I have been planning my wedding for a really long time. The reason for this stems mostly from my inability to make a decision, budget problems, and annoyance with my fiancé (do I really want to spend my life with this person? He snores and has a tendency to leave baskets of laundry in the kitchen). But mostly, I come up with so many neat ideas that I have trouble committing to any of them.

 

I like wedding themes—an overall concept which is introduced with the wedding invitation and then is carried out through the ceremony, the reception, the music etc. These ideas tend to be a little too matchy- matchy (like an over coordinated outfit) but I can’t stop coming up with them anyway.

 

Wedding themes I have discarded in the past year…

 

Story Book

Colors: white, gray, purple

Time of Year: Fall/ Sunset

 

 

Save the Date- Vintage fairy tale books which open to an insert designed to look like those lined pages that are stamped when you check out a library book.

 

Invitation- A custom made story book invitation.

 

 

Ceremony Location- Story Land, New Orleans.

 

 

Story Land is a whimsical children’s playground in City Park. Each area of the little park depicts scenes from well known fairy tales and children’s stories. I mean who doesn’t want to get married in the whale that ate Pinocchio?

 

This theme makes me think of fairy wings, gossamer ribbons, groomsmen in tails, a gigantic cake spiraling into the sky, and a march down the aisle to Stravinsky’s Sleeping Beauty.

 

**I abandoned this idea simply because I am too cheap to have a destination wedding, but when I lived in New Orleans it would have been perfect and relevant since I went there all of the time with James (that’s my fiancée by the way).

 

 

 

Carousel

Colors:  red, white, small pops of yellow

Time of Year: Summer/ Day

 

Invitation-  This red and white swirly number is evocative of carnivals and vintage popcorn containers.

 

Ceremony Location- The Carousel at Faust Park, St Louis

 

I think this space is mostly rented out for children’s birthday parties—but why not a wedding? They have a great pavilion where you can have your reception and everyone gets a free spin on the carousel.

 

…Think Calliope music, immense handmade lollipops, huge bouquets of balloons bobbing in the wind, cotton candy, and vodka infused lemonade

 

But this one didn’t work out either since Faust Park insists you use caterers from their list. I have no problem with this concept (as it is extremely common) but sheesh!  Could they at least offer a list of caterers with a range of prices? I can’t afford $50-75 a head for a super casual afternoon wedding.

 

The Bee’s Knees

Colors:  Yellow, Celery, White

Time of Year: Summer-ish

 

Invitation- I still haven’t ordered any yet so I will post several options—vote on the best. I think they should have bees or trees on them (or both) but I really like the poster style one. See? I can’t make a decision.

 

 

 

 

 

Ceremony/ Reception Location: Bee Tree Park, St. Louis

This park is pretty (and cheap) and I like the name.  I am going for a kind of a kicked back/ rustic/ vintage vibe.

 

…Think bottled sodas in galvanized buckets, tiny honey pot favors, picnic tables covered in vintage tablecloths, cheap wine, cheap beer, hunks of crusty bread, marmalade, and pinwheels.

 

I am sticking to this theme (reluctantly) but as of yet still have not found….

 

-Invitations

-caterer

-dress (and assorted frou frou trappings)

-photographer

-music  (DJ?  Band? Ipod? Help!)

-flowers (and décor type items)

-enough vintage tablecloths

 

I know what I want my cake to look like but still need to find someone to make it.

(I think this picture came from some issue of Martha Stewart…but I have been hanging on to it for a while, so I am not sure.)

 

Oh, Lord. I have a lot to do.