I wanted to give a thank-you for the mention on The Budget Savvy Bride blog. You remember how I had my whirlwind trip to NY with Jessica Bishop, the Budget Savvy Bride? Remember how we went and she talked about how to plan a wedding on a budget and RetailMeNot.com? Remember that? Well, she talked about her trip and the experience on her blog here. She even gave me and The Little Goat a shout out!!

My favorite feature of hers is one that she does called Frugal Fashion. If only I had dedicated more time to the budget blogs when planning my own wedding. This color combo is so great! If you go and check the feature out on her blog, you can see that all this cost only $198.94!!

image by Jessica Bishop

Thanks again Jessica! It was a blast, and I’ll definitely look you up if I ever make it out to Nashville.

This process has been great. I am in love with the planning. I am also in love with my friends….as this process would not be nearly as much fun without them. They are also saving my ass in so many ways.

1) My talented photographer Eray is providing us with an amazing gift that is saving us a ton of money….If she wasn’t taking our photos, she would be a guest with a camera constantly taking pictures….so I guess her shooting our wedding is the only choice.

2) John is hanging our lights and providing any other technical/handy man needed stuff the day of the wedding.

3) Jay just offered to handle our day-of coordination. This is key, as per my blog post, that is stuff I have been stressing out about.

4) Esme helped me make a cute little garland for the engagement party.

5) The cake is likely being done by someone we know.

6) I need help finding hair and makeup for the day of….I have had countless people chiming in and giving me names.

7) Once more favors need to be customized, I know I have some folks who will help.

8 ) Even a few of my girlfriends in So Cal are helping my mom’s friends with my bridal shower down in LA. (Volunteers being taken to help up here….)

9)  Our vintage movie poster save the dates were made by our friend Michael. He has helped us become….”The Beard and “The Fro.” The postcard is below. I had to share it…I think its amazing.

10) I’m sure I am missing more….my bridal party rocks, and I am soooo excited to continue planning for the next 5 months. So much more to do. So much help that my friends are giving. Too many names to list.

Thanks you guys…..this wedding wouldn’t be the same without you.

Today was amazing. A few friends, Mick and myself all took a short road trip and went to Harley Farm in Pescadero, CA. It was a rainy day, but the tour that we signed up for was rain or shine, so onward we went. Something was looking over us though, because only a few minutes before we arrived did the rain lift, and then it started again on our way home…but no rain at the farm.

The reason we headed there…was because its a Goat Farm!!! Seriously. Between Mick’s love for goats, my blogs namesake, and all of our love for some amazing fresh cheese, it was a no-brainer.

This farm was awesome. They weren’t in milking season, because all of the females were pregnant! In fact, they had their first kids born in 2010 a few weeks ago, and one of the goats had 4 on Friday!  4!!! They were 2 days old, and our tour group was able to hold them and pet them and snuggle their little soft faces. They are so cute! They bleeted, and bahhed, and were as soft as kittens. Little Goats!!!

In the area with all of the goats, while we were standing and hanging out with them, one started to have contractions. We waited around for a bit, but she didn’t give birth in the time we were there. How amazing would that have been? The other ones were using us as scratching posts, nuzzling, and smelling us with their mouths. It was pretty much the best “petting zoo” ever.

We were told the history of the farm, taken on a tour of the cheese-making facility, and even got to try all of their cheeses. Needless to say, we all headed to the dairy shop after, and bought quite a few of the fresh goat cheeses…in addition to some fresh ravioli which I got to dine on tonight. It was AMAZING.

Some of the photos from today are below. You can see the whole set here.

The Little Goat

a mama goat

Little Goat in Micks beard

Beard and Hair nets

a field of mustard

We started venue hunting last Friday (that one was a fail). Since then, we have been on a quest to get site visits booked, and all the while trying to get what we want out of the spaces we are seeing. Are they pretty? Are they affordable? Are the food packages and site fees within our budget? If we do it outdoors, is the time of year going to be too cold? If we do it later in the year can we have a ceremony with the sun out?? This is all a bit more nerve wracking than I thought it would be.

All this coupled with the fact that we have an amazing photographer that we are working with, and her schedule has to coincide with the venues availability. We have three site visits this weekend, and while I’m hoping one of them works out, I keep finding awesome new places to try, worried that maybe they will be better than the other ones.

First we are thinking November…now maybe as early as July…ACK! I’m hoping after this weekend, we can make a decision…book the venue, confirm the photog, and just get to have fun with the details, AND THE DRESS!!! Who needs a long engagement anyway.

This is my redux of Friends of the Farm. It’s a feature I’m going to be bringing back, so I thought I’d use the  profile of the cutest lil southerner I’ve ever had the privilege of calling a good friend. She is also one of the most talented photographers I know. She  has been killing it in the wedding business, has a beautiful website for her Elizabeth Ray Photography site, and sells her fine art prints on Etsy under Fly With Me.

1. What made you want to start takin pickshas?

I took a class after digging up an old camera in a junk drawer. Something about Photography was so personal. It changed the way I looked at everything. You just find beauty when you look at life. Your friend can be talking to you and all you see is the blue of the tv on one cheek, yellow lamp light on the other side of their face, and thier expression mixed with the textured wallpaper. Life looks unbelievable. Once you start seeing pictures all the time you can’t stop.

2. What inspires you? what do you love to photograph?

Everything! Well, I like that moment when you connect with whatever you are photographing. Everything makes sense. Some photographs I take are just like eating candy. A little cute sweet picture of birds, flowers, puddles, clouds.  I like to photograph things that make me  as happy as chocolate. My portraits are inspired by ideas and themes. I like to pick out backdrops, colors, and props and set them into action with storylines and emotion behind the eyes.

3. You have been succeeding this past year in the wedding biz..whats the hardest part?

Not crying when people exchange beautiful vows during the ceremony.

4. Will you photograph my wedding and engagement photos when the time comes?

YES!!!!!!!! can I be the flower girl too?

5. Why you so darn cute?

Why you are making me blush!

6. Top 5 TV shows

1. True Blood 2. Lost 3. True Blood 4.Lost 5. True Blood

7. Favorite Muppet?

I hate the muppets.

8. What do you miss most about SF when you arent around? (other than me of course). What about NOLA?

SF – I miss wandering the city from neighborhood to neighborhood and finding cute lil shops to peruse. I miss the beeeaaauutttfiul drives, mountains, the pacific ocean.
I miss california adventures and parties at the Big Blue House.

NOLA – when I’m not in nola I miss the heat how laaid back and slow it is – Sitting outside a bar sipping a drink while the ice melts and going inside because of the roaches. Then the neighborhood character of the month walks up sings you a song asks fo a dolla. you laugh. you put your feet up and stay out till 5am. I miss the horrible accents, Yats, how ya ma’am an em’?,  and walking around the quarter and finding a parade not during mardi gras.

9. Any advice?

p90x is not a joke.

(Originally posted May 28, 2009)