Kelli and Jason's Wedding Journal [Archive]

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 09:20 PM

Ok, I'm going to try this again...I tried to post earlier, but ran into some problems and didn't feel like retyping everything. So I'll do it now.

My Wedding

Date: May 13, 2006
Time: 3pm
Location: Lion's Park (weather permitting) If it rains, we'll move the ceremony into the lodge, where the reception will be hosted.
Photographer: www.831photography.com (http://www.831photography.com/)

Florist: Dietz Florist
Due to the fact that it is mother's day weekend, florist will not be delivering the flowers. We will pick them up the night before and store them as directed by the florist.Baker: http://www.geocities.com/katyskreations44321/ (http://www.geocities.com/katyskreations44321/)
Cake will be red velvet with a tan colored (according to Sherwin William's the color I like is Universal Khaki--kind of strange considering I don't like Khakis) with ivory colored swirls and yellow roses. It will be round with candles on each tier. The yellow roses are going to spill around the candle holders. The topper will also be a candle with roses spilling around it down the sides. I like this cake and drew some of my inspiration from it:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/cake14.jpg

Reception site: Lion's Lodge
We've rented out the site for the day before so we could decorate. The site will be set up like this:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/hallsetup.jpg

Reception will start after the ceremony. There will be hors d'oeurves and drinks along with Frank Sinatra music to keep the guests entertained while we're doing pictures. Most pictures will be taken outside at the lodge. However, bridal party will leave site to take pictures at the fountain down by the river (this fountain is one of the ones that shoots water from a bunch of holes in the ground, I think it would make a beautiful background). The bridal party, minus bride and groom will head back to the lodge. Jason and I will take a few pictures at our waterfall (in the same area as the fountain) and then head back as well.

If we are inside due to weather, pictures will be taken in front of the fireplace, which is where the ceremony might take place as well. We'll figure out more of the logistics of this if we have to...I'm hoping we won't have too.

Dinner will begin at 5pm. Catering is provided by Rick, a person my future MiL works with who used to own a restaurant. I met him the other day and he is extremely nice. The menu will be:
Fried chicken
Meatballs
Jojos
French Sliced Green Beans Almondine
Sweet Sliced Carrots
Pasta Salad (of some sort)

No alcohol will be served. It's not allowed on the site and I didn't want it there anyways. We'll be using St. Julian's for the toast (my family has used it every year for our New Year's Eve Toast). A punch bowl will contain Country Time Strawberry Lemonade with a ring of frozen strawberries in it. We will also have soda.

We'll be using plastic-ware. These are the plates and napkins:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/plates.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/napkins.jpg

Once I get the samples, that will finalize that choice and also finalize whether I will be using white or ivory tablecloths and skirts. I'm still debating chair covers. The tables will be set the day before so as to play down the informality of the plastic-ware.

The centerpieces are going to be stem glasses running the length of the table, 13 per each guest table. They will have water and floating candles in them and petals will litter the table. There will also be 13 bells on each table. The bells we picked are larger and were intended to be place card holders. Where the place card is supposed to go, we're going to place a card with a poem on it. This is the poem:

We were lonely roaming souls
without anyone to stand beside.
With a kiss we changed our fate,
and took a place forever by each other’s side.

Ring this bell for us to kiss

This was an idea from my mother who insisted the guests had to have something to make noise with to get us to kiss--like we're not going to be kissing anyways.

The decorations for the head table are yet to be decided. I'm working on finding a brick candle (or making a brick candle) and using that on the head table with some flowers. Jason and I, my MoH and her FH, and his Best Man and his sister (Best Man's wife) will be sitting at the head table. We're going to wrap the rest of the wedding party down the sides of the outer tables.

The buffet table will have seven vases for my bm's bouquets. They will be set up along the back and alternate in colors (the flowers will be discussed in another post due to the inability to post more than four images in a post). My bouquet will sit on a mirror with two candles around it on the cake table.

Other decoration pictures will come as they get made and the pictures get processed and scanned in...this may not happen until after the wedding. Sorry in advance.

Our first dance will be to "All The Way" by Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra. The second dance will be a Mother dance. Jason and I will both dance with our mothers to "Your Song" by Garth Brooks. I have yet to figure out if there will be a bridal party dance.

We are not using a dj. We will have some burned cds and my mother's disc changer for music. We also are going to use a karaoke machine for a microphone for announcements and toasts. My brother has agreed to be the emcee for the evening and will be provided a script prior too (something I still have to work on).

Ok, that's the plan. More planning will come, but I have to separate it due to the image max. I think this is a good place to split it.

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 09:33 PM

My Dress: CapriMarie by Maggie Sottero
I'll have a stole made from the same fabric as the BM's dresses only in a champagne color.

I'm thinking about something off of this for my hair:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Possible%20Wedding%20Hairdos/hairphoto11.jpg

I will be wearing a veil for the ceremony. The blusher will stay over my face until the officiant says, "You may now kiss the bride." Our officiant is the pastor from the church next door to where we live.

These are the flowers I'll be carrying:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/roses.jpg

They will be in a hand-tied bouquet, with a piece of the fabric from my dress tying them together.

Jason's bouteniere will be a single rose with a bit of the dress tied around it.

Bridal Party:

Amy, my best friend and old college roommate is my MoH. My sister, Gabi, a friend from college, Erika, and Jason's oldest niece, Jessica, will complete the Bridesmaids list. They will be wearing yellow dresses and carrying pink tulips.

My junior Bridesmaids will be Jason's two nieces, Jo and Jamie, and my niece, Kristi. They will be wearing pink dresses and carrying yellow tulips.

The bridesmaids bouquets will be tied together with the color fabric matching the flowers that we use for the dresses.

The guys bouteniers will be single yellow tulips with a bit of the pink fabric wrapped around them. They'll be wearing vests that we are going to make of the same yellow fabric as the bms' dresses.

My flower girl will be my new niece, Andrea.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/Kitten.jpg

(this is her when she was just born, last January)
She'll be just under 18 months, so hopefully she'll be walking. Her half-brother, Ryan, our ring bearer, will be escorting her up the aisle. We haven't picked her dress yet. We're going to go to JCPenney's around Easter and picking out something. She will be carrying two or three daisies. If she is not walking, Ryan will pull her up the aisle in a wagon. Once she has made it up the aisle, she will be placed with her mother and father who will be sitting in the front row. She will not stand with us.

We are making the bridesmaids dresses. This is the pattern:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/BMdresspattern.jpg

The fabric is called crushed or pressed suede, I can't remember which one. We will be ordering a new bolt for when we buy it so that we don't have to worry about different dye lots. The girls will have stoles made of the same fabric in ivory. Their necklaces are just a piece of ivory ribbon tied in the back with a bow, the ends of which will stream down their backs. I have asked them to pick a pair of white shoes that they are comfortable in. The night before the wedding, after the rehearsal dinner, we'll be hanging out in a suite and painting their nails and toenails. I haven't picked the color yet.

My mother, Jason's parents and his grandmother will all have single white rose corsages/bouteniers. My sister will carry a single white rose down the aisle with her and place it in a seat that will be left empty next to my mother for my father. I figure that will be enough memorial without making us all cry even more than we're already going to be. I also think it's simple enough to be really pretty.

There isn't going to be very much green in anything. The bouquets are ONLY the flower they are supposed to be. I don't like greenery, I think it detracts from the flower. That's what you do with carnations to make them look more beautiful and I HATE carnations. I'm not a mix and max-it flower person either; I like uniform flowers. There will be greenery in the reception hall. I'm doing those decorations on my own and they will have some ivy in them, but that's really about it.

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 09:58 PM

We joke that our story begins a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...

Jason and I met playing Star Wars Galaxies online. We played together for months and became good friends. We exchanged phone numbers and talked for hours on the phone. He helped me through a terrible break up. He's one of those sweet, incredibly sensitive guys. We officially met, face to face, in August of 2004 in the parking lot of a catholic church in Akron. We spent the weekend together before I had to travel up to my mothers. I was worried about starting a long distance relationship, so when he asked, I turned him down. We were really close friends...ok, a LOT more than close friends, but I was still worried.

In October of last year, my mother had to go in for emergency surgery. I freaked out. I was still down in Texas working on my degree and my mother lives in Michigan. I HAD to get home to her. My mother is very important to me; we're extremely close. My father died when I was little and she has handled the situation extremely well. I honor her quite a bit. I was talking to Jason trying to figure out how to get home and he offered me money for a flight. It wasn't uncommon for him, but it's one of those things that is a highlight of how much he cares for me.

It turned out that he couldn't get the money to me, so I jimmy-rigged my way around the bank, using my debit card and got a plane flight that way. The cheapest one I could find flew me into Baltimore, where my sister picked me up. She was in Maryland visiting her boyfriend. I drove home with her the next day, stopping to see Jason on the way. That's when he gave me a crystal dolphin (I love dolphins) and a little plaque with poem about hugs from a long distance. My mother arrived home (she had been on a trip up north when the surgery happened) the next day and I spent the week taking care of her.

Unfortunately, I had to figure out a way to get back to Baltimore to catch my flight out because I couldn't not check in for the first leg and just pick up my layover flight from Detroit like I was hoping. I drove my mother's car and picked up Jason on the way down. We stayed at my brother's that night and he drove me to the airport the next day. That was Sweetest Day weekend and, even though we weren't together officially, he had gotten me a necklace with a diamond heart on it. (I had never gotten jewelry from anyone.) We officially became a couple that night in my niece and nephew's room at my brother's house (they're from my brother's first marriage, so they don't stay there all the time...they weren't there is what I'm trying to say). He drove me to the airport the next day and then drove my mother's car back to Michigan. My sister drove him home from there. My brother says any man that will drive fifteen hours in a weekend for some girl is good enough to marry his sister.

In December, I was getting ready to head home for semester break. My wisdom teeth had come in and were causing me EXTREME pain, so I was taking some hefty pain killers. My mother flew Jason down so that he could drive me home. It was one of the best road-trips I've ever been on, second only to the move in May. On the way home, we stopped by his parents' place (he was staying with them at the time) and picked up some of his clothes. We were down in the basement, where he was staying, getting ready to go and he hesitated. I was insisting that we get going because we were running a bit later than we were supposed to and he said he was trying to decide something. Then he proposed! Right there, in his basement, with this beautiful ring that used to be his great-grandmother's! It was great! We went upstairs and told his family and then headed up to Michigan to tell mine.

We had to spend a few more months apart while I finished my degree. He came down to Texas to visit me for Valentine's Day (and the week after) and I spent my spring break with him. In May, he came down and helped me move up to Ohio into our apartment. That was the best road trip!

We've been living together for seven months and every day I love him more and more. Oh, by the way, this is us:

My graduation:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/engphoto.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/graduation.jpg

When we first met back in August:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/firstvisit.jpg

When we were considering places to get married:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/arch.jpg

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 10:13 PM

We bought our rings a few months ago. We went in to look and fell in love (plus they were on sale). They kind of look like this:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/rings.jpg

This is our waterfall that I was talking about taking pictures by. We were trying to figure out how we could hold the ceremony by it, but there's a main road overpass that runs nearby and we couldn't really get around the noise. So we're going to take some personal pictures out by it; just him, me and the photographer.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/ourwaterfall.jpg

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 10:16 PM

This is our Engagement Announcement. We got the majority of them sent out awhile ago (a few we were waiting on addresses for and have gotten the addresses, just haven't sent them out):

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/engagementannouncement.jpg

Jason helped me make them. He did a TON of glueing to get them put together. Then I tied on the front piece and addressed them. For the record, it took him four hours to glue everything together and me seven months to tie on the front piece and address them to get them out. In my defense, I was working on finishing up my bachelor's and moving. :bbbiggrin:

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 10:20 PM

Our favors are origami boxes with m&ms in them. We're still debating if we're going to get pink and yellow m&ms or if we're going to just get the m&ms they put out around easter in pastel tones (we're getting married less than a month after easter). The paper is pastel colored with little flowers on it and the inside is solid colored. They'll be placed on the plates at each place setting for guests to get them when they arrive. The m&ms will be wrapped in clear, opalescent, cellophane-tissue paper and tied with a yellow ribbon. This is what the boxes look like:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/favors.gif

Jason and I both like the oriental look. Someday we'd like to go to Japan, so I figured this favor is very fitting.

Between his niece, his mother, his sister, him, and I we have about sixty-five to seventy of them already folded.

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 10:25 PM

We're thinking maybe one of these for a cake topper (well, it'd actually be in between the tiers), but we're not certain yet:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/maybe2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/maybe1.jpg

And I really like this pattern for the squiggle look on the cake, although I think I want them a bit more spread out:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/squiggles.jpg

usahgrad

12-10-2005, 10:36 PM

These are our invitations:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/ourinvitations.jpg

We ordered them the weekend after Thanksgiving. When I went to order them, I was writing out the wording on the form and I knew I had fifteen lines. Well, I was on line 11 and almost done and I couldn't figure out what I had left out. I read through it twice before I realized I left out my fiance's name. I think the whole store heard me when I realized it and all the lady I was ordering from could do was laugh and go get another order form. My mother was nice enough to bring home the one I had messed up to show my fiance. It's a good laugh.

usahgrad

12-11-2005, 11:44 AM

We will be staying at the Caesar's Poconos Resort; Cove Harbor for five days and four nights. (Monday-Friday). We picked this place because it's a little bit more affordable and we can drive out there, so we don't have to worry about the cost of plane tickets.

The resort is all inclusive. We get breakfast in bed every morning. We also get a ton of free stuff because it's our honeymoon. We're going to spend the few days we have there relaxing. I can't wait, it's the best part of the whole wedding planning so far (with the exception of the fact that I'm marrying Jason).

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/coveharbor.jpg

usahgrad

12-12-2005, 07:54 PM

We're still deciding on some of the songs for the ceremony but so far we have:

Possible Bridesmaids' Procession: "Ada Plays" from Cold Mountain
Possible Bride Procession: "Battle of Little Round Top" from Gettysburg
Possible Ceremony Song(s): "God Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts, "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge, "Heaven Help Me" by Wynonna, "The Day Before You" by Rascal Flatts, "Somebody Find Me A Preacher" by Trace Adkins, or "Where You Are" by Rascal Flatts (Can you tell we really liked Rascal Flatts new album?)
Possible Recessional: Main Theme to Star Wars
First Dance: "All The Way" by Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra
Mother's Dance: "Your Song" by Garth Brooks
Possible Last Dance: "I'll Cover You" from Rent or one of the Rascal Flatts songs from above (if we don't use it in the ceremony).

We aren't hiring a DJ that I know of, although my mother worries that people won't be entertained enough. Our reasoning is that, without alcohol to lubricate those stiff dancing muscles, very few people are actually going to be dancing, so no point in spending money on a DJ to play music not many people are going to dance to.

We've decided that my brother is going to be our Emcee. He'll be announcing everything and he'll also be doing the toast (as my mother doesn't want to).

usahgrad

12-27-2005, 09:08 PM

Well, I sat down and wrote the jist of the ceremony the other night. It's short and sweet and simple. I'm going to take it next door to our officiant and have him look it over, but here's the rough draft:

[Pre Ceremony Music (begins at 2:30): For A Sunday Morning?]

Jason escorts his mother to her seat and takes his place. Groomsmen and Officiant take their places as well. This will be the signal for the ceremony to start. (3pm)

[Procession music: Procession (6:25)]

Friends, family, we’re gathered here today to witness the ultimate expression of love and commitment. Jason, Kellianne, are you ready to join together in the bonds of marriage?
-We are.
Can anyone here show just cause why these two should not be married?

Who gives this woman to marry this man?
-I do.
Jason, do you take this woman to be your wife? Will you love her and care for her in good times and bad until death parts you?
-I will.
Kellianne, do you take this man to be your husband? Will you love him and care for him in good times and bad until death parts you?
-I will.
Jason, Kellianne, you have stated your intentions. Now you will make your promise to each other. Turn to face each other.

I, Jason, take thee Kellianne to be my wife. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.

I, Kellianne, take thee Jason to be my husband. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.

May these rings serve as a sign of the pure and never ending promises you have just made to each other.

Jason, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
-With this ring, I thee wed.
Kellianne, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
-With this ring, I thee wed.
As these two are about to start their life together, we are reminded of where they came from and what they will bring with them into their marriage.

[Song begins: Forever and For Always (4:04)]

[Mothers light candles. Main candle is lit via tapers by bride and groom.]

Jason, Kellianne, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton.

[Recessional music begins: Star Wars Main Theme]

I also worked out the processional music on my computer so that it combined the three songs I was looking to use. The entire bridal party has 6:25 to get their hineys to the right spots.

If I can figure out how to post a sound clip, I'll put it on here. I have to inquire with the moderators though.

usahgrad

12-31-2005, 05:27 PM

Ok, I wanted to post a picture of my ring, but it's just from the side because all I did was pop it on the scanner (as I don't have a digital camera to take a picture of it with and I don't even have a camera at the moment--I'm also really bad at getting cameras exposed...so anyways). Here's my ring. There's three diamonds in it, as you can see. It was his great grandmother's, although we think it's been reset since then as the setting is a little more contemporary.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/myring.jpg

usahgrad

12-31-2005, 05:35 PM

I got to do a little work on paper stuff for the wedding. I'm a scrapbooker, so this is one of my favorite parts. This is our program:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/ourprograms.jpg

The inside looks kind of like this:

(Page One)

His hello was the end of her endings
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle
His hand would be hers to hold forever
His forever was as simple as her smile
He said she was what was missing
She said instantly she knew
She was a question to be answered
And his answer was "I do"

Thank you for sharing our special day with us!

Please feel free to take pictures. However, please turn off all cell phones.

(Page Two)

Participants

Mother of the Bride Anne Lloyd
Mother of the Groom Pamala Sutton
Father of the Groom Robert Sutton
Maid of Honor Amy Jo Furman
Best Man Scott Roxbury
Groomsmen John Wilson
Mark Culler
Matthew Fullen
Bridesmaids Gabrielle Lloyd
Erika Widegren
Jessica Roxbury
Junior Bridesmaids Joanna Roxbury
Jamie Roxbury
Kristiana Lloyd
Ring Bearer Ryan Lloyd
Flower Girl Andréa Lloyd
Officiant Bishop Lonnie Shambaugh
Master of Ceremonies Kenneth Hontz
Emcee Conan Lloyd

This is all written in the same script as the front of the program.

I have to thank you guys for the poem. I read it to my FH and he absolutely loved it.

This will go in with our invitations sent to out of town guests:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/completehotelinformationbooklets.jpg

This is the map inside it:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/hotelmap.jpg

The numbers correspond with a list that makes the center page of the booklet (I couldn't figure out how to get all 11 hotels on there any other way and I wanted to make sure they were all listed so no one can say, you didn't give us this option...my family is so annoying sometimes). The last page contains information on the blocked rooms. I hope it's suitable for those people who will need it, if not, I'm sure I'll hear about it.

Ok, time for dinner. :)

usahgrad

01-01-2006, 08:56 PM

Ok, so these are the glasses I want to get. Thanks to Becky for finding them, by the way. I'm hoping to use the payment for posts to purchase them and the flowers I want to wrap around their stems to dress them up.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/glasses.gif

And I'm still deciding between these two, although I think I like the first ones better.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/miniroses1.gif

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/miniroses2.gif

Still thinking on it though...they're only $5 for 12 dozen, so I think I can afford them.

usahgrad

01-01-2006, 09:38 PM

Ok, this is our unity candle holder. I know it's a very small picture, but such as it is. We're obviously using the smaller one that holds three candles.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/unitycandle.gif

The parents' candles are pink pillars while ours is a white pillar with teeny tiny beads all over it so it kind of sparkles. It was on sale as a christmas item. We're changing the unity candle ceremony a bit. Jason and I will be lighting tapers off of the pillars that the parents light to light ours. It makes more sense to me that way.

bnd94

01-06-2006, 08:36 PM

Wow you are so organized! I feel so behind.:bbredface: Everything sounds so great.

Your programs look professional. I like the idea of adding a hotel info book for out of town guests too.

AND That ring! That is really pretty. You gotta get a digi camera. I bet it is even more beautiful from the top. I love three stone rings. I like what they symbolize.

LaceyinPgh

01-06-2006, 09:10 PM

Kelli, everything looks fabulous. You are so on top of things! I absolutely LOVE your programs. They are beautiful and so elegant. I adore your music selections too! If you like the soundtrack to "Cold Mountain" you have to check out the one to the Ken Burn's "Civil War". It is some of the most beautiful modern pieces that I have ever heard. It is simply haunting.

usahgrad

01-06-2006, 09:31 PM

I LOVE Ken Burn's "Civil War" documentary, but I've never actually listened to the soundtrack. I should look into it. I LOVE the piece we picked for my processional, it's "Battle of Little Round Top" from Gettysburg (if I haven't said that before). It's really big and brassy and beautiful. I gotta figure out how to get it on my website so I can let y'all hear it!

usahgrad

01-06-2006, 09:39 PM

By the way, these are the flowers I decided to go for the champagne glasses. They're my favorite!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/myminiroses.gif

LaceyinPgh

01-07-2006, 12:02 PM

By the way, these are the flowers I decided to go for for the champagne glasses. They're my favorite!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/myminiroses.gif
I love those. They are so pretty. ARe they fabric or porcelain? I could see them both ways.

One of the greatest accomplishments of my life was watching the entire Ken Burns "Civil War" documentary in a week. All 5 billion hours of it.

usahgrad

01-07-2006, 12:23 PM

We watched the documentary in a Civil War class...

Those flowers are paper actually! I think they're BEAUTIFUL! And they're only $5 for 12 dozen! WOW!

LaceyinPgh

01-07-2006, 12:34 PM

We watched the documentary in a Civil War class...

Those flowers are paper actually! I think they're BEAUTIFUL! And they're only $5 for 12 dozen! WOW!
Nice deal on the flowers. That is the great thing about growing up in West Virignia, your life history revolves around "The War Between the States" When I went to college my dorm room practically over looked Antitam Battelfield.

usahgrad

01-07-2006, 12:36 PM

LaceyinPgh

01-07-2006, 12:39 PM

Where'd you go to school? That's one of my favorite battlefields (that sounds morbid). I thought about having a destination wedding there actually...down by Burnside's Bridge. But my family is complaining about the fact that I'm not getting married in my home town so they have to drive a whole whopping three hours, so ten hours to Antietam probably wouldn't fly...
Shepherd College, it is Shepherd Univeristy now. Located in beuatiful Shepherdstown, West Virignia. It is perfectly nesteled between Sharpsburg, MD and Harpers Ferry, WV. I can even show you the exact spot that Lee crossed to Potomac in his retreat to Virignia from Maryland. I'm a little into Civil War history if you can't tell.

usahgrad

01-07-2006, 12:44 PM

LaceyinPgh

01-07-2006, 12:46 PM

Me too! My best friend gets me a civil war encyclopedia every year for my birthday...lol.

Ok, gotta cut this off or move it to another thread...it could be an interesting topic, but I want to stay at least slightly focused in my journal. :bbmrgreen:
Fair enough. I bet if you asked him too L3vi would delete the posts. (I wouldn't be offended at all.) Sorry to get off topic. :bbmrgreen:

usahgrad

01-07-2006, 06:07 PM

No, that's ok...but I figured I exercise my control over this and stop it before the WHOLE thread ended up about it...because that could happen...especially with me. I won't delete them though...that'd be silly. :)

usahgrad

01-07-2006, 08:06 PM

Ok, our processional music can be heard at:

www.geocities.com/thesuttons513/theceremony.html (http://www.geocities.com/thesuttons513/theceremony.html)

I think there are some technical difficulties with it right now...but it's there. Check back if you don't get to hear the whole 6 minutes and 25 seconds of it...and you want to. ;)

rainbowtreat

01-08-2006, 03:03 PM

Every thing looks so nice. You seem to have every thing in place. The cake looks so yummy. Wow you really have every thign put together. Can't wait to see pictures.

LaceyinPgh

01-08-2006, 03:29 PM

usahgrad

01-08-2006, 03:42 PM

Did you get to hear the whole thing? Because I can't and I'm wondering if it's because of the problems I was having uploading it...let me know. :)

bnd94

01-12-2006, 08:46 AM

I hear it in sprurts but that is because I have dial up :bbcry:

LaceyinPgh

01-12-2006, 10:52 PM

I didn't have a problem listening to the whole thing.

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 06:23 PM

We got our engagement photos done today. Here they are:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/possibleengannouncementpic5.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/possibleengannouncementpic6.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/imagethumb.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/cutecouple3.jpg

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 06:27 PM

Here's some more:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/cutecouple2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/cutecouple.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/cutecouple.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/possibleengannouncementpic7.jpg

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 06:32 PM

And some more...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/cutecouplesepia.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/handandcheek.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/possibleengannouncementpic4.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/possibleengannouncementpic3.jpg

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 06:32 PM

And my absolute favorite one...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Engagement%20Photos/sillouhette.jpg

LaceyinPgh

01-22-2006, 06:41 PM

Oh Kelli! I love them. Especially the last one on the first page that you posted. They are great!

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 06:57 PM

I really like this aisle runner idea and I'm trying to figure out how to do it:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/aislerunner.jpg

We thought about using wood, but were not sure if it will work or not and the expense would be kind of a lot. It wouldn't be able to be used inside if it rains or is too cold though, so I'm not sure how we're going to do it yet.

LaceyinPgh

01-22-2006, 07:05 PM

I don't know much about this type of stuff but to me it just looks like material that was hand painted. It wouldn't be too hard if you had time and a good stencil.

usahgrad

01-22-2006, 07:10 PM

It's not so much the paint job as what to make the aisle runner out of so that it does get all twisted around our feet or get ripped. I was looking at getting fabric, but I'm worried that will twist around us. We're getting married outside on grass, so it's not like the ground will be firm or anything...even if it doesn't rain between now and then.

LaceyinPgh

01-22-2006, 08:58 PM

How about a canvas. That would be heavy and sturdy.

usahgrad

01-23-2006, 08:47 PM

Would it wrap around our feet when we're walking up it? I thought about doing something like that and putting weights on the underside of it along the edges...would that work you think?

LaceyinPgh

01-23-2006, 08:52 PM

I think if you got a heavy enough canvas it shouldn't bunch up around your feet when you walk. It is a heavy and somewhat stiff fabric. Of course to make it stiffer with less work than sewing on weights you could try to primer it with a regular paint primer first then do your desing over top.

maz

01-26-2006, 09:33 AM

Why dont you use a rubber gripper under the canvas to stop it slipping ( like what you use under rugs)

usahgrad

01-26-2006, 07:16 PM

I know how to stiffen out canvas...we had to for my ceramics class...

I thought about looking into tent stakes or something similar--that might save me the moolah on the canvas

Then I thought, maybe I'd paint something like that and drape it over the table that's holding the unity candles and then put something like garland down each side of where the aisle would be. I thought maybe tool and then secure it into the ground. Maybe wrap some ribbon around it and put in some flowers. Although, I know that doesn't do what my mother wants an aisle runner for; she's afraid my dress is gonna get dirty...like it's not going to get dirty on the walk over (she thought we could bustle it for that...I said no, I'll carry it). Does it matter so much if your dress gets a little dirty on the undersides? Maybe I'm too much of a nature lover, but this doesn't seem like a big issue for me. Especially since, I'm really only going to wear the dress for one day--then it's going to take a hike the cleaners so it can be cleaned and preserved. Although, I'm worried the garland down the sides will look tacky. I hate having to make little detail decisions!

Valmai

01-27-2006, 07:26 AM

You could use canvas and then fix the sides with small tent peg type things, you wouldnt see them and you'd not have to worry about tripping or having it around your feet. Love your whole wedding theme btw.

bnd94

01-27-2006, 08:32 AM

Is your mind totally made up on having a runner? Have you seen pics of grass aisles with rose petals on the sides? It is beautiful. It would be so much cheaper too.

If you do want the runner check out these sites they may give you some more ideas of what to do and not do:
http://www.partydirectory.com/guide/sb07.htm

http://www.dayofdreams.com/Aisle%20Runner.htm

usahgrad

01-27-2006, 07:52 PM

Ok Becky...you got pics of the rose thing you're talking about?

Initially, I didn't want an aisle runner...I really don't want one now. But I can't find a good pic to describe what I'm saying to my mother (she's coming down tomorrow and we're going to do more wedding stuff...yay!). From the sounds of it, I LOVE the rose petal idea...I just don't quite know what you're saying.

I thought I could take the design off the aisle runner that I like (in the pic) and put it on something that hangs off the table the unity candle will be on (right now, the plan is a wooden t.v. tray--if the candle holder will fit). I thought that would be pretty. Then I wouldn't have to have the aisle runner to get that.

But I'm afraid people will block the aisle, since they'll be standing, and I want something to mark it. My mother, on the other hand, doesn't want my dress to get dirty. I think she's going to have to realize that it's going to get dirty (I'm going to be outside...as long as it's not raining). But we'll get to that step later.

Ya, so anyways...Becky...do what you do best! I'd LOVE to see pics of what you're talking about!

bnd94

01-28-2006, 09:31 AM

Ok I found a bunch of pictures. Here they all are:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/26-th.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/4.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/silkpe14.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/aae.jpg

bnd94

01-28-2006, 09:34 AM

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/aisles.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/Rose20Petal20Aisle202.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/gazebo.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/DSCF1816.jpg

usahgrad

01-28-2006, 09:42 AM

Becky you Rock! Those are GREAT pics! I love the way that looks. Here's my question though...how do they keep the rose petals from flying away in the breeze or dragging up in mass amounts under her dress? I love the one with the yellow and red rose petals right along the line of chairs!

bnd94

01-28-2006, 09:45 AM

LOL!! I was wondering the same thing as I was finding all these pics. Let me go do a search and see if anything comes up. My guess is just luck that they don't blow away!! LOL!! But if you are going to do it like the yellow and red pic was I don't think it would be as much of a problem as it could be if you did the whole aisle.

bnd94

01-28-2006, 09:52 AM

Hmm. I didn't see anything about people having trouble with that. You never know though. I don't think they would blow around much unless you had a major wind storm. I guess maybe if the wind is blowing in the direction you have the aisle set up they may. Is it really windy where you are getting married? Any trees that will help block it? Buildings?

usahgrad

01-28-2006, 09:57 AM

To tell you the truth, I don't really know for certain how windy it is there. It has been both when I was there. There's trees on one side and a building on another side. So it's blocked a little bit, but if the wind is coming from the other two directions, there isn't much to block it there, except maybe my guests and their cars :)

usahgrad

01-28-2006, 10:45 AM

On a side note...here's a sort of sketch of what our cake is going to look like. I took pieces that I like off of other cake pictures, so it looks kind of funny, but it was just to get my idea out of my head and materialized...sort of:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/ourcakesketch.jpg

The squiggles at the bottom are called corenellian lace...or something like that. We were thinking of writing words on there for awhile, but decided against it because we couldn't really decide between lace or words so we were certain were weren't going to be able to figure out what words to write on it. Plus, Jason says the lace is pretty. He really said "pretty"...that's the first time he's said that about anything concerning the wedding...so I have to take it as a sign!

usahgrad

02-04-2006, 02:45 PM

Ok, here's a picture of the cake I just love! Might give you a better idea about the ridiculous looking cake sketch in my last post:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/backcake.jpg

And here's a picture of the site. Unfortunately, the camera I was using stunk and the photo place I took it too stunk even more, so the picture kind of stinks, but you get the idea.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/oursite.jpg

And here's the one and only decoration I have made, although I have to pull everything out of it and pour some sand in the bottom of it so it's not so tipsy. There'll be another one exactly like this and they're going to go on either side of our DJ (sin DJ) table. (By the way, this is another crappy camera moment--I don't think the picture does it justice at all!)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/tallvase.jpg

usahgrad

02-04-2006, 02:49 PM

Here's some family pics, mostly my jbms.

Here's my mother (who is giving me away), my older niece, Kristi (who is a jbm), my nephew, Ryan (our ringbearer), and my younger niece (our flower girl). Hopefully the kids pay more attention in the professional pics then they did in this one...lol.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/mamaandgkids.jpg

Here is Jason's niece Jo. She is our oldest jbm.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/jo.jpg

And this is his youngest niece, Jamie. She is also a jbm.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/jamie.jpg

And this is a better pic of my newest niece, Andrea, who is our flower girl. She's not walking yet, but she's getting there. She walks with a toy she got for her b-day a few weeks ago, so we're thinking maybe we'll decorate it and she can walk with that up the aisle if for whatever reason she isn't walking by then. Although, I think she will be.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/Kitten2.jpg

usahgrad

02-06-2006, 08:43 PM

Well, we started the bridesmaids' dresses last weekend, and by 'we' I mean my FMiL and FSiL while I sat there and watched because I have no clue what to do. It takes a weekend to do one dress. The dress that we did was one of the yellow ones and it was just absolutely gorgeous!

We decided we HAD to have straps (there was quite a bit more cleavage showing than we had planned) so I went out looking for ribbon for the straps. Well the only ribbon that even remotely matched was very thin, so we used three pieces for each strap. They come together in one spot in the front then spread apart over the shoulder and criss cross in the back. It creates a little square basket weave in the middle of the bms back and looks SO gorgeous!

We also added a broad ivory ribbon across the waist so as to tie in the ivory of the necklace and the wraps I'm going to make (my sewing project...lol). All in all, the dress looks beautiful and VERY classic. We were all so excited when we put it on the bm and pinned everything (as it didn't have a zipper and the straps weren't secured. But she looked so gorgeous. She was excited too because she realized she looks good in the shade of yellow I picked. I can't wait to get pictures to share with everyone!

bnd94

02-07-2006, 07:31 AM

Oh those straps sound pretty! I have seen dresses like that and they are gorgeous.

Hey I watched wild weddings the other night and thought of you. There was one clip of the wedding party walking down an aisle runner over grass and it was just like the runner was sticky. People were actually tripping. :bbeek: They ended up picking up the runner before the girls came down. The kids really seemed to like it though :bblol: How awful!

CarlosHoney

02-07-2006, 10:07 AM

I can't wait for pics either! :bbmrgreen:

usahgrad

02-08-2006, 08:50 PM

I think I'm going to have them piece it back together next weekend just so I can take pics! I'm so excited! They turned out so much better than I could have even hoped! And they are SO beautiful! I could never have found something like this in a salon!

CarlosHoney

02-14-2006, 07:48 AM

I'm glad you're getting *exactly* what you want. It's hard. I even wish, deep down, that I would have gotten that other dress that I wanted (though it costs more than the whole wedding). I'm happy with the dress that I ordered, but to get it just the way you want it is really special.

I want pics pronto! :)

usahgrad

03-12-2006, 04:36 PM

Well, we mailed our invitations yesterday. They won't actually go out until Monday, which puts them exactly two months before the wedding...I'm good like that! It's nice to have that done.

I worked a lot this weekend on the bms' gifts and thought I had them done when I varnished them last night. Well I got up this morning and the varnish was all dried and had caused all the paper to peel up. So I'm going back and covering all of them in contact paper (which I'm now realizing is what I should have done in the first place...oh well). So now, I have a whole ONE box done...when I thought last night that I had all seven...grrr!

usahgrad

03-12-2006, 04:41 PM

These are the bridesmaids' shoes. Unfortunately, they don't come in ivory, so we're going to spray paint them ivory.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/bmsshoes.gif

And this is the junior bridesmaids' shoes.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/jbmsshoes.gif

Glad I got that all picked out. (Although I do have to credit the jbms' shoes to my FMiL.)

LaceyinPgh

03-12-2006, 06:00 PM

Love the shoes. I tend to love most shoes though. But those are still really cute.

CarlosHoney

03-12-2006, 09:34 PM

I love the shoes too. It's hard finding cute ivory shoes.. I've tried. But, I'm just going to let my Bridesmaids find their own shoes. Yeah, I picked their dress. That's more than enough. ;)

ikkin510

03-13-2006, 09:09 AM

Kelly I love the BM shoes! Where did you find them?

bnd94

03-13-2006, 02:00 PM

Those shoes are great! I am a shoe-aholic too! :bbmrgreen:

CarlosHoney

03-15-2006, 03:43 AM

Yeah, shoes are great. :bbmrgreen:

usahgrad

03-16-2006, 08:42 PM

We got our first RSVP back today! It's so exciting to think it's less than two months away! I really can't wait.

My bridal shower is this weekend and...shhh...I know that the digital camera off our registry has been bought, so I'm hoping I'll get it for the bridal shower so I can post lots of pics for you guys! Keep your fingers crossed! :)

CarlosHoney

03-16-2006, 11:43 PM

:goodluck: Mine are!! I love my camera, it just drains batteries like nobody's business.. Register for stock in Duracel. ;)

Valmai

03-17-2006, 06:17 AM

I use rechargable in mine - saves a lot of money and i always have them here!

LaceyinPgh

03-17-2006, 06:30 AM

Yeah Kelli your first RSVP! That had to be exciting to come home and find in the mail box!

As for the digital cameras, we have had one for ages. Are you using the regular window to view out of like you would on a regular film camera or are you using the big digital picture window? If you are using that one it will drain your battery 10xs faster, use the regular picture window.

Jenn060306

03-17-2006, 01:51 PM

Horray for RSVP's!
I can't wait to get my first RSVP. I know alot of people have already said they are coming so the RSVP is just a formality for them.
Those are very nice shoes! Very pretty! I am defintaly in the mood now for shoe shopping today!

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 07:30 PM

Well, my bridal shower was this weekend and it was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! We made out like bandits! :) I had such a great time. The table I sat at was designated the bridal party table, so I got to sit with all the girls who were there from my bridal party (all but two of them total). AND I got to see a friend of mine that I haven't seen in over a year! (She's in the bridal party.)

We got a lot of stuff off the registry and quite a bit of stuff that wasn't on the registry but was really good picks for us! However, the only thing I've done anything with yet is our new toy....

And this is what I did with it:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/ering.jpg

Hey, look y'all, it's my ring! From the top! Isn't it gorgeous? Yup, that's right, we got a digital camera and now that I've got all the basics figured out I'm going to run around and take pictures of everything for you guys to see!

We also got three more RSVPs in the mail and I got one handed to me at the shower. They've all been "YES"! They've also all been from Jason's family...so mine isn't so prompt in their response...oh well! :)

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 08:41 PM

Ok...so I just went running around the house taking all kinds of pictures. I've gotten a few uploaded to photo bucket, so I'll start with those:

This is my guestbook. I made it last summer. It took me awhile, but I love it, so it was all worth it (don't tell my cutting board that as it has quite a few holes in it because I needed something to protect the table).

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/8900bf78.jpg

This is the pen I got for the guest book. I've always wanted a pen like this and I found it on a clearance table at a 1/2 off card shop so it was, like, three dollars!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/d3e957bf.jpg

I also found our cake set on the same clearance table and only paid five dollars for it! I think I may tie a yellow ribbon to it. I keep thinking I may sit down with a tiny paint brush and paint the flowers yellow, but I don't think I want to exert the effort. *grin*

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/CakeKnives.jpg

This is the decoration that's going on the table with the guest book, photo mat, and seating assignments. It's going to sit in the corner. We may have a candle on that table as well, I'm not sure yet.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Deco1.jpg

Ok, gotta start a new reply for the other pics.

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 08:46 PM

Ok, this is the birdcage I was so proud of when I found it for only twenty dollars! I just love Target! This will go on the gift table for the cards. I may decorate with some ivy and maybe some flowers, but for right now it's plain.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Birdcage.jpg

These are the petals for the centerpieces and where ever else we might throw them!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/c34e0753.jpg

This is the middle decoration for the head table. I got a pillar candle for each end of the head table as well and, although you can't see it, there's a brick candle behind this that will be lit.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Deco2.jpg

And here's a better picture of the tall vases that are going to be standing on either side of the dj table. They stand taller than I do and I'm 5'6", just to give you an idea. I posted a picture of them earlier, but this one is much better, with the exception that I didn't plug the lights in, so they're not on and I left the wires on the closed roses (they are on there to make the closed roses stay closed---I bought them at Walmart for 86 cents a bunch, they need encouragement).

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Deco3.jpg

rainbowtreat

03-20-2006, 08:46 PM

Every thing looks awsome. Love the guest book. That is so pretty. Your ring is so beautiful. Glad you had a great shower. Sounds like you had fun.

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 08:48 PM

These are are our toasting glasses:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/ToastingGlasses.jpg

I didn't take a picture of the other toasting glasses that I got for the head table, but they're pink breast cancer glasses (that I, ironically, bought before my mother was diagnosed).

This is what the favors look like:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Favors.jpg

They will have m&ms wrapped in irridescent tissue paper in them. I tried to take a picture of the tissue paper to show y'all, but it didn't work.

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 08:56 PM

Alright, my family goes to a Scottish Festival every year and last fall, my mother found a sixpence at the Scottish Festival and bought it for me to wear in my shoe. This is it:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/abf0db10.jpg

And this is my jewelry. The pearl necklace is my mother's and we bought the bracelet and earrings to match.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/8f898bb8.jpg

And this is one of the two garters I made (the worst of the two actually). They weren't hard, I just didn't get enough fabric, so they kind of come out at certain parts, but they'll do what I need them to do and I like the lace. I think it looks classic.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Garter.jpg

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 09:01 PM

For my gifts to my bridal party, I made each of them a keepsake box to hold the stuff that I was giving them for the wedding. I also hit the dollar store and picked up a small thing for each of them. Here's an example of the box:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/6d9c11b5.jpg

The box contains:

Stardust Lotion
Ribbon Choker
Small Picture Frame
Bracelets (I got two hundred bangle bracelets for two dollars and then divided them evenly between the seven girls).

These are the mugs that we are making for the entire bridal party and a few additional people. Right now I only have three or four done, so I really need to get cracking on them. They say "May the Force Be With You" and then have our names and the wedding date on them.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/f8e7c586.jpg

For the ringbearer and flowergirl, I got piggy banks and painted them. The ringbearer's says "Ryan's Video Game Fund" and the flowergirl's says "Andrea's Wedding Fund". I thought it would be helpful to get them saving for that while she was still young! *grin*

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/f562b71d.jpg

usahgrad

03-20-2006, 09:02 PM

These are my bridal shower thank you cards. I got them at Micheal's out of the dollar bin. I got fifty for five dollars!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/a9cd3fc8.jpg

LaceyinPgh

03-20-2006, 09:19 PM

Kelli, everything looks great. You have done so much work for this wedding and it looks like it is really paying off. Now we expect lots more pictures now that you have that digital. Glad to hear that your shower went well.

Jenn060306

03-20-2006, 10:47 PM

Everything looks so great! I love your piggy banks! Those are very cute!

ikkin510

03-21-2006, 09:19 AM

Kelli, I'm happy your shower went so well. It's so exciting to see the pictures of your stuff now. Everything looks great. I expecially love that bird cage and the guest book you made...wonderful! O, and I LOVE the ring!

brewsells

03-21-2006, 09:22 AM

Everything is so cute, Kelli. I love the mugs. they are cute. And the piggy banks... what a great idea!

usahgrad

03-21-2006, 07:04 PM

This is what we decided on for the buffet table. There may be ivy or tulle wrapped around the edge, but we decided to keep the decorations simple so that they wouldn't be in the way.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/86dcf1fc.jpg

usahgrad

04-01-2006, 01:24 PM

Ok, this is the flowergirl's dress:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/FGDress.jpg

And this is up close:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/FGClose.jpg

I'm not sure if the roses are going to stay on yet or not. I'm thinking of pulling them off and putting a yellow ribbon across the front instead. It's kind of funny that my flower girl will be the only one in white at my wedding. :)

usahgrad

04-01-2006, 01:28 PM

I don't think I have posted these yet, so here's how the bridesmaids' dresses are coming:

Bridesmaid:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/JessicasBMDress.jpg

Junior Bridesmaid:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/JoannasJBMDress.jpg

I got the fabric for the stolls today, so I've got that to work on. As far as the dresses go, the hems have to be done and we're putting a very light colored ivory ribbon across the waistline. We're going to tack the back of the straps in the day of the wedding so everything looks perfect with them. My FMiL is more comfortable doing it that way. The only other thing to finish with most of the dresses is the zippers. There's only one that we need to get the girl up here to fit again and, of course, that's going to be the most difficult girl to get here...figures.

usahgrad

04-02-2006, 01:09 PM

This is the shawl I picked out. I really wanted a piano shawl but I just couldn't afford it. So this is what I picked. I am eagerly waiting for my box from Hong Kong to get here...they say they shipped it UPS, but when I asked for the tracking number, they said it shipped USPS. So I have no way of knowing when it will get here. I hate that. Working in a shipping department makes you very leary about having stuff sent to you.

Anyways, this is my shawl. I'm not going to wear it during the ceremony, it's just there if I get chilly at the reception.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/shawl.jpg

usahgrad

04-02-2006, 01:16 PM

Great news! I took the fabric for the stolls over to my FMiL to consult with her as to how I should do them and she said she'd do them! She said after the seven dresses, the stolls will be nothing! She has been so great, I cannot even express to you all how wonderful she's been! So she's working on them. I got the bridesmaids and the flowergirl and ring bearer's gifts all packed and the bridesmaids' boxes are totally packed as well. So everything for them is done except for the finishing touches on the dresses and the stolls.

On a bit sadder note, although I'm happy that we finally have a date, my mother's surgery is April 13. My brother and sister in law will be coming up the Wednesday before and staying until Sunday (which is Easter). They are going to drop off my niece on the way so that we can do the fitting for the dress for her because she's the only one we have left to do (which means Jason gets her for like two solid days by himself because I have to work). Then Jason and I will be going up there for Easter weekend and we'll bring her up as well. Mama has put me in charge of an Easter basket for Kristi (my niece), since her mind will very obviously be somewhere else.

We're happy to have gotten this date; the surgeon actually squeezed her in here. If it wasn't going to be on April 13, her surgery wouldn't have been until the week before the wedding which could have very likely kept her from being at the wedding. So this date is greatly appreciated. Still working on convincing my mother she isn't ruining my wedding...not working. However, she is figuring out that, at this point, she needs to be focusing on herself, which is good.

Jenn060306

04-04-2006, 07:34 PM

usahgrad

04-05-2006, 07:53 PM

The shawl is beautiful! Thats a great idea! I might look into finding one for myself as well. It can get cool in the evenings here in June.
I'm glad to hear they have set a date for your mom's surgery. I hope everything goes well. You and her will definatly be our my prayers.

Thank you, for both.

I got the shawl in the mail yesterday and it is SO much more beautiful than it looks in the picture! You can't see it in the picture, but there's gold strands that run throughout the entire thing! The best part was I used my payout to get it, so, essentially, it was free! :)

LaceyinPgh

04-05-2006, 11:06 PM

The shawl is fabulous. It will look great with that dress. I guess I should start hunting for one that I like too. I am always complaining about being cold. The bm dresses look like they are coming along nicely too. I love the colors.

usahgrad

04-06-2006, 07:19 PM

Thanks Lacey! This is the ebay store I got it on; decent prices and they have a ten day money back guarantee! I was looking for a piano shawl initially, but those were a bit out of my price range (which was zero realistically, so...:)). They have some really beautiful shawls on here: http://stores.ebay.com/Shanghai-Tailor (http://stores.ebay.com/Shanghai-Tailor)

I HAD to show you all this! I LOVE THIS CAKE! I want this cake except I want the light brown icing color with the "cornelian lace" or whatever it's called and I want the same type of roses as what I'm carrying...but aside from those minor details, this is it! I just have to get this approved by Jason (as he bashed my last idea...putz!) Here it is:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/rosecake1.jpg

And while you really can't see the design very well, this is the what I'm talking about icing-wise; the light brown with the with the lace:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Cake%20Stuff/backcake.jpg

(It's kind of a crappy picture...lol. Oh well, maybe you get the idea).

LaceyinPgh

04-06-2006, 07:22 PM

usahgrad

04-06-2006, 07:27 PM

THe lace pattern is kind of similiar to what I am doing according to my baker. I like both of them. By the way, if you don't ask they can't be a putz and shoot it down. (Lesson learned from the wax seals)

But I didn't ask! My mother and I were looking through my journal and he was watching over my shoulder and SHE sabotaged me! It's just that his opinion mattered more because it was half his cake. I hope he likes this one because it still gives me what I wanted without what he didn't like about the other one! :)

LaceyinPgh

04-06-2006, 08:33 PM

But I didn't ask! My mother and I were looking through my journal and he was watching over my shoulder and SHE sabotaged me! It's just that his opinion mattered more because it was half his cake. I hope he likes this one because it still gives me what I wanted without what he didn't like about the other one! :)
Sold out by your own DNA that has to suck.

usahgrad

04-08-2006, 08:11 PM

usahgrad

04-08-2006, 08:19 PM

Here's some pictures of the lodge, that I took at someone else's wedding ironically enough. We saw that there were cars there, so we thought we'd ask if we could take some pictures and it was a wedding that was just wrapping up! So most of their decorations were taken down at this point. I don't know what all the interference was with the camera that caused all the orbs. Maybe the place is haunted! I should submit these pictures to http://seti-teamartbell.com/index.php (http://seti-teamartbell.com/index.php) ! Art Bell would love these!

Anyways, here we go:

This is the length of the hall, minus the woman who was kind enough to let me in. You can see the bride and groom there too!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Lodge2.jpg

This is where the gift table will be and on the left hand side of the photo is where the table with the guest book and seating chart thing, will be.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Lodge5.jpg

This is where the dj table and dance floor will be. Although, our table will be set crooked in the corner (much more feng shui!) since we won't actually have a dj behind it. Check out the dj they hired...isn't this guy the weirdest looking guy!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Lodge4.jpg

And this is the fireplace area. I thought we might put some crayons and coloring books down there for the kids. If it rains or is too cold the day of the wedding, in front of the fireplace is where we will take our pictures. We're allowed to light a fire, so hopefully it won't be too hot if we do. Maybe we'll only light it for the pictures. It's a gas fire place, so there won't be any worry of soot.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/Lodge1.jpg

usahgrad

04-08-2006, 08:28 PM

We went to the tux shop on Friday night and made a few changes. All of the groomsmen will be in a Tuscany coat as planned (as well as Jason's father, although, I'm not sure they know that). They will all be wearing mandarin collared shirts with a button cover that we got a deal on! Woot!

Jason will be wearing a cutaway jacket which is basically what would be the love child of the tuscany coat and a jacket with tails. It's a tailed coat, but instead of the tails just growing out of the back, the front tapers into it. I got to see him in the coat and OMG does he look good! Mind you, I've never seen this man out of jeans. He doesn't own any good pants and he's only been in a tux twice in his life; once that I've seen pictures of, but he was six. The other time the pants were so tight he couldn't wear underwear under the tux, so I'm not sure if I want to see those pictures. :)

We also decided that, because our flowergirl is in white, our ringbearer is going to wear a white tux. We chose a coat with tails for him, since they didn't have the long coats in white and they didn't have the cutaways in white in boys' sizes. I think he'll look good. Here's a picture of him in the tux he wore to my brother's wedding a few years ago. He looked good and he knew it. He was doing a GQ pose for a good portion of the wedding; it was so cute!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Family%20Pics/randkatcandswed.jpg

blueeyedbride

04-13-2006, 08:25 AM

Nice job on your journal

usahgrad

04-13-2006, 07:35 PM

Okay, I went to the tuxedo place's website, but I think they need to fire their IT people, because you can't get ANYWHERE on that website EXCEPT for the locations section. So, I went looking around for an idea of what the tuxes look like and here's what I found. Now, mind you, these are NO where near exact, but it gives y'all an idea.

Here's the groomsmens' style of tux. It will be all black with an ivory mandarin collered shirt and a yellow vest. The style of vest is called Mystic and it has diagonal lines in which the color fades in and out. As I've said before, the guys will have pink tulips (I think...I have to check on that):

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/tuxcoat2.jpg

And here's Jason's style of tux. His will also be all black with an ivory colored mandarin collered shirt and an ivory vest in the "Mystic" style:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/tuxcoat.jpg

And here's a rough idea of the ringbearer's tux. He will have a white vest (I think it may be in the same "Mystic" style) and no bowtie. Unfortunately, they don't have the mandarin coller for little boys, so we're going to get a regular collered shirt.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/boytux.jpg

Okay, while none of these are exact, they give y'all an idea right? :)

usahgrad

04-13-2006, 07:37 PM

I totally forgot to mention

ONE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's only one more month until the wedding! Let me tell you, I am totally ready for this. I can't wait! Yes there's some details that need to be pinned down, but I'll get those done and if I don't...Oh well! At the end I'm still married to my honeybear!

usahgrad

04-13-2006, 07:39 PM

Okay, I found this the other day and it got me thinking. For the rehearsal (and the day before that we're going to spend setting up) I'm going to make myself a t-shirt that says bride across the front of it in little sparkly letters. Well, I'm going to put this on the back up by the neckline; I just think it's cute and I can print it up on some iron on paper and it will be really easy. I'm thinking I might do the same for the letters on the front, print them up on some iron on paper and iron them on instead of spending two dollars a letter for the sparkly ones.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/bridepride.gif

usahgrad

04-13-2006, 07:41 PM

Okay, I am going to change my signature, but I wanted to keep my original ticker around too, so I'm going to put it in here:

http://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/d/4;10101;116/st/20060513/e/Our+Wedding/k/2d2d/event.png
(http://www.tickerfactory.com/)

I wonder if it will change and stuff still...

Jenn060306

04-14-2006, 03:05 PM

That would look really cute on a T-Shirt. There is a really great font website called dafont.com They would have a typewritter font like the one in the logo. You can download most of their fonts for free.

usahgrad

04-15-2006, 03:06 PM

Thanks Jenn!

I'm all about downloading cool looking fonts, so I think I might already have a typewriter font. But thanks for the suggestion! :)

bnd94

04-17-2006, 10:41 AM

I just realized I hadn't posted a picture of my shoes now that I have them and the camera in the same state again. I had left my shoes at my mother's house last time I was there--whoops :bbredface:

Anyways, here they are:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/wedshoes.jpg

Sweet and simple. Only problem is that they make my toes numb. Which is why they were at my mother's house, we were hoping some insoles she had would help, but we were so busy the weekend I was there, I forgot to try. Anyone tried Dr. Scholl's new Gellin stuff? Will that work in shoes like these? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Kelli I saw a commercial the other day for insoles specifically made for those type of shoes. Do your toes go numb because of soles or because they are not wide enough? I use to work in a shoe store and if it is because of the width you could take them to a shoe store and have them stretch them a little. Just a thought. They are beautiful shoes by the way!!:D

brewsells

04-17-2006, 11:16 AM

Kelli I saw a commercial the other day for insoles specifically made for those type of shoes. Do your toes go numb because of soles or because they are not wide enough? I use to work in a shoe store and if it is because of the width you could take them to a shoe store and have them stretch them a little. Just a thought. They are beautiful shoes by the way!!:D

I saw an ad for those as well. I can't remember who made them though...

usahgrad

04-17-2006, 08:09 PM

Thanks guys! I was thinking Dr. Scholl's "Gellin'" whatever they advertise in that ridiculous wedding commercial.

As far as the shoes go, I think it's that my feet slide down in them and it pushes my bridge into the strap over the toes which cuts off the circulation. That's why I was thinking of something that would keep me from sliding. What do you think/suggest?

I wore them at our dance lesson and didn't have any problems at all (in fact, they were relatively comfortable), but when I wore them to the fitting and I was just standing there for quite awhile, that's when my toes went numb.

usahgrad

04-19-2006, 08:54 PM

We went and got the m&ms for our favors last weekend. There are now six bags of m&ms sitting on our fridge waiting for a few more days to go by. I'm worried about packaging them in the favors now because I'm worried about if they might get stale or something...I don't know. Anyways, so I'm waiting on those. I have an open day the last weekend of April that I wasn't planning on, so I'll probably do it then.

The open day came up when we did some calculations and realized that Meijer's sale on St. Julian's was relatively the same price as the case sale at the store, so instead of driving out there the last weekend in April to catch the 25% off sale, my mother traveled all over greater Detroit area getting 24 bottles of St. Julian's. Hopefully that will be enough. It's just for the toast though, so I'm not too worried.

I copied the pictures we decided to put on our tray and as soon as I get them stuck on I'll take a picture to show y'all.

I also caught a two liter sale and picked up 25 two liters of soda. 9 Diet Cokes (it's all Jason's entire family drinks), 5 Cokes, 4 Sprites, 2 Iced Teas, 2 Diet Mountain Dews (all some of the members in my family will drink) and 3 ginger ales (not vernors though :(). Combine that with the strawberry lemonade we'll have in the punch bowl and coffee and tea, I think we'll be okay as far as drinks go. My mother in law doesn't think so and I think she's going to go pick up some more...but whatever.

I thought I got more than that done this weekend but I guess I didn't. We did get all the shower gifts put away and some of the wedding stuff organized. Of course, in the process I lost my florist's wire...dang it! I have to pull EVERYTHING that is still in the closet we designated for wedding stuff out and make sure I have everything I need. I can't believe it's getting so close so fast...I mean, it's three weeks from Saturday! WOWSAS!

Oh, the tux place called and informed me our ringbearer will actually be in a pink vest, which isn't so bad; I guess it's what I had originally planned, I just didn't know it. We also made sure the FOG got changed to a white vest, which he didn't care one way or another about. It was kind of exciting to get a "finalization" call.

I got an email from my cake maker that said I had to bring the candle holders for the cake with me, which I wasn't entirely planning on. Fortunately I'll be able to get those with the little bit I have left over from my paycheck this week (fortunately they're cheap!). We're going to use the leftover votives from the bridal shower favors.

To top everything else off, I have to call my best friend's fiance's mama to offer to do favors for her bridal shower (which is sometime in June; she's getting married in July). That will be something I pick up after our wedding, I think. It's going to take some thinking though. She's kind of a goth type person (not to the extreme) and her wedding colors are platinum, white, and red; so I have some interesting ideas in my head.

CindySue

04-20-2006, 11:31 AM

OMG - we have 23 days!!!!!!!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_25.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS)

http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb068&pp=ZNxdm414CPUS (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb068_ZNxdm414CPUS)

usahgrad

04-22-2006, 12:48 PM

usahgrad

04-22-2006, 12:54 PM

Ok, I had my final fitting today and I have pictures for you guys. However, if you're a certain someone and you know for certain you're not supposed to see this pictures, you better go away right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saved them in a secret place on my computer...hehe...and under a secret code name!

Ok, so here they are. I am so happy with this dress and with the shop! Everytime I walk in there, someone says I look like I lost weight! They really know how to make a girl feel good!

Anyways, I won't hold you all in suspense any longer:

Don't continue to scroll if you're that certain someone!

Thanks for the idea Carrie!

Ok, here's the front:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Final%20Fitting/jns2.jpg

Here's the back:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Final%20Fitting/jns1.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Final%20Fitting/jns3.jpg

And here's the bustle, which I just LOVE!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Final%20Fitting/jns4.jpg

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M GETTING MARRIED IN THREE WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOB Karen

04-22-2006, 12:59 PM

Oooooooooh, Kelli, it fits perfectly. How pretty you look! You must be so excited that your day is almost here. You will be a beautiful bride!

usahgrad

04-22-2006, 01:03 PM

Thanks so much! I can't wait for all the planning to be over and the day to be here! Only three more weeks! YAY!

usahgrad

04-22-2006, 01:11 PM

Ok, RSVP count as of the day the RSVPs were due:

Yes: 50
No: 22
Unknown: 43

I don't think that's too bad. I'm thinking I'm going to collect phone numbers for the people I don't have and spend Tuesday evening calling. I don't think I'm allowed to call Monday during Mama's surgery (if we go) because I think if I make one peep about the wedding certain people are going to jump down my throat.

I figured I wouldn't call tomorrow because some of the RSVPs might be stopped in the mail. But I need to have a final count by Friday for the chair cover rentals. So...I have to find out soon, or maybe I'll just order extras; I'll figure that out on Friday I guess.

When I'm at my mothers, I have to take the ring bearer pillow to get cleaned. My mother and father used it in their wedding 27 years ago and my brother used it in his last wedding, so it's kind of special to the family. I'm going to make sure that after my wedding it ends up in a nice acid free box with some acid free tissue paper to preserve it better.

Great news! Joann's has an open stock paper sale on until May 6! Which means the paper I really wanted to make my place cards out of is unsale for 6 sheets for 96 cents! That ROCKS!

Ok, I have a hair appointment in twenty minutes; I have to go; I'm getting my hair highlighted...woot! Haven't done that in entirely too long!

WhiskeyGirl

04-22-2006, 01:39 PM

Wow kelli! You look awesome!! Yay!! Your day is almost here! :)

Jenn060306

04-22-2006, 02:29 PM

Kelli you dress is sooooo pretty!!
I am so exsited that your wedding is coming up so soon! It looks like everything is coming along really well. I hope that everything goes well for your mom's surgery. Keep us posted! Can't wait to hear alll about the big day!

LaceyinPgh

04-22-2006, 07:56 PM

Kelli, you look FABULOUS in your dress. I love it on you as much as I love it on me! I hope your mom's surgery goes well. I'll be thinking about her.

rainbowtreat

04-23-2006, 09:43 AM

I think I said this before when I saw Lacey's dress that it looks so awsome on you but when I saw it in line I didnt care for it. I guess it is the girl that makes the dress. You look so pretty in it. You mom will be in my prayers. Keep us posted.

usahgrad

04-23-2006, 10:16 AM

Thank you to everyone!
Gwen, you're right, I didn't care for it much on the rack or on the model on the website...it is definitely the girl who makes that dress.

Lacey, I love you in your dress as much as I love me in mine and the pictures I've seen so far, it didn't even fit you entirely (although you did have that angry model look down quite well!).

Thanks Jenn, I will keep everyone posted.

Thank you Shawna; I can't believe it's almost here!

We're heading up today after an appointment with the photographer. We'll be back home tomorrow night if all goes well. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes!

usahgrad

04-23-2006, 10:17 AM

Well, RSVP final count is officially (had to get the mail yesterday):

Yes: 50
No: 24
Unknown: 41

Now I have to start looking up phone numbers and calling people. I'm not looking forward to this.

usahgrad

04-23-2006, 10:23 AM

I don't think I mentioned it, but I got to bring my veil home yesterday! I can't remember it being so long, but when it's hanging on the hanger, I have to stand on my tippy toes so it doesn't touch the floor. You should have seen me walking around here with it; I'm sure it was quite the site.

When I have my practice up do, I'll take pictures of it. Unfortunately that's not for two weeks (changed from next week) but that's not that far off (and it worked out the better for my pocket book). I get a practice make-up do too! Woot!

usahgrad

04-26-2006, 04:57 PM

Well, I played around with the extra fabric from the bridesmaids' dresses and the screen we're going to use to hide me from Jason until the bridal processional and I think I came up with something suitable enough to cover the Japanese design on it. This may change, but for right now, this is what I have:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/screen1.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/screen2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/screen3.jpg

This will also move into the lodge after the ceremony and cover the wood wall behind the head table. I'm still debating whether or not I'm going to pull down my dining room curtains and use those and then swag the fabric over those, but so far, this is what I have. And because I'm sick, I ran out of energy to try it the other way. Maybe this weekend.

usahgrad

04-26-2006, 05:09 PM

Ok, so this is what I have left on my list of things that are still going to cost us money:

Paper for the Place Cards (which won't be too expensive actually because Joanns is having an open stock paper sale: 6 for 96 cents!)
Spray Paint (which I think the best man may have already gotten--he works at a paint factory)
Country Time Lemonade at GFS--$3.89 for Two Gallons
Frozen Strawberries--$8.59 for 6.5 lb. tub
Sour Cream and Cream Cheese for Mama's Specialty Dips (which I have to find)
Bowls for above mentioned dips (I'm going to check the dollar store to see what they have)
Crackers for above mentioned dips
Have to pay the rest of the cake, which I think is about $200-$250
Ice
Stakes for the direction signs ($1.59/stake...I think I need four)
Cleaning the ring bearer pillowThings I have to do in the next seventeen days:

Pack Favors
Place Cards
Table Assignment lists
Finish the second tall flower vase and any other decorations I want that won't be done the day before at the lodge.
Cards for the cameras
Cards for the bells
Schedule for Master of Ceremonies
Email schedule and layout to caterer
Email revised ceremony to officiant
My schedule for the day of
Take the ring bearer pillow to the cleaners/pick up the pillowOk, I really can't believe that that's it, so if I'm forgetting something, please tell me!

usahgrad

04-26-2006, 05:11 PM

Here's the revised ceremony. I think this one might stick; at least for a little while. :) Not much has changed, just kind of scooted things around.

[Processional]

Friends, family, you have been invited to witness Jason and Kellianne’s promise to face the future together as husband and wife. Jason and Kellianne, you stand before your friends and family to profess your love for each other. Nothing is easier than saying the words you are about to say to each other and nothing will be harder than living them from this day forward.

[No other human ties are more tender, no other vows are more sacred than those you are about to assume. Are you ready to join together in the bonds of matrimony?
-We are.
Can anyone here show just cause why these two should not be married?]

Who gives this woman to marry this man?
Mama: I do.
And who gives this man to marry this woman?
Mom and Dad: We do.

Jason, do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, until death parts you?
Jason: I do.
Kellianne, do you take this man to be your husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, until death parts you?
Kellianne: I do.

Jason and Kellianne, the vows you are about to profess are not to be taken without careful thought and prayer. For in them you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be dissolved by death.

Jason: I, Jason, take thee Kellianne to be my wife. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.

Kellianne: I, Kellianne, take thee Jason to be my husband. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Now there is no loneliness for you. You are two persons, but you now share one Unity of Purpose.
[Song begins: The Day Before You]
[Mothers light candles. Main candle is lit via tapers by bride and groom.]

As the two flames unite to make one, so too shall you both unite to create one life together. May these rings serve as a reminder of your love and devotion to each other and the pure and never ending promises you have made here today.

Jason, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
Jason: With this ring, I thee wed.
Kellianne, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
Kellianne: With this ring, I thee wed.

Jason, Kellianne, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.
[Kiss]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton.

[Recessional music begins: Star Wars Main Theme]

The parts in blue are the parts I still need to work on.

usahgrad

04-26-2006, 05:16 PM

This is the schedule for the reception thus far. I don't think much will change as far as this goes, I think I've kind of gotten it all figured out.

Reception Schedule

3:30 Cocktail Hour begins
Hors d’oeuvres and cocktail music

What must be done: If weather allowed for ceremony to be outside, chairs need to be pulled back into the hall. This can be done during the picture time outside of the hall after the ceremony which may run into this time as well. You are allowed to commission anyone you’d like as long as they’re not posing when you commission them. J Groomsmen will work fabulously during family pictures. If weather does not allow for an outside ceremony, this will, obviously, not have to be done.

We would like to have some of the older stuff played for the cocktail hour (thick classy cocktail hour). We’re leaning toward Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, any other big band stuff you can think of. Obviously, if we can’t use your IPod with Mama’s stereo, we will look into making a mix CD. This CD will be labeled “Cocktail Hour.” In theory, we need enough music to cover an hour and a half. However, if some songs are repeated, that’s not a big issue. This music is mainly for ambience and should be kept a quieter level.

5:00-5:10 Bridal Party (including Bride and Groom) fully arrive. Parents of the Bride and Groom are to meet the bridal party in the door way for introductions.

5:15 Bridal Party Enters

Wait for “Outlawed Tunes…” to end, giving the bridal party time to situate themselves and say hello.

Begin “She’s My Kind of Rain” by Tim McGraw and announce over intro:

And finally, I am proud to present for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton.

Lyrics should begin immediately after you say “Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton.”

Bride and Groom will take their place near the beginning of the buffet table for the receiving line. As soon as the song ends, dinner can be announced. Please have the people with kids get their food first, then Table One, then Table Two, then Table Three.

Please have classical music playing softly in the background. Mama has a CD called “The Most Uplifting Classics in the Universe,” which is a two disc set and she also has “For A Sunday Morning,” which are nice upper beat (not to heavy or violent) classical songs. Just to give you a direction to look in.

6:30: Toasting will begin. As it is customary that the Father of the Bride begins toasts (at least according to some places), I would appreciate, if you would like, if you would offer the first toast. If not, please introduce the first toaster

Until further notice, the order of toasts is:
Brother of Bride
Best Man
Maid of Honor
Father of the Groom
Bride

7:15: First dance: “All The Way” by Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra (3:57).

Please begin music before announcing the first dance so that the song’s beginning is playing in the background of the announcement.

7:19: Mother Dance: “Your Song” by Garth Brooks (4:19)

Please introduce both mothers.

7:24: “Party for Two” by Shania Twain and Billy Currington.

8:00: Cake Cutting: Song to play: “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies

8:30: Bouquet Toss: “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cindi Lauper
8:35: Garter Toss: “Mission Impossible (I) Theme”

10:00: Last Song: “The Day Before You” by Rascal Flatts

This is the information I gave to my brother, who is the emcee for the evening. And the information below, is the information I still have to email to the caterer:

3:15-3:30p: Hors D’oeuvres and drinks

Just before 5:00: Please check the punch bowl and the drink table. This is something we will need you to do on and off all night. We will put a few of each soda flavor in the container, so if it runs out, could you please get a new drink from the fridge and replace it. Also, the punch bowl will have lemonade in it, which extra will also be in the kitchen and frozen strawberries, which will be in the freezer. Please refill that as needed as well.

5:00: Light candles on tables (guest tables, cake table, cake and head table).

5:15: When Bridal Party begins to enter, this is your signal to bring out the food for dinner. You will have the course of two songs to do this: “Outlawed Tunes on Outlawed Pipes,” which lasts 2 minutes and 3 seconds and “She’s My Kind of Rain,” which lasts 4 minutes and 10 seconds.

5:20: Buffet/Receiving Line begins.

While people are getting their food, please take down the hors d’oeuvres table which will be on the dance floor (not shown in picture).

6:15: Dinner should be entirely served. Please begin preparing for toast.

6:30: All the drinks for the toast should be dispersed (it’s non-alcoholic, so children can have one too).

7:00: Toasts are finished, dinner is finished.

During the First Dance and the Mother Dance, please (as quietly as possible) clean up the food from the buffet table. This may be a good time to check the punch bowl as well.

After First Dance and Mother Dance is finished (about 7:30) please begin cleaning up the dishes and items from the tables.

8:00: Cake Cutting and serving.

I haven't figured out my schedule or the master of ceremony's schedule yet, but I will do that shortly.

usahgrad

04-26-2006, 05:21 PM

I came home sick from work and after sleeping for a couple of hours and inhaling some herbal tea, I started working on some stuff. I got the seating chart temporarily finished (temporarily means I can't wait for another member of my family or his family to call up and say, "I cannot sit within twenty yards of so and so.") I got the table numbers started, although now that I've figured out exactly how I'm going to do the seating arrangements (so that no one sits near someone they don't want to sit near) I get to change those around and I have a fantastic idea for them. So I'm going to play around with those some more. I still haven't worked on the place cards, the cards for the cameras, or the cards for the bells, but those are next! :)

usahgrad

05-01-2006, 08:34 PM

OMG! I'm getting married THIS MONTH!

I'm so excited!

I have a dozen days to the wedding! A dozen! I could eat that many cookies in one sitting (it wouldn't be good for my butt, but I could do it)! WOO HOO!

usahgrad

05-01-2006, 08:37 PM

Ok, so I had things changed around in the ceremony, but then I realized that the programs are printed with it going to the other way, so I guess I have to switch it back. Oh well!

I met with the cake maker on Saturday and we're going to have a two tiered cake with roses and candles. This made me kind of sad, because I really wanted three teirs, but that will give us WAY too much cake, so I'll be okay with two teirs.

I've been looking at the weather and it's supposed to rain straight through to next Wednesday! And the only reason it's not supposed to rain past there is because the ten day forcast only goes to next Wednesday! OH! I hope that everything works out weather-wise and we won't be doing this in the lodge. That will make me kind of sad...but it will be okay.

usahgrad

05-01-2006, 08:44 PM

Okay, so I think I got some pre-wedding jitters the other day. My FMiL, out of the goodness of her heart I'm sure, dropped off some applications and job descriptions for me of some openings at her work, which happens to be with the county, so it has good benefits. I know she did this as a good thing, but it kind of made me feel like what I had just wasn't good enough. And then with the fact that I'm almost never home on the weekdays due to work and rarely home on the weekends lately due to wedding planning, I was feeling like an inadequate partner for Jason (not in certain ways...just generally).

So the other day, I told him about it. I was afraid that someday he'd realize that he deserved so much better than me and he'd leave me. He and I talked for awhile and he made me feel so much better. He said he worried about the same thing (obviously in reverse). He also said that he wasn't marrying me because I was home all the time or because I had a good job; he was marrying me because he wanted to marry ME. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with ME. He's so sweet. I can't believe that I am so blessed! He is wonderful and supportive and kind. I know things aren't really going to be easy for us...at least not for a great while, but I also know that we are very happy together and no matter what else is going on in our lives, that's the way we'll always be. I can't wait to be Mrs. Sutton!

ikkin510

05-01-2006, 08:44 PM

O yay Kelli, 12 days!!! I'll be praying for nice weather for you. Everything looks great. You are goign to have a wonderful day. I can't wait to see the pictures!

MOB Karen

05-01-2006, 09:42 PM

Jason sounds like a sweetheart, Kelli! He's definitely a keeper!! I will be praying for good weather for you both! I know you'll have a wonderful wedding! Good luck!!

usahgrad

05-03-2006, 07:06 PM

LizabethDavis

05-03-2006, 08:01 PM

Oh my gosh. I can't believe it took me this long to finally look through your journal. Everything looks pretty good. Good luck on your big day!

LaceyinPgh

05-04-2006, 08:45 AM

Oh my Goodness! You are getting married in 9 days. Has it sunk in yet?

MOB Karen

05-04-2006, 08:54 AM

Okay, according to the weather channel in my latest update (which was long enough ago to switch back to this screen and type it in) there is a 30% chance of rain the day before the wedding. I won't be able to find out the day of the wedding until tomorrow. However, if it rains the day before, that may cause problems with the ceremony being outside due to puddles and mud. So we'll have to see. 30% isn't too high though; there's a 70% chance it won't rain and that's pretty good. I'm holding my breath for tomorrow, although the forecast is not concrete...it could change. I've never been such a freak about knowing the weather in my entire life; I guess it's understandable though.

I'm crossing my fingers for you too, Kelli! Good luck!

WhiskeyGirl

05-04-2006, 12:27 PM

Okay, according to the weather channel in my latest update (which was long enough ago to switch back to this screen and type it in) there is a 30% chance of rain the day before the wedding. I won't be able to find out the day of the wedding until tomorrow. However, if it rains the day before, that may cause problems with the ceremony being outside due to puddles and mud. So we'll have to see. 30% isn't too high though; there's a 70% chance it won't rain and that's pretty good. I'm holding my breath for tomorrow, although the forecast is not concrete...it could change. I've never been such a freak about knowing the weather in my entire life; I guess it's understandable though.

Kelli

It rained on our wedding day! But I've heard that rain on your wedding day is suppose to bring good luck and money!! I wanted it to rain buckets on our day but a light sprinkle was all we got!! Rain pictures are really pretty too! If it does rain I hope its only after you say your "I do!"s

Shawna

usahgrad

05-06-2006, 10:21 AM

Kelli

It rained on our wedding day! But I've heard that rain on your wedding day is suppose to bring good luck and money!! I wanted it to rain buckets on our day but a light sprinkle was all we got!! Rain pictures are really pretty too! If it does rain I hope its only after you say your "I do!"s

Shawna

Ok, so here's the latest forecast (although this changes almost hourly, but hey, it's a whole week away yet, I can't expect them to get it perfect): Ok, we're currently at a high of 64 and a low of 51 (that's kind of chilly) and a 40% chance of rain, although it supposed to rain clear through all of next week and on into Monday 5/15...figures. Oh well, at least I'll be rolling in the dough...in theory!

I came up with a back up plan for the out door pictures I wanted to take. One of the places I wanted to take them is under an over pass, so the bridal party, if it is raining, is going to go take their pictures there. The road goes right under, so unless it's particularly blustery, we should stay relatively dry. At least I'll be outside somehow. :)

usahgrad

05-06-2006, 10:23 AM

Oh my Goodness! You are getting married in 9 days. Has it sunk in yet?

I don't know if it has sunk in yet or not because I'm not sure what it "sinking in" will feel like.

I have my practice updo today and I have a practice makeup run too. I can't wait to post pictures and see what you all think!

MOB Karen

05-06-2006, 10:52 AM

I don't know if it has sunk in yet or not because I'm not sure what it "sinking in" will feel like.

I have my practice updo today and I have a practice makeup run too. I can't wait to post pictures and see what you all think!

Can't wait to see how beautiful you are, Kelli!!! Have fun today!!

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 09:45 AM

Good morning everyone! Six days until the wedding! YAY!

Currently the weather report is looking better than it was. There is a 20% chance of rain and a high of 67 degrees. That's not so bad. Hopefully it will stay like that. It is supposed to be partly cloudy, but I can do partly cloudy.

I have to run down to the car to get the cable for the camera, so as soon as I do that, I will upload the pictures from the practice run.

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 10:16 AM

Hair and make up all done up; Somethings were not as quite as perfect as they will be next week and I have a slight problem with my fiance. I came home yesterday and he said he wasn't so keen on the make up because it makes me look like someone else. He doesn't like when I wear makeup in the first place and I was wearing fake eyelashes (can you tell?) and had eyebrows drawn on and was wearing a TON of make up. So here it is:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Makeup/HairFront2.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Makeup/HairFront1.jpg

And here's the back:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Makeup/Hair-back.jpg

LaceyinPgh

05-07-2006, 10:18 AM

Kelli, the hair looks great. I love it. As for Jason not liking the makeup, tough. You have to wear it or you will be totally washed out in all of your pictures. He is going to have to get over it. I personally t hink you look fabulous.

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 10:32 AM

LaceyinPgh

05-07-2006, 10:47 AM

Thanks Lacey! I'm thinking about having the eyelashes cut down a little...they're a bit long I think. I wasn't too keen on the eyebrows either, I'm not sure what we're going to do about that. I hate having blonde eyebrows!
Personally I would keep the eybrows. They don't photograph that dark. You don't want to look like you don't have any eyebrows at all in your wedding pictures. If you are THAT worried about it, take them just a shade lighter but no more. AS for the fake eyelashes, I hate them on me. If they annoy you, ditch them. Put on a good mascara after you curl your lashes and get a metal eyelash comb to seperate them.

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 11:04 AM

I'm thinking on thinning out the eyebrows a little, and cutting down the eyelashes. They don't bother me, they're just a bit long. I can't wear mascara on my own lashes, so it's either these or none...and I really want eyelashes. Jason said he could see the foundation too, so I'm thinking I'm going to ask her to ease off a little bit on the foundation (aside from my chin which is, much to my dismay, in the process of popping out a little pimple!). So the plan is: lighten the foundation a little, trim the eyelashes to a bit shorter and thin out and maybe lighten just a little the eyebrows. Other than that, I think I'm ok.

WhiskeyGirl

05-07-2006, 12:37 PM

Hey Kelli!!

You look wonderful! I wouldn't recommend changing anything as the photograph of you doesn't look like you are over done!! Just remember that more makeup is better for wedding photography! Are there shorter fake lashes they can put on you? Because like you said, you should really have eyelashes! lol. Are your eyes allergic to mascara and thats why you cant wear it? I hope you can kind of understand where we are coming from when we tell you that pictures need that little extra oomph! Plus if you think about it, you will be wearing the makeup all day and you might really want it to last. Also if Jason could see the foundation maybe she didn't use quite the right color!? Anyhow, I think you look gorgeous and shouldn't change a thing except maybe some smaller lashes!! 6 Days to go Kelli!! Enjoy this time! Good luck with your decisions!

Jopet

05-07-2006, 12:58 PM

Your hair looks awesome!!

Your make up looks great too, I agree with other ladies I think you need alot of coverage for your big day and remember it will soften as the day goes on.
I think your eyebrows look really good!!! But do what makes you comfortable oh and HAVE FUN :bbmrgreen: .

Jenn060306

05-07-2006, 01:14 PM

Kelli you look sooooo pretty! I can not wait to see the wedding pictures!

I am feeling a bit the same way.... i don't wear make-up really at all as it is either. I hate the feelings of foundation on my face. I was thinking i would take off the foundation after the pictures with a face cloth or a whipe. I always feel like my skin can't breath when i have it on. I thought if i did that then i could leave my eyes being made up but feel much more like myself for the rest of the night.

I would definatly keep the eye brows but possibly tone them down a little and the eyelashes too. 6 days! So exsiting! :bbmrgreen:

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 01:49 PM

Thanks to everyone! Don't worry Shawna, I know what you mean concerning the pictures. I keep telling Jason I want to take your breath away, but I want to look fabulous in the pictures too. He's of the opinion that he can't tell me what to do. Maybe I'll do like Jenn says, take off some of it after all the formal pictures are done. As far as shorter lashes go, we can cut these down; which is probably what is going to happen. I thought they were long when I first saw it too.

Thank you all for your opinions. I have been so sick with worry concerning this I actually feel nautious. Jason doesn't understand why I'm worrying so much...I guess that's just a guy thing.

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 01:51 PM

Thought I'd post the official final ceremony script. It's short and sweet and too the point, which I like. Here you go:

[Processional]
Friends, family, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in the bonds of matrimony. Can anyone show just cause why these two should not be married? (pause) Jason and Kellianne, you stand before your friends and family to profess your love for each other. Nothing is easier than saying the words you are about to say and nothing will be harder than living them from this day forward. Are you ready to face this challenge together as husband and wife?
-We are.
Who gives this woman to marry this man?
Mama: I do.
Jason, do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, until death parts you?
Jason: I do.
Kellianne, do you take this man to be your husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, until death parts you?
Kellianne: I do.
Jason and Kellianne, the vows you are about to profess are not to be taken without careful thought and prayer. For in them you are committing yourselves exclusively the one to the other for as long as you both shall live. This love is not to be diminished by difficult circumstances, and it is only to be dissolved by death.
Jason: I, Jason, take thee Kellianne to be my wife. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.
Kellianne: I, Kellianne, take thee Jason to be my husband. When all the world is dark, I will shine for you. When all the music is gone, I will play for you. When all is lost, I will find it for you. I will laugh with you in joy and cry with you in sorrow. I will love, honor, and cherish you all the days of my life. This I promise you.
The rings please.
Jason, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
Jason: With this ring, I thee wed.
Kellianne, please repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed.
Kellianne: With this ring, I thee wed.
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
[Song begins: The Day Before You]
[Mothers light candles. Main candle is lit via tapers by bride and groom.]
A marriage makes of two fractioned lives a whole;
It gives to two purposeless lives a work, and doubles the strength of each to perform it;
It gives to two questioning natures a reason for living,
And something to live for;
It will give a new gladness to the sunshine,
A new fragrance to the flowers
A new beauty to the earth
And a new mystery to life.
Jason and Kellianne, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.
[Kiss]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton.
[Recessional]

usahgrad

05-07-2006, 08:42 PM

So we went to the video store this afternoon and rented some videos that are five day rentals. Touch of reality here, the lady says, "These are due back Friday by midnight". OH MY GOD! That's the eve of our wedding! You can imagine how bouncy I was walking out of the video store.

I looked at our to buy and to do list and we're down to a few things. To buy:

Cream Cheese and Whipped Cream for the fancy dips Mama bought for hors o'duerves.
Ice

To do:

Finish up the floral decorations that I can do prior to the day at the lodge
Print up the place cards
Table assignment lists

The weather is a 30% chance of rain, high 67 and isolated thunderstorms...here's hoping!

WhiskeyGirl

05-07-2006, 09:19 PM

My fingers are crossed for you Kelli and I am doing my Native NO rain dance!! lol. Wouldn't my granny be proud?? lol

Kacie_bride

05-07-2006, 09:51 PM

I just looked at your pictures and they look so pretty! I love the hair!

usahgrad

05-08-2006, 06:29 PM

My fingers are crossed for you Kelli and I am doing my Native NO rain dance!! lol. Wouldn't my granny be proud?? lol

Right! The NO RAIN DANCE!

:boat: :realmad: NO RAIN!!!!!!!!

usahgrad

05-08-2006, 06:33 PM

I just looked at your pictures and they look so pretty! I love the hair!

Thank so much! I'm a little nervous about it, but right now I'm a little nervous about everything. Jason asked me if I was nervous tonight during dinner because all I was doing was relocating the food on my plate, it wasn't actually maneuvering it's way into my mouth. I told him I wasn't nervous about the marriage part and I can't wait to marry him and be his wife; I'm just all of a sudden nervous about everything else.

I think it stems from a casual comment my mother made today during a phone call. She very casually said something about calling me to come get her if Gabi (my sister) and her have one more spat. I love my mother, but I'm down to days here, I don't need to hear this. 1. I don't have time. 2. The day she'd be coming down is the day I'm decorating the hall...all day! I can't go get her. Well this worry leads into "What if they get into it before the wedding? at the wedding? at the reception?" Well that leads to "What if my not so tactful relatives see something they don't like and say something about?" which leads to, "OMG, what are his relatives going to think of me if my family does something?" And about a million other what ifs that just sent my head swirling. So ya, I'm a little nervous right now!

Kacie_bride

05-08-2006, 11:39 PM

Just settle down and take a deep breath! Everything will be fine! I would be nervous too if I was you, but I know everything will be great! I'm so excited for you!

bnd94

05-09-2006, 07:14 AM

Everything will be fine Kelli! Just relax and enjoy your day. His family is going to love you. How could they not.:hug:

Don't worry about your family doing something. You can't really control what they do so don't even think about it. I know that may be hard to do but your gonna be a bride in 4 days!!!!!!!

4 days!! OMG I am so excited for you!!:ura1:

LaceyinPgh

05-09-2006, 07:48 AM

Kelli, I know that you are going to be super busy over the next 4 days. Can you believe you actually made it to the 4 day mark? When I first joined this board, you were here and in the same stages of planning that I was. Now, you are just a mere 96 hours (give or take) from your wedding. You have been working so hard at this over the last 15 months. I know that Saturday is going to be beautiful for you. I wish you and Jason all the best of luck on your big day and then every day following it for the rest of your lives together.

This summer when these darn weddings are over you and I are going to have to get together and hang out sometime.

CindySue

05-09-2006, 10:28 AM

Kelli, form what Ive been told and can see, this last week is gonna be the toughest. But just think.......this time next week we will be old married women!!!
Congrats girl! We made it!!!!!!

usahgrad

05-09-2006, 09:42 PM

Thanks everyone! I really needed that!

Kacie, my brother gave me the same advise. I have to say he called at just the right time. For as much as I complain about him, he's been really great! Especially after our conversation this evening.

Becky, thank you. I keep hoping his family will like me; I don't have too many more of them to meet, but I still keep worrying. Thanks for what you said though. :)

Lacey, you are definitely on after all this is said and one with! :)

Cindy, you're right! Well, minus the old part--neither one of us are old and never will be! :)

I think I'm doing okay. We went to the video store again today and they said the videos were due on Sunday! I don't think the video guy quite knew why I was doing a dance out the door.

I'm off of work now, so hopefully I'll be able to hop on here a little bit more. I'm going to relax and clean the house. I have a few more flower things to finish, my toast to write, and the table lists to print up. But other than that, I need to clean the house. I plan on spending quite a bit of either tomorrow or Thursday in my pajamas.

Kacie_bride

05-09-2006, 10:03 PM

I love PJ days!!!!

usahgrad

05-09-2006, 10:13 PM

I love PJ days!!!!

Me too! I am officially declaring a pj day on Thursday I think. I have to clean the house, but I can do that in my pjs! :)

StaceyMc

05-10-2006, 08:36 AM

Kelli - I just saw your hair and makeup pictures - you look absolutely beautiful!

I wanted to wish you luck. Enjoy your day! And don't worry, his family will love you - why wouldn't they?

I'll be anxious to hear how it goes and see your pics.

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 08:41 AM

Alright, well the weather does not seem to be cooperating for me. We're looking at rain and low sixties all weekend. I'm kind of at the point where I'm realizing if it's going to rain, it's going to rain. Everything will still be just as beautiful inside the lodge as it would be outside of it. The music will be better because we won't be using a little stereo; we'll be using a big one! And, to top it all off, I'll get to go umbrella shopping! The last time I went umbrella shopping was years ago in New York City. It was pouring all day and we stopped at Toys R' Us and bought umbrellas. It was the only thing we bought all day!

I forgot to mention that Jason got me flowers yesterday. Yesterday was my last day at work and when I got to the car afterwards, there were flowers in the passenger seat for me--six long stem beautiful roses! This is really something because persuading Jason to get me flowers has been really difficult. He grew up in a household in which his father didn't buy flowers unless he was sorry for something, so flowers took on a negative connotation for Jason. Hopefully after my extremely happy reaction yesterday, he'll realize how much flowers can be used for other occasions. :)

My brother called yesterday evening too. I complain about him a lot and I really don't give him the credit he is due. He really has become an incredible husband and father and one of the best big brothers a girl could ever want. We talked about the music at the reception, which is what he's in charge of, and we talked about the family, my worries, and, of course, how much he likes Jason (Jason's kind of hard not to like!). I think, for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like his little sister yesterday; I felt like we were on the same plane--if that makes sense.

He told me not to worry so much and that if the entire wedding goes off without a glitch, that means there's something wrong. We joked about Arthur and Guinevere (his cake topper) sinking knee deep into the cake and the fact that his aunt took off minutes before the ceremony started to go back to the hotel to get the centerpieces. He said not to worry about anything like this happening because if and when it does, in five years, it will be nothing more than a family anecdote we tell when our anniversary rolls around. He also mentioned something about helping as far as particular family members go in the hopes that his help will reduce the stress and prevent a blow out at the wedding.

Lately, my sister's been really weird. Not two weeks ago she dyed her hair from the pretty browny-blonde it was to crayola crayon red. When Mama asked her about the wedding, she said she forgot about it. It's still crayola crayon red, although I do hear that it's supposed to change. I guess there were also some incidences pertaining to Mama's surgery and recovery (outside of the fact that she wasn't at the hospital during mama's surgery and didn't call ANYONE at ALL to find out how mama was doing even though she had four different cell phone numbers she could have called) that she's lucky I wasn't there to witness.

Anyways, the point of the story is, my mother is just about fed up with her and if there is one thing that she does to affect our big day in a negative way, I think my brother is going to loose it with her too; not at the wedding, he assured me, but post-wedding. I am banking on the fact that my sister knows that this is an important day for Jason and I and that she won't do anything that would negatively affect it. She is great around his family, to the point where Jason's sister just LOVES her! And I know that she loves me and I don't think she would do anything; but lately it just doesn't seem like she's thinking anything through. Guess we'll see.

Then there's both of my aunt's, which my brother made it very clear that if we ignore them, whatever they're doing which they shouldn't be doing, would probably stop. So that's my philosophy. The aunt I'm particularly worried about is ALL the way at the OTHER end of the table from the head table and the family table, so I don't think she'll be too much of a problem. The other aunt tends to keep her cool when she knows she should, so I'm getting to where I'm not too worried about her either.

Wow, so I didn't mean to go off like this. Sorry y'all, guess I had to kind of talk things out for myself to get myself to calm down. Today I have the seating list to type up, I need to go out and grab a few things, I'm going to pick out a bread recipe to make for the people who are staying at the hotel I blocked in and I need to get to work on my toast. Not to mention the fact that I need to clean out my car and clean the house. And at some point, I need to head to either my very-soon-to-be-mother-in-law or very-soon-to-be-sister-in-law's house and do some laundry for the honeymoon. So much to do and I'm so comfortable just sitting here doing nothing! :) Oh well, gotta scoot my patoot!

StaceyMc

05-10-2006, 08:54 AM

Your brother sounds like a great guy!

Try not to worry about the actions of other people at your wedding, hopefully, they are adult enough to be on their best behavior. However, if they're not, their behavior is a reflection on them, not on you.

Oh yea, and if you and Lacey get together in the Pittsburgh area, let me know!!

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 09:01 AM

Oh yea, and if you and Lacey get together in the Pittsburgh area, let me know!!

Will do! Thanks for everything you said!

I gotta warn all of you; by the time your wedding rolls around, you're going to be SO SICK of people asking you if you're nervous! I am so glad I don't have to go to work today because I don't want to have to hear it anymore! Boy I'm kind of :censored: . But my brother agreed with me; it gets annoying!

LaceyinPgh

05-10-2006, 09:05 AM

Oh yea, and if you and Lacey get together in the Pittsburgh area, let me know!!

Absolutely! And I second Kelli, on the nervous thing. If I hear it one more time I am going to vomit. I ran into my doggie doctor the other day, (and let me tell you if I were a single gal I'd be after him) he even asked if I was nervous yet.

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 09:08 AM

I haven't posted about this yet, so I thought I would. We decided to change our preceremony music to something other than the traditional classical. Jason and I both like country music and we both know that not many other people (especially those coming to our wedding) do. So we decided to use the country music love songs we like as our preceremony music. We have a TON of them, so it probably all won't get played preceremony, but here's the list:

"In My Dreams" by Josh Turner
"When I Think About Angels" by Jamie O'Neal
"On My Way To You" by Jamie O'Neal
"Missing You" by Trace Adkins
"I Know How to Love You Well" by Tim McGraw
"I Wanna Make You Cry" by Jeff Bates
"She Thinks She Needs Me" by Andy Griggs
"Heaven Help Me" by Wynonna
"In A Real Love" by Phil Vassar
"One More Believer" by Bobby Pinson
"my last name" by Dierks Bentley
"Holding You" by Gretchen Wilson
"Better Life" by Keith Urban
"anything but mine" by Kenny Chesney
"I'm Already There" by Lonestar
"Something To Be Proud Of" by Montgomery Gentry
"Love You Out Loud" by Rascal Flatts
"Forever And For Always" by Shania Twain

Ok, I know not all of these are love songs and some of them may make you go...WHAT? or HUH?...but these are all songs that either Jason has said remind him of me or I have said remind me of him. Remember, we did start out in a long distance relationship, so that's why some of the songs are in there.

We also put lyrics of love songs on the cards for the bells instead of the little poem I was going to put on them. All of the lyrics are different, so I had to find thirty nine love songs with great lyrics...okay, wasn't too hard, and I like how it came out.

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 09:09 AM

I think I've decided that, if the ceremony is indoors, I want the candles on the tables lit for it; which means I have to go buy more candles. Not so bad considering it's only about $5 a pack...but grrr!

rainbowtreat

05-10-2006, 07:50 PM

OK it's finally here. I want to say congrats. As I said to Cindy all yoru hard work has paid off and you get to enjoy all of it. Enjoy your day and I will be thinking of you Saturday. Besure to fill us in on details and show us some pictures when you get back. Have fun!!!!

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 11:05 PM

Thank you Gwen! I will get pictures up as soon as I can. :)

I can't sleep, so I came downstairs to work on my currently non-existent toast and the table numbers. My plan is to hang the table numbers off the end of the tables on the entrance side. I even adjusted the seating chart so that I could do it that way.

Okay, off to work on my toast.

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 11:39 PM

Ok, here's my toast. This is in no way the final version. I find it's good for me to write something out, walk away from it, and then change stuff around at a later time. I'm open to all criticism and, of course, any praise. :)

I just wanted to say a few quick thank yous. First, I wanted to thank all of you for taking time out from your busy schedules to be here today. Your love and support makes this day even more special for us. I’d also like to take a moment to remember those who could not be here today for whatever reason.

I would like to say thank you to all of you who helped us set up yesterday and all of you who will be helping with the take down tonight. I’d also like to thank all of the servers who are here this evening; your presence has relieved quite a bit of stress from many of us. Thank you to Nick Albin, who so willingly stepped up to coordinate things for the ceremony and thank you to my brother for his wonderful anecdotes and incredible ability to entertain us throughout this evening.

Thank you to our bridal party for being here to stand up with us and support us while we make this step in our lives. I know many of you are very busy and quite a few of you came from far away. Particularly to Amy and Erika, you guys kept me sane through all of this, even though you weren’t within the immediate area. Thank you to Jessica for being the only bridesmaid in the immediate area and thus being the one I dragged out on occasion to pick something out or had help me fold quite a few of the favors.

Thank you to my new family. You all have made me feel like I belong and I appreciate that more than I can express. Thank you to my sister-in-law for everything you have contributed from the bridesmaid stoles to the video tape of this wonderful day. Thank you to my brother-in-law for helping make the shoes the color we wanted and the bonfire you threw a few weeks ago. That was a moment away from everything that we really needed. Thank you to my father-in-law for lunch the other day, along with other things. The break from wedding planning was much needed and I really enjoyed our time together.

Thank you to my mother-in-law. There is no part of this celebration that you have not contributed to. For those of you who don’t know, along with everything else she did, Mom made all seven of the bridesmaids’ dresses. They are absolutely gorgeous and I thank you for all the weekends they took to finish them.

To the family that Jason has joined; thank you all for your love and support. I know that most of my family knows, but for the people who don’t, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer the end of January. My Aunt Lynn and Aunt Marge have been so helpful and wonderful with her and there is no way I could ever thank the two of you.

Thank you Mama. Thank you for driving three hours so that I could drag you around to a thousand stores to show you all my ideas. Thank you for the funding, as it is always an important part. But most importantly, thank you for showing me that there is nothing in this world that we cannot survive. Your strength through everything has shown me that Jason and I will be able to face everything life has to throw at us and make it through okay. I love you Mama.

It was my mama who read a story to me the other day and said that it reminded her of Jason and me.

I do not have a mansion, and I haven’t any land,
Not even one dollar to crinkle in my hand.
But I can show you morning on a thousand hills,
And kiss you and give you seven daffodils.

To Jason, thank you for loving me. Another part of that story that Mama read to me was “It has been said that love isn’t something you say, it’s something you do.” Jason, you love me more and better than any woman could ever ask for. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to love you the same way for the rest of my life. Thank you for the rock that you have been through all of this. You are strong, kind, and thoughtful and I am the luckiest woman to be able to get up here tonight and say that you’re my husband.

To life; to the happy moments we get to share with our friends and family and to living everyday happy and loved.

Kacie_bride

05-10-2006, 11:51 PM

usahgrad

05-10-2006, 11:52 PM

Are you going to read that or memorize it or what? Anyway I'm pretty tired so I didn't read it all so I can't add any comments about it just yet. I need to sleep, but Justin is not home yet and I hate to go to bed without him! I'm sure it is a great toast! I'll read it tomorrow. I promise! Good luck getting some sleep!

Partially read, partially memorized. I'm probably going to work on memorizing it and then write down some key words on some 3 x 5 cards. I knew I'd use that darn speech class I took for something! :)

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:38 AM

Well, since I'm up I thought I'd scan in a copy of the programs since we changed them all around. I really like these, I think they're gorgeous!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Paper%20Items/program.jpg

I'm sitting here with a huge pair of headphones on in my robe because I just can't stand to hear the rain right now. So instead, I'm listening to Bobby Pinson...wish I could sleep like Jason. I don't get it; how does he just turn his brain off?

Jenn060306

05-11-2006, 12:42 AM

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:45 AM

Love the program! Very pretty!
Mar is sleeping right now too.... i'm a bit wired from all the stuff running through my head.
How are you feeling? Good?! Stressed? Hopefully the rain will stop and it will be beatiful on Saturday! If i don't get a chance to talk to you! Have a great time! Don't sweat the small stuff! :D

Thank you Jenn. It's not supposed to stop raining by Saturday; in fact, it's supposed to rain all the way through next week. Oh well. I'm a bit wired too. Not really stressed, not really nervous, not really anything but wired. What's really weird is I don't really have much else to do. I forgot cream cheese and whipped cream when I went to the grocery store tonight, so I have to go get that. I have to finalize the table numbers and have Jason check the seating list before I print it up on the pretty, but fairly expensive paper (we only needed one sheet, so I spoiled myself). I have a few flower things to finish up, but nothing drastic, so I could do it Friday at the lodge. So right now, I'm just sitting here, wasting time (sorry, it's the song I'm listening too right now). :)

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:47 AM

Hey, just checked the weather channel and the chance of precipitation on Saturday just went down from 60% to 40%...that's a good sign. Of course, now I've cursed it, but still...here's hoping. :)

Jenn060306

05-11-2006, 12:50 AM

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:52 AM

I got to meet Jason's Aunt Kim today. I came home from running some errands (I went out early so I didn't have to deal with a lot of people, so I was basically how I looked when I got out of bed, but with jeans and a t-shirt on). Anyways, the wedding has thrown-up all over the house and here I am marching through the door, looking crappy, carting a couple of bags, and annoyed because someone parked in my spot and lo and behold! The people who parked in my spot; Jason's Aunt Kim who flew in from Arizona, Jason's mother, and Jason's grandmother. Probably a good thing I didn't say anything when I came in the house about how POed I was about the parking spot - we've been having a lot of parking problems with our neighbors. Great! The house is a mess and here they all are chilling on my couch.

Aside from the embarrassment, his aunt was so nice! And his mother kept reassuring me that they knew the house was not going to be in perfect order. They got a good laugh off of the bottles of champagne (actually sparkling grape juice) that are sitting in the dining room, taking up half the room. Apparently they haven't seen the guest room! Probably a good thing! :)

LaceyinPgh

05-11-2006, 08:25 AM

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 11:14 AM

Happy pj day Kellianne! If you took my advice right now you are Giant Eagle so you can come home and chill out in your house. It will be your last realy day to just sit around and do nothing as a single chick. :bbmrgreen:

Wow! It's cool when you say it like that. Actually, I went to Giant Eagle last night, so now I'm just chilling until just before four o'clock. Then I have to get my butt moving, take my butterfly to the florist to put in my bouquet (sneak a peek at my flowers since I had another flower nightmare last night), go pick up the ring bearer pillow from the dry cleaners and then head back to Giant Eagle because I was stupid and forgot the cream cheese and whipped cream I was supposed to pick up for my mother. Then, on the way home, I'm going to stop at Drug Mart and pick up some packaging tape and a few other things. Then I'm going to get home, throw some laundry in a hamper and take it too either Jason's mother's or his sister's; I haven't decided yet. So much for that free day as a single girl. At least I get the morning...and boy did I sleep in today! :)

On a plus side, it's not raining right now. And after seven am on Saturday, there's only supposed to be a 30% chance of rain (I'm cursing myself by saying this) but that's looking a little up.

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:07 PM

I'm a bit worried about getting to the point where i don't have anything to do and i will be making myself crazy because i will want to do somthing and need to do somthing but i won't know what to do.
I'm sure i will eat my own words in a couple weeks. But why not do somthing nice and relaxing. Have a bath, read a book, go out for dinner with Jason one last time before the wedding. Just try to do somthing for you. You;ve worked so hard and had so many things to deal with getting to this point. Enjoy it while it's here.

Jenn, I didn't catch this post last night and I just wanted to say, that's a GREAT idea! I just took the worlds longest hot shower and it felt SOO good. Now I'm sitting here with a white face so I hopefully don't have huge pimples in two days. It feels so GOOD! :)

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:11 PM

Last night I did the table numbers and printed up the table list. I also cleaned off the display table in our living room and pulled out the wedding bears my aunt gave us at the bridal shower. Then I glued in the two stones that were missing from the butterfly when I bought it so I can take that to the florist today. I really hope I can see just one of my arrangements. I can't imagine they'd wait until tomorrow, especially since I'm picking some up tomorrow.

The florist won't deliver this weekend because it's mother's day, so I'll be picking up the guys flowers and the flowers for the cake tomorrow and putting them in the fridge at the lodge. Then on Saturday, on my way to where we're getting ready from the salon, I'm going to get the girls' flowers. Tulips are very tempermental, so I figured it would be better for the florist to hold onto them as long as possible. I really want to go up there now and I think I might - well as soon as my face mask dries and I get dressed. I'm so bad. :bbmrgreen:

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 12:46 PM

Ok, I think Jason is nervous. He's spent this morning watching music videos of Iron Maiden and Queensryche and saying how music just isn't the same as it was back then. It's cute!

bnd94

05-11-2006, 01:13 PM

Jason is so right!! MTV just isn't the same either.

I can't even imagine how excited you must be right now. I am sending you some sunshine for Saturday. Now what time do you want it delivered? LOL! :cool:

RebeccaW

05-11-2006, 01:36 PM

Wow Kelli 2 DAYS!!!!! are feeling anything? nerves excited???? i was excited at this point then when the actual day came i was ok then when i got my hair done i really started to feel it hit me. good luck and iam sure EVERYTHING will be wonderful for you and jason on ur wedding day. cant wait to see pics!!!!

LaceyinPgh

05-11-2006, 02:05 PM

Ok, I think Jason is nervous. He's spent this morning watching music videos of Iron Maiden and Queensryche and saying how music just isn't the same as it was back then. It's cute!

First, Kelli let me just say, send all your rain and cold weather my way so that you can have a sunny comfortable wedding day. My a/c isn't working and it will be a few days to get a repairman out here. So, Ineed all the rain and cool air that I can get.

Secondly, where did Jason find Iron Maiden videos. I'm so jealous. And he is right, music and videos for the most part just aren't where they used to be. :(

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 05:49 PM

Thanks you guys! The Iron Maiden videos were on www.youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com); he lives off of that site I swear! I would love to send the rainy yucky weather your way Lacey, but from what I hear, it's just camping out over the Great Lakes. To top it off, the weather out look has gotten worse for Saturday. Colder and more of a chance of rain.

That's ok though. I went to go look at how the lodge was set up today and the dance floor is WAY bigger than I thought it would be. So what I thought we might do is pull the chairs out and create an aisle on the dance floor so that everyone is looking out the windows. There's a set of doors there we could open too! So that way, we're almost outside. We're going to figure out the logistics of it tomorrow. I'm really excited you guys! I can't even express it!

I got to see my flowers today! They are GORGEOUS!

Here's my junior bridesmaids' bouquets:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/jbmbouquet.jpg

Here's my MOH's bouquet:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/BM%20Stuff/mohbouquet.jpg

The bridesmaids' bouquets will be just the pink tulips (which they're going to spray to make a bit pinker).

And *drum roll please* here is my bouquet:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/mybouquet.jpg

These roses are SO beautiful and the florist has been fighting people off with a stick for a week (since they came in) because everyone wants to buy them! :)

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 05:52 PM

I mentioned that Jason got me roses for my last day of work. Well here they are:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/JasonsFlowers.jpg

They're so beautiful! I wish I could keep them forever!

And here are our wedding bears. We got these from my aunt, who is in the process of getting divorced from my uncle and they used to collect bears. She went through their entire collection and gave me all the wedding bears for a shower gift. They have a ton of sentimental value because of that. I decided to pull them out since it's officially wedding time!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/weddingbears.jpg

The black candle holder is the bigger version of my unity candle holder. The unity candle holder only has three places.

Okay, I have to go find some stuff now and I'm going to work on the screen once more. Jason's out at his tux fitting and we're supposed to be getting dinner afterwards, so I have to get moving. WOW! I AM SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED! I would be jumping off the walls if we didn't have neighbors! :)

MOB Karen

05-11-2006, 07:04 PM

OMG, Kelli, I love your flowers!!! Tulips are my most favorite flower in the whole world! And the color of those roses is amazing!! And the wedding bears, too too cute!! How sweet of your FH to get you flowers!

WhiskeyGirl

05-11-2006, 07:07 PM

Yes i wish my DH had been as sweet as your very soon to be Husband!! lol...Its ok, he wrote me a beautiful love letter for our wedding day!! Your flowers are gorgeous Kelli!! I really can't wait to see your pictures! I am excited for y'alls days, I feel like I am going to them or something! lol...i am that excited! You and Cindy this weekend and then Lacey soon and then Jenn and Lizabeth and Gwen!! And oh man, I sooooo EXCITED!!!! :) Sorry I am a goober!! lol

LaceyinPgh

05-11-2006, 08:13 PM

Kelli the tulips are beautiful. I love tulips. Your roses are gorgeous too. Nice job coordinating all of it! You are almost there. This time tomorrow, you will be at your wedding rehersal!

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 09:39 PM

MOB Karen

05-11-2006, 09:54 PM

OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS!!!!! I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

My brother got the song that I wanted for the ceremony, so I'm going to burn that cd and a cd for the dinner songs since my brother doesn't have so much classical stuff and that's what I want played. Then it's off to bed and up tomorrow morning to get everything out to the car and to the lodge!!!! I am SOOOO excited!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_30_104.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS)I'm so excited for you, Kelli!!! You sound so happy!! Have a wonderful, wonderful wedding!!

http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb068&pp=ZNxdm824YYUS (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb068_ZNxdm824YYUS)

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 10:44 PM

I'm so excited for you, Kelli!!! You sound so happy!! Have a wonderful, wonderful wedding!!

Thank you Karen! I am happy. I can't explain it...it's like today I realized, whatever is going to go wrong is going to go wrong, but there is one thng that is going to go right and that one thing is all that's going to matter. At the end of the day, no matter who says or does what, no matter what the weather is like, no matter how many people want to throttle how many other people, I will still leave that lodge as Jason's wife and that's all I really want now.

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 10:45 PM

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 10:48 PM

Ok, I have everything pulled out and ready to go. Tomorrow morning, we have to pack up the screen, pack the car as much as we can pack it (I think we're going to have to make more than one trip), hit drug mart for some tape and then we are off to the lodge. We have to be there by 9am to meet up with the custodian. From what I've heard, quite a bit of Jason's family is going to be there to help, which is really wonderful. They have been really great and supportive of this. I keep hearing his mother say that she never thought this would happen, so this weekend will probably be pretty amazing to her.

Well, here goes. I'm going to try and hop on tomorrow night. I may post some pictures, I may not. It depends on timing and whether or not I'm on my computer or my brother's computer. We'll see. I hope to get on here one more time before I'm a married woman, but I'm not sure how much free time I'm going to have between now and then. :)

LaceyinPgh

05-11-2006, 10:48 PM

Here is a picture of the tray. We didn't have too many pictures of us and didn't want to put the professional ones on it because we're still debating using those on the entry table. So we picked four kind of funny, kind of sweet, kind of important pictures. Very few people are going to see it anyways.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/tray.jpg

That looks so nice Kelli. You have got to be one of the most creative poeple that I know.

So, now that you have realized that you can't control the weather, your family, or anything else, have you come to some sort of inner peace. If not, just lie to me and say that you have. I need some hope to hold onto for two weeks from today.

I am so happy that your wedding day is almost here. Good luck with everything.

StaceyMc

05-11-2006, 10:49 PM

Kelli - Have a wonderful day tomorrow and Saturday! Your wedding will be beautiful! I'm excited for you!!

usahgrad

05-11-2006, 10:51 PM

So, now that you have realized that you can't control the weather, your family, or anything else, have you come to some sort of inner peace. If not, just lie to me and say that you have. I need some hope to hold onto for two weeks from today.

To be completely honest, I guess I have come to an "inner peace". I'm just happy. Thanks for the compliment on the tray. It's just contact paper and some pictures...nothing major. I thought it turned out well.

Thank you Stacey, as well as all of you, for your well wishes.

HERE GOES!

rainbowtreat

05-11-2006, 10:56 PM

Love the tray. It looks awsome. I am so excitedf or you Kelli. I cant wait to see all your wedding pictures. I wish I was going to be there. Have fun.

Jenn060306

05-11-2006, 11:24 PM

Kelli your day is going to be great! I know it! I'm so glad that you are feeling so good about everything! I am so exsited for ya! I know i will be thinking bout you through out the day.
Take care and remember to breath!

WhiskeyGirl

05-12-2006, 12:47 AM

Kelli,

I just wanted to pop by your journal and wish you and Jason the very best on Saturday!! You are a wonderful person and Jason is a lucky man!! I wish you all the best and hope that the weather holds out for you!! Congratulations and good luck!! :)

~Shawna~

PS in orange...just for you!! :wink:

Hayz

05-12-2006, 12:52 AM

Inner Peace is definitly how I felt the day of my wedding. I felt that and 'Readiness' (is that even a word?)

Have a great day, relax and have fun.

usahgrad

05-12-2006, 07:13 AM

Thank you all for the well wishes. I got up about forty five minutes before the alarm, so now I'm just biding time for a little bit. I'm so excited! I'm getting married tomorrow!

I decided that the white t-shirt that I bought to make into a t-shirt for today (which never got done) I'm going to wear anyways. I'm going to carry some colorful permanent markers in my pocket and have people write wedding advise on it all day. I love all my graffitti party shirts (well, except the one that has bad words on it--I was a little drunk that night :bbredface: ) so I thought this would be kind of cool! I promise to try and get some pictures up tonight, but don't hate me if I don't.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in some way shape or form to this...which would basically be everyone! You guys have been great and I can't wait to be one of the married veterans on here; joining up with Rebecca, Hayley, Shawna and Brandi!

Guess I should go get dressed. I thought about running to drug mart before Jason got up. You know that man needs his beauty sleep! :)

P.S. Thank you Shawna for the ORANGE! :)

LaceyinPgh

05-12-2006, 09:59 AM

THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW. BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT TOMORROW THERE'LL BE SUN.

I'm hoping for a sunny wonderful warm and brillant day for you tomorrow Kelli. I feel like a good friend is getting married on Saturday. No matter what you will have a perfectly beautiful wedding day. I'm so happy for you. Enjoy every second of it. And, gets lots of pictures.

CindySue

05-12-2006, 10:20 AM

Kelli, Good Luck tomorrow! Everything sounds gorgeous!!!

WhiskeyGirl

05-12-2006, 11:39 AM

Kelli you are so very welcome Hun!! Have a great day tomarrow!! I look forward to seeing your pictures! Good luck Honey!!

usahgrad

05-12-2006, 09:01 PM

Okay, quickie here...here's the lodge all decorated:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/P5090001.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/P5090003.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/P5090004.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/P5090005.jpg

usahgrad

05-12-2006, 09:02 PM

And one more:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Decorations/P5090007.jpg

Okay, I have to go now! Wish me luck!

WhiskeyGirl

05-12-2006, 09:09 PM

Kelli,

Everything looks so beautiful!! You really pulled it together Hun!! Have a great day tomarrow and good luck!! I will be thinking of you tomarrow!! :)

Shawna

LaceyinPgh

05-12-2006, 10:15 PM

Kelli it looks gorgeous. I knew it would though. Best wished for tomorrow and the rest of your lives together. I'll be thinking about you!

MOB Karen

05-13-2006, 12:15 AM

Oh, Kelly, thanks so much for sharing with us. Now we get to have an idea of how your wedding will be tomorrow. I just love everything, it looks so perfect. Have a wonderful wedding, Kelli!! Congratulations!!

usahgrad

05-13-2006, 07:05 AM

Ok, well, it's 7:00 am. I got up about a half an hour ago, even though my wake up call wasn't until 7:00. I just woke up with the most incredible amazing feeling. By the end of the day today, I will be married to the most incredible man in the world and it really doesn't matter to me that the ring bearer pillow might be bald because the decorations got lost in all the hubaloo yesterday and it doesn't matter to me the frozen strawberries for the punch might get forgotten in the freezer because they were all day yesterday. All that matters to me is that I'm getting married today.

I would be more bouncy about it, but we had family in and out of our hotel room until 1:30-2:00 ish last night, so there is no bouncy in my excited-ness. There will be shortly. I'm thinking of getting a bowl of oatmeal from the restaurant and starting my day more than putting on a sweater to come down here and hop on to say hello to everyone.

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all. You really have been amazing! There are so many things going on at the wedding that would not be happening if it wasn't for you guys and your beautiful and brilliant ideas!

I better go before my mother starts to get upset again. This is our last few hours together before everything changes, she keeps reminding me.

Ok, the engagement ring has officially been switched...I'm gonna go get married!!!!!!

LaceyinPgh

05-13-2006, 09:14 AM

I'm so happy for you. Kudos to you for being in such a zen state. I love it. Enjoy your last few hours as a single girl before you become an old married lady. I'll be thinking about you and Cindy all day today as I clean my house and get reday for my bachlorette party.

Have a fabulous wedding day filled with excitment, joy, and a lifetime of happiness.

ikkin510

05-13-2006, 10:03 AM

Kelli, the lodge looks wonderful! I'm so happy and excited for you. It is going to be a perfect day. Best wishes today and Here's to your Happily Ever After!!!:cheers:

Congats Hon!
Nikki

AllyM1

05-13-2006, 10:09 AM

Congratulations Kelli, I hope your day goes great! =)

MOB Karen

05-13-2006, 10:54 AM

You're getting married today!!! Have a wonderful, wonderful wedding! Thank you so much for letting us see a little glimpse of what your wedding is going to be like today. Amber & I will be thinking about you all day long. Every now and then we will say, "I wonder if Kelli is married yet." Congratulations, Kelli!!

WhiskeyGirl

05-13-2006, 01:20 PM

LOl... I was suprised to see that you had posted on the site today but hey if I had had the time I would have done it too back then!! You sound like your ready to get married Kelli! You go Girl!! Good luck and enjoy your day. I will be thinking of you and of Cindy all day long! Thats the first thing I thought when I woke up today! Cindy and Kelli are getting married today!! YAY! Have fun!!

Shawna

rainbowtreat

05-13-2006, 03:01 PM

The lodge is beautiful. I am so excited for you. I can't believe your getting married today. I can't remember what time your wedding was at but before we know it you will be a married woman. I can't wait to see the pictures and hear all about it. Congrats to you and made it through and your time is NOW!

LizabethDavis

05-13-2006, 06:07 PM

Congrats Kelli! I hope you had a beautiful day!!

MOB Karen

05-13-2006, 08:56 PM

Kelli, you are a newlywed by now! Congratulations!! I know it was a beautiful wedding!! Can't wait to see your pictures!!

usahgrad

05-14-2006, 04:00 PM

Well, I'm an old married lady now! Everything went WONDERFULLY! It was a beautiful day. We got to take our bridal party pictures outside and finished up just before it started to rain again. I think they're going to be beautiful pictures.

Very few mistakes/bad things happened that I was aware of. I found out later one of my junior bridesmaids who wasn't feeling well before the ceremony got sick during the ceremony, but was taken to the bathroom by another bridesmaid. I jumped the gun at the point where we said "With this ring I thee wed" and the audience got a good chuckle out of it. I also knocked over the screen I was behind twice, although the second time I caught it. Fortunately, Jason hadn't come out of the bathroom yet, so it was ok. The cake melted a little bit, but only on one side really badly, so the photographer took the pictures from the other side when we cut the cake. The reception didn't last very long, but everything ran smoothly so it didn't really matter. I have a few pictures from getting ready in at the salon in the morning; I can't WAIT to get my pictures back from the photographer! Here's a couple from the morning at the salon.

Here's the curlers being put in:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Getting%20Ready/CurlersattheSalon5-13-06.jpg

Make up being put on after everything else was done:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Getting%20Ready/MakeupattheSalon5-13-06.jpg

And my weird sister., who also got her hair done. My mother, my sister, my neice, and one of my friends who was a bridesmaid as well, all got their hair done at the salon with me. It was lots of fun and I got SOO pampered!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/Bridal%20Stuff/Getting%20Ready/GabiattheSalonII5-13-06.jpg

Well, I have flowers to press and set up to dry and we have to pack for the honeymoon, so I best be off.

Thank you to all of you who sent well wishes and thought of me on my big day.

ikkin510

05-14-2006, 05:09 PM

Congrats again Kelli! I'm glad your day went so well! I can't wait to see some of your pictures. You look great with your hair and make up! Congrats again!!!

usahgrad

05-14-2006, 05:27 PM

Thanks so much Nikki! I can't wait to see the pictures either! I think they're going to come out GREAT!

RebeccaW

05-14-2006, 05:37 PM

congrats on ur big day kelli!!!! i cant wait to see the pics. and ur hair looked beautful

Kacie_bride

05-14-2006, 06:28 PM

I'm so glad everything went well!!! I'm with everyone else, your hair looked great!

LaceyinPgh

05-14-2006, 06:50 PM

Kelli, your hair looked great. I love it. I'm glad to hear that it all turned out so well for you. I want all the details and lots of pictures when you get back! Have a blast on your honeymooon. Don't do anything I wuoldn't at least consider doing myself. ;)

MOB Karen

05-14-2006, 10:57 PM

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Sutton!!! You looked beautiful, Kelli!! Have a fabulous time on your honeymoon!! Can't wait to see your awesome pictures!!!

Jenn060306

05-15-2006, 05:55 AM

Hey Congratulations Kelli!
I'm so glad to hear everything went so well! You looked awsome in the photos you posted! Take care! Have a great time on your honeymoon!

StaceyMc

05-15-2006, 08:47 AM

Congratulations Kelli! On Saturday, I kept looking up at the clear blue sunny sky (although kinda chilly) and wondering if it was sunny and clear in your neck of the woods.

The decorations looked beautiful and I'm thrilled to hear that things went well! Enjoy your honeymoon and again, congratulations Mrs. Sutton (and to Mr. Sutton too!!)

rainbowtreat

05-15-2006, 05:51 PM

Congrats Kelli! Your hair did look beautiful. I am glad to hear all went well and you had a good time. Can't wait to see more pictures. Have fun on your honeymoon.

WhiskeyGirl

05-16-2006, 09:00 PM

I just want to chime in on the congratulations too Kelli!! I am so glad that most things went well...I hope your JBM was feeling better for the pictures and not looking a shade of green...if so perhaps your photographer can lighten her and give her a more natural shade! lol. You looked stunning, I can't wait to see the rest of your pictures. Take care and have a fun and safe Honey moon!!

I am sending my best wishes to you and Jason!! :)

usahgrad

05-19-2006, 06:01 PM

Thank you to all of you! I would do it individually, but there's so many to thank, so pardon me for the brief thank you! :)

We got home today to a letter from the probate judge with marriage cards in it. They're not official, but it's the first thing that we've received aside from wedding cards, that came to Mr. and Mrs. Jason Sutton...so it was really exciting!

Our honeymoon went really well; it was very relaxing (although we did more than we usually do in a day) and it was nice not having to be anywhere or talk to anyone for a whole week...sort of. They upgraded our room for free when we got there, so we got a private swimming pool (which was the same as my jeep filled with water, but it was still nice). We really just lazed around for the week, but did a lot of cute couple things too; roller skating, ice skating (which Jason discovered he doesn't like very much), archery, lots of pool (Jason likes to play), mini golf, ping pong (Jason discovered he doesn't have a wife who is very apt at ping pong :bbmrgreen: ), etc. etc. The food was great! And dinners were so nice. We had breakfast in bed this morning and were kind of happy we got up to go to breakfast all the other days, because the food we got wasn't the best and it was very small portions. But overall everything was nice and we had a good time!

I got home hoping to see my wedding photos online, but we have to make an appointment and go in and release them before they can be put online. :( Oh well, makes sense, just wasn't expecting it. Hopefully we can get that done soon so we can go in and see them to get them up!

As for right now, I'm going to go relax with my husband! YAY! Hope you all are having a good evening. Lacey, I waived to you as we drove by Pittsburgh both ways, although I'm sure you didn't see it (especially considering you're in mondo-wedding mode and I was on I-80). Thanks again to everyone!