Battling our Budget

The wedding budget is my #1 archenemy. She's a demonic, merciless, vile, and downright ghastly creature hiding behind a prim, pink petticoat.

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Despite carefully considering each element of the wedding and prioritizing them, the budget still hexed me in the back. Complete with that high-pitched titter. ::shudder::

Happy Hunting Hints

Before Mr. Tartlet and I visited our venue, we compiled a list of questions to ask the event coordinator. Most of these were answered during the meeting itself as we toured the building, but we still found it a handy checklist as we evaluated the fit of the Royal Park for our big day.

• Is the date available? OK, so this one is pretty obvious. But, Mr. Tartlet and I were working on a beyond tight schedule (literally one specific day or bust).
• How many people can the space accommodate? On a similar token, do they have a minimum person requirement? Some venues I spoke to wouldn't even consider hosting our wedding unless we had a certain number of guests (regardless of whether we would meet the minimum food/beverage bill).

There She Is! There Is My Venue!

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.

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Hello, lovely: The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI. This venue had all the pros of the previous venues we considered. English manor-style architecture? Check.

Are You My Venue?

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.*

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The Michigan Union, a building with history

Halls singing of maize and blue glory

Floor-to-ceiling windows and marble tiles

Chandeliers, hardwood floors, old-world style

However, with students milling around

And beginning our union at a Union

Where I used to study began to compound:

All of a sudden this doesn't seem so grand.

"I do have a venue," said the bride-to-be. "I know I do. I have to find it. I will. I WILL!"

"There she is!" she said. "There is my venue!" She ran up to it.

Things I Heart: Balloons

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon."

- Winnie the Pooh

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Before venturing into the world of wedding planning, I always thought of balloons as decor items--not props. Mostly, I had flashbacks to the 80's (balloon arches, anyone?). However, I've learned they're a creative way of adding just the right touch of whimsy. Whether one or many--they're so effin' cute!

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Engagement Photo Tips

I'm a Planner, and as such I did a fair amount of internet research before our engagement shoot. Stalking Viewing other people's photos gave me ideas about outfits, accessories, and poses. There's a plethora of advice out there on how to prepare for your session, but here's a few tips that we found really helpful:

1.  Be true to yourself. If you normally wear flip-flops, it probably isn't a good idea to use this as an opportunity to wear 4-inch stilettos. Wear clothes, shoes, and accessories that scream "you." If you're comfortable in your own skin, that confidence will translate to the photos. For example, these were our "casual" outfits:

You might be going "Whaaaaaa? That's super dressy!" But, these clothes reflected our personal styles and I love how they turned out!

E-sesh with Aruna B.

"Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts."

- Minor White

Planning a successful wedding without breaking the bank requires a fair amount of compromise. However, Mr. Tartlet and I both agreed that photography was at the tippy-top of our priority list, and we were willing to invest for the best. Aruna B. Hall is a-a-a-mazing, and every time I look at her photos I turn into a giddy pile of bridal mush. In addition to being a phenomenal photographer, Aruna also has a great personality and was an absolute pleasure to work with. She put us at ease right away, and throughout the session guided instead of instructed us. This resulted in a number of candid photos, which I adore:

Madame Budget

Dear Future Me,

I can't believe it--I'm engaged! This is going to be fan-frickin'-tastic. I'm going to invite everyone I know. There are going to be flowers absolutely EVERYWHERE. We're going to serve filet with lobster tails, have a live band, I'm going to wear Vera Wang, let's not forget the letterpress invitations, oh, oh, oh...

Dear Past Me,

Whoa, whoa. Sweetie, you've got to slow. down. Let me introduce you to someone. Past Me, meet Madame Budget. She can be one mean bitch, but you'll need her with you throughout this process to keep you grounded in reality. The dangers of the internet already have you wanting your wedding to look like this:

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But from this particular wedding, you could probably afford about this:

Wedding Visions, or Tales of a Besotted Bride-To-Be

I confess, I've been dreaming of my wedding since the ripe age of six. Being a native of Kalamazoo and having gone to undergrad at Kalamazoo College, it was only natural that I'd be attached to the idea of getting married at Stetson Chapel.

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Gorgeous, no? Located right on Kalamazoo College campus, this location has sentimental value not only to me and my family, but also to Mr. Tartlet. To go with the stately white pillars and elegant architecture, I had envisioned a chic, black and white affair. Something very Cary Grant and Grace Kelly-esque:

Things I Heart: Family & Friends

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."

- Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

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One result of a long engagement (two years and change by the time the big day arrives!) is that our wedding has had ample time to evolve. However, the constant has been to plan an event that will be hopelessly romantic and thoughtfully personalized, where every person feels like the guest of the hour.

The Proposal

The year was 2009. About three months before Mr. Tartlet and I went on vacation, we had a conversation that went something like this:

Me: "...so...we're going to the Caribbean!"

Mr. Tartlet: "Uh-huh."

Me: "Are you going to propose to me?" *bouncing follows*

Mr. Tartlet: "Um..."

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My Tiffany's

"Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot."

- Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Audrey Hepburn's character in Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my all time favorites: Holly Golightly is excruciatingly chic and sophisticated, accessorized with a devil-may-care attitude. She's wild and free-spirited, but her eccentric behavior only serves to mask the vulnerable woman underneath.

Let the Wild Rumpus sTart!

*peeks around the corner*

*does a happy dance*

Hello, lovelies! A shocked and ridiculously excited Miss Tartlet here, still in disbelief that I’ve been given the privilege of being the newest Bee. I’ve been an avid Weddingbee reader since getting engaged back in May of 2009: I’ve wistfully watched many Bees come and go, and drooled over many an image and DiY project that you've posted to the community boards. I’m normally a more “behind-the-scenes” kind of gal, but all of that changed on a chilly Michigan morning when I received my acceptance e-mail from Mrs. Penguin!

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Naturally, my first reaction was to scream. At work. Very loudly. After composing myself (who am I kidding), I made it through the rest of the day and scurried home to make a critically important decision. At first, I considered the alias "Miss Pain au Chocolat."