Ashleah's Wedding - Ashleah's Blog - Bakersfield.com

The Final Pow-Wow

Mon, 18 May 2009 08:05:47 PDT

So....less than a week until the big day. There are so many things to worry about at this point. Is everything going to fall into place and go to plan? Or...will there be a few bumps in the road?

Last night, Anthony and I sat down with my parents to go through the game-plan for the week and to finalize the total headcount. We also covered the setup of the tables once more because we had to adjust for the number of people. Today, we each have to contact the various parties that need to know the number of people expected, such as the country club, the florist, etc.

There are still things we need to get done this week. Here's a list of things to still do (or at least the things that I can think of):

finalize music
finalize reception itinerary
have final dress fitting
put together wedding favors
take misc. items to florist
pack for the honeymoon
setup for leave from work (I'm going to be gone over 2 weeks!)
Keep our sanity!

DEEP BREATH......

Tip for the week: Without family, this wedding would not be possible. Divide up the to-do list!

The Big Move

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:22:18 PDT

The plan was to move all of my stuff gradually so that I didn’t have a ton to do right before the wedding. Well…the wedding is a little more than a week away, and I still have almost all of my stuff to move. Now I’m trying to come up with a game plan.

I want to have everything settled in prior to the wedding so that when we come back from the honeymoon I won’t have to do it. One good thing is: I’m not taking hardly any of my furniture. The only large item that needs to be moved is my elliptical trainer. Everything else is clothes/personal belongings, but…it’s like 2 and half closets full of stuff.

I'm looking forward to sorting out the stuff that I really need and getting rid of the stuff I don't.

What do you think is the best approach?

Keeping in Contact w/ the Wedding Party

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:35:17 PDT

I’ve found that email has been the best way to keep in touch with the Bridesmaids. Not all the girls live in California, so (1) you have different time zones to deal with and (2) you can’t see them in person.

The most challenging part was figuring out how to order the dresses. For the girls who don’t live in Bakersfield, we just had to get their measurements and communicate the sizes to Ladies and Gents. After we received the dresses, we shipped them to the out-of-state girls.

It’s also important that the bridesmaids have each others contact information for planning the bachlorette party. I know that they have been utilizing this greatly.

Cigars are a MUST for the reception!

Fri, 08 May 2009 13:59:18 PDT

This last weekend we started the search for the perfect wedding reception cigars. So far, this is what we think:

The cigars should be good quality, but not the most expensive ones that you can get. Reason being, some of the people who will be smoking them are not exactly frequent cigar smokers so they probably won’t appreciate a really expensive cigar.
The cigars should be smaller, like the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story. You don’t want your guests spending the entire reception on the balcony, so these are perfect…just enough!
When trying to figure out how many to buy, don’t think just the men will be smoking the cigars. There will be a few women who will join in on the fun!

I suggest going to a place, like Imbibe, where you can get a nice bottle of wine and smoke a cigar. Take some friends along and try different types of cigars. After coming up with some favorites, hop online and see what kind of deals you can find. There are several discount cigar websites where you can get awesome deals.

Tip for the week: Once you have all the big things for the wedding taken care of, have some fun with the final touches, such as finding the perfect reception cigar!

Working w/ the Photographer

Fri, 01 May 2009 08:04:56 PDT

This last week we met with Dave at With Love Photography to finalize the itinerary for the day. The plan is to do lots of the pictures prior to the wedding, except for ones of Anthony and me together. You don’t want to make the guests wait too long following the ceremony to start the reception. We’re planning to have a cocktail hour w/ hors d'oeuvres to keep everyone occupied while we finish up pictures.

It is extremely important that you feel comfortable with your photographer because after all, these pictures are probably some of the most important. We worked with Dave for our engagement pictures, which were a lot of fun to do. It’s nice that he is also doing our wedding pictures.

I would really recommend With Love Photography to anyone. They have been personal and professional throughout the entire process, and produce a great product.

The Long Awaited Hairdo

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:38:29 PDT

Okay…this can be a difficult area to figure out for your wedding day: your hair and the bridesmaids’ hair. Thank goodness I have an amazing hairstylist, Brittany Amos at Salotto Hair Design. Give her just a small idea, and she is able to bring it to life.

We decided to go with 1920's inspired hair for the big day. This hair style will work for both long and short hair, which will be perfect because there are several different lengths that we are dealing with.

This last week we did a trail hair run. Make sure that you do this to help calculate time and to ensure that you have chosen the perfect hairdo. The hair looked phenominal and I am so excited!

Advice for the week: go with a unique hair design and avoid the dreadful, yet popular “poof.” The poof is excessive volume and curls, which for some reason a lot of brides tend to lean towards. Hair makes a huge difference in the complete look.

The Menu

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:40:40 PDT

The main key to the menu: Keeping it simple!

APPETIZERS

DEVILED EGGS

STUFFED PUFFS W/ CHICKEN SALAD

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

POT STICKERS

DINNER

SALTER SALAD W/ GORGONZOLA ON SIDE

CHICKEN FLORENTINE

STUFFED BAKED POTATO

FRESH MIXED GARLIC VEGETABLES

RANCH ROLLS

DESSERT

WEDDING CAKE (WHITE CAKE W/ STRAWBERRY FILLING)

ALA MODE W/ STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

To tan or not to tan?

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:59:16 PDT

The one thing that seems to be on the brain this week is whether to be tan for the wedding or just my natural white self. As you can see from pictures, I am extremely fair, fairer than most, although I tan extremely well if I get some sun. Over the last couple years I’ve decided that being tan is completely not worth it! The effects of tanning can range from premature aging to cancer. Who wants that?

A good alternative to real tanning is sunless tanner, such as Mystic tan. My only suggestion is: try this out way in advance and take pictures. You might think that you aren’t orange, but in pictures you might think otherwise. Additional problems you might experience are uneven application (especially on your hands and feet) and the smell of the product the day after application.

The conclusion I’ve made: I’m going to remain my pale self for the wedding day.

Super Hectic Week

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:35:25 PDT

This whole week has seemed like a whirlwind, yet we got a ton done! Just to give you an idea, here’s a list of everything we did this last week:

Met with Jack at BCC: finalized menu, layout, and all reception plans
Ordered Cake with Kakes by Karen
Had the first shower, a Couple’s Shower
Finished registering at Macy’s
Got to try on wedding dress for the first time. It turned out gorgeous! Ladies and Gents has been great to work with!
Finalized guest list and started addressing invitations

Words of advice for the week: Take time to fit in a massage or a pedicure. You will definitely need the down time! Also be sure get plenty of sleep and eat right.

Don't be shy! It's just bra talk!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:37:28 PDT

Just so you know, The Bra Shoppe is a Pudiwitr family business. My grandmother, Jean Pudiwitr started the business back in 1972 and today it is ran by my aunt, Susan Pudiwitr. If you've never been, it is a little shop that specializes in custom fitting of bras. Whatever your need may be, the ladies at the Bra Shoppe will be able to accomodate you.

This last weekend I stopped in the Bra Shoppe (next to Frugatti's) to complete my bridal registry. The great thing about this is that they can order anything for you. The shop carries tons of great brands that you can't get many other places in town like Wacoal, Le Mystere, OnGossamer, and Chantelle. Things that I registered for included:

Matching bra and panty sets that are practical, yet cute
Lingerie for the honeymoon
Pajama sets

Lots of items on my registry come from Wacoal's new line b.tempt'd. This line has tons of cute matching bra and panty sets that come in a variety of colors and patterns. If you're into lace and bows, this line is definitely for you! See what I mean by visiting this website to check out the Spring Collection: http://btemptd.com/

Be sure to bring one of your bridemaids along for this outing!

Oh, oh...don't forget about undergarments for your wedding dress. The Bra Shoppe can properly fit you with the appropriate bra for your wedding dress, such as a bustier. Just keep in mind that you should get this before your dress fitting. The right bra can make all the difference!

The Red Shoes Dilemma

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:21:57 PDT

So…lets start this story from the beginning. Red is my color. I absolutely love anything that I can get in red, from shoes to cars. If you want to make a statement, buy it in red!

A few months ago, when my search was still for white shoes, I found this awesome pair of red stilettos. At that time I thought that you had to wear white shoes with your wedding dress. I’m only 5’2’’, so I need a tall pair of shoes or at least ones that have a 3.5 inch heel or taller. It is extremely difficult to find a cute pair of white shoes.

After searching for the perfect pair of white heels with no success, I started polling all the women that I know on wearing red shoes with my wedding dress. I must say that a majority were pro red shoes, so this helped me with my decision. Finally this week, I ordered my red shoes.

Red shoes will coordinate perfectly with the flowers and will look great in photos. Also, it’s a great way to incorporate my style with my wedding day look.

Think Vintage

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:59:43 PDT

When trying to decide transportation for your wedding day be original...go vintage! What I mean by that is: don't use the typical limousine.

For the big day, we will be chauffeured in a 1947 Ford Sedan (see attached pictures). It is the Pudiwitr family tradition for the bride and groom to be transported in this beautiful car on their wedding day.

Not only is it unique, but it makes for great pictures.

Just a little history on the car:

It was acquired by my father when he was 11-years-old, in 1967. Back then it was black, not the cream color that it is today.
Pudiwitr Family to ride in it on their wedding day:
- Don & Susan Pudiwitr (1974)
- Mark & Sherri Pudiwitr (my parents, 1975)
- David & Lisa Goodman (1984)
- Buddy & Sarah Pudiwitr (2001)
- Dustin & Kelly Pudiwitr (2004)
- Charlie & Melissa Blanton (2006)
- And then....US (2009)

There are tons of vintage, fully restored cars in town, so I'm sure if you don't know anyone who has one, you would be able to find one. Most car enthusiasts I know would be delighted to drive a couple around on their wedding day.

An additional perk to taking a normal sized vehicle is: privacy for the wedding couple. The wedding day will be hectic at times so getting this alone time with my honey will be extremely nice. It will give us a chance to talk and savor the moment just the two of us.

Trip to Flourishing Art on Saturday

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:40:28 PDT

This last Saturday my mother and I met with Oleta Collins of Flourishing Art to cover everything from “soup to nuts.” Not only is Oleta the florist, but she takes care of dealing with vendors, set-up, and tear-down.

We first confirmed the date, venue, and time. Next, Oleta wanted to know more details about my dress, such as:

Color: White
Waist: Empire
Skirt: A-line
Material: Completely lace

All of these factors are taken into consideration when trying to determine the appropriate bouquet size. She then did the same for the bridesmaids.

Additional items that we covered included:

Ceremony set-up
- In the courtyard at BCC, facing the golf course, not the fountain.
- Swag canopy
- Runner
Reception set-up
- Captain’s table for bridal party
- Table placement to accommodate all guests
Centerpieces
- Eclectic mix of different glass vases
  - Different flowers
  - Cranberries at the bottom
- Candles
Linens
- All black
Cake
- Placement, on the center of the dance floor
- Flowers for cake

All flowers for the wedding are going to be in different shades and variations of red and yellow with a little bit of white. It was extremely important to me that gardinas and sweat peas be used because they smell so good. Other flowers that we chose include roses, hydrangea, and tulips.

Yeah….we covered all of that on Saturday morning! I must say, Oleta sure knows what she’s doing and makes the experience a lot of fun.

Check out Flourishing Art’s website http://www.flourishingart.com/

Timing is everything....but not an exact science!

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:56:12 PDT

There are many guides that are supposed to help assist you in planning your wedding, such as when you're supposed buy your dress, book a florist, etc. These timelines are not right for everyone, and I can vouch for that. Here’s what my timeline looked like:

Dec. 20^th, 2007
- Got engaged!

Dec. 21^st, 2007
- Bought my first bridal magazine. These help a ton in choosing dresses, colors, and flowers.

March 2008
- Booked Bakersfield Country Club for May 23, 2009
- Contacted Church to get on Pastor's Calendar

June 2008
- Booked With Love Photography
- Booked Flourishing Art
- Contacted Kakes by Karen

Nov. 21^st, 2008
- Took engagement pictures at Hart Park

Dec. 2008
- Purchased wedding gown from Ladies and Gents

Jan. 2009
- Purchased bridesmaid gowns, mother-of-the-bride gown, and flower girl dress from Ladies and Gents
- Ordered wedding invitations from The American Wedding, www.theamericanwedding.com
- Sent out Save the Dates
- Posted Engagement Announcement in the Bakersfield Californian
- Booked Honeymoon in London

February 2009
- Did cake sampling from Kakes by Karen
- Registered at Olcotts (for dishes, flatware, cookware, etc.)
- Registered at The Bra Shoppe (for lingerie, personal shower stuff)

March 2009
- Registered at Lowes (for patio furniture, tools, home improvement items, couple’s shower items)
- Registered at Macy’s (for small appliances, sheets, towels, etc.)
- Shopping for white shoes, which I am yet to purchase (a daunting task!)

This is what we’ve done to date! I will keep you posted on things to come.

As you can see, the order of some of the things is completely reverse from what the typical timeline looks like. For example, we’d been engaged a year when I finally purchased my wedding dress. I think that this is actually a smart thing to do because your taste changes throughout the wedding planning process. I have spoken to numerous ladies who have bought a dress immediately after getting engaged and regret it because they later find a dress that they like better. So my recommendation is: Hold off on the dress for a bit! Just keep in mind you need to allow for making of the dress (if custom ordered), shipping, and alterations.

Additional words of advice: Try to spread everything out so its stays enjoyable. Wedding planning should not be viewed as a chore!

Engagement Announcement

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:52:33 PDT

Anthony Robert Haenelt and Ashleah Christine Pudiwitr

Mark and Sherri Pudiwitr are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashleah Christine Pudiwitr, to Anthony Robert Haenelt, son of Robert and Joanie Haenelt.

Anthony and Ashleah graduated from Liberty High School in 2004. Ashleah received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal State Bakersfield in 2007 and will receive her Master’s degree this March. Ashleah is employed as an Executive Assistant for Tejon Ranch Company. Anthony will receive his Associate’s degree from Bakersfield College this June and is employed as a Sales Representative for Bakersfield Pipe & Supply.

The couple is planning a courtyard wedding and reception at Bakersfield Country Club on May 23, 2009. After a honeymoon in London, the couple will reside in Bakersfield.