I'll be having a remembrance / memorial table with a small flower arrangement, a memory candle, a photo of my dad and a frame with a poem in.

The candle:

The frames:

It says:

In Loving Memory Of

My Dad

Who Is Present In Our

Hearts

.....these flowers bloom

as a symbol of a

life and love remembered

One to throw and one to keep.

In the making:

My semi DIY Save The Date

It says:

Welcome!

We're so glad you came

We'd love to have you

sign your name,

And write perhaps a line or two

By which we can remember you.

Then when our wedding day

has passed

Our memories of this day will last

For when we look at it we'll see

Kind words from friends and family

It says:

So happy you're here to share in our special day,

But should something happen to go astray,

Please help yourself to the contents within,

Wet wipes, hand lotion and even asprin,

Use only what you need and leave the rest,

It may also be useful to another guest,

So repair the damage that may have been done.

Then hurry on back and enjoy the fun.

This is the venue that we finally decided on.  It has a very vintage feel with beautiful gardens and plenty of accommodation for the guests.

Terrace 3, where the reception will be held:

Entrance to the main building:

I'll be giving my BM and MOH a gift bag full of goodies.  Here's some of the things I've gotten so far:

I made these little gloss / lip ice holders to give to them as well (they both love the Strawberry Labello, which I'll buy closer to the time):

For the Best Men

They'll each be receiving their ties with their initials embroidered onto it (Fi's tie will also be embroided but with "K & N"), as well as a hip flask for one and a pocket knife for the other.  They'll also each be receiving a cigar.

Gift Bags

I made these for my BM & MOH, with instructions from http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/10/29/diy-project-lip-balm-pockets/

In the making:

Earrings

Bracelet

Brooch for Bouquet

Brooch for Dress

Not one of my best DIY projects

Update I decided to redo the card box, I still don't want a huge over done one so this is what I came up with:

Update:

Finally all 9 pomanders are complete.  They've taken months but they're now done.  They're pretty solid so I've packed them very loosely in a box so that they won't be ruined.

The pomander is gold with a black organza ribbon "handle" 

In the making:

I took on the daunting task of making pocketfold invitations.  They will consist of:

Pocketfold

Bellyband & Enclosure

Actual Invitation

Map Insert

Directions Insert

Accommodation Insert

Info Insert

The Complete Pocketfold

Once folded (with the guests name on the enclosure)

The Pocketfold

The Bellyband and Enclosure

.... still to come

The Inserts

They look a funny colour in the photo but they're actually metallic ivory

Edit

Even though I made more invitations than we needed we ran out, this was purely because we ended up inviting more singles than originally planned.

There was no way I was going to make more pocket folds, so I improvised:

These will be put in black organza bags with the photo scavenger hunt cards attached

I LOVE this dress!  Its the new range from Amy Michelson.

Loose styles

Up styles

Ours will be like this except that it will have two tiers instead of three

I don't generally wear a lot of make-up so on the day I want it to be minimal

This is my inspiration for the arrangements.  I'll have everything the same except for the colours and the shape of the gel candles.  I'll have white roses, gold organza overlays and round gel candles (the same shape as the vases).

 The vase above isn't so clear, this is what the vase will look like (not the flowers and celophane in the vase)

Since my colours include black, I was thinking of having the stems wrapped in black satin ribbon

Edit

I decided against using these

For the ladies:

A heart keyring (aluminium & rhinestone) & Sally Williams Nougat

Here's the keyrings.

For the men:

A miniature bottle of whiskey

Unfolded

After heat embossing

Folded

Square box for the ladies gifts

Rectangular box for the mens gifts

Our venue is quite big so we difinitely needed to add some sort of direction for the guests

I made these to hang off the balcony in the reception venue.  I previously wanted to put the tissue paper flowers on (the ones that are used to make the pomanders), but I love the font that was used when cutting the polystyrene letters so I just sprayed them gold with flower spray and attached organza ribbon with velcro (so that the ribbon can be detached to be placed around the balcony rail).

Edit: We've decided that we're going to cover these in tissue paper flowers when we get the chance, as I think they look too plain and boring.

2nd Edit:  They're now complete.  We've attached all the tissure paper flowers and they look much less plain.

This is where it will be hung

It seems that I have a million DIY projects that I want to do for our wedding, luckily I have quite a bit of time left so hopefully I'll complete everything in time.  So here's the list:

* Pocketfold Invitations - Done

* Place Cards - Done

* Programs - Done

* Table Numbers - Done

* Seating Chart - Done

* Memorial / Remembrance Frame & Candle - Done

* Unity Candles - Done

* Gift Card Box - Done

* Thank You Boards - Done

* Gel Candles - Done

* Bathroom Baskets - Done

* Poems In Photo Frames for Bathroom Baskets - Done

* Mint Books - Done

* Photo Scavenger Hunt Cards - Done

* Vellum Envelopes For Programs - Done

* Guest Book - Done

* Guest Book Poem In Frame - Done

* Favour Boxes Embossed - Done

* Pomanders - Done

* Directional Signs - Done

* Garters - Done

* Hanging Luminaries - Done

* Hanging Letters For Balcony - Done

* Tissue Paper Flower Covered Letters - Done

* Flip Flop Basket - Done

* Rhinestone on bottom of shoes (my something blue) - Done

* Moss covered letters - Done

* Lacey Luminaries - Done

* Potted Moss Covered Balls - Done

* Petal Cones - Done

We weren't going to do the flip flop basket as we thought it would work out too expensive, but then I found flip flops on sale.  I was so excited, I bought a whole lot and paid next to nothing.  We're having 60 guests which will mean about 30 woman.  We figured that the majority of the younger woman would be dancing and would want the flip flops, but the older ones wouldn't, so we bought 19 pairs of various sizes.  Lets hope it will be enough.

We've made 61 (one extra for in-case).  They're quite easy to make but they are time consuming.  We love them!  We didn't want to buy ready made ones as they are really over priced and none were in the right shaped glass.

These will be used on the guest tables, cake table and guest book table.

I received fi's wedding band on Saturday.  Its a titanium ring with an engraving on the inside says "My Love My Life My Friend"

Finally I decided to do this.  This is definitely my least favourite project.  Its messy and time consuming!  But we're finally finished.......

The picture is a bit dark, but the colour is very nice, its a dark green with brownish bits.

In the making:

I like the idea of putting the MOH, BM and my bouquets in something during the reception, I don't want them just laying on the table.  So since I sort of have a vintage theme I thought I'd use jars similar to the big jam jars. 

Once again the picture isn't too clear.

I just used black ribbon to tie the tag on and secured it at the back using the glue gun.  I then added two strips of ribbon, one halfway and they other at the bottom.

These will be placed on the windowsill by the statue in the reception area.

I got these for next to nothing, they were so cheap.  They came with a yellow and red tassle which I really didn't like so I just added a little ribbon, nice and simple.

These will be put on the front row chairs in the chapel for the ceremony.

I put only essentials in these baskets.  I don't think its necessary to include a lot of other things that won't even get used.

For the ladies

For the men

These will go on the guest book table.

We want to make about 24 of these.  I bought the jars straight from the manufacturer so they were really cheap.

Our venue has these big gorgeous tree's right outside our reception area.  Thats where they'll be hung.

They are so easy to make.  We made one test one:

Update

We completed 30 of these

I've finally got to these.  They're really really pretty and have a gorgeous effect in dark spaces.  I made 20, which took quite quick.  This is a very easy DIY project.

I got the instructions from Martha Stewart.

Finally I found them!  I wasn't really looking for bridal shoes, since I didn't want white or satin but when I saw these I loved them.  They were only available in white.

Update

I bought a pair of flats for just in case my shoes hurt.  I found a pair of super flat sandals on sale - 50% off. They're not the most attractive shoes but they're practical & comfortable and I'll never wear them again apart from the wedding. They were very plain so I attached some rhinestones so that they didn't look as cheap and boring as they really were. I'll only wear them when my other shoes really start to hurt.

I decided I'd follow this tradition.  So far I only have the something blue and will hopefully come up with the others soon.

Something Old -

Something New - My Dress

Something Borrowed -

Something Blue - Baby blue Calvin Klein Undies

So far.....

Cuff links

One tie for fi and the other two for the best men

I was so pleased about this purchase as it was super cheap and it's gorgeous.

We've already made the pomanders which will be used in the chapel, but I've been thinking of idea's for some more decor since we won't be having a lot of floral arrangements in the chapel.  This is what I've come up with so far:

Potted Moss Covered Balls

There's a large mantle piece in the front of the chapel which is the focus of the area.  We're going to be putting the moss covered initials on the mantle piece but since its so big we'll need something to fill up the open spaces on either side of the initials.  So we're going to make potted moss covered balls.  These will be made up by covering polystyrene balls with moss (using the same method as the initials) then sticking them to the ivory / cream spray painted terracotta pots.  A black ribbon will then be tied around the top of each pot.  We'll be making 8 of these.

Here's the pots and polystyrene balls.  Once we've completed one I'll post a picture.

Hanging Ribbon and Board Words

They came out really well.  I know it doesn't look like it but they are all straight, its just the way that they're hung.

My MOH and BM don't seem to know whats expected of them and although I tell them regularily about all the details, I think they forget sometimes.  So I decided to make them a little guide almost in a booklet form (an idea from http://chapelofyounglove.blogspot.com/2009/03/giving-bridesmaids-helping-hand.html) so that they know for the future. 

I included:

• Wedding Details (colours, set of the venue, amount of guests, dress code, etc)
• Expectations
• Dates to remember
• Timeline (estimated basic timeline of the day)

(Bad picture quality)

These are really plain and simple.  I'm thinking of idea's that would be best to use to attach the sign to the seat. 

I completed one to see how it all works together.  It's not the usual program as there is a timeline included but I prefer having everyone aware of what happens at what time.  We went for simple trifold programs that will be placed in the vellum envelopes once folded (as in first picture).

Edit

I decided against using the vellum envelopes that I slaved over for days.  I rounded the corners but still used the ribbon and bow.

I've completed what I can for now, obviously the rest can only be done much closer to the time.

Update

Complete!

We finally came up with a way to incorporate more black into the chapel decor.  I've made black petal cones which will be filled with white petals and inserted into the back of the chair sash (an example pictured at the bottom).

I'm having my dress made by a dress maker using a combination of pictures. 

As of 27 May it has not yet been finished but should only be a few more days.  There's still a quite a few things to be done on it (the hem, the zip and attaching the rhinestones) but here's a pic of what the back is like at the moment.  The bustle is just pinned up for now, we decided that a french bustle would look best.

Fi's two groomsmen / best men are helping set up a couple of things before the wedding.  So I thought I'd give them each a box of goodies to keep them going till the wedding starts.

It says:

Includes:

* Red Bull

* Vodka (a little one)

* Nuts

* Biltong

* Mints / Gum

Since I did a groomsmen survival kit, I couldn't very well leave the girls out.  Their gifts were a bit extravagant so these little bags were just a small something extra.

Each included:

* Panado (pain killer)

* Band-aid's

* Gum

* Tissue's

I wasn't going to do menu's for our wedding, mainly because we'll be having a buffet and I think its unnecessary.  But after looking at table layout pictures I saw that it really finishes the table off, so now we're doing them.  Here's the mock-up.  Plain and simple.

Here's how they'll be presented:

I insisted that I do my bridal shower invites.  I love working with paper so couldn't resist.

We decided on two white gold bands with princess cut, channel set diamonds.  Having three rings (two bands plus e-ring) meant having a nice enough space have a really special engraving.  This is what we went for:

Band 1 - "Ever thine"

E-ring - "Ever mine"

Band 2 - "Ever ours"

I'll post a picture of all the rings together once my e-ring is back from the jewellers (they forgot to have it  rhodium plated and polished).

Edit

I collected my engagement ring today, so here they all are together

No wedding night is complete without some sexy lingerie.  While I was rushing out of the mall the other day this little number caught my eye in a lingerie store.  Ordinarily I would not have chosen this colour but actually looks really good.

Our wedding day is also fi's birthday so it definitely calls for an extra special gift.  I couldn't decide on just one thing I bought a box of goodies:

• Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
• Ralph Lauren wallet
• Quicksilver t-shirt
• Boudior photo book
• Boxers (not pictured)
• A love letter of sorts

All boxed up in a black box with a red ribbon.

With all our RSVP's received, I've completed the majority of the place cards.

They're simply gold board cut into a square shape and folded in half to stand on their own.

Here's two quick pictures taken before the ceremony. 

Pro pics to come in 8 weeks!