A Note About The BP Gulf Oil Spill...

We are so excited to welcome you to our city later this year! In the wake of the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, our hearts go out to our fellow Louisiana citizens on the Gulf Coast who are suffering from this catastrophic event. However, we also want to reassure you that all of the things that you've come to enjoy in New Orleans remain unchanged and in some ways, are better than ever.

You should know that New Orleans is located 100 miles inland, and in turn, have avoided any physical or environmental damage. Tourism in New Orleans has undergone a resurgence this year as huge numbers of visitors and convention-goers have flocked to one of the world's most exciting culinary and nightlife destinations. We continue to meet and exceed the expectations of hundreds of thousands of business and leisure travelers and festival-goers. October is one of our most beautiful and popular months, historically speaking. New Orleans tourism officials are constantly monitoring the environmental impact on our wetlands and beautiful marshes two hours to our south bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

Our world famous seafood industry has and always will go through rigorous testing from various strict agencies before our product reaches market, and our renowned chefs ensure that only the highest quality fresh products are prepared and served. In fact, our restaurants and food suppliers work with purveyors locally and nationally to ensure food quality and safety from sea to table. This has long been a New Orleans commitment. To learn more about seafood, please visit www.louisianaseafood.com.


Additionally, the BP oil spill has had no impact on the air or water quality in New Orleans both of which are completely safe and unaffected. Air and water quality samples are taken regularly and tested as they are in every major American City as a matter of course. Don't believe everything you read or hear. Especially about this town. Do you have any idea how many false reports about Katrina came out? TONS. In fact, we heard the "rumor" of the aquarium after the storm, in a big pile of glass and marine animals swimming 'round the city. When we returned, it stood strong and unchanged. Ready for you to visit and tour.


We are most appreciative of our fellow citizens around the world who are closely watching events unfold and looking to find any way to lend support. For the latest information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

Thank you for keeping New Orleans in your thoughts and we look forward to celebrating with you in October!

Also, my cousin, David Ferris and I are working on organizing an optional but suggested tour of the ninth ward and surrounding areas. Dick and I have taken this tour before and it is really fascinating. Especially the work his organization is doing to educate the children. Here is their blog. More information on that later.

The Key...

I've been meaning to upload this for a while now. It's our first wedding card! Received summer of last year from Jeanne. And it's pretty much perfect so I wanted to share.

Mine should be doppelbock...

Four Months To Go!

Great news!

I discovered a way to share every blog post with you! If you want to be removed from this update listing, please say so. I won't cry, I promise. If you want to be added, send me your email address!

Good Evening!

Today marks the four months (exactly) to go and things are coming along.

I've ordered the suspenders from The Suspender Factory in San Francisco. Susan was amazingly helpful and informative. I definitely tested her patience. We ended up ordering custom suspenders that look much like these Windsor (fitting name, huh?) in the dark brown with Y-backs!

The maid of honor has found her dress!
pretty, isn't it?

Also the flower girl's dress has been ordered.
totally cute, huh?

That leaves the darker green colors and the sage to fill. A note to anyone planning on ordering a dress. Do it now! Some designers take up to three months to fill your order. That's September!!!

I found a printer to print my custom designed invitations!
Dawn was extremely nice and helpful and even offered to help me learn Illustrator! Plus the price was oh so right at just under $200. What do those online invitation companies charge so much for anyways?


Now if Jason could just remember to call the jeweler so we could go order our rings. I think I'm going to pick one that looks like this.
J will most likely pick out a plain rounded band and we might get a Titanium one because of all the chemicals he has his hands in all day long. But last time we went, he was having a rough time deciding...so...we'll see!


We've also got to go to the men's store to pick out J's attire.
I am still crushing on the Sean John brown pinstripe...

A visit to the Bead Shop is on the schedule.

ATL Shower is being tentatively planned for August 21st at Bill & Lee's fantastic Decatur house.
NOLA shower is planned for September 18th at Rock N' Bowl!

A special prayer for my Pop, who is fixin' to get a new hip!
Rainbows, marshmallows, kittens, and super-fast healing to you!

Working on an activity book for the children to occupy themselves with at the wedding.
Vintage clip art has been extremely helpful in this endeavor.

Jeanne has found some amazing serving pieces for our dessert buffet!
Amazing Salvation Army finds!

Also working on Welcome Bags for Out of Town Guests. Would love to use a canvas or even woven tote bag but that might not be in the budget. Paper wouldn't be so bad, I guess.

Next time: Dominoes, Checkers, Tricky Triangle (cracker barrel) games, oh and did I mention the voodoo station yet? I will!
Much more to come.
Stay tuned.

Yay, Inspiration!

I completely adore the cape/hood in this vintage pattern!

Little Red Riding Hood's wedding gown, right?

I've been printing lots of vintage lables lately.

Let's just say the house is full of jars and cans. Recycling, yay!

I love the vintage book pages used to create the cones for these faux flower bunches.

I'm sure the flowers themselves are paper but sometimes they look like sour gummies and they make me want to eat them.

Uh, how much do you adore the light curtain backdrop from this winter wedding?

MUCH!

Sweet vintage stories

Taking vintage images and doctoring them in Photoshop is something I've been doing a lot of...

This vintage bowling themed valentine was found in my search for vintage bowling images and I thought it was super cute.

Our NOLA couples shower is at the Rock N' Bowl. We went to a birthday party there recently and it rocked! Plus, Jason is an amazing bowler. I swear, there isn't a sport he can't excel at.

Love this image.
Is she a voracious reader or looking for something? The cloth, broom and dustpan tell me she got distracted. Love this type of cleaning.

The first time I saw this map, I was gobsmacked.
I started at it for at least five minutes. See little tiny New Orleans surrounded by gobs and gobs of cypress swamp land. I'm sitting on cypress swamp as I type this! And we wonder why the water keeps trying to take it back...

And how can you not love Greta?
Seriously...

To Band or Not To Band

I've said this before but sometimes there is such a thing as too much time when it comes to planning your wedding. Especially if you find yourself waffling between two decisions. Back and forth and back and then someone gives you their opinion and then forth. Time constraints force you to just pick something and stick with it. This particular decision concerns the wedding music.

I began this particular journey thinking I was throwing a themed wedding, so the songs I wanted played are very specific and so I thought a DJ would be best. Plus, I wanted to DANCE. And I am a child of the 80's and 90's and the best times I've had at weddings were ones emceed by DJ's. And most times weddings band just play boring cheesy cover songs. Not that the DJ doesn't play those too, but at least they are the originals. Then the DJ told me to let him do his job and I concurred. He's done this many times, he knows how to get the people dancing, fine. And I was fine with that, nervous about the acoustics and where to put him, but fine, nevertheless. Then a family member said to me, "The entertainment makes or breaks the party"

So I started rethinking.

But I hate cheesy wedding bands. They all play the same songlist. You know, "My Girl", "Shout", maybe a bad rendition of a Beyonce song. You've heard them at every wedding or party you've ever been to. You could just go down to Bourbon street and hear any of these bands playing any song at any point down here.
Posed Contemplative Photo with Frosted Tips and all...

I considered this band, The Cottonmouth Kings, (not pictured above!) cause they fit with our theme almost perfectly but as far as danceability goes, the DJ is still tops in my mind. Plus, I pretty much know all of the wedding bands in the area, and I don't think any of them really fit in with the wedding I'm planning in my mind.

Except for Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Recently voted "Entertainer of the Year", this amazing showman was way out of our budget. Would have been nice though, huh?

Not to mention the DJ costs 10% less than the band and when you are talking thousands of dollars, that is a huge difference. One huge decimal place...

PLUS!
If we use the DJ, then we can afford the super special second line band.
The Pinstripes

Everyone has their own opinion of the "Most Important Thing". One person thinks it's the food & music, another thinks it's the wedding gown, yet another says entertainment. One thing is for sure when it comes to wedding planning, it doesn't matter if you asked for it or not, you're GOING to get a lot of advice. Another thing is also for sure, with this wedding, you will be entertained. It may not be by the DJ but oh yes, you will be entertained.

Rehearsal Dinner Menu

The celebrated Executive Chef at The Windsor Court Hotel's Drew Djezak made this menu specifically for us.

Rehearsal Dinner

Special Amuse

Hawaiian Tuna Two Ways
Tartar and Carpaccio

Parmesan Gnocchi
Ham hock Broth, Pork Belly, Fall Mushrooms, Basil

Grilled “Deckle” of Angus Prime Beef
Truffle Potato Puree, Grilled Asparagus, Vincotto

Dessert Surprise by Shun Li

Shun Li is the pastry chef. I had to ask. We like creme brulee. Not that that's what it will be...just we like it. Go ahead, you can drool.

The private dining room looks like wha...?
Woah...
Lucky, lucky us, huh?
I'm thinking of changing the name of this blog to reflect how incredibly lucky and blessed we are.

Mega May Update!

Homemade Inspiration Board #42

Super cute cake toppers from Weddingstar,

Rethinking favors...for the fourteenth time. These canvas tote bags also from Weddingstar. They really tricked me into buying their $10 catalog (I thought it was a magazine) but I'm not sorry. It's got tons of supercuteness inside.


And this is the second page of the bridesmaid newsletter went out to the best girls in the world:
Just to help with dress shopping more than anything.

We had a conversation with our amazing photographer and decided to take pics before the ceremony. I know, I know it's breaking the tradition but who really believes in those silly old things anyways?

Working on the slide show...
Make sure you stop by the photography room and watch it.
I know you will.

Florist booked.
We're very lucky to have Johnny and Glen be our florists. Not only are they are the best florists in the city, but they are very dear to us, and if you've seen the more than beautiful flowers at The Windsor Court Hotel, you know what we're talking about.

Rehearsal Dinner venue booked.
Again, we got super lucky. We told the chef to be creative and boy, was he!
I'll post the menu later so you can drool and be jealous.

Hair and Make up services booked.

Suspenders almost ordered.

Working on many more things
Slideshow, Tee-shirts, Embroidery, Hats (yes, still hats), onesies & pillows (those aren't wedding related), leafy light garlands, Out of Town Guest Bags, and so much, much more. I can't even remember all of it!

Ring Pillow!

I want a ring pillow from Llubav.

Aren't they amazing?

But I can't afford a ring pillow from Llubav.
So I made one instead. I'm trying to even out the stuffing now without smashing the flowers but I think it looks pretty cool. And I made it.