Trash The Dress

So, there is a trend called "trashing" the dress...which is basically a photoshoot after the wedding in your wedding dress.  Some people actually go to teh extreme of trashing & destroying thier dress...UMMM NO! Not for me. But the idea of a shoot where it is a little more high fashion and a little less worrying about the state of my dress sounded fun.  So, I got a photogrpaher friend to shoot a TTD (trash the dress) session for me...which would still allow me to save or donate my dress at a later date!  Here are some of my favorite shots from it...

Better Late Than Never!!!

Oops I forgot to update with the pics!! Here are a few!!

My Shoes- I did them myself!

My Dress- I Love It!



Our Ceremony









Tying The Knot

Exchanging The Rings

Sparkler Exit

We Are MARRIED!

So, I am WAY behind on blogging about this, but guess what?  WE ARE MARRIED!!  It is finally official and real!  We are married!  Yay!

So, the wedding was wonderful!!  I absolutely had a most wonderful time!  And so did Jason- he was even bragging about it, the planning I did, and how wonderful it was to one of his friends who couldn't make it.  It made me feel pretty proud of myself that even a guy recognized some of the small details and thought it was wonderful!! 

So, the professional pictures won't be back for another couple of weeks, so, until then, I will just have to upload here and there a few preview shots.  Here is the first one...

It really isn't a Polaroid pic, but I love the look of the old Instamatic pics, and so I edited this one just a little to make it look like it.  I will upload some more soon!

Love ya!
Jess

The Countdown Continues....

T-minus 11 days and counting....It is definitely getting close!  We are just 11 short days of the wedding, and I am about a week and 6 hours away from leaving for San Diego!  The reality is sinking in of how soon we will be leaving since I am helping the boys pick, and then pack, their clothes for the trip since they will be going back to their mom's house tomorrow until the time we leave for the wedding!  It won't be long now!  YAY!

Today was a GREAT day!  Ethan and I hung out together most of the day.  We all slept in- it has been a long week of baseball games until late at night (on a side note, the TOROS WON 2ND PLACE- GO TOROS!)- and we were all so tired that we were very willing to sleep in a little today.  Jason & Aaron decided to hit the gym, and then they went fishing, and so Ethan and I got the whole day to hang out just us.  We played board games, card games, and just hung out.  Very nice one on one time for both Jason & I to get to spend with the boys.  And it has been neat because the wedding and the trip are starting to become real to the boys- we can see the excitement on their faces! 

I had the realization the other day that I have been planning something for more than 2 years- first it was the house, and then it was the wedding.  After 2 and a half years, I am just 11 short days away from having NOTHING left to plan...and I am not sure what I will do with myself without something to plan! Maybe I will get to read some good books or have some fun or just relax...

So, as a touch of nostalgia, here is a picture of Jason & I, just after we first started dating...

I think I knew even then that this was "The One"...

Love ya,
Jess

T-Minus 15 and Counting...

So, we have 15 days until the big "I Do's"! I am so excited and cannot believe how close it is!  I am pretty pumped about it all!  And to make the day even more exciting, I got to work and have an email reply to my sparkler request...YES I CAN DO IT!!

I am so excited for it because a while back I had really wanted to make it work, but then had some issues with it, and so we scrapped it.  But the closer the wedding has gotten, the more I thought about it and just really, really wanted it, and now it is a go!

Here is a sample from the venue, and where we anticipate doing it...

Looks so fun...I can't wait!  

It is THIS MONTH!!!

So, it is finally here- the MONTH OF OUR WEDDING!  How exciting!  I am thrilled!  I have all the details worked out, the plans in place, the checks are mailed, it is almost here!  I think all that is really left is to pack and head out there!  That and to get caught up enough at work that I am not too far behind when I come back! 

The only thing left is this...I am trying one more time to find out if I can use sparklers for a big exit that night...We will have confetti for the end of the ceremony, and then I really have wanted from the beginning to use sparklers for a grande exit of the reception.  May be a little over the top, but I am only going to do this once, and I don't want to wish I had after it is done...This is pretty close to the moment I want....

Is it worth fighting for?

A Month To Go...

So, it is a little over a month to go (33 days to be exact), and I am getting pretty excited!  Today is my month of meeting with my planner, and then I turn most of the details over to her, provided I have not forgotten anything major- gee, I hope I haven't forgotten anything major!  Then, I will be focusing on eating right, exercising, and trying to enjoy it all.  I hope I can do it! The exercise and eating right part! ;o)

Normally, I would include some pictures, but I think I will keep those a secret until after the wedding- afterall, I don't want to spoil any surprises! 

I hope things are going as well for everyone else as they have been for me.  I can't wait to see everyone at the wedding!

Love-
Jess

Take a Number Please!

So, the wedding is quickly approaching, and I have been working diligently on the details, as well as doing my normal "wifely" and "step mom" activities. 

So, one of the activities I have been working on is the seating arrangement and a cute table number design.  The seating arrangement took a little time, and I couldn't really decide on a table number design until I knew how many tables I would need.  Once I got my RSVP's, and I knew 98% of my guest list, I started thinking about table numbers.  I didn't want to just do a framed number, but I also didn't want to venture too far out of the simple elegance we have going on with all our other details.  So, I was thinking about it, and I came up with an idea.  So, then I went to work figuring out how I would make it work, and make it work within a budget!  So, I headed off to my favorite store for all things DIY (Hobby Lobby), and started walking the aisles for ways to make my vision a reality.  Well, here is is....

And the best part is, they were super cheap to make.  I already had the black craft paint, and the wood block pieces were $1, and the numbers were $2- they are actually stickers. So, instead of having to hand do each number it was peal and stick.  I did the whole project in less than an hour, and had all my tables numbered for under $30 for 9 table number plaques.  I think it was a pretty awesome deal!

So, speaking of step-mom activities... Ethan needed some help to make sock puppets for his talent show at school, so he asked me to help him out.  I love a challenge, so I jumped on it!  I once again headed to my favorite DIY store, and looked for inspiration.  All he had asked for was a "yellow-haired boy" and a "brown-haired girl".  So, I got a few supplies and headed home to begin creating...here are the results...

Ethan seemed pretty pleased with them, so I will count this as a success! Woohoo!

Let Them Eat Cake

So, we have been talking to the cake designer- there are so many flavors to choose from, makes me sad we won't get the head to San Diego for a tasting!!  But, I am excited for the wonderful cake I am sure we will have.  The shop, Cake, got to compete on the Food Network Cake Wars!  How exciting is that!  I can't wait to have some cake...here is a little glimpse of a cake I really liked....

So, we also got our toasting flutes today!  Yay!   Here's to the happy couple!! ;o)  Haha!  Here is a preview shot....

And, lastly, a preview of the little clutch purse I got to go with my ensemble...I love it- it is so delicate, but still enough room to hold the couple of essentials I will need that night (like lipstick, a hankie or two, and maybe a breath mint to keep the smooches coming! ;o) )

Anyways, I can't believe it is less than 3 months to go....So excited!

Love ya!
Jess

My Something Blue

So, I have decided I want blue shoes for my wedding...I am going to do the whole something old, something new (well, alot new), something borrowed, something blue thing...so, as I alluded to it, I have the new covered, and my something blue will be my shoes. I am torn right now though about what shade to dye my shoes.  I love all the blue shoes I have seen, and I already have purchased my dyeable shoes, so now I just need to commit to the right shade.  Here are my 3 favorite colors right now....

I am loving the navy right now, but since the colors are black, ivory, and silver, I wasn't sure if navy would work. The bright blue on the bottom right is awesome, but has a hint of lavender or lilac in it, and I am worried if they get the shade wrong, will I have pastel purple shoes?!?! And the 3rd option is kind of finky, which I love, so it may win out, but I am thinking the subdued navy at the top is the front runner.  Any thoughts?

As for the borrowed and old pieces, I am not sure yet...I have some old hankies from my great-grandmothers, and I am thinking I may use it to wrap my bouquet.  I also thought I might be able to borrow a necklace from my grandmother that I adore.  It is two diamond circles that are interlocked, and so it looks like two rings interlocked and also happens to be the inifinity symbol.  And I may claim my hair clip as my something old too- although it is new to me, it is made from a vintage brooch...it counts, right?

So, I am talking to the cake lady later today...should be fun!  So, an update on cake should be coming soon!

All The Small Things...

So, I have less than 100 days until I say I do!  Yay!  Now, I am spending much more time looking at all the small things- the detail pieces.  We got in our cake topper the other day...here is a sneak peak....

I am awaiting parts of the favors and to finalize the info for both the programs & menus.  Once those are done, then it will just be assembling favors, and working on projects like seating arrangements, table numbers, etc.

And big props to Katy- she was the first RSVP!! Woohoo! I cannot believe we are already to the point to get RSVP's.  YAY!  Hopefully, we will get some more in soon- I love opening the mail box and seeing the little envelopes!  ;o)

Well, off to attend to more wedding details!!

-Jess

Oops....

So, I have not been very good lately at blogging...I am sorry!  I had a whole lot going on though...between moving to the new house, Thanksgiving, my family coming to visit for Christmas, getting things ready for Christmas, getting Christmas put away, changing positions at work, and finally feeling a little settled at all things, I have just gotten back over here.  When you mix in trying to work on wedding stuff along the way, you can see there wasn't much time for writing!

The realization is setting in that in 3 short months I will be within 2 weeks of my wedding day!  WHOA! And I am just 1 week away from the t-minus 100 days mark.  The realization has kicked my butt in to over drive.  I have been working on the ceremony alot lately, and there is a huge trend in changing up the traditional vows and making them more personal.  And I have looked at a LOT of vows lately, but at the end of the day, I am leaning towards a more traditional take on the vows.  I like the idea of standing up there and saying vows that have been said a million times by a million couples.  Some may think it trite and so "done" already, but I love the idea that we will be joining our lives in s tradition that has stood a test of time.

In addition to the ceremony, I have been busy working on the "little details" aspect of the whole shebang...it seems like the more you look in to it, the more little details there are.  And it is no wonder people get so out of control.  But if you step back, and ask, will people remember this 2 months after the wedding, the answer is usually no.  Then, I try and ask myself if I will remember it 2 months after the wedding, and if I can't for sure say a yes, then I am cutting it.  Which is hard for me to do- I am definitely a details kind of a person, but I think it is important for me to get this reality check or else I will spiral out of control. 

And I would love to take this moment to thank my friends & family that I have picked your brains and asked a million times "what do you think of" this and that....your input has meant so much to me, and I am so appreciative that you have been willing to offer your input.  I hope I have not bored you to tears with all the wedding details and know that in a few months, the wedding will be over, and I will be back to normal...I love you guys!

-Jess