Did I Vacation or What

I am back from visiting my family in Florida (don't be jealous). Since tonight is new years eve I thought I should share my new years resolution (yeah that's right I only have one):

Stop biting my nails

I was going to post a picture of my hands but I am too embarrassed. Any advice?

I Got Our Epics Back!

Here's a little tease

Think Outside of the Cake

You can display your wedding cupcakes like a cupcake buffet:

If cake stands are to pricey for you, use plates on top of upside down champagne glasses (or candle holders) like this bride did:

Wedding Cake Alternative

When I started planning my wedding I knew I wanted to do a wedding cake alternative. When my wedding reception was going to be in my parents backyard I wanted to have an ice cream sundae bar. Now that my reception will be during lunch and indoors I am going to have wedding cupcakes! Most bakeries will charge for wedding cupcakes as much as they charge for wedding cakes (sorry not a cheaper option on this end) but you don't have to pay your reception venue to cut and serve your cake. Wedding cupcakes in my opinion are not a good idea for formal (black tie) wedding receptions unless you display outside the banquet room as a favor for your guest to take as they leave. I meet with my baker (can I call her that) next week!

Here is a display that I really like:

(source)

What Are You Wearing?

The question commonly heard on the red carpet of grand events. I wanted to share with you what my bridal party will wear down my white aisle runner.

MOH

Bridesmaids

Did You Think the Elections Were Over

I've decided that my bridesmaids will vote on which dress they like the most. They have until January 1, 2009 to vote or die

dress #1

dress #2

dress #3


I'm up for suggestions. What do you (anyone) think?

Or Should They Wear Green

(source)

Everybody is going green maybe I should join them (just kidding). I don't have to decide today on the bridesmaid's dress but according to my timeline the dresses need to be ordered 4 - 6 months (Jan-March) before the wedding. Where has the time gone? I'm excited to get married but I'm behind on my to do list that should be completed 6 months before the wedding

Keep Your Fingers Cross

Not only am I on a tight budget but also my bridal party. All three of them do not have a full-time job like me so I am on the look out for bridesmaids dresses that are simple, elegant, and under $125. Well, it has not been hard finding dresses with that criteria it has been hard finding the right shade of pink.

I found this dress at Target. As much as I love Target I have never bought clothes from there so I'm not if I can trust them. I'm also not sure if this dress is even elegant.

Keep your fingers cross as I continue looking

Targét, Oh How I love thee

Since Mr. Josh left for boot camp last Sunday and we wanted to register together so our registry is done. I've read blog post about wedding colors making its way into the house decor. As much as I love pink Mr. Josh will not let that color make its way into our future house decor but we do have a color theme for our future house...

Having a color really helped the process. Not knowing much about glassware (why is there a different glass for red and white whine?) did not.

We're Officially Engaged

We took our engagement pictures last Friday at the Hotel Roanoke

I really enjoyed the photographer. She's great!

It was so much fun taking pictures, changing outfits, smiling, grinning, and laughing (trying to be candid). My only regret was not having a manicure. I bite my nails (bad habit) so they are not the prettiest site. I should of known that she wanted shots with my ring. I really thought I was prepared reading tips but no one mentioned that. Well, Stephanie if you are reading this I wouldn't mind if you give me nails in the pictures. With photoshop anything is posible...right?

Tips

before taking your engagement pictures from a bee

• Be sure to have some ideas of photos in mind ("must takes"). However, it is also beneficial to be open to whatever creative poses that your photographer suggests - you could be pleasantly surprised!
• Remember that one of the reasons for an engagement photo is to have something to print in the newspaper. As this will frequently be printed in black and white, try to consider your attire from that standpoint.
• While it's good to have a variety of photos, even the most creative photojournalists will be able to take one or two formal poses.
• A formally planned engagement shoot isn't mandatory; a friend's snapshot of the happy couple may be able to express their love and excitement just as well.

I Got a New Face

on this blog! yay! 2 months blogging strong

What's Great About the Beach?

Free Studio! It's better to take pictures outside anyway because of the great lighting from the sun. What a better back drop than the beach (ocean, sand, boardwalk ...). I actually know this couple they attend my home church (she's so photogenic). Their photographer, Keith Cephus, is the best in town (she's so lucky). Check out his blog for the rest of the pictures

Note To Self:

bring our bikes next week...just kidding

What Makes You Officially Engaged?

Proposal? No. Ring? No. Taking engagement pictures? Yes...just kidding. We booked our photographer last week to take our engagement pictures in a couple of weeks so I have been surfing blogs to find inspiration. I just had to share with you some that I found. This couple graduated from the school I attending Liberty University (Go Flames!). Their photographer is fantastic.

The Winner Is: Me!

Last Friday I bought my gown and my venue was booked but there is one more thing that happen that amazing day. I won a Dunkin Donuts Gift Card! I am receiving this wonderful prize from Isha Foss Events. Isha Foss Events is Virginia's #1 luxury wedding & event planning, coordinating, and design company (well, at least to me). I love their blog because I get to see their creative, stylish, Southern Weddings Magazine worthy events. You should check them out.

Thanks again Ladies!

I Found the Last Clue

Ladies and Gentlemen get excited because last Friday our venue was booked for

our ceremony and reception!

This amazing place is called the Hilton Garden Inn. The inside looks just as great as the outside (I'll post pictures in a couple of weeks). The staff is cool because they put up with my indecisiveness/S personality (I don't want the ceremony there, I change my mind I do want the ceremony there but I think after I sign the contract I can't make anymore changes...that scares me).

To stay in budget I am having a lunch reception. Sometimes brides have a breakfast or brunch reception to stay in budget.

Do whatever you have to do to stay in budget

Clue #?

Congratulations you found the right place!

dah dum da dum

I saw the title to this post on a wedding program featured on style me pretty. This post is not about that o so cute program but the fact that I can not get "Here Comes the Bride" out of my head. I have a feeling it's stuck in my head because of the amazing day I had Friday.

I bought my wedding dress!

The first time I went gown shopping at Davids Bridal was in June before I had a ring and a budget. I don't recommend going before you have a budget. I wasn't worried when I went because I thought I wanted an empire style dress which is usually under $500. I tried one on and I didn't like the way it looked on me. I felt like I was wearing a sleeping gown. So back on the racks went the empire style dresses and in came the A-lines, ball gowns, beads, and lace (over $500). It was fun I went just to try on gowns I wrote down the information of my top 3. Then reality hit in October aka budget. My wedding dress did not make the important list (will pay at any cost list). So I knew I needed to wait for $99 sale.

Wednesday I received an email that they are having their $99 sale Nov 1 - 17. I thought I was going to wait until I went home to go shopping Nov 16 or 17. But that same day 2 other girls who are also engaged here at my internship asked me if I wanted to go with to try on dresses for fun (they already have their dresses) on Friday. I went with them but I wasn't excited (probably because I don't have a dress) I didn't even tell Mr. Josh or my mom I was going. Our first stop (and our only stop) was Davids Bridal and I was their ticket in since I honestly was still looking for a dress. I was excited to be able to see what dresses would be on sale starting Saturday. The manager told me since they are already advertising it she would honor the sale that day (Friday)!

I was preparing myself to have to settle with a less formal gown because that is usually what is $99. To the surprise of myself and the sales rep there was a beautiful ball gown on sale. The dress ended up on the rack because somehow the store forgot to mark it down from $700 to $399 (I think the dress was discontinued). With that price ($399) I am sure they would have sold all of them. I tried it on and called my mom to inform her I found my dress.

I still can't believe it

dah dum da dum

Guess what Martha told me

Even with my small budget I can still have real flowers

That's great now I am excited and I need to find a florist

She says, "for big-impact table decor on the cheap, consider carnations, which come in so many colors. Long used as inexpensive filler, the familiar flowers have a chic style all their own when clustered in modern, minimalist [simple in form and color...I think] vases that offset their ruffled softness. Plus they're readily available throughout the year. Arrange them by color for an array of color that really makes the gradient."

Will do Martha, thanks again

Did I say...

that this is my ceremony decor?

I've been thinking about if I can pull that off with my budget. Since the ceremony might be less than an hour. I'm thinking it wouldn't be smart to spend a lot of money on the decor. I researched how much it would cost to just to rent white 30" columns and wedding canopy...it was close to $500 (if those prices were for the day and not the hour). Unless I (or someone) makes me columns and a wedding canopy I can pull that off on my budget (maybe I should research it before I say that...how much is wood?).

I think I found plan b.

Thanks Martha!

Who else thinks Martha is the (wo)man?

Quote of The Week

"Planning a wedding is like coloring when you're 4:

There's no right or wrong way to do it. And everyone will love it because they love you!"

-Joel Daly

Meet Miss. Diva: My Maid of Honor

sister

extrovert

dreamer

talented

creative

gorgeous






Her duties:

• Lead the bridesmaid troupe


• Help shop for dresses


• Offer to help the bride with pre-wedding tasks


• Offer to help pay for the wedding (just kidding)


• Spread the news about where the bride and groom are registered


• Lend an ear


• Co host a shower for the bride


• Plan the bachelorette party with the bridesmaids


• Hold the groom's ring during the ceremony


• Hold the bride's bouquet while the couple exchange vows


• As needed arrange the bride's train and veil during the ceremony and help her bustle the train for easy dancing at the reception


• Sign the marriage license as a witness


• Toast the couple after the best man


• Troubleshoot emotional crises


• Keep the bride laughing

Her favorite verse:

"You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

1 Corinthians 6:20

*I don't know why she like to take pictures in the bathroom*

It's Time to Celebrate

Today is my blog one month anniversary! Judging from the profile views is not just my immediate family, future in laws, or mr. josh reading this blog whom I originally started this blog for since I am far away from them (I am in MO they are all in VA). To celebrate I wanted to share some pictures of a real wedding I saw on the southern weddings blog (I wish they would have interviewed this couple) by drewBphotography.

The wedding that almost made me change my colors

(pink and green)

Ceremony decor

I'm thinking all white:

(source1 & source2)

Are you into soap operas?

I thought that I wasn't into soap operas. Then I realize I read soap operas twice (sometimes more) a day on: The weddingbee.

I'm excited when their weddings go well and I'm sad (close to crying) when they don't go as planned. I sometimes include them in prayers (at least they are real people). Of course I have my favorites characters (bloggers) and I'm tempted to enter a t.v. talk show contest to meet them. I also have my favorite shows (post). I'm so glad it's shown on a local channel (the Internet) because my pockets can only handle so much inspiration from wedding magazines (now I usually go to the library or sit in Barnes & Noble). Everyday I have a story for Mr. Josh about what happen on the soap opera that day (even though he could careless). I've been a faithful viewer ever since I became bored with the knot (I didn't know that I could view all the pictures and articles...well close to it) but I think they recently updated (this past summer) with new pictures and website format.

Who knew a soap opera show could consist of real people (or should I say brides)

Searching for the clues ?

I started this series because I thought I had found a place and my scavenger hunt was over

but I'm still looking (as of yesterday).

So now I will busy researching, calling, and emailing venues until I find

the last clue congratulating me for finding the right place :(

with the Holy Spirit reminding me of Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight" :)

Searching for the clues IV

"Sorry ma'am but we close down in November"

-front desk at the Holiday Inn

clue #5

look for a place that will stil be open next year

Searching for the clues III

"Some things are for the rich and the famous"
-my wedding planner

Well, atleast on my budget...

clue#4

look for a cheaper place

Searching for the clues II

Close to my church is the Bide-A-Wee golf course. I had high hopes with this place the golf course is so pretty. They have an on-site caterer but you have the option of bringing in an outside source. When I finally got in touch with the event manager (she is a hard lady to get in touch with) she informed me that with my guest list I would pushing the limit for a seated dinner and my date was not available :(

clue #3

look for a bigger place