Matthew's Wedding

So.....the day that everyone has been waiting for!! Well, at least on my side of the family. Lots of you know that I was doing the wedding decorations for Bryan's brother's wedding and I'm sure you are all twitterpated to find out about it. Well.....here it is!!

I had "music" and "lights" to go on, not much input from the bride and groom, and a small budget. Still, I think it came out pretty darn good.

This is the sign in table and the first thing you pretty much see. Bryan was able to get old sheet music from the Music & Dance part of the library since he used to work there and has it in good with the bosses still. Since I got it for free you will see it everywhere. Also their colors were a navy blue and ivory. The apothecary jars are mine, but why not borrow for a good cause. The lights are IKEA from me also. I painted the frame and it has a piece of sheet music called Fantasia Dramatica. I thought it fit. Also, funny thing with the sign in book(s) as you can see. I had an idea of using this old book of music and having people write in it like they did for mine, but then Mom Stiles had a normal one she brought and Sarah had a picture book with their engagements in it and spaces to write why they are perfect for one another or date ideas. Since we already had two, I didn't put out mine, but funny how out of everything, this is the one thing that we had multiples of.

You'll notice a big canvas print in the back of the picture. I absolutely loved the one at my wedding, so Bryan and I thought we would pass it on, so that was our gift because those things are not cheap. Luckily I got a deal on it. Seriously, this wedding has made me one savvy, saving girl!!

Then you walk in and it looks like this. Again, sorry for the fuzziness, but my phone camera really doesn't focus that well. Luckily the photographer will have much better pictures. I publicly thank my husband, his brothers and Dad Stiles for putting this up. It was MUCH more difficult than previously imagined. But after hours and hours, they made it work. The muslin and tulle was the most expensive items I got. BUT, Joann's was having a 60% off on any one item, so heck yes I bought over 60 yards! All together I think the fabric was around $70. Thank you Joann's!! And the awesome lights were from Uncle Ken and Aunt Becky from Alex's wedding this past summer. So the whole false ceiling was just the fabric (and some hard work).

Next we come to the centerpieces. I think they turned out really well. We didn't have the funds to get flowers so I found this idea. I would take it for myself, but that would be lying. I found it while googling. But don't let that fool you. It was kinda hard to find and I would saw one picture this it, but rolled sheet music. Pretty ingenious, right? The big vases came from Mom Stiles along with the gold ribbon, which was actually used as Bryan and my's open house. I got the little vases at DI of course and painted them a metallic blue so that they sparkled. The yellowish flower was actually 90% off at Hobby Lobby the week of Thanksgiving because they were bringing in their Christmas stuff so I got a whole bouquet bunch for $1.20. I just cut it apart and viola! Then Bryan has been making and eating salsa out the wazoo so that we had lots of tin cans and I just bought some blue ribbon to make them cute. Of course using a 40% off coupon. The books were all hard back that we got for a buck a piece (which is a great deal because they are at least $4 at DI, but we found a second-hand store that was selling them for $1 a piece!) and obviously I spray painted them white. Lastly the white table clothes came from BYU (thank you Leone for getting me the MTC price so they were on $2 to rent), the blue ones Mom Stiles had again from another wedding and the gold ones were once again from my open house. Look at that! A whole table for about $5.50!! Woot!!!! Times that by 8 tables, about $45.

You may notice the chairs are not covered. Totally not in the budget, but lucky this stake center had the nicer plastic chairs (not the ugly folding ones) and the color matched the wedding, so I left them.

The gift table it next. Again, you have my IKEA lights, a wreath I made from blue tulle for $3.50 and a old torn up violin case that I found at that same second-hand store. How perfect! I was doing a music theme anyways right? $5. The little banner was make from sheet music, painted doilies and some cool old letters I printed off. It says Mr. & Mrs. Stiles. Total price, $2. Also notice the reusing of the tin can and some flowers I'll get to later. Table = $10.50.
The cake table. We used the glasses from my wedding and that is the trifle bowl we got as a gift from our wedding also. We used it to chill the Sparkling Cider. The mirror was a pack of 6 so it was $9, but they got to keep the rest and they were SUPPOSED to go on the doors that I was going to put up (again like my wedding) but the ceiling took SOOO long that we just didn't have time to transport them, so they were sacrificed. I still think it turned out okay though.
The food table. They had some little Hispanic woman make the tamales. I'm not sure about the beans, but it was all delicious!!! I found the two large jars at DI for $4. They just matched so well that I couldn't pass them up. And Larissa will notice the "S". Yep, that's mine too. Gosh I have a ton of stuff. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.

Instead of a large cake they had the little one they cut. That was because they had these babies. Homemade cream puffs. I don't even like cream puffs, but even I will say these were pretty darn good.

Now back to the flowers I had mentioned. I folded all of these little suckers! They are a five piece origami flower. I think I did over 20 of them. Mostly at work. Oops. Everyone loved them. Actually I don't even know what happened to them. They disappeared because people wanted them. And that was fine by me. I was just going to throw them away anyway. I just needed filler stuff, you know. That little embellishment. And these were perfect. And the cost.....free!!!

There were big ones, little ones and medium ones. It just depends on the sheet music size.
Well, there you have it. We were just a little bit over our budget, but Rachael's mother was generous and overpaid us. I'd like to think it was because it was more than anyone expected. Maybe I can make a business out of thrift weddings? Oh, and of course the sealing was beautiful. Don't worry, I didn't forget the important part of this whole thing.

Birthday

Well, now that it is the 9th I feel it is about time for me to sit down and write about my birthday.....which was 4 days ago. Work has just been so busy that I haven't had time to catch my breath. And, yes, I write my blog at work. I rarely, if ever, get on the computer when I'm at home and writing my blog gives me a little mental break while I'm here. Anyway, back to my birthday.....

I'm 24. Twenty-four. Vingt-quatre. Veinticuatro. Translation: I'm ANCIENT! Just kidding!! But I will admit that going on 25--a quarter of a century--does freak me out just a little. Not that I mind aging. Getting old doesn't scare me, but wondering where the last year went does. I feel that the older I get the quicker time flies by. High school felt like forever, college felt like a dream, and now I've been working at my job for a year and a half and I really can't believe it. Wait, I did it again, back to my birthday.....

I have an amazing husband. But anyone reading this already knows that. I slept in because it was my birthday and I could. And sleeping in was like 8:45. Ugh, what happen to sleeping in until 10:00 or 11:00? I miss those days. Well, I get up, brush my hair and teeth, wash my face, put in my contacts and expect to see Bryan on the couch with his computer or something, but I don't. I walk into the living room and he has lit a fire and some candles and has my presents all piled up. It was so romantical. (That's a quote from a movie--I do not speak that way.) A few minutes later he walks in with a bouquet of orange-red roses (because they look like Fall and he knows I love those colors) and breakfast from Kneaders.

After we ate I unwrapped my presents. He got me "Inception" on Blu-ray, which is one of the most awesome movies ever. He also got me the book, Fablehaven. He knows I have this thing for young adult fiction. I think it's usually more fun and so much cleaner than adult (especially chick-lit) fiction! Plus it is one of his favorite books and he has been trying to get me to read it for a pretty long time. No better way than to buy it for me. And I'll admit--so far it's pretty good. He got me a pair of gloves, but not just ANY gloves. They look normal, but on the pointer finger and thumb it has a special magnet something-or-another in it so that my touch phone registers it!! If that doesn't make sense, basically it allows me to work my phone without taking off my gloves and freezing my hands. This is ingenious!!! I've frozen my hands so many times because I can't get my phone to work through gloves. And it has some gripper stuff on the palm of the glove so that I won't drop my phone. I think this must be one of the most thoughtful gifts! He knows I'm basically freezing at all times and bought me something to fix it. Let's see.....he also got me a set of ramekins. This will save our poor little mugs from being cooked once a week when I make us Molten Chocolate Cake. Yum! I'm so excited to use them. Plus they make me feel like a real baker. He got me a multi-use cake plate too. It is a stand with cover, a veggie tray with dip holder. A drink and/or soup tureen and many other things. I've actually wanted a cake plate, although I don't think I've ever told Bryan. I guess he may be able to read my mind. Creepy. He also got me chocolates. What can I say? I'm a chocolaholic. Finally he got me a watch. And I mean a nice one! Anne Klein. I love it. It's modern with a little of old-world charm. Plus it has a diamond. He certainly knows me.

Bryan also got me a card. It was so cute and sweet. He wrote me a note and I cried. I'm such a baby. But I love him, so that's excuse enough for me.

After that he went to the MTC to volunteer French speaking with senior missionaries and I watched an episode of Vampire Diaries. I REALLY hate to admit I watch that show. But I was bored one day and there is all this hype about it and I had to see what was going on. Now I'm addicted. Plus, how bad does it sound that my husband was volunteering and I was watching a teenage drama? Oh well, it was my birthday and I reserve the right to do what I want.

Later I made a cake for myself. Not that Bryan wouldn't have done it, but I wasn't doing anything. It was a pumpkin chocolate cake with orange (in color and flavor) cream cheese

frosting with a semisweet chocolate glaze. Emily used to make it for me for my birthday before. Plus I had a brand new cake plate. It was delicious! I have it on good authority. My own. Just kidding, Uncle Ken and Aunt Becky and everyone else said it was good. And I trust that they weren't just being nice.....kind of.

This also lets you see my cake plate!

Well, for dinner we went to Communal. Oh my goodness!!!! AMAZING!!!! Chef's own it so all the food is really good and stuff that you wouldn't think goes together, well, goes together. And you can't understand half the menu because you don't know all the terms--so you KNOW it has to be good. It is such a chic place. I love it!! You just feel sophisticated. I was meant to eat in places like this.

After dinner we went to the dollar theater (after spending that much on dinner--although completely worth it--the dollar theater seemed about right). We saw Cowboys & Aliens. It was pretty entertaining.

So anyway, I had an amazing birthday and Bryan made everything wonderful!!

What have I learned? I love GREAT food and it is worth the cost. I eat too much chocolate, but I can't stop myself. My job seems to get better and better. My husband is the best (not that I learned that, but I believe it deserves being stated anyway). I miss my family, but I know I'll see them sooner rather than later hopefully. I'm kind of a terrible teacher, but getting better. And I give the best parties. Yeah, deep stuff, I know. Anyway, Happy Birthday to me!! Love you all!!!