We drove to my parents' place last weekend to visit my family, something we hadn't done since Christmas as we are spoiled with my family continuously travelling our way for appointments and just plain old visits.
When we were driving home on Sunday, the BF commented on the fact that there sure was a lot of pressure on us to get married now, from my mother and others. He wasn't exaggerating and I'm partially to blame as I didn't discourage the comments.
Example:
My mother's best friend's 8 year old granddaughter - "Are you married?" No. "Are you engaged?" LOL No but why don't you ask him why that is... BF's response "Uhhh..."
I told him not to stress about it and to consider it a huge compliment that at least he KNOWS my family likes him. I didn't hear this 'pressure' when I was with my ex.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Budget friendly Manitoba
This week I saw a post on Martha Stewart's Wedding Blog about a bride that has created a blog where she is asking people, strangers, to help pay for her wedding. In fact she even has a link built into the site where you can click to Donate.
With the economic uncertainty the way it is around the world right now, its no surprise that more and more brides are realizing that they can't afford to go into debt over their weddings and even reducing their budgets to $10,000 or less isn't enough, as they have NO money saved for it.
Its times like this that I puzzle over why more communities outside of Manitoba, Canada don't embrace the idea of a PRE-WEDDING SOCIAL. What is a pre-wedding social you ask? Well just the bestest friend to the budget savy bride!
A social, something that is apparently unique to Manitoba, is an event much like a high school dance for adults that you sell tickets for. It is primarily used as a fundraiser and is very popular here for brides and grooms to throw prior their wedding to make money to put towards their wedding, hence 'pre-wedding social'.
Basically you rent a hall, much like planning a wedding reception, book your music, stock the bar and have a midnight snack available. People pay between $10-15/ticket to attend, purchase drink tickets for their alcohol and then additional tickets to enter into draws for prizes. Some couples will add additional games that cost money to play and add to the fundraising. If done right you can make a few thousand dollars after expenses.
To those that aren't familiar with this they tend to respond with distaste, marking this up to basically just ASKING people for money but the truth is people that attend are actually very happy to spend the money. How is buying a ticket to attend a dance any difference then spending money on cover at a bar? And at least they know its going to help a couple to start off their lives debt free (hopefully!).
The nice thing about the social verses a reception is that it is very casual and there isn't the same pressures to decorate, have center pieces and provide favors, and yet it is still an opportunity for friends and family to get together and have fun.
Personally I plan to have a social where the money I make will go toward the cost of the open bar at my future wedding, if I plan it right I might even have enough to cover part of the food costs as well.
With the economic uncertainty the way it is around the world right now, its no surprise that more and more brides are realizing that they can't afford to go into debt over their weddings and even reducing their budgets to $10,000 or less isn't enough, as they have NO money saved for it.
Its times like this that I puzzle over why more communities outside of Manitoba, Canada don't embrace the idea of a PRE-WEDDING SOCIAL. What is a pre-wedding social you ask? Well just the bestest friend to the budget savy bride!
A social, something that is apparently unique to Manitoba, is an event much like a high school dance for adults that you sell tickets for. It is primarily used as a fundraiser and is very popular here for brides and grooms to throw prior their wedding to make money to put towards their wedding, hence 'pre-wedding social'.
Basically you rent a hall, much like planning a wedding reception, book your music, stock the bar and have a midnight snack available. People pay between $10-15/ticket to attend, purchase drink tickets for their alcohol and then additional tickets to enter into draws for prizes. Some couples will add additional games that cost money to play and add to the fundraising. If done right you can make a few thousand dollars after expenses.
To those that aren't familiar with this they tend to respond with distaste, marking this up to basically just ASKING people for money but the truth is people that attend are actually very happy to spend the money. How is buying a ticket to attend a dance any difference then spending money on cover at a bar? And at least they know its going to help a couple to start off their lives debt free (hopefully!).
The nice thing about the social verses a reception is that it is very casual and there isn't the same pressures to decorate, have center pieces and provide favors, and yet it is still an opportunity for friends and family to get together and have fun.
Personally I plan to have a social where the money I make will go toward the cost of the open bar at my future wedding, if I plan it right I might even have enough to cover part of the food costs as well.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April Fools...Hilarious?
This morning on my way to work I get a text from my sister informing me that my brother and his girl friend are engaged. I then get a second message from my best friend asking if it is true.
What the F**K! Is my first thought.
Then I remember that my brother tried calling me last night so I assume that was the reason why.
And then I start thinking that my 19yr old brother SHOULD NOT be engaged before me. I mean come on! I'm freakin' 27yrs old. He hasn't even left his teens!!! (He turns 20 this summer).
I'm ashamed to admit that I kinda got a little choked up as I dialed his cell phone number. No answer.
Called his girlfriend's number, got her but he wasn't around and she said she didn't know why he would be calling yesterday. Arrrgh, at this point it still doesn't dawn on me that its April Fools and that they could be making this crap up. I'm annoyed when I hang up as I assume she's being secretive about the engagement...not really rational since she posted it on facebook.
I finally get through to him and apparently he was only calling about his trip down to visit me next week, and when I mentioned the 'engagement' news he laughs and says that was his gf's idea of an April Fools joke. Ughhhh. Not funny but all I could think was 'I still have time to get engaged before him'. Sad, I know.
What the F**K! Is my first thought.
Then I remember that my brother tried calling me last night so I assume that was the reason why.
And then I start thinking that my 19yr old brother SHOULD NOT be engaged before me. I mean come on! I'm freakin' 27yrs old. He hasn't even left his teens!!! (He turns 20 this summer).
I'm ashamed to admit that I kinda got a little choked up as I dialed his cell phone number. No answer.
Called his girlfriend's number, got her but he wasn't around and she said she didn't know why he would be calling yesterday. Arrrgh, at this point it still doesn't dawn on me that its April Fools and that they could be making this crap up. I'm annoyed when I hang up as I assume she's being secretive about the engagement...not really rational since she posted it on facebook.
I finally get through to him and apparently he was only calling about his trip down to visit me next week, and when I mentioned the 'engagement' news he laughs and says that was his gf's idea of an April Fools joke. Ughhhh. Not funny but all I could think was 'I still have time to get engaged before him'. Sad, I know.
Friday, March 27, 2009
What about burgers?
I know I mentioned in my previous post that I was thinking of a menu that consisted of BBQ'd chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables but what about going in another direction? Others have blogged about weddings that go in a different directions and before I really didn't like the idea for myself but now I really am liking the idea of burgers and other picnic fair (maybe I'm just hungry).
I really like the idea of a wedding that is more of a family/friend reunion. A low key, casual event but food is very important to me and I don't want people to feel like I'm cutting corners so I've stayed away from the idea of a burger style menu previously.
What do you think? For those that know my friends and family would they be receptive to this, if presented with a bit of class?
I really like the idea of a wedding that is more of a family/friend reunion. A low key, casual event but food is very important to me and I don't want people to feel like I'm cutting corners so I've stayed away from the idea of a burger style menu previously.
What do you think? For those that know my friends and family would they be receptive to this, if presented with a bit of class?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Cooking for a Crowd
I wish it was more popular to cook and cater your own event. I find it extremely difficult to find resources online for people that want to prepare their on food for their weddings. Basically I've given up searching for 'catering your own wedding' and moved to wordings like "cooking for a crowd" and looking for tips on hosting a family reunion.
It annoys me that everywhere I look I'm basically being told that its too hard and I should just hire someone. I'm considering the idea of hiring someone to provide the BBQ'd meat but honestly I think that would be the part that my father, his friends and my uncles would love to look after since my parents host, with their best friends, an annual pig roast for 50-100 people depending on the year. My father and his friends spend the day enjoying their beers and tending to a spit that roasts the pig. If they can do that I'm sure they could manage BBQ'd chicken.
Before the annual pig roast my mother delegates to her friends different dishes to prepare and it becomes a bit of a potluck. I don't want a potluck. I want to prepare a consistent menu across the board for all the guests and that's where I'm currently looking for advice and inspiration.
What should I prepare in advance? How would I best keep food cool and then hot with out renting a professional kitchen or spending a fortune?
Currently I'm leaning towards a menu like this:
Salad - not sure type (served Family Style)
Main Course - BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, roasted vegetables & dinner buns (served Family Style)
Desserts - selection of pies and cakes (buffet style)
It annoys me that everywhere I look I'm basically being told that its too hard and I should just hire someone. I'm considering the idea of hiring someone to provide the BBQ'd meat but honestly I think that would be the part that my father, his friends and my uncles would love to look after since my parents host, with their best friends, an annual pig roast for 50-100 people depending on the year. My father and his friends spend the day enjoying their beers and tending to a spit that roasts the pig. If they can do that I'm sure they could manage BBQ'd chicken.
Before the annual pig roast my mother delegates to her friends different dishes to prepare and it becomes a bit of a potluck. I don't want a potluck. I want to prepare a consistent menu across the board for all the guests and that's where I'm currently looking for advice and inspiration.
What should I prepare in advance? How would I best keep food cool and then hot with out renting a professional kitchen or spending a fortune?
Currently I'm leaning towards a menu like this:
Salad - not sure type (served Family Style)
Main Course - BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, roasted vegetables & dinner buns (served Family Style)
Desserts - selection of pies and cakes (buffet style)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tempting
I have been wanting to purchase a Badge-A-Minit 1 1/4" Button Maker for a few months now, okay honestly its been a few years, but I don't know if I can justify a purchase that will run me approximately $150 after shipping and button supplies. I want it, then I can make cute buttons for prizes at my spring picnic! Or just because buttons!
But do I need it? hmmmmmmm.....
Adding to the DIY and Shopping Lists
As beautiful as flowers are I find it very confusing why people willing spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on bouquets and arrangements for their weddings when they will die within a week and you have nothing left over.
A friend of mine that was recently engaged, joked that she wished her fiance was like other guys and didn't care about details so she could plan it her way. She said he told her that she could pick the flowers with out his input, she said that was great but she doesn't care about flowers that much, and really has no strong opinion on them.
Me too, me too....
I've attempted over the years to dry the arrangements and corsages I get for sentiment purposes but they end up in a box under my bed or accumulating dust some where, so I just toss them in the garbage.
What a waste.
I figured I would be a grocery store flower purchaser when my time came or if I was lucky (like my sister was) pick them from a friends garden.
And then I saw these felt and button flower bouquets from Pricess Lasertron (via Green Wedding Shoes ) and fell in love.
Apparently she's creating DIY felt/button flower kits soon that she'll be selling on her Etsy site. She already made up button flower kits last month and when I went to her Etsy site they are already gone!
I plan on purchasing a felt flower kit when they come out and then I'm going to add vintage buttons to my shopping list this year for things to be on the look out for at yard sales and second hand shops. I think this is a great way to personalize your wedding, have a lasting keepsake and well, they are just so awesome.
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