Bye bye, Damask! HELLO BUDMO JIGGLER!

If you have missed the last few posts, you might want to read them to get what I'm talking about!

Way back when, when I was having a big ole fancy damasky wedding, this was my invitation (courtesy of Laurel from GoAgainstTheGrain, of course):

SOB. It still hurts me to see it. Luckily, I wasn't going to order them for printing until December, and things fell apart oh, November 28.

I worked really hard to come up with language for a new invite, which I'm calling the "announcement." It will still have an RSVP card, and is technically still an invitation, but I consider it to be more "announcing" a change. I felt that the flourishes and damask were too much now. I want the theme to be elegant but more simple and contemporary. One of my bestest most wonderful friends helped me come up with language, and then amazing Laurel made me this:

In case you can't read it, it says:

THINGS HAVE CHANGED! (Gosh I love that font, I call it Buca di Beppo, but it's really called Budmo Jiggler.)

Like many Americans, we've been hit by the economy. Some recent changes to our circumstances have forced us to re-evaluate our wedding plans, and we wanted to fill you in! Don't worry! We're still tying the knot! Our ceremony remains set for March 20, 2010 at 3:30pm, First Meridian Heights Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. In lieu of a typical reception, we will be having two casual backyard celebrations this summer, both in New Jersey and Indianapolis. We would love for you to attend what you can! We are thankful that regardless of financial circumstances, we have found something in one another that is priceless. Thank you for being a part of our lives.

We will then include a yet-to-be-designed RSVP card. It will have them check off if they will be attending the ceremony (and how many, in case some families may be only sending certain members, etc.) Under that, it will let them check to express interest in attending the NJ or IN celebrations. That way, we will know who to send invitations to when we set those parties' dates!

Now... what goes on the back of the RSVP card? It's going to be a postcard- but I don't want it to be too much like our STD postcards.

First thought- this cheesy pic. Mostly because of the cheese factor. Mr Pug would kill me.

I love this picture below, but again, not sure Mr Pug wants his foot popping all over the USPS.

This one is also sweet... but a tall picture on a landscape postcard? Is that weird?

I guess I could cut down the above pictures, but it takes away some of the appeal. I see the picture, no matter what it is, being black and white like below. I then envision a few words ("LOVE & MARRIAGE," etc, something like that) in green in the Budmo Jiggler font.

These family pictures could work but I think they're more STD and less RSVP. I pulled this one randomly... Mr Pug will never approve this one either. That's what I get for picking out of the thumbnails!

We could always just do this one of Dixie and have the text read "CRAZY IN LOVE" or something like that! LOL! I kind of like this idea best.... is that weird? I'm thinking it would have to be "SO CRAZY IN LOVE," "CRAZY IN LOVE," or "CRAZY LOVE." What do you think?

So many options! Which would you choose? Which do you think will fit our new theme/feel best?

Epic E-Pics: Part Three

Last ones, I promise!

As we walked away from the circle, naturally the puggies had to mark their territory. More poops for Miss Pug to pick up!

We hung out for some pictures in an alley... some edgy pics!

...where we found an abandoned bike?

The pugs got restless watching us take pictures without them so we took some pictures leaving the alley with them.

Aren't we a cute little family?

We did some costume changes- us and the pugs!- to take a few pictures in front of Lucas Oil Stadium. For those of you not familiar with Indianapolis, this is the BRAND new stadium built for the Indianapolis Colts! Many of both of our family members are fans (including some of my relatives who have no tie to Indianapolis... it's pretty random.)

We threw in some pug head tilts for good measure...

Mr Pug is always cracking me up.

I have to include this one... outside of Lucas Oil are a bunch of dedicated bricks and one of them is this End Zone one... Erin took it literally!

We held up our babies for a cute shot... do you like the bandannas I made them?

Mr Pug has his arms full with our baby girls!

Some of the pugs also admired my beautiful ring.

I love the sassy feel of this shot.

And LOVE it in black and white!

Doesn't it look like we just happen to be going for a walk by the stadium?

Mr Pug and I laugh at this one because of how CHEESY we look! We both appreciate some good old fashioned cheesiness.

You can see the big Lucas Oil sign behind us!

This one is Erin's favorite... I love Mr Pug's cute look and my blue eyes against my hot green earrings!

Last but not least, one of me and Sophie with our outstanding photographer! Love ya, Erin!

I am beyond happy with our engagement pictures, and hopefully will finish the Save The Dates soon as well! How else will you utilize your e-pics?

Program First Page Dilemma

I have been playing around with programs since we decided to utilize a church for the ceremony. Church search 2K9 is still on, but I'm working away in the meantime! I love Stephanie's idea of a photo being included, so when you open the green cover, I'd like it to be on the "front page." Here are a few I played around with:

Choice 1- A portrait of us... is it too "HI LOOK HERE WE ARE!!!!"??

Choice 2- A zoomed out portrait with the furkids... but is it TOO bright?

Choice 3- Same in black and white- but it's missing the color. I could make the flourishes green but would have to use photoshop.

Choice 4- A simpler photo with one of my favorite color effects! But is the picture too busy? And do you like the flourish placement?

I put also them around the picture for good measure to gauge everyones' reaction.

Thoughts please! 1, 2, 3, or 4? Or something else? You've seen our e-pics! And what about the flourishs? Thanks for your help!

Epic E-Pics: Part Two

We left off the e-pics at the circle. After taking pictures on the steps, we moved onto a grassy patch right next to the monument.

There were many, many pictures of our puggies: Harley, Sophie, and Dixie!

Erin did some great fisheye shots... Sophie:

Dixie:

And Harley:

Pug Momma duty doesn't stop for anything, so I had a few poopies to pick up along the way!

Mr Pug and I did some portraits along the wall of the monument. I LOVE how Mr Pug cheezed it up like a stalker in this one... I laugh every time I see it!

More sassssay!

I love the next two but Mr Pug says it's my fake smile!!! I guess I have to agree... these are already a few hundred photos in!

We also took some in front of a gate, but apparently my hair got messed up leaning against the wall... I am HATING the frizz-fest!

My beautiful ring got some portraits done as well!

The small one is the promise ring Mr Pug gave to me exactly one year before proposing- to the day!

We moved back to the grass for some "greener" photos. I love this one of us... we look so peaceful.

We took some nice family portraits!

This is definitely the best one!

Mr Pug and I threw in some pug head tilts for good measure... left...

...and right!

Mr Pug always cracks me up!

Sophie was jealous of our smoochin'!

After all the photos in the grass I had to use my pug hair roller... we go through a lot of these in my house.

This is another view of the monument, from the side. We got lucky to have such a nice day!

Then we walked away from the circle... off to do some pictures elsewhere downtown.

(Those have my favorite photo effect- I love how it looks aged, crisp, and still colorful in it's own way!)

Where did we go next? You'll have to find out in Part Three!