Staying in Style

So we've got lots already:

• date
• a venue
• an invitation designer
• an officiant
• a photographer
• (almost) a band
• a color scheme
• a dress!!

And now, we have a "weddingmantra": "vintage country, with a bit of pep"

See. here's the reason. There are lots of sales going on in Germany right now, and I figure: it's only less than 5 months out, i've got to start taking advantage of these DEALS and buying some stuff! But what?! I mean, I could just purchase lots of items in our colors and figure out what to do with them later..right? But I have read many a bride's warning about not doing this exact thing - about how you should buy only for specific projects. Hmmmmmmm. I guess that means I should plan my specific projects!

Which I am doing. But I am someone who is so inspired by materials that I just couldn't help myself, so we decided to come up with a wedding mantra. I will repeat this mantra to myself every time I pick up something wedding project worthy - and if it doesn't fit, it goes! I did this today:

is this blue shiny organza "vintage country with a bit of pep":

NO!!!! hellooooo!!! duh.

Is this checkered grossgrain ribbon "vintage country with a bit of pep":

YES! totally

and so it went. It really helped me choose.

I still need a list of projects, though, which I am going to start (the list, not the projects) HERE AND NOW!

• envelope liners
• honey jar labels
• centerpieces (well, perhaps additions to centerpieces)
• photobooth
• chair covers
• out of towner gifts

right. Well, that's a start. Part of my problem is also, when I see something, I think "how many?!". I think I need to also list quantities, especially for things like labels and out of towner gifts. Or at least approximate...

then I realize... we haven't even sent our invitations! Which means that we don't have RSVPs, which means we still don't have a guest count. CRY. I guess I will have to let my patience be my guide...

Fighting the crowds

This morning, I did something very German. I waited outside Aldi for it to open and then stormed in and bought things before they sold out. Like a little substitute for lack of Black Friday madness here...

You see, Aldi, which you may be familiar with from the US as being a big discount grocer, originated in Germany. The Albrecht brothers founded it (Aldi is short for Albrecht Discounter), had a big fight and split up their chain, and now there is an Aldi Süd (south) and an Aldi Nord (north) in Germany. Anyways, NOW Aldi sells groceries at cheap prices and random inexpensive products. Twice a week they receive new product shipments, which are published in a little newspaper handout, and the more attractive items sell out almost immediately.

This week they were offering two items that I was interested in: ice skates for Mr. Schnitzel (so that we can skate on even more frozen alpine lakes) AND printable photo paper for our homemade wedding photobooth!

When I arrived, there was a modest crowd.

look at the blobby lack of a line (typical German...)

After about five minutes of waiting, the crowd had swelled to gigantic proportions, and when the doors opened, I was practically carried inside by the masses. I made a beeline for the skates and frantically searched for the correct size - it was really hard, with all the arms and legs snaking over my shoulders, grasping. I finally found it and wiggled out of the chaos. Then I grabbed three packs of photopaper (€4.50 for 150 sheets!) and headed for the cash register. Here are my treasures on the conveyer belt:

reflecting the fluorescent Aldi lighting...

We will be setting up a photo booth using David Cline's photobooth software and my engagement laptop, so we knew we would be needing this paper! I'm happy to have one thing crossed off the list, and to have gotten it so inexpensively.

Did you get up at ungodly hours to buy anything wedding related?