Home Wedding: Laying it all out

I had been wondering how to make a layout of our "venue" (a.k.a my parent's yard). I needed to be able to show the rental people where the 3 canopy tents would go. I needed to have something to show the DOC when I go meet with her so that she knows where everything is going to go. Just basic logistics really. I had been hand drawing stuff, but I really needed something to scale.

Enter my mom with her handy dandy Total 3D Home Deluxe computer program. My parent's have been in a never ending remodel and mom has used this program for years nows. When I told her what I wanted to do, she jumped on her program and started mapping it out. Yesterday she sent me two files, one of the yard and one with the layout for the back patio.

Here is the yard/reception area:


The 2 blue "tent" squares are where the tables will be going. The rental company already told us that 4 round tables fit in each so I found this layout online to help with the table placement and eventual seating chart:


This is what the tents look like from the outside:


We will be seating 10 at each round table, and I was told that our tents do not have the center pole like the first diagram so we will have a little extra room.

Here is the ceremony site:

All the red squares are the white folding chairs we are renting. We I have decided that there will be 50 chairs and the rest of our guests will be standing. It is a short ceremony, I promise. Mr. B doesn't like this idea. I really don't see any other way. We don't want to rent more chairs. We don't want to have to move chairs from the ceremony location to the reception tents. We also don't really have the room.

Do you think half our guests will mind standing? Would you be offended if you had to stand? I have been causally passing the word that this is the case, just so there is not a surprise.

I *heart* etsy

really, doesn't everyone??

My gals over at Sweet Shoppe Designs (a digital scrapbooking community & store) were having a discussion about their fav finds on etsy, and I got sucked in last night by all the wonderful finds. I never posted my favs in the thread because it got too late. I decided to come here and share my finds with you all instead :)

First up is Traci Sims Designs I actually know her from the digital scrapbooking community, but she is hanging up that hat and has been focusing on her jewelry designs on etsy. Now I am not having bridesmaids (more on that later) but if I was I would get them these adorable earrings:

{Vintage Blue Earrings}

They are on clearance right now for $5! I would buy them for myself but my holes have closed up and I am too chicken to go have them opened up by a professional.

I love this set as well, and it is only $17.00

{Vintage Style Necklace & Earrings}

She also does custom photo pendants and with them starting at $8.00 they wouldn't break the bank if you needed to have multiple memorial charms made for your bouquet.

Next up is All of You. She is marked in my favorites for her garters. This is the specific one I have in my fav's

{sunflower garter}

I want to convo with her and swap out the brown for blue. Still at $19.00 for the set it is well within budget.

Next one my list of favorites is Go Against The Grain for her custom maps.

{Event Map}

I need to have one in our invitations but I am not confident I can make a cute one on my own. For $25 she does amazing work ... don't you think? She also does invites, thank you cards, monograms and more.

Last up in my favorites for right now is this birdcage veil by Pish Posh

{simple birdcage veil}

It is under my $25 max I have set for myself and it does not have any flowers or feathers. I still need to talk to Tammy (my hair stylist) to see if the double bobby pins will work. She originally told me to find one on a comb so it would stay in my hair better.


What are your favorite etsy finds? Have you found any good deals?