Fall Into Perfection :)

I'm happy to say that plans are swimming along wonderfully.  We have moved the date to May 22, 2010.  This date leaves us some breathing time between Jonathan's Grad School semester & the wedding allowing us to go on our honeymoon directly after the wedding.  Who wants to wait a month or two to go on their honeymoon, anyway!?  

The church has been booked and our first meeting with the priest has been set for July 22nd.  

Yesterday Mom, Kelly & I drove out to Burlington to the Bridal Mart.  I tried on a few dresses that were nice dresses.  None of them, however, felt like my "WEDDING DRESS."  After taking the dresses off, I was somewhat discouraged.  There was one still hanging in my little dressing nook, but I really contemplated even trying it on because it didn't look like what I was looking for.  Alas, I tried it on anyway.  There were no mirrors back in the dressing part of the store, so Kelly & I wandered out to the big mirror where my mother was sitting.  Much to my surprise, the dress was perfect!  I can't believe how real the wedding is starting to feel now!  All the little details are starting to fall into place and everything is being set into motion!  We're Getting Married!

Today, we had a meeting set with Ana, the event coordinator at The North Raleigh Hilton.  Mom & I went over to the hotel & met Jonathan and his mom there (yes, Ms. Hodges decided to come).  Again, much to my surprise, everything went very smoothly.  The venue is beautiful & accommodating.  Towards the end of the meeting, Ms. Hodges borrowed me for a few minutes and took me into the little library where she gave me a very tearful apology.  She apologized for the way she's made me feel over the past six years, and she welcomed me into their family.  After we chatted, we went back out into the lobby area where Jonathan & my mom were, and she gave my mother an apology as well.  Courageous, if you ask me.  Heres to new beginnings and moving forward!  

Pieces are falling and they are landing perfectly :)  

XOXO

Mommy to the rescue

I think we've overcome the date issue.  I never realized how difficult it would be to choreograph people, places, etc.  We made a few calls & have found that our church, a few venues of choice & families all work out on a particular date!  There is nothing more relieving than that!  

So far our first choice for a reception venue is The Renaissance in North Hills.  They offer all inclusive packages that keep the stress level low & the money reasonable.  Plus it's beautiful!  I like the idea that if our guests stay there that it's close to my parent's house and there is lots to do within walking distance ( movies, restaurants, coffee, shops, etc...).  

Other venues we are considering are a couple of the Hiltons & Brier Creek Country Club.  We will be setting up tours for all of these places and will be making a solid decision here in the next little while.  

I have already designed our wedding favors.  I just have to go in and change the date on those (thank GOD I didn't bite the bullet this weekend & go ahead and order them!)

I have also already chosen part of my bridesmaids' gifts & will be ordering those soon, too.

The List... Oh the list.  I think this has potential to be the most stressful part of our wedding.  I have a million people in my family.  Well, a million may be a slight exaggeration, but I do have lots of family.  Getting the guest list to a solid 150 is going to be VERY difficult.  Between my family, Jonathan's family & friends we could easily exceed the alloted 150.  Peoples feelings will be hurt, and I'll have to be the one to hurt them.  I hate that.  I just have to remember that we cannot please everyone.  

As for everything else, I think it will all work out nicely.  

I'm not doing anything lavish.  I want simplicity.  I also want everything to mean something.  So as for our center pieces, decor, etc, we are being practical.  I'm not a huge flower plan so that will all be done sparingly. 

I have a photographer who I am very excited to be working with.  I'm not certain she is available on our wedding date yet (as it has just changed) but I am at least using her for our engagement session.  She is super talented & just seems amazing!  Check out her site!  www.nancyrayphotography.com  Lemme know what you think.  Her photographs are beautiful, aren't they!?  

So things to still really tackle:

the list

venue tours

meeting with priest 

engaged encounter courses through church

DJ

cake

transportation

deciding on honeymoon destination

etc etc etc

until next time!

XOXO

He Asked & She Said "It's About Time!"

So we're finally engaged!  Jonathan asked me very plain and simply to be his wife on May 2nd, 2009.  We were completely in our own element and as always completely in love.  It was perfect.  He caught me by surprise which I was certain at this point was impossible.  He placed a beautiful, sparkly princess diamond on my left finger and thus began our journey.  Engaged. It's all it's cracked up to be, right?

So we've only been engaged three weeks and we're already off to a rocky start.  Don't get me wrong, we are as deep in love as ever, but you knot it wouldn't be us if it weren't difficult.  I was teased early and thought everything would just work out, just like that.  We picked a date & set the church and we were in bliss.  Then logic set in.  The date we picked would simply not do under certain circumstances which has now left most of our plans tossed up in the air with everyone's hearts tossed up with them.  I'm very easily stressed out, especially when plans don't pan out, so as most of you can imagine this isn't easy for me which means it's easy for no one.  I make it that way.  I'm aware of that.  I never thought I'd wear the bridezilla hat, but I think I could have been wrong.  I look really bad in hats.

So what was going to be our April wedding has now dissolved & a backup plan has yet to be made.  I'm impatient.  I need it all planned now.  I don't do well with things being unsettled.  I can already see that much sleep will be lost in the next year.  I make things into a much bigger deal than they need to be.  Oh stress, how you will be my best friend this year.

So here we are.  Three weeks in.  A church booked for the wrong date.  A wedding planning book with all the wrong information filled out (in ink, of course).  I should invest in some pencils.  Plans change.  I need to get on board.  

In all of this, I just hope I never lose sight of the fact that this beautiful ring on my left hand signifies that someday in the near future I get to marry my best friend.  

this. is. a. happy. thing: remember this.

We have to remember what's most important.  We would love to make everyone happy, but we have to remember that that is impossible.  

What's Important:

We both show up :)

Our parents are present.  ALL. OF. THEM. no exceptions.

We share this with the people who mean the most to us.

We are joining two separate lives as one.  This will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

We're Getting MARRIED!  :) :) :) 

Until Next Time

XOXO