Starting to come together

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Background for the new girls: We're getting married on the beach in Turks and Caicos (just us and my kids) and having a reception at home when we return.

So, I've really been trying to hold off on getting anything for the at-home reception--since chances are it won't last the home construction in one piece (but I guess I can keep stuff at my mom's house). But I finally broke down and went to HomeGoods just to "look" and ended up getting a ton of stuff. (I that store!) Well, the color scheme is officially the very light, subdued tropical blue and green. Think the feel of a 5-star tropical resort, rather than luau: kind of cool and breezy and crisp and sophisticated, not bright tropical stuff.

The bulk of what I got so far was the decorative mood lighting. So, I got 4 light green glass hanging candle lanterns and a different style larger tabletop green glass lantern. Then I also got two strings of small lighted paper (actually, they may be fabric) lanterns that are square with brown palm trees on a green background. They're actually a lot less hokey than they sound! It took me a while to convince myself they actually look nice--though I'll probably just use them in the kitchen, as that area will be more "fun" as opposed to the dining room/main living area which I want to keep more of that sophisticated mood.

I also bought a couple of really cool green, square plates for serving platters. And I found a cute light blue tin wide bucket thing that I could put ice and drinks in (maybe it's not called a bucket--it's big ). Um, I may have bought other things, too...candles to go in all the lanterns, of course... ETA: Oh, and another cute three-section serving platter with palm trees.

[cru5h]

I love how the lighting sounds

The bucket, is it more like a tub?

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Yes! Tub! Thank you! I knew there was another name for it--I just couldn't think what it was.

As I was telling Jennifer yesterday about the low blood sugar--I was just starting to eat as I posted!

[Cirig]

Sounds awesome!

PS. I LOVE home goods too!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Hmmm. I guess I would be CRAZY if I bought 80 of these blue plates! (If they even HAVE that many available.)

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=222&f=2542

LJ, what do you think my chances are of reselling them on ebay? I would have no idea what else to do with them.

Paper plates just make more sense, right?

[cru5h]

Sell half to Bryanne. They're super retro looking too

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Originally Posted by cru5h

Sell half to Bryanne. They're super retro looking too

I was actually originally going to ask her if she wanted to go halfsies with me on them....but thought she'd just volunteer if she were interested.

ETA: Bryanne, IF you were interested, I could buy them, sell them to you so you'd be in possession of them to sell yourself after your wedding.

LOL! Does this need to go in the classifieds?

[Complicated Woman]

I would, except I just placed an order for a TON of those comma plates from that site, so I'm not sure what I'd do with them. They are great, though. Why not give them away as favors or sell them on ebay?

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Ok, it was worth a shot!

So, your guests are going to eat off the comma plates? I thought I remember you saying you were going to have them scattered around the room as serving dishes.

I might get them anyway. I might be able to bring them to this ebay resale store, but I have a feeling I'd end up paying more for the service. I don't think you can just sell something on your own without building up a reputation. I'll need tips from Leslie!

[Complicated Woman]

Originally Posted by Marrying_the_Good_Husband

I thought I remember you saying you were going to have them scattered around the room as serving dishes.

That is my plan -- I bought a bunch of them for that purpose...which is what I would use those blue plates for...

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Ok, here comes the "hard sell"! So, what will your guests use to eat off of as their personal plates? Or, you're just anticipating more of a grazing thing where they grab one thing of a serving dish pop it in their mouth and move on?

[Complicated Woman]

LOL, well, we aren't having the reception at home, so I don't need to supply all the dinnerware -- I just liked the colors of those plates and bought them for decor purposes.

Sorry girl!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Oh! When you were talking about buying those comma plates I thought that meant you had to provide everything. Now I get it! I think I'll get them anyway. First we need to work up a preliminary invite list (and round up, just in case!) and then see if they have enough of them.

[ladedah]

Well...I like the ideas!! sounds like so much fun!!

[555Ann555]

I'm glad it is all starting to come together for you

I remember when you started on Bliss, it seemed like forever until your wedding, but it will be here before we know it

[ljeagle]

MTGH don't hold me to it but I don't think you will have a problem with posting them on ebay. You might not make what you paid for them but then you could make a lot more. If you are just starting a ebay account it will be hard to sale with out having any feedback. I don't buy off someone who don't have feedback just because most of the time it means you will never get the stuff. If you want help with it let me know I would be happy to help. You might have to break them up and sale them in sets. Not a lot of people would want 80 plates.

[Marge129]

Sounds like things are really coming together! I hope You find more stuff that you LOVE!

[Heather]

I was in a new grocery store tonight and while I was walking down the frozen food aisle I noticed a TON of appetizers. I thought of you Jen - there was so much variety and I thought you would have a field day!

[Kim&Bob2004]

It sounds wonderful! I love square plates!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

So, I ordered the plates--only 78 of them! Then I just spent 3 1/2 hours online searching for glasses! See, now this is the problem. Since I bought real glass plates (instead of paper) I have to have real glasses to go with them--paper or plastic won't cut it. Hmmm. So, I was going to order personalized glasses from discountmugs.com and then that could be the favor, too, but it comes out to $220 with shipping--now I just spent $125 on the plates (with tax/shipping). Somehow spending $350 just on plates and cups alone seems a little crazy--considering the tight budget I want to keep. Then again, I just spent $95 on lanterns, etc., today--guess that wasn't really a necessity! LOL! So now I'm going crazy to try to find nice glasses that have a tropical/luau-type theme that could be used at the party but also nice enough to be given as a favor gift (assuming they're less money). So they can't just be "plain" or it won't have any meaning. Should I just spend the $220 on the personalized glasses?!?!? Does anyone have any better suggestions? Ooh! So far I spent like $1250 and not really on much of anything when I think about it! I still need to get food, alcohol, invitations, napkins (and paper plates/forks for the cake), more decorations, and then other things like shoes and hair, etc. I guess I should have assumed even at home doing everything myself I couldn't possibly do this for less than a few thousand. Somehow I thought I could do it for like $1000 (since the wedding trip will cost quite a bit and that's where our money is going). Well, I guess I better hope my new job comes with a raise attached!

[ljeagle]

I'll look around and see if I can find any thing that matches on ebay. Have you checked other places to see what personal glass would be.

Did u check the size on these plates get a ruler out and look how big they are.

[breezy]

I haven't done a search for glasses that would match well, but orientaltrading.com does do personalization on items. They have a whole catagory of items they well in bulk that way. Might be worth checking out. Also check your local mom and pop engraving store. They might have items that you could purchase without having to pay for shipping.

[555Ann555]

What were you going to have engraved on them?

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Ok, change of plans on the glasses! (But to answer Ann's question, we were going to have our names, wedding date, and a little palm tree graphic on them.) I went by Kohl's and they had such a GREAT deal on glasses I decided to just buy them and be stuck with plates AND glasses I won't know what to do with after the wedding , and I'll go back to something different for the favors. Probably my original idea of a seashell ornament with a little ribbon with our names and wedding date. So, these are the glasses I bought:
http://www.kohls.com/products/produc...=1142725227041

I thought they were cute to have the different-sized glasses for the different drinks. Obviously the pint glasses for beer, the old fashioneds for the mixed drinks, and the skinny little ones would be cute as rustic wine glasses.

I also got wedding shoes! No, they're not blue, as my original plan. These were too cute--and on sale!
http://www.kohls.com/products/produc...=1142725369548

[Complicated Woman]

OMGosh, I those shoes! Totally adorable, Jen!