This is emp7885's Red Wedding!

Good morning ladies. Now while I know that my fiancé and I still have loads of time to book and reserve every detail of our wedding, I’m at that antsy stage. Not to mention I figure there’s no harm in booking things early, and Paul luckily enough agrees. Well unfortunately as I mentioned in my prior post we had found our reception venue. Now ladies understand that I don’t get materialistic and blown away easily, but this site was BEAUTIFUL, and everything about it oozed with the ‘ideal wedding’ written all over it. Unfortunately, we hadn’t put a deposit down on it yet- only an internal hold- and I haven’t been able to reach the sales staff there in weeks by phone or email. We’re figuring that if they’re this difficult to deal with and contact now, then I’m not sure that they’re the ones for us.

So that long story short, we’re on the hunt for a new and better than the last reception hall. Bringing me to my plea to other Central PA brides. My ceremony is still booked at the church and that’s in Mechanicsburg- a church that I grew up going to and absolutely adore and luckily Paul really likes it too. So I didn’t want to go too far away from it (the location we first had was just shy of 30 min away). So any suggestions for where to hold the reception now? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

On a different note referring back to my last post- I can’t decide if things are better or not on the family front. I have since discovered that both of my parents feel that since they have my sister to put through college for at least another 2 years, that they don’t believe that they will be financially able to contribute to the wedding and want us to wait. Well, first of all we never asked them to contribute a lot financially- they can offer 50 and I’d be happy, or nothing at all and that would be fine as well. BUT at the same time my mother overheard me updating Paul on the phone to what the current reception venue issue was and suggested one that was closer to the church where my aunt got married many moons ago. So maybe just maybe she’s at least making a tiny effort because she realizes that no amount of disagreeing with me is going to change my mind. Who knows.

I’ve been looking into centerpieces lately, and we have both decided that something low is the way to go.
The entire bridal party has been chosen as well- we’re just 1 short of our 16 with who knows they’re in the bridal party. Now call me crazy but I didn’t think that at her wedding was the right time to ask his sister to be a part of mine. Haha. I haven’t reached that far into bridezilla mode yet. Give me a few more months.

So my fiance’s sister’s wedding was Saturday the 5th, and it was beautiful. All of the stress and the excessive planning that built up for her and her now husband melted away with the beautiful ceremony location and the blast that everyone had during the reception. I had to laugh at one point though, because even though my fiancé has a cousin who’s getting married in October, his family members during the course of the evening came up to me and were like ‘Hey you’re next, aren’t you excited!’ I just didn’t know what to think because it was still his sister’s big day. During the dollar dance though, when I took my turn busting a move with her, she pulled me in for a hug and told me ‘Aww Emily, I’m so happy you’re going to be a part of this family. My day’s almost over and yours is next!’

So I’ve been debating posting this or not, but I’ve seen other ladies on here post their frustrations and stressors that come along with planning a wedding, so I figured what the heck, I’ll take my turn in that position. Haha. So initially after we got engaged, my family, mainly my mother has been so happy for me. When I first told her just shy of a year ago that we were looking at engagement rings and were going to be getting married, she was almost in tears of joy- and this was before anything had happened. Her and my father both gave their blessing to him when he asked for their blessing, and both were ecstatic when I called them with the news. Now in the last week, and a half, theres been a switch that flipped. Suddenly she’s on the ‘you’re rushing this’, ‘you’re both not financially stable enough to do this right now’, ‘don’t you want to experience more life on your own terms’ kick, and it’s mentally and physically exhausting to listen to. I knew that many people would probably give me their advice and opinions, against my wedding. The problem is I never dreamt is would come from my own family. Any suggestions to get things back to the way they were or to at the very least stabilize them so I don’t feel as though I’m shaming my family by trying to make them happy.

Do I know it’s going to be difficult starting out in married life- yes. Especially with the way the economy is going these days, everything is more of a challenge. I know it’s going to take work, I know it’s going to be tough at times, but I also believe strongly enough in myself, and Paul, and our love and know that we can make it. I just wish other people could believe it with the intensity and positivity that we have.

On a lighter note…
We’ve decided on who is in the wedding party. There will be a total of 16 people up there with us and I couldn’t be happier about it. They are all wonderful and amazing people that we love and care for so deeply. So be on the lookout ladies- I’m sure that meshing 16 personalities together is going to make for some very interesting stories.

Yes, did I mention we found a reception hall!!!! : ) Things have a way of working themselves out in the end I suppose.

So I figured that if I can't really tackle any of the fun and more than likely non stressful elements of decor and colors, than at the very least Paul and I can take on at least part of the never ending list that comes with planning a wedding. It's amusing to me because suddenly even though I'm no more experienced than the next person since I'm just beginning this entire process, I find myself being asked for advice and opinions by other people. My cousin just recently got engaged herself, and is currently looking at reception hall prices and called me today to find out if the prices I was given were as extravagant as hers were. Being that I'm located in the central PA/Harrisburg area of the state and she's closer to the Philadelphia region (actually she's in CT right now but she'll be getting married back here), obviously the prices are going to be higher.

Anyway, back to my list....

- Find a reception hall/confirm date and time/book it

- Decide on final color scheme (I go back and forth and since Paul told me it's my decision, I need to come up with something. I'm extremely indecisive, so I think this is why he gave this job to me..gotta love him)

- Trim down and finalize guest list (no matter how many times I fantasized about my large wedding growing up, I didn't imagine it could be THIS large. I know we don't want to go broke paying for the reception and having to go down to a hotel locally in the Harrisburg area, and get our desired 'beach honeymoon' by sitting on the faux beach on City Island...cuts have to be made)

- Pick out/personalize/order/label/send out Save the Dates

- Begin looking into invitations (I keep getting samples of different products in the mail and luckily enough some of them are reasonably priced and look amazing. Paul likes what has come in so far. We're still tossing around the idea of DIY though)

We have a meeting for a walk thru at a reception location tomorrow evening at 6. It's the first one we're checking out, and while I know we need to visit many before we make the final decision, I still hope this one goes well. It's in great proximity to the ceremony location and wouldn't break the budget- that's still nonexistent, but thats besides the point- I just hope it goes well.

I always thought it was a tiny bit risky when my future sister in law ordered her beautiful gown off an reputable internet site. She found the dress at a local store in her parent's hometown, but believed that after alterations it was going to be too much for her budget. After searching online and with the help of her sister she found an online site. Several emails and phone calls of negotiating later, she got an AMAZING deal and it arrived in plenty of time (She's getting married in 2 weeks). She looks amazing in it and is so happy with it.

My question is though, do you feel that it's a good idea, have you ever done it, and how much trust do you have that it won't skyrocket after alterations, and that it will arrive on time?

UPDATE: After thinking about it, I have decided to post the website for the online store that she ordered her dress from.

http://www.christinagowns.com

She said they helped her out greatly with an amazing price. Maybe it will help one of you ladies out

Hey everyone, how's this for a challenge for you all. I believe I was on this site the other day and was browsing hairstyles and found a beautiful and perfect for me style.

I have long, natural curly, thick brown hair, and for as long as I can remember I've never been a fan of it. However in recent years I guess a miracle happened and suddenly the curls lay just right and it doesn't look as though I've just escaped a horrible humid storm. Paul absolutely loves it when I wear my hair down, so I knew I always wanted to, and made him a promise that I would wear it down. Well at least most of the way.

ANYWAY sidetrack aside, I'm looking for a picture that I found of a half up and half down hairstyle that looks like a loose french braid at the top and goes about mid way down. It also has flowers in it I believe and curls more at the bottom.

So, the question of the hour is- has anybody seen it or do they know which site I would have seen it on? Thanks a bunch ladies. Or if you have any other suggestions for how to create an elegant, romantic look, feel free to pass it along. I figure I'd get a head start on something that won't cost me a dime yet. :)

I feel that I should explain something. Within 24hrs of Paul and getting engaged, we were swarmed with the questions of WHEN are you getting married. I know it's typical to ask that, however we realized that no one even cared HOW we had gotten engaged. So as a way to keep something special to ourselves, we are keeping the date a secret until our Save the Date cards go out later in the year. I would post it on here, but I don't know which members of my family or his actually check this out, so for now consider the 'date' January 1st, 2009. And for reference, I'm thankful that its NOT that day because I don't think I'd be ready yet. We're still in the beginning stages of planning. We have booked our church for the day that we want, and are in the process of seeking out reception locations.

I'll keep you all up to date and look forward to your suggestions and inputs on a lot of questions that I will be sure to have.

So I can honestly say that I fit the cliche- no I didn't cry hysterics of happiness when it happened, but for once in my life I was silent. Completely shocked and taken aback. The main reason for that is because he wasn't supposed to have the ring yet, and I assumed we were there to relax before our final week of the semester. On May 3rd 2008, Paul and I made the trip from our area to NYC for the day. It was a tad chilly but we didn't let that discourage us. I LOVE the city atmosphere and it has always held a special place for me.

However after being on my feet since 8:45 that morning by the time 4:20 rolled around, I was tired of walking and the last thing I wanted to do was trek back up to Central Park and locate a horse and carriage. (it was his suggestion earlier in the day). So of course nothing is ever entirely cut and dry for me, and this proved to be no exception to that rule, when it took us at least 15 min walking around in circles to try and locate the area where we could find one to go on. When at long last we found one, I was just happy that I could sit down and still see the city, that I didn't give it a second thought when he spent extra time talking to the carriage driver.

The ride was just about over me and he turns to me and says 'so how long have we been together now?', and since at the time it was just a little over a year and a half, I told him that, and he smiled. Then because he had been doing yard work for my family the last three weeks in prep for our joint graduation party, he started complaining about how sore his back was and started to stretch out. And then he moved over to the opposite side of the carriage to stretch out some more, which again I bought after all the walking we'd done that day. Then he says he needs to crack his knees, which again I figured was normal. The next thing I know he's on one knee in front of me while we're in the carriage and the ring box is open on my lap. He goes 'will you marry me?', instant answer was 'YES', shortly followed by 'But you're not supposed to have the ring yet!' because in order to throw me off the trail of a potential engagement, he told me it was still getting sized at the manufacturers.

It was wonderful day and now we get to hash out wedding details!