Hand-Made Good'ness by: My Dad!

Thank gawsh for awesome dads!

My dad flew in last Thursday and words cannot describe how fabulous it has been to have him here! My dad and I are two peas in a pod, and I'll be the first to admit that I am a Daddy's Girl. :o)  During my childhood years my dad was my soccer coach and braided my hair, putting beads at the end of each braids so I could look cool and hip like the Fly Gurls from "In Living Color." He taught me to fearlessly ride the waves on a groovy, orange boogie-board. He introduced me to every genre of music and was my trusty date to my elementary school's Father-Daughter Dance. Because of my dad, I enjoy tie-dye, traveling, and shamelessly acting like a complete spaz. In a word, my dad is AWESOME...and if you've met him, I think you'd agree. ;o) Needless to say, my dad is a *B I G* part of my life and so it's only natural that he take on a large role in helping us prepare for our wedding.

 No, that doesn't mean he's footin' the bill. On the contrary, Adam and I are paying for the majority of our Big Day, but all parents are contributing in some way. I would never ask, expect, or allow my father to pay for our entire wedding---not only is it old-fashioned, but I think it's ridiculous to be under the impression that Daddy should pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for every aspect of a wedding. Financial assistance is greatly appreciated, yes, but gee whiz brides-to-be, let's get a little bit more in tune with our inner feminist and take on some of that financial responsibility, eh? I could go to great lengths with this, but I digress...Let's  get back to the real reason for this post, shall we? We shall.

SO! Other than being the best dad in the world and being one of my very best friends and being the one who will walk me down the aisle in four weeks---which, by the way, is something I've imagined and cried about on multiple occasions for a number of years---I am proud to announce that my father is contributing his handy-man skills and making us a variety of awesome, custom-made goodies to go with our rustic and personalized wedding theme!

Tomorrow = Sign-Making Day!
From the get-go I knew I wanted to somehow represent my California roots. Stating the mileage from Chocorua, New Hampshire to my hometown of San Diego popped into my head without any question...but then we thought it would be fun to represent all the other major places our guests are traveling from! We've got friends and family from all over the map---California, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Maine, Kansas, Florida, Costa Rica---so why not pay homage to everyone's homeland? It's always fun to see how far away one place is from another place, right? Right! And it doesn't get any more rustic than old slats of wood (picked up from the side of the road and weathered to perfection), paintin' on 'em with white paint, and nailing them to a post. Stick it in a whiskey barrel and call it macaroni, woo! My dad has worked for years making sets and props for a theater company back in San Diego, so creating something like this is right up his alley and I know he's stoked about it. In addition to the multi-location directional sign post, I'd like to have signs like the ones you see pictured: one to put at the top of the dirt road that leads to The Brass Heart Inn, one that points in the direction of the ceremony, another one that points to the barn, and maybe one to lead guests to the fabulous photo booth that Adam and I will have set up inside the barn (*more info on THAT coming soon!).

Since early this week my dad has been working on constructing an arbor (with the help of Adam's dad, too!), which will be used for our ceremony---something quite similar to a "huppah", except we're not Jewish so I don't feel right calling it by that name. The Brass Heart Inn has one we could use, but it's one of those cheesy white-lattice ones and I just couldn't stand the idea of getting married under something so trite. Having a more natural-looking arbor was what I had in mind, and I knew that my dad would jump on the opportunity to make one. :o) The two dads collected branches from the woods of Salisbury and having been working their magic, creating us a special arbor which we have yet to see! They are anxious to surprise me and Adam with the finished product tomorrow, and I can't wait to see it! I have no doubt it will be awesome and better than I could have imagined, as this is something my father has been obsessing over for at least six months! Not only will it make for a picturesque ceremony site, but Adam and I will be able to move the custom arbor to our backyard and use it as an entryway to our future garden. Aww!

It means *so* much to know that my dad is excited for me and to know that he wants to help in any way, shape or form. Having my dad contribute his creative talents and personal touches to help us achieve our desired wedding aesthetic is truly priceless. Words cannot describe just how sentimental a person I am, especially when it concerns my dad, so I am thrilled about having his creations be a part of not just our wedding day, but the rest of our lives. Maybe we're not the first couple to have a family member construct something for the ceremony, or go with a rustic barn theme, but it still feels pretty great to know that NO ONE else in the world has ever had personalized wedding'y facets created by *my* dad. It's truly the little things that will make our wedding unique and extra-special, and I couldn't be happier. :o)


*Major props and thanks to my dad, as well as Adam's dad, for their dedication, enthusiasm, craftsmanship, and love!*

Decorate 'dat aisle!

{shepherds hooks}

A cheap and easy way to bring some color to the aisle decor...withOUT implementing flowing waves of toole. giant bows, or overpriced flowers in giant urns. These garden hooks are everywhere, especially now that Spring has officially sprung (yay and thank gawd!). Of course, being the thrify-miss that I am, I wanted to find the best deal. The aisle in which we'll be walking is relatively short, but I figured I'd be buying upwards of 10 - 12 hooks to stick in the ground; fancy-shmancy garden places will sell these things at five bucks a pop, which makes me declare, "Laaaaaame." I forced myself to be patient and just keep my eyes open, waiting till I found the best deal.

While "FREE" would have been pretty awesome (and obviously the best deal), I got the next best thing: $1.00 each. Ch'yeah, a dollar. Each. Frickin' sweet.

"Where do you find shepherds hooks for a dollar?!" you ask.

Dollar Tree, of course!

They look *just* like the ones in this picture. They're black, ya stick 'em in the ground, and they have a hook at the end.... Boo-ya. I don't think we'll be hanging balls o' flowers from them, however.... I'm envisioning more of a farm'y aesthetic, like tin pails filled with daisies perhaps. Just a lil' something to spruce up the aisle in which we all shall walk, ya know? What's great is that these hooks can be used for so many other things after the wedding. I can loan them to others if they want 'em for their wedding; I can put them somewhere in our (non-existent) garden or near our pool; I can use them as marshmallow skewers when camping; I can stab trespassers. See, so many uses! And at only a dollar each! 

Barns = Romantic

barns = romantic

Ashley:

I can't pinpoint when my fascination / love for barns began....I wish I could! I do, however, remember when the movie "Lassie" came out (1994) and I was semi-jealous that the city-boy moved with his family to "the country" (who knows which ONE...). He had a farm. With chickens. And a barn with a loft. And his faithful companion Lassie, of course. And I remember wanting a piece of that; it was a lifestyle I couldn't very well have growing up in East County San Diego, so it was foreign but oh-so-cool. 

So perhaps it was then, at the tender age of 10, when I first began admiring farms and barns and wondered what it would be like to move to a more rural area... Raising sheep and collecting eggs from the chicken coop seemed like they'd be fun, and taking a long bus ride to school after milking the cow in the early morning was something I couldn't relate to in the slightest (shoot, I didn't ever ride a bus until I went off to Santa Cruz for college!). ;o) 

While I never did get the opporunity to grow up and work on a family farm (I don't think I would have survived to be completely honest), I did participate in activities that I deem "rustic" and "country":  picking blackberries and fishing for crawdads in my gramma and papa's back yard with my brother; picking strawberries at my mom's aunt's house up in Idaho; fishing at the Santee Lakes or at any river we happened to pass while on a family vacation; camping up in Yosemite every spring...

Reasons why I have fallen in love with barns:
* Gambrel roof: It is just so "barn," and anytime you see a gambrel on a house you can't help but think "barn!" Granted, not all barns have the gambrel roof style, but it's a feature that can't be ignored.
* Wood: I love wood, and I especially love structures made of wood---they just scream "rustic." Wood is a natural material and anything constructed purely of wood has to be admired and considered something of an art. I dig the look of wood siding on a home...probably because it reminds me of a barn...and when the wood weathers, it looks even cooler than it originally did!
* Scenery: Barns aren't typically found (if ever) amongst skyscrapers and super-mod color palettes. Barns are rustic, commonly found amidst fields of gold (ooh I love that song!), green grass, chestnut mountains, and wide blue skies. A barn standing solo in the countryside contributes to the landscape...and makes for the perfect postcard! I love how eye-catching a red barn with white details can be, and yet I also hold a strong appreciation for the poor dilapidated barns that haven't seen a fresh coat of paint since the early 1900's. It's hard for me to explain because I lack the vocab, but whenever I look at pictures of barns or drive by one on the road, my heart feels light; I can't help but smile and I get a feeling of old romance dancing about my insides. :o)
* History: Some barns are so old that it's a miracle they are still standing----so awesome!! Talk about sturdy structure and outstanding craftsmen (I've heard the Amish hold the title for being the best). Going along with old age is a back story, and it is amazing to learn about what certain barns were used for, owned by, or transformed into. 

SO! I guess it goes without saying that I am MORE than pumped about having our wedding reception in a barn. I remember driving up to The Brass Heart Inn in Chocorua, New Hampshire on December 3rd and feeling a wave of joy wash over me. Then I stepped foot on the property and didn't know what to do first---run around in the open field screaming, "WE FOUND IT! THIS IS THE PLACE!" Or explore the inside of the barn?! Or just stand there and cry tears of sheer joy (which I nearly did after we'd been there for 2 hours talking and exploring with Sheena, the fabulous event coordinator). 

The inn is adorable and very photogenic, and there are 23 acres of gorgeous grounds for romping about and taking in the clean mountain air (while taking spectacular photographs, of course!). But it was walking into the barn that took my breath away.  I was able to envision our wedding reception while in there, and I must admit that the little film I had playing in my head was pretty amazing. It was just everything I was hoping for and it was surreal to have finally found it. 

The thing I appreciate the most about the inside of the barn: there is so little that needs to be done when it comes to decorations because it is already so awesome! Wooden walls and beams are just naturally beautiful, that's all there is to it. There are already little white Christmas lights strewn along the beams, and Sheena invited to bring more if we so desire. Other than that, and maybe white Chinese paper lanterns, there is nothing that needs to be done! How awesome is it that I don't have to work around funk 90's wall paper....or ridiculous Roman columns...or window treatments in a horrendous shade of mauve. There was no way we were gonna have our reception at a country club or hotel ball room---it's just not our bag, baby. By having our special "party of the century" in a restored 19th century barn, we get to bring in our desired amount of color with gerbera daisies and other props, and with our summer'y attire too! And then everything will have a romantic glow thanks to the white twinkly lights. Without the barn, our  "rustic elegance" vibe---a mix of old and modern---wouldn't be nearly as magnificent. I couldn't be more pleased with our location.

Oh yeah---and did I mention that I love barns??  ;o) 

Inspiration Station, heading toward Creation!

Ashley:

So I know I've said this before (and not all that long ago in fact...), but I just can't get over the joy I am feeling for this whole wedding planning process. Ever since we got the venue in order, things have been just sort of falling into place and I feel no stress in regards to anything (knock on wood!). What a refreshing feeling it is, especially after having multiple meltdowns during my practicum (the last 4 months of grad school). Adam and I knew from the get-go that we wanted our wedding to occur outdoors, either at a vineyard or in a field next to a barn. And once we found The Brass Heart Inn (its so perfect it nearly made me cry!), drawing inspiration from farm/barn weddings came easily. I am grateful to The Knot for having so much information (almost TOO much!) on their website, and to have come across a handful of awesome blogs has just been too cool:

http://thingsrbetterwithaparrott.typepad.com/homegrown_wedding/

http://www.apracticalwedding.com/

http://tenthousandonly.blogspot.com/

http://www.oncewed.com/

http://www.diybride.com/

http://ruffledblog.com/

http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/

Since the engagement (okay, and even before) I have perused through wedding magazines, seeking out inspiration and pictures to cut out and add to my "Scrapbook O' Ideas." Admittedly, I have found a good deal of striking images and clever ideas, but overall I would have to say all wedding magazines OTHER than Real Simple Weddings have been completely overwhelming and unrealistic. Why must most wedding mags insist on having an abundance of ridiculous wedding gowns that no one but runway models wear?? And flamboyant ideas that cost an arm and a leg to put into fruition??

The Real Simple Weddings mag has been my bible of sorts (many thanks to my MOH JacqAnn for picking it up for me just days after the engagment!), because it supplies pictures and real-life wedding stories, plus every check list you could ever want *aaaaand* a plethora of DIY (do it yourself) ideas. All in all, a totally "me" bride-to-be magazine!! All other magazines I have picked up over the past couple of months have mostly assisted me with realizing what I do NOT want out wedding to be like (e.g. fancy-shmancy soiree in the Museum of Science in Boston, or a black-tie gala in the garden of some gothic mansion)....with the exception of a few short articles and images regarding a barn wedding in Tennesee or upstate New York or something.

So yeah, I have Scrapbook O' Ideas---maybe when this whole wedding 'thang is done I will scan my pages into my computer and post 'em on this blog. In a nutshell, the pages of my scrapbook are cut-outs from magazines that encompass the theme, vibe, color scheme, etc that Adam and I are going for. I'm pretty thrilled to have gathered so much inspiration!! My head is *FULL* of ideas and inspiration, and I'm thrilled to announce that I've already taken action on some of the innovative ideas:

My friend Nikki (a fellow barn-bride!) gave me an old fashioned birdcage--the very one that she used at her wedding last September. I am psyched!! I had come across this image a while ago and thought to myself, "Self, I totally think an old fashioned birdcage would fit in nicely with our 'rustic elegance' theme." I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it....maybe something similar to the picture here? I dunno. So I saved it in my file folder o' inspiration and put "old fashioned birdcage" on my To-Find list. Well, look no more! A birdcage has fallen into my lap (as of yesterday!) and I'm stoked----THANK YOU, NIKKI! She had used it as a card holder for the gift table and I totally dig that idea---much more than my original idea of using a rustic basket. SO! A card holder of the rustic birdcage persuasion it is----yay! :o)

I bought 100 clothespins the other day! Nothin' says rustic like wooden clothespins on a jute rope, tied between two trees...or fence posts....or tacked to the side of the red barn....or what have you. ;o) Clothespins are so bleep'in CHEAP, so when I saw them while out running errands I couldn't resist getting them then and there (why wait?!). So the 100 clothespins are sittin' pretty in a basket, chillin' in the corner of my basement / office with the all rest of my wedding'y stuff and such...and I can't *wait* to start digging up pictures that we want to display on a clothesline at the barn!! Pictures of us with family and friends, of course-- just another way to thank everyone for being in our lives. :o)

That's a box of 42 glass bottles (plus 4 strays that don't fit)....and I actually have 50 more lined up to the left of the box! That's 96 little green glass bottles sitting on the floor of our basement!! I raided two Christmas Tree Shops (the one in Lynnfield, MA and the other in Portsmouth, NH) and basically bought out their green bottle collection (muah ha ha!!). How did I come across these & from where did the idea hatch? Well, I had gone shopping with a friend o' mine a few weeks ago and saw the little glass bottles (which are apparently meant to be used as diffusers??) and thought they would be PERFECT for my idea of using them as escort "cards" / favors. They're cheap, yet cute; they're green (one of our colors); people should want to take theirs home because glass bottles are awesome for home decor (in my opinion). Each bottle will house one single gerbera daisy and have a tag tied around the neck with ribbon (or jute rope, I can't decide which) that says their name and which table they're seated at. Ta-da! Escort card and wedding souvenir, all in one!

 Thank goodness for thrift stores. Without them, I would never be able to be accumulate all of this outstanding glassware! Mason jars, lil' medicine bottles, and antique bottles of various size, shape, and color. I LOVE THEM!!! I've got about 50 pieces thus far, but will definitely need to scrounge around for more since I want each centerpiece to consist of 5 or more bottles (all varying in size and color, duh). Simple. Rustic. Unique. And a great way to be livin' green----yay recycling!!! They say, "One man's trash in another man's treasure" and I couldn't agree more. I've always been of this mindset (thanks to my thrifty and uber-creative dad) and have no qualms with buying used goods. I celebrate it, in fact! *Huzzah!* I am so excited, too, to be inheriting some old medicine bottles of my dad's---bottles that used to be on display in our bathroom when I was a kid, and other bottles he has found at yard sales and thrift stores over the years. As you can see, I am a B I G fan of glassware, so having them play such an integral part of our aesthetic value means the world to me.

Rustic frames---check! I found a ton at Dollar Tree of all places and they're just great! Sure, some are plastic and painted in gold, but I dig how they have that antique'y look about 'em and think they'll look good intermingled with the wooden frames I have collected. In these frames I would like to put pictures of me & Adam during different points of our together'ness---one of our first day meeting in San Francisco back in 2005; one of us in Mexico; one of us apple picking. It'll be fun to display our love in photographic-form, framed in rustic / antique'y goodness!

Inspiration!

Ashley has been digging like crazy for wedding inspiration, but both of us have been apprehensive to start writing about any of our ideas or experiences since it seems like there is just too much to say.  Fortunately, Ash has been keeping a folder full of pictures she finds that we feel embody the essence of what we want our wedding to be.  A picture is worth a thousand words, so here they are... plus a few words for context.


Cubbies!

Flower hooks!

I just finished designing our "Save the date" postcard, and am looking forward to the challenge of designing our invitation... here's a little invitation inspiration that Ash found.

Ashley is positively obsessed with the idea of using these little chubblet birds as cake toppers.

This is exactly where we will be married in front of the Brass Heart Inn in Chocorua, NH!

Flower buckets!

Candles in mason jars hanging from string, these are a few of our favorite things...

Japanese lanterns!

Clothes pins & clothes lines... brilliant!

Unique table name/numbers and whatnot. We say yes!

Our feet shan't concern themselves with shoes.

Chalkboards are cool... Ash is also dying to use my vintage bicycle as some sort of prop.

Scott (Ashley's dad) may not know yet, but we expect he'll be playing a pivotal role in helping us make the coolest rustic signs you will ever set your eyes on.

We intend to employ 100,000 fireflies to light the inside of the barn.

Picture frames... we may set up a photo set and have frames like these as props.


Gerbera daisies will be everywhere.

Grass, trees and air.

Groomsmen unite! I think we'll all be wearing gray vests and pants... shoes optional, and all suit coats will be burned in the bonfire.

Guest participation is crucial to us, and in that vein we hope to do something creative with our guestbook to avoid getting 140 vacuous "congratulations." Spare us the congrats, we know how lucky we are.  How about drawing a cartoon of us, or writing a little poem, or just just leaving us one small piece of advice?

Hay bales.

Honey stirrers.

Hi.

My aunt makes the most amazing homemade jam... maybe I can convince her to make them as favors... then again she also makes wedding cakes.

Lanterns!

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Photos!

Harry Welch... ring bearer extraordinaire!

...that's it

for now...