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Wedding Blog: BD**2 - 163

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:21 am
by gsabc
Happy Leap Day! For all those who give a hop, here's today's entry.

I'm not sure how much detail I've gone into on some subjects. I try to keep track, but sometimes forget to check off some stuff I have on a list of potentials. So I apologize in advance for any repetition here or in later entries. Bear with me. The mind isn't what it used to be.

I know I've mentioned that the major vendors have been selected. Overall, not that many of each type were visited or interviewed before the decisions were made. Some of that was the relatively short time until the wedding. We had been expecting a more leisurely time of it. With only eight months to plan, we wanted to get everything chosen quickly before everyone good was booked.

I'll use the photographer as an example. BD was the one contacting photographers, looking for availability and prices, in that order. There were online searches and requests, as well as calls to the venue's "preferred" vendors (I suspect they get a kickback or some sort of advertising fee from those vendors. Sort of like being "The Official Furniture Store of the Boston Red Sox", as if you weren't just the highest bidder for that title.). Some were already booked for the date. Others sent their information, which we examined and filed. AFAIK, though, GW and BD only visited two, both preferred vendors close to the venue. I mentioned the "dead fish" handshake of one, with a personality to match. The other was preferred for other reasons as well. When GW initially tried to set up the appointment with them, they said they would be at a vendor show at that time, and they usually book everything for the year at that show. However, he would hold The Day open for her. This, without any commitment on our part, or even visiting the studio.

All of this took place in barely six weeks, as did our other decisions. Toward the end, BD and GW just wanted to get it over with. It's over an hour driving each way to the venue area, and they were tired of making the trek. The speed has turned out to be a good thing, considering our recent health issues. If selections weren't already made, the added stress of having to make them would not help with the healing process, either physical or mental.

Re: Wedding Blog: BD**2 - 163

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:31 am
by MarleysGh0st
gsabc wrote:I know I've mentioned that the major vendors have been selected. Overall, not that many of each type were visited or interviewed before the decisions were made. Some of that was the relatively short time until the wedding. We had been expecting a more leisurely time of it. With only eight months to plan, we wanted to get everything chosen quickly before everyone good was booked.
How many years would be required for a leisurely planning of this event?

And have you explained already why you chose a venue that's so far away from home?

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:31 am
by christie1111
However, he would hold The Day open for her. This, without any commitment on our part, or even visiting the studio.
So they are not actually under contract yet?

Hope there is paperwork soon.

Re: Wedding Blog: BD**2 - 163

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:57 pm
by gsabc
MarleysGh0st wrote:
gsabc wrote:I know I've mentioned that the major vendors have been selected. Overall, not that many of each type were visited or interviewed before the decisions were made. Some of that was the relatively short time until the wedding. We had been expecting a more leisurely time of it. With only eight months to plan, we wanted to get everything chosen quickly before everyone good was booked.
How many years would be required for a leisurely planning of this event?

And have you explained already why you chose a venue that's so far away from home?
We originally thought we'd have more like 18-24 months. When the kids decided to get married before any potential deployment, there went that idea.

I will explain the venue location another time. Good subject.

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:59 pm
by gsabc
christie1111 wrote:
However, he would hold The Day open for her. This, without any commitment on our part, or even visiting the studio.
So they are not actually under contract yet?

Hope there is paperwork soon.
At the time we first contacted them, they offered to set aside the date. They were then visited and chosen. The contract is currently in hand, signed and delivered.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:12 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
Have you thought about putting disposable cameras on the tables and letting guests take candid photos?

We sort of had fun at Jeff's cousin's weddings with the cameras. Jeff took pictures of the urinals in the bathroom...

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:13 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
We also took pictures of everyone sitting at the table.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:16 am
by peacock2121
My experience of the disposable cameras pretty much matches the picture of the urinal.

I have yet to see that the photos taken were worth the trouble of getting them and having the guests use them.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:16 am
by peacock2121
Of course your trouble to reward ratio may vary.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:18 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
peacock2121 wrote:My experience of the disposable cameras pretty much matches the picture of the urinal.

I have yet to see that the photos taken were worth the trouble of getting them and having the guests use them.
Sam's Club and Costco sell them in bulk.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:19 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
peacock2121 wrote:Of course your trouble to reward ratio may vary.
I think that it would be fun for the newlyweds to go through the pictures and try to figure out why somebody took a certain picture.