9/21 Updates

Greg and I are getting so excited for our upcoming nuptials.

10/1 - He and I are having our Engagement Pictures taken. Thanks to my lovely friends and sisters, I have shopped for the perfect outfit. I have a fabulous pair of over-the-knee designer boots, a skinny jean (also designer), a cami and sweater blanket with cute buckle. Not that I am searching for labels I just feel fabulous wearing things that I've afforded myself.

The setting is a farm. We have a few calls into local places with beautiful settings and one that even has a sunflower crop. But in order to obtain the time of day we're aiming for (5:30-sunset) we're struggling to find "The Place".

Furthermore I have fallen in love with a wedding shoe. Behold Jimmy Choo Emerald. This bad boy runs a cool $975 and Mom should have never let me try them on. I'm hoping for a second hand run at these shoes compliments Ebay - obviously not at a lip-smacking price.

I've also gotten my earrings and bracelet - a beautiful diamond set that matches the dress embellishments.

Makeup artist is booked - Thank you, Mollie from BrideFace!

I have a few contractors working on a custom STD and invitations. Which, I promise you, will be amazing!

We've scouted out officiants and found a lovely woman who has grand reviews, Kathryn Seifert. She sent us over three services, and of the three, Greg and I chose one with a slightly religious, slightly new-age feel as a basis. We've scheduled to follow up with her in November to rope in our specific wants. A work in progress.

We're closing in on the menu and love the choices we have so far and our contact at the caterer provided us tremendous tickets to a charity event at Drees Pavilion for the WEBN fireworks! Although, Dad and his whisky drinking made the total of the event over $1200 for silent auction items... I won there too, because one of the items was a Christmas present, FOR ME!

I am trying to slim down and shape up for E-Pics. My goal isn't to lose an exorbitant amount of weight in 2 weeks, but to look good. I've always had a freekishly bad image of myself and I am just hoping that engagement pictures can change that or provide a better self image. So, I have removed the grizzly facial hair and shaped up the eyebrows, and doubled up on H20. If nothing else, Greg's Mom who's wanted a nice picture of us for years, will finally have her wish. And Greg and I can have a fond memory.

Bridey Hair

I, ladies and gentlemen, will be a brunette bride. I have tossed between the two over the years so there really is no STAPLE haircolor for me... And when asked what my natural color is, I blush when I respond "I haven't a clue - it's a dark something or another".

And based on the fact I had a hair appointment last night I had to make that decision yesterday... Here's why:

Fact: Engagement pictures are in October

Fact: For engagement pictures, there should be some similarity between my looks cosmetically even if the settings are complete polar opposites.

Fact: If I am going dark for fall, in order for it to look good in October a flat color is needed now and highlights added later.

Fact: I cannot get my hair done more than once every 8 weeks (it'll fall out).

So going dark is a two-step process meaning that if that's what I wanted for wedding, then I needed to start now for engagement pictures... Looks like my blonde days are over, at least for now.

Shew! I feel like a woman!

Furthermore, I am looking for a girly-buddy to help me:

• Get my skin looking better (less acne, more glow)
• Get my teeth looking better
• Get my body looking slimmer

BUT I am not looking to spend half a fortune on salon treatments in the interim...

So, who's volunteering?

Engagement pictures

I am getting SOOOO excited that I have envisioned the engagement pictures now...


Picture late October, leaves are turning, tall grass fields and the sun-kissed glow of the evening hours just before sunset.

My attire number 1: A sundress with cowboy boots.

Attire number 2: Jeans and a sweater, maybe barefoot.

Capturing a COMPLETELY different look than what our wedding will with the city skyline, and features a city mouse vs. country mouse relationship between the two photo sessions. It will also serve as a snap shot to our kids of today's fashion.

Ahh Bliss!

Under 400

I am getting more and more excited.

We have 397 days to go and yet so much to do.

Things completed last week were:

• We had a tasting where we narrowed down the food choices for our desired caterer.
• Mom in law narrowed her vision of the billowy curtains in the gazebo
• Greg and I saved $100 on the music budget, which he quickly reminded me that it isn't to be added to another line item.
• Mom and I envisioned flowers and put the flower budget on steroids.

Things to do this week are:

• Narrow down the "feel" for our engagement pictures. IE The place, time, month, what to wear, etc.
• Complete the ceremony music contract. If you haven't listened yet, do so. HERE
• Find the person who will marry us.

Ongoing things I could use help with are:

• Attending random wedding outings. Like Veils and Cocktails Aug 18... Anyone interested? I like finding inspiration there.
• Organization
• I need a person who is good in photoshop or creative to help me envision our Save The Dates and other paper products.

13 months to go?

Where did the time go?
Seriously, our engagement was over 600 days at one time. Now we're under 400?! Cannnn't wait!

So, to organize myself a bit better, I think that I'll mentally separate the functions of the wedding and work in a chronological timeline. Although the things which need attention now aren't necessarily the first things to happen on "the big day".

Ceremony:
My vision for this is peaceful. I want white flowers, white flowing fabric, white serenity. I want this to be a special moment for Greg and I. I want to stress the importance of that moment and how beautiful it is that Greg and I found each other to complete the other.

For this: I've hired a stringed trio. And envisioned two large flower arrangements heading the aisle. I don't want the decorations to be overkill, because the backdrop will be enough to already be distracting for our guests... But I want to create a private ceremony, where I feel like Greg and I are the only people there aside the support of our 300+/- friends and family members.

Reception:
For this I want retro elegance. I don't want it to be stuffy that people aren't certain which fork to use first, but I want it to be pretty. I want it to feel like a celebration. Most of all, I don't want to FEEL like I have flexed my and my parents checkbook to the max. I picture long and circular tables. I picture tall and low centerpieces. I picture tons of lighting. I picture a party esque scene where people aren't afraid of the other. Or to get a little goofy.

Honeymoon:
I want beach. I want to be able to get to a few fun things, and for those days where I don't want to leave bed, we wont. :-P

Bridesmaid's Dresses!

YAY! Looks like I have a FEW choices of dresses from the bridesmaids.

6504 in Ruby

2716 in African Violet

2500 in Ruby

6501 in African Violet (can be trimmed in a different color)


2780 in African Violet

2808 in Ruby


2807 in African Violet trimmed in Ruby

I really like all these choices!

Still looking to finalize that weekend in October where we can have our Maid's Party, but I am getting very excited! The more you're interested in, the more that will be available to try on!

Final Answer

Ok, here's my final answer. I think, maybe, as long as it still looks good and I don't change my mind after seeing it again... But it's getting about that time to really settle on a color...

So the color I choose is...
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purple.








Let's do this!