GTKY: 2013 Edition

professorscience

This board used to have a ton of camaraderie, and it we need to get that back!  Let's hear from some new brides and old married ladies!

Wedding date:

How did you and FI/H meet?

Wedding colors:

Favorite thing about planning your wedding:

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about:

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started?

Someone else add other stuff... I'm bad at this.  

nextrightthing

Thank you for posting this!  And congrats to you, so exciting!!!  Being a mom is the most awesome and amazing and spectacular thing in the world. 

Wedding date: 12.14.13

How did you and FI/H meet? Slightly embarassing, but I swear we are totally normal haha.  We met on Match.   

Wedding colors: Champagne, gold, ivory, and chocolate brown

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: So far, trying on dresses and picking a florist

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Aside from marrying the man I love, seeing our little boy's excitement (he thinks "we" are all getting married, it is too cute!), seeing what Difiori creates for our flowers, and having most of our friends and family together at one time. 

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? Where did you go for your HM?  Would you recommend it?

shishigami26

The only question I have is, what does GTKY stand for? And to add to your list-

Part of the day you were/are most scared about, and why:

cwaggoner07

Wedding date:

7/14/12

How did you and FI/H meet?

Working at a financial/tax firm

Wedding colors:

Um white/green/gray/yellow... we just kind of picked stuff out as we went along.

Favorite thing about planning your wedding:

How involved H was. He's a creative mind, so it was fun to let him take charge of all the design work, even if I ended up doing a lot of the actual legwork.

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about:

Um everything?? Really, just partying with all of our friends and family. 

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started?

My three favorite parts of the day were the three times it was just the two of us alone. However you can incorporate that, DO IT. For us it was:

-First look

-Eating together after the ceremony and pictures but before we went into the reception. We did it fast, only 15 minutes or so, but still GREAT.

-Private last dance.

Seriously, if you are against a first look, then have 5 minutes after the ceremony to just be ALONE. Find a way to have private time. People will be trying to get a piece of one/both of you all night (understandably), so you will absolutely cherish the quieter moments you have together. 

MrsKWH2B

How did you and FI/H meet? Through church

Wedding colors: Thinking a dark brown and raspberry

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: Knowing at the end of it I'll be married to my very best friend

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Seeing FI at the altar...I just know the look in his eyes will be amazing

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started?  Where would you suggest for an affordable honeymoon if we want to stay in Texas

courtski2004

GTKY= Getting To Know You

Wedding date: 6-18-11

How did you and FI/H meet? We worked together at a settlement firm

Wedding colors: teal and fuschia

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: The anticipation of having all of our friends and family in the same location to celebrate.

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: the look on J's face when he saw me in my dress for the first look. I will never forget that, it was so pure and adorable.

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started?
Advice:
--Research all types of venues regardless of what you think your vision is.
--GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
--As it gets close to your date, people will offer to help with odds and ends. Let them. I am such a control freak that I wore myself out (despite having a planner/DOC) with DIY stuff that in the end I'm sure nobody noticed. The stress is seriously not worth it.
--Take small moments throughout your wedding day to just BE with your H. We took 5-10 minutes after our first look to just sit and talk in the Church sanctuary, and it was just what we needed after all the buildup and insanity.

fallbride1109

Getting to Know You

Nextrightthing, those were my wedding colors too, minus the chocolate!  Good choice.

Wedding date:  11/07/09

How did you and FI/H meet?  The old fashioned way:  at a bar. 

Wedding colors:  Black/champagne/ivory

Favorite thing about planning your wedding:  All of it!  I'm a huge planner and I loved every minute and detail about planning.

Part of the big day you were most excited about:  I was probably most excited about the First Look, naturally, but my favorite part of the night ended up being our private last dance.

Part of the day you were most scared about, and why:  Probably walking down the aisle.  Even though we did a first look, my heart was still pounding.  It's just a very nervous moment but in a good way!

Advice for the ladies just getting started?  As far as planning goes:  don't sweat the small stuff.  All those little details you suffer over aren't worth it in the end.  Go with your first instinct and then don't think about it anymore.

On the day of:  Give yourself plenty of time to get ready and dress--and then add another 30 minutes!  Seriously, give yourself more time than you think you will need.

And I echo Carrie's statement about the "5 minute rule" after the ceremony.  It's a great one.

fallbride1109

Where would you suggest for an affordable honeymoon if we want to stay in Texas?

Fredricksburg is a good one.  We are going for a weekend in March and I planned our itinerary last night and I think it will be really fun!  Professorscience went there for hers. 

Where did you go for your HM?  Would you recommend it?

Maui and yes!

professorscience

Wedding date: 11/05/11

How did you and FI/H meet? At summer camp for nerds.

Wedding colors: Green, yellow, and white.

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: Food tastings.  

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Getting married and then having a ridiculously awesome party.

Advice for the ladies just getting started?

Some advice: Just relax.  No one is going to notice if you had plain old banquet hall chairs or if they were covered in silk covers with hundred-dollar-bill sashes.  I see so many brides get bogged down in these insignificant details and they seem to forget that the point is not having a pretty party, but marrying someone for life.

I also agree with the five minutes.  That was the only time the whole day that I cried.  

Answers to some questions:

Most scared: Bawling like a baby the whole time.  I am a really emotional person -- I can't even have an argument without getting so upset I start to cry.  I was so worried that I was just going to be blubbering and incoherent the whole time, but I made it!

@MrsKWH: We honeymooned in Fredericksburg, TX (wine country!) and probably only spent around $2000 (maybe less -- I know what our lodging cost, but all our other spending was out of a cash gift from FIL and I don't remember how much we had left over) for the whole trip.  I'd be happy to give you some info if you want.

We also considered San Antonio for a honeymoon when we were planning.

fallbride1109

We will probably spend less than $1K on our Fredricksburg weekend (but Amanda stayed in a much nicer place than we are!) 

professorscience

Most of our money was spent on restaurants and wine tours.    And we bought a TON of Christmas gifts at Der Kuchen Laden (Go there, Stephie!).

shishigami26

Wedding date: April 28, 2013

How did you and FI/H meet? Online through a game (World of Warcraft)

Wedding colors: Midnight blue, spring green, and cream

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: Everything, especially the cake tasting!

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: I am super excited for our First Look and having a lot of our friends/family there to celebrate with us.

Part of the day you were/are most scared about, and why:  I think I am most worried about all the decorations getting set up and ready before the wedding. I don't know why.

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? No questions for the moment, but I have learned a lot from all of you!

raehny

Yay! This is my last intro as a non-OMH! Wedding date: March 17, 2013 How did you and FI meet?: We met on OKCupid (but also bonded over our love for WoW ) Wedding colors: silver, yellow and plum Part of the big day you are most excited about: my DIY blinged-out shoes (definitely a labor of love), FI's face when I walk down the aisle, my outrageous cake, our DJ, and just getting to party with our friends and family! Part of the big day you are most scared about: having to pee in my fit-and-flare dress. :O Where we're going for our HM: South Padre. I originally wanted to go back to Key West, but Padre is MUCH cheaper, even around spring break season.

professorscience

Haha, Raehny, I had to just take my dress all the way off to pee!  I'll never forget two of my best friends standing guard in the bathroom of the bar we went to after the wedding while I stripped naked.  

Stitch10

Wedding date: 10/19/2013

How did you and FI/H meet? We're another Match.com success story, even though we found out afterward that we were at the same school and had mutual friends.

Wedding colors: Red, rust, sage, and cappuccino

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: the DIY projects

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Being married and having so many friends and family in the same place

Part of the day you were/are most scared about, and why: Having all the planning done in time!

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? Do you think it's better to take a honeymoon immediately after the wedding, or at some point (maybe a few months) later? 

fallbride1109

I'm in the take your HM after the wedding camp. To me, that's what a HM is. But now it's pretty common to take it later.

professorscience

We took what was intended to be a "mini-moon" because we got married during the school year and I didn't want to take two weeks off at the end of the semester (and didn't have the days).  The plan was to take a "real" honeymoon in the summer when we had more time, but life ended up throwing us a few curves and we never really went on any huge trip.

So I guess what I'm saying is: I think if I had it to do over, I would have gone ahead and made our HM more of a priority in terms of saving for it and we probably would have just gone, if not right away, then over Thanksgiving break.

I loved our HM, but I sort of envy those girls going on tropical vacations.  

seaotter910

Wedding date: June 23, 2013 How did you and FI/H meet? We were in Circle K (part of Kiwanis) and met at a leadership training in Indianapolis. He was from Ohio State, I was from UT. Since we met we've been together. Over 5 years now, and he got me to leave Texas for Ohio! Wedding colors: lavender and gray Favorite thing about planning your wedding: buying the dress Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: finally being married after so long. Also dancing the hora, I can't wait to be thrown around on the chair...so fun! Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? Do people watch their wedding video? I feel like I want one but then it's such an added expense that sometimes I wonder how much I will use it. I don't want to regret it though if I don't get it.

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_gtky-2013-edition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:54537055-b4ef-4b26-b641-823bad31adcaPost:e4f289ae-ac2b-4a34-a84f-3f16898e0b63">Re: GTKY: 2013 Edition</a>:
[QUOTE] Do people watch their wedding video? I feel like I want one but then it's such an added expense that sometimes I wonder how much I will use it. I don't want to regret it though if I don't get it.
Posted by seaotter910[/QUOTE]

<div>I love my highlight video.  I haven't watched the "full" video a whole lot, but we even paid extra to get the whole eight hours that were shot, just in case.  Every time a girl posts her highlight video, I go and watch mine to remember how awesome it was.</div>

fallbride1109

Do people watch their wedding video? I feel like I want one but then it's such an added expense that sometimes I wonder how much I will use it. I don't want to regret it though if I don't get it.

Not having video of our ceremony is probably my one regret.  Knowing I can NEVER watch our ceremony again even once, is painful.

jillrenee&brett

Wedding Date: 10-28-12 How did you and FI/H meet? We meet thru one of my best friends from college a couple of years after we graduated. We hung out at a bar and she promised me before hand that he was 'not my type'! We even have a picture for the night we met, which I absolutely love! Wedding colors: purple & silver ( with some sparkle and more purple!) Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: seeing and getting to party with all of my friends that traveled across the country for us! Part of the day you were/are scared about, and why: absolutely nothing! I was perfectly at ease! But I did have everything planned to the minute! Question for the ladies who've been-they-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started: hire the right people....and trust them! If you trust them, you don't have to stress so much. And, plan as early as possible, then you can enjoy being engaged! Also, do what YOU want, not what society/ family wants. I am so happy I didn't cave to the pressure of a big wedding, and in the end, my dad was too! Response to a couple of the questions...we did a mini-moon for a few days after the wedding just to de-stress. We will be leaving in a few weeks for our big honeymoon in Akumul, Mexico. Super excited, not post-wedding tired, and it makes the party last longer! We didn't have a videographer, but I kinda wish we did. Not super disappointed, but it would have been nice.

fallbride1109

I have a picture of me and DH too the night we met which is crazy since we didn't start dating until over six months later!

cwaggoner07

We met at work, so no picture from the day we met... BUT we have a picture together at our first company softball game the day after our first kiss (no one had a clue that we were secretly dating at that point... still just 'coworkers').

AshJohnson30

First, CONGRATS Amanda! Babies are exciting. Super happy for you guys!


Wedding date: 9/21/2012

How did you and FI/H meet? He was my escort at our mutual friend's wedding. CORNY.

Wedding colors: Navy, lavender, maroon and silver. People made fun of us for picking so many colors but it came out nice, especially with the floral arrangements.

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: Finding ways to make it personal to us.

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Our first touch. i was having a semi-bad morning but once i got in my dress and could hold DH hand the day was perfect.

Advice for the ladies just getting started? Do something for yourself the day of. I went and worked out the morning of to relieve some stress and it really started my day off well. I also agree with spending alone time! We did a first touch, had some time before we were announced, ate together, snuck away for pictures and did a private last dance. The time we spent together was the best!!

Responses to other questions:

Raehny, my dress was pretty fitted and I didn't have to pee commando but one of my BMs and one of DH female friend's had to help me. My dress was pulled ALL the way up around my chest. A picture was taken but I think it got deleted lol

Do people watch their wedding video...YES! I actually just watched ours today lol Video is totally worth it cause there will be things photos just can't capture.

Honeymoon immediately after: We left for our HM 2 days after our wedding and it was perfect. If we would've waited we might not have traveled where we did.

ejheart

Wedding date: 9/22/2012

How did you and FI/H meet? We worked together at a sports store when I was in high school and he had just moved here for college. We didn't date until many years later.

Wedding colors: Charcoal gray & teal

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: None of it! Haha ok fine, if I have to pick something I would say cake/food tasting or trying on dresses (even though even that ended up being stressful due to my indecisiveness). Oh, and stalking wedding blogs. That was way more fun that actually doing planning work.

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: The moments I loved the most were reading H's super heartfelt letter before our first look (mind you, at first he didn't even want to exchange letters because he's "not a good writer"), hanging out with H and our MOH/BM after the ceremony (just snacking on apps and having some chill time), and our private last dance. I will never be able to listen to that song again without getting all emotional.

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? Ask people for help (and plan ahead so that you can actually coordinate schedules for them TO help), listen to your H and if there's something that he gives input on and really wants, do it (even if it's not something you're thrilled about)...you won't regret this, save up for your honeymoon and unexpected last minute expenses, and don't over-spend on something that isn't important to you. Don't care about flowers? Then don't have them! Trust me, you'll be happiest if you spend your money where it matters most to you.

Honeymoon: We went to Antigua (Galley Bay Resort & Spa). Would I recommend it? If you're looking for a relaxing, serene, honeymoon then absolutely! Personally, I think it's better to take it right after. It was so nice having that feeling of being whisked away and not having a care in the world anymore. If nothing else, at least spend a few days away in another town just to have some time to yourselves.

Wedding video: Yes, I watch ours! When we first got it, I think DH and I watched it 20 times in one sitting (sounds crazy, I know) but it was so fun to be able to relive the day and point out funny/different things each time we watched it. I wasn't 100% sure about videography in the beginning but I am SO glad that I made room for it and don't regret it one bit. In the end, I can almost guarantee you that you won't regret the things you did book, but you might regret the things you didn't. Afterwards, pictures and videos are the only reminders you'll have of that day. Just something to think about.

aeliza06

Wedding date: May 26, 2012

How did you and FI/H meet? At a party in college. Over a jello shot. Classy to the max, y'all. 

Wedding colors: Gold, coral, and turquoise

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: dancing with all my friends (and coworkers!). We still talk about how much fun it was. 

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: The first look. That moment made the entire day for me. 

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started? Seriously- take a few minutes just for you two by yourselves- no coordinators, no family, no friends- just to take it all in. Our private dinner alone in a back room was my absolute favorite thing because we could just take it all in. It goes by so fast!

Answering questions: 

nextrightthing: 

Advice:  don't leave things until the last minute, hire, at the very least, a day-of coordinator, and if I could go back, I would spend money a million times over on awesome photography. 

Where did you go for your HM?  Would you recommend it? 

We went to El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya. We stayed in the casitas part and it was absolutely lovely, romantic, and private.  We loved it so much we are trying to go back! The food, the service, the room, the drinks, and beach were all incredible. 

What were you most scared about: 

 I was most scared about our first dance. Silly, I know, but at the end of it, I don't even remember anyone else being there- I just remember H and I. 

Do you think it's better to take a honeymoon immediately after the wedding, or at some point (maybe a few months) later? 

We took ours a month after because of the students I tutor were still in school. I loved that we waited. The two days immediately after our wedding we stayed at ZaZa on a "mini-moon"- completely recommended if you don't plan to go on a HM right away. Since we waited, we had lots of time to decompress, write thank you notes, and organize everything post-wedding. That way when we went on our HM and came back from our HM, everything was done so we could just focus on being newlyweds!

I completely agree with Stephie on the details- no one will know that things didn't get done and go with your first instict. Stop looking at pinterest and blogs- your wedding will be much more special if you follow your gut and do what is special for you two. 

arco13

Wedding date:May 17,2013

How did you and FI/H meet? In geometry class in high school I still have a picture of us together when we had to make tesselation shirts.

Wedding colors: Shades of Blue and Orange (side note, this has caused my sister to nickname the wedding "50 shades of Blue"-there will be no BDSM though, promise)

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: Ugh, I'm kind of dragging on planning right now. I put it all on hold while we were finishing school and now all of a sudden it feels like the wedding is tomorrow

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: Just finally being able to be married and refer to FI as My Husband. OH and margaritas. Definitely margaritas.

Honeymoon: FI and I lucked into some extra money and are going to Antigua! Soooo excited! We're staying at CocoBay.

Questions: Oh shoot, I totally had one in mind and now I don't remember it. Bleh. Mondays.



EJ-Tell me about Antigua!  Anything we should definitely hit or definitely avoid?

ejheart

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_gtky-2013-edition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:54537055-b4ef-4b26-b641-823bad31adcaPost:f68d43ac-890d-48af-98ce-b1b2bced9f15">Re: GTKY: 2013 Edition</a>:
[QUOTE] EJ-Tell me about Antigua!  Anything we should definitely hit or definitely avoid?
Posted by arco13[/QUOTE]

Eeee!!! You're going to LOVE Antigua. It's the epitome of tropical paradise. CocoBay was one of the places that we looked into staying, too. To be honest, we didn't leave the resort much (hindsight: I wish we had). I had really wanted to rent a jeep and investigate the island, but we ended up having so much to do on our resort that we only left for one excursion which was a circumnavigation tour of the island with snorkeling and lunch. It was fun, but nothing to write home about. What I REALLY wanted to do was the fish fry at Shirley Heights. It's every Sunday afternoon, but we weren't able to do that since we came and left on Sundays. Anyway, overall, I would just suggest getting out and doing some local things. It's hard to make yourself because the beach will be so gorgeous, and relaxing...but it's very safe there and there's lots explore.

ETA: Just to be clear, I wasn't knocking the snorkeling trip...and I would definitely suggest some type of tour. It just reminded me a lot of the one that we did in DR, so it wasn't anything too special. It was fun though, and nice to see the different parts of the island. Also, some friends of ours did a similar trip but with a different company and theirs turned about to be super sucky and kinda sketchy. I'll see if she remembers the name. We used Wadadli Cats and it was legit.

baxterdreamer

Wedding date: Undecided!

How did you and FI/H meet? Crazy as it sounds, by chance online almost seven years ago.  He traveled two hours (Tyler to Bedford) just to meet me!

Wedding colors: blush, black and gold 

Favorite thing about planning your wedding: The magazine's!  And all the time I'm spending with my family and friends

Part of the big day you are/were most excited about: What his face looks like when he first sees me and the partayyy

Questions for the ladies who've been-there-done-that/Advice for the ladies just getting started?          How in the world do I convince my FI photography/videography is worth the price tag?  He is a photographer and is appalled at the thought of any package I show him!

I have never felt so excited and at the same time so stressed about planning something in my life!!!

fallbride1109

How in the world do I convince my FI photography/videography is worth the price tag?  He is a photographer and is appalled at the thought of any package I show him!

Hmmm, this is interesting to me.  I would think he would be able to appreciate the time and effort it takes to photograph a wedding and edit all the images afterwards.  I would also think he would be able to discern the superior wedding photography from the average (as well as the price that goes along with each).

professorscience

Is his problem with the prices as much as it is with the idea of turning that job over to someone else?  When I interviewed my videographer, he mentioned that he was also getting married and having trouble finding someone who charged comparably to him (which, at the time, was a steal).

It can be a really hard sell for people who are already in the business, especially if they see themselves as offering comparable work for much lower prices.  The bottom line with photography/videography is that you get what you pay for, and that includes experience along with talent.