a simple slideshow.

I was fortunate enough to win a 16x20" canvas print recently from UPrinting.com, so tonight we picked out which picture we want to blow up and put on canvas.  We picked this engagement photo, taken by h.vivio photo.

We'll probably display it near the entryway at the wedding, along some other pictures from over the years.  We were originally going to have a slideshow in the normal sense of the word, but then we got lazy.  I don't want to figure out where to get a projector, etc. for the wedding.  Nor do I want to stop everything that's going on in order to play a slideshow during dinner.  I'd rather people look at pictures at their leisure if they're interested while they're having a drink during the cocktail hour.  So we are going to string up some photos along a wire, a la Mrs. Cherry Pie, or maybe a ribbon to dress it up a bit.  We'll put the canvas print somewhere in the mix and we'll be all set!

I've delegated this project to my fiance, and I'm glad I don't have to worry about it.  I do have to get on the ball and find pictures of me from my childhood, but besides that, it's all him!  Here are a few pictures I think we'll hang up.

New Years 2008

Random date night 2007

St. Patty's Day 2007

Bahamas Trip 2006

More from the Bahamas

A friend's wedding in summer '06

Dance recital, I must've been about 9 here.  I primarily want to use this one to embarrass my sister/MOH!

Easter morning, probably in '92 or so?

I must be about 6 or 7 in this one.  Check out those sweet bangs.  Gotta love the early '90s.

Unfortunately for you all, Mr. M's sisters don't put old pictures of him on facebook like mine do, and he hasn't scanned them in yet.  So no old photos of the other half quite yet.  I'll post some after he scans them!

Are you planning on having a slideshow at your wedding, or did you opt for the photo display route?

decor details.

This weekend was a huge success! We met with the decorators on Saturday and discussed their ideas for the reception space beautification project. I am so impressed with their ideas, I can't wait to see their vision come to life! Here is a very rough drawing of what the layout will look like.

When guests walk in, they will enter the cocktail area. The guest book and gift tables will be near the entrance, along with the homemade photobooth. There will be staggered pedestal tables near the bar and chinese lanterns on the ceiling. The cocktail area will be separated from the dinner area by trees planted in white wooden boxes and covered in white lights. The entrance to the dinner area will be accented with curtains that are pulled back to each side.

The dinner area will primarily consist of long buffet tables with white linens and teal table runners. The head table will be located straight ahead of the entrance, and will hopefully be raised up so everyone can see what's happening. There will be a few round tables for the family near the head table. The DJ will be along the right wall, next to another row of trees in white wooden boxes, which will be uplit with purple lights. The cake table in the right hand corner will also be accented with lighting.

The buffet table will be along the left wall, as well as the coffee bar. Chinese lanterns will be hung above the buffet. Dancing will take place in the center of the room, under the large chandelier hanging in the middle. The rest of the ceiling will be tented with white plastic (which looks like fabric) and strings of white lights.

I'll admit that I was a little overwhelmed with the extent of the decorating they're planning, and I thought that I could never afford a transformation like this one. When they handed me the quote, I had to look at it a few times to process it. I was so surprised to find out that the quote was less than half of what another decorator had quoted me, even though they are doing about 4 times the amount of work!

The decorating of the reception venue has been the element of the wedding that I have been most worried about since we began planning. After this weekend, it is honestly the one part of the day that I know will be perfect! These ladies get it. They have excellent taste and their vision has gone above and beyond what I could ever have dreamed up for the space.

I'm so excited to see the final product! Too bad I have to wait another six months...

wedding rentals.

With our reception being held at the local armory, we are on our own when it comes to dinnerware. I'm trying to find some reasonable options when it comes to the look vs. price of plates, silverware, etc. I refuse to use paper plates and plastic silverware. I think it would work to just use a charger plate that looks somewhat pretty but can also be used as a dinner plate, to make the table look nice and keep the costs down. But I'm not having much luck. These plates are nice, but at $4.00 a plate, not including the rest of the dishes, glasses, silverware, etc... I'll pass. Seriously, who can afford that on top of everything else?
If anyone knows of any nationwide rental places, or someone in the Green Bay/Appleton, WI area or Upper Michigan... please let me know!

Photo from here.

ceiling inspiration.

I don't think I ever mentioned it on here, but we decided on our reception location awhile ago. We decided not to go with the ballroom. Too many less-than-stellar reviews from people who have attended weddings there. So we have decided to go with the armory. A gorgeous location? I think not. But it is one large room where no one will feel like they have been left out of the action, which is more than I could say for any other location in the area. Hopefully we will be able to disguise the gym-like qualities by doing some serious decorating. I'd like to lower the height of the room with some fabric swagging to cover up the military paintings and make the size of the room a little less overwhelming. Here is my ceiling inspiration.I'm loving the chandeliers, but we may have to substitute chinese lanterns as a more budget-friendly option.

And maybe I can throw in a little color, like this.

I'm hoping with all the details above, people won't notice the free throw line on the gym floor below! I think the tables will help disguise that as well.

Lantern photos from WeddingFanatic. I cannot remember where the chandelier picture is from...but if you know I'd be happy to post the source.

best of both worlds.

I really like the look of the long rectangular tables as opposed to round ones. Table runners just look so much better when they run the length of a long table. But I do like the fact that round tables encourage more conversation between guests. This table (it looks like two long tables put together) gives you the best of both worlds I think. I think this is the first picture I've ever seen of tables put together like this. I am intrigued.

I'm thinking about making my own table runners. They can't be that hard to make. But I need one of these to do it.

And I just happen to be getting one from my parents for Christmas! I never thought I'd ask for a sewing machine for Christmas. I'm officially getting old.

Table photo from Final Touches Designs. Sewing machine by Kenmore from Sears.