Ceremony rehearsal

Our ceremony rehearsal was a little chaotic and for some reason really funny. It kind of felt like tech rehearsal from my theater days. Skipping all the lines and just running cues. Despite the silliness, I think opening night went quite well.

 

Katie rigged up the beautiful tissue paper and ribbon bouquet for me.

Dinner party at the Hamiltons

Thursday before the wedding, the night before heading to the lodge for the weekend, my dad's friend from childhood in Alaska and his lovely wife threw us a party at their home. Brian and Benita are musicians, and fabulous hosts. We all had a wonderful time despite the mosquitoes going crazy. It was a great greeting spot for my aunts, uncles and grandma Ticknor as the arrived in town.

This is my fabulous grandma telling stories over strawberry shortcake.

Peacock feather and petals

Budget Bride Tip Number 264: If someone offers to help you with your wedding, say YES PLEASE! My family friend Correne is a former floral designer and wedding flower extraordinaire. She did all the boutonnieres, corsages, bouquets, centerpieces and even a few extra flower arrangements for our enjoyment.

And can you believe all these amazing blooms are silk? We did a combination of silks and fresh flowers for a trifecta of reasons:

1. Much of the preparation and steady work can be done weeks in advance — not rushed at the last minute.
2. Fresh flowers must be shipped to Alaska, so just like everything else here are more pricey. We're talking about a place where the $5 footlong at Subway is $6.
3. They make perfect, easy-to-preserve keepsakes for family.

And of course this is the amazing lady behind the flower magic. She made such beautiful bouquets, my photographer didn't want me to set mine down for a single picture on the big day! I can't thank her enough for her creativity, artistry and kindness. Plus she shared in our ceremony as the violist. I am so lucky to have this talented woman as a friend.

Getting crafty

 

I had so many DIY projects going the week of the wedding even my dad chipped in on the craftyness. He even helped tie billions of little bows on the programs. Above is the disappearing satin. Not only did I go to the fabric store twice to buy it, because the first purchase inexplicably disappeared. But then after much careful measuring, cutting and sewing the edges for pocket squares for the tuxes, the little buggars were nowhere to be found on the big day. All those debates over how to sew the edge and the only result was these awesome photos and some family bonding time. I didn't realize this event needed a props manager. The garter disappeared the day of the wedding too. But that's a story for another post with corresponding pictures.

We assembled welcome bags for all the guests with Alaska Moose Droppings [aka Whoppers], traveler propaganda, Alaska playing cards and other goodies. These are the Moose Dropping tags I designed in the wedding colors to save on more overpriced versions are the souvenir stores downtown.

NOTE: Hanging above the table in the top photo is a sample of the many tissue paper flowers Brielle and I made one weekend a couple months back. She spent a whole weekend in Anchorage helping me with wedding stuff. We sat for hours over red wine, tissue paper, pipe cleaners and scissors making those poofs of pretty.

I love you katie!

In case you don't know her, this is my amazing, beautiful, talented best friend, Katie. She not only kept me sane two weeks ago [a challenging task at best] she also planned a super-fun bachelorette party, fabulous ladies night at the lodge and held my hand through some crazy moments last week.

She's probably still having nightmares about me saying, "Katie, don't let me forget ..."

This is us on her first night in town having drinks at Rum Runners. She couldn't get over the midnight sun and kept texting people photos of it.

First response

 We got our first RSVP ... yes, our Dias neighbors and I supported the postal service by mailing an invite and response across the street.

Invitation party

Alisa, Kyra, Brielle and my friend Meghan (not shown) helped me stuff and stamp wedding invitations. I bribed them in margaritas and wine. Thanks ladies!

Wedding Web site

I put up a Web site with details on our wedding including travel and lodging information, who's who in the wedding party and more. Check it out.

>$50 in postage

This is what 110 save the dates looks like right before it goes in the mail. If you know anyone that needs wedding programs, invitations or save the dates ... Or business cards, brochures or other matierals.

The location

We're going to have a wedding here in May: Alaska Heavenly Lodge in Cooper Landing. It's pretty and located on a very scenic portion of the Kenai Peninsula east of Anchorage. There's lots of event space and enough rooms in the various cabins to sleep the wedding party and immediate family.

We saw a black bear running down the hill the evening we stayed here. We visited for a day and a half to check it out and decide it's perfect.