Booked! (And a Freebie!)

Yesterday's post really did inspire to buckle down and finish up the main plans for our honeymoon.

I spent hours yesterday researching hotels, scouring the internet for deals, rating hotels on qualities, features, locations, specials, etc., and sending top choices to Tom for input.

We had originally planned on using our credit card rewards for the hotel cost, but we found out that are type of card doesn't allow transfers to our hotel rewards program. Major bummer. Despite that setback, we were still able to book five-star hotels, get upgraded rooms, and save over $400!

I'll admit that I'm a bit of a hotel snob, and I didn't want to settle for anything less than perfect. You only get one honeymoon, and in reality, probably only one trip to Australia in your lifetime. Armed with that knowledge, and a free sweet upgrade, we booked this glam hotel in the heart of Sydney:



It was originally the old post office, which was converted to super swanky rooms!

While this isn't our exact room, ours will be similar:



We're about 1-2 miles from most of the major tourist attractions (Darling Harbor, Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the Rocks, etc.). Exciting!

Halfway through the trip we fly from Sydney to Port Douglas, a resort town located off of the Great Barrier Reef.

We're staying at a resort here, so while it's not as modern and swanky as Sydney, it's still pretty awesome. Our room includes a private balcony, and a private entrance into the pool. How cool is that??

With the great deal on airfare, along with my lovely hotel finds, we've saved over $700 off of what we originally budgeted for this trip. That doesn't factor in the actual savings off of the rack rates for the hotels and plane tickets. With the current currency rate, I'd venture to say that we've saved well over $2,000.

And if that's not all, since we weren't able to use our credit card points towards our hotel program, we were able to apply half towards our credit card balance (reducing what we pay for the hotels by about $115), and use the other half to get a new camera for free! (Tom brought my camera to Colorado, and there was a baggage handling incident that caused it to die an early death).

Seriously, a money-saving day indeed! :)

A Money Celebration!

So I know the last time I posted about money, I made a lot of eyes glaze over.

Sorry. I just like to talk about it. A lot. But I promise, this will be MUCH shorter!

As we found out early on in the planning, having a budget and sticking to it is key. Okay, fine. Sounds fairly straightforward, right?

But in reality, where does that budget come from? How in the world is a young couple just starting out supposed to come up with upwards of $20,000???

For us, our budget was set by what we could afford to put aside everything month, while still saving for other important things (cars, house, vacations, etc.). When we decided to move the wedding up an entire year, we lost 12 months of savings. While the cost of the wedding has decreased, it still is costing us a fairly large chunk of money. But, we've been diligent in putting money aside every month, and Tom and I are very happy to announce that...

We're OFFICIALLY done saving for the wedding and honeymoon!!!! It's SUCH a great feeling (especially because we're 3 months early!!).

The good news is that now we have a bit more flexibility with our budget. We'd been debating about an after-party, and now know that would be easy to do, or we can spend the money on some FANTASTIC bridal party gifts we had nixed because of cost...

We'll see! For now, Tom and I are just thrilled to have this taken care of and off of our minds!

Heatstroke.

I think I'm suffering from heatstroke.

My thoughts are swimming, I'm sweating from every pore, my speech is slowing, and I'm making rash decisions.

The air conditioning in my office is broken, and we're at a sweltering 80 degrees. Because I don't trust myself to write coherently for my clients, I figured there was no better time to update this blog. ;)

So, when I say what I'm about to say, keep in mind that my brain is 15 minutes away from frying.

I think I'm going to nix handing out favors altogether.

No, really, I'm serious! I know I've spent a lot of time debating about this, and I've even purchased $50 worth of favor boxes (what was I thinking?!?!), but it's just SO not necessary. I think the fact that this hasn't been an easy decision speaks volumes to its importance (which is none).

Plus, the more I think about spending upwards of $200 on cookies, the more I get sick to my stomach. (Though that could just be because of the heat...). I'd rather take the $200 and get our bridal party/parents fantastic, thoughtful gifts, or be selfish and use that money for a great dinner on our honeymoon.

Truth be told, I'm sad I won't have those cute little boxes tied with ribbon. BUT, I certainly don't want to spend that much money just so I can have attractive pictures.

More DIY postings to come...Stay tuned!

The Big Money Debacle

So let's talk about a topic that I tend to dance around....money.

I read a great article yesterday from the Wall Street Journal: With This Debt, I Thee Wed. It discusses how finances, and specifically debt, can cause strife within a marriage, and how important it is to have a similar philosophy.

I just gonna put this out there: I love money. I love studying it, I love having it, I love budgeting it, I love reading about it. I own 4 books on personal finance, investing, etc. Because it's something I have such an interest in, it's become a central part of my relationship with Tom. When you combine that with weddings and moving out/starting a life together, money becomes a big factor.

We always tend to err on the side of caution, always spending less than more. This isn't to say that we're misers, because we certainly spend our money and have a good time with it, but we're careful to save and invest, always with the future in mind.

We have lots of honest, open conversations about money: how much we have now, how much we need, how much we want, etc. Because of all these conversations, we're completely on the same page in terms of saving, spending and investing. One thing that's really helped us has been setting concrete goals for where we want to be, not just "dreaming" about it. When planning the wedding budget, we figured out a rough estimate of what we'd need, then figured out how much a month we had to put aside for it. We're doing the same thing for a house --- we've figured out how much of a down payment we want, and we set aside a certain amount of money a month for it.

One book that's really helped is Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, Revisited. While the book is really geared towards couples with debt, it did help teach us a few certain principles about money management. One of the biggest things he preaches is about savings. He advocates that every couple should have 4-6 months of living expenses saved as an "emergency fund." While that can quickly add up to a startling number, it makes a lot of sense (especially in this economy!). Once that is saved (assuming you have no credit card debt), you begin maxing out retirement savings, paying down mortgages (and other "good" debts), and investing your money in other places (stocks, child savings accounts, etc.).

I'm extremely glad that Tom and I began having conversations about money early on in our relationship. It's really saved us a lot of trouble, because now, as we really "combine" finances, we're finding it much easier. It's so exciting to see our savings build and our student loans go down. :-)

While we're not experts by any stretch of the imagination, here are a few things that have helped us:

• Being completely open and honest with each other. You can't make any headway when one partner is hiding something, and that's certainly no way to start a marriage.
• Being honest with ourselves. Don't kid yourself into thinking you can afford something if you can't. It gets you nowhere.
• Having fun. Just because you're saving money doesn't mean you don't have fun. Spend some, just not more than you have.
• Communicate constantly. Set up clear understandings of what it's okay to buy or not buy with consulting each other (say, purchases under $50 or under $100), and check in at certain times of the month (we like to do it on pay days!)
• Set goals. Figure out what you want to have/do in the future, and set financial goals accordingly (i.e. if you want a certain amount of money in savings, if you plan on buying a house, even if you plan on financing future children's educations --- it's never too early to starting thinking/planning/saving)
• Don't forget about retirement. The more money you save earlier, the better off you are. Compound interest is your friend. You don't have to have a company 401(k) to start saving, either. You can open a Roth at a variety of places and start saving as early as 18. Also, discuss when you both want to retire. Make sure you're on the same page (or at least understand the other person!)
• Get help. When you're really planning long term (retirement, IRAs, stocks, etc.) a good financial planner is worth the cost. Plus, having some accountability can't hurt either.
• Automatic savings are your friend. Payroll deductions have saved us some serious strife. We don't even have to think about setting the money aside --- it's already done for us.
• Set up separate savings accounts. We have separate savings, house, and travel accounts that help us keep track better. It's nice to know in 1 click where we stand.
• Think twice before you purchase anything major. Do you really need it, or do you just want it? Chances are it's probably a want.
• Live below your means. Just because you make a certain amount of money doesn't mean you have to spend that much.
• Figure out what works for you. I can preach until I'm blue in the face, but if you don't find a solution that works for you, nothing ever will.
• Relax. In the end, it's just money. Sure, it will make your life more comfortable, but having a savings account won't stop you from being miserable and unhappy.

The Catering Chronicles: Part 1,004,567th

So the saga to find a flexible, delicious and budget-friendly caterer continues...

I finally received the last proposal I'd been waiting on --- the one that I think would be workable in our budget. As is the running theme here, I was pretty disappointed when the total was higher than what we discussed. The food was a bit on the haughty side, they included a wedding cake (which we're opting not to have), and they had the whole reception timed incorrectly. Ugh.

Luckily, I had the day off of work and was able to put a call into our rep right away to make a few amendments. So, I'm awaiting the "official" proposal, but it should include:

• Passed hors d'oeurves (mini hotdogs, bacon wrapped dates, etc.)
• Cheese & cracker display
• Fresh veggie display
• Carved beef & turkey stations
• Mashed potato bar
• Made to order salad bar (this might be nixed...I can't remember!)
• Dessert table to include assorted brownies (rocky road, peanut butter, cream cheese), cheesecake squares, fresh fruit, and chocolate covered strawberries

And hopefully this quote will fall within (or near) our budget, making it that much easier for us to make our choice.

In other semi-related caterer news, how delicious does this look?

Catering Proposal - Take 2

So even though my mind's quieted down a bit since yesterday, I still can't get over that number. Well, 5 numbers, to be exact. Twice the amount of my student loans. A year of college tuition.

So in a mad rush to distract myself with other numbers, I started frantically contacting all the other caterers on the preferred list. Either the proposals will be more reasonable, or I'll just learn that goat-cheese stuffed cherry tomatoes really do cost $1,000.

While at work today, I received a phone call from one of said caterers. I found the woman to be extremely pleasant and personable. As I began to discuss the nightmare of yesterday, I found her to be extremely professional --- she wasn't trying to pry, but was trying to figure out what our real budget is, and where I felt yesterday's quote went wrong. I give her credit for not laughing when I told her what the actual budget was.

All in all, we had a really pleasant chat about the flow and logistics of cocktail receptions, and she gave me lots of advice on the ins and outs of the Danada House, amounts of food, seating arrangements and bar menus. I'm really crossing my fingers that her proposal will be much closer to our budget, as I really heard an air of confidence in her that I liked.

And above all, I'd rather have knowledgeable, confident vendors that I can trust rather than vendors trying to save a buck and cutting corners.

We even talked about moving the ceremony time up to 1:30, that way it's a bit more clear that we're having an afternoon reception. Fine by me :)

So I guess now I just wait. Next week we should have several more quotes coming in from various caterers, so I should have a good base of comparison.

And this Sunday, Tom and I are meeting with 2 photographers. With any luck, we could have everything signed up and confirmed before the end of the month!!! :)

Happy Weekend Everybody!

Inhale, Exhale, Repeat.

Oh man. Oh jeez. Whooo. Aaaahhh. I can't (gasp) seem to get (gasp) enough air over here (gasp).

I just received the first "official" quote from one of the many (and by many, I mean 8) caterers we're interviewing. And by interviewing, I mean being tortured by.

It seriously just feels like someone has sucked all the air out of the room. Melodramatic...maybe. But really, I'm absolutely shaking right now.

By now, I'm sure you've realized that this was not a good quote. Nope. The quote, not including 15% gratuity, is almost 3 TIMES our budget!!! 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Granted it includes absolutely EVERYTHING we want, including the mashed potato martini bar, the custom groom's cake, the 3 signature cocktails, the made-to-order salad station, the fruit & fresh cream bar, gourmet coffee bar, countless hor d'oeurves, and a wedding coordinator, I just wasn't expecting the final number to be more than a new car. A very expensive new car.

And now comes the fork in the road. Of course we'll be entertaining quotes from the other 7 vendors (well, probably 6 because I might have offended one by calling her "Susan" instead of "Diane" in an email...whoops), but the likelihood is that they'll all be just as expensive.

At first glance, the quote seemed very reasonable. The food and beverages were almost on budget. But as I continued to scroll down, I saw more numbers. $12 for napkins for the bread baskets. $0.50 per fork. And we need a lot of forks. $600 just for table linens. $100 for fresh flower garnishes for the buffet table.

Oh man, here comes the panic attack again. Oh no. Aaargh.

Excuse me while I go hyperventilate into a brown paper bag.

PS - Did I mention the quote was higher than the ENTIRE wedding budget?? Ughhhhhh.

Drumroll, Please: The Danada House

I am a very self-aware person.

For instance, just today, I realized that I'm a bit of a drama queen. Situations arise, blood pressure skyrockets, hours pass, situations diffuse. That's pretty much how I operate.

I also know that I'm pretty transparent. Not in a shallow sort of way, but in a I-can't-hide-my-emotions-well-at-all-unless-I'm-really-trying-and-I'm-absolutely-no-good-at-surprises kind of way.

So I'm sure you've all guessed that the Danada House is my favorite. Heck, I might have said that already. But that's besides the point.

I'd heard of this place during my original 3 searches for venues, but it was barely a blip on my radar. First, I thought it was going to be uber-expensive. Second, I tend to ignore places in cities I rarely visit, including Wheaton.

But I searched it out and low and behold, this is what I found:



The splendor that is the Danada House.

It's pretty without being over the top, it's classic without being outdated, it's unique without being odd, and best of all, since it's nestled back on the grounds of the forest preserve, it offers us the natural setting we've been looking for.

And while the outside of the atrium isn't nearly as pretty, (see below):



The inside more than makes up for it!!!



Look at all the natural light!!! Windows --- tons of them! And a skylight! And some weird lighting that I'm sure will look great once it gets dark. And it seats 250, which means we'll have ample space!!!!

Though the fee to rent it is a bit high ($3,200), the fact that their caterers are more than reasonable makes up for it. Priced out, a menu comparable to Montefiori is $10,500. And that includes tax and gratuity. And a full bar.

What we don't like is the location. It's at least a 30 minute drive from the church. Couple that with the only available ceremony times (2:30), and the available reception time of 6:00, and we have quite the gap.

So, we've brought back up the possibility of having a secular ceremony on the grounds.

Like this:


Amazing, right???

And the price to have the ceremony (basically the cost of renting the chairs) is cheaper than the donation to the church.

There's much, much more I could say about this (including the fact that the florist I want has done many events there!), but I'll stop for now. The manager let me know that they're showing the house this Sunday from 9:30-11 am, before a wedding. I'm working with Tom to see if we can make it over there.

We'll keep you updated! :)

Lifescapes at Montefiori

I was going to do one of these a day, but I can't contain my excitement. So, behold Montefiori:



Le sigh. I love it.

And what's even cooler is the bit of history behind it. The land, all 28 acres, was bought by the owners of the Como Inn (a restaurant that hosted many a family dinner for my mother's side of the family, including my parents' wedding dinner, and, if I'm not mistaken, my grandparents' reception --- correct me if I'm wrong, Ma). The land was purchased because it reminded them of their native Tuscany. Throughout the years, they cared for the grounds, eventually naming it Montefiori (Mountain of Flowers). A few years back, the son of the original owner sold it to the management company that runs it now. It currently houses 3 reception sites, plus the old family home.



Michelina's Pavilion


Pine Grove

Fabulous, right? It's absolutely everything we want: natural setting, elegance, coordinated, etc.

The downside? The cost. Yesterday I estimated a $70-90 price range. Today, the sales manager emailed me to let me know that the current Saturday evening cost is $115 a person. Without tax. And gratuity. Factor another 20% onto that and we're looking at a $135 pp price tag, meaning the reception, for 200 people, would cost a whopping $27,000.

Do you know what $27,000 is? That's already thousands over our budget. It's also more than the amount of student loans Tom and I have, combined. It's a sizeable house downpayment. It's a car. It's more than most kindergarten teachers make in an entire year. Before taxes.

There is no way I could convince myself to spend that kind of money, even if we somehow came into an unknown inheritance or lottery winnings. To me, there are few things in this life worth $4,500/hour.

...and so we trudge on in our search. Stay tuned for more on the Danada House...

Somebody, Please, Talk Me Off My Ledge. Or Join Me.

So a few weeks ago, as I plunged into the unknown depths of wedding blogging, I came across a crazy word.

Gocco. (Go - Co). Like Loco.

The Gocco, as I quickly discovered, is a home-printing system that is having quite the renaissance in the U.S. Apparently the manufacturer in Japan didn't get that memo, as they decided to stop selling them in the U.S. Then, most cruelly, they decided to stop manufacturing them completely. (Though they'll still manufacture replacement parts and inks for the next 5 years...).

Gocco = magic.

This:

turns this:

into this:

And it makes these:

And these: (much like what I want to do!)

And these:

And even prints on cloth like this:

Is it not magical?????????

Now for the price. I've been offered one for $200 + shipping. Quite a steal when you consider there's several on eBay for $250 + shipping. And upwards.

And at first, I wanted it. And then I hemmed and hawed and looked up my bank account. But I still wanted it. And then, a lightbulb went off!

I can take the money for the gocco from my wedding budget!!!!!

It would be used to create the invitations, right? And probably the programs. And the thank-yous. And maybe placecards. And, well, whatever I wanted, right????? And, since these are only going to go up in value as less and less become valuable, it's an investment that I can re-sell, right???? Right???

Who's with me?

Who thinks I'm crazy????

HELP! Comments needed ASAP because I need to email the seller right quick!