GETTING IN GEAR

Now that I am done with "Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical" & Christmas is just around the corner, it is time to really get some stuff in gear. I need to get with my bestie/maid of honor & get some finalizing paperwork done with my venue. I want to get it all in writing so it's all set & I can focus on other things for the wedding. I intend to be pretty crafty & DIY with my wedding so I have already been looking into ways to accomplish what I want. I'm also very excited that my lovely fiance is really into the planning & he's been coming up with amazing ideas! I feel very fortunate. Sometimes I look at my ring & look at him & still can't believe I'm really engaged. What an awesome feeling.

So, here's to getting in gear in the new year!!

OK, I am behind here.

My new goal here is to post at least once a week with wedding updates, no matter how small. I will be trying to update the other parts of the site as well so you can keep up!

First, we have changed our theme & decided on exactly what we are going to do now. Our theme is "Alice In Wonderland". We both agreed we liked that so we are going to run with it. The ceremony's main theme will be the queen of hearts & the colors red, black & white. I need to get my printer fixed so I can print out some inspiration to put in my wedding binder. :)

The reception will be the "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" & just be a mesh of colors & other fun stuff! More details about that might be forthcoming. I don't want to spoil anything!

We also have our venue. Hoping to get paperwork done within the next few weeks. But we are getting an amazing deal & I can't wait to make it official once paperwork is signed!!

DIY Project: Homemade Wedding Binder

I am not rich. So that prompted this entry on how to put together your own wedding binder/planner instead of wasting your money on one from the bookstore. It's really easy & very affordable!

I purchased the following:

- 3 ring binder (Dollar General $2)
- Package of lined paper. (Dollar Tree $1)
- Pencil pouch (Dollar General $1)
- 10 dividers (2 pkgs of 5, $1 each at Big Lots)
- 3 folders (Dollar General $.075 each)
- 25 count sheet protectors (Walmart $1.56)

I had my fiance use the printer at work to print out my wedding checklist from http://www.offbeatbride.com .. so if you have a friend who can print & hole punch stuff for you at their job .. you can save money like that.

So I got my own wedding planner binder for under $10 dollars! & it's easy to customize! I'm going to make a collage to put in the front to make it pretty. I plan on posting a picture of that when it's done!

Here are some pictures!

My rings! & Other Lovely Things!

DF (Dear Fiance) & I went to go buy my rings last Friday. I am so excited & it really made it feel real to me. I am absolutely in love with my ring set! Of course I am only wearing the engagement ring, but we are saving the band for the wedding. :) Isn't it gorgeous? I love it because it looks antique. I like that we got to go pick it out together. I was surprised enough by the sweet out of nowhere proposal. It actually felt more meaningful that he chose a time it felt right in HIS heart. & it's nice to know he had been pondering the idea a lot longer than I had thought. (Way back to the cast party of Pajama Game? We're talking April!)

I am already starting to make some plans. I am going to make my wedding binder soon. Probably Friday when I have some free time (with the baby & the show, Miracle on 34th Street) I am swamped! I will post pictures of that when it's at least put together. We decided on a color scheme that works for both of us:


Color by COLOURlovers

It's chartreuse, plum & pewter grey. I LOVE IT! I think it all looks so pretty together. We haven't thought of a theme yet.. but I don't want very traditional or conventional. I ordered the Offbeat Bride book off of Ebay. I can't wait for it to get here!

There are a few kinks to work out with the bridal party so I hope they get taken care of soon. I will feel better knowing who & what as soon as possible. I really have to get my stuff together too. My dream venue is too expensive, so I am thinking of other possibilities. Might have to ask a few people I know about what they think. It might also take care of the 'theme' idea too.

We're Engaged!

I'll admit... I never thought this day would come. As we approached our 5th year together (in January) & after lots of serious talks about how we were not on the same page about getting married.. Robert proposed to me. It was random. It wasn't extravagant or public. It was simply in the middle of a conversation while we were snuggling in bed (completely CLEAN!) on a Sunday afternoon. I had an hour or so before heading out to a movie with my best friend. A conversation ensued where I was told of fears of losing me & worries of letting me down. About guilt of a certain date, 11/11/11, approaching.. a dream date for me. I had hoped to have a wedding on that date. Honestly, I had felt melancholy about that date coming; knowing that no wedding was taking place. I held onto hope that maybe something special would happen that day. But I wasn't holding my breath. I had become resigned to the fact that perhaps this wasn't in the cards for me again.

But he surprised me more than he can ever know. Made me happier than he could ever know. I went from wondering what my place was in our family to KNOWING what it was. He gave me one of the best gifts I could ever ask for .. the chance to be called his wife.

So on 10/02/11, I said yes to becoming Robert's wife. This is has been the best year. & thus begins a new journey! Since this proposal was impromptu, we are going to pick out my engagement ring on Friday.. I am so excited!! I can't wait!