"guest book"

You know me and traditional, we don't really get along. So, instead of having a traditional guest book we're going to have a wish jar. Everyone will write down their wishes for us and place their card in the apothecary jar. After the wedding I'll scan all the cards into my computer. Using booksmart, which is a book publishing program, I'll make our own custom guest book. Each card will be next to each guest's photo from the photo booth pictures taken at the reception.
Here's what the "guest book" table will look like:

candelabras found and purchased!

sweetheart table?

I wanted to have the entire bridal party seated together at the head table. I just think it looks classier and Matt and I wanted to sit with all of our friends. But I found out the other day from the reception venue that if we're gonna do that then the table would be a long half moon shaped dealy, not a long rectangle. Which means I can't do a table runner on that kind of table. So here are my options: we can do a sweetheart table with a custom damask table cloth and the bridal party sits at other tables with their guests or we can do the weird shaped head bridal table with a custom damask overlay and everyone sits together. Either way I'll need to have some kind of table cloth custom made, it'll just be way less expensive if it's for a sweetheart table. What do you all think?

memory table

For my sister's wedding she had relatives read a poem and then light a candle to honor loved ones that have passed. It was so lovely and touching but I don't want to copy what she did so I've been looking for ideas. I'll definitely have our officiant mention their names but I think I'll also set up a memory table at the reception. I came across this great idea: escort cards with the loved ones name with a candle behind the card. I'll decorate the rest of the table with old photos. Here's the inspiration:

so sad...

My gorgeous candelabras that I ordered from England apparently have gotten lost in the mail or confiscated in JFK customs :( Now I have to restart the candelabra search, ugh!

On a happier note, our toasting flutes arrived the other day. Hand painted and courtesy of Etsy at http://astrokeofjeanneius.etsy.com

oh how i love etsy

firstcomeslove.etsy.com = amazingly beautiful and perfect Damask table runners. I received my trial runner and brought it to the reception venue yesterday to see how it would fit on the table. It was just a few inches shy of perfect. Here's what it looks like:

Keep in mind I will not be using the gold chargers (or any chargers for that matter.) I will have black napkins with the menu tucked inside and the favor on top, similar to this:

And then the centerpieces:

Just imagine those but shorter. The tables are so long that I think two small centerpieces would look better than one large one. Plus lots of candles. How pretty is this tablescape going to be?

ceremony and reception venue

As everyone knows, we'll be getting married and having the reception at the Chateau Briand in NY. It's absolutely beautiful with this old Hollywood glamour style. Here's the website if you want to see what it looks like: www.chateaubriandcaterers.com