the d.o.c.

No, not the Department of Corrections, but close!

My sister got married last week and after seeing just how hectic the wedding day really is, I'm even more convinced in my decision to have my good friend serve as my Day of Coordinator.  

I don't need her to wear a headset like J-Lo or to come dressed in black.  I just need someone I trust to have the day run smoothly and nothing be forgotten.  I know I'm crazier than most but I think that's even more reason for a bride to have someone there to have everything executed exactly as the bride would like.

Most bridal mags and Web sites encourage using wedding planners, or at the very least, day of coordinators.  And while it seems like it's just ANOTHER wedding expense that the bridal industry wants you to tack on to your budget, I really believe it's worth it, especially during the bridal preparation time.

Here's why.

1. All the other people you trust will be just a little bit busy that day.  Your mother.  Your sister. Your best friend from Girl Scouts.  If you love them that much, they are probably in the Bridal Party or helping you get dressed.  They will be by your side taking pictures or riding in the limo.  They will not be able to make sure all the other little things are perfect.  As organized as I was with my sister's wedding schedule, I was still having trouble balancing between being my sister's planner and being her sister.  In the end, I had to do the job I was technically ASKED to do and focus on being the maid of honor.
2. Time is of the essence.  Between making sure you get to the church on time to having all the bridesmaids board the limo, a day of coordinator's main focus is to follow the schedule you put together.  Otherwise, people run late and extra costs are incurred.
3. No stress in the dress.  You will NOT want to deal with problems and questions while dressed in your gorgeous gown and wearing your expensive makeup.  You just won't.  Let someone else handle the delivery guy at the door or the photographer's question about where the bathroom is located.
4. Good Bride, Bad DOC. It's so much better to have someone else working as your megaphone.  If you're upset or concerned about something, tell the DOC and she'll take care of it.  Are the bridesmaids wandering around?  Have the DOC rein them all in.  Are your family members getting in the way of the photographer's shots?  Let the DOC move everyone out of the way.  Let her be Bossy McBride, NOT you.  

 The DOC doesn't need to be some fancy wedding planner from "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" She doesn't need to have any prior wedding-day experience.  Your day-of should just be someone you feel comfortable putting in charge of YOUR wedding vision.  Someone you know will make sure that everything goes just the way you want it.

You've done all the planning.  Now let someone else help you to enjoy your day!

you are cordially invited...

So I survived the craziness of work and was rewarded with the relief of FINALLY sending my invitations out!  After all the months of planning and designing and gluing and addressing, I sealed them up and brought them to the post office.

For all of you who are curious about my calligraphy, below is an example of how the envelopes look:

For someone who has never done calligraphy before in her life, I think I did a pretty good job of inking 150 addresses AND return addresses.  Go me!

And now here's a picture of the actual invitation, all made and assembled by yours truly.  As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I had the design printed by Cards and Pockets on pre-cut cardstock.  I then used a Martha Stewart snowflake hole punch on the invitation and then mounted it on "Sparkling Sapphire" panel cards.  I wrapped a silver belly band around the entire invitation and "sealed" it with a snowflake.  All of the items used to create the invitation were purchased by Cards and Pockets as well. I highly recommend them!

Here's

The most important characteristic about my invitations is that it matches all the other stationery I am creating for the wedding.  I didn't DIY the invitations because I thought it would save me money; it took me a lot of time and dedication to get these babies finished.  I made them myself because I wanted everything to fit together.

I can't believe the invitations are finally out!  What a relief! 

Now onto the RSVPS!