Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season! We sure are! We're home from our marathon Christmas - in both Florida and Texas :) We had a great time though! And I was able to get some wedding stuff done!

I finally picked up my dress!! I still love it! I've also got my bustier and Ms. Connie found Amber's crinoline for me to use :)

We also met with the florist and got an idea of what I want and what we need and how much it will cost...which is about double what I had imagined :) But I can scale it back a bit :)

And, we mailed out most of our Save the Dates! There are still a few more addresses I need, but the majority are out! I love, love, love how they turned out!

Also, the contract for the DJ has been signed and deposit paid, so that is finally out of the way!

My mom and I came up with a cool place for the rehearsal dinner - Grace Manor. Its an old house in Live Oak that they've completely renovated and put in a restaurant. Here is the website: www.gracemanor.org (So, Ms Glenda, check it out and let me know what you think :))

In other news, we are moving in 3 weeks!! We are so excited! And so ready to get to Texas! We have our apartment all lined up, and I think we are really going to like it! The apartments seem really nice, we'll have an alarm, a fireplace, a balcony, our own washer and dryer (YAY!) and much more storage space than we do now! I can't wait to get into it!

I think thats it for now :) Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Yay!

Our Save the Dates are here!!! They turned out great! The magnet doesn't quite cover the website like I thought it would, but thats ok :) I can't wait to send them out! So now I'm working on getting the envelopes addressed. Speaking of which, those of you I'm still waiting for addresses from - I need them :)

In other wedding related news, I think I've found a DJ :) And it will cost way less than what I had originally thought :) So this week I'm working on getting the ball rolling with them.

I'm also still working on invitations. I've designed a couple of mock-ups, and want to try printing them. I've also found a few designs online that I like, that are pretty inexpensive, so we'll see what happens :)

In non-wedding related news, we had a great time in Texas for Thanksgiving :) We are so excited to be moving to Texas in January (and I'm very excited to have my own washer and dryer and not have to go out in the snow to do laundry, which I'm about to do!)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I can't wait to see most of you at Christmas!

I'll be looking for those addresses ;)

Checks!

Last night Brian and I headed over to the mall to look at rings and start our Macy's registry. We found and bought our rings! We ordered me the band that goes with my engagement ring, and it should be here in a few weeks. Apparently I have tiny fingers :) And Brian found one that he instantly liked. Its a Tungston Carbide ring, which has more of a gun metal finish, and is pretty much indestructable and won't scratch! The display ring fit him perfectly, so we went ahead and bought it and brought it home! I'm really excited :)

We also went over to Macy's to at least get our registry started, since Brian had to work the next morning. There ended up being noone there to help us, so we went ahead and picked out what china, silverware, and dishes we wanted, so that I could get it started some other time. When we got home I checked online, and turns out we can pretty much do everything online :) So, I have started registries with Macy's, Target, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I'd love for you guys to check them out and let me know if I've obviously left anything off. There is still alot I need to add, especially drinkware and stemware, but we weren't really impressed by anything at Macy's and I want to go check some out in person before adding them. Also, I still need a knife set and bed and bath stuff. Anyway, check it out and tell me what you think about what I've already picked :) I updated the links and info on the wedding website, but you can also go to any of their websites and search for our registry :)

I'm dumb :)

So I totally misspelled Invitation on the postcards that I ordered... And didn't notice until last night. So I had to order more. But it was only $11, so not too bad. I knew Brian should have proof-read them!

Wedding Website

I figured since I put the wedding website on the Save the Dates I can put it here too :) I went with a free one, cause it had what I needed, including cute designs :) I'm still adding stuff to it, and we STILL need to register - which we will do by the time the Save the Dates go out, hopefully :)

Anyway, the link to our website is:

http://www.mywedding.com/brianandkarenswedding

Check it out, and tell me what you think :)

Also, my friends Meghan and Stephen are getting married 2 weeks after Brian and I!! Their site is pretty cute too :)

http://www.meghanandstephen.com/

Save the Dates!

I JUST ordered our Save the Dates!! I ordered through Vistaprint, and with my email offer got 100 postcards, 100 envelopes, and 75 magnets plus shipping for $40.98! There was a $5 upload fee for uploading my own image, but I still saved about $70! I'm excited! I think they'll be super cute and will match the overall look of the invitations :) Here's what I designed, using a 30 day free trial of Photoshop :)

Magnet:

Postcards to attach the magnet too:

Sorry the pics don't look that great, or they might :) But I think you get the idea. The magnets will be attached with removable glue dots over the website information :)

Hopefully they get here soon and turn out as well as I think they will!

Let me know what you think!

Update :)

I know you all have been waiting for an update, and I'm sorry its taken me so long to get to it! In my defense, I was without internet (and Brian) all last week. But, both are back now :)

Our engagement photo shoot was soooo much fun!! We had a fabulous time in St Augustine with Ouban and Trong, and ended up with some great photos. We walked around downtown St Augustine and then headed to the beach to grab some shots there. It was incredibly windy at the beach, so we didn't stay for too long :) I've seen some of the photos, and I love them! Mom should be sending me the proofs and CD I had Ouban send to her house (figured it would be easier to put mom and dad's address on the contract, since we're moving soon - more on that later!) I'll bring photos when we visit for Thanksgiving/Christmas so some of you can see them :) I don't want everyone to see them because I'm planning on using my favorites for a photo guestbook for the reception :)

***edited to add that she has some of our photos posted on her blog! So you all can go check those out! Also, the new photo she has at the very top - yeah, thats my ring! And I now have that photo!! So check out www.missphom.com !***

Our weekend in Florida was supposed to include picking up my dress - well, we went to David's Bridal, and Lindsey and Brigette came with us. They tried on dresses and picked which ones they liked and then I was ready to try mine on and take it home. Well first, the lady who does the alterations took about 10 minutes to find my dress (which really freaked my mom out), THEN while mom, Lindsey, and Brigette were learning how to do the bussle, alterations lady notices that they did it wrong. So, they have to re-do it, which sucks, and now I don't get to take it home till December (HOPEFULLY!) which also adds in yet another trip to Tallahassee in a short trip. But oh well. I just want my dress!!! (which I still absolutely love!)

Lets see...now that I have engagement photos, I'm working on designing our save the date magnets. Its tough!! I've managed to make some cute ones that upload well, but also some even cuter ones, but for some reason the font doesn't work when I upload it, so it looks like I'm restricted to mostly boring fonts, which sucks because I have some really cute ones!! Maybe when Brian takes a look he can figure something out :) Either way I'm sure we'll come up with something super cute - and cheap! We're going to print the magnets and postcards to attach them to (though we'll send them in envelopes) through Vistaprint, who I've heard alot of girls on The Knot rave about, and they are super cheap and even offer amazing discounts if you sign up for their emails.

Speaking of Save the Dates - I'll need to get the guestlist finalized so I can send them. I'd like to send them out in December - to the beginning of January at the latest.

In non-wedding related news, Brian finally heard where we are being sent next. We're moving to Tyler, Texas at the beginning of the year. Its about an hour east of Dallas, so we'll be ALOT closer to Brian's family, which is really great. We're both excited about it :)

I think that's it :) Hope you all are doing great! If I don't update before Thanksgiving, have a great holiday!

It's getting closer!

We are officially 7 months and 16 days away from the big day! Definitely exciting! I haven't updated in awhile, so here's what's been going on :) We have a couple of busy weekends coming up!

This weekend Brian's mom is coming to visit. We're going to have alot of fun! And Brian wants to go look at wedding rings too :D We're also going to eat out at the Melting Pot and I am VERY excited for that!!

Then the next weekend we go to Florida!! Friday night we are going to FINALLY meet our photographer and take our Engagement photos in beautiful St. Augustine! I am SOOOOO excited to finally meet Ouban and I think St. Augustine is absolutely perfect for E-pics! Still trying to figure out what to wear...and if I want to brave getting my hair done before we go over there.

Saturday mom and I are going to finally going to pick up my dress. I'm working on getting the 3 local bridesmaids to go with us to try on some dresses and hopefully get that out of the way. They've got some really cute new styles that I'm going to have to keep in mind for shower and rehearsal dinner dresses!

I do have one bridesmaid who already has her dress and shoes!! I love you Amber!! Here's the dress she picked:

I think its gorgeous! Hopefully Morgan, Lindsey, and Brigette can find something they love!

I'm also very excited to try on my dress again :) Maybe if we don't take too long at the Bridal shop we can hop over to the mall and check out some shoes and other stuff :) Just have to be back for the Gator Game, and I don't want to leave Brian with dad and Donovan for too too long :)

What else...I'm trying to decide if I want to use the save-the-dates I designed at Jean M, or maybe do a cute postcard or something with our favorite engagement picture. Also need to finalize the guestlist (Ms. Glenda- I need your help with that this weekend).

OH! I'm also on the quest to find a good DJ! I'm so clueless when it comes to this. I've found a few online that seem like they might be good, but its so hard without being able to meet with them, and not knowing when I'll have the chance...probably not until Christmas. So if any of you know any good North Florida DJ's, please let me know!

Ok, I think thats all, other than lots and lots of little things! Hope you all are well!!

Engagement Photos :)

We've scheduled our engagement photos! We're going to Florida at the end of October and are going to do them then :D I'm excited!! Now I just have to figure out what to wear!!

Camp Weed

Hello :)
So, the Camp Weed situation is getting all worked out :) Christine, who I've been communicating with, spoke with her manager last week to see if we could go ahead and reserve the hall for me and they said we could :) So she is working on the contract, and Brian and I are trying to figure out a good time to go down there and get things done :)

This is the dining hall that we're renting (Juhan Dining Hall):

Its a really cool space that I think will look awesome all decorated :)

I'm glad we're getting that out of the way! It was a little stressfull not knowing if I'd have to find another reception venue. It was very unlikely that I would, but its still a relief!

Hope you all are having a good week! I'm off to workout, finish laundry, clean, and start dinner :) Lasagna rolls tonight!

Got my paper samples :)

I got my paper samples from Jean M in the mail today :) They're papers are great! I ordered samples in midnight, fuchsia, white, and pearl shimmer. The midnight is just the right navy, the fuchsia is just the right pink, and the pearl shimmer is a beautiful shimmery white :)

Now, I have to decide whether I want a white or pearl shimmer pocket with midnight invite and midnight and fuchsia inserts, or a midnight pocket with white or pearl shimmer invite and white/pearl shimmer and fuchsia inserts!?! Not to mention pocket style, monogram style, and wording!

I've put together some designs on their website, but don't know how to copy and paste them here (and don't want to put my account info for the whole world to see!) I'll try and figure out an easy way for you guys to see what I'm talking about and give me some feedback :)

If you have some spare time though, go check out the website and tell me which style you like better :)

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!!

Update!

Ok, so I know I've been slacking on keeping this updated :) Took a mental break from planning for awhile :) But here's what I'm working on now:

- I found a company that does invitations that I like, so I don't have to make them afterall! If you get a chance, check out Jean M (www.myjeanm.com) - I'm looking at styles Piper and Stella, in white and midnight, and figuring out a way to incorporate my pink (I'm thinking about finding a cute flourish stamp and pink ink to add after I get them...)

- Since I've found invitations, I gotta get together a guest list so I know how many I need

- And Brian keeps asking for a budget/price breakdown, so I gotta get that together too :)

- And, I've been trying to come up with a good time to go to Florida to take care of some things on that end - pick up my dress (they won't let mom get it, even though they said it wouldn't be a problem when we bought it), maybe take the girls with me to look at dresses, talk to the florist, and hopefully get everything finalized with Camp Weed (which reminds me, I need to email them again.)

Anywho, thats about it :) Otherwise we've just been enjoying each other and taking trips to see family - last weekend was my side up in Minneapolis, and next weekend we go to Texas to see his family!

Hope you all are doing great! Have a great weekend!

Monograms

I've been playing around trying to make a monogram for the wedding, to use on invites, etc. These are just a few, cause this site doesn't like the format I saved them in :)

The last one is the one I did today, and my current favorite.

What do you guys think??

Honeymoon!

So, Brian officially booked our honeymoon :) We are doing a Land & Sea Disney Cruise - spending Sunday -Wednesday night at the Polynesian Resort at Disney, then going on a cruise for the rest of the week!! I'm so excited :D The plan is for our families to join us at the park for at least a few days, then head off on the cruise by ourselves. Brian really wants to be there for Emily's (his niece/our flowergirl) first Disney trip, and since we got engaged there, and both LOVE it, it fits :) This is one of the first things to be finalized, so I'm super excited :D

I think I've found a recessional song :)

So I've been racking my brain over music (well, that along with everything else!) I know I want to use the Sleeping Beauty March as my processional...and thats about it :) But, I think I've found my recessional song now :D

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys!

I started singing it in the shower yesterday, and immediately listened to it when I got out, and I think its perfect!

Here's how I picture it - Denny says "You may now kiss your bride" and the intro chimes in, then by the time we walk down the aisle it's picked up some...and yeah, it'll be like a movie or something :) (and yes, I know I'm a dork :P )

Go listen to it, and tell me what you think!

I looked for an instrumental version on itunes, but it sounded weird. Maybe I'll look elsewhere, but this was the version on the actual Beach Boys CD...so I doubt if any other version would sound any better....unless....Misty, if you're reading and find a good piano version that does the intro how I want ;)

And mom - book the church! (And double check for me about using secular music - I doubt it'd be a problem with our church, but for peace of mind I'd like to double check)

Ok, all for now :)

(I'll be looking for some comments - so hopefully you guys are reading this and I'm not just talking to myself :P)

Photographer

I found a photographer that I absolutely love! She's out of Jacksonville, and a little bit more than I (well, than Brian :P) was thinking of paying, but not very expensive compared to most that I've seen - and I like her style way better than the other girl I was thinking about!

Here's her site - http://www.missphom.com/ - check it out and tell me what you think! We've been emailing already, and our personalities seem very similar, and she seems like a lot of fun! She doesn't have many weddings on her site yet, but check out her other pics and her blog - she has a great eye and I LOVE her style!!

Color change!

You're probably going to see a lot of posts for the next few days, while i catch up ;)

So, I changed the wedding colors! I started thinking more, and getting more ideas in my head, and I think these new colors will work better with the vision I've been creating in my head!

So, without further ado...

PINK AND NAVY!!

Navy is going to work way better with the invitations I want, and I really think that if I put the girls in navy dresses, then having lots of hot pink flowers will really look awesome! AND, I don't have to worry about the flowers clashing with the dresses, or it being too much pink!

I'm really excited :) I think this color scheme is going to look super classy and elegant, and still really fun!

What do you guys think??

Here we go!

So here's my planning blog! I decided this might be easier for everyone that those newsletters (thought that was fun, so you might get another :P) Drop by anytime you want to know what's going on, and I'll try my best to keep it up to date! (not like I'm doing anything else, anyway!) Hope you enjoy!

I'm getting Married!!! YAY!
~Karen