Friendors

Shockingly, Urban Dictionary does not have a definition for this yet. My personal, barebones description would be: a friend who is also a vendor for an event (like.. a wedding); aka, a friend with some form of mad skillz that you just must make use of.

There's lots of information and article's on using friendors for your wedding - heck, just look here on the 'Bee: Mrs. Ostrich, Mrs. Sloth, and Mrs. Argyle (to name a few) all wrote fairly recent posts about the matter. As with anything, though, there are general pros and cons of using said friendors. Having a friend as a vendor allows you to include some friends in significant ways for your wedding, it can give you a better understanding of certain aspects of vendors, and it can even result in a reduced rate for said vendor. On the other hand, you may have a friendor who now can't enjoy your wedding because they are too busy working, confrontation may escalate quicker than normal, or you don't feel comfortable being completely honest with them since you don't want to hurt their feelings. It's definitely a fine line - hiring a friendor takes a lot of trust and a lot of commitment.

So far, Foxy and I have hired 4.. count 'em, 4!.. friendors. Here's the list:

1. Invitation designer

The very first thing I started thinking about after we got engaged was the invitation suite (what, that's not normal?). I was convinced I would design and assemble the whole thing myself - easy peasy, right?. Well, I started to design it and hated everything. Fortunately, my good friend Michelle emailed me not long after and mentioned that she would be willing to design our invite suite at a sweet discounted rate, because, duh, she's a graphic designer. I really have no idea how I forgot this, but I jumped on the deal and Michelle whipped something up in no time. In the end, we only had her design an invitation and RSVP card, as her business started picking up and had many other (full paying) clients to tend to. Foxy and I were a-ok with this - we just adore the look and feel of our invites. I'd say friendor #1 has already been a success!

2. Officiant

I wrote about this just the other day, but our friend E will be officiating the ceremony. We're thrilled at this, as we just know she will make the ceremony personal and work with us on getting all the details just right. She and I have yet to sit down and really discuss all things ceremony related, but I have high hopes!

3. Hair Stylist

So get this.. the hair stylist for myself and the girls is actually Officiant E's sister-in-law, and she was hired before E was! I met Brianna about a year ago now, and we connected quickly over our mutual upcoming weddings and her fabulous stylist skills. A few months and several Facebook messages later, she was booked! I've heard and read wonderful things about her work from E and others, and very much look forward to working with her. I kind of want my hair trial NOW. But word on the street is that 6 months out is a bit too early. Oh well.

4. Makeup Artist

This is the most recent friendor addition, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Remember my wedding twin, M? She's always been fabulous making herself up and has a mighty impressive makeup collection. We had a phone date not too long ago, chatting about details of our respective upcoming weddings, when the issue of hair and makeup costs came up. When I mentioned my conundrum (which would be lack of funds to afford one, and wanting one to come to our venue rather than me going to them), she mentioned that she had wanted to ask me if I wanted her to do my makeup for the wedding, as well as that for the rest of the bridal party. I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing.. one of my bridesladies, completely willing to donate time to pretty up the party. Of course I said yes on the spot - how could I not?? I'm going to owe her big time, and I couldn't be more thankful for it!

That's about it (for now).. although you could add another 5 on there if we indeed do the Flip Wedding and have friends film everything for us. Ohh, friendors. Love you.

I'm hoping to ultimately do another friendor post once the wedding is over to recap how everything went - here's hoping all goes well!

Are you hiring any friendors? Or, if you already did, how did it pan out?

Hey DJ, heeeeey!

No, not you DJ Tanner.

Image via Buddy TV

I'm kind of in shock that I haven't mentioned anything specific about our DJ Frank yet. After the venue, he was the first vendor we booked! (What can I say, we like music.) It's actually kind of awesome because our new buddy Frank apparently works with our venue quite often, so he already knows the space, layout, and general flow of things on the big day. He came highly recommended by our DOC, and the fact that someone else was trying to book him for their wedding on the same day as ours almost 2 years in advance? Yea, I'd say he's good at what he does. We'd hit that.

Mr. Foxy and I first met with Frank in July of 2010 and had an instant connection. Foxy was sold because Frank had a ton of tattoos (apparently that makes them soul brothers or something) and we were both stoked at his laid back, open attitude. As previously mentioned, he's totally cool with us having a general play and do-not-play list, as well as playing some "offbeat" music, granted he has the tracks or we provide them.

So now I present to you: the point of this post.

Foxy and I have talked more about the music to be played at the reception and already have a handful of random songs to be dispersed within all the top 40 mumbo jumbo that I'm a total hussy for.

Ready for it?

1. Olé - Bouncing Souls

Even though I've listened to and loved this song since high school, Foxy insists that "you just don't get it" and "you didn't get ready to go out drinking with your boys in college to this song like I did." Um, no, because I was straightedge and awesome. Either way, I can't wait to see what him and "his boys" do when this song pops on randomly during the reception!

2. Rock Show - Blink182

This one is more mainstream and less random, but definitely not a common reception dance song (I think?). Anyway, we both love it and I'm pretty sure all our friends will be gettin' jiggy with it.

3. My Standard Break From Life - Alkaline Trio

This one is definitely all Foxy. He big puffy heart loves Alkaline Trio - I'd say I more normal-sized 2-d heart love them.

4. Back in Your Head - Tegan and Sara

This was one of the first songs I knew and loved by T&S, and these two ladies comprise "our" band. Sure, their songs are all depressing as heck, but they're just so catchy.

5. Bad Touch - Bloodhound Gang

Please don't even ask. I'm obsessed with this song. Foxy knows ALL the words and it's (sadly) my goal by the time the wedding comes around to know them all too (first verse down!). Please don't tell me it's "inappropriate".. it's hysterical and the people who don't know the song won't even realize what they're saying in it. I think we'll be good. Or we can have Frank edit some things out.

6. Festival Song - Good Charlotte

I had to put at least one GC song on the list. I was kind of obsessed with them in high school and may have wanted to marry Benji. By may, I mean I totally did.

Thus ends what will inevitably become "Part 1" of random music to be played at the reception. I would strongly suggest for you to expect more of our terrible superb music selections in future posts.

Are you having any "offbeat" music played at your wedding?