One of the events that I almost instantly knew I wanted was a brunch with the most important women in my life: my closest friends, the moms, and Jake's aunt.
All seven of us gals gathered around a feast of wonderful brunch foods (thanks to my love for making crepes!) and drank mimosas and coffee. Those that hadn't yet seen my dress crowded into my closet to "ooh" and "ahh" over the lace and tulle A-line. We talked crafts and decor, thumbed through bridal magazines, and caught up on the details of the wedding so far. They were all so full of wonderful ideas! One of my friends who was in attendance is Krista, my wonderful photographer friend, who had photographed our engagement photos the day before, and, amazingly, she had posted a preview of the session on her Facebook page overnight -- we spent a bit of time in awe of those. (I'm still in awe of those!)
Everyone there was super supportive of the DIY ideas that we had thus-far generated, and they were all willing to help out. (Hooray!)
Jake and I are now zeroing in on the paper flowers that we want to make. (Jake and I along with my bridesmaids are going to be making those and they will be featured at every step along the wedding day, from the centerpieces and other reception decor to my bouquet and maybe even the cake.)
I'm mocking up invitations and teaching myself how to create amazing hand-lettered fonts. (My mom is going to help me start making those next month so we can get them out in May.)
Other projects that we're going to be undertaking are making doily runners / doily garlands, creating a ribbon curtain replete with circle garland, wedding day signage, and wedding day paper goods (programs, seating cards, etc.)
It's a good thing that the wedding is still nearly nine months away -- we are going to have our hands full!
Friday, February 12, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
The Engagement Story
Every married couple has one, and it's usually one of the most-told stories alongside The How We Met Story and The When We're Having Children (or Not) Story: this one just happens to be our engagement story.
It isn't over the top, doesn't include a flash mob, and has nothing to do with a scavenger hunt, but it is a sweet one, and a simple one, and it perfectly fits us.
It was December 5, 2015. We drove to my hometown that morning to take family photos with my parents and then have lunch with them afterwards. When we got home, we were exhausted and decided that we weren't in the mood for cooking, so we planned on pizza for dinner. After dinner, we put up our Christmas tree. He fit the branches into the plastic middle of the tree and decorated the tree with lights and garland. I was, however, in charge of ornament duty. When it was done, we turned on the lights of the tree and turned the room light off. (I wanted to have a good photo!) While I was snapping away, he stepped out of the room, but returned shortly.
"Look, honey, it's our tree! It's so pretty!" I said, stepping in for a closer shot.
"Eh, it's alright," he countered. "It's a little drab."
"What?" I asked, confused, still focusing on the tree. (It was a pretty simple tree: white lights, white garland, frosted glass ornaments -- nothing too over the top and nothing too colorful. Some might call it drab, for sure, but I know his sensibilities about such things and I knew that he did not actually think that at all.)
We were standing side by side, and he had his arm around me. "It could use some sparkle," he said, and opened the ring box over my shoulder. I turned around and he pulled out tissues. "So, what do you think -- you wanna try the marriage thing for the rest of our lives?" I started laughing -- he asked me out in a similar fashion in 2006.
Of course I said yes. He put the ring on my finger (mumbling "please fit, please fit, please fit" to himself the whole time) and we sat down on the loveseat together.
Then the phone calls began.
Then the plans began.
...and here we are. :)
It was December 5, 2015. We drove to my hometown that morning to take family photos with my parents and then have lunch with them afterwards. When we got home, we were exhausted and decided that we weren't in the mood for cooking, so we planned on pizza for dinner. After dinner, we put up our Christmas tree. He fit the branches into the plastic middle of the tree and decorated the tree with lights and garland. I was, however, in charge of ornament duty. When it was done, we turned on the lights of the tree and turned the room light off. (I wanted to have a good photo!) While I was snapping away, he stepped out of the room, but returned shortly.
"Look, honey, it's our tree! It's so pretty!" I said, stepping in for a closer shot.
"Eh, it's alright," he countered. "It's a little drab."
"What?" I asked, confused, still focusing on the tree. (It was a pretty simple tree: white lights, white garland, frosted glass ornaments -- nothing too over the top and nothing too colorful. Some might call it drab, for sure, but I know his sensibilities about such things and I knew that he did not actually think that at all.)
We were standing side by side, and he had his arm around me. "It could use some sparkle," he said, and opened the ring box over my shoulder. I turned around and he pulled out tissues. "So, what do you think -- you wanna try the marriage thing for the rest of our lives?" I started laughing -- he asked me out in a similar fashion in 2006.
Of course I said yes. He put the ring on my finger (mumbling "please fit, please fit, please fit" to himself the whole time) and we sat down on the loveseat together.
Then the phone calls began.
Then the plans began.
...and here we are. :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Brainchild.
I have been meaning to start a blog like this since we were engaged in early December.
It's a way to share with my fellow fiancees and fiances how to not have to spend all your savings or take out a loan to finance your wedding, while still making sure to have an awesome wedding.
Here, I'll be sharing the craft projects that I'm doing, the sources I've scoured and plundered, and the sanity-saving tips I've picked up (or am inventing :)), all in the name of saving money while getting married.
I'll post at least once per week, since I do work a full-time job and am a part-time student. (I'll probably more frequently here at the start just to unload all of the backlog, and more frequently as the time gets closer.) The topics will be varied and photo-heavy and projects will include instructions.
So, buckle-in, hang on, and let's go! :)
(First post lands tomorrow!)
It's a way to share with my fellow fiancees and fiances how to not have to spend all your savings or take out a loan to finance your wedding, while still making sure to have an awesome wedding.
Here, I'll be sharing the craft projects that I'm doing, the sources I've scoured and plundered, and the sanity-saving tips I've picked up (or am inventing :)), all in the name of saving money while getting married.
I'll post at least once per week, since I do work a full-time job and am a part-time student. (I'll probably more frequently here at the start just to unload all of the backlog, and more frequently as the time gets closer.) The topics will be varied and photo-heavy and projects will include instructions.
So, buckle-in, hang on, and let's go! :)
(First post lands tomorrow!)
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