We almost have are engagement pictures decided, but I thought these ones were funny because it shows how DIFFUCULT it is for Brandon (and me sometimes) to take a decent picture... We goof around way too much! uggh

There are definitely more pictures where these came from!

So what IS the "right thing" to do!? I have 33 classmates in my nursing program and I know all of them, but am close to maybe 10 of them, but some people that I wasn't planning on inviting have (of course) expressed interest in coming! I want to invite just those I am close to, but I don't want anyone with hurt feelings because really all 33 of us have been through a lot together. I would LOVE to invite everyone, but that is just not necessary. The wedding is a month after we graduate, so maybe I can get away with sending out those particular invites late? Ahhh, what do I do?! What have you guys done in these "toughy" situations?

Another thing- True that when you invite just one person you know you need to "add + 1 guest"? Is everyone following that rule to the tee? I don't want to be rude, but all these guys know each other, so they don't need their significant others!?

**UPDATE**
I did finally get my ring in a couple weeks ago - here are some better shots of it! It still was not the right size (it is a 4 and a 3.75 was what I wanted) so now it twirls around my finger, but at least I can wear it and I luv it!

I just noticed that these pics were taken over my school notes when I was SUPPOSE to be studying! It is so distracting planning a wedding!

We finally finished registering today! There is still some editing to do (Brandon thought it would be amusing to scan toilet paper, a playstation 3 and a my little pony, but only the essentials you know? lol)

But I wanted ask what people registered for gifts in the $25 range? I have found that most of my items are like $40 and I want to have more options. Also has anyone registered on amazon.com? I have been debating this and am not sure. How is it working out for you?

But at least we are registered and well on our way! Bed Bath & Beyond / Target here we come!

So I did some shopping on Saturday for my DIY projects at JoAnnes...

We found the cutest material for the table runners on clearance and I didn't even know it! It was going to come to $66 for 10 yards, but I got 12 1/2 yards for $33! Yipee it was an exciting day!

I also finished buying the candles and I bought some ribbon to play around with! It feels good to get some things bought and out of the way!

Ok - so I first saw the post on wedding newsletters on gratefulbrides page and I thought - cute but I will not be needing one.

As soon as I said that all drama broke out. Oh my goodness! My soon to be mother-in-law calls my fiance's brother outraged that she has not been included and she knows NOTHING that is going on for the wedding (hey - we have something in common- neither do I! lol). So apparently my future brother in law has been the one to communicate with her and is telling her all the wrong information! Like our ceremony is in Bellingham and it is really in Bellevue! Bellingham is up like four aways away towards Canada! Oh no! So then she was planning on not going to the ceremony!

Can you believe the craziness?

Anyways since I am off on spring break I have been working on this newsletter ALL day! It is not perfect because I had to convert the .doc to a .pdf and it got a little off. I will send one to all the family members, so when plans are discussed they all have a hard copy! whew!

SO a BIG thank-you to all of you who have inspired me while I ran around crazy today trying to pull this together!
♥ gratefulbride
♥ kellydave4ever
♥ http://wedding-planning.suite101.com

We are going to do an "open soda bar" since there will be no alcohol at our wedding! It is going to be so much fun!

There will be:
Italian Sodas / Rootbeer Floats / Virgin Margaritas / Coca Cola / Dr. Pepper / Sprite / Water


Since I luv Italian sodas and Brandon luvs Dr. Pepper those choices have to stay. Does anyone have any other fun drink alternatives?

Yipee! we finally signed the contract! We LUV LUV LUV their work! They are a husband and wife team in Seattle that are going to do an hour of our wedding for $250 with all HIGH resolution negatives on CD with signed copyrights to us to use to print other places! Vladimir and Irina Triska - the best in Seattle

www.voirphotography

Ugg... So I am really bummed. Brandon originally ordered my ring back on Thanksgiving weekend and it still hasn't come in yet! At first they told him it would come by December 14th, but then since my finger is so small (3.75) they said it wouldn't come in till Jan. 10th. So Brandon had to use a borrowed fitted ring for the initial proposal. That was fine.

So... Jan. 10th rolls around and they push it back another two weeks and now it was been its "almost here" or " it should be here any day now!" ever since! It is March 3rd, more than 3 months since he ordered it and still no ring. This is really annoying me! They keep telling me something different and I get all excited to pick it up and then they tell me they don't have it! The fitted ring has been worn so much that the fitter has come off and I have just given up trying to wear it. My poor ring just sits in its little box. What should I do? Is this normal?

I am not trying to complain, but I wish they could just tell me one thing and stick to it! I have been patient enough!

** UPDATE **
So it came in on March 8th, but it was just to make sure it was the right size before they set the diamond in. It did fit fine even though I asked for a 3.75 and it was a 4, but I am thinking I will try the 4 out and if it is not as snug as I want it I will have it refitted after the wedding. Now it should be completed by the 13th. I'm crossing my fingers that there will be no more complications!

SoMe oF oUr mUsiC CHoiCeS sO fAr!

First of all it wouldn't be our wedding without some Colbie Caillat and some Jack Johnson, but the only reason Brandon even likes Colbie is because I listen to her all the time - I catch him singing the bubbly song sometimes (or what he thinks it is: "crinkle my nose, down to my toes!...") and it is so funny! I can't help but love him!

"Bubbly" - Colbie Calliat
"Better Together" - Jack Johnson
"Why Don't You & I" - Chad Kroeger (Santana)
"With You" - Chris Brown
"Drops of Jupiter" - Train
“Sh-Boom” - Crew Cut
"Oxygen" - Colbie Calliat
“She's My Kind of Rain” - Tim Mcgraw
“The Way I Am” - Ingrid Michealson
"When the Stars Go Blue" - Tim McGraw

PaRty MuSic:
“Hey Ya!” - Outcast
"Footloose" – Kenny Loggins
"Clumsy" - Fergie
"Getting Jiggy With It" - Will Smith

So, the idea came up that I serve tacos at the reception to add some more flava to the food choices. Well, it has always been a joke with me and my grandma, since I was probably about 12, that I would serve Taco Bell at my wedding because we both love it so much and for a change we could eat real food at a wedding! SO, I thought it would be fun to add taco bell along with our other Hor d'oeuvres! We wouldn't leave the tacos wrapped and they would be presented in a nice way....

What does everyone think of Taco Bell? Would it be fun or does it sound cheap? Or any other ideas of food that you LOVE?



*** Thanks everyone for their opinions! So far they have been very helpful. I will ponder the idea some more - maybe I will do it for just part of the reception - we'll see...****

I finally finished my inspiration board! (I was having an internal blue color crisis), but all is well now. Some of the blues still don't match up "perfectly," but I am a major perfectionist. It will probably change images periodically. yipee!

I found some of these spa tips on www.weddingchannel.com "Eve's Home Remedies" I know you can find tips like this everywhere, but some of these were different. Here are some of them. They look fun!

*Eye drops will remove redness not only from your eyes but also from red blemishes. Freeze a drop in a spoon, place frozen over blemish and hold, it will shrink swelling.
*Parsley will help freshen your breath from the inside. Parsley contains chlorophyll, which is found in Certs and Clorets.
*Gently rub baking soda (3/4 cup mixed with 1/4 cup water) for three minutes on face and rinse off. A great, inexpensive exfoliator.
*Crush cucumbers into a pulp, and pat over face and neck. Good for oily skin and to unclog pores.
*Brush your lips with a toothbrush and use Vaseline to exfoliate and plump up your lips.
*Eucerin lotion over lips provides soothing therapy and holds lip color.
*Instead of shaving cream, use hair conditioner to shave your legs. It will leave them silky and smooth, as well as save you a moisturizing step.
*A quick weight loss tip: Take two garlic tablets and two papaya enzymes before every meal. You can lose up to 5 lbs in one week.
*Hairspray sprayed eight inches from face with eyes and mouth closed will create sealer for your makeup.
*Honey and baby oil combined and rubbed on the body will make it incredibly soft. Be sure to rinse it off before leaving the bath.
*Hydrogen peroxide applied with a cotton ball makes a terrific astringent.
*Dab a Q-tip into Jell-O cherry flavored powder and apply to lips. Let sit for five minutes and lick it off. Will give your lips a natural red coat.
*Lemon juice will dry up and help get rid of a pimple.
*Lemon juice will whiten brittle fingernails.
*Neosporin can help remove and heal acne overnight.
*Clay masks will draw out the black heads that tend to gather around the nose, by dehydrating the top layer of skin.
*Toothpaste (white paste) will help heal acne breakouts.

I found this invitation and it is exactly the wedding colors I want! Finally!

So the colors will be:
aqua/teal
Sage green
Chocolate brown (as an accent color)

I was just curious on what everyone is doing for their something old and something borrowed pieces? I need ideas!

I think my something blue will be fun & cute blue shoes or flip flops! Since I can't do the blue sash I want with my dress, I will do blue shoes!!

This is the ring pillow I decided on. My mother in law wants to make it! yipee.

And those are my boys. Both nephews about two weeks apart and they will both be four by July.

**UPDATE**
I found these cute football "ring pillows" on theknot.com! Brandon would absolutely love these, so I am not going to tell him about them until I decided if I want to do them. He would insist that this is the only way a ring can make it up the aisle.

He proposed on his grandparents anniversary, Dec. 20th. That was also the date he wanted to get married on, but I wanted a summer wedding. (Remember I live in WA, so July and August is really the only time we don't get rain). So he proposed on that date instead. :) The date is also special to him because his grandpa died and was like a dad to him. It's kind of his way of keeping his Grandpa involved in his life.
SO we were getting ready to leave his Apt. to go eat dinner with his grandma when he randomly started playing music on his X-box. I kind of just let it go and went to turn off the lights, the heater and etc... Then our song conveniently came on. So he said, hey we are early, so lets dance. While we were dancing he kept saying I finally got the apt. I wanted and the job I wanted.... and then I piped in and said "AND the girl you wanted :)" And he was like well not yet... pshhh. I just let it go.
So then I look down at the christmas tree and saw one of the huge gifts he wrapped. (He had made it all dramatic with a big bow). So I commented on how I really wanted to open it. He says ok. And I was like NO! I have to wait! That is no fun. He kept insisting that I open it, so finally I kind of catch on. He then says don't make me get down on one knee... Oddly I didn't know what to do for a second because I knew what was coming, but I wasn't prepared. So he pulls this ring out behind his back and says here's your big present.
I go "WOW" because it was so sparkely in the christmas lights. And then I noticed there was this weird silence. And I say " Well, baby what do you say?" And he says " you didn't hear me? I already asked you!" Ha ha, I said wow so loud that I didn't hear him the first time, poor guy. But it was special and exciting. And he had it planned for a long time. It was perfect.

**UPDATE**

The MOH (Sandra, but I call her Sanny) is my best friend that I have known for what seems forever. We grew up together since 8th grade and have been inseparable ever since! My other bridesmaids are Emily (I've known her since 8th grade too and she is the biggest goof ball ever and I luv her!) And I am going to have two of the other bridesmaids be my married sister, Audrienne (25) and my little sister (18), Tessa!

I have 4 beautiful sisters (& 0 brothers) so it was a tough call on who to ask, but since they are all my sisters they will all be "bridesmaids". My oldest sister (26) will be our piano player for the reception and my youngest sister (11) will be somewhat of a junior bridesmaid. I will have her stand up in the front with my other bridesmaids for the ceremony but she will come after she escorts the cute ring bearers.

MOH: Sandra (Sanny)
♥ BM's :
♥ Emily
♥ Audrie
♥ Tessa

I decided I'm doing a set up on the guest table to show off the families that started before our marriage.

It will have both my grandparents wedding picture and Brandon's grandparents wedding pictures. There will also be our parents on it too. Then by each wedding picture that has a grandparent deceased will be a candle.

<<<< That's my Mom and Dad's picture!

I thought you might like this quote... it's about the perfect guy... and you've found him ... Brandon: “Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”

These are some other cheesy quotes I found... :)

To love is not to look at one another, but to look together in the same direction. --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. --Anonymous

The first photo is something like we are doing, but with more white gerber daisies in the vase. It is going to look fabulous! Now I just need to actually make sure I can do it and make it look good. :S

We decided on the lacey community center. It is located on a small lake and is a beautiful site! One down a million more things to decide.

**Update**

I took some more pictures on saturday march 22. The first one is the banquet hall, the second is the view from the banquet hall of the pond, and the third is the outside and park there.

I decided I am doing a "cocktail" party, but it will be more like a "mocktail" party because me or the groom don't drink. But we want a full buffet of drinks and dessert. Then have Hor d'oeuvres served around too.

Sandwiches are summery and cheap to make, but I am not sure if that is what I want.... Any ideas for food that we can make ourselves?

Something similiar to these, we will be making our own...

Either it will be the portland or seattle temple. Portland is prettier and Seattle is ok. But Portland is a two hour drive... I will probably do Seattle to simplify life.

This is my FAV hair do, I hope that it can be pulled off for my hair.

I really like this classy look Eva Longoria is sporting, I think I will give it a shot.

I want a candy bar! Just like the first blue one. Then I can add lots of yummy chocolate..

I found the cutest organza bags on ebay! 50 for $7.00! They come in all kinds of colors, so I can do chocolate brown, teal and white.

I like the color of these dresses... My bridesmaids will get to pick their actual dresses, whatever they want as long as it is in the color scheme...

The first photo is Liz Claiborne.. It is on sale for like $40 right now and then I could just get teal sashes for the dresses instead of the white.

** UPDATE**
I met with my "florist" (actually a really a nice family friend who has offered to help with the wedding!) on Thursday and we decided to do my bouquet ALL white with calla lillies! It is going to be so pretty. The bridesmaids will probably do all white gerber daisies wrapped in blue ribbon. Can't wait to see what she comes up with!

samsclub pompons: $50 for 80.

samsclub

I want a cake like the third one, but with blue flowers and chocolate! Something simple. This design is also easy to do yourself and is pretty. Does anyone have pictures of pretty chocolate wedding cakes?

**UPDATE****
I found some 144 cute gum paste flowers for $17 at:
http://www.discountsugarflowers.com/detail.aspx?ID=19