THE Dress

Lets recap...I went dress shopping really early on.  Like weeks after I got engaged.  I couldn't wait, I had been looking at dresses online for....well, ever.   My mom and I stopped into a David's Bridal on a Saturday, I think I tried on about 8 dresses.  My mom cried when I put on this dress...

I liked the front OK, but I just couldn't get past the back.  I hate how it makes my ass look.  That's right folks, it made my butt look weird.  And I'm sorry, but if I have to stand up there in front of a bunch of people, I would like to love what my butt looks like. 

So, I really really liked this dress, it's simple and I'm a pretty simple girl.  The sash gave it a little something (its dark brown, not black)  I liked it...

I took my MOH back to look at it and she agreed, out of all the dresses they had and I tried on, it was clearly the best option. 

So after a couple of shopping trips I had pretty much made a decision...until last night.   I asked my MOH to go look at veils with me.  I tried on a couple a few months ago, but I was trying to get a handle on how I would look on my big day.  Short, fingertip, cathedral, etc etc.  I happened to notice that David's had some new dresses online the other day and I saw one I liked.  There's no harm in trying it on right?  Uh....its so THE dress.  I loved it from the moment I put it on,  (as did my MOH,) and once they put the veil on, I got overwhelmed and started crying.  Just like those girls I make fun of on 'Say Yes to the Dress.'   I was that blubbering bride, staring at herself in the mirror.  I know it's perfect because I love that it's feminine, soft and simple without being boring.  I can't wait for my mom to see it.  I think she's going to cry too.   Here it is in all it's glory.  I love love love it.

Mild Diamond Scare

I was at work today and I noticed that the center diamond in my engagement ring was a little loose. Not like fall out of its prongs loose, but it would turn a little.   It so didn't do that before.  So at lunch I ran to the jewelry store to have them take a peek at it.   The sales guy asked me what I needed and I told him that my center diamond was loose.  He said 'ok, I'll go put it in the cleaner.'   I'm sorry, what?  so I reiterate that my diamond is loose, and I'm not there to get it cleaned.  He says they always put in in the cleaner before they examine any loose stones.  Uh, does this make sense to anyone?  Yeah, I was confused to.  Anyway, they cleaned my ring, inspected it and then took it to the jeweler, who tightened my prong.  I was in and out in 10 minutes, and my ring is sparkly clean.

Oh, and part one of my samples came today.   I'll keep you posted when the rest get here.

The Wrangler...

I started researching photographer's today...well, if you call gawking at photos online 'researching,' then I guess that's what I am doing.  Anyway, one of the photographers was giving 'tips for brides.'   I know I want someone to be in charge of setting up my reception, and someone for the caterer to go to when they have questions about set up, food timing etc.  (I was this person at my cousin's wedding many years ago)  So, when this photographer was talking about having someone to be the wrangler for photos too, I think it's brilliant.  Now I just need to figure out who I will ask to do all these different tasks, LOL.

Paper Samples & an Invite Mock-up

I had to return some embossing powder the other day.  I didnt realize that even though it says clear on the bottle, if it's 'clear pearl,' then it turns everything, no matter what color your ink is...purple.  Not so good.   Anyway, while I was there I picked up a couple pieces of scrapbooking paper in our colors, just to play around with.  Then I started thinking maybe it's time to start making some mock-ups, like real ones, so we can decide what we like best.  I have been stalking cardsandpockets.com for a while now.  I like that you can buy individual pieces  of paper, instead of packs of 25. (like PaperSource)  So yea!!  I ordered samples from Cards & Pockets yesterday, I cant wait to see what they're like.  Since our colors are brown and light(ish) blue, I ordered samples of the gate fold card in Milk Chocolate and Coffee Bean.  Then I ordered the invitation mat in Something Blue and Hydrangea.  Our actual invitation will be cream. 

I made a pretty rough mock-up just to see what it was going to look like, but I think I love it.  I had some leftover blue paper and since I was trying to explain to the girls at work what I was talking about with a 'belly band,'  I threw it on there for effect.  I think I like the idea of the paper one.  You can open it and dont have to slide it down like a real ribbon one.  I'm still going to make a mock-up of both, just in case.  I'll keep you posted.

Embossing!

Okay, so I think I want to make my own invitations.  Since I'm adoring paisley right now, and my mom and I got a stamp last weekend.  I started playing around with it.  My co-worker had some left over embossing powder and a heat gun, Yea! Saves my budget, but when I was messing with it I realized the powder she let me borrow is too large for my fine detailed stamp.  No biggie, embossing powder is like $3.50.  

So I picked up some clear (fine detail) powder yesterday and this is how they turned out.  I think they look cool.  Nick likes how they feel.  (Boys!)  

Today at work I made a mock-up of just top part of the invitation,  complete with wording, so Nick and I can start stamping, and hopefully get an idea of what we like.   I will post some pictures when I get some good examples.  Yippee!  Another project!  :)

450 Days?

There are 450 days until our wedding...that's only 63 weekends....I better get moving.  I have like 500 paper flowers to make.

Paisley Everywhere? Maybe!

I am loving paisley right now...inspired mostly by Nick's tie.  So my mom and I were at Hobby Lobby on Saturday and we picked up a paisley stamp and some brown ink.  I love it. I think I want to use it for the invitations, or I hope I can come up with at least something to do with it, like belly bands or the monogram on our centerpieces.  We'll see...I'll keep you updated.

Location and Date...Check, Check!

My mom and I headed up to our location on Saturday (it's an hour north of Denver,) to put the deposit down, and most importantly, secure our date.  On our way up there, the event coordinator, Rhonda, called to say she wasn't going to be there.  Um, excuse me?  I called her on Thursday to make sure she would be there.  One, because it's a golf course, and Two, the weather called for rain.  Her words when I called...'yes I'll be here, rain or shine.'  So on Saturday she said they told her not to come in because it was raining, uh yeah, that's why I called to check.  Anyway, we were already half way there, so we went ahead and met with another manager.  Ray...He was great!  I had 2 pages of questions.  Are the chairs included?  Can we hang things on the gazebo...blah blah blah.  He answered all my questions and thought it was SO funny when I asked if they charge to cut the cake.  So, no then?  LOL, Yea!   They were so accommodating and it's going to be a great day!  Now if I could just decide on a time of day....ugh, we'll talk about that another time.  Our unforgettable date?  09-10-11!  Yippee!  Location....Check!  Date....Check!

Sparkles!!

Is anyone else obsessed with their ring being as sparkly as possible?  Nick and I are going to visit his family in Wyoming this weekend.  So, I am leaving work early to make a special trip to Shane Co (where we bought my ring,) just to get it cleaned before we leave.  Am I crazy?  Nick's grandma hasn't seen it yet, and I guess I just want it to look extra pretty when she sees it for the first time.  We all know pictures don't do diamonds any justice. 

Have a good weekend everyone!

The Story of My Ring...

You may or may not know that Nick asked for my help picking out my engagement ring.   He wanted to make sure I loved it.  Anyway, I thought I would share the story of when we went ring shopping with you all, well, because its funny.

It was a chilly Wednesday night in early January.  I was taking a bath, like I do almost every night in the winter.  Nick came in, sat on the toilet, and asked me if I would go ring shopping with him.  I think I said something like 'of course', while inside I was super excited.   So I tried to play it cool and waited a whole week before making a plan to go shopping.  I spent the week looking at rings online.  Who am I kidding, I'd been looking for ages.  So, I knew exactly where I wanted to go, Ive heard the commercials on the radio since I was a kid.  "The Shane Company, one half mile east of I-25 on Emporia Street, " Sorry, that makes sense if you live in Denver.  Anyway, shopping day rolled around and I thought it would be a good idea to take Nick to get a drink or two before we went, you know to calm him down a bit.  So after a pitcher of beer and something called a tackle box, we drove across the street to the jewelry store.                                                                            

We walked into The Shane Co and this very sweet lady, Carol, asks if she can help us.  I froze.  Yup, froze, I stopped walking and no words came out of my mouth.  I sure wasn't expecting that to happen.  Nick poked his head out from behind me and said 'We're here to look at engagement rings.'  I think I smiled, and the lady led us to the counter, and asked if I had something in mind.  I opened my purse and pulled out a printout of what I liked.  She was excited that I knew what I wanted to look at first, since they have like 800 settings.  It took me 10 minutes to start talking, I think I had the setting on my hand when she asked what our budget was for the diamond, before I said a word.  The top picture is the first picture I took of my ring, I wish I had dainty fingers so it would have fit from the beginning.

I think I tried on one other setting, it was plain, with no diamonds, and Nick turned his nose up.  So this was it, I knew it, and now he knew it.  I tried on the band, and boy oh boy was it a lot of bling.  It was way more than I ever thought I would want.  Here it is with the band, that same night.

After admiring the ring for a few minutes, Carol handed me one more band to try on, so there would be one on both sides of my engagement ring.  I wasn't so sure it was something I wanted.  As soon as I put it on, Nick's eye's got big and he started nodding like a little kid.  He really liked it with both bands.  We decided because of price that maybe the second band could be a first anniversary gift.  He agreed. 

So that's the story of my ring, and how it came to be.  I'll tell the story of the proposal another time.