Our Pre-Wedding Planning (our 1800Registry.com blog)

The Planning Blog

Bittersweet

Rachelle had her final dress fitting recently, trying on her dress for the last time before she marries Chris. She wanted to wear the dress she originally chose, but just couldn't envision how it would work given that she is now seated in a wheelchair. Given some of the physical changes she has undergone since her accident, Rachelle was afraid she would have to choose another dress entirely. Thankfully, Erin McLean knew a great tailor: Olga Samarskiy of Raleigh. Olga was certain she could rebuild the dress to accommodate Rachelle's now much smaller torso, creating a structured bodice underneath. With a corset supporting her core and wide ribbons criss-crossing the back of her dress to hold her in tightly, Rachelle can now comfortably wear the strapless gown and sit tall and straight, as well. She rolled herself to the full-length mirror to see the results and even though there were nine of us in the room, for a moment it was as if Rachelle was the only one present. She seemed as startled as she was pleased with what she saw in the mirror. This moment has been a long time coming but finally, it is here. She smiled slowly, then broke out in a wide grin.
Olga placed a two-tiered veil gently atop Rachelle's head as she looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. "A gift, for you," she said.
It's such a joy and privilege to be working with Rachelle to help plan the wedding. Her spirit is such an inspiration to me, and I was reminded that these moments--each of them--are all precious gifts.
Post by Jennifer Glatt, 1-800-Registry Wedding Planning Manager

Groomsmen Attire

With Rachelle's dress and the bridesmaids dresses ready to go, it was time to pick what Chris and his groomsmen were going to wear!
Many guys think they have to rent a tux, which is always a classic staple. However, with the design and casual style we are having at the wedding (not to mention that the ceremony is outside in July!), Chris had his mind set on a navy suit.
Chris, some of his groomsmen, Rachelle, and I went to Men's Wearhouse in Raleigh, NC. When the wonderful people at Men's Wearhouse heard Rachelle's story, they very generously DONATED a trade certificate for Chris and each groomsman to pick out their wedding attire FOR FREE. Not only was this an opportunity for the wedding party to save some cash, but Chris and his guys were able to choose a suit that they can wear again and again after the wedding. In fact, the suit Chris chose was the very first suit he had ever owned that was brand new and tailored just for him. If you haven't seen the selection of suits that hang wall to wall, you are missing out! They have a wide variety of designers at all different price points. Men's Wearhouse was also having a phenomenal BOGO (Buy One, Get One) sale, which meant that Chris was also able to pick out a new (khaki) suit for the rehearsal dinner, as well. THANKS, MEN'S WEARHOUSE!!
Chris was convinced he would wear a dark suit, which Rachelle admitted looks great on him. But, he humored both of us and tried on a khaki suit and actually loved it.
We picked out a tie for the groomsmen that matched the bridesmaids' blue dresses, as well as a crisp white shirt and black shoes. Next we had Chris try on a gorgeous textured white tie. It was the perfect way to have him stand out as the groom.
Then, the big decision came between the khaki and the dark suits. It actually was an easy decision, the navy pinstripe was a unanimous choice for everyone. It looked great on everyone and was so classic and handsome!
Blog post by Erin McLean

Hawaii Sounds Nice, but FIJI won!

"It's our dream vacation," Rachelle and Chris said. Rachelle can't wait to go warm herself in the sun, and Chris is really looking forward to fly-fishing. And thanks to Tokoriki Island Resort, the newlyweds will get to spend seven nights in tropical luxury! Nestled in the northern Mamanuca Islands, South Pacific sunsets will soon be a reality! Secluded in their own private bure, their time away will be renewing, relaxing and definitely romantic.
Want to take a look at their Honeymoon Registry? You'll find it here.

Details, Details...

Today we are meeting with the staff at The Fearrington House to make a lot of decisions! Because they provide so many services on-site, we'll be able to make great headway. This is when the wedding will really start to take shape! First we meet with Jill, who sets out a delicious selection of cake bites and filling choices. We sample vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, lemon and coconut cakes. Rachelle declares vanilla her favorite, and Chris is hard-pressed to choose just one. Thankfully Jill makes their job easy by telling them they can choose three flavors for their wedding cake. Cream cheese, milk chocolate buttercream, peanut butter, raspberry and white chocolate buttercream fillings are samples, and a winner definitely emerges, but we'll keep that a surprise. Chris chooses his groom's cake cake and filling. They are excited to see what Jill will come up with--all they've told her is that for the groom's cake, they want it to be in the shape of a pirate ship in honor of their alma mater, East Carolina University. Purple and gold will be the colors on that one!
Next, we meet with Mary, the florist. She knows sunflowers are the flowers of choice for this wedding, but she also suggests many other cheery, sunny flowers to complement them, such as gerbera daisies, tanacedum, rudbeckia and hypericum berries. Burlap, raffia, Mason jars, old soup cans, colored glass vases, jelly jars, and French flower buckets and wildflowers are mentioned, considered, and excitedly chosen. Mary deftly explains how to decorate a huppah with wildflowers, how the bridal bouquets can be tied and many other issues, and soon we can practically see the ceremony and reception spaces vibrant with color. Some of the details will even be a surprise to Rachelle and Chris, so that's all we'll tell you for now...
Gilda, the Special Events Manager, walks us through the rest of the details, including the selection of the ceremony location and the reception menu. Rachelle and Chris choose hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail hour to be held on the barn patio, and are thrilled with Erin McLean's suggestion of an "adult lemonade stand"--lemonade with sweet tea vodka. Yum! They choose Southern favorites for their heavy hors d'oeuvres meal, to include a seasonal selection of cheeses, fruit, bread and chutneys; a seafood table with shrimp, crab salad and tuna nicoise tartare; a "Taste of the South" offering of smoked bourbon brisket, chicken and dumplings, mac and cheese with Virginia country ham and cornmeal fried okra. Topped off by wedding cake, this event is shaping up to be supremely sweet indeed.

The Dress
We can't provide too many details about Rachelle's wedding dress, just in case Chris happens to be reading this… What we can tell you is that the dress Rachelle originally chose was still the dress she very much wanted to wear. However, her body has changed since the accident and she was worried it wouldn't fit correctly. Thankfully, Erin knew a great tailor who felt certain she could rebuild the dress to fit Rachelle and accommodate the fact that she has lost quite a bit of muscle mass in her torso and is now in a wheelchair. We can't wait to see the final result, and we'll share it with you AFTER the wedding!

Invitations!

Invitations! While Rachelle and Chris and their parents worked out the guest list, Erin and Rachelle began working on the invitations. Rachelle and Chris wanted to use the wording they'd chosen for their original invitations, and Rachelle hoped to use sunflowers in the invitations. Here's what the final version looks like:

Bridesmaids

This is the dress Rachelle chose for her five bridesmaids:
Arabelle Dress in silk chiffon by J. Crew
Color: Mosaic Blue






(Photo courtesy of J. Crew)

A Little Help, Please...

Knowing we would need a local professional to help coordinate the many little details, we sought a top-notch wedding planner based in Raleigh. We knew we'd struck gold when we found Erin McLean of Erin McLean Events. Impeccable taste, unflappable no matter the crisis and beautiful to boot, she has proved to be a Godsend! And I think she knows EVERYONE in Raleigh, I'm not kidding.

Choosing the Venue

Rachelle loved the idea of getting married outside, so she sent me a few venues in North Carolina that had the rustic feel she was looking for. She was hoping for a barn to somehow be involved… and we got lucky with The Fearrington House in Pittsboro, just a few miles from Raleigh. A former dairy farm in the 1930s, the rolling hills, lush acreage and beautiful gardens make this the perfect spot for Rachelle and Chris's wedding. They chose to have their ceremony on the Garden Terrace, overlooking the Belted Galloway cows and their green pasture. A local mandolin player will be providing the music. The reception will be in the barn!

Beginning… Again

Once a date is set, the wedding planning seems to take on a life of its own. Knowing Chris's extended family would be on the East Coast in July, Rachelle and Chris chose July 22 as The Big Day. Then, just like all engaged couples, they were faced with a list of questions a mile long regarding the ceremony, reception, invitations, music, attire, rings, guest list, vendors, menu, accommodations, officiant, attendants, favors, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon… the list seemed endless.
Since she'd planned her wedding before (but then her accident forced Rachelle and Chris to postpone it), Rachelle had a good idea of the "look and feel" she wanted the day to have. Take a look at the inspiration boards she created. Lots of sunflowers, raffia, Mason jars, and her color combination of turquoise and yellow. Her favorite words to describe the look: airy, cheerful, bright, organic, rustic, garden, soft, fresh, whimsical, natural, charming, elegant. Getting married in North Carolina—where she and Chris currently live—practically guaranteed all of that!