The Unexpected Calm Before the Inevitable Storm.

Well, we're in the final countdown (you have permission to hum the song if you'd like). On top of life being completely crazy right now - I am totally suffering from "I don't wanna do nothin' wedding-related" syndrome. Don't think it exists!? GOOGLE IT, PEOPLE.

Apparently it happens all the time. Basically this means that, despite actually needing to hunker down and get stuff done, I just plain don't want to. That's not to say I'm not enjoying the (unfortunately light) trickle of RSVPs, I think it just means that I am absolutely ready to be married and done with doin' stuff. I honestly never thought I'd be affected! Not me. I loved being engaged. I looked forward to writing vendor e-mails and sending in deposits and payments (sick, I know).

Fast forward to now - we're a little over a month out. Though mostly everything is in place and capable of being paid off, I just can't bring myself to do all of the things I'd previously looked forward to doing. Wedding programs? Meh. Do I really need those? Out-of-town bags? Yeah, I guess I could buy the stuff for those now, but those can wait, right? My hair and make-up trial? Sure. I should probably do one of those.

It's kind of funny how relaxed I am about it all - Miss Seal here is not a naturally calm person while under pressure. I freak out about everything. I suppose there's still plenty of time for that. Though I'm obviously not welcoming a panic attack, I know this sense of tranquility will be short-lived - the ceremony won't get planned on its own and that gown of mine won't get altered if I don't take it to a seamstress.

Sigh. I guess I should go take care of some business.

How are you guys doin'?

A Gift for the Ever-Deserving Señor Seal

The Sealman and I have decided to exchange gifts on the morning of the wedding. Initially, I was against the idea - we were having a big, pretty wedding and get to spend the rest of our lives together, what more do we need? But then I saw a gift that I really, really wanted to get him and decided it was only fair to afford him the opportunity to do the same :)

Sweetheart Table vs Head Table

So remember how we have a ginormous wedding party, right? To refresh your memory, we've got: 10 bridesmaids, 10 groomsmen, 2 ushers, 2 flower girls and a ring bearer. Phew! Anyhoo, when it came time to deciding whether we'd setup a head table for the entire wedding party or a cozy sweetheart table for just the Sealman and I, the size of our wedding party definitely factored into that decision.

After meeting with our catering coordinator and going over the dimensions of our reception space, we were presented with a few options.

1. A (very) long, single-sided head table.

 Like this, but longer.

Image via ArisingImages

Though I liked the idea of being surrounded by my wedding party, I didn't like the thought of splitting up couples. As it's physically impossible to fit a table long enough to include everyone and their date, quite a few of our party members would be separated from their significant other.

2. A long, double-sided head table (would enable us to keep couples together).

 Image via Flowers by Denise/Photo By Colleen Rosenthal Photography

This option eliminated the issue of dividing couples but introduced a new problem: members of our wedding party would be seated with their backs to the rest of the room. If we were having all long tables, this may not have posed as such an obstacle in my mind, however, as our guest tables will all be rounds, I wasn't keen on the idea. Firstly, I don't want it to look as though we are alienating ourselves from our guests. Secondly, I don't think our attendants would be thrilled about facing away from all the action.

3. The tiered approach.

Image via MJ Decorations

While this is surely a logical option - both aesthetically and financially it was not quite so desirable. For whatever reason, I'm not crazy about how this would look in our venue; add in the extra cost for renting risers and the thought of trying to climb in my wedding gown and you have a recipe for not gonna happen.

5. A table for two.

 Image by Luster Studios

Image via PolkaDotBride/Photo by Jessica Claire

I've really fallen in love with the idea of a sweetheart table. Though I have no delusions of privacy for Mr. Seal and I, I do rather like the idea of being presented as a duo. So the Sealman and I, after reviewing all of the above options, have decided that this is the route for us.

Our sweetheart table will be situated in the center of the room, facing the dance floor. As we'll be serving as a centerpiece of sorts for the room, I thought it would be reasonable to ask our florist to snazz it up a bit.

Image/Floral Arrangements via Enchanted Garden

So she's going to create a similar arrangement (but in our colors of course) to the one in the photo above. The centerpiece of our table will be my sure-to-be-lovely bouquet. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing how it turns out :)

Anyway, kids, what are you doing for your wedding? A head table? A sweetheart table?

Celebrating Friends' Engagements: Baskets!

 ...Alternatively titled: Miss Seal practically keels over with giddiness when someone she knows gets engaged.

Not that I didn't get excited over newly engaged couples before - I just think, now, being able to fully understand just how exciting getting engaged is, I all but have a heart attack every time someone close to me pledges to wed their beloved!

For example, when BM/FSIL Maria got proposed to by Big Brother Seal, I put together an engagement basket for her. I packed the basket with wedding movies, magazines, planning guides, her favorite wine and tons of other goodies. When BM Carina got engaged to her awesome man - being that she lives a few hours away from me - I sent off an engagement box stuffed to capacity with wedding planning necessities.

Very recently, MOH Meghan was proposed to by her boyfriend during a trip to New York for one of his cousins' weddings. After all but peeing myself, I calmed myself down and focused on the task before me: her engagement goodies. Once I procured all of the necessities (and gladly purged myself of 75% of my old magazines), I snuck into their home to ensure that the basket awaited them upon their return. Care to see some of my handiwork?

Good!

The basket surrounded by (admittedly faux) white rose petals

I totally cried to myself while picking out an engagement card for her - I am such a sap! 

[Sidenote: Meg and I have known each other since middle school and were roommates in college. When we used to leave notes for one another we always referred to the other/signed the card as "Dudie". Mr. Seal has come to be known as "Man Dudie" and her fiance is lovingly called "Jimmy Dudie". Anyway, just thought I'd explain the weird names on the card!]

Meg dutifully uploaded photos from her phone after the proposal and I totally creeper stylee had one printed and framed.

I even stuck a piece of their favorite cake in the fridge.

She seemed to have really enjoyed her surprise and I surely enjoyed setting it up. Meghan admitted to me that one of her first thoughts after soaking in the proposal was, I wonder when I'm going to get my basket from Miss Seal - I am absolutely okay with being known for that ;)

Anyhow, as I am reaching the final stages in planning (only about two months to go!), it was fun to see one of my favorite people begin hers!

Are you newly engaged? Did any of your friends give you an engagement survival kit? Do you do anything like this for your pals?

Our Invites, Revealed.

I can hardly fathom how quickly time has flown since I showed you a sneak peak of our invites back in May. Sometimes, I find myself nervous to go to sleep because I just know I am going to wake up the morning after the wedding ;)

Anyhow, the invites should have reached most of our guests' homes by now (I've got a few RSVPs to prove it!) which means I can finally share our invites with you!

A little bit of backstory first...

As perhaps you may recall, we ordered our Save-The-Dates through The Aerialist Press—this sufficiently quenched my thirst for beautiful letterpress and thus decided to go a different route for our invites. The Sealman and I had met a wonderful woman named Mimi at a bridal fair way back yesteryear and she stuck with me for a few reasons. Firstly because her custom invite designs were gorgeous, and secondly because her given name is a nickname I've had since before I can remember.

I let time pass, briefly reconsidered letterpress and then mentioned to Mr. Seal that I was considering contacting the "invite designer with my nickname" The very next day, he and I attended a dinner for engaged couples getting married - or in our case, holding their reception - at our venue. The environment was unique; engaged couples were seated with preferred vendors and encouraged to get to know each other over some cocktails and delicious eats. And it was here, just a day after I talked about giving her a call, that we reunited with Mimi! Fate? I think so.

After sitting down for a very productive consultation with Mimi, Mama Seal (who graciously offered to pay for our invites) agreed with us that she was the one. We then embarked upon a several month process of designs, revisions, ideas, additions and, eventually, approvals. Mimi was such a pleasure to work with and I am so grateful to have met her. She's one classy lady and really fantastic at what she does.

To accent Mimi's designs, I contacted Nellie of NJW Calligraphy (who also worked on my STDs) to address my invites. Did she hit the ball out of the park? Oh, you better believe it! She's a masterful calligrapher and I can't recommend her any more highly. In fact, I'm brainstorming other ways to incorporate calligraphy just because I am such a big fan of her work and like her so much!

Ok, ok. Enough jabbering. All pictures (and brief descriptions) from here on out ;)

Invite designs by Creative Designs by Mimi

Calligraphy by NJW Calligraphy 

Not sure why I photographed my black pocketfold invites on a black box...but hopefully you get the point ;) Our wax seals worked out perfectly!

The main portion of the invite was guarded by a piece of vellum printed with our monogram.

Man, that really was a poor decision to photograph the invites on a black surface. Anyway! If you can't tell...this is the pocketfold suite once opened.

I couldn't resist adding a little touch of Swarovski bling to each invite!

The map/directions card

The accommodations card.

The RSVP card/envelope

We've received nothing but rave reviews from our guests which pleases me greatly. Some people hold the opinion that the invitations are of little importance as they quickly get thrown away anyhow and, while I think that some of our guests would likely agree, I couldn't shake the feeling that the invite sets the tone for the festivities. Thankfully, I think the suite perfectly captures the classic San Francisco vibe I was hoping to convey.

Did you work with someone else to create custom invites or tackle the task yourself? Are you happy with your invitations?

Miss Seal's Not Gonna Drop it Like it's Hot: Our First Dance

Choosing a first dance song has been surprisingly difficult for us. Both the Sealman and I - in terms of music - are very well-rounded. Though our favorite genres vary slightly, we both agree on what "good" music is and appreciate the other's refined musical palette.

Apart from some fun hip-hop songs we bonded over in the beginning of our relationship, the two of us don't share "a song" In other words, there's not one particular tune that makes us feel mushy about our relationship - more so a few songs that I goofily do my trademark dance moves to that makes Mr. S fervently laugh.

For a visual, Mr. Seal says my sweet moves (and ridiculous facial expressions) can most closely be compared to the girl from the Sun Drop commercial.

Video via YouTube

Anyhow, seeing as how I had absolutely no intentions of droppin' it like it's hot for our first dance (that's for the 5th dance...duh), we were left at square one.

Many options were unearthed (I'll spare you those), but only one song stuck. The tune was one of Mr. Seal's genius suggestions and is a song I have always loved and grew up singing.

So, though there's marginal potential for a last minute change, I'm pretty sure this is going to to be the song we share our first dance to.

The song is "We Belong Together" by Ritchie Valens. Though La Bamba - a film based on Ritchie Valens's life - is one of my favorite movies ever (don't laugh!), the Los Lobos cover song used for the film is a bit too fast for our liking.

Therefore we're going for the original and here it is, in all of its two-minute long glory (hoorah for short and sweet)!

Video via YouTube

"We Belong Together" - Ritchie Valens

You're mine and we belong together
Yes, we belong together, for eternity

You're mine, your lips belong to me
Yes, they belong to only me, for eternity

You're mine, my baby and you'll always be
I swear by everything I own
You'll always, always be mine

You're mine and we belong together
Yes, we belong together, for eternity

What's your first dance song and how'd you select it? DO YOU DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT TOO!?