I'm back!

So, folks, the Halloween party is over and my project presentation is done and I am BACK in full force. Seriously, though, planning the Halloween party totally alerted me to some of the things I'll have to be thinking about while planning the wedding. I did get LOTS of compliments though, not least of which are due to the many tricks and treats I have learned over the last several months perusing the wedding planning blogosphere (labels anyone?).

Here is a peak at our costumes:

excuses, excuses...

So I haven't written in a while, and here's why:

1) I am in the process of renegotiating my contract at work to allow me to work a 4-day week so that I can have Wednesdays for thesis writing

2) I had to give a presentation about my Masters thesis last Monday, and today I had a meeting during my lunch break with an Internet Agency who may be programming our Alumni Portal Website for my project for my Masters. (that's separate from my thesis. right). Tonight, our project group is presenting the concept to the dean of our department. (I never ever want to see another power point in my life)

3) My entire weekend consisted of meetings to organize today's events, coupled with an entire Saturday volunteering at a study abroad fair (for which I had to rise and shine at 7:30am. On a Saturday. Cry.)

4) The planning for my Halloween Party, which is this weekend, has been pushed off to the side, so you can imagine that not much has happened on the wedding planning front.

The only news I have is that Mr. Schnitzel has been doing AMAZING things with our wedding website and I can't wait to show you. And to make up for all my complaining, here's the cutest dog/cat photo ever.

source

What I have learned about Planning a Wedding from my Halloween party

Alright. This is going to sound really strange. I am planning a Halloween party, and I am doing so partially (only partially) to practice some of my new found wedding planning expertise! I have been reading the blogs for two months now (and writing my own, of course) and so I have a PLETHORA of ideas just waiting to be done. And for those who don't know me personally - I am not really Miss Patience. If I see something I want to own/ to make/ to try, I do it right away. So the idea of SAVING ideas and using them in 9 months (9 months! That's how long it takes to have a baby! So long) is just so agonizing to me.

Now I'm not sayin' that my wedding will resemble my Halloween party. In fact, I most certainly hope that it doesn't, in any way, especially the creepy eerie icky scary way. But in "testing" out my wedding skills, here's what I've learned!

1) Making any sort of paper product is really time consuming. I have been crafting labels for my food and punches and spent all yesterday evening cutting out mice and bat decorations. It takes FOREVER
2) Buy supplies early, when you see them. Don't wait, unless it has an expiration date. Because there will always be something you will remember that you need. Then you can worry about getting that instead of all your other things.
3) Do everything in advance that can be done in advance! It gives you piece of mind and frees you up to do fun stuff the day of, like putting on your costume (or in the case of the wedding ? getting dressed?!)
4) Do a little every day. I have been using TV watching time as an excuse to cut and craft. I find it enjoyable and it feels like a game, not a chore
5) Limit yourself! Pick 2 or 3 or 4 (or 7) projects and stick with them! Don't keep adding stuff. Work on making the things you're doing really good. Do them in advance. And then call it quits.

That's all for now. I am quite sure that I'll have more to add when the party nears. Today, for example, I will be attempting to purchase:

*clear packing tape
*black spray paint
*zombie costume stuff at the second hand store

and THEN go to the gym to do my wedding workout. Ayayay (just testing out that pre-wedding halloween stress!)

Planning a Halloween Party - Wedding-Style!

So this post is a little off topic, but since I am waiting to post about my preparations for writing my bridal party letters (I am starting to get concerned about them - two of the girls have received them, but two haven't responded yet! I hope they made it safe and sound!!) until they arrive, I thought I would digress slightly and tell you about how I am putting some of my newly acquired wedding planning skills to use:

Planning my Halloween Party!

Here are the elements that I have decided on:

DRINKS

Slime Punch

Bloody Black Current Punch

creepy shots:
jäger (label: black death)
erdbeer limes (label: bloodthirsty)
jello shots (black? Orange? Green? Not sure what color of german jello I can come up with)

Beer (Mr. Schnitzel suggested calling it "Virgin Juice" but that is incredibly vulgar sounding and I'm not even sure what he means by that?)

FOOD

black candy corner

ladies fingers and men's toes
except that I will be using store bought pastry instead of making the dough.

"devilish eggs" wait, a great idea from shoestring jetsetter: these: Spooky Spider Eggs

mummy dogs

Jack-o-Lantern Cheeseball (something like this recipe, but perhaps without the poppyseeds?and something to make it orange (paprika?)

DECO

Gauze-wrapped candy bowls
Black shapes on the windows and crepe paper curtains
table cloths (plastic)
floating candles in the bathroom tub (the only place I trust candles at this party)
lotsa jackolanterns
furniture wrapped in white sheets
appropriate lighting

GAMES

Costume contest
Flip cup (the germans really loved this last year)
Other game ideas? Something easy that doesn't require too much "organization"

We will also have a photobooth in our cleaning closet - we aren't sure how to best document the photos. Should we just let people take them with their own digicams? Should we provide ours? Should we rig something up? Or should we spring for a Polaroid? Decisions Decisions!!

Other deco thoughts:

scary movie running the background (suggestions?)
music, of course! But dancy music, instead of scary music. Maybe scary music in the bathroom?

So, those are my thoughts! We have the car on Friday so we're off to buy the heavy stuff ? beer and other drinks and pumpkins!! Hooray for Halloween.

Oh, and my costume: the winning idea at the moment is for he and I to dress up as Bacteria. Like wear green and have purple dangly things coming off of us. change of plans. We are now planning on dressing up as zombie bride and groom. FUNNY and good practice. What do you think?