When I grow up I want to work at Hatch Creative Studio.

Flowers keep me up at night. So do votives, linens, mood lighting and occasionally assorted styles of vases. To me this is some important ish. As most of you know I highly enjoy things that have to do with design and decorating and since we got engaged my mind has been racing with the possibilities.

To date I've made approximately 12 mood boards that define the "look and feel" of the wedding. There are color stories, and floral motifs as well as boards of the items I've purchased and boards of things I wish to purchase. I wouldn't call it obsessive (Mark would) It's just really important to me that everything comes together the way (I) we want.

As it came time to start looking for a florist and event designer I realized I have a trust issue. I wouldn't have this problem if mind reading existed and my florist/event designer could look into my head and see my "complete vision" but since we haven't cracked telepathy yet I'm slightly freaked about handing this job over to someone, anyone besides myself. I've even tried to come up with elaborate plans of how I could visit the flower district in the morning and execute all the wedding decor myself the day of, only to be bitch slapped back to reality by any former bride. Apparently I'll have more important tasks to accomplish that day like making myself presentable (see former post) and getting myself to the church on time .

So even as the anxiety built in my chest and the night terrors of gerber daisies and sunflowers gone wrong continued, I knew hiring an event designer was a necessary piece to the wedding day puzzle.

Luckily my first stop was Hatch Creative Studio. I found Hatch on a wedding blog and was intrigued by their use of buttons as boutonneires instead of traditional flowers, something I had thought about doing myself. I checked their site out and set up a meeting. Then I fell in love.

Barb Salzman is the designer and Managing Member of Hatch and she's who I would like to be when I grow up (even though I think we are the same age). I fully trust Barb and I'm very excited she will be executing the decor for the wedding. She wasn't even phased by my 12 mood boards or my color stories! In fact she asked if she could keep them. I'm quite envious of her business model, creativity and experience and only hope I can someday have a very similar set up. Oh, and she's from Westfield.

Learn about Hatch in the Details.

Kit'n Caboodle.

So apparently (every bridal magazine says)  it's important you look your very best on your wedding day. This includes many treatments and procedures starting weeks in advance of the big day. 

Facials, mani-pedi's, massage, wraps, exfoliation, extensions, trims, waxes, masks, things applied with airbrushes, aromatherapy, chanting,  you get the picture.

Although I do like my $10 manicure every once in a while, when it comes to the beauty department I have never felt the need to indulge. I've used the exact same Wet'n Wild concealer for roughly 15 years (god forbid if it ever gets discontinued), I usually get a freebee mascara from my Mom's forays into L'Oreal focus groups, and I buy whatever shampoo is on sale. I also usually go about 6,8,12 months without trimming my hair GASP! Although I do appreciate nice quality beauty products I never really seem to buy them for myself.

So when someone wants to charge me $700 to get my makeup done on my wedding day I take some issue with it. Not to mention what an "updo" goes for these days. Oh and that doesn't include the "trial" which (every bridal magazine says) you have to do. That can run you another $100-$350.

So I have to pay someone $700 to bring over their Caboodle (see above pic) and lacquer up my face so me and my bridal party can look like the cast of a Toddlers in Tiaras episode. As if. 

Luckily I love creative bargain hunting. Like my kick-ass photographers (check them out in the details, make sure to look at their photojournalism work, they will be famous one day) who I found on craigslist, I have also been lucky enough to find some very qualified makeup artists who have some very reasonable prices. Living in a city with a wealth of talent which breeds competitiveness + the recession has also helped in driving down prices.

So hopefully my face will be fabulous, if not please keep it to yourself.

A Room With A (different) View.

So, I know it's been a while since there was a CoAnderson wedding update, and I have a good reason.

We lost our reception venue.

It's complicated. It has something to do with AIG and foreclosures and bailouts and stimulissisisss and if I had the big CNN touch screen interactive map I could really explain it well.

Long story short we received a letter from Pochron Studios 2 weeks ago claiming that due to the economic climate they would be closing their rental space as of July 31st. As in the Friday before our wedding on Saturday August 1st and regrettably they could not hold our event. As you can imagine after reading this letter there were a few tears, a few glasses of wine, a re-group, some research, many phone calls, talks of eloping, but after all that I'm happy to report we have secured Wedding Venue Part Deux. The Midtown Loft and Terrace.

Wedding Venue Part Deux is located in fancy Manhattan. It's larger and prettier and nicer than wedding venue I. So lets just say everything happens for a reason and move on!

Here are some FAQ's that have come up since moving the venue. 

Q. Is the ceremony still in Brooklyn?

A. Yes.

Q. Can we now stay at a hotel in manhattan?

A. Sure, but in our opinion the Brooklyn hotels are just as convenient and for the most part cheaper than hotels in Manhattan. We may also possibly be having activities on Thursday and Friday that will be held in Brooklyn.

Q. How do we get from the ceremony to the reception?

A. Good question. We are still figuring this out. That said it's super easy to drive, take a cab, or take public transport between both locations. There are multiple parking garages by both the ceremony and the reception sites. 

Q. Where's the after party?

A. TBD

Q. What does the new venue offer me?

A. Up-close and personal views of the beautifully lit empire state building from a 3,400 square foot roof terrace, a 5,000 square foot loft space for dancing, and a partay you will never forget.

Check out WVPD in THE DETAILS