Joseph and Leigh 3/13/10

[Piedpiper522]

Yay! I figured I'd start one of these since I'm finally ENGAGED!!! and now wedding planning. :whoohoo: I got engaged last Monday...here's the story:

FH and I don't live together, so I was eating breakfast at my house when he called me up and was like "hey, finish what you're doing, because I have something planned." and I got excited because that meant I might get to see him that day! So I am so excited to see him (I'm such a dork) that I didn't even finish breakfast, haha.

So he was like "I set up a scavenger hunt for you, since I thought it'd be a fun activity since I have the day off." And then he proceeded to give me the first clue over the phone. I'm pumped up because I love games of all sorts and he is a technie geek guy and the fact that he was so sneaky with all these notes and setting this up the day before without me knowing just tickled me!

So I found the first clue and then had to drive to get the next two clues, then I came back to the house, and saw his car in the driveway! So now I'm really excited to see him and I'm running all over the place looking for clues so I could find out where he is.
So I end up going to three more clues until finding the last one - he's out in the woods on the bridge that we built (and frequently go to sit on and spend time together on)
So I'm like "he's totally going to be there waiting for me!" so I'm like running breakneak speed through the woods and I see him standing there and I'm like "hi!!!" and I jump on him and wrap my legs around his waist and he's cracking up and is like "did you have fun?" And I was laughing hysterically because all the clues were ADORABLE and SO creative.

And I was like "That was SO much fun baby!" and hew as like "its not over yet! There's one more clue. And its a big one." so he set me down and took my hands and said "Do you remember the question that I've asked you a million times, but promised you I wouldnt ask you again until it was for real?" as he said that my eyes were totally wide with shock because I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I was SO surprised and in shock! I think I managed a "yes?"...

Then he got down on one knee and pulled the ring out and said "I love you, will you marry me?". I started crying and shaking and laughing immediately! I did manage an enthusaistic "YES!" though. and he put the ring on my finger and it was PERFECT. It was exactly the right size and exactly what i wanted. I couldn't stop crying and we hugged and kissed for a long time after! It was so wonderful. and I was SO surprised. A proposal wasn't anywhere on my radar - I had done a scavenger hunt for him about 6 months ago so I thought it was just payback! haha! It was definitely the best day of my life so far. :)

That was long! But it was such a wonderful moment. I hope I remember it forever. :)

[Mrs.Goff]

That was such a sweet proposal. Congratulations. Can't wait to see all your plans come to life.

[sandy03]

That's really sweet and creative, thanks for sharing! I can't wait to see how things develop for you. Congrats!

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

Awww, what a sweetie!!! How exciting that you had NO idea he was about to propose! Happy Planning!

[Piedpiper522]

Thanks everyone! I've been so busy lately, this wedding stuff is a blast. :) I went to a bridal show yesterday, it was great meeting all the different vendors and getting a better feel for what's in my area.

Unfortunately because of good/bad news I'm in a position where I can't actually book anything until March or April because of a looong story involving my FH and his school. Short of it is: he may be graduating Dec 09 instead of May '10 - (and he doesnt' want us married while he's still in school so it has to be after he graduates) which means we could get married on January 9th or March 13th instead of May 22! But, a decision won't be made by the school until this March/April so I'm just waiting with bated breath this next month or so for them to decide so I can see when my wedding can happen!

It's a little annoying because I can make all these "pretend" decisions, but since we can't have an official date til we know when he's graduating I can't put any money down to actual make the decisions, instead of wanting to make the decisions! Which is kind of annoying.

However, I will dieee of happiness if we're able to move the wedding up to Jan or March! eeep! cross your fingers for me! :)

[Piedpiper522]

So I went bridesmaids dress shopping a few days ago at an outlet near me! Unfortunately we only had about any hour there but I think I picked out my top two dresses for the wedding! I just don't know how I'm going to decide which.

My first choice (will be navy blue for my wedding), on one of my bridesmaids (clipped in back because it was much too big on her):

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s212/TikoAlbum/Dresses/dresssss12.jpg

And my 2nd fav (from website):

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s212/TikoAlbum/Dresses/757_19748_large.jpg

I can't decide which one! The second one has this crystal clip thing that is attached to the side where the fabric looks like its "pulled" over, it's just so unique I love it!
All of my girls think they're both gorgeous. They're all slim, with fairly substantial curvature in the hips, and really only my MOH is particularly "well endowed" up top - and she likes the strapless one the best! I think she'd look great in it, but I'm worried about it staying where its supposed to, if you know what I mean. Especially since there is going to be a lot of dancing. Ack! How do I chose?

[sandy03]

Those are both gorgeous dresses. Here's something else to consider in making your choice - the top one could probably be shortened after the wedding so your bridesmaids could wear it again and I don't think you could do that as easily with the strapless dress.

[amunet]

I love that first dress and think it would great in navy blue.

[Piedpiper522]

thanks ladies for the input! I haven't been on here much lately because of the date uncertainty, but we've got the final, final word and can move our wedding up to March 13th, 2010 and start booking things!!!! I'm SOOO excited!! it's only 1 year and 17 days away!! eep!!

[sandy03]

Yipee! That's great. Happy booking!

[Mrs.Goff]

Congrats on finding your date. Enjoy every moment it flies by.

[HisDelightfulFaerie]

The proposal sounds like it was beautiful!

[Piedpiper522]

Does anyone know how to change the thread title? I need to change it to reflect our new wedding date. :)

Only a year and 4 days to go! I feel like all I'm doing still is just gathering ideas. Money is tight right now (to say the least) and I probably won't be able to put deposits on anything even for a few weeks yet. The Church search has been the hardest, most of them have a lot of what I consider silly, rules an regulations. I have a church that I love that I attend weekly and consider my family, but we currently hold services in a gym, and that is just not my ideal wedding location, hehe.
But I think I found one in each town that I'm considering getting married in. Town A, it's a cute little chapel that I can do it in for free, and if I get married there I'll have the reception at a nice, if a little cliche event center not far from there. It's actually lovely with a huge dance floor and I loved it until I saw my reception option in Town B.

So in Town B I also found a church I can get married in for free. Only downside - hideous green carpet. lol! But if I get married there I'd have the reception at the most GLORIOUS location. As soon as I saw it I knew that if I could pick any place in the state to have my reception it would be there. It's HUGE with gorgeous wood floors and a stage and they include everything in the price, they have amazing decorations, amazing lighting they use real china, have beer wine and mixed drinks all included, have amazing food. It's in a building that used to be a post office (WAY back in the day) so it has all these cool antiquey things. TONS of stone and marble everywhere. Oh my word, I could go on and on. The only problem is, if we do it there, including food and everything it'll come to about 3k more then if I do it in Town A. That's enough for a fabulous Jamaican honeymoon! So I think we'll lean on the side of practicality and do it in Town A. Unless we win the lottery. I'm holding out hope for that since we haven't made our final decision yet.

[Piedpiper522]

Also been looking at wedding bands lately. FH is not a "shiny jewelry" guy, and we've tried on a few in person that we have just not liked. But I found this amazing ring on etsy that we both just fell in love with!

Link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21588272

Picture: http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.59111453.jpg

FH fell in love with it too! I love how it's unique and kind of rustic but still classy. The only problem is it's wood so it can't really get wet. Taking it off to shower is no big deal, but is he supposed to take it off every time he washes his hands? That could get tediosu! So that's a little disappointing because I thought I had found "the one". We havent' ruled it out completely yet, but still are a little bummed.

[Goin2thechapel]

1. Congrats on your engagement!!!!

2. My vote would be for dress number 1 for the bridesmaids, BUT you have plenty of time...perhaps wait to see what the next season brings in for looks. Designers change with the seasons ;)

3. Nice wedding band. My hubby would have liked that I bet!

[NOTKT]

Congrats on the engagement! I also like dress #1, seems the best all around dress. Can't wait to read more about your planning!

[Piedpiper522]

Thanks for all the comments every one! I'm currently trying to think over some ceremony decorations. I've always LOVED rose petals scattered on either side of the aisle the bride walks down (which is one of the reasons I initially wanted to get married outside actually) but I was worried it might look silly being inside a church and not outside. Like I'm trying for the "fresh, outdoors" look and failing, lol.

Here's the inside of the church:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s212/TikoAlbum/jazz045.jpg

Thats taken in the center of the church, there's about 15 rows of pews in the church. I am really not fond of the color of the carpet and would like to add some warmth. I'll also be removing the greenery most likely, as well as the drum set. But keeping the piano.

Other then the rose petals, I hadn't had any better ideas, until a wonderful poster posted something she had made that I loved, and I think I might do instead of petals:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s212/TikoAlbum/photo3fro.jpg

what do y'all think?? Any thoughts or good ideas to warm the place up a little bit? I'm terribly uncreative but do want to have a lovely wedding, so any thoughts are appreciated! :D

[sandy03]

I do like the flowers on stands. You could also do small floral arrangements to hang on the ends of each pew. You can put a large floral arrangement on the altar or smaller ones on either side of it. I don't know if the altar could be moved back onto the stage, but if it could you may be able to put up some sort of floral archway to stand under as well. If you're going to keep the artificial trees in the photo, you could even add some flowers or small lights into the trees. You could also have a colored aisle runner to cover some of the carpet, too.

[NOTKT]

If you want to bring the outside in, try fake branches leaves, etc.

[Piedpiper522]

Thanks ladies! The altar you see is actually going to be completely removed for the ceremony. And I don't mind the aisle carpet color so much as I do the carpeting on "stage" area of the church. Maybe I can re-upholster it? lol! :snide:
Still not sure what to do, though I'm sure ideas wills star to come together.

So I'm twiddling my thumbs in an anticipation of wedding dress shopping! I'm waiting for my MOH to come home so we can go together, since we always swore we would. And since that's mid-May I think that's the perfect time, since my wedding will be just under 10 months away then! :cloppy:
I also decided to go ahead and have one of my other bridesmaids come along, since she's dying to, and my mother. And I figured, if I have all them coming, might as well invite FH's mom too! I love my FMIL and she doesn't have any daughters, just FH and another son who got married 2 years ago, so I thought it might be fun for her to come along since we're really close and she doesn't have a daughter of her own to dress shop with someday! I don't know if that sounds weird or not, but I'm kind of excited about inviting her now that I thought about it! I hope she's as excited when I ask her as we are. I figured all of us could go out to eat afterwards, and I could invite my FSIL to dinner too. Yay for favorite people getting together :).

Also FH and I finally sat down and compiled a guest list tonight - somehow it came to just over 275 people! *faints* Now, I know a many of them are "courtesy" invites (lol) and won't come. I was really, really hoping to keep it under 150, because that's all we can afford. So the list will definitely have to be revised in the future, and trimmed down. We also have to list how many of those 275 are unlikely to come! Hopefully the "unliklies" will add up and get us down to a more reasonable number. *prays* :ooh:

Anyway! Things are moving along, just gathering ideas! I finally found 2 photographers I like within my price range so we'll be meeting with one of them on Wednesday of this week. I also plan on putting deposits down on the ceremony and reception location this week, so that'll be really exciting I think! :)