Guest List Drama

Nothing I am about to say will surprise you. In fact, it is probably lame compared to all the other drama the rest of you are experiencing. Hello, My name is gotyoumypretty I have guest list drama.

Everything with the guest list was perfect until about a month ago. I had always planned to have a wedding with 50 guests maximum. I had allotted 10 guests for the Mr. because he always made it seem like that is all he needed. What did I learn a month ago that changed all that?

THE MR. HAS NO CLUE WHO IS IN HIS FAMILY AND WHO IS NOT!
You may ask yourself how could this be? Yeah, go ahead and ask yourself that. It doesn't make much sense. How can a guy of 24 years old not know who is in his own family?
It's not like I haven't asked before. I have asked many many times before. A normal conversation about his family usually goes like this:

Me: So do you have any cousins other than T, A, and C?
The Mr.: Uh, I think so.
Me: Ooh, who are they?
The Mr.: Yeah, I don't know
Me: Well have you ever met them before?
The Mr.: Yeah Yeah Yeah. I just don’t remember their names
Me: Oh, well who are they related to then. Like who's side and who's kid.
The Mr: My mom's side but I'm not sure which aunt. I think my Aunt S had a kid that’s my age. Don't remember.
Me: Who is this Aunt S? How come I've never heard of her before?
The Mr.: She lives somewhere else, like up north somewhere.

By the end of this I am just exhausted and all family conversations go that way. I can name at least my aunts and uncles, their children, and my great aunts and uncles- past that point it gets shaky just because in my family at least every family friend is considered an Aunt or an Uncle.

A month ago though at my FSIL's wedding I had to add 6 more people to the list of the Mr.'s allotted people. People I had no clue had ever existed. Of course when I confront him about this his response is " Well yeah. You have to invite them- they're family!"
UHHHHH!!!
I finally wrote out the final guest list and had him approve it so that we could move on with this part of our life.

Other drama? Yes Of course. Friends of mine from school are being asked to be invited or at least already talking like they are invited. I'm even having guests suggest other people that I should invite. The reality of it is that I can't invite them although I would love it for everyone I have ever met or been friends with could come it is just not possible. The funny and most frustrated thing about that is that people don’t understand! Amazing. They have tried to make me feel bad about not inviting them or so and so. Thankfully I don't feel bad easily and am the opposite of super sensitive or else I would have some problems.

Have you had any guest list drama? How did you resolve it?

Invitations!

What invitation idea did I choose? Well I'm not telling you just yet. But I'll give you clues.

- It is something related to or involving the law.
- The invitation will be screen printed onto handkerchiefs.


The best part about this invitation idea is the price. I can make the handkerchief's myself even though I don’t have a sewing machine and will probably have to outsource it. Even with the outsourcing, my estimation is that it will cost a $1.61 per person and that is with postage. I don't have a Gocco but have learned of a lot of other ways to screen-print including something called EZ screen print. I'll test out everything before I commit but my family loves the idea. In fact, my mother has told every customer who walks in her shop about it and every family member she has talked to in the last 2 months- so it will only be a surprise to you and the Mr.'s family.

Not Invitations Part IV: Invitation Books

I like to read or at least I used to before casebooks started taking over my shelves, and floors, and car…you get the idea. I came across the idea of invitation books and thought they were A-mazing. Like seriously, who wouldn't love to get this? I know I would.
This invitation book, as I found on the knot, was made by the happy couple themselves. They had a cute story and used it to tell their story in book form. It makes me wish I had a cute story. I could always make one up right?- Yes, I know I can't do that.


The next invitation book is my favorite mainly because it is much more laid back and low key. If you click the title of my post it will take you to the flash version of their invitation. Their invitation book has bio information about the bride, groom, how they met, and the proposal then it comes with a map and tear-out RSVP card.


So did I choose it? Uh-uh. Nope. I am 8 months away from my wedding and can't even start to prepare my brain to get ready for such a project. Plus, I have no real talent or talented friends who can do this for me. I really wish this idea was meant for me, but my gut tells me it is not. I am jealous though of all the people who can and will pull this off. I would love to get this in the mail, although I will probably end up white-outing the bride and grooms name and inserting my own. Yes, I know it's wrong but at least I'm honest.


Did you have any invitation ideas that were way over your head?

Not Invitations Part III: Candy Box Invitations

Did you know that back in the old and golden days guests at lavish European weddings would go home with something called a bonbonniere? It was made out a metal or porcelin and filled with some sort of sugary confection. This was considered the ultimate decadent wedding favor because sugar was both rare and expensive. Well it only makes sense that I would want to give my guests something sweet and decadent even though sugar isn't as rare and expensive as it used to be. Plus, I have a sweet tooth and this is just another excuse to buy candy and make my dentist look at me with that disapproving face once again.

The only idea I have truly been married to during this long engagement has been the candy box. I love lollies (or rock candy for those of you who throw shrimp on barbies). In New York there is Pappabubble and here in FL we have Sugar Sugar. Both of these places sell lollies and personalize them. They are pretty expensive if personalized but the taste is so so worth it.


My idea, as taken from this picture I found on project wedding, was to put the lollies on the bottom with my invitation sitting on top- only separated by a piece of tissue paper. My invitation though was going to be traditional folded card- the actual invitation wording would be on the front, the back of that side would be directions and website information, and the other part of that card would detach and become a RSVP postcard with room for comments and dinner preference.

At first I had worries that the candy would melt but I'm not mailing these babies out until November so I quickly dismissed that concern. I talked it over with the man, he liked. Mother though was not amused because of course, she thought it would cost too much money. In reality, it would cost a lot of money. Mailing would be the least expensive part, around $1 each to mail. The candy would be the most expensive regardless of me getting it personalized or not. Plus I had to consider boxes, tissue paper, and the cost of making the invitation cards.

I considered switching candies but couldn't find anything else I really liked. I'm not a fan of jellybeans and can't actually see people eating them. I took a trip to the Sweet Factory in the mall and although they had some things that would fit the bill, nothing compared to the lollies. Are you starting to see how picky I am? Yeah, once I am set on something I am set and nothing can change or else it becomes ruined. I'm working on that though, along with my patience.

Then, I watched an episode of Martha Stewart. She made jeweled heart cookies with these NY women who have an online shop called The Jewels of NY.* They made some cookies that looked so good. See the picture below, ummm…how good do those look?


So yeah, I thought maybe I could make the cookies, put them in cute bags, and put them in the box instead. I'm not super confident in my baking skills though but when it comes to sending pretty cookies in the mail I could care less what they taste like- all I care about is that they are pretty.

So did I choose it? Eh, I don't know yet but I think expense alone of boxes is slowly starting to scare me away. Plus, I have at least 3 more months before I really have to start stressing about it.

Are you adding anything sweet to your wedding planning?

*Beware of ye old google search results. There is also an escort agency by the same name.

Not Invitations Part II: Paperboard CD case & booklet

My second invitation idea quickly came and went. Since I'm a big lover of music and feel like the world would be enlightened or at least happily confused by listening to my eclectic playlist I thought that CD invitations would be great. For anyone out there who actually still buys CD's (hello? Is anybody out there?*), you know that many artists are using paperboard CD cases instead of the traditional jewel cases.


My idea was to print a booklet that would have my invitation, all the must-know wedding details inside, and a tear-out RSVP postcard. I would then screenprint or at least emboss some pretty design on the front of the paperboard cover and finish it with a awesome CD of old school songs by the some of greatest musicians of our day like Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, and McHammer.

Did I choose this invitation idea? Nuh-uh. I loved it but I wasn't in love with it you know. It wasn't the CD's fault, or the booklets fault for that matter. I just felt like I wasn't at the point in my life where I could put that much time into something I was unsure of. I was afraid of the commitment. In the end I know that it was the best decision for both me and all the Vanilli or Milli's of the world.

Have you tried to include something you love or a hobby into your invitations? How so?

*Yes, random Pink Floyd reference. If you don't know you better ask somebody. If they don't know, then neither one of you can be my friend. I'm sorry, that is just the way it has to be.

(picture is from bliss wedding market)

Not Invitations Part I: Photo Coasters

I decided that I would dedicate my next couple of posts to all my invitation ideas I have seriously considered along the way.

Back in December 2006, when I had just gotten engaged, I started looking at wedding favors and came across these glass coasters.


Then I had the idea of taking these glass coasters and using them as invitations instead. They come in packs of two and each pack costs a little over a dollar. The way I planned on using them was to take the top coaster and put one of our engagement pictures in and use the bottom coaster as the actual invitation. Then tie them together with a pretty box, put it in a box, and yay! Coaster. I love when people turn something I would have normally thrown away into something practical so I'm sure my guests would too. Imagine the excitement on their faces when they open the box and discover that my face is perfect for not only hot, but cold beverages. No more ruined tables from drunk nights of beer pong spillage.

Did I choose this invitation idea? Well no. I decided the cost of mailing would be too much. For a while I considered using only one coaster as an invitation but I couldn't get excited about the idea anymore because it just wasn't as good as the original. Call me conceded but I need a picture of my face somewhere around there and it just couldn't be the same if my ugly mug wasn't enclosed in glass licking your Coke's condensation.

Did you have an idea for a practical invitation? What was it and did it work out?