Amy and Andy's Reception Picnic Mickey Style July 15, 2012 More pictures!

[htmom]

Ok, brief introduction, I am Amy 30, this is my second marriage. The first time around I was young, naive and was sure I could change a dude. I was wrong Although I did get my amazing 10 yr old son out of the deal. He made it totally worth it.
My husband is Andy, 31, he is a former chef now working for the railroad. He has a cute as a button 7 year old. And he has never been married.

Until March 27 of this year. We got hitched. A quick courthouse wedding with his family. My dad lives two hours away and my mom passed when I was a teen, so I only had my son and one of my best friends. But it was very nice and IL's took everyone to Texas Roadhouse for dinner afterwards. Although that evening was interesting when SD's mom made a false allegation on us and the police showed up at our door that night. The cops laughed when they found out we got married that day and after seeing the kids in bed sleeping they left. It really made dh upset that she would do that but unfortunatly it was only a sign of things to come. I won't go into that drama here.

A bit of backstory

We went to high school together. We were in the same group of four people every day for half a year in highschool. I crushed on him, and he crushed on me. But I was a serial dater, I always had "one waiting in the wings" lol
And he was shy. Sooo cute, but shy. He left that school after 10th grade and I never saw him again for a long time. Although in my senior year my best friend wrote about my crush on him in my yearbook. I didn't even remember until I found it again.

Well fast forward to my 5 yr reunion. Nope, he didn't show up. But my two best friends and I were facebooking people who hadn't shown up. And I said I would love to know what "blue eyes" was up to. So my bff looked him up. He was attached, but she friend requested him. I didn't have a facebook page (at that time going through a messy divorce and didn't want the drama lol)

Fast forward again to two Christmas' ago. I was at work on the 26th. Working like a madwoman and my bff texted me "Jump girl Jump, Andy is single"
Me: Andy who?
BFF: ****! (his last name)
Me: LMAO yeah right, get me his number, I will call him (trying to call her bluff)
BFF: (***)***-****
Me:Huh? Wait, r u lying? How did u get his number so fast?
BFF: LOL FB He has it posted
Me: Im at work Ill text later but if this is your mans number u r done. lol

So anyway I go home from work that evening and text.
Me: Hey, is this Andy?
Andy: yep
Me: from tech?
Andy: Yes Miss ***** (my maiden last name)
Me: I guess *** told u I said hi
Andy: Yep, so what are you up to?

And well we texted all night and we both realized we were off for New Years and he asked me to meet up. I went I met up with him and the rest as they say is history. Sorry it was so long. I just really love our re meet story. I found out later that his ex made him change his status on fb that day. They were apart and he hadn't changed it. Thanks to her!

I already told everyone about my wedding. It was short and sweet and our kids were right there with us. They love anything to do about the wedding and were so excited. It was kind of funny. Now in the midst of planning the reception they are all in.

We are having our Picnic at Raystown Dam. At a picnic shelter http://raystown.nab.usace.army.mil/Activities/redbud.htm

We wanted to keep it kind of laid back and fun for the kids. We have 70 on our guest list but MIL keeps adding more.... I sent my invites last week. But she keeps calling saying "well, we should invite...." DH has told her several times that we didn't even invite all my family so her friends could come but I don't think she "gets" it. Anyone else with this issue?

For invites I used Etsy. Everafterprintables, she is amazing. I used her fastpass save the dates and she changed the wording to make it for an invite to our picnic. I also used her for my Thank you cards (bridal mickey and minnie ears)

Doing the invites certainly was an experience. I went to Staples first, big mistake, the color was off and the printing sucked. So I went to our local printers, he was cheaper and the invites looked amazing.

I am waiting on alterations for my dress for the picnic. It is this one, in white
http://www.alfredangelo.com/collect...c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=1&colorId1=
The dress fits well but she is fixing the way too long strap.

Food is my BIL and DH's territory. BIL is a chef and DH was at one time. I am not a "foodie" but I do know what I like. I told them the budget for food and drinks and they are doing that. We are having Prime Rib, Chicken, Asparagus, Baked Potatos, and more stuff I forget. I do remember though that I am getting a strawberry cake and cookies and brownies from my ultimate favorite bakery.

Well my fingers are tired and my kiddos are getting hungry for lunch. Gotta get going but I am going to try and update again today with more details.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Welcome.

 

[htmom]

I am working on photobucket right now, here is a pic of Andy and I getting married. Its hard not to laugh when kissing while your 10 and 7 year olds are snapping pictures...

and these are going to be our flowers. I know they are not nearly as gorgeous as most of the others on here but they are what we like. And because we will be outside they have some weight to them.

 

[2dogmom]

Hi. I love how you reconnected with your now husband. So sweet! I am having a backyard luau July 28 (after the June Swan wedding) with about 150 people (DF keeps adding more!) I can't wait to follow along.

 

[htmom]

Well my dad rode up to our pavillion to check it out. He said it is amazing! Yea! He said he will go up early that Sunday morning to leaf blow it out so I don't have to move all the tables out to sweep.

My bff is my "planner" and thank goodness for her! She has all the decoration ideas and stuff in her head. It is funny, I have lists, she has her brain. She lives near the reception site so it is nice to have someone there.

I purchased some reception stuff lately, I got hair swirlys (mickey) for my braid, and some wedding duckies.
The wedding duckies are super important because my 10 year old son LOVES rubber ducks. I know sounds silly, but he has an enormous collection, and when we saw the ducks we had to get them.

This post is all over the place. I am dealing with a sick dh and one sick kid, and one just now better kid. So I can barely think.

 

[htmom]

my hair swirlies

Gotta love Etsy!

my ribbon for around my flowers

my duckies

and my shoes! I wore them to get married in and am going to use them for the reception. They are super comfy!

 

[htmom]

Not much new to add to the planning today. I did have a couple RSVP calls today. I am going to be ordering some disposable cameras tomorrow.
What do you all think about the "scavenger hunt" papers for the cameras? That list things to possibly take pictures of?
Like: The Bride kissing the Groom,
Someone Eating Watermelon,
two kids playing together.....

 

[2dogmom]

The scavenger hunt is a fun idea! I bet you would get some interesting pictures. Cute duckies. My kids have a small collection of duckies too.

 

[htmom]

Finished a flower ball It was funny, my kids yelled "hidden mickey" when they saw it

I think it looks ok. My next one will be better though.

 

[2dogmom]

That looks good. Love the yellow!

 

[tinydancr06]

I love your re-meeting story! How sweet and romantic! It sounds like your reception will be beautiful and so fun. Everything looks great so far so I'll be following!

 

[htmom]

Not much to say today, BIL, FIL, and DH are going to go to the site soon to figure out how they will set up the food. MIL has some more friends to invite. I told DH that he will need to handle her and when I get some "not coming" feedback they can be invited then. I think that since my mom died (11yrs ago yesterday ) I don't really know how to handle 'mothers' especially ones who are pretty sure this is "their" reception


I also got the feedback from my FIL this weekend that MIL's parents are going to come. He asked "Is is wheelchair acccessable?" and I looked at dh like Then FIL said MIL's parents (who were not well enough to drive 10 min to our wedding) are planning on driving the 2 1/2 hours to get to the reception. Some backstory, we were married here so that his family could all come, we are holding the reception there so my family can come. I have been told from the beginning they are not coming, so I chose the picnic, now his family is not happy with me because of the accessibility issues.

My aunt says not to worry about it. The bathrooms are far but if they bring a wheelchair they should be ok if they can push it through the grass. She also said there is no way on earth I can please everyone. But it just really makes me a bit angry. For DH I would love for them to be there, but the whole family makes me feel like we are doing this "so" far away, and are upset this is not convienient for them. Meanwhile, my whole family couldn't come to my wedding because I already appeased his family with that.

As excited as I am about this party, it also makes me wish I wouldn't have had it. Or at least had the money for a real reception part way in between. But a house is way more important, so the money goes for that.

Now I am crying, I miss my mom, his mom dosen't realize how overbearing she is, I want DH to try and make her understand, its just a bad day so far I guess.

 

[2dogmom]

Don't let it stress you. you tried to accommodate everyone by having your wedding in one place and reception in another, which is more than you needed to do. If they chose to not go to the one closest to them, they only have themselves to blame. You will have a wonderful reception and it will be memorable because all of your family will be there.

My DF wants to keep adding more guests too and I had to tell him that we need to wait until we have some "no's" come in before I add more. I keep going with, I'm the bride, I make the rules

 

[htmom]

Thank you so much! I really needed that this morning! (((HUGS)))

 

[htmom]

Called my bff today. She said she found some great decorations. Here taste is impeccable so I am sure to like them. Off to check them out!

 

[htmom]

Yeek! I went to bed last night with a million little ideas in my head. That is so dangerous! I was thinking about baskets of sunblock, bugspray and other essentials put near the guest book area. What else should go in these baskets?
Also I need to order fans. To keep the guests cool while visiting. I am having two rotating fans on the one end of the pavillion but I would like to give them hand fans as well. Would these count as favors? LOL Because I can't come up with a favor.

Also I dropped our "guest book" off at the framers. I will attach a link to the photo we are using. I am having a four inch mat put on it. We both absolutely love the print and will be happy to have it in our living room. http://fineartamerica.com/products/1-cinderella-castle-charlotte-blanchard-art-print.html

 

[2dogmom]

For my essentials basket, I am going to include hand sanitizer and lotions. I plan on making fans for to luau too. I originally wasn't going to but Carl's family thought it would be nice to have :: so it will be a favor. We are having a photo booth too. I originally was just going to have personalized candy for favors, but that will just go on the dessert table now.

 

[htmom]

oh yeah, hand sanatizer! lol I have some on my purse so I never think about not having it!

 

[htmom]

Here is the basket I just finished for the "stuff" (sunscreen, hand sanitizer,etc)

And here is my ds 10 at gymnastics the other night I know it is totally unrelated but I am really proud of him.

 

[htmom]

New update!
Well since it was Memorial Day weekend I used the time to catch up on sales
I have an order in at the Knot for napkins, some paper lanterns, and fans. I also picked up my picture for my guest book at AC Moore's today. It is Beautiful, they did such a nice job.

And I hit up Bath and Body for some anti bac lotions and some candles for "thank you" gifts for my BFF.

On a side note, ds got poison ivy over the weekend. He is on a week of prednisone and it is making him a bear. So planning has taken a backseat the last two days.