Kat & Erik 9/3/06 - Laughter fills our household!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Erik and I met on myspace... what are the odds that of all the places that I've met people, myspace would be the place where I met a good godly man. He's one in a million.

We talked for a couple of months over the phone and finally met at the tidepools down in Pacific Beach. I brought my daughter along and he was wonderful with her.

It was freezing (hard to believe cause we're in cali) so Erik offered my daughter his sweatshirt. She opted for my jacket instead, leaving me shivering. At Erik's suggestion we went to the end of the pier where he bought us hot chocolate which warmed us from the inside out.

I was dating other people at the time, but just wasn't getting the same vibe from them that I was getting from Erik. But Erik wasn't chasing me like I'm used to being chased which sparked my interest but also left me wondering if he was actually interested. One day while talking he thought I had refered to him as my boyfriend and he got a big smile on his face... so thats how I knew that he was looking for more. Come to find out that he was intimidated by me seeing other people but he melted when I told him that sure I have other guys chasing me... but the only one I want chasing me is you! We became exclusive after that, and shortly there after we started doing some research on our wedding.

Funny things just seem to happen at our house... Erik will say something funny... like he told Madison (my daughter) to brush her teeth with a screw driver. I think he was distracted cause he had a screwdriver in his hand. :bblol: And on the way to my parents house my daughter wanted some gum (which I couldn't find in my purse) so I gave her my purse cause I didn't want to give it to Erik as I had some feminine products in there and she announces... "I found the gum mom... it was right next to your tampons!" :bblol:

This kind of stuff happens all the time... I'll have to get better at documenting it. ;)

So after returning from my parents house on 4/8/06 and getting Madison off to bed, Erik dropped to one knee saying that he wanted to make this official. He asked me if I would please marry him and I said, well since you said please! :bbmrgreen:

Erik is a great guy... he works, goes to school, goes to church and even teaches childrens church. We are blessed to have found each other and look forward to growing together in God.

[MOB Karen]

That's a wonderful story, Kat!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Our ceremony will be at Harbor Island Park
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This picture was taken at Harbor Island Park and it's what we used (but in B&W) for our save the date magnets.
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Our reception will be at Marina Village in the Starboard room. (I don't think I have pics of that)

My dress will be made by my coworker with this as the inspiration.
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I was lucky enough to find a strapless bra that not only supports the girls (DDD's) but is also low in the back.

This is my tiara
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My jewelry pic is on my home computer (I guess)... oh well, I'll try to put it up later.

[hummingbird521]

Very nice story. I enjoyed reading it. I love the dress. I have not seen another one like it. It is really unique.

[AngelinLove]

Your dress is really pretty!!!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Thank you guys... I love the Illusion train cause our wedding will be outdoors and hopefully you'll be able to see the flower petals through the train.

We're going to put petals along the sides like this http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/aislepetals.jpg with these color petals http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/petals.jpg and then we have 2 flower children to sprinkle them down the aisle.

Here are the shoes I just ordered yesterday http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/shoesA.jpg

And here is the present I got for FH http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/necklace.jpg I got it engraved with TMD 9-3-06. TMD stands for Truely, Madly, Deeply

[Kat NDa Sand]

Guess the pictures are links... don't know why that happened...

[Deidre98]

Hello! I saw you in Jessica's journal and thought I would pop over. How funny is it that we both live in San Diego? I love your story and can't wait to see all of your planning come alive!

[AngelinLove]

The links aren't working for me at all!!!!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Hey Deidre - glad you stopped by... I'm up in north county but I used to live in college area. Do you have a journal?

Angel - I don't know why its not working for you or why they changed to links either... sorry... I'm new here! :bblol:

[MsJessica07]

Same for me Angel...Kat, your pretty pics aren't working. Sadness. It's weird that some are working and some aren't.

Hope you can figure it out.

And now I'm subscribed :)

[Deidre98]

I do have a journal so feel free to stop by! There's not much there yet but there will be in time. I am down in Tierrasanta but used to live at SDSU when I went to school there.

[Kat NDa Sand]

I know where that is... I used to drive past there to work every day.

So I just downloaded some pics onto my photobucket account so hopefully you guys can see the pics now *crosses fingers*

Here are a couple of inspirational pics that I have for my hair
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/hair1.jpg & http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/updo2.jpg

And these are my bo-k inspirational pics...
I like this design - http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/bouquet.jpg

but maybe these colors - http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/bouquet2.jpg

[Kat NDa Sand]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/bouquet3.jpg

And I almost forgot... here's my engagement ring... http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/ring.jpg

[MsJessica07]

The pics are working now!!! Yaaaay! I think the rose petals will look awesome and that hair is super pretty :)

[hummingbird521]

Love the hair. Wish mine was thick enough to have done this.

[hummingbird521]

Forgot the ring is beautiful as well.

[Kat NDa Sand]

Love the hair. Wish mine was thick enough to have done this.

Mine isn't very thick either... just hoping for something similar I guess ;)

[Kat NDa Sand]

I just paid for my cake :eat: $350 4 tiered star shaped cake... can't wait to see it... here's my cake topper... darn... it must be on my home computer... well I'll put it up later. :bbmrgreen:

[Deidre98]

I love the flowers and your ring is gorgeous!!

[Kacie_bride]

Oh I like the first bouquet the best! It is so pretty. It has stephonitis in it! I love those little flowers!

[AngelinLove]

I really love the first hairstyle and the bouquet is really nice..also beautiful ring!!!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Here's my cake topper... http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/topper1.jpg

Here's my jewelry... http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/jewelry1.jpg

Here's what we're using for our sand ceremony... http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060526055850.jpg

This is the tiara that I made just for fun for the rehearsal... http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/playtiara.jpg

[Kat NDa Sand]

Sorry the pics are so big

Here are the vases for our centerpieces...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/ribboncenterpiece.jpg

we put ribbons in the bottom, painted the tea light holders gold and I painted gold stars on them...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/starcenterpiece.jpg

We're making these up now. They'll hang above the tables to display the table names...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/stardecoration.jpg

close up of name
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/tablename.jpg

[Kat NDa Sand]

and we're also putting our coloring books together...
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/coloringbook.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/coloringbook2.jpg

[MOB Karen]

Wow!! You are so creative!! I love everything! The coloring books are a really clever idea!! :D

[AngelinLove]

Everythng looks great and is very creative and unique!!!

[cowboysbride]

Oh Kat how pretty everything is...you need to post this in the DIY section with the rest of us diyers! You have done an excellent job and you guys are a perfect match, some people just LOOK like they belong in eachothers arms!

I LOVE your ring and your dress is beautiful, the idea about flowers showing thru the train is perfect!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Thank you guys soooo much :hug: I didn't get a picture of the menu's for the rehearsal dinner. We're going to Dicks Last Resort (funny place), but to contain costs we're only using one side of their menu. So we went there and they were kind enough to give us one of their laminated menu's and I copied the page we're using onto vellum paper... it looks really cute (if I do say so myself)... too bad my camera needs new batteries or I'd take a picture tonight.

We finished the coloring books... well as much as we can without knowing the exact amount of kids coming.

Can't wait to start getting those RSVP's back :ura1:

[Deidre98]

I love Dick's last resort!! That is a great place for a rehearsal dinner.

[Kat NDa Sand]

We're planning on making up funny t-shirts for the wedding party to wear for the rehearsal and to Dicks. For example... one of the groomsmen's shirt will say "I'm only here for the free beer" my daughters (a jr.BM) will say "Jr. Brideslave" my dad's will say "I already drank all the free beer" my BM (Emily) will say "Bridesmaids don't do windows" the bestmans (FH's brother) will say "Breastman" and his wifes will say "Mrs. Breastman"... for a few people we're going to have "I survived Kat & Erik's rehearsal and all I got was this stupid shirt"

I still need to come up with ones for my MOH, the flower child (boy) & another groomsman.

Instead of having shirts, Erik has a crown that he made that says King of the Hill and I have my tiara! :bblol:

[MOB Karen]

The t-shirts sound like a wonderful idea!! Your reception will be tons of fun because of it. :D

[Jacklynn]

Well I hope everything goes well for you!

Also my fiance and I are actually doing save the date magnets as well :)

[Kat NDa Sand]

I've gotten alot of compliments on them. Even though we only had about 6 months to plan we figured we should send out STD's because our wedding is on a holiday weekend.

[MOB Karen]

The t-shirts sound like a wonderful idea!! Your reception will be tons of fun because of it. :D

Sorry, I meant to say your rehearsal will be a lot of fun. Duh! :D

[Kat NDa Sand]

I figured thats what you meant! :bblol: Had to think about it for a sec though... I was like, does she think we're going to have everybody change into these shirts at the reception?... :bblol:

[MOB Karen]

I figured thats what you meant! :bblol: Had to think about it for a sec though... I was like, does she think we're going to have everybody change into these shirts at the reception?... :bblol:

I know. That's why I had to change it, because I knew exactly what you were talking about, it's just that the word reception was on my mind. :bbconfused: Sorry for the confusion. :D

[Deidre98]

I love the idea of the shirts!! That will be so much fun! I can't wait to see pics of them all in it!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Ok... so the lady that is supposed to make my dress and I went up to LA to get fabric in the begining of May. She said she was going to start my dress right away but then I quit smoking so she wanted to see if my weight would change due to that. So nothings going on with my dress and I start feeling kind of stressed as my BM's get their dresses and get them altered and I still don't have mine. http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/images/smilies/Mad/shuffle.gif About the middle of June we talk and she tells me how crazy work has been (we work together but in different departments) and that she's going on vacation... she sees the stressed look on my face and says that she will start my dress the 15th of July and theres no way that she wouldn't have it done by the end of July. Which seems like we're pushing it to me, but I have faith and woooo whoooo... I 'm gonna have my dress soon!

WRONG!!! http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/images/smilies/Mad/rolleyesa.gif

Today is the 15th and I could tell that she wanted to talk to me all day yesterday but just didn't... so on my way to Long Beach to pick up my daughter I called her and left her a msg to see if we're still on for the 15th cause she can't start it without my measurements (which she has yet to get). She calls me back to tell me that she took 2 boxes of work home to do this weekend and she's sorry but she couldn't start my dress until a couple of days after the first of August! I was at my grandpa's house while I was on the phone with her and my aunt and mom & dad were there too... I took everything I had to not all out ball! http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/images/smilies/Sad/mecry.gif

She says she'll have it done in time, but she also said she would start it today and that didn't happen. The pressure is on... 6-7 weeks left and I'm looking for a dress! http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/images/smilies/reupload/faint.gif

*sorry it was so long*

[Trish]

I just read your whole journal. I love the way you and your Fh met and all the laughter in your house males me smile and kind of reminds me of my home. I'm sorry to hear about your dress, hopefully she'll start it soon, but just in case I would have a backup plan. Good luck!

[AngelinLove]

Sorry to hear about your dress situation. Good Luck!!!

[Kat NDa Sand]

Emily (BM) went with me to Alfred Angelo and then we planned to go to Davids bridal after that. So we go in and the sales lady says to pick out like 3 dresses and she'll put them in a room for us. Well there were more than 3 that I wanted to try on but we took 2 that Emily found and then 1 that the saleslady suggested due to the illusion train. One of Emily's was absolutely beautiful and only $249!!! Cha-ching!! Well I didn't want to try that one on first cause I didn't want to say I bought the first one I tried on, so I tried on the one the saleslady had picked out... let me just say ewww!

So I try on the 2nd one... the one that Emily and I both love because of the elegant beading... but darn... it doesn't have a train and it photographs terribly. I'm a big girl... I don't need a dress adding to my size! But we still like it.

We go back into the changing room and look at the 3rd dress. Well we both said that it doesn't look that pretty (on the hanger) and it looks kind of busy, but lets just go ahead and try it on anyhow...

when I put it on and looked in the mirror I was astonished at how beautiful it/I was. We went out of the changing room so that I could get the whole view and I had other customers complimenting my on my dress (which didn't happen with the other two dresses). I felt like a queen and Emily cried. I wish my mom had been there... she would have been bawling too! I didn't want to take it off and I can't stop looking at the pictures of me in it.

So here they are...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060715015350.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060715015104.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060715015122.jpg

[Kat NDa Sand]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060715020812.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/kat_nda_sand/060715015956.jpg

[MOB Karen]

I love the bead work!! That train is to die for!! You look sensational, Kat!!

[AngelinLove]

The dress is awesome and looks fabulous on you!!! What a great find!!!!