after a rip-roaring 4 hours of sleep (bah!) it's time for kisses, smiles and jet planes. i'm off to spokane! i don't know how this day snuck up so incredibly fast, but it certainly has. only 3 more days until i'm a married woman...whammy!
i love paul. and i am so excited for....forever :)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
well, hey there july!
I'M GETTING MARRIED THIS MONTH....WAHOO!!!!!!!
let's celebrate with double the fireworks! happy canada day & 4th of july, everyone! paul and i are trekking north to celebrate with his canadian relatives, as long as they let us over the boarder. what a fabulous day!
16
Monday, June 27, 2011
in the words of billy joel....
I'M MOVIN' OUT!!! at least half-way for now.
paul and i have officially signed the lease in our new apartment. we spent the entirety of this past weekend hauling washing machines, pull-out couches and solid maple out of Undergrad Land and up a flight of stairs to our first lil' love nest. it's a glorious apartment in the most lovely pocket of dayton we never knew existed until two short months ago. we're nestled amongst the trees between a city park and a narrow strip of sky-high greenery. so lovely. and across the street (literally) is fraze pavillion, a popular summer concert venue. we simply open our windows and enjoy the live music several evenings a week...it doesn't get any better than that, ladies and...well, more ladies (no gents read this!) and then inside - what a treat! lofted ceilings, a wood-burning fire place, walls of windows and (joy of joys!) no upstairs windows! i slept without ear plugs this past saturday night for the first time in MONTHS! to my ear canal's sheer delight. i officially complete my move on july 8th, the day paul leaves for spokane. we've waited this long to live together...and with a 3-day vacay this weekend, what's a few more days?
we're voyaging north this weekend to the land of hockey, maple syrup and mounties to spend the holiday with paul's relatives. not only are we celebrating the 4th, but also canada day on the 1st. ahh, the advantages of marrying canadian....new holidays! how i love them so. any excuse to gather with family is glorious, even though it's not legal quite yet :)
only 20 more days! *sigh*...i am so blessed.
paul and i have officially signed the lease in our new apartment. we spent the entirety of this past weekend hauling washing machines, pull-out couches and solid maple out of Undergrad Land and up a flight of stairs to our first lil' love nest. it's a glorious apartment in the most lovely pocket of dayton we never knew existed until two short months ago. we're nestled amongst the trees between a city park and a narrow strip of sky-high greenery. so lovely. and across the street (literally) is fraze pavillion, a popular summer concert venue. we simply open our windows and enjoy the live music several evenings a week...it doesn't get any better than that, ladies and...well, more ladies (no gents read this!) and then inside - what a treat! lofted ceilings, a wood-burning fire place, walls of windows and (joy of joys!) no upstairs windows! i slept without ear plugs this past saturday night for the first time in MONTHS! to my ear canal's sheer delight. i officially complete my move on july 8th, the day paul leaves for spokane. we've waited this long to live together...and with a 3-day vacay this weekend, what's a few more days?
we're voyaging north this weekend to the land of hockey, maple syrup and mounties to spend the holiday with paul's relatives. not only are we celebrating the 4th, but also canada day on the 1st. ahh, the advantages of marrying canadian....new holidays! how i love them so. any excuse to gather with family is glorious, even though it's not legal quite yet :)
only 20 more days! *sigh*...i am so blessed.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
photographer, take 2
hello from the wee-sma's. sleep has become my illusive friend once again, c'est la vie. if you can't sleep, blog.
today is day 26.
day 27 was a doozie.
my mom met with a florist (rosauers!) and we ordered flowers, i gave the caterer our final head count, we ordered wine from the venue, we solidified the bartender and i went back and forth with about 12 photographers within 24 hours. wait...what?
the photographer that we'd had lined up for months informed us on saturday that she would not be able to shoot our wedding. so the majority of this weekend my fingers were flying, contacting potential replacements. we found a ton of skill avaliable (*note* if you plan on selecting your photographer within a month, get married on a sunday) but very zero with the same skill in our price range. some actually wanted triple what we'd agreed to spend. however, i believe we've found the one for us. check out eugene michel on applebrides.com - gorgeous stuff. he's sending the contract over today, upon which i will immediately pounce. so the hope for day 26 - find a photographer!
i was struck today by how close it's getting. wow. it's been so easy and always seemed so far off, but now it's practically here. we're nearing the threshold of our new life together, and it feels like for the first time, i'm close enough to see the wood grain on the door frame, the smooth stones on the steps, and the light streaming out from within.
i can't wait to spend my life with paul. and i can't wait to celebrate its commencement with you :)
today is day 26.
day 27 was a doozie.
my mom met with a florist (rosauers!) and we ordered flowers, i gave the caterer our final head count, we ordered wine from the venue, we solidified the bartender and i went back and forth with about 12 photographers within 24 hours. wait...what?
the photographer that we'd had lined up for months informed us on saturday that she would not be able to shoot our wedding. so the majority of this weekend my fingers were flying, contacting potential replacements. we found a ton of skill avaliable (*note* if you plan on selecting your photographer within a month, get married on a sunday) but very zero with the same skill in our price range. some actually wanted triple what we'd agreed to spend. however, i believe we've found the one for us. check out eugene michel on applebrides.com - gorgeous stuff. he's sending the contract over today, upon which i will immediately pounce. so the hope for day 26 - find a photographer!
i was struck today by how close it's getting. wow. it's been so easy and always seemed so far off, but now it's practically here. we're nearing the threshold of our new life together, and it feels like for the first time, i'm close enough to see the wood grain on the door frame, the smooth stones on the steps, and the light streaming out from within.
i can't wait to spend my life with paul. and i can't wait to celebrate its commencement with you :)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
how charming!
from the depths of torrential winds and baseball-sized hail and between trips down to the basement, i come a-blogging. a happy reprieve...
things are puttering along at aproximately the same slow, smooth pace as the r.s.v.p.'s which i so painstakingly addressed, stamped and mailed. (side note - from this point on, i will always respond to a wedding invite within one week. so impatient!) but rather than feeling like i'm dithering about, i've very much been enjoying the smooth sailing.
paul and i finally (yay!) selected his and his groomsmen attire last weekend. check that off the list! we went together to purchase his wedding band and they have been sent out for engraving. but by far, the pleasurable majority of my time has been dedicated to the crafting of our wedding favors! i am making personalized wine charms for every guest, and it is quite the fun and intricate process. the idea may be blatantly stolen (thank you, knot.com!) but they're perfect and fun, nonetheless. what else are these sites for but to inspire ideas?!
tomorrow i'm heading away from oz and back to the pacific northwest! i'm taking my first vacation day (half day after putting in extra hours this week) and spending four glorious days with my family, new baby nephew, friends and old students. i simply am beside myself with excitement...probably why i am blogging at 6:15 between reading my bible and working out. i've armed myself with a giant check list of "to do's", such as hair trial run, ceremony cite selection, dessert tasting, wine selection, mother's dress shopping, beading and all the other delightful little details that are impossible to do from afar.
and i will most certainly be partaking in a LOT of seafood. yum!
see you all in 52 days!
things are puttering along at aproximately the same slow, smooth pace as the r.s.v.p.'s which i so painstakingly addressed, stamped and mailed. (side note - from this point on, i will always respond to a wedding invite within one week. so impatient!) but rather than feeling like i'm dithering about, i've very much been enjoying the smooth sailing.
paul and i finally (yay!) selected his and his groomsmen attire last weekend. check that off the list! we went together to purchase his wedding band and they have been sent out for engraving. but by far, the pleasurable majority of my time has been dedicated to the crafting of our wedding favors! i am making personalized wine charms for every guest, and it is quite the fun and intricate process. the idea may be blatantly stolen (thank you, knot.com!) but they're perfect and fun, nonetheless. what else are these sites for but to inspire ideas?!
tomorrow i'm heading away from oz and back to the pacific northwest! i'm taking my first vacation day (half day after putting in extra hours this week) and spending four glorious days with my family, new baby nephew, friends and old students. i simply am beside myself with excitement...probably why i am blogging at 6:15 between reading my bible and working out. i've armed myself with a giant check list of "to do's", such as hair trial run, ceremony cite selection, dessert tasting, wine selection, mother's dress shopping, beading and all the other delightful little details that are impossible to do from afar.
and i will most certainly be partaking in a LOT of seafood. yum!
see you all in 52 days!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
three months to go.....
oh my goodness. i'm a terrible blogger.
then again...maybe not......
unless you consider furniture rental enthralling, nothing much has happened since my last post! with a few minor exceptions, of course.....
after a lovely period of down time in which paul and i simply talked and dreamed of our future, enjoyed one another's company and visited our first drive-thru liquor store, things have picked up again in the past week. last tuesday, april 5th, i brought home my wedding dress. it is everything i could want it to be and more. i went to have my final fitting, and the seamstress did a lovely job. i could hardly take it off, and very well might not have if it hadn't been for fear of spilling panaera all down the front. it's living in my apartment with me now, and every time i look at it hanging on the back of my door, i feel pure happiness. it's as if the dress radiates through the linen bag, an unseen yet shining secret. only 95 more days until i get to put it on again.....
we spent this past weekend in minneapolis, visiting my new in-laws-to-be and their delicious new baby. i am so thankful for family, and seeing them has helped me realize how much i truly appreciate them, and you...the people who are constant and with whom love is always shared, regardless of the passage of time or distance between.
pre-marital counseling started yesterday with paul and my pastor. he is a riot, yet so pure and honest. i am so thankful that he is sharing his wisdom, perspective and heart with us as he helps us lay our foundation. we will be meeting every other week to with him and working together as well as independently to prepare ourselves for the road ahead. i think of the future, and all i can do is smile....
oh, and one last note...check your mail this week. you might just find a lil' something special from me.... :)
then again...maybe not......
unless you consider furniture rental enthralling, nothing much has happened since my last post! with a few minor exceptions, of course.....
after a lovely period of down time in which paul and i simply talked and dreamed of our future, enjoyed one another's company and visited our first drive-thru liquor store, things have picked up again in the past week. last tuesday, april 5th, i brought home my wedding dress. it is everything i could want it to be and more. i went to have my final fitting, and the seamstress did a lovely job. i could hardly take it off, and very well might not have if it hadn't been for fear of spilling panaera all down the front. it's living in my apartment with me now, and every time i look at it hanging on the back of my door, i feel pure happiness. it's as if the dress radiates through the linen bag, an unseen yet shining secret. only 95 more days until i get to put it on again.....
we spent this past weekend in minneapolis, visiting my new in-laws-to-be and their delicious new baby. i am so thankful for family, and seeing them has helped me realize how much i truly appreciate them, and you...the people who are constant and with whom love is always shared, regardless of the passage of time or distance between.
pre-marital counseling started yesterday with paul and my pastor. he is a riot, yet so pure and honest. i am so thankful that he is sharing his wisdom, perspective and heart with us as he helps us lay our foundation. we will be meeting every other week to with him and working together as well as independently to prepare ourselves for the road ahead. i think of the future, and all i can do is smile....
oh, and one last note...check your mail this week. you might just find a lil' something special from me.... :)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
my favorite word
...is PARCEL!
as in, a PARCEL was received by me today. and in this PARCEL were our wedding invitations!!! they are gorgeous. i am going to frame one and hang it on my wall, i love it so much! perfection. i am honestly going to call green kangaroo tomorrow and thank them for doing such a lovely job. maybe it's everyday for them, but they just made my march! if you EVER are in need of paper products, please check out the green kangaroo! great prices, beautiful products, wonderful to work with.
the other thing that is making my march is...not in a PARCEL. rather, it's a person...by the name of sherill. my mommy's coming to visit this weekend! she arrives on friday and i can't wait. i am ecstatic that she's coming. we're going down to cincinnati for my first dress fitting on saturday morning...it's going to be so very special.
can i tell you how wonderful my mother is? just in case you don't know her...
one summer in college, when i was home for break, we were redoing the basement (not redecorating...this was a complete overhaul!) it was early in the process, still in the demolition phase, and we were spending the day ripping down the ceiling tiles. to make the process a bit more entertaining, we turned on the tv. the movie "father of the bride" was on - which i love b-t-dub. all of a sudden my mom turns to me, and literally sobs my name out. i look at her in shock, ask what's wrong, and she very tearfully replies, "i'm going to give you the best possible wedding i can." bah! naturally, we cried/hugged it out and were fine, but that's just the kind of woman she is. heart so big, she'll hurt herself for those she loves.
it's going to be a great weekend.
137 days
as in, a PARCEL was received by me today. and in this PARCEL were our wedding invitations!!! they are gorgeous. i am going to frame one and hang it on my wall, i love it so much! perfection. i am honestly going to call green kangaroo tomorrow and thank them for doing such a lovely job. maybe it's everyday for them, but they just made my march! if you EVER are in need of paper products, please check out the green kangaroo! great prices, beautiful products, wonderful to work with.
the other thing that is making my march is...not in a PARCEL. rather, it's a person...by the name of sherill. my mommy's coming to visit this weekend! she arrives on friday and i can't wait. i am ecstatic that she's coming. we're going down to cincinnati for my first dress fitting on saturday morning...it's going to be so very special.
can i tell you how wonderful my mother is? just in case you don't know her...
one summer in college, when i was home for break, we were redoing the basement (not redecorating...this was a complete overhaul!) it was early in the process, still in the demolition phase, and we were spending the day ripping down the ceiling tiles. to make the process a bit more entertaining, we turned on the tv. the movie "father of the bride" was on - which i love b-t-dub. all of a sudden my mom turns to me, and literally sobs my name out. i look at her in shock, ask what's wrong, and she very tearfully replies, "i'm going to give you the best possible wedding i can." bah! naturally, we cried/hugged it out and were fine, but that's just the kind of woman she is. heart so big, she'll hurt herself for those she loves.
it's going to be a great weekend.
137 days
Sunday, February 20, 2011
registry fun
wow...what a BIG weekend! first of all, bought a new car! very excited to be the proud owner of a 2008 mazda 3 hatchback sport. sliver & black, manual, and (wonder of wonders) in our price range! now paul and i can zoom-zoom together, a happy little mazda family.
secondly, we are registered! what a fun process - like a kid in a candy store....or paul and i in a wine shop :) we created registries at macy's and target...so go check them out! please be sure to set aside ample time to admire our china pattern. so lovely...so simple...so refined. so very excited! china is a necessity in my family, so to find a set we love is very exciting (no royal albert for us, thank you very much!)
i am so thankful for paul's time this weekend. he spent HOURS (they are soooo slow!) at the car dealership with me and even went to macy's to assist in the final decision on flatware. he was a terrific sport, and did quite well with putting in his two cents when asked.
in hindsight - a very, very productive weekend!
147 days.....
secondly, we are registered! what a fun process - like a kid in a candy store....or paul and i in a wine shop :) we created registries at macy's and target...so go check them out! please be sure to set aside ample time to admire our china pattern. so lovely...so simple...so refined. so very excited! china is a necessity in my family, so to find a set we love is very exciting (no royal albert for us, thank you very much!)
i am so thankful for paul's time this weekend. he spent HOURS (they are soooo slow!) at the car dealership with me and even went to macy's to assist in the final decision on flatware. he was a terrific sport, and did quite well with putting in his two cents when asked.
in hindsight - a very, very productive weekend!
147 days.....
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
caligraphy & copy cats
hello lovahs. only 151 days until our wedding!
even with so much of the big stuff done, i'm amazed at the amount left to do. there is quite a bit of planning to this whole "wedding" thing. i'd never considered what it would be like to decorate a day for myself (i love that phrase) and i am learning it is quite bi-polar. there are decisions that hurtle you into complete mania - date, budget, food, budget, venue, budget, size, and of course, budget - and dizzy your mind with doubt and indecision. but then you plummet back to waiting...and waiting...and waiting. i believe this is the hardest for me...just twiddling my thumbs and daydreaming without taking any action. but oh what fun it is to dream! you can browse and peruse and linger to your heart's content...if you can ever slow your hands down enough to do so. i've found i'm incapable of jogging in more ways than one - it's either a stroll or a sprint.
i spent the first two weeks of my engagement spinning at a break-neck pace, and now i'm learning to savor. as lucinda said, this is the only time in our life we get to be engaged...enjoy it! and most wonderful of all, things keep moving along at a splendid pace! two exciting things happened in the past few days.....
first - invitations.
we received the first proofs on friday, made our edits and resubmitted them in about 5 minutes. who's indecisive?! the final proofs came on monday night...and are lovely. they should be arriving by the end of the month. to keep my mind mellow and my hands busy, i'm going to attempt to address all the envelopes myself. it's been about a decade since i've done any calligraphy, but i'm very excited to be hand on in this way. it may be small, but it's special.
second - dress!
i was typing my little heart away at work today when my phone rang - 513 area code. having no idea whereabouts 513 was from (but having received many, many pressing phone calls as of late) i answered. and i was shocked to hear the tailor for wendy's cincinnati bride tell me my dress had arrived. (whaaaaa?!) surely you can't be serious, thought i! i am serious...and stop calling me shirley, she replied (not really, but it would've been epic!) my dress has come in 4 MONTHS EARLY! it turns out they had it in my size somewhere out there, to my sheer delight. i'm going down for my first fitting in two and a half weeks when my mom is visiting. she couldn't be there for the trying-on experience, so i'm thrilled she can be there the first time i try on MY dress, not the sample.
another scrumptious bit - my dress has a twin! when i was taking off the sample after saying "yes" to the dress, another consultant asked mine if she could steal the sample from her when it was off of me. after dressing, i went out to see this darling girl in the dress who, after having seen me in it, wanted to try it on herself. (sandra said then that i looked so good in the dress, i sold it to others too...what a bosom bud!) i told her she looked fantastic in it, and sandra and i were curious as to her final decision. well, that day she said yes to the same dress...my dress! (it is forever fixed that way in my head...after all, i was in it first.) so they were ordered together, they came in together and they will be on beautiful brides very much NOT together.
when i write here, i feel all the felicity in the world. i'm swept away in the romance of the whole affair and feel like i'm living in a dream. but that wiley little satan is working my weaknesses to the extreme, so please keep me in your prayers...and paul. he's doing wonderfully in school...just trounced everyone in a whatsit-ology test. i'm so proud of him...he's so faithful and true, and i admire that so much.
i love you. can we please talk this weekend? for realsies.
even with so much of the big stuff done, i'm amazed at the amount left to do. there is quite a bit of planning to this whole "wedding" thing. i'd never considered what it would be like to decorate a day for myself (i love that phrase) and i am learning it is quite bi-polar. there are decisions that hurtle you into complete mania - date, budget, food, budget, venue, budget, size, and of course, budget - and dizzy your mind with doubt and indecision. but then you plummet back to waiting...and waiting...and waiting. i believe this is the hardest for me...just twiddling my thumbs and daydreaming without taking any action. but oh what fun it is to dream! you can browse and peruse and linger to your heart's content...if you can ever slow your hands down enough to do so. i've found i'm incapable of jogging in more ways than one - it's either a stroll or a sprint.
i spent the first two weeks of my engagement spinning at a break-neck pace, and now i'm learning to savor. as lucinda said, this is the only time in our life we get to be engaged...enjoy it! and most wonderful of all, things keep moving along at a splendid pace! two exciting things happened in the past few days.....
first - invitations.
we received the first proofs on friday, made our edits and resubmitted them in about 5 minutes. who's indecisive?! the final proofs came on monday night...and are lovely. they should be arriving by the end of the month. to keep my mind mellow and my hands busy, i'm going to attempt to address all the envelopes myself. it's been about a decade since i've done any calligraphy, but i'm very excited to be hand on in this way. it may be small, but it's special.
second - dress!
i was typing my little heart away at work today when my phone rang - 513 area code. having no idea whereabouts 513 was from (but having received many, many pressing phone calls as of late) i answered. and i was shocked to hear the tailor for wendy's cincinnati bride tell me my dress had arrived. (whaaaaa?!) surely you can't be serious, thought i! i am serious...and stop calling me shirley, she replied (not really, but it would've been epic!) my dress has come in 4 MONTHS EARLY! it turns out they had it in my size somewhere out there, to my sheer delight. i'm going down for my first fitting in two and a half weeks when my mom is visiting. she couldn't be there for the trying-on experience, so i'm thrilled she can be there the first time i try on MY dress, not the sample.
another scrumptious bit - my dress has a twin! when i was taking off the sample after saying "yes" to the dress, another consultant asked mine if she could steal the sample from her when it was off of me. after dressing, i went out to see this darling girl in the dress who, after having seen me in it, wanted to try it on herself. (sandra said then that i looked so good in the dress, i sold it to others too...what a bosom bud!) i told her she looked fantastic in it, and sandra and i were curious as to her final decision. well, that day she said yes to the same dress...my dress! (it is forever fixed that way in my head...after all, i was in it first.) so they were ordered together, they came in together and they will be on beautiful brides very much NOT together.
when i write here, i feel all the felicity in the world. i'm swept away in the romance of the whole affair and feel like i'm living in a dream. but that wiley little satan is working my weaknesses to the extreme, so please keep me in your prayers...and paul. he's doing wonderfully in school...just trounced everyone in a whatsit-ology test. i'm so proud of him...he's so faithful and true, and i admire that so much.
i love you. can we please talk this weekend? for realsies.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
invitation chameleon
the proof of my invitation arrived! the colors we chose look absolutely gorgeous, and hit the note we were looking for completely. modern/vintage/rustic. curiously, they actually printed up the invitations with the wrong blue - i requested sapphire and they used delphinium. whether this was accidental or the printer preferred this color combination, i don't know...but i'm actually considering tweaking our wedding colors to go with this! the colors aren't as rich and jewel-toned and we wanted, but they look very soft and natural...antiqued. i'm heading over to paul's for dinner tonight and we're going to look them over and make a decision. but whatever that decision may be, the invitations should be ordered by the end of the week!
ps - he asked if he could cook dinner for me again tonight...*sigh*...love him. maybe i'll luck out and get another diamond ring.....!
ps - he asked if he could cook dinner for me again tonight...*sigh*...love him. maybe i'll luck out and get another diamond ring.....!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
say yes to the dress
it's official - i have the dress!
sandra, my bosom friend (haha...anne!) from spokane flew into dayton this weekend to help me shop. i was so incredibly thankful that she was able to come, because the though of finding a wedding dress on my own seemed impossible. i have a few people in town i could ask to come with me, but no one who knows me so completely as any of my redheads, punx, bran buds or stepping stone gals. and you all know me...i'm incapable of buying shoes without a second opinion.
my roomate katheen informed me of a bridal district just outside of cincinnati that happened to be having several trunk sales this weekend. i wasn't sure if the dresses were going to be in my price range at these boutiques, but though it was a great place to start getting a vision for what i'd like my wedding dress to be.
i made a list of stores that i wanted to see, but for some reason just felt that i wanted to start at the third store i'd listed, wendy's cininnati bride. sandra and i went into this store and were smacked in the face by the sea of white dresses before us. we were approached by a consultant named lameese who, when informed of the time frame and price point, was able to give us two sections to focus on. i let her know what theme we were going for - vintage rustic in a modern way - but i think she only heard vintage rustic. she let sandra and i loose to pull dresses and pulled a few herself.
i didn't know exactly what i was looking for, but knew that i liked textural elements such as old-fashioned lace and ruching. we pulled a few dresses that piqued my interest, but i felt i wasn't being decerning enough in my selections. a champagne colored gown with ruching and a flower on the side caught my eye and sandra said i should try it, but i left it on the rack saying "i can come back later if i don't find more i like." we came upon a very similar dress in white a few racks down, and sandra told me that this was the type of dress she'd envisioned me in. i laughed and informed her that katie, my oldest friend, had the exact same idea as her. i said agreed to try it and sandra said, "this is really similar to the dress we left on the rack. do you want to try that one too?" i said "yeah, let's do it" and so she added those two to our rack.
the first dress i tried on was one selected by lameese. it was a beautiful a-line, vintage lace and beaded gown. it had a long train with a flat ruffle flair at the bottom. it was very pretty and had the vintage vibe for sure, but i just didn't feel like myself in it. the a-line shape does not compliment my hip-less figure, and the beading was not me at all. lameese was trying very hard to sell me on this dress, but it sandra and i knew it was totally wrong.
the second dress i put on was sandra's selection. its fit-and-flair style complimented and enhanced my figure. this dress made me feel confident, elegant and sexy. the ruching was more modern and youthful and fit my personality better. but this dress was just lacking something...special. we tried a few accessories with it but eventually headed back to the changing room to try another gown.
having found a direction i liked, i decided to try on the similar champagne gown. its ruching was slightly different, and it had a bubble hem and sweetheart neckline. when i stepped out in this dress, i was amazed by how i looked. it the same shape, but with a few more elements...it was the next level. we put on a beaded belt and i began to realize that this was the dress. i knew i wanted a birdcage veil, so i donned one with a flower in my hair. the sweetheart neckline with the birdcage was perfect, but the combination of the belt and the veil was too much. we took of the belt and i just knew this was my dress. it's modern and youthful, but the sweetheart neckline and veil give it a vintage vibe. and the length is perfect for an outdoor wedding.
i order it right then and there, but chose ivory over champagne to compliment my hair and skin tone. they're ordering it, and it will get here a month before the wedding. that doesn't leave much time for tailoring (it'll need to be taken in a bit and a bustle added) but they said they'll get it done in time. i'm so incredibly excited! i love the dress...and i wish it was here now!
all the big ticket items are done, and only two weeks into the engagement! i'm able to sleep again at night and am not waking up, dwelling on the details and imporant things i still need to arrange. i think that God brought this together so quickly so that i'd be able to be at peace. and now, as lucinda says, it's time to sit back and just enjoy being engaged. <3
161 days until the wedding!
sandra, my bosom friend (haha...anne!) from spokane flew into dayton this weekend to help me shop. i was so incredibly thankful that she was able to come, because the though of finding a wedding dress on my own seemed impossible. i have a few people in town i could ask to come with me, but no one who knows me so completely as any of my redheads, punx, bran buds or stepping stone gals. and you all know me...i'm incapable of buying shoes without a second opinion.
my roomate katheen informed me of a bridal district just outside of cincinnati that happened to be having several trunk sales this weekend. i wasn't sure if the dresses were going to be in my price range at these boutiques, but though it was a great place to start getting a vision for what i'd like my wedding dress to be.
i made a list of stores that i wanted to see, but for some reason just felt that i wanted to start at the third store i'd listed, wendy's cininnati bride. sandra and i went into this store and were smacked in the face by the sea of white dresses before us. we were approached by a consultant named lameese who, when informed of the time frame and price point, was able to give us two sections to focus on. i let her know what theme we were going for - vintage rustic in a modern way - but i think she only heard vintage rustic. she let sandra and i loose to pull dresses and pulled a few herself.
i didn't know exactly what i was looking for, but knew that i liked textural elements such as old-fashioned lace and ruching. we pulled a few dresses that piqued my interest, but i felt i wasn't being decerning enough in my selections. a champagne colored gown with ruching and a flower on the side caught my eye and sandra said i should try it, but i left it on the rack saying "i can come back later if i don't find more i like." we came upon a very similar dress in white a few racks down, and sandra told me that this was the type of dress she'd envisioned me in. i laughed and informed her that katie, my oldest friend, had the exact same idea as her. i said agreed to try it and sandra said, "this is really similar to the dress we left on the rack. do you want to try that one too?" i said "yeah, let's do it" and so she added those two to our rack.
the first dress i tried on was one selected by lameese. it was a beautiful a-line, vintage lace and beaded gown. it had a long train with a flat ruffle flair at the bottom. it was very pretty and had the vintage vibe for sure, but i just didn't feel like myself in it. the a-line shape does not compliment my hip-less figure, and the beading was not me at all. lameese was trying very hard to sell me on this dress, but it sandra and i knew it was totally wrong.
the second dress i put on was sandra's selection. its fit-and-flair style complimented and enhanced my figure. this dress made me feel confident, elegant and sexy. the ruching was more modern and youthful and fit my personality better. but this dress was just lacking something...special. we tried a few accessories with it but eventually headed back to the changing room to try another gown.
having found a direction i liked, i decided to try on the similar champagne gown. its ruching was slightly different, and it had a bubble hem and sweetheart neckline. when i stepped out in this dress, i was amazed by how i looked. it the same shape, but with a few more elements...it was the next level. we put on a beaded belt and i began to realize that this was the dress. i knew i wanted a birdcage veil, so i donned one with a flower in my hair. the sweetheart neckline with the birdcage was perfect, but the combination of the belt and the veil was too much. we took of the belt and i just knew this was my dress. it's modern and youthful, but the sweetheart neckline and veil give it a vintage vibe. and the length is perfect for an outdoor wedding.
i order it right then and there, but chose ivory over champagne to compliment my hair and skin tone. they're ordering it, and it will get here a month before the wedding. that doesn't leave much time for tailoring (it'll need to be taken in a bit and a bustle added) but they said they'll get it done in time. i'm so incredibly excited! i love the dress...and i wish it was here now!
all the big ticket items are done, and only two weeks into the engagement! i'm able to sleep again at night and am not waking up, dwelling on the details and imporant things i still need to arrange. i think that God brought this together so quickly so that i'd be able to be at peace. and now, as lucinda says, it's time to sit back and just enjoy being engaged. <3
161 days until the wedding!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
God is the ultimate party planner!
i am completely blown away. paul and i have not even been engaged for two weeks, and yet all the big ticket items are pretty much in place!
vendor: trezzi farm food & wine
caterer: trezzi farm food & wine
pastor: doug!
date: july 17th
photographer: lisa monet (katie-did's sister...so excited!)
cake: selected (tasting scheduled for may 27th)
budget: way under!
rental items: priced (thank you julie!)
i feel so incredibly blessed. i prayed that God would help bring everything together in a way that pleased Him, but i was in no way ready for this. i guess He likes a good party! it's fallen into place so beautifully that i am left in awe of His love for us. me and the man He chose for me...it's a beautiful thing the way he takes care of His children.
only one last big ticket item (i think...correct me if i'm wrong, kor!) and that would be....
THE DRESS!
my sandra-dee is flying into town this weekend! we're heading an hour south to the bridal district (sounds promising, doesn't it?!) where there is a la-someone-or-other trunk sale. i'm obviously not familiar with the designer, but very familiar with the word sale! i know every girl is suppose to be giddy when it comes to the dress, but all i feel is dread. i have absolutely no idea what i'm looking for...and this leaves me feeling overwhelmed. suggestions, ladies? i'm open to them.....
see you in 164 days!
vendor: trezzi farm food & wine
caterer: trezzi farm food & wine
pastor: doug!
date: july 17th
photographer: lisa monet (katie-did's sister...so excited!)
cake: selected (tasting scheduled for may 27th)
budget: way under!
rental items: priced (thank you julie!)
i feel so incredibly blessed. i prayed that God would help bring everything together in a way that pleased Him, but i was in no way ready for this. i guess He likes a good party! it's fallen into place so beautifully that i am left in awe of His love for us. me and the man He chose for me...it's a beautiful thing the way he takes care of His children.
only one last big ticket item (i think...correct me if i'm wrong, kor!) and that would be....
THE DRESS!
my sandra-dee is flying into town this weekend! we're heading an hour south to the bridal district (sounds promising, doesn't it?!) where there is a la-someone-or-other trunk sale. i'm obviously not familiar with the designer, but very familiar with the word sale! i know every girl is suppose to be giddy when it comes to the dress, but all i feel is dread. i have absolutely no idea what i'm looking for...and this leaves me feeling overwhelmed. suggestions, ladies? i'm open to them.....
see you in 164 days!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
wee-dark hours.....
166 days until the wedding!
i'm really not sleeping much anymore, which is too bad. how do you keep yourself from waking up and thinking and thinking and thinking?! it seems that as soon as my mind starts to wake, it starts to wander and i just can't help it. oh well...there's always coffee!
did you know how awesome some of these websites for designing wedding cards are?! that is what i spent my weekend doing, and it was really great! this one website, tgkdesigns.com (the green kangaroo...what fun!) lets you customize everything - EVERYTHING! - from color to font to word choice, and you can even order a sample to view before you place your order to make sure your ink and paper choices look good together. i ordered one this weekend, and if they come out well, that means i'll be submitting my invitation order this weekend...wahoo!
that's goal #1 this week. goal #2: dessert! not being the biggest cake fan (i by far prefer pie), i was torn on the traditional cake or the plethora of unique alternatives which are so popular now-a-days. but then i thought, why not have your cake and eat it...with pie! i'm making some calls today for pricing on smaller cakes to go with tartlets or pies.
i'm looking for advice!
wedding dresses: how long does it take to get them? sandra did some calling and said that it can be 3-4 months if you order the dress. i checked around a bit and was quoted 4-6. i'd like to wait a few weeks before dress shopping, but would that be putting it off too long?
love you! love wedding planning! sleep is overrated :)
i'm really not sleeping much anymore, which is too bad. how do you keep yourself from waking up and thinking and thinking and thinking?! it seems that as soon as my mind starts to wake, it starts to wander and i just can't help it. oh well...there's always coffee!
did you know how awesome some of these websites for designing wedding cards are?! that is what i spent my weekend doing, and it was really great! this one website, tgkdesigns.com (the green kangaroo...what fun!) lets you customize everything - EVERYTHING! - from color to font to word choice, and you can even order a sample to view before you place your order to make sure your ink and paper choices look good together. i ordered one this weekend, and if they come out well, that means i'll be submitting my invitation order this weekend...wahoo!
that's goal #1 this week. goal #2: dessert! not being the biggest cake fan (i by far prefer pie), i was torn on the traditional cake or the plethora of unique alternatives which are so popular now-a-days. but then i thought, why not have your cake and eat it...with pie! i'm making some calls today for pricing on smaller cakes to go with tartlets or pies.
i'm looking for advice!
wedding dresses: how long does it take to get them? sandra did some calling and said that it can be 3-4 months if you order the dress. i checked around a bit and was quoted 4-6. i'd like to wait a few weeks before dress shopping, but would that be putting it off too long?
love you! love wedding planning! sleep is overrated :)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
welcome to blog-land....
hello to all, and thanks for checking out our blog! i've never done this before and always thought it was kinda geeky, but now i see it as a very pretty mass e-mail. yay!
so mark your calendars friends...the big day is set for JULY 17th, 2011! so very exciting! we're also ecstatic that the wedding will be in spokane. my generous and symptathetic boss is allowing me to take leave that i haven't yet earned in order to make it happen.
we booked a venue this past week...it's going to be at trezzi farm up in green bluff. the land is a combination of farm and vineyard, a unique and picturesque setting for a wedding. and july in spokane is lovely.
so check back in often! i'll do my best to keep you updated on stuff as things progress.
xoxo - annika
so mark your calendars friends...the big day is set for JULY 17th, 2011! so very exciting! we're also ecstatic that the wedding will be in spokane. my generous and symptathetic boss is allowing me to take leave that i haven't yet earned in order to make it happen.
we booked a venue this past week...it's going to be at trezzi farm up in green bluff. the land is a combination of farm and vineyard, a unique and picturesque setting for a wedding. and july in spokane is lovely.
so check back in often! i'll do my best to keep you updated on stuff as things progress.
xoxo - annika
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