"Call the planner" mode

With only 4 more days until the wedding, Marc and I are freeing ourselves from a majority of the planning and problem solving and happily handing over the responsibility to our wedding planner.  We have made all necessary payments and have tips set aside for the vendors, completed the details of the ceremony & reception, and have designated what needs to go to the rehearsal and to the hotel.  If any problems arise, we have told everyone to call the planner! lol Marc and I are going to enjoy the last few days of being engaged as much as we can. The only thing I have to do tomorrow is pick up my wedding dress and buy gifts for the little people who are in our wedding party =D Anything else need to be done? Call the planner!

I still can't believe how fast a year and a half flew by... I can still remember when Marc proposed to me on the beautiful sandy beach of Maui in May 2011.  And now, we're getting married on Sunday!

We can't wait to see everyone at the wedding!  And please do your best to dress according to our wedding theme so we can witness exactly what we have envisioned <3

Pre-Wedding Photobooth Fun!

If any of you are interested in participating and writing us a little note to display on a screen at the wedding, please read the instructions below =)  They're due on August 30th by noon.

ALSO! You can take pictures on your phone during the ceremony/reception and e-mail them, and it will all be displayed on the screen as well! Pretty nifty....

Dear Guests,

    Eiffel and Marc are very excited to present to you, the opportunity to interact at their wedding reception in a whole new way.

    Featured at their wedding will be two 42inch displays showing all of the fun candid photos taken from your phone! To kick things off, please begin taking pictures at their ceremony and submit them right away to EMY@mobibooth.com. (Details on this below)
    **NEW FEATURE** Help us make their reception memorable, fun and unique!
We are requesting you (the guests) to send an e-mail with an 18
word (maximum) memento intended to be displayed during their reception to EMY@mobibooth.com and include in the subject MARC AND EIFFEL'S WEDDING.

    Example: Hoping today is the best day of your lives,
Love,
Mom & Dad

    Please be sure to include your names! (If applicable, please include
relation, ex: Uncle Bill & Aunt Sue) & put in the subject: Marc and Eiffel's wedding

Remember: all text mementos must be submitted by 8-30-12 by noon. Any
submissions past this deadline will not be made available for display, we
apologize in advance.

    Additionally, please brush up on your camera phone skills! Eiffel and Marc are asking you to take as many fun candid moments throughout their ceremony AND reception then TEXT OR EMAIL them to this address (EMY@mobibooth.com)for immediate display to share with everyone during their reception, so keep this email address handy!
  
    Please EMAIL photo's whenever possible for the best image/viewing quality.

    We appreciate your participation in making Eiffel and Marc’s wedding a
huge success and we hope you enjoy yourselves!


Thank you,

The staff of Mobi Booth.
www.mobibooth.com

2 1/2 more weeks left!

We obviously suck at updating our blog LOL!  These last few months have been CRAZY busy.  Since our last post, I went to San Diego with my bridesmaids for my bachelorette party in May, Marc went to his bachelor party in Vegas with his groomsmen, had 2 wedding showers, and moved to Chicago the beginning of July. Marc and I are finishing up the last few details of the wedding and we will be ready!  Now that I've listed everything, I can't believe how much time has flown...

This last month has especially been very difficult for me.  It has been a huge emotional rollercoaster and trying my best to stay sane during the ride.  I'm so grateful to those who have made time to help me relax and vent.  Even if it has been a simple phone call, text, or e-mail, it has helped me enormously!  Super stressed, but hey... it could have been like this the ENTIRE year and half engagment.  Glad it's only been the last couple of months.  Marc has been extremely helpful during the process.  His ability to see the good in everything has been keeping me optimistic with our upcoming wedding and all the other crazy stuff going on in my life.  I am truly BLESSED.  Although it has been stressful, Marc and I have been enjoying our engagement and last few days of being able to call each other fiance(e) :)

Marc and I have been staying focused on the importance of all of this: our marriage.  Although the details of the wedding are important and pretty much making my head spin a thousand different ways, we continue to remind ourselves that our declaration of our love and commitment towards each other is what matters at the end.  People get so caught up with making their special day as perfect as possible that they forget that their vows is the only thing that is of true significance.  So I'm not going to let all these details get the best of me for mine and Marc's sanity :P

With that said, Marc and I are now going to enjoy a glass of wine and a few episode of Grey's Anatomy.  Can't wait to see everyone on our big day!! (Just in case I don't update this again... hehe)

Destination E-Shoot at Washington, DC



"What's the skyline like at Washington, DC?"



This is DC's skyline lol

I laughed so hard when Marc asked me this on the way to DC.  I love taking him to places he's never been to before... especially historical places.  Since we needed to get our engagement shoot done with our wedding photographer, we decided that it would be fun to meet our photographer at DC (where he's from) and celebrate Marc's birthday all within the same weekend.  We're so glad we did it, and we're hoping to visit again so we can go to the museums that we missed out on AND see the monuments at night since it rained on Saturday evening. 

Before I get into my Top 5 tips for traveling to DC and Top 5 tips for engagement shoots, I wanted to give a special shout out to our wedding photographer, Gabe Aceves.  He was so kind enough to move our engagement shoot to Sunday since Saturday was gloomy and rainy.  Sunday ended up being sunny, beautiful, and a perfect day for an E-shoot AND for Marc's birthday!  I was so thrilled it worked out because my outfits were definitely not rain proof!  I learned so much about our photographer within 2 hours of what seemed like hanging out and walking around in the city with a friend rather than an E-shoot.  Super cool and talented guy!  Gabe, thanks for showing us showing us around and we are stoked that the beauty of DC will be in our engagement photos and that we get the privilege of you being the mastermind behind the photos! We're looking forward to seeing you on September 2nd for the BIG DAY!

5 Tips for Traveling to Washington, DC

1. Don't rent a car.  First, driving in DC is impossible with the huge round-abouts with 8 different exits! Second, all of the monuments, museums, memorials, the White House, the Capitol, etc... all in the same vicinity and walking distance.  Third, parking is a beotch and hella expensive.
2. Bring walking shoes. Walking is all you will be doing.  Might as well be comfortable.
3. If you know someone from DC, have them be your tour guide and show you what you must see and what you must eat.  Also, less likely for you to get lost.  If anything, ask others who have been to give you some ideas.
4. When visiting the memorials, treat it as it is... A place to remember and honor the people who lost their lives for our country.  Don't just walk by and say you've done it; look at the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, study the soldiers' faces at the Korean War Memorial, understand the meaning of all the symbols at the World War II Memorial, etc... It will give you a better perspective and appreciation.
5. There are park rangers that do free guided tours, or there is a phone number posted at the memorial to call and you will get a guided tour over the phone!  By the way, a majority of the Smithsonian Museums are FREE!

5 Tip for Engagement Shoots

1. Don't be too matchy because it's just plain out cheesy. Marc and I did different shades of blue for our outfits.  One of my outifts was a little bit louder, so Marc toned it down by wearing a gray sweater. 
2. Gabe told us not to wear anything baggy; fitted clothes look better in photos.  Good to know!
3. Gabe also told us to wear something that represents our own style.  This also has to do with the make up and hair. Don't try to be someone you're not.
4. Don't be nervous.  It will show in the pictures.  DO relax and enjoy the moment!
5. Get to know your photographer!  When you're comfortable with your photographer, then you will look comfortable and natural in the pictures. Once the wedding comes along, then it will be just like meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen in a while =)

White House... obviously :P

Yap Stone from Island of Yap!

Fob Alert!

Marc and I wanted to get a picture of us sitting on Lincoln's lap... but we decided that we didn't want to get arrested :P

 

Flaming Volcano!  We were good for the rest of the night after this drink!



Marc's "Black and Blue" beer at DCA for his birthday!

The end of our DC trip, but ready for our next adventure!

Best part of wedding planning...

Besides the whole mushy gushy stuff of planning the day you will marry your other half... the best part of planning a wedding/least stressful is THE FOOD TASTE TESTING at your reception venue! Marc and I had been waiting for this event for months!  Our venue made the event all romantic for us.  I almost forgot that we had to make the difficult decision on what was our favorite since it was all so scrumptious. We met the head chef who happened to be one of my mom's good friends/the mother of one of my best friends from high school!  Very small world.

Marc and I were so funny.  We chowed down and made so many mmmm... and omg so good.... remarks that we made sure to save a little bit of each meat for the end so we could compare the tastes.  (Of course, Marc got caught up with the view outside and had so many ideas on pictures we could take during the tasting).  We finally made the decision of the meats, then we had to decide on the vegatables, starches, salad, dressing, and wine.   I can't wait until Tammy makes the appointment for cake tasting with the bakery!!



LOL!  This is Marc and me after the tasting... we felt like fattys.

On a more personal note, the 5 month mark has been the most stressful month for me so far.  At 6 months, it was like "hey, half a year until the wedding! Woo!" And then 5 months is like, "holy crap... it's right around the corner and there's still so much to do!"   That's when it hits that the wedding is really happening.  Before, it was just an image in my mind.  Now, everything has come to fruition and it became REAL. There are so many little details that need to be prepared that it can get overwhelming.  I've already openly told Tammy twice that I was having a freak out moment. 

Tammy's advice: Relax, Relate, Release.... Wooosahhhh.

I know it sounds funny, and it was!  The small laughter I had when I read that text helped my mood in so many ways. First, I realized that I was being ridiculous.  Second, it reminded me to take a deep breath.  Third, I remembered that everything was seriously under control.  I know I'll have more freak out moments, but I think I'll snap out of it faster than the last two... hopefully... for Marc's sanity ;)

In 9 days, Marc and I will be on a plane heading to Washington D.C. for our engagement shoot with Gabe Aceves and a celebration for Marc's birthday! We are definitely looking forward to meeting our talented wedding photographer, the photos, and enjoying D.C.!  Toodles everyone!