5 Years in the Making

Tomorrow I will marry my best friend.

2009-09-19T00:53:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm outta here for now! My last post as a single lady! *squeal* Thanks to everyone that posted here for all the inspiration, advice, support and guidance over the past year. I always loved logging on to see a comment from a fellow bride, all my girlfriends from MH, or my life-long friends. I promise to post pictures when I can. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow I will marry my best friend...

Nine days left as a Ms.

2009-09-10T23:58:00.008-05:00

So, we're finally done with just about everything.

To Do List:
• Finalize the band-breaks mixed cd
• Wrap the bridal party, parents gifts & I need to wrap Drew's gifts.
• Get something borrowed from Drew's mom (I'm hoping for a silver bangle bracelet of some sort)
• Pay venue, caterer, band and officiant
• Get balloons for the turn into the Cave
• Final dress fitting & pick up (yay!)
• Finish pom poms
• DIY bouquets (flowers will be delivered next Wednesday & we'll DIY on Thursday
• Beverages for the reception (punch, lemonade, tea..)
• Fill kegs & buy wine
• Get our wedding license

Anyways, I think that's it. Of course, I feel like I'm forgetting something...

I'm super anxious and having more trouble sleeping as the wedding gets closer. I just can't stop myself from thinking about the wedding and how much fun it will be for all our friends and family to be with us on our special day.

I wrote my vows last night. I still want to revise them a little but I'm really happy with how they turned out. Drew read me the vows he's going to say to Emma. I cried of course. They were so him. Sweet and thoughtful with a small hint of humor.

I'm going to try to go to bed now. Here's some pictures to hold you over. This is a back room, which is currently referred to as "the wedding room". Everything packed away, ready to make it's way to Cave Hollow next Friday night for the rehearsal/dinner/decorating party.

I'm so excited!!

16 days out

2009-09-03T10:32:00.002-05:00

We're less than three weeks from the wedding! I'm so anxious and nervous and excited all at once! I still need to write my vows. Drew has his written already. He's doing one to me and one to Emma, which I think is so sweet. I can't wait to marry my best friend! New photos coming soon!

Wall sticker giveaway!

2009-09-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

The Roddy Bride is doing a wall sticker giveaway! You could use it to display a favorite photo, piece of art, or a monogram. I'd love to use it for one of our favorite wedding pictures that we'll be taking this weekend or a picture of Emma!

She'll choose two winners using random.org. So head on over to her blog to enter - All entries must be submitted by September 11th! Thanks Roddy Bride!

Geezees Custom Canvas Art GIVEAWAY!

2009-08-26T11:23:00.004-05:00

Geezees Custom Canvas Art is giving away one of their fabulous 9x12 or 10x10 canvases to a lucky person. Check it out on her blog and also check out her Etsy store. Beautiful!!

I need help with bubble instructions!

2009-08-17T21:08:00.005-05:00

Our 150 programs are done. yay! Drew helped me finish them up last night.

Tonight I realized that I didn't say anything about blowing bubbles after we're pronounced husband and wife. So now I'm trying to think of a sign to put on the bubble basket or somewhere so our guests know to when to blow the bubbles. I'm thinking something like, "Shower the newlyweds with bubbles after they're pronounced husband and wife," but I'm not sure that I like that... Any ideas?

New stuff (really creative title, haha!)

2009-08-15T21:48:00.010-05:00

First up - our programs. Super easy, super inexpensive & multipurposeful (is that a word?)

I've blurred names. :)

My daughter and I are wearing red shoes - aren't they pretty!?

We bought my dad, Drew's dad and Drew's stepdad ties on Etsy from rabbitstop. She even makes cute personalized labels for the back.

I work at a newspaper as a graphic designer. After our engagement announcement was published, I came home to this in my mailbox. It's our announcement on the metal plate used to print the paper. The press operator is a totally awesome guy and dropped it off at my house. Isn't that totally cool? Love it. (again, I had to blur out the whole thing since all of our immediate families names are on it)

I'm going to finish another 50 programs tonight and mark that off the list. Hope to post more soon! Cheers!

The Day After the Bachelorette Party

2009-08-15T20:52:00.002-05:00

and I'm tired. Last night was a blast. We started out the evening in our backyard, playing games (like, playdoh penis beauty contest), and they all bought me some of the cutest lingerie. I will add photos as soon as my bff Matron of Honor emails them to me.

In other news, I've been getting tons of stuff done. I'm sorry for the lack of posts but it's been super hectic lately. I start school next week so I'm glad I don't have that much left to do.

My list is down to:

Finish the programs
Finalize ceremony/reception music
Wrap bridal party and parents gifts
Solve the unity candle vs. wind at our outdoor ceremony issue
Write my vows
Make Reserved Ceremony Signs
Buy kisses & put stickers on them
Apply for our marriage license (yay!)
Order flowers from SamsClub
Order Solemates for my girls
Get food for cocktail hour
ummm...
I feel like I'm forgetting all kinds of things... ugh.

36 days left (Drew mentioned this today. sweet, huh?)

We're down to 45 days

2009-08-05T23:11:00.001-05:00

Working on the programs this weekend and some last minute details. Hopefully I can post some photos on Sunday! :)

Off to relax for a while in a nice hot bath. This wedding stuff is too much sometimes...

I love etsy! Lots of Little Details.

2009-07-25T00:15:00.007-05:00

Just thought I'd post a quick update. Lots of little details have been ordered, shipped and received. We're down to 56 days until the wedding. I'm anxious, nervous, excited & super happy all at once. I've decided to change my dress from a straight-across strapless to a sweetheart neckline. Here are some of our recent goodies delivered by the most-wonderful usps. I'm sure our mail carrier is hating us right now for all the heavy packages. We're getting stuff done though...

My garter flask which will be filled with three shots of either crown royal or patron. Haven't decided which yet... Isn't it adorable!? It's a handmade by offtherecord at Etsy.

A custom banner made by Chao Bambino also at Etsy...

and 150 clear cup soy tea light candles from worthysoycandles (etsy)

Other updates:

The band is working on our first dance song & we're working on other music for the ceremony & reception.
The guys are getting measured for their tuxes this week.
My dress fitting & my matron of honor's dress fitting is scheduled for August 15th, the day after my bachelorette party, which I'm so looking forward to.
The mason jars are almost finished. Just need to buy some more ribbon.
I'm going to start working on the programs next weekend.

My classes start August 19th so I'm trying to get as much done as I can before then. I'm really starting to look forward to the honeymoon. lol.

Take care, I'll update again soon!

Embossed invites, wrap around labels & maps, oh my!

2009-06-28T16:55:00.009-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been super busy getting stuff done. The invites are in the mail!!! Yay!

I love the stamps, super cute!

104 days till our wedding...

2009-06-07T23:37:00.002-05:00

and I'm freaking out... seriously. I have so much to do and the food prices for the reception blew me away. Hopefully I can update on some completed projects soon... I need to get my ass in gear.

Etsy Love: My Necklace

2009-05-28T21:02:00.004-05:00

I'm in the process of ordering this necklace from Etsy seller RachelleD. I fell in love with her necklaces the moment I saw them. It's beautiful *eek*!

I'm getting my girls some jewelry too but I can't post them here. I have some pretty resourceful girls and I don't want them stumbling upon any of their surprises...

Off to work on the wedding website since I put the URL on the map and invitations are almost ready to go out! I'll post a link to it this weekend after I add something to it.

Gettin' things done

2009-05-18T23:31:00.008-05:00

Invitations: check (still need to do wrap around labels, envelopes & map inserts)

I bought 8 of these garlands to decorate the gazebo/handrails for the stairs. I bought them at Michaels at 50% which made each cost $4.99 (score!)

Here's my decorated birdcage card holder. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Dad still needs to cut the perch out and I need to buy a cute little padlock.

Baskets for bubbles & programs (Michaels, $9.99):

Handkerchiefs I ordered from http://www.thegartermaker.net/
Drew's mom's says "Thank you for raising the man of my dreams. Love, Sarah"
My mom's says "Mom, to dry your tears as you dried mine. Thank you for everything. I love you. Sarah" I LOVE THEM!!

8,000 silk red rose petals (ebay, $39.99)

Toss garter from thegartermaker.com Beautiful!!

More to come soon.... ;)

Sarah

More Engagement Photos!

2009-05-18T22:16:00.008-05:00

The first one is my favorite. Before the nipple tweak one, Will said, "we're shooting a porno" and this is what he got. haha

Photos taken by Will Leffert (classicwfl.com)

Sarah

Engagement Photos

2009-05-17T22:50:00.008-05:00

Photos taken by Will Leffert (classicwfl.com)

I love them! I'll post the rest when we get them.

Sarah

Never-ending Checklist

2009-05-04T16:13:00.034-05:00

Things to book:
Manicure & Pedicure
Boudoir Shoot
Hairstylist/Make-Up (check)
Officiant (check, we need to meet with him)
Ceremony Site (check)
Reception Site (check)
Band (check)
Photographer (check)
Wedding Cake (check)
Honeymoon (check)
Rehearsal Dinner Site (check)

Things to Order/Buy:
Flats
Veil?
My Garter
Bra
Hershey Kisses
Tea Light Candles
Table Runners (Sashes)
Reserve Table Linens from Cave Hollow
Outdoor Chairs
Head Table Skirt - Celebrations Party Shop
Drew's Ring
Tuxes
Gift for Drew
Guest Book Pen
Soda/Apple Cider for Reception
Cups, Plates etc.
Unity Candle
My Jewelry (check)
Shepherd's Hooks (6) (check)
Bridal Party Gifts (1/2 check)
Bridesmaid Dresses (check)
Wedding Dress (check)
Flip-Flops for Bridesmaids (check)
Parents Gifts (Mother's, check)
Red Shoes (check)
Toss Garter (check)
Spanx (check)
Emma's Hair Flowers (check)
Hair Flower (check)
Red Rose Petals (check)
Cake Serving Set (check)
Bubbles (check)

Things to Do:
Wrap Around Labels
Reserved Signs
Design Stickers for Kisses
Write Vows
Choose Readers
Talk to Lisa about White Lanterns
Talk to Raymond about Sound for Ceremony
Get mirrors from Teresa
Check w/ Tomi & Whit re: Songs
Ceremony Readings and Script
Formal Dances Music (First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Groom) (First Dance check)
Wedding Day Timeline
Register for Gifts
Reserve Kegs
Wedding Website
Make Mixed CD for Reception
Print Photos for Photo Line
Schedule Hair & Make-Up Trial (check)
Engagement Announcement in CP
Schedule Dress Fittings
Apply for Marriage License
Make List of Must-Take Pictures for Photographer (Started...)
Wrap Bridal Party Gifts
Change of Name Paperwork
Prepare Toasts or Thanks to Guests
Give Wedding-Day Directions, Schedule and Contact List to Parents, Bridal Party and Vendors
Confirm Final Payment Amounts with Vendors
Confirm Delivery Locations, Times and Final Arrangement with Baker
Pack Bags for Honeymoon
Leave Honeymoon Itinerary with Parents
Rehearse Ceremony
Drop Off Required Materials to Venue
Write Thank-You Notes for Wedding
Change of Name Paperwork
Buy Stamps for Invites
Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (Something new and blue are done)
Guest List (check, need some addresses)
Get Engagement Photos Taken (check)
Decorate Mason Jars (1/2 check)
Ceremony Music (check)
Photography location (check)
Confirm Honeymoon Reservations (check)

Things to Make/Decorate:
Punch Holes in Cans
Ring Bearer Pillow (check)
Put Ribbons on Bubbles (check)
Flower Girl Basket
Hand Painted Wedding Signs
Ceremony Program
Wedding Day Emergency Bag
Centerpieces (1/2 check)
Bouquets & Bouts (ribbon, pins, etc.)
Finish Invitations (check)
Map/Accommodations Card (check)
Photo Sharing Cards (check)
Birdcage Cardbox (check)
DIY Cake Topper (check)

Things to Mail:
Invites/RSVPs/Maps
Thank-You Notes for Shower
Thank-You Notes for Wedding

Week-of-Wedding To Dos:
Rehearse Ceremony
Put Final Payments and Tips in Marked Envelopes
Wrap Bridal Party Gifts
Make Centerpieces, Bouquets & Bouts
Prepare Toasts/Thank Yous
Give Wedding-Day Schedule/Directions/Contact List to VIPs
Pack Bags for Honeymoon

I ordered my red shoes!

2009-05-01T15:49:00.003-05:00

I love the trend of wedding shoes in the same hue as one of the wedding’s accent colors and wearing fabulous shoes is so me. Not to mention, they’ll make for great photo ops! I ordered a my red wedding shoes yesterday and here they are!!! Aren't they super hot!?

How many of you are secretly thinking I’m crazy for wanting to wearing heels for an outdoor ceremony on grass? Well don’t worry, I’ve thought this through! I found a way to do it without sinking into the grass on the way down the aisle: heel stoppers!

They come in many designs, most in clear with crystal embellishments. They make the surface of the heel wider, so you don’t sink into the ground. I love these so much that I’ll be ordering extra, so my girls can wear heels as well during the ceremony! (Ha ha, I just realized that my girls are going to know everything I’m getting/doing for them because of this blog! Oh well!)

Invitations in progress

2009-04-26T23:02:00.006-05:00

I was able to get all the stamping & embossing done this weekend. Here's some pics... completed invite to come soon!

Dad got these for me from some guys cutting down trees at a local car dealership. $1 a piece and I have 50 of them!!

They're cedar & they smell so good! We need to wash them and let them dry out and then they will be used for our centerpieces. I've posted my inspiration picture below for the finished look.
I will be wrapping red & natural raffia around the mason jars, and using the mason jars to hold our red gerbera daisies & tea lights candles.

I'm so excited!!! I have so much more to do.... *sigh* :) I hope to post tomorrow with all the goodies I bought at Michael's this weekend.

Wedding Ring Giveaway

2009-04-22T15:51:00.003-05:00

"Superior Wedding Rings is an online company that offers a HUGE selection of wedding rings. Their rings come in everything from ceramic to palladium, and in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Superior Wedding Rings is going to giveaway your choice of ring from their site (up to $120 in value)."

WOW! What an amazing opportunity to save some money & get a beautiful wedding band! I hope I win! The giveaway is taking place on one of my favorite blogs - Greylikesweddings! Check it out!

Sarah

Quick Progress Update - 5 Months Left!!

2009-04-21T20:46:00.011-05:00

I'm going to be working on invitations tonight so this is a super quick update on things we've bought for the wedding. I will update hopefully tomorrow with pictures of the invitation process. :) (excuse the picture quality, I was in hurry)

Here is our FINISHED rhinestone cake topper. It's very sparkly, much more than in the photo.

Here is the cake serving set we bought from theknot.com for $10.00 engraved!

Here is my hair flower & Emma's hair flowers. Her's were from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5653412 and $7.50 and mine was from http://www.muscaridesign.com/and was $30. Aren't they pretty?!

Here is the birdcage I ordered for our card box. I plan on decorating it with ribbon & flowers. The basket is for Emma's flower basket. I'm going to decorate it as well. The basket was $4.99 and the bird cage card holder was $9.99 at http://www.save-on-crafts.com/.

Our living room closet has become the "wedding closet"

and if you look closely you can see my MASON jars!!

This is the look I'm going for below. My dad is going to cut up a tree that we cut down from my house. The pieces are going to be round and approx. 12" wide by 2" thick.

Okay, leave me comments & keep checking for new updates. Lots of stuff being checked off! 5 months left and we're getting stuff done.

Off to work on invites! :)

This week's progress

2009-04-16T08:30:00.004-05:00

I have printed invitations - just need to stamp them, emboss & matte them. I ordered my toss garter, Emma's hair flowers, the birdcage for the cards at the reception, the mothers' gifts, the paper for the programs, the flower girl basket, the bubbles, & the cake serving set...I also bought 48 mason jars for the flowers/candle centerpieces.

I talked to my matron of honor's mother about doing the bouquets & boutonnieres. I plan on ordering 240 Red Gerbera Daisies from Costco for approx. $280.00 and working with her to hand tie the bouquets with ribbon, make the boutonnieres & create the centerpieces. This is a major cost saver as both florist in town charge $3 per stem.

We're getting stuff done! I'll add some new pictures of our current projects in the next couple of days.

My dress is here!

2009-04-06T22:48:00.006-05:00

( NOTE: All photos of the actual dress are behind links at the request of Mr. H… he doesn’t want to stumble upon them accidentally.)

In early March, I was having a little crisis of faith about my dress. I had only visited two dress shops when I fell in love with the one. I'm not a sparkly, flashy gal. I like simple, romantic, clean lines with a hint of color. So when the lady at the bridal store asked our budget, I said around $300. That was the most I could possibly bear spending on something I was only going to wear once, even if it was on the most wonderful day of my life. She, then, suggested going with a bridesmaid gown saying that dress could be ivory and I could add a bit of color with a red sash.

I ordered the dress that day. It cost me $163! Excellent...

I knew I didn't want white as it would wash me out so I planned on getting ivory. I changed my mind when I looked closely at the fabric swatches and found "latte". Oh yeah, a richer, warmer, kind of ivory. After placing my order, I got super nervous about the color not being what I thought it would but on Saturday, when I tried on my dress, I knew I had made the right choice. A September wedding deserves warmer colors as does my pale, freckled skin.

Emma's dress fits great, mine needs taken in about a full size in the body. Alterations are free. (score.)

So...Drumroll, please… Finally, we get to the part of the story where I actually have a dress! (and so does Emma, doesn't she look adorable! She can never just take a normal picture.

Let me know what you think!! *eek*

My DIY Rhinestone Monogram Cake Topper

2009-04-04T00:07:00.004-05:00

One of the first DIY wedding adventures I decided to tackle was our rhinestone monogram cake topper. I used our font to create a template for my dad to cut out on his jigsaw. My dad is a 30 year retired shop teacher so this project was a breeze for him and, in my eyes, a great way for him to contribute one of his many talents to our wedding.

Letters: $3 (for the wood)
12 mm Rhinestones & supplies (Tami's place): $40
Labor: About 3 hours

They're almost done! I needed to order some more rhinestones and will post a completed pic when they're done. We love how they're looking so far and can't wait to see them on the cake! I love that we saved some money making them ourselves. To purchase them, already blinged out, costs around $140 a letter.

RSVPs are here!

2009-03-14T13:21:00.006-05:00

And I love them. :)

I also called our venue and asked a lot of questions... a lot.. We're headed to talk to the cake lady soon. Mr. H is excited to try some of the cake flavors she has available. I'll update later.

with flowers in her hair...

2009-03-13T15:09:00.005-05:00

I'm not wearing a veil so I wanted to find a flower to wear in my updo.

And here she is! Her name is Essential Katie and she's described as a minimal, but incredibly feminine silk flower.. also, a deal that can't be beat!

· 100% silk petals
· ivory flower
· creamy pearls and clear Swarovski crystals,
wound with pure sterling
· alligator clip hardware
· handmade in our studio
· approximately 3 1/4" by 3 1/4"

She was $29.00! Isn't she pretty?

I bought her from Muscari Designs. They're having a secret sale until March 15th. You can get 20% off of all their gorgeous handmade hair florals.

Just enter the code “lovespring” at checkout.

Progress Report

2009-03-13T00:05:00.003-05:00

I thought I was done with progress reports in school, but I guess not.

Here’s where we stand after and including the last progress report:

We have

booked the ceremony/reception location

booked the photographer

ordered RSVPs

ordered invitation paper

photo-sharing cards

booked appointment with cake lady (this Sat.)

ordered my dress

bought champagne flutes

monogram cake topper my dad made

bought rhinestones for cake topper

mostly finalized the guest list

We’ll just go with this list for now. No need to bring attention to the mile-long list of un-done things.

I’m thinking of all the other stuff not mentioned above in the back of my head. Right now though - it’s one thing at a time.

Our RSVP postcards

2009-03-11T23:18:00.008-05:00

I ordered them from vistaprint a few days ago. I'm post pictures when they get here. I paid $37 for 250 postcards with the uploaded front and back designs. We won't need that many but the only other option was to order 100 which wouldn't be enough.

Yay! One more thing done.

Handpainted Champagne Flutes - Etsy

2009-03-11T14:23:00.003-05:00

Over the past few months, I have fallen head over heels for Etsy.com. Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell items that are handmade, as well as vintage goods and crafting supplies. It is a resource that I think every bride should utilize - with a network of such creative individuals and a wide variety of prices, Etsy falls within everyone’s grasp.

I made my very first purchase today on Etsy.

Becky at DelightfulFinds does an amazing job on all of her work. You can see the craftsmanship that goes into each piece, and almost every piece she creates is perfectly suited for weddings, but at the same time, doesn’t scream “wedding”. I can imagine using these flutes years from now celebrating our wedding anniversaries.

Here's a picture of our handpainted champagne flutes w/ custom monogram! Aren't they awesome?!

Ceremony Music

2009-03-05T23:57:00.002-06:00

Carrie Underwood's version of the Pretender's "I'll Stand By You"

& Ingrid Michaelson "The Way I Am"

Yay!

Budgeting for Flowers

2009-02-27T14:54:00.004-06:00

We've nixed the carnations and are going with gerber daisies. They're still fairly inexpensive and I love the look of them. I'm not sure if I'm going to DIY or use a florist. I think I'll set up an appointment sometime in the next month and see what a florist would charge for my bouquet, three bridesmaid bouquets, the corsages & boutonnieres and maybe try DIY centerpieces. Lovin' these looks:

If these are your arrangements, please let me know and I will give you credit.

Let Them Eat Cake!

2009-02-27T14:50:00.003-06:00

I think we've narrowed down our inspiration cake to this one. It will be ivory buttercream with red gerber daisies and have an additional layer with the stucco look. Isn't it pretty?! Now I just need to make an appointment with the cake lady. I'm pretty sure we're going to use McIntosh Bakery as I've heard her cakes are scrumptious.

My First Completed DIY Project

2009-02-25T00:34:00.002-06:00

I created cards to put on the tables at the reception with instructions on how our guests can upload their digital photos to our flickr wedding album. I am really hoping it works! Here are the cards I made:
I just ordered these babies through Vistaprint. Sometimes it can take awhile to get your pro photos back – hopefully this will make the wait a little easier!

It feels so good to have something done... :)

I ordered my dress!

2009-02-02T09:54:00.003-06:00

And Emma's dress! Saturday was a blast. I signed up for all kinds of giveaways at the Bridal Expo, got a great massage, and Emma & I got measured for our dresses and ordered them. They should be in by April!

Invitation pt. 1

2009-01-30T01:13:00.007-06:00

So I ordered some sample cardstock from www.paperandmore.com and did a mock up of our invitation. I might get a different stamp because it's kind of hard to see the embossing. Maybe I just need a different kind of embossing powder.

I can get 200 5x7 precut cardstock pieces of the shiny red cardstock, 200 precut cardstock pieces of the 4 1/2x6 1/2 ivory cardstock and 150 shiny red envelopes from www.paperandmore.com for $95.00. Which I think it an awesome deal!

This was one thing I really wanted to do myself since I do graphic design work all day I was pretty sure I knew what I wanted our invites to look like. I'm really happy with the way they turned out and Mr. H is too.

Me & Mr. H

2009-01-30T00:56:00.003-06:00

Here's the man I'm going to marry in less than 8 months. *sigh* I love him.

Looking at these pictures reminds me that I need to start working on my vows. I have no idea how I'm going to put my feelings for him into words. There's just so much to say and I want to keep it short so I can try to make it through it without falling apart... which reminds me, I need some really good waterproof mascara... Any suggestions?

Honeymoon is booked!

2009-01-27T16:55:00.003-06:00

We are going on a 7 day Carnival cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Jamaica!

Carnations?

2009-01-27T16:44:00.008-06:00

I had originally planned on using roses... but with our budget and seeing these pictures, I think carnations might be an option. Aren't these beautiful?!

If these are your arrangements, please let me know and I will give you credit.

Dress fitting, bridal expo & massage

2009-01-27T16:40:00.004-06:00

That's my plan for Saturday. Mom, Emma & I are going Quincy, IL. Mr. H got me a year's worth of hour-long massages for Christmas so I'm going to get a massage, Emma & I are getting measured for our dresses and then we're going to a bridal expo. I'm so excited! I'm still planning on getting the dress I found on my first trip looking for a dress and Emma is getting an identical one. So, I hopefully will be updating more with lots of wedding planning news. 8 months to go! *gasp*

Wii Fit GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-11-28T16:31:00.002-06:00

How awesome is this!!! Blogger La Petite Chic is having a Wii FIT GIVEAWAY

I would LOVE win!... She's giving away a Wii console along with the Wii Fit!!! I think it would be great to have to get in shape for the wedding!

Check out her blog!

Inspiration for Invites

2008-10-27T00:01:00.003-05:00

I love the look of the invitations below and think I can do something similar within my budget. I'm planning to buy pre-cut cardstock and envelopes from Envelopper inc. The matte for the invitation will be red and the invitation and envelope will be ivory. I'm thinking about buying this stamp and I will probably get the embossing powder and heat gun from Joann's.

There is a excellent tutorial on how to emboss here.
(Source: Miss Fondue, Weddingbee) Thanks for the great inspiration!

Link Love

2008-10-16T17:04:00.003-05:00

iDiy linked to me from her AWESOME blog. So I'm returning the favor. Check her out - she has some amazing goodies!
iDiY - Design goodies for 'IDo'-it-Yourself weddings

The Date

2008-10-14T22:30:00.003-05:00

We set a date. September 19, 2009! Woooo-hooo!
I googled the date and found that it's also National Talk Like A Pirate Day. hehe

Future DIY Creations

2008-10-14T22:17:00.003-05:00

We're on a super tight budget so I hope to have lots of DIY creations coming soon. (Invites, programs, & pomander, oh my!)

We've booked a band!

2008-10-09T18:38:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited! I hadn't planned on having a band at the reception but last Saturday night Mr. H & I went to see my dad's best friend's band Vertigo. They are a cover band mostly of classic rock hits and some jazz. They were awesome. The whole crowd was dancing. And the slow songs they played were rockin' oldies.

More on them soon... :)

Cave Hollow Centre Pt. 2

2008-10-04T17:02:00.003-05:00

Here's some pictures of where we're going to get married!! The ceremony will be in the gazebo with about 150+ white chairs for seating & the reception hall is right next to the gazebo. The gazebo which should be completely built, wired for sound and painted white with a taupe floor by next fall.

$50 to reserve the date, $450 the week of the wedding & we get $150 back if there's no damage. So... $350!

Someone was having their reception there tonight so it was kind of decorated but they didn't do much. I can see lots of possibilities for decorating more. What do you think!? Pretty, huh? :)

Cave Hollow Centre Pt. 1

2008-10-04T11:03:00.005-05:00

Emma & I are headed out to the cave to get some pictures of the ceremony site and the reception hall. Be back soon!

Words of Wisdom from 2000 Dollar Wedding:

2008-09-29T13:14:00.001-05:00

Dearest Bride-to-Be:

The 12-18 months of wedding planning will pass in a matter of hours or days. When it’s all said and done, the photos will be the primary artifact remaining.

My wish for you—when you look back at those photos—is for you to think:

Look at how relaxed I was. Fully present in the moment. Basking in it. Soaking it in. I was not saturated in stress.

My shoes and dress were comfortable enough for dancing. My beauty radiated out of me; it was not applied to me.

I got to spend quality time with my friends and family. I was myself, not a show. In fact, I was my fullest expression of self.

I do not remember whether the invitations were letterpress or whether the flowers at the ceremony were the same ones at the reception.

The wedding favors or the fanciness of the food did not make memories. The sincerity did. The connection did. The time together did.

It did not matter whether every last detail conformed to the signature colors. Instead of saying, “What a beautiful bouquet,” the guests said, “What a beautiful love.”

This is my wish to you, dear brides, as you pore over wedding magazines and read daily blogs. Some of it matters. Most of it does not. Casting your net in the wrong direction will most surely mean you miss the things you most dearly want to catch.

May your wedding be just one sincere, authentic, happiest day in a long line of many.

This is my wish to you.

All my best,

Sara - 2000 Dollar Budget Wedding

MIA Bride-To-Be

2008-09-23T15:47:00.004-05:00

I've had bronchitis and have been miserable for about a week. I will post pics of the ceremony/reception location as soon as I can get out there and take them. Hopefully in the next week.

~ sarah

Sexy, AFFORDABLE, Shoes?!

2008-09-17T15:00:00.005-05:00

Mr. H's sister sent me a link on Facebook to these shoes...
Aren't they cute?!

4" Stiletto Pump with Lace Trim - Sale: $27.75

I might just go ahead a buy them. I could always just buy a dress to wear with them if I don't end up wearing them in the wedding.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2008-09-08T23:54:00.003-05:00

It seems like every day I get a chance to go take pictures of the reception hall, it's raining... maybe later this week.

In the meantime, we've been looking at cakes and found this one. I would rather have buttercream than fondant though because I heard it tastes better. I think we'd put red ribbons around the layers without the hearts and surrounded it with red rose petals on the table and I think it would look fabulous. I'm sure this will be the first of many cakes we like.

Mr. H has a huge sweet tooth so I know the cake tasting process will be a favorite event for him.

Ceremony & Reception Site!

2008-09-03T10:26:00.003-05:00

We booked our ceremony & reception site! It's going to be at Cave Hollow Centre at the Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal. It cost only $50 to hold the date with the remaining $450 to be paid the week of the wedding, $150 of which will be refunded if there are no damages. We will have access to the property from 3:00 p.m. on Friday, the wedding will be on Saturday and we have to have it cleaned up by 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. So I think all that time and space for $350 is great! Plus there's a huge gazebo outside being built with built-in sound.

Pictures coming by the end of the week!!

Pretty, Pretty Flowers

2008-08-20T13:11:00.003-05:00

I was thinking about my flowers last night and found this pretty hand-tied bouquet. I love the red roses and the way they're bound together. Very, very pretty. This is what I want my bouquet to look like... if I don't come across another picture I like better.

Adding another picture...

Sexy, Red Shoes

2008-08-16T23:15:00.006-05:00

I am IN LOVE with these shoes!!! I found them on a wedding blog but I have no idea who makes them...Help!?! $5 Arch Card (McDonald's currency) to the first person who finds a website selling them.

Dress Shopping!

2008-08-16T18:21:00.012-05:00

Mom, Emma & I went dress shopping today and I think I found THE dress. I tried tons of wedding dresses on but they were all either too expensive or too foo foo fancy for me. So the lady at the store suggested I check out some of the two-tone bridesmaid dresses and I found this one. I would be wearing the one on the left in ivory with a red waistband and Emma's would look the same as mine. I tried one on like it but it was completely red and it looked fantastic. AND it's only $163! What do ya think?! I love it!!

Our Engagement Story

2008-08-16T00:33:00.004-05:00

The third week in July 2008, Mr. H, Emma and I went on our first real family vacation. The first three night were at Mr. H's Mom, near the Lake of the Ozarks. We swam and hung out with his family, relaxing and enjoying our get-away.

On Monday we left the lake and headed to Branson, Missouri, where we went to White Water, Dixie Stampede, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and a fish hatchery. The condo we stayed at was absolutely fabulous. It was 1400 sq. ft (which is bigger than my house) with two bedrooms and a huge kitchen. The master bedroom was beautifully decorated with a king size bed and a heart-shaped jacuzzi tub. Emma's room had two queen size beds. Her thoughts: one bed to jump on and one bed to sleep on.

After each of the four fun busy days, enjoying touristy Branson stuff, we'd put Emma to bed and we would relax and hang out on our balcony, which was my favorite part of the trip. We'd talk, play cards and just enjoy being away and together. The view wasn't much, since they were still constructing new condos all around the resort, but we could see the lights over the treeline from the strip and a big billboard of Yakov Smirnoff.

The last night that we stayed at the resort, Wednesday, July 16, we were spending the evening on the balcony playing a drinking game. About two drinks into the game, around midnight, I lost a hand and owed 10 drinks. He said, "let me make you a deal" and moved the chair that I had my legs propped up on. I seriously thought he was going to make me do push ups instead of taking the drinks until he told me to cover my eyes. After asking if I was peeking, he got down on one knee and told me to open my eyes. When I did he had the ring box out & open. I was shocked. He said, "will you do my the honor of becoming my wife?" and I started crying and said, "of course, yes!". I was soooooo surprised and excited. I knew that he had asked my parents for their blessing but this was one souvenir I wasn't expecting to come home with. He even yelled up at the people in the balcony above us announcing our engagement. It was so cute.

I called my mom and dad and woke them up with the news and Mr. H called his family and they were waiting up, expecting his call. I told Emma on Thursday morning. She asked for a couple more minutes to sleep (she had croup), I told her no, that she needed to wake up and look at mommy's hand. I asked her if she knew what it meant and she said, "yes, that means Drew asked you to marry him and I'm gonna have a dad," and I cried again. I've never been so happy in my entire life.

Introduction

2008-08-16T00:06:00.004-05:00

So, after 5 years, he asked me to marry him. We've been through a lot in 5 years. I'm sure we'll go through a lot more together. But now we know, we can make it.

So, this is my new wedding blog. I need to bounce some ideas around regarding the wedding and I am welcome to suggestions & critiques. My goal is to put together a beautiful, memorable wedding on a limited budget (what kind of budget, I'm not even sure of yet).

The big day is September 19th, 2009. Let the fun begin...