Moving On

I've finally started a newlywed blog. I won't be posting here very often anymore. Check out the new blog here :-)

Highlight Video

I thought I posted this when it was first posted but apparently I didn't. Here's our highlight video from our wedding day. Brian from CJ Productions did a great job!

I tried to embed the video but I was having trouble with the size of it. I'll give it another go when I have more patience :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt5WwCI1EHo

Vendor Reviews-A bit late

Ball-n-Chain Photography- A

I really can't express how pleased I was with Jessica & William. After our first photographer didn't work out and our second photographer moved to CA, photog #2 recommended Ball n Chain because they were about the same price. I wish we would have found them to begin with and we would have saved ourselves a lot of frustration and money. They were both a lot of fun and very laid back but still professional. I forgot to get them a must take list so I just told Jessica some photos off the top of my head as I was getting ready. She got everything I said and some more that I hadn't even thought about. Our online gallery was up less than 2 weeks after the wedding and our CD came in the mail about 2.5 weeks after the wedding. The only reason they got an A instead of an A+ is because the pictures were not in order when we got our CD, I've spend quite a bit of time trying to organize them.

Cinda's Creative Cakes- A+

Cinda's cake is DELICIOUS & her work is just amazing. I sent Cinda a PDF of our invitation and just asked her to incorporate the design we used for the cake. I was very please with the outcome. I am convinced that her cinnamon swirl cake with white chocolate filling is the best cake in the world. Here is a pic of our cake.

All Saints Chapel-A

This chapel is absolutely beautiful. We got so many comments on it. The area outside is not quite as beautiful but it didn't matter that much. The coordinator, Sarah, was very helpful throughout our planning process.

CJP Video-A

We decided to get a videographer less than 2 weeks before the wedding. Since we waited so long we didn't have a huge selection of videographers. We e-mailed a few and got a few samples. Brian is the only videographer we actually met with. We got the "Piece of Cake" package. We are very happy with our video. Sure, there are some in the area with a little fancier packaging and camera transitions but we got a great price. I have no regrets with this choice. Here is our highlight video that he threw in for us at no additional cost.

Alterations-Olga-A

I was very pleased with what Olga did with my dress. I can't say first hand how her prices are as compared to others in the area. After hearing all the rave reviews from the other local knotties for over a year I didn't even consider going anywhere else. I got my dress hemmed, bustled, cups added and steamed with Olga. You do have to book well in advance. I booked WAY in advance (in person)...about 6 months before my dress came in. I called to confirm that I was dropping my dress off about a week before our appointment and she had somehow removed my name from her calendar. I watched her write my name down so I'm not sure what happened. She doesn't use last names so I guess someone with a similar name called to cancel and my name go taken off...at least that's the only thing I can think of. She did work me in but I had to bring my dress in about a week later. This caused me to re-schedule my bridals. Even with the scheduling issue, I can't give her anything less than an A. I LOVED my bustle and there's no way I would have taken my dress anywhere else.

Jay's Bridal-A+

I found my dress while looking for another one at a bridal salon in Cary. I did find my dream dress there but the lack of service I got there caused me to look elsewhere for my dress. I searched around online and I decided to order from Jay's. It is a brick & mortar store in Gainesville, FL but they have an online division. I didn't have to pay sales tax and they usually have promotions for free shipping or x amount off a purchase. I ended up saving about $100 or more by ordering through them and I got better service over the phone than I did at the store in Cary.

Hair/Makeup Trial

I'll be getting my hair and makeup done at Lather Hair Salon. I got my trial today and I'm SO happy with it. I decided not to wear my tiara, I think a simple hair comb will look better my hair style. I really liked my tiara but I think it may take away from my hair style.

I've known since I've been engaged that I wanted to wear my hair down for the wedding. Unfortunately, my hair grows super slow. The style I wanted definitely wasn't going to work with my short hair. I decided to get extensions and I'm so happy I did!

Eyes




I just bought a hair comb that I will wear in the back rather than the tiara I ordered back in November.

Graduation!!!

After 5 years of college I finally graduated on May 15th! Luckily we have the wedding coming up so soon. I think I would be a little depressed if we didn't. I've really enjoyed being at State over the past 5 years and I know I'll eventually miss it terribly. I complained about school a LOT this past semester. It still hasn't completely hit me yet I guess. Here are a few pics.

FI and I at my departmental ceremony


After my departmental graduation with my dad


First pic after turning the tassel!


After FI's departmental ceremony

Tools & Lingerie

My bridesmaids and FI's groomsmen got together to throw a tools/lingerie shower for us. We had dinner at Chili's then went to one of my BM's house to continue the party and open gifts. It was nice to celebrate with all of our friends together. Of course, we split up to open gifts.

FI being silly.

Olga!

Olga really is as amazing as everyone says she is! We did have a bit of trouble with scheduling. I set up my appointments with her in person in October when I went to have her take my measurements. When I called the day before I was supposed to drop off my dress to confirm and find out the best time to bring it in she said she didn't have me in her books. She kept asking if I was Krystal or Kristen. I'm pretty sure Kristen canceled and my name got removed from her books instead. She did work me in but my bridals had to be rescheduled as a result. I recommend asking her to write your last name down too, especially if you have a more common name.

Despite the minor inconvenience of rescheduling bridals & hair/makeup trials I'm 100% happy with Olga! My bustle has 15 points and it's beautiful! Olga knows exactly what she's doing! I tried my dress on for her and she knew exactly what to do to make the perfect bustle for my dress. She added a little blue bow for my "something blue". It still has to get steamed before it's 100% ready. My bridals are next Monday and she recommended not getting it steamed twice because it's a waste of money. She did go over it really quickly to remove any large wrinkles. I am taking it back the week of the wedding after she gets back from vacation to have it steamed.