound system my brother had set up earlier in the day. 
Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone behind a tree but couldn't make out who they were. Little did I know it was twinsie so I would have obviously known her face since it is identical to mine. 
Then a within a second I start to see a the legs of people marching across the lawn with a sign held up over their faces. 
At this point my parents and aunts had come up behind with their arms around me. 
It is such a blessing to know and feel your family's support as they surround with their love and their blessings.
They too have been waiting for this moment just as long as I have. 

As they all come together the signs reads ...  
"Did you honestly think she was going to let you be the one to ..."
( this was the secret I mentioned early, my parents and her best friend trish told holly that I was thinking of proposing soon so the sign was telling me that.)
I lost it. I cried like a baby. 
It was perfect. 
It felt surreal.

The sign then parted, someone softened the music, and who else but my person, Holly comes emerging from the back. 
As she walked towards me the the sign came down and to my excitement it was being held up by our friends and our family. 
Some of these friends ( my monkey and MOH Carrie )were even suppose to be on a vacation still but lied about that too! 
So I was completely shocked and delighted to see all these faces whom I love dearly. 

Holly walked up as I stood there with my support behind me. 
I could hear the sniffles, and the feel the love. 
She said the most beautiful, special words anyone has ever said to me and then gets down on one knee.
She says that I told her that even if she proposed with a twisty tie I would say yes. 
She she opens the box, and there sits a twisty tie. 
I of course said Yes! 
But was secretly wondering where the other box was hiding. 
She stood up. 
She spoke more heartfelt words. 
She knelt again, this time with the other box. 
She asked me to spend the rest of life with her. 
Without a thought I said I WILL!!! 
I didn't even look at the ring, I couldn't stop staring at her face. 

The next thing I knew we were hugging, crying some more and the champagne was flowing! 

You see, my parents wouldn't let me the house when I got there cause they had already decorated for what would be an immediate engagement party!   
It was more than I ever imagined. 
I seriously have the best family!

The one who was suppose to be on "vacation" .. my monkey, my MOH!

Everyone made this a day I will never forget. Something I will always cherish and hold so dear to my heart. 
It is the happiest day thus far in my life. 
Now to enjoy all the occasions coming. 
All the quality time I get to spend with the ones I love.

They say the next year will fly by quick, so I plan to stop and soak up as much as I can from this moment. 



Love,
The Future Bride and Broom. 
xoxoxo

A Story Continues ....

This is a tale of two girls who simply fell in love.....

Hi I'm Kristen and this is my fiance Holly! 

We have been together ( on and off ) for over a decade. 

Yes, A decade. 

It seems like a long time but you know what they say, times flies when you are having fun. 

Our story starts back when we met in 2003 in most unlikely of places ... 

I remember it like it was yesterday. 

I was on a job interview, you know wearing my best outfit. A cute little skirt, top and heels, when low and behold who comes in to interview me? Yup, this woman who I will soon call my wife. She walks in wearing a wife beater, jean shorts and short spiky platinum hair. Oh yeah, and tattoo's blaring on her arms and legs. I was taken a little off guard, but intrigued at the very least. 

Needless to say, I got the job ( must have been my charm lol) and that is where the journey started. 

And what a journey it has been ...  

Over the last 10 years we have had our ups and downs. 

We have faced many obstacles together, head on and all I can say is that it has made us stronger as a couple. We have let go of each other only to find our way back to our home in each others arms. 

We are meant to be. 

She is my person and I am so proud to call her my partner. She is the one who I will choose to rest my head next to every night for the rest of our days. 

I'm consider myself the luckiest girl in the universe. 

With this belief glimpse of our love story, I wanted to start a blog of our next big adventure ...

OUR  ENGAGEMENT  & WEDDING!!!! 

Let's be honest, anyone who knows me knows that I love to blog, talk, tell stories and be crafty. 

What better story to tell then the incredible journey we as a couple are about to go on. 

So here we go, let the planning begin! 

Thanks for joining in our adventure! 

Love 

Kristen & Holly 

xoxoxoxo