More People and More Plans!

The past few weeks I have been busy with work and wedding plans. Any extra time I’ve had I’ve just wanted to relax and haven’t been good about updating! So here is what’s been happening:

My list of US guests at the Spanish wedding is growing! My immediate family, my aunt, uncle, and cousin, one of my best friends, and my father’s business partner and his wife (practically my aunt and uncle) all have bought tickets! Another best friend and her husband are considering coming, as is another best friend and her boyfriend (you know who you are!!!) I’m really excited because the more people from the US that come the more fun I know I will have and I’m so excited to spend time with them here!

I also already found a condo and a house for my family to stay in when they come. The condo is really nice and right across from the beach. The house is a bit farther (10 minute walk) but it has a great yard and is really pretty. Both were rented for a great price (about $700-$800 per rental for 10 days). They are really close to Ale’s house where we’ll be staying and close to the boardwalk, parks, and… a churro stand! Yay! If anyone reading this is considering coming for at least a week I could probably find another reasonably priced condo if you let me know in advance! The beginning of June is not quite the busy tourist season yet so the people are giving great deals on their properties!

I’ve also hired a photographer. I found her online and she is from the town that the wedding is in. I love her work! I think her style is perfect for capturing the beauty of a wedding day. I’m really excited about working with her!

Ale and I have also decided to hire a group of musicians to play during the ceremony and cocktail hour. It’s a bit of a luxury, but we saw them playing one day on the main shopping streets of Seville and they were fantastic. Hopefully they will be just as good at the wedding!

My only big concern about the Spanish wedding is my dress, accessories, hair, etc. I think my mother in law will do my hair since she was a hairdresser and really wants to do it. I just hope it comes out well… As for the dress, I’ve window shopped the dress stores in Seville and I’ve seen some very nice ones, but they are so expensive! $2,000 is the norm I’d say. I really don’t want to spend that much on the dress. Therefore, I’ve decided to try to find something the week I’m home in April (as crazy as that might be). I’m praying I can! I really love this designer and hopefully some stores close by will carry a dress of hers that I like!

As for the US wedding I’m still quite behind. I’m back and forth between catering it myself with some hired help the day of the event, or hiring someone to do everything. Because of the ridiculous snow that I hear Massachusetts has lately no one has even been able to look at the property to make sure a tent can be put up without any problems. I have, however, stopped stressing too much about it, as there isn’t much I can do right now and I have faith that things will come together in the end!

In the meantime, Ale and I have bought our tickets to the US for the summer. We’ll be there for 3 months!!! Ahhh! June 20 – September 14. It hit me after buying them that it is a LONG time. I think I’ll go crazy if I don’t work at all. I asked my sister about the possibility of working at her restaurant… hopefully I’ll be able to! I don’t know what we could do for poor Ale, however, as he won’t have work permission and we won’t even have a car while we’re there. We’ll have to wait and see…

The only other news at the moment is that we are almost sure that we are going to take our honeymoon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It looks like a beautiful place, smaller and more laid back than Cancun. I found a great looking hotel that also has great reviews and there is so much to do in the area/excursions to go on. I’m really excited to start reserving it!

That’s all for now, I’ll try to update more frequently! Besossss

And the Stress Begins!

I knew it would be difficult, but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Where to start? Well, the Spanish wedding is making progress. We have:

1. A venue: La Estancia Club de Golf Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain

So it isn't the most gorgeous, manicured golf club in the world, but it's quite pretty and intimate. We will have the ceremony on the lawn, followed by a cocktail hour, a buffet dinner, and 4 hours of open bar.

2. The Decor: They're going to decorate the event in a "chill-out" theme (sounds terrible in English but it's not!) That means that there will be a variety of tables, including cocktail tables and sofas, instead of the typical 8' rounds. They will have white table clothes and colorful pillows on the sofas. There will also be a lot of candles and lanterns. I think it'll be modern and romantic. We didn't want a formal sit-down dinner because we have so many young guests.

3. The menu: I won't give it all away here, but basically we will start will 5 different passed hors d'oeuvre during the cocktail hour. Then, the buffet will be another variety of appetizers, a risotto dish, a pork dish, and a grill station with meat skewers and grilled vegetables. After dinner there will be a four hour open bar and after about 2 hours we'll have a "snack" of mini-sandwiches. We are also considering a "Churros and Chocolate" stand around 3:00 am (open bar goes until 4:00 or 5:00!!!)

4. The DJ: His name is Diego, he has years of experience and works for the radio... he was also the 1st recommendation from the catering company. He doesn't have specific hours and doesn't even want a deposit! And he charges only 400€! Too good to be true? I guess we'll have to see!!!

5. The photographer: JAGStudio from Sevilla. This place is right next to my apartment here in Seville and it's really the only place I've looked. The package includes a 30 page digital photo book, 2 parent's books, a really cool DVD, and possibly the rights to the pictures too. For the price of 1730€ I thought it was a pretty good deal. The books are a bit modern in style, but I can always decide to print the pictures I like as extras to frame, etc.

6. Invitations: They are almost done... I have a simple design for the US ones that I'll print out at a nice paper shop and send over Easter break (when I'm in the US). I just need to know the details of the wedding to be able to finish them! The Spanish ones are being designed now, I don't love them... but I refuse to stress out over invitations too!!! I just want them done and sent :)

Now we just need my dress, his tux, hotel rooms for the wedding night, the bus that will bring people to and from the wedding (so no one drinks and drives), my bouquet, the favors (which I am stuck on), Ale's wedding ring (I'm going to use my engagement ring because it looks like a wedding ring and I really like it), and if we can afford it... live music for the ceremony. It seems like a lot still... but at least we have some progress made!

The American wedding is another story. I have no idea what to do. Things are too expensive. We're working with a $10,000 budget and the average cost of the wedding in Massachusetts is like, $26,000! I wanted to have in the yard, but that entails a lot of work for my family... and I'm not sure they have the time. I, on the other hand, will be home for over a month before the wedding with nothing to do! I CAN DO IT!!! I really want to plan the catering, the alcohol, etc. and try to make it a true budget wedding with lots of personal touches. I have faith in myself, but I also don't want to stress my family out too much. Too bad I don't have a house and yard of my own...

I've basically scratched the idea of a full dinner for the American wedding. It would be impossible to do myself, and catering is $$$$$$$$$$. Unbelievably so. I'm now thinking... Tapas and Dessert! I really like the idea, as it also plays on the fact that Ale is Spanish and we live in Spain! The favors for the US are also "Spanishy": Spanish fans for the women and Spanish olive oil/vinegar for the men with a recipe attached. It's my latest of many ideas. I also am not sure about hiring a DJ... the guests are mostly older, and I'm thinking that good speakers and a well equipped IPOD could work for music... people have done it before, there's even an app for weddings! We'll have to see... Considering at the Spanish wedding we'll be dancing until 6:00 am I don't think I'll feel bad about it...

Well, that's all for now. If you are reading this please HELP ME with ideas for the American wedding! Thanks!!!