We just booked our event designer last week after interviewing six vendors! This process started back in June, so I am relieved we finally chose the person getting into the nitty gritty with us that day. They all submitted some detailed, some not-so-detailed proposals and the winning bid was based on how much in sync she was with our ideas.

Basically, I have a vision in my head and she is going to help me set it all up on that day since the ceremonies start so early. It would be impossible for us to set up that ballroom the morning of the reception.

So back to our wonderful designer. I have high expectations. It takes a LOT for me to get excited about someone, but she organized her proposal the exact same way I set up my evaluation Excel spreadsheet--don't ask, it's crazy. She also was great for bouncing off ideas and I would say that her creativity and history of designing huge high-profile events didn't hurt the evaluation! We had one vendor who tried to push a "factory-packaged-wedding" on me. Seriously. Do I look like I want a wedding that you have already done in the past? We met with another who's lack of enthusiasm put me to sleep. They all had their own style, but in the end, I went with the vendor that met MY STYLE.

Now... time for all the little detail planning that you probably won't ever notice, but I will so I'm planning it anyway!

Lights... almost there.

Camera... booked.

Action... less than one year!!!

Now that we can FINALLY say JUNE when people inquire about the big day, it's kind of... scary. For some reason, my mind has distorted the time and I feel like I have less time to plan for this. The family engagement party has passed--now we are referring to the future in-laws technically as in-laws.

I've ordered my gown, designer initials M.S. Maggie? Melissa? Who knows! It's a surprise! I have met with five event designers to transform the place... but I won't get proposals for another week or so. Let's say I'll have that decision by the end of the month! All the designers have totally different ideas and working personalities, so this may be difficult, but I think I know who it will be. The wedding is definitely personifying itself more now that I have the mental images in my head.

It's nice to have all this time to plan. The problem is I get more and more ideas and then it gets bigger and bigger. He has done a FANTASTIC job of helping and throwing out really great ideas too... I'm so proud *tear*. I bet the anticipation is killing you, lol, ok ok so it's just really killing me!

P.S. The girls have also been given their dress assignments, so let the shopping begin!

YES! Lexi (my kid sister)'s talented boyfriend, Q, has agreed to DJ our wedding! I am so excited--maybe I can coerce him into spinning some original stuff, hehe. So now that I have found a Viet DJ who would understand my need for hip hop, dance, techno, and VIET music during the party, I can go back to focusing on the dress!

Well, on my own time. Together, we are focusing on the DECOR. This is probably the 2nd biggest chunk out of our budget aside from food as we are transforming the venue. It probably would have been easier to get an empty space to do everything I wanted, but I love my venue.

Saving all the money for this wedding is getting harder since we're spending more on redoing the house. I would ALMOST call it penny pinching, but we're not. We've just been doing a good job of bugeting. I guess that's what happens when the wedding planners (us) are this OCD.

I may have started a slight obsession with Demetrios, Maggie Sottero, and Sottero & Midgley...

The photographer has been booked! We met with Mitch from Mitch Ranger Weddings yesterday at his fantastic GR loft. When I say fantastic, emphasis on the FAN TAST IC. I didn't think I could find a local photographer whose style meshes so PERFECTLY with mine, but I did! Thanks to Miss Jen Torma whose recommendation led me to his door.

Although, he was sporting a Herman Miller (my evil competitor, lol) Noguchi coffee table, but that was okay because he made up for it with the great canvas art and white Artecnica Until Dawn curtains draping across his city view windows. The fact that he had these furnishings of designers I've fawned over and recognize through my own interior design apreciation practically had me shouting "sign me up!" You HAVE to respect anyone who has a mutual appreciation for fine modern aesthetics.

So far I've noticed that I am more inclined to have a vendor understand what I want and need when the vendor is younger. Our coordinator at the reception venue knew what Tapas were--not the woman at the Lansing Center across the street or the CATERERS we started talking to--aren't caterers supposed to know about FOOD?! The photographers whose works mirrored what I wanted were all younger.

ANYWAY, I sent out my first bridal party newsletter this week and everyone received them yesterday (April Fools' Day). I had fun making it and I can't wait to get started on the next issues since we will be getting into the more fun details soon.

More to come!

So I've been researching photographers and asking my beloved friends to recommend theirs to me (if they liked their work). Where am I now? I have a list of over 200 photographers!!! I'm slowly weeding through them (with an intricate Excel database, of course) and ranking with from 1 to 5 so that Donny can start talking to the 4/5's. I'm rather picky with the photographers. It's amazing what I've found...

I have my heart set on a handful. One guy from Chicago, an MSU alum, had a BEAUTIFUL diverse cultural portfolio, which is important to me. He is also a fashion photographer which is also a bonus! However, he now lives out of state and I would have to fly him into Lansing. The added costs put him over my budget. =(.

Then I have a couple of MI photographers whose works are amazing! I'm in discussions with them now and hopefully they'll have our date available. It's hard to believe, but a lot of dates for the good photographers are booked next year... and they said we are engaged for too long! THEN, the thing that drives me CRAZY is the excessive PhotoChopping that they do to the pictures. I will not be putting my money on the ones who put my face in a champagne flute with fake sparkles at the rims... or the lady who thought that thinks that fogging all the edges is classic.

And then the not so fun part: I've come across wedding photo sites with no photo galleries. Does this make any sense? I saw one site where the photographer had 5 pictures and his packages started at $4,000! It looked like he took them with a point and shoot too!

Anyway, we're going to end up budgeting more for photography, as many of you know--photos are important to us. (Probably why I have pictures from practically EVERY day of my life.) The costs get higher because of the cultural ceremonies--we have two locations and need a photographer at both. So if anyone knows a couple of flexible photographers who specialize in photojournalism or fashion, please let me know!

Now that it is 2008, we can actually say that "the wedding is next year" instead of the cumbersome "June of '09". We've tackled some of the major decisions at the end of last year and knocked out the food, wedding party, venue, look & feel, and date.

We're looking into photography, videography, and music at the moment. Anyone know of anyone who will take great pictures and give us what we want? (I want the rights to the images on a CD!) I also need a DJ who knows Viet. I doubt you can help me there.

So basically, the reception will take place after we travel across state at the Lansing Radisson Hotel on June 27, 2009. We are having a selection of hors deurves, five plated courses that include chicken, duck, shrimp, beef, and dessert! It's not the typical 12 course homestyle Asian wedding meal, but I still have high expectations for what we've planned.

Our friends are getting engaged left and right. How exciting! We're just getting married AFTER everyone lol. I blame school which should be an excuse until December.

My wedding planning book is huge--typical, but we're getting there. :o)