We started off Friday by meeting with tons of potential DJs. All in all, I think we met with 6. I know that seems like a lot, but there are so many different packages and personalities and things to think about, I'm glad that we did. We met everyone from a 3-time Grammy winner (who knew that they gave away awards for things like DJing?) to one of Santa Barbara's most popular club DJs. We had several requirements: non-cheesy, no announcements, had live musicains available for the ceremony, no club beats, no Macarena or YMCA, no sparkly top hats, nice speaking voice, doesn't look at our wedding as a chance to perform, uses music (not announcements or bad jokes) to bring the guests to the dance floor, etc. We were given lunch, coffee mugs, DVDs, music play lists, and lots and lots of promises that they weren't the cheesy stereotypical wedding DJ! We finally settled on AMS Entertainment, because they were the most professional, only do weddings, don't do club beats, don't believe in line dancing at a Santa Barbara wedding, and had a wide range of musicians for the ceremony. We'll have a classical trio and hopefully a classical singer! I also felt safer knowing that they have 8 DJs, but only schedule 5 at any one time, so if someone is sick, gets an infected squirrel bite, etc there's always someone to step right in. You also start working with your DJ from day 1, so you really get to know who will be there, and get to make sure they match your preferences and views for the wedding!
We also visited with 4 different caterers, and we've finally selected one- Pure Joy Catering. They came back with the best price, the best service, and the best reviews- so we're going with them! We visited with a few other caterers- Seasons (where we had a great tasting!), Mondial (very expensive), and Lorraine Lim (very bad at returning my emails and phone calls), and decided that Pure Joy was the best option. We did want to use Via Maestra, which is this AMAZING authentic Italian restaurant, but unfortunately it's not on the approved caterers list at the Museum. Oh well- we're still going to have a gelato bar from them!! As far as food, we went with a "stations" service model- basically like an upscale buffet- all with Italian themed food. We'll have a salad station (including caprese salad!), a pasta station (YUM!), and a carving/grill station, each with their own chef. Of course, we'll have appetizers (passed and stationed) during cocktail hour, a limited open bar (wine, beer, champagne and signature cocktails only), and coffee, tea, sodas, water, and a welcome bar before the ceremony.
Anyone hungry yet? I know I am! Some yummy food pictures from our various tastings:
And YUMMY GELATO!! Because obviously gelato is wayyy better than cake (but don't worry, we'll still have cake... only if we can get funfetti :))... and what a better way to celebrate getting engaged in Italy than with some amazing Italian treats?
Also, I think I've found THE dress. !!!! :) !!! If you want to see pictures, email me... Jacob reads this and he will not see anything remotely resembling the dress until the wedding day. For all he knows, it looks like this:
I can't believe I just posted that picture. Haha. Anyway, I wanted to go back to Mary Linn's Bridal in Santa Barbara, and down to a couple places in Orange County, to see a couple of potentials once again. I had found a gorgeous dress in Orange County during our last visit, and as I was calling around to stores in Santa Barbara to see if anyone carried it, Mary Linn's told me about a dress that was very similiar, but not exactly the same. Well, I tried it on... and it's AMAZING! Even better! I'm pretty sure I spent about 45 minutes walking around the store, refusing to take it off. But, I wanted to visit the OC dress again, so Mom, Bren and I headed down to Jaclyn's Bridal and Mary Me Bridal, just to be sure. Meredith and Aunt Carol met us there, and helped out a ton! I did find a dress at Jaclyn's Bridal, but everyone agreed that the one at Mary Linn's Bridal was the best. So, what's a better way to celebrate than trying on the ugliest dresses that you can find? And to all my bridesmaids: consider yourselves very lucky, because my Aunt Carol offered to pay for all the bridesmaid dresses if I agreed to let... er, make you all wear the hot pink marshmellowy goodness that is the first dress that Bren is wearing... luckily, I was feeling strong willed, and I turned down her offer. :)
But things weren't all fun and games. We also found a few serious contenders for bridesmaid dresses, both by Jim Hjelm Occassions:
Last but certainly not least, I am surviving BOOT... just barely :). My body has never been so exhausted and sore, but it feels great. Natalie, my trainer, keeps telling me that the first few weeks are the hardest, and then it gets easier once your body acclimates to the new workouts. I am down 5 pounds in the first 2 weeks, so YAY for that!!!
What's a better way to end a post than an awesome wedding picture? I'm starting to develop a collection of photos I want our photographer to take, so consider this the first in a series of many:
Does anyone know where we can find a hammock? Via Megan W.
Or maybe an old piano? Obviously there should be loads of those lying around downtown Santa Barbara. Via Jasmine Star.
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