Getting on a plane in 2 hours...

All 10 readers of this blog know that Saturday is the big day, and we're leaving for New Orleans this morning.  What on earth am I going to do with myself when we get back??

To everyone who is making the trip - we are extraordinarily lucky to have friends and family who would travel such a long way for such a short amount of time just to spend this day with us.  We love you!

To everyone who isn't able to make it - we'll post pics as soon as we can!  Love you, too!

Des & Scott

One last project....I promise...then I'll quit.

LUMINARIES!!!

Ignore the crappy border punching I did along the sides...that was an experiment gone wrong.  I'll make...50 or so of these, and that's a led tealight inside, so no worries about knocking them over and burning everything down!  I'm SO excited.  Is this delerium? 

I have problems...I'm even crafting my shoes...

My shoes:  $80 from Zappos.com.....plain jane, just BEGGING for me to craft all over them!

BEFORE:

 

And AFTER:  (Thanks to Martha Stewart for the fabric garden rose pattern, and Etsy.com for the AWESOME antique green costume jewelry that I picked up for $16.)

 This isn't final yet...still gotta work with it and sew it all up.  I loves them already, though!

Checking stuff off...

Got the table numbers painted and assembled.

Finalized the vows.

Got the wedding poster printed (instead of a guest book).

And my personal fave:  Ordered the flowers!!  I had to cut some of the flowers I wanted to order because I ran across black dahlia's online and HAD to have them.  We're having white garden roses, white lisianthus (my favorite), two kinds of green orchids, and the FABULOUS black dahlias. oh and green hydrangea puffs that'll be tied to the ends of the rows with big black satin ribbon. 

This is my inspiration:

Update on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 8:31PM by Desiree & Scott

Here are some photos from other projects we've been doing:  Oh, and sorry for the crappy pics. 

Here is an example of the table numbers: Scott assembled and painted them.  You can see our seating chart stickies in the background!

The Poster:  Scott designed and screen printed this poster himself!!  Guests will sign the poster instead of a guestbook. We want you to think we're cool, but deep inside we're really dorks.  SCREENPRINTING ROCKS!  see. dorks.

The cell phone charger wire and the dying orchid really set the mood here....

Praline Favors (Or... Why am I doing another diy??)

I thought it would be a great idea to send our guests away with pecan praline wedding favors.  They're as traditional Louisiana as it gets, and I make my Momma's recipe, which is awesome.  Ok, trouble is...my favor boxes are 2x2x2, which sounded big enough at the time.  But once they came in...we have a problem.  I have to make tiny pralines to fit in those boxes!

So I went to Joanne's because me and Joann's are like, best friends now :)

Bright Idea #1: The traditional way, dropping them onto wax paper. Wasn't going to work....too big!

 Bright idea #2 - use in a candy mold. 

 Only that didn't work because, as you can see, the pralines stuck to the candy mold.  Even though I followed all the directions.  Ended up with weird praline chunks - not cute.

Bright idea #3: spread the hot mixture into a pan, let it set half way, then use a cookie cutter to punch out small circles.

Ok, I can live with this!

Hope everybody likes them.

2 1/2 Weeks!

Only 2 1/2 weeks left, and there is still so much to do I can't keep it all straight.

Unfortunately, in all the coordinating and d-i-y projects and running back and forth here and there...we've completely neglected the ceremony!  Vows?  I dunno.  Processional music?  Oh, yeah..forgot about that! 

We're freaks.  My problem is that I want to incorporate every new project I see...there are so many lovely things people have done with their weddings!  Focus Desiree!!

Our Very Modern Co-Ed Wedding Shower

Oh my goodness, we had such a wonderful time at our shower Saturday night.  Jenny did an amazing job on....everything!  She made this stunning cake...the boys were so sweet...the food was delicious...and all of our friends were just wonderful.  I'm still gushing! 

Scott was so handsome!

A tipsy toast:  Thank you Louis for capturing the moment.

Dez & Scott from Lou Anthony on Vimeo.

Having a good time with Shannon and Larry

Isn't this cake just beautiful? She made this - SO talented!

Hey! Table full of people!

Cutest pic I've ever seen! 

Men's Wearhouse Meltdown

Hope Scott can get it all squared away today.  I think the problem is that we have so many people in different locations being fitted and picking up thier tuxes in all these different locations....which is funny because that's exactly why we chose Men's Wearhouse in the first place.  Sigh. 

The store in Woodland Hills tells Jenny to bring Ethan in two weeks before to be fitted because he might grow...and they guy at Scott's location in Santa Monica is like..."NO! he needs to be fitted now!".  And they store in Mass tells David he has to pick up and drop off at the same store.  Um - NO - it says so on the website...who are they trying to get over on?

Scott is convinced they are going screw everything up, so he's bring his black suit to New Orleans just in case! lol....good thing we just had it tailored.

Ok, people...are you ready for this??

Here is the menu for the wedding reception:  Oh, our apologies if you don't like seafood!

PASSED APPS

1. Assorted Cold Canapes

2. Mini Muffaletta Wraps

Italian sandwich invented at Central Grocery in New Orleans in 1906 by Signor Lupo Salvadore, a Sicialian immigrant...different italian meats, cheeses, and olive spread.  Seriously delicious.  My mother's family was only ONE of the good things to immigrate from Sicily to New Orleans!

3. Oysters Rockefeller

(Traditionally) Renowned baked oyster dish created at Antioine's Restaurant in New Orleans in 1899.  Broussard's recipe:  flash fried in garlic bread crumbs with a lemon butter sauce.  Doesn't that description make you want to eat this RIGHT NOW!?

4. Shrimp Remoulade

Bayou shrimp in white and red remoulade sauce.

5. Fried Catfish Bits

We just upped the quantity on these!  Who doesn't love fried catfish??

6. Spicy Andouille Sausage with cheddar cheese

Because you can't get out of Louisiana without tasting real andouille sausage.  It's true...they won't let you through security at the airport until you do.  We're doing you a favor!

CARVING STATION

Pork Tenderloin

COLD SEAFOOD STATION

Marinated Crab Claws

With olive oil and shallots in coquille shells.

ENTREES

1. Gumbo

This doesn't need explanation, does it?  If you don't know what gumbo is you should immediately start questioning the direction of your life.

2. Fried Gulf Fish Dore

Pan fried with a crabmeat, shrimp, and oyster mushroom cream sauce.  Over the top, like everything else!

3. Chicken Breast

With sauteed mushrooms and peppercorn sauce.

4. Sides - Roasted New Potatos and Veggies Melange

DESSERT

1. Well, cake. 

2. Banana's Foster Flambe!!!

I'm SO ridiculously psyched over this.  Banana's Foster is my most favorite dessert EVER, and they are going to do a tableside flambe at the reception!  In case you aren't fortunate to have ever had this before:  it's bananas that are sauteed in rum, brown sugar, and butter...then set on fire...then served over vanilla ice cream.  I need to close my eyes and make sure no one is talking to me when I eat this because I can't be distracted. 

So that's the menu, folks.  We really tried to choose items that reflect the diversity of culture and cuisine.. (um, who am I kidding....we just picked our favorite dishes, LOL).  We hope the New Yorkers, Bostonians, and Los Angelinos find it just as delicious as the locals do!