Snow Day... but no snow and no cable boo

Today, it snowed over most of NC. Reading facebook messages and watching the weather channel, everyone is out playing in the now or snuggling up watching movies. Well living at the southeast part of the state, we received rain, and more rain. Then our cable went out. Darling FI has settled into a good book and I am reluctant to pop in a movie now. Maybe when I get done with this post.

Anyways, after the hair research, I've decided to post pictures of my dress. I am pretty sure FI accidentally saw pictures on my computer the other night, eek. He played it off good and quickly scrolled down, so hopefully he didn't see. I'd like to post the pictures here and get them out of my wedding file. The dress is designed by Private Label (not sure who that is but who cares! I love it!) and I got it on sale for around $500 which is 60% off!! Before I even knew that information, I fell in love with the dress. It was exactly what I had in mind. I knew I wanted a halter style dress vs. strapless because my shoulders are broader compared to most girls. I look a little funny in strapless, where as halter compliments my structure better. I want something snug but flowy in the waist. I also wanted something with rhinestones, pearls or shiny just not too much. This dress is my perfect dress.

Hair Inspiration

I've been thinking about hair lately. I came up with some ideas a long long time ago and pushed it aside. I have been growing my hair out since April 09 which my last cut turned my hair into a "bob". My hair is finally just past my shoulders and I can't wait for it to grow longer. I doubt it will be the long flowing locks I want for the wedding, but one can hope. Here are some pictures of hair that I like. Have you decided on your hair?

Men's Attire

So after spending a weekend in my hometown, I got a lot accomplished towards the wedding. Talking about parties, registering, and tuxes!! FI actually picked them out online, but I of course had questions to ask Men's Wearhouse. But they answered all my questions and concerns, so the tux will work out tremendously! They will be wearing the Calvin Klein gray tux, with silver geometric patterned vest and tie. FI will wear the white vest and tie in same pattern. Yayy!

Here it is online

Oh The Places You'll Go!

This is one of my favorite books. It was given to me by my family at high school graduation. I like to read it to my students, I like to reread it for myself. Lots of people read it for graduations and at weddings. So here's a lovely reminder of this book by Dr. Seuss...

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
You’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

Out there things can happen
And frequently do
To people as brainy
And footsy as you
And when things start to happen,
Don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Save the Dates Yay!

I just ordered our save the dates from vistaprint. Bought the magnets with the photo, etc... 80 stds for $71.48 with shipping. Alright pretty cool.

Went to paperandmore.com to order linen envelopes. Ordered 100 A2 bright white linen envelopes that are discontinued.. for all of $10, $15.97 with shipping. SWEET.

Can't wait for these babies to come in so we can address and resend. Our six month mark is in 5 days, so we are cutting it close with the std's. Oh well, silly wedding rules.

On another note, I went to have my car inspected this morning. Didn't pass, I need new front struts because the cobalt's are leaking. A grand total of $497 to fix these and I need to make an appointment to do this. OUCH. I propose I walk from here on out. I'll kill two birds with one stone, don't have to pay to have my car fixed and I'll lose the weight I have been striving to lose. CHECK CHECK.

bridesmaid thank you poem

I came across this lovely poem while reading Wedding Bee's blog. It is a little thanks for the bridesmaids. I will definitely include a personalized note with all my bridesmaids, but I think this is a perfect way to start.

This poem is a gift to say How dear you are to me, And offer you my heartfelt thanks For being there for me.

When I am walking down the aisle A very happy bride, Please know it means so much to me To have you by my side.

So, do not think that things will change Because I'll be a wife. You'll always hold a special place Of honour in my life.

Save the Dates #2

Well I found some other pictures of FI and I that are better. After getting opinions from fam and knotties, this is probably the final one. Not sure if we will get it with the blue design or the gray, or both. But here's the picture.

Save the Dates

Last week, we ordered a few trial save the dates from vista print! I am very excited to finally began working on paper stuff. I know the paper stuff takes forever to work on and it makes me anxious not starting. We have to get together with FI's parents and still decide who they want to invite, plus addresses. Every time we've talked about it in the past, it just goes nowhere. Not anyone's fault, its just how it works out. I should also mention that my side isn't complete either, haha.

We ordered the business magnets with photo for our save the dates. What do you think? If both come out how we like it, we will order several in one design and some in the other. We both like the idea of sending out more than one design. The blue one actually goes with our color scheme better though.

Bridesmaid Dress

Recently, I've come to the decision on bridesmaid dresses. I love the idea of everyone picking a style dress they like, with the same color. However, all my bridesmaids are similar in figure and height. Which is unreal and they all fell in love with this dress.

Its a Wtoo dress style #628 in color Brook. Its a taffeta dress and so is my dress.

Website Change

So I decided to change my bio into a blog. They are a lot more fun to read and easier to upload and add to! The site, I won't mention, drove me effing nuts. I am in the process of changing all my stuff to this new site and add more stuff to it.

Happy Friday!!

Invite inspiration

I think this invite is gorgeous too. I found it in a CardsandPockets contest on fb. I'm not going to cite the work because of privacy issues. But its definitely where I got my color inspirations from.

Invitations

So I decided to make my own invitations, thanks to the lovely knotties on the DIY board. They have inspired me and I would never have concerned this if it wasn't for them. Invitation research took me forever and I looked at a million designs. Plus not to mention how to create them since I am no expert.

I got a lot of my inspiration from knottie mcdonaldka. So far I am planning on borrowing the roses font she used to decorate my invites too. It takes a lot of time to figure out how you want to design your invites especially if you are trying to budget. Ahhh... at this point, I just can't wait to start cutting and addressing.... Here's a picture of hers and a link to her EXTREMELY helpful bio.

McDonalka's bio

To Do List

The List:
(in no particular order)

DIY:
Photo share cards (probably using shutterfly and free business cards on vistaprint)
Invitations - paper purchased. cutting and assembling!!!!!!!
Program Fans
Save the Dates - CHECK. Sent on 2/3/10
Pearl necklaces for bridesmaids to wear- CHECK. 1/10/10

Wardrobe:
Dress: done. Need alterations & lose weight!!
Bridesmaid dresses: Ordering on Feb. 15th.
Groomsmen suits: CHECK; 1/21/10
Shoes: CHECK; red shoes for me! silver shoes of bm's choice.
Flower Girl:
Ring Bearer:

Candy Buffet:
Candy: reese cups, dum dums (thats all I have so far..)
Jars: 6-CHECK.


Flowers: need to sign contract, March 6th appointment made.

Photography:
Engagement Pictures:
Picture guest book:
Parent albums:

Rings:

Cake:

Scrapbook

Clippings, quotes, etc that are wedding related.

Save the Date Poem
It still may be early,
But we hope you're delighted,
'Cause we've set the date and we're very excited.
In the month of blank our vows will be made,
Saturday, the twentieth-fourth is the day to be saved....

Name and Name will marry on date in wherever.

I don't remember where I got this one. However, I bet I am not the first to know it either.


Memories of Loved Ones
Not sure yet, what we are going to do about representing our grandparents/loved ones who have passed at the wedding. I know I will do some kind of collage or presentation of pictures for us. But we might have some pictures of the people who are looking down upon us.

Here's a great poem I found on Knottie Scarlet 856 planning bio that we might use:
We thought of you with love today.
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday.
And days before that too.
We think of you in silence.
We remember how you look.
Now all we have is memories.
And your pictures in our book.
Your memory is our keepsake.
With which we'll never part.
God has you in his keeping.
We have you in our hearts.


Passage, possibly to be read at wedding/ or on programs...
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –

This is my husband. This is my wife.
Borrowed from Knottie apple_green.

Written by: Robert Fulghum


Camera Scavenger Hunt
So, I love this idea. It gives the guests something to do and a better way to interact with others around them. I would like to supply some cameras, but maybe suggest that they us theirs and have photocards where they can upload them? Maybe do both, in case someone wants to do it but doesn't have a camera? Thoughts....

Found this on a knottie southernprincessblur19 who actually borrowed this from a knottie whose name is unknown. Cool idea! I don't know what I'd without the knotties and their ideas.

Vendors

These are the vendors I am using for the sundrop wedding. I'll add reviews of course after the wedding.

Victorian Villa Bed and Breakfast Inn: This is our location for the wedding day! Our ceremony will take place on the back lawn. We will be in the gazebo overlooking the lake. The Inn is located inside a cove and it makes a gorgeous view. I can't wait!

Dana Arndt Photography: Dana and her sister will both photograph our wedding day. They are both from the Charlotte area and I love their work.

Wilmont Florist : calla lillies! For an excellent price, turns out better than DIYing the flowers myself.

Suarez Bakery: cake is included with the venue. All I have to do is go taste test and consult about the design. It can be anything I want, we are already paying for it.

Make-up Artist, Katie O'Neil: Still need to book a trial, but turns out she lives five minutes from my venue. Also, another NC bride recommended her, so I'll probably go for it. Her prices are $50 per person, cheaper for a trial.

Wardrobe:
* Wedding dress: The Wedding Mall in Charlotte, NC.
* Bridesmaids: JMajors in Charlotte, NC.
*Groomsmen: Men's Wearhouse (Charlotte)

Fun Websites

These are a list of websites I have found through the wedding research!

This site has everything from vases, cool lighting, to things for centerpieces, and other wedding decor.
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/

FRIENDS tribute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjG7hqdQd6s

NC BRIDE BIO
very very helpful site for a NC Bride!
http://www.ncbridebio.com/

Our Story

We met in college at UNCC a few months before I graduated in December 07. He had spring semester and a summer class left. After going to a Montgomery Gentry concert together with friends, we began to see each other often. It didn't take long before we realized we were in this for the long run.

A year and a half later we were watching March Madness late in the night. He was born a UNC-Tarheel and I was born a DUKE-Blue Devil. He had asked the question a dozen times, but he asked again. I of course said YES which is what I always said. But this time, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a ring!

Website Change

So I have a wedding planning website through weebly.com, but the site drives me nuts. Adding pictures, extra paragraphs is a little annoying. Not to mention after reading so many blogs, I thought it would be fun to start our own website.