This is ldstess's Purple Wedding!

I'm shocked over and over again everytime I enter a shoe website and/or shoe store to find that they don't have any white shoes (cute, white shoes) to their name! Where did all the white shoes go??? Is it just not in style anymore? Is there a wedding shoe website or store anywhere?
So here's my real question: Where did you guys find your white shoes?

The big day is come ever so closer! Only two more weeks till we get hitched! I've made a wedding day checklist, but I don't know if I'm missing anything.
(as a side note-- I'm getting married in WA, so it's probably either going to be rainy and wet or snowing)
-Hairspray
-Makeup
-Tissues
-Gum—after "lunch-in"
-Umbrella
-Hairpins
-Jacket
-Tennis shoes (for muddy, sinking grass)
-Extra eye contacts
-Sandals (in case feet get cold and can be kept warm in car)
-Towel/tablecloth to keep wedding dress clean during lunch-in
-Stain remover--tide wipes
-Safety pins in case something happens to dress
-white gloves
-Temple recommends
-Marriage license
-asprin/Tylenol/ibprofen
-deoderant
-bottle of water
-perfume
-nail file

Am I missing anything ladies?
Thanks!

Matt is best friends with our photographer's wife, Kristina Wunsch, so we lucked out with her generosity! For both pictures after the ceremony and at the reception, she's only charging $275! Yeah. Amazing.

This promising photographer's website is:
http://www.goudeyphotography.com/weddings/index.html

So I made a Hardcover Memory book online that you can put pictures on--it's actually supposed to be a scrapbook looking thing, but on every other page I left a page blank without pictures, so people can write notes, or sign their names, etc. My sister gave me the idea--I was so happy because I was struggling to find a guestbook that I wanted. I wanted a black cover, but no shop had one whatsoever! And I didn't want a typical guestbook either, cause I wouldn't look at it ever again, so I was so happy that I was able to put pictures and cool backgrounds in it so it would be neat to look back on it like a yearbook and read what people wrote. Hmm, but the picture I want to show of it doesn't want to give me what I want--only the front cover picture. So you'll just have to use your imagination, which I know all you brides do cause you're planning a wedding! That HAS to take imagination. So I'm pretty excited to have an awesome guestbook!

Yep, good ol' Target. In Provo they have this huge Super Target--way better than Bed, Bath and Beyond or Walmart!

14K White Gold 1/2 Carat t.w. Diamond Ring from Kay Jewelers.
I am in love with my engagement ring. Matt made the perfect choice.

"A stunning round diamond dazzles in the center of this elegant ring, and a row of round diamonds accents each side for added sparkle."

I'm a fairly simple person, so I don't plan on adding another ring for the marriage--too much ring--what I'm wearing now is absolutely perfect.

Our Honeymoon is taking place in La Mirada, a few miles from Los Angeles.

My delightful Grandma is graciously lending us her condo during our 4 day stay, to save on the cost of hotels. You've gotta love Grandmas.
The Sunday we fly there (December 28th) is just our relax day to chill and get used to the city of La Mirada.

Monday (Dec. 29th) is where it starts. That day we'll be cruising on roller coasters at my favorite place in the world: Magic Mountain! Matt's never been there, so I'm going to be sure to take him on all my favorite rides: Riddler's Revenge, Batman, Deja Vu, Goliath, and The X. I'm super excited to take on the thriller ride of The X2.

Tuesday (Dec. 30) is another relax day--of course we have to go to the beach! We haven't yet decided which beach, but Santa Monica looks like a good possibility.

Wednesday (New Year's Eve) is another busy day!!! And what better way to spend our first New year's Eve married than at the most magical place in the world? A place we haven't been to since we were both little kids: Disneyland!!!!

Thursday we fly out of Ontario back to Provo, UT where we go to school and move into our new, ghetto apartment!!! Hooray!!

Frankly, I knew he was going to ask me that day. I didn't know when, but I knew it was coming. Weeks before we had become "unofficially" engaged, but without the ring and the title.We had planned weeks in advance for this fun hiking trip on Mt. Ellinor in the Olympic Mountains of Washington. Matt is a major hiker--me not so much. While I LOVE the outdoors, a 4 out of 5 hiking level wasn't something I was used to. It was pretty much steep, upward stairs that gradually turned into basically straight climbing. The moment we left the car to walk up to the hiking trail it was an adventure. We had to park a little ways away from the rest of the cars, because we didn't buy a permit to park in the general area...the long walk up to the spot was exhausting, not to mention the the temperature that day decided to climb itself up to 90 degrees. A strange phenomenon for the West Coast of Washington. Anyways, finally we made it to the trail head and sat next to the portable restroom for a little while to rest and eat before actually starting our hike up to the tip top of the mountain! Excited and happy to begin our hike together, a little bit after we started going we realized we were being followed by a very unwanted creature: flies. Flies everywhere. And so it became the difficult choice between either stopping to rest and get eaten by thousands of flies, or keep moving the tired legs to keep ahead of the vermits. Immediately, we began to compare our situation to married life. The long journey together was going to be hard, with the constant climb upward and "bugged" by the small, nagging problems or annoyances that hit you throughout life. After coming up with this practical analogy, I made the firm decision that I was going to make it to the top--now that our experience was compared to our future life together. If I failed, I would feel as if our future life together would fail. I wouldn't have it! Now determined more than ever, I found myself pushing harder than I've ever hiked before. Sadly, I have excertional Asthma, so it didn't take long before I was searching for a stick to help support me. With the stick and loving hands of my finance, I somehow managed to keep going. The climb wasn't as bad as I seem to make it look. I was exhausted, but still loving the time I had with Matt and all that we talked about. We had some good moments as well. Somewhere near halfway (we were already hiking about 4-5 hours), we surprisingly found a couple large patches of snow!!! Thrilled, we took advantage of this blessing and covered our sweating arms, legs, faces and backs with the cold snow. We took the time to eat as well, having fun watching the other intense hikers play in the snow. We also somehow out-climbed the flies!!...for a few minutes anyways. Then I think they mutated and turned into biting, blood-drawing flies. Great. We kept going, the climb getting steadily steeper, laughing (Haha, it could've been wheezes, I wasn't sure) and enjoying each other's company. We eventually reached a part of the mountain called "The Bowl"--Just a bunch of never-ending, wooden stairs that formed into a bowl shape. Matt had convinced me the end of the stairs was the top of the mountain and willingly I believed him. So I climbed ever so slowly, beginning to feel a headache and extremely nauseous (of course, I wouldn't dare let Matt know I was, or he'd force us to turn back immediately). And while Matt 's intentions were good, I couldn't help but punch him in the shoulder upon discovering the end of the stairs was NOT the top of the mountain. At least 100 more feet of climbing to go.It was there I stopped and forced myself to rest a couple hours. So we spent that time extremely gratified to witness such a gorgeous view of the water and islands. We also made some new friends! Two chipmunks we named Squirrel and Giddy, ate trail mix straight from our hands. I think we gave them enough peanuts and seeds to last them all winter. The best day of their lives, I'm sure! Okay, enough blabbering from me, I'd better get on with the best part of the story. We eventually got up and continued to climb to the top. If you can imagine, by this time I was close to fainting. But we were so close I wouldn't dare turn back. After 9-10 hours, we made it to the tip top of the mountain. What a view!!!!!! One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. The sun was starting to fade into the horizon. On one side, rolling mountain after rolling mountain for as far as the eye could see, and to your left the blue water and islands from an even greater view. We crawled up to a spot on the top where if you moved two feet any different way you would fall a thousand feet. It was great! The moment had come. I knew it. Matt started giving me a nervous, but well prepared speech on how happy he was to find someone like me. He wanted to spend the rest of time and eternity with me. Then as much as he could to get on one knee without plummeting to the bottom, he pulled out a stunning, most perfect ring, sparkling in the setting sun. "Tessa, will you marry me?" He half-whispered. Of course I said yes!!! Not only did the love of my life give the most amazing proposal on top of the world, can you imagine the long, awkward climb down if I'd said no!? Hmmm, well, the time had come for my body as well. It had enough. A few minutes later I climbed down from our spot and crashed into a moss covered rock and fainted. You can only imagine what my poor new finance was thinking: "Great, I've only been engaged to her for a few minutes and I've already killed her! I think I've made the Guinness World Record for shortest engagement ever!" A half hour later I woke, half-conscious and feeling half-dead. Any moment I would vomit for days on end. My love only increased for Matt when he gently placed my head on his lap, scratching my back and stroking my hair.
Matt and I are both members of the LDS Church, so I quietly asked if he could give me a priesthood blessing. He nodded and asked to have a few minutes to himself. Only one other time in my life had I received a blessing for the sick--I could feel the power of the Priesthood as he placed his hands on my head. He spoke softly while giving the blessing--we were both aware of some hikers watching us as they reached the top--I hardly cared, but I'm sure Matt was understandably embarrassed. When he finished he lifted my head onto his lap once more, feeding me fishy crackers and water. By this time the sun was close to setting. Now instead of flies, they were replaced by itchy mosquitoes. Matt went a step farther by fighting the bugs off me and taking all their blows. We counted more than 10 bites on his arms! Poor guy. Anyways, after the blessing less than an hour later, no joke, I was up and about! The fishy crackers I'm sure helped, but I'm pretty sure the Priesthood blessing did the job. Actually, I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done the hike at all without heavenly help.

Well, we started off our hike at around 10am that morning (unengaged) and reached our car at about midnight, engaged. Longest, but best hike I've ever been on!

The cake somewhat goes along with the dress--straightforward, but also well-designed. And instead of black flowers and bow, the color will be purple.
I like the four layers, but with my budget I'll be sticking to two layers. I know, most think it's too small. But what can you do when you're poor? However, the desserts we're providing won't leave the guests really wanting to eat cake anyways.