Wedding Wednesday: Florist & Updated Checklist!

It's been a little over a month now since I posted the most recent wedding checklist, so I decided to just post it once a month to show you (and mainly myself) what I've crossed off!

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book band

Ask bridal party to be in wedding

Book caterer & bar

Create wedding website

Register

Book florist

Shop for wedding dress

Book ceremony musician

Book rentals

Take engagement pictures

Select bridesmaid dresses
Make sure bridesmaid dresses have been ordered - by October
Select and order groom & groomsmen attire
Find veil

Book cake baker
Hire coordinator

Buy cake knife & server

Order save the dates
Finalize guest list

Send save the dates - September

Book officiant

Pre-marital counseling - Scheduled for January

Order guest book

Find a reasonably priced videographer

Hotel room blocks
Calligraphy - pay or learn?

Engagement announcement in Post & Courier

MOB & MOG dress shopping

Find wedding shoes - Found them!

Find wedding jewelry

Find garter

Book makeup artist & hair stylist

Menu tasting

Take bridal portraits / hair & make up trial – Scheduled for October 25th

1st dress fitting
2nd (final?) dress fitting - Scheduled for September 20th

Make ceremony programs – JCB doing as a gift

Buy bud vases!

Buy a "M" and "C" and paint gold

Figure out where we want to do first look

Figure out where I'm getting ready & where Cameron is getting ready

Who will set up ceremony chairs?

Order invitations - End of September

Address invitations

Mail invitations - January

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Book RD caterer

Book RD rentals

Book RD music

Buy RD dress

Order pom poms for send off

Order koozies

Buy bridal party gifts

Bachelorette party

Buy gifts for parents
Bridal shower

Purchase wedding bands

Create wedding day timeline

Put together picture list for photographer

DIY drink stirrers

DIY signs for River Rd and venue

DIY signs for reserved seating & seat yourself

Hankies for ceremony?

DIY moss letters for bar?

Get marriage license

Book transportation from reception to hotel

Book honeymoon

RD invitations

RD groom's cake

Final vendor payments

Music selections to band and ceremony artist

Book wedding night hotel room

Order thank you notes

Wedding announcement in Post & Courier

Walk down the aisle & say I do!

So as you can see, I FINALLY decided on a florist! I met with THREE florists to make sure I was getting a fair price and to make sure my vision of what I wanted for my flowers was understood.

I wound up choosing..........

First Bloom!

I chose Debi not only because of her great prices (she has a studio at her home so she has little overhead), but because she asked lots of questions so that she could know exactly what I was looking for. She brought along multiple flowers books to our meeting incase I didn't know what a specific flower looked like (which in a lot of cases, I didn't), and even drew sketches of what certain arrangements would look like together! I felt really confident when I left that meeting. I also knew someone who used Debi for her own wedding and she raved about her experience working with her, so I knew I was on the right track!

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220 days to go!

Tasty Tuesday: Bang Bang Shrimp

I made these as an appetizer last week and Cameron LOVED them! I, too, thought they were pretty good, but I want to add some sweet chili sauce to the mix next time. 

Bang Bang Shrimp

Recipe found here.

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

For the sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

4-5 teaspoons chili garlic sauce, such as Sriracha sauce

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

For the egg mixture:

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

For the breading mixture:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

For frying:

8 to 12 cups vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl; cover and set aside.

Combine beaten egg with milk in shallow bowl; set aside.

Combine flour, panko, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and basil in another shallow bowl; set aside.

Bread the shrimp by first coating each with the breading mixture. Dip breaded shrimp into the egg and milk mixture, and then back into the breading. Arrange the coated shrimp on a plate and pop them into the fridge for at least 20 minutes. This step will help the breading to stick on the shrimp when they are frying.

Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees F. Use amount of oil required by your fryer. (I just used my saute pan.) When oil is hot, fry shrimp 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on rack or paper towels.

When all shrimp has been fried, drop the shrimp into a large bowl. Spoon about 1/4 cup of sauce over shrimp and stir gently to coat.

Friday Lovin'.

It's Friday and I'm actually feeling awake this morning!

Maybe it's the good mood, but I've got lots of things I'm lovin' today!

My F21 necklaces arrived yesterday so I had to wear one today!

Yes, that is me in my work restroom.

Flowery blouse by Lauren Conrad that I picked up during tax free weekend (plus 40% off!).

Forgot to include in yesterday's post.

I finally got to meet Baby D on Tuesday! Got together with Alicia (Baby D's mommy) and Kathryn at Triangle for some girl time and Taco Tuesday! 

 New obsession. Wicked okra. A little sweet, a little spicy. Just like me. :)

The fox was back at work yesterday! I just want to pick it up and snuggle with it!

What are you lovin' today??



Recent Buys.

I recently won a gift card to Vestique from a blog giveaway and was super excited to pick out some items! Since Vestique is in Raleigh (and Charlotte), I asked Jana to pick up my items and bring them to my bachelorette party to avoid shipping charges. :)

Vestique

Vestique

Vestique

 NWT Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top in white linen via Ebay

Heard about these super cute and super cheap necklaces from Natalie..both colors are (slowly) making their way to my house..

Forever 21 via Ebay

Ok, from here on out it's wedding purchases ONLY!



Wedding Wednesday: The Aisle

The Aisle New York is a website that I recently discovered. It's pretty much like Rue La La, but specifically for brides. Designer dresses, accessories, etc at highly discounted rates.

For example:



Kara by Amsale

Retail: $4500, Aisle Price: $1475



What makes this site even better, is that when you purchase a dress, the website will donate a portion of the sales to a charity chosen specifically by each designer. EVEN BETTER, the designer of that dress will also MATCH the donation! Now that should make you feel good about shopping! :)

Go here to sign up!

Tasty Tuesday: The Dirty Girl Scout.

Well if the title of this drink didn't catch your attention...

The Dirty Girl Scout

Photo and recipe found here.

1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 1/2 - 2 shots vodka

1 shot White Creme de Menthe

1 shot kahlua

Mix with chocolate vodka for an extra naughty kick.

Serve with your favorite cookie on the side.

PGA Sunday!

For all of you who live in Charleston, you know that the PGA Championship was on Kiawah Island last week. And as yall may or may not know, I work on Kiawah (for the community association, not the resort)! Leading up to the tournament, we really didn't know what to expect! Of course we knew that a TON (30,000 a day) people would be coming to our small 13 square mile island, but we still weren't sure of it were going to be crazy or what. I'm happy to say that it was not that bad traffic wise (for me, anyway). There were 200 large busses that hauled spectators from off the island to The Ocean Course, which helped greatly with the flow...except for that one yesterday that tried to make a turn, got stuck and wound up stopping traffic to the course for 90 minutes! Oops.

Cameron and I weren't planning on going just because golf really isn't our thing. But I ended up getting two free tickets from work so I said, why not? When will this ever happen again?!?

Here's a small recap of our day:

Vijay Singh on hole 17

Dad & Mom

Resting in between rounds.

Up close and personal with Bubba Watson, winner of this year's Masters Tournament.

A better view of Bubba. :)

Ian Poulter (in white) on hole 9..he was giving McIlroy a run for his money for a few holes.

And because it was Sunday, and we were hungry, we hit up Maria's on the way home.

PS - Big thanks to everyone who commented on my rug dilemma! We do want to go the next size up but would have to wait until the end of September to receive it because it's on backorder! I'm going to call Ballard today to see if they can do anything about that.