Not into the Gocco Thing

So since the beginning of lurking around the wedding blogs, I've seen a lot of talk about this thing - beloved by some, despised by others, it's called the"Gocco". From my understanding of it, it's a mini printing press that you burn on an image and then ink up the paper. More or less. Anyway, it's one of those thingamabob's invented by the oh-so-creative and cutesy Japanese.

I'm not buying it though. First of all, it seems like too much work. Second, my coworker tried it out and a flurry of things happened that they didn't end up using it anyway. Third, it looks a little like stamps gone awry. While I know there are many brides out there that live and breathe by their Gocco, not I, not interested.

Don't get me wrong, I have a little (or big) obsession with paper and paper products (watch me wander the aisles of Michael's) as well as pens and writing implements. I'm excited about designing my invitations and getting something uniquely us. I'm not really sure what I want to do, but I've been inspired by Wedding Paper Divas, but they aren't quite what I'm looking for. Plus, we might be getting our printing done free!

Oh all the things to keep track of!

J'aime les fleurs

I love flowers. Not so much taking care of them, but I like looking at them.

And, in terms of floral centerpieces, I'm leaning toward those that are low to the table so that the guests don't feel compelled to move them in order to see the other people at the table. I'm not into the big and fluffy and elaborate and view-obscuring. Cute and simple works for me. Plus it's a lot more cost effective (aka Cheaper!)

Take a gander.






All photos from www.aboutweddings.com

Cake!

I love cake. I'm so excited about the cake part of the wedding!

A couple of pictures to drool over.

And this first one has our initial!

cakesbyana.com

evasexquisitecakes.com


miniasbakeshop.com


jenscakes.com

edithmeyer.com

Yes, it's Expensive

So, I'm thinking that once I've gone through the wedding wringer, that I should jump on the bandwagon and make some cash on the side.

I think that if I team up with my cousin Mercy (who has serious creative vision), that we could totally shoot weddings for fun and for money. Cheap to begin with and build a business on that. I just have to tell her my business plan. I think she'd be okay with it. :)

The sad thing about the photographer that we will be owing money to, is that he is on the low end of the cost spectrum for photographers in the Bay Area. Good for him, bad for our wallets. Photography is really important to me, so someone with a style that I like is really important!

However, with my cost and budgeting skills, I've figured out that we can have a reasonable Bay Area wedding, and still have a little something left in the nest egg. Even with my meager salary.

We need a set of these...

Seems appropriate considering that we met during the Happiest Celebration on Earth at Walt Disney World. Now how do you register for such...

Regional favors

I've said it before and I'll say it again, as much as I don't care for Martha Stewart, she and her staff have some cute ideas. I really like these regional favors that were featured in the Winter edition of MS Weddings. Since we're from opposite sides of the country, and Cent has grown up all over, I thought maybe we could incorporate some kind of favor thing. I like the idea of the peach preserves. The California favor idea was olives -- not what I think of when I think California.

I keep thinking about things for the wedding in bits and pieces. People ask me about the reception, the dress, the flowers, the colors, the favors, the photographer... So much to think about! I'm still working on finding a reception venue, and I think until I figure that out, I'll be too preoccupied to think about the other things. Of course, I'm just saying that now...


Hawaii Bundt Cakes....................Texas Spice Rub

Georgia Peach Preserves........... Cute Sugar Cookie Cakes

(above images from Martha Stewart Weddings)

These are a couple of cute favor ideas I found on The Knot. I love chocolate covered pretzels and then the bags with the red labels have cookies in them. I love cookies! I want whatever we do for favors to be cute and as hassle-free as possible. Again, I say that now.



(images from theknot.com)

I knew he liked me...

especially after this day, when we went to Epcot with Michelle (one of my roomies).

I guess he thought it would be cute to let me know that he liked me by running into me and poking me like a first grader. Oh well, clearly, I bought into it. At this point I did wonder if he liked me, but we hadn't really said anything about it. Though, if I remember correctly, it was 3-4 days after this that we went on our first date. Awww memories.

How We Met...

We met back in August of 2005. I had decided that I wanted to delay my entry into the real working world by taking on a post-graduation internship at the "Happiest Place on Earth". It seemed like a bold move to fly out to Florida, not knowing what would happen once the internship was over.

I had flown in on a red eye with a layover in Miami. Bleary-eyed, I arrived at the housing complex for the Walt Disney World College Program Interns. I was assigned to Apt. 1801. I had five roommates, and I was the second to arrive to the apartment. I ended up sharing my room with a girl with a Kentucky twang.

A few days after settling into the new digs, and getting to know each other a little better, there was a knock on the door. It was a guy from Apt. 1802. At first glance, we weren't quite sure what he wanted or if we should accept the invitation. He was nice, but obviously trying to hit on any female he could. He wasn't exactly what I would call suave, but he was well-meaning. After a little coaxing, we agreed to venture across the hall and meet new people.

Cent and I met because we ended up sitting in closest proximity to each other. I wanted to meet new people and he was friendly. I had to have him repeat his full name at least twice, trying to perfectly replicate "Centurion" the way he pronounced it. (I still mess it up at times.) I can't even remember what we talked about that night, but I guess we left my roommates with the impression that I was totally into him. All I could say was "I was just sitting next to him!" They teased me that I liked him and that we would have little pennies and nickels. I suppose they were on to something...

We became good neighbors and then good friends. Then more than "just friends". And, as they say, the rest is history.

Flowery Inspiration

Now that it's official, it's time for a little inspiration. Ever since we announced that we were engaged, I've been getting questions right and left about different parts of the wedding. Honestly, I've never envisioned my dream wedding. I've thought about it here and there, but I've never said I want orchids and hydrangeas with a big pink cake... or whatever. Frankly, at one point I wasn't even sure if I'd ever have a boyfriend. Well, mission accomplished! :)

The time has come to start thinking about all these things. I have a legitimate reason to get lost on wedding websites and stare at all the pretty pictures. I can spend my time discussing wedding-related stuff at work with the girls. And I do enjoy watching wedding shows on TV - Platinum Weddings (for the wedding I'll never have), Bridezillas in small doses (for the person I never want to be), and Rich Bride Poor Bride (for the look on the planners' faces).

I was on the Knot, and found some bouquets that I liked. I don't know if this is necessarily what I want, but I do think that they are beautiful arrangements!

(all images from The Knot)

We're Engaged!

I can't even begin to describe the feeling.