Escort cards are an annoying, yet critical part of wedding planning.  While we briefly (I mean, briefly) toyed with the idea of open seating, I soon said to myself, "Miss Jet...do you really trust that people will evenly distribute themselves throughout this venue in such a casual way that they just so happen to sit with precisely the right number of family members/friends/colleagues?"

Miss Jet quickly responded, "Oh, hell no."

Thus was born the need for escort cards.  I wanted to avoid the old tent-card-on-a-table standby and visited my trusty frenemy, Pinterest, for inspiration and fell in love with the hand-written shipping tags on a framed board:

I quickly mentioned the finished board here, but I wanted to get the board pre-tacked as I wait for my wonderful sis, MOH J, to hand-write all of escort tags.  

I have to briefly interrupt this post to share something personal.  I have a confession to make, hive.  As crafty as some of you may believe me to be - I have a dirty, little secret. 


I'm left-handed.


::whew::  


So glad that's off my chest.  I'm a calligrapher's NIGHTMARE, you guys.  My handwriting is that of an old man.  I write in all caps. I smudge absolutely everything I write.  And there was NO WAY in hell I would ever trust myself to hand-write my escort tags - so big ups to MOH J AGAIN for coming through on this one.

Like I was saying, as I wait for the finished tags to roll in, I decided to pre-pin the board so that the finished tags can just be slipped on upon arrival.  I wish I could be okay with the Pinterest-y, non-chalant, seemingly haphazard look shown above, but I am just way to anal for that shizz...

Yes, I hand-spaced every tag.  Yes, I'm crazy.  Yes, I'm okay with it.  Yes, the rest of these photos are personal.

We did end up with more tags than room on the board, so I created two-smaller contrasting boards with different fabric to sit alongside the larger frame.  It will definitely add some visual interest and depth to our escort table - so all's well that ends well!

And here are the finished boards!

Here's the large board that now houses 44 of our 76 tags.

Here is the smaller board which will hold 16 each of the remaining 32 tags.

How are you doing your escort cards?  I'd love to see!

Well, not really holding hands - but tiny and definitely happy!

With less than two weeks until W-Day, Mr. Jet and I have been churning out projects left and right.  Tonight, we finally finished our cake topper.

We stained the base and dowel with a medium red mahogany stain and Mr. Jet painted our little family all dressed up!  I used some of our leftover fabric and twine to create the mini bunting up over our heads.  This seemingly simple item on our to-do list took some time and serious effort, but I'm so happy with how it turned out.  Can't wait to see our mini-mes atop our delicious cake!

Did you DIY your cake topper?

The next day after the bachelorette, my ladies hosted a lovely brunch shower for me back in our hometown.  All of my favorite women were there from both sides of my family and from Mr. Jet's!  I was spoiled with amazing gifts and great food and the company of some truly awesome people.

Can I EVER make a normal face in a photo?  I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

The shower had a nautical theme, check out that cake from my step-mom!!  There were little seaside touches everywhere and MOH J even worked (ENDLESSLY, SHE WILL SAY!) on the perfect playlist.  A little Steely Dan, a little Michael McDonald - yacht rock at its finest!

BM E pulled out her iPad for a high-tech 'thank you' card list for me!  These girls really thought of everything.

Here I am, receiving a toasted from my step-bro and his family.  I should be a Cuisinart model, look at that smile! ;)

A very hungover Mr. Jet shows up to help load up the gifts!

Me and my gorgeous maids!  I sure know how to pick 'em, don't I?  

Thanks again ladies for the best estrogen-fest New England as ever seen!

Last weekend, MOH J and my fabulous b'maids threw a bachelorette/shower extravaganza for yours truly!

It was a fun-filled, awesome weekend spent with my favorite girls on the planet and I'm so grateful to be surrounded by ladies who've helped me through my worst and celebrated me at my best.

Friday afternoon, MOH J flew in from Atlanta and we got the party started by heading to our rented house in Newport, RI. (All Photos Personal!)

We kept Friday night pretty low-key by going to eat at my favorite restaurant, Salvation Cafe.  We also made our way over to Newport Slots where I won $80 on a $0.20 bet and cashed in to avoid losing it all!  We stopped at the local "Cumby's" for some late-night snacks and hit the hay.

Saturday morning, MOH J and I hit downtown Newport for breakfast and some serious retail therapy!

That afternoon, all of my bridesmaids and some special lady-friends headed down to Newport to start the party.

All the ladies were instructed to bring a food/drink item and an activity.  BM C's activity was her extensive make-up, hair and nail polish collection!  She gave makeovers and gave me a drunk manicure later that night!

One bridesmaid couldn't make the trip - BM V from Jacksonville.  Luckily, she was able to Skype call in to join in on some of the fun!  We make the same exact faces, no matter how many miles there are in between!

Here we are, the hottest Newport hoodlums chillin' on the corner of Friends Drive.  From L to R: Ladyfriend A, Ladyfriend K, BM M, MOH K, Miss Jet, BM E, BM C, Ladyfriend M and MOH J.

During our (unsuccessful) hunt for the beach access road, MOH J wanted some artsy shots of me twirling in my veil.  This is the best she got.  I was already a few drinks in.

More menaces to society crowding the safe streets of Newport.  This was the portion of the evening where I could not get myself off of this ledge and needed assistance from BM E.

We all headed back inside for taco dinner, tarot card readings, drunk manis, champagne, gossip and a VERY scandalous game of "Never Have I Ever!"

It was the best bachelorette Miss Jet could've ever asked for - so lucky these ladies are in my life!

Next up, my shower!

After lots of back and forth emails and phone calls with Amanda of Twice Blushed, my dress sash is FINALLY COMPLETE!!

Here's what Grandma R.'s dress looked like before:

Amanda took the lace from the neckline, waistline and sides; cleaned and restored it - aaaaaaaanddddddd made me this!!!!

The lace is nearly identical to that of my dress and looks even better than I EVER could have imagined.  It's an amazing, modern and stylish belt that carries with it a deeply personal history.  It's everything I wanted and more, I am so grateful to Amanda and MOH J for giving me the opportunity to carry a piece of my wonderful grandmother with me on my wedding day.  I just know Grandma R. would say, "My Ali Cat, you look beautiful.  You're Grandma's favorite...don't tell your cousins I said that."

The sash is currently living with my dress at the bridal salon where I've instructed the seamstress to hand-tack the sash (for removal should I decide to sell my dress down the road) to the dress in time for my final fitting in 3 (!!!) weeks!

Did you have an accessory that meant a lot to you?  

If you recall, our RSVP cards had this sassy little meal icons created by BF K:

In order to better inform our guests of their meal choice upon arrival at the reception, I wanted to do individual menus at each place setting.  

Damn me and my brilliant ideas!  

I just spent the better part of an hour hand corner-rounding 140 of these things:

MOH J came to the rescue yet again with another fabulous design to tie all of our paper elements together.  I printed two menus per 8.5" x 11" sheet of Paper Bag cover stock and split them right down the middle, finishing them off with a nice rounded corner!

Before putting the menu together, I was also brainstorming with MOH J about our etched wine glass favors.  I wanted to make sure our guests knew that they were for the taking without having to slap them in the face with it.  Since we had some space at the bottom of the menu, MOH J did a cute little graphic representing the wine glass telling our guests that the glasses were gifts for them to keep to commemorate the evening.  She even dropped in the meaning behind the Portuguese rooster as well!  Talk about EFFICIENCY!

Do you plan on having menus at your reception?  Will they perform double duty like ours?

As I've previously mentioned, I work for a handbag company based out of New England.  To say my handbag collection is larger than the average woman's would be something of an understatement:

Since I have access to either beg, borrow or steal just about anything my handbag-loving heart desires - I've been debating with myself regarding the need to carry one at all.  While I admit it could make for some amazing, dramatic photos...

...I really hate the idea of having to keep tabs on a clutch the entire night.  Can't I just stick a tissue and some lipstick into my bra and call it a day??

I ask of my brides who came before me, did you carry a purse?  If so, did it drive you nuts?  If not, did you really miss it at all?

Whenever I travel (whether it's a 3 or 15 hour flight), I always pack a carry-on.  For short trips, I try to pack everything into my carry-on so I don't have to deal with the hassle of checking baggage and waiting to pick it up once I've arrived at my destination.

My favorite carry-on piece?

I have this travel piece in Purple (so cute!) and it packs so much in a very tiny space.  I purchased mine at my local Marshall's a few years ago and have never been happier with a piece of luggage!  It's light, easy to maneuver, and fits just about anywhere.

So, what goes into Miss Jet's carry-on, you ask?  

Here's what!

• • Google Nexus 7 Tablet & Bluetooth Keyboard (& their chargers) - This has all but replaced my laptop for work travel, it has absolutely everything I need to watch movies, play games, check and reply to e-mails, blog(!), listen to music and much more.  It has built-in Wi-Fi, a mini-usb port for transferring files from my home computer, holds a great charge and is super fast.  Can't say enough good things about this tablet!  (Coming from an Apple user, this says a lot!)
  • Amazon Kindle - I can very easily use the Kindle App on my tablet, but I cannot stand the glare that comes from reading off of a computer screen.  I love my e-ink Kindle, my eyes never get tired and it holds a charge for nearly 2 months so I don't even have to carry the charger with me when I travel!  Plus, it's great for beach reading in the bright sun!
  • Passport/Tickets/Cell Phone/House Keys, Etc. - I always keep a travel wallet with my passport, all tickets, hotel/car reservations, cash, alternate form of ID, any credit cards I bring, my AAA card, health insurance card, and any other incidentals containing personal/travel information.  I keep it in a safe place with my cell phone (and its charger!) and my house key.
  • Snacks - Every airline is different, but NEVER expect to be fed on a flight, no matter how long or short!!  On my flights to China - they feed us three separate times, but on my flight from Chicago to Hawaii last year, they only came around ONCE with a baggie of pretzels.  Everything else they offered was sold at a very inflated price.  I usually bring some trail mix, a piece of fruit, string cheese or other small snacks that fill me up and don't take up a lot of space.  Word to the wise, try to avoid eating super salty foods - as they will cause bloat and swelling at high altitudes.
  • Gum - This is mostly for the landing and take-off to prevent blocked ears, but sitting on a plane for any length of time is bound to do something funky to you or your neighbor's breath.  If a stranger is breathing hard near you, offer them a piece.  This will help you both in the long run! ;)
  • Neck Pillow - A neck pillow could very easily change your life on an airplane.  I use mine nearly the entire flight and move it around to prevent a stiff neck.  Plus, it’s great if you’re in a window seat and can lean on it for a quick nap.
  • Headphones – This one seems like a given, but I’ve nearly forgotten my headphones on a quite a few trips.  I usually bring a spare pair as well, in case something happens to the first one.  Instead of using those lousy airplane-provided set, plug these right into your in-flight entertainment for better sound overall.
  • Magazines – I’m one of the many people who need celebrity gossip to survive and mid-air on a flight with no Wi-Fi, I still need my fix.  Having a few favorite mags on a flight is a lifesaver, especially during take-off and landing when your electronics need to be switched off.  I need entertainment at all times and I’ll be damned if I miss out on what Princess Kate wore last Tuesday during a stroll with the new baby king.
  • Portable Medicine Cabinet – I rarely get sick while traveling, but if/when I ever do, I have to be prepared!  I usually carry some Aleve, Vitamin C, Nasal Spray, Tums and Chapstick – just in case!
  • A Change of Clothing – My luggage has never been lost on a trip ::knock on wood!:: but I usually carry one change of clothing in case I ever get separated from my luggage for a day or two.  For my honeymoon, I’m also throwing in a bikini so we can get right to business when we arrive at the resort in case our room isn’t ready yet!
  • Pen – Again, this one might seem super obvious, but for international flights when you’re required to fill out immigration information, this will come in handy just before landing.  Also, a lot of in-flight magazines have Sudoku or Crossword Puzzles that will keep you occupied too.
  
  
  
  So now you’ve got some of my best travel secrets and hopefully will surprise your SO with your crazy organized travel attire and carry-on bag!  Anything I didn’t cover?
  
  

One of the reasons I chose Miss Jet Setter as my Weddingbee moniker was because my job requires me to travel quite a few times a year.  I also make at least one annual trip to China, where a well-packed carry-on is essential for both my physical and mental health.  How I manage to survive a 15-hour flight from Newark to Hong Kong, I’ll never truly understand.  Needless to say, I’ve become very good at packing my entire life away into very small spaces to maximize efficiency and minimize the amount of “stuff” I am dragging behind me through airports all over the world.  (Sidenote:  Mr. Jet LOVES this quality in me, I never over pack!)

Since I’m applying the same principles to packing for our Mexican Honeymoon, I thought I’d share some of my tips and tricks for the efficient traveler!

First, I’ll tackle what to wear!

When traveling, especially for long distances, it’s so important to make sure you are physically comfortable.  There is nothing worse than the button of your jeans digging into your seatbelt and stomach halfway through an 8-hour flight!  

Here are some of my favorite pieces to travel in:

Compression Leggings – Leggings aren’t only crazy comfortable; they are also beneficial to your circulatory system.  Although I’m no medical professional, I’ve read and spoke to my doctor about the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) while traveling since I spend a lot of time on airplanes.  DVT can be caused by remaining in a seated position for an extended period of time.  The blood in your legs must work much harder to re-circulate itself back through your heart, so it slows down and can pool in the lower half of your body and potentially cause a clot. By wearing compression leggings (these can be found in any athletic section) and tight socks, it helps keep your blood circulating and may decrease the risk of DVT and will also cut down on leg and ankle swell (which happens to me when I fly long distances).  ***Again, my advice is not professional medical advice – but you may find it worth noting and discussing with your doctor if you have concern!***

Thick, Tight Socks – These can come in handy for the reasons I listed above, but they will also keep your feet warm on those cold, sterile airplanes.

Tank Top – I swear by the shelf-bra tanks from Express, but any tank or undershirt will be helpful for layering.  We’re going from chilly Fall in Boston to warm sun in Mexico.  You bet I’ll be ditching my layers once we land in Cancun!  I usually wear at least one more shirt over the tank in case the plane gets really cold!

Flats or Slip-On Shoes – I always take my shoes off on the airplane to get comfortable, so it’s much easier when I don’t have to combat with shoelaces.  I usually opt for sandals or casual flats.

Wrap Sweater – I have an oversized wrap sweater from Loft that I bought years ago and it’s one of my favorite pieces to travel with.  It’s fashionable yet casual and big enough that I can open it up to nearly blanket sized to cover myself throughout the flight.  If you are uncomfortable with using airline-provided pillows or blankets, this is a must!





Next up, what to pack in your carry-on!

After being inspired by Miss Campfire's post about "gladdening her guests", I started putting together some ideas for our out of town (OOT) guests who will be in town celebrating with us for a few days.  Since our only official wedding events are the welcome/rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself, I wanted to make sure that visitors had plenty to do while in our area.  Fall is my absolute favorite season, and being from Southern New England - we have lots to take advantage of from the months of September to November.

First, our guests' drive in on Friday will be quite a spectacle as the trees lining all of our major highways will look something like this:

And even better, my area's peak foliage time is late-October.  Boom.  Nature.

We hope that once everyone's settled into their hotels, they'll take advantage of some of our local pumpkin patches and apple orchards where you can pick your own!  I remember taking hayrides out to the big pumpkin fields as a kid in search of the perfect pumpkin.  (Okay, this was like, last year - but still, it's important to find the perfect pumpkin!)

Where else would I find the two perfect pumpkins to carve 2009's masterpiece, The Raven?

After all that hard work in the fields, our guests will need a hearty lunch...

This is Antonio's Restaurant, a traditional Portuguese restaurant that's 5 minutes from my house.  NO ONE told me that Martha Stewart came by for lunch a few summer ago.  So mad I missed her!  Anyway, hopefully our guests enjoy some traditional Portuguese fare like pork alentejana or shrimp mozambique.  

To wash down those Portuguese carbs, they might head over to Mr. Jet's favorite local bar, The Pour Farm Tavern for a Pumpkin Beer and a Sox (post-season!!) or Pats game...

Finally, we might entice our guests to finish off their night over in Providence, Rhode Island to take part in Mr. Jet's and my first date activity, The Roger Williams Park Zoo Jack O'Lantern Spectacular!!

They display literally THOUSANDS of hand-carved pumpkins throughout the zoo at night that are carved by local and international artists.  My favorite from last year?

The Indiana Jones pumpkin!  How amazing is that??

We hope our guests not only enjoy the wedding festivities, but take the chance to explore our favorite season in our favorite little city!

Ever spent a fall in New England?