On my days off

Today we went to see Coco Palms Restaurant in Pomona.
1. July 23, 2011 is already booked. FML...
2. but it's okay because I really wasn't sold on their venue
3. Their white tile was too white
4. The size of the balconies looked too small
5. The reception would be on a split level - separate balcony... I don't think so
6. Their $7 Chiavari Chairs were 1. silver and 2. plastic
7. They had a ton of fee's for everything
8. They would use up an hour of my reception time to convert the venue
9. Parking seemed to be mainly valet - I don't want to charge my guest to park there
10. There are a million and one things going on at the same time

At least we were able to get mock copies of what a contract would look like, based on a Friday date.

A lot on my plate

We have been doing a lot of house hunting research and a lot of venue hunting research that I just want to rip my hair out (but then I also don't want to be a bald bride, so that can't happen).

This weekend we are viewing the Coco Palms Restaurant, and we are waiting to hear back from Cannons Seafood Grill to make a viewing appointment. We are also planning to drive by some of the neighborhoods in Long Beach and see what we are looking at.

A co-worker suggested the Kellogg House in Pomona, which have great food prices pp but I am dreading the $4000 FEE. YIKES!

A mutual friend of ours recommended The Camarillo Ranch Mansion and after looking at some of her pictures and reading about it, I think we will definitely have to consider it. PLUS it looks like they allow outside catering and we can have the venue for MORE THAN FOUR HOURS!!! Thank you EVELYN!! One of my cousins also sent me a link where I have more options, since I have already worn out and viewed everything on The Knot.

I have also started to reconsider my 5 wedding criteria... aka my MUST HAVES:
1. Outdoor Venue
2. Site must be able to host Ceremony and Reception
3. Costs must be under $55 per person
4. Site must hold minimum 175 people
5. Site must allow amplified music - because we're dancing!

On another wedding topic, my mom's friend knows a seamstress and she can do my dress! All I need to start doing is dress shopping to find out what I like and what I want... and ta-da!

I think on Tuesday we will be submitting some paperwork to find out if we qualify for an EOM under his bank and how much we can get pre-approved for. If we get pre-approved for a small amount, we may have to consider 1 bedrooms OR adding his name to the loan (but increasing our interest rate). From what I'm hearing, I think I would much rather dive into an EOM loan than an FHA loan since we would not have to pay the PMI fee. Especially since we are looking into condos and we would already have to pay an HOA fee.

No pictures for today. I'm too scatterbrained for today's post but I really needed to jot these notes down. A lot of things going on, not enough time.

Venue Research with Evey

Calamigos Ranch

Gorgeous place. Very pretty set ups for outdoor weddings but after seeing their 2011 prices of:
75-150 Guest : $98.50
151-250: $96.50

plus an additional $10 per guest on Saturdays, 18% service and tax and a $1500 rental fee.

NO THANK YOU

Japanese Garden Cal State LB

For 160 guests or less, $4400, Non-refundable deposit of $1100, only available for 4 hours (for wedding and reception), $900 for every additional hour,

already a NO THANK YOU.

Descanso Gardens

Rental fee $5200 for ceremony and reception.
Meals cost between $40-$80
I loved the 360 Virtual Tour, the only I'm afraid of is that it says "Amplified Music: Indoors" dun dun dun. TOO EXPENSIVE WITH THE RENTAL FEES......

Party Rentals: Pico Party Rents

On my days off...

Last Sunday for mother's day I was off and asked my mom if it would be okay with her to go to church in Monrovia to listen to Kiko give the mass. I cannot tell you how impressed I was! The mass was TWO HOURS LONG but it felt like 30 minutes. He was very engaging, funny, and mind captivating - he even made me cry! We went to greet him outside afterward but since every mother wanted a hug from him we decided to just take off and give him a call later. I would love to have him do our ceremony, my only concern would be his English. I know he gives mass in English but my parents think he reads it, I don't mind that, but how is he going to communicate the sermon? We haven't called him yet because we've been ULTRA busy and with Angel getting ready to graduate, my parents leaving to Mexico tomorrow, and me working odd schedules, we just haven't gotten to it.

Today is my day off and I'll be clipping pictures of venues and set ups that I like. My dad's co-worker is supposed to give him contacts but today is already Friday and he leaves to Mexico tomorrow, so we'll see when I get those...

15 Ways We Will Save Money!

1. We designed our monogram
2. We will design our save the dates, invitations, etc. and print them ourselves
3. Our RSVP's will be on postcards to save on postage $.28 (instead of $.44)
postcard must be: rectangular, between 3-4 inches high and 5-6 inches long
4. We are not planning to rent a limousine or a car
5. We will hopefully be married by a priest in the family
6. We are having cupcakes instead of cake
7. Instead of cut floral center pieces, we will probably have potted orchids (also saves time!)
8. Flowers for bouquets will be purchased from the flower mart
9. We are thinking of hooking up our iPod/ laptop to speakers - we'll see about this one
10. Not having open bar - sorry
11. We will hold the ceremony and reception at the same location
12. Probably have buffet instead of sit down meals
13. Jonathan's tux/suit will hopefully be free!
14. My hair and make up will probably be done by one or two of my talented cousins
15. Our parents are resourceful and know how to negotiate!

Bridal Party

How many attendants does a couple usually have? My parents had 4 pairs. I'm thinking we may have 5-6. I still haven't asked everyone, I'm in the process of talking to each one of them individually. My only concern is with the ones who are far away because of their costs to come look for dresses, come for the bachelorette party, come for the bridal party and the wedding weekend.

Who have I spoken to and confirmed as bridesmaids:
1. Evey- she couldn't say no anyway
2. Natali - my soul sister since 2001
3. Yolanda - my hip in college <3
4. Sam - my personal medical adviser :)
5. Isabelle - the one who brings my crazy side out!

One more to go!

Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?

Before we got engaged I couldn't get enough wedding ideas. Now we are engaged and I feel like I don't have time. We first need to focus on looking for a job for Jonathan and second looking at homes. Somehow the wedding became our last priority. I can't wait until we start booking house tours, because looking at homes online is not the same as walking through them.

What concerns me most about the wedding is the venue. Where are we going to hold a wedding for 125-150 guests for under $10,000?