This is mazzy0774's Green Wedding!

I finally found my gown!!!! I got it at Alfred Angelo! I was torn between two gowns and thought the one I chose would go better with our renaissance festival wedding. I'm going to have a light green sash on mine, but the one I tried on had a blue sash. And, the size 10 FIT me. I was like HOLY COW!!!!!!!!! I was so happy!!!! All of the hard work has paid off! I want to lose a few more inches and pounds in the next 3 months though. I picked this gown online and was so happy they had it for me to try on.

It was such an amazing experience finding it. I can't wait to put it on for our special day! I'm so grateful to everyone who came with me, too. My 13 year old son decided he wanted to go and I thought that was so sweet. He said he liked watching Say Yes to the Dress with me and wanting to help me choose my dress.

Also, my best friend and MOH, Jeni, came with me and my bridesmaid, April, and my other bff, Christine, surprised me and was already there when we arrived and my other bridesmaid and real sister, Angela also came.

You really do know when it's the ONE. Such a great feeling. Too cool for words.

It won't arrive until mid October and then I'll have to run alterations, but it's perfect timing. One more week and it wouldn't have been enough time for my November 6th wedding. Thank GOD for small favors and answered prayers!!!

So What do you think about the gown???

***Here's the link to look at all the gowns I tried on at Alfred Angelo on shutterfly if you want to see....***

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=7f0dbc37fbad8ea5bcfd7207a7b1fe91&sid=1BaMWLlm0Ysfm

This is the 2nd store I've been to to try on wedding gowns. I've only other been to a local bridal store/boutique twice. So, this was different. My salesgirl was SO sweet, Summer, and had been doing this for 3 years. She was so nice and such a better experience that the both times I went to the other local bridal boutique.

The link below is the full set of pictures of all gowns I tried on if you want to see other gowns and full length pics.

http://mazzy0774pictures.shutterfly.com/3368/

Anyway, here are my top 3:

#1 - This is the FIRST gown I found online that I liked the day after Kyle proposed. I finally got to try it on and I really liked it. PLEASE, I beg of you, Be honest about the sash - what do you think? I don't want to look like a big goof. The saleslady put the goofy flowers in my hair. That was NOT my doing, so ignore that. hehe



#2 - This one I think I picked online and she pulled it for me. It looked so much better on in person. It had just a little bit of bling on the top and side and the rest was plain, but so pretty! Excuse my belly. I'm working on that.



#3 - This one I found while in the dressing room flipping through their catalog. She pulled it for me and ended up really liking it a lot. The pics are a yellow tint for some reason, but the dress is a soft cream color. I would have liked it better in white, but although it comes in white, they didn't have it at the store. So, I might try another location to see if they have it to try on. Also, she kept saying it was too big and when she pulled it around the waist it looked much better. I was so happy a size 12 was too big, but after looking through the pics the last pic is the tag of that dress and it's a size 14! She must have not realized she pulled a 14 and not a 12. I WAS NOT happy after finding that out, but o' well.



I'm still working my butt off, literally, thanks to my trainer 4 days a week and I'm really watching what I'm eating! Most of these dresses are size 12's which is AWESOME because I was in a size 16 when I started trying on wedding gowns. I want to order a size 10 no matter what! And, wear it comfortably all day!!! Our Wedding Day is already only 5 months away on 11/6/10, but the People weight loss challenge ends on 9/30/10. I CAN DO IT!

I've lost 10 pounds (I started at 169 , not 164) and over 40 inches total, but have another weigh-in on June 13th and needed to be 10 pounds less by then. But, I've gotten a bit off track since my trainer was gone for 2 weeks with getting married and honeymoon. I was good, but not perfect while she was gone. Anyway, I can use all the support I can get. I will not give up on myself!!!

5 months to go til our wedding day on 11/6/10!

and

4 months to go til the end of the weight loss challenge with People Magazine on 9/30/10!

The People magazine challenge runs from 1/5/10 - 9/30/10 so be sure to check it out. :)

Began: 169 pounds
Now: 159 pounds
Goal: 130
5' 1 tall

Edit: I'm Sherry in the pics.

As promised I'm uploading pictures of my RING! I can't believe how beautiful it is. I just stare at it constantly! I'm so happy to finally have one after being engaged for almost a year. And, we picked it out together. I had the pink sapphires put in to replace the diamonds and I plan to use those 2 small diamonds for my wedding band.

I wear my other ring he proposed with on my right hand ring finger now. It's still very special to me, too.

I can't wait to marry my honey! And, go on our honeymoon cruise! And, take a little black dress with me to dance and have a wonderful time with my new hubby.

Soooo, whatcha think ladies?

Here's the pictures of the gowns I tried on last Sunday. (This will open in the same window since I can't figure out how to make it open in a separate window.)

http://mazzy0774pictures.shutterfly.com/3026/

In the pics there are some I don't reference, but just in case anyone needs to know the Brier Rose by Kitty Chen is the one hanging on the wall that I wanted to try on (her dresses are amazing), but I couldn't get it on at all and there's one that looks like a southern belle dress that has 2 ruffles on the front that go down and around the dress that I didn't like. We tucked the ruffles under and it looked better. I just didn't like the ruffles at all. Not sure what that dress is called though. Mon Cheri, I think.

Please let me know which one y'all like the best. I have it narrowed down to two gowns at this place - the Mori Lee and the Essence of Australia, but they were very rude so I really don't want to buy my gown there in the end. We'll see what happens. I might have to buy it online or at another store if I can find the gown that I end up choosing in the Houston area.

The white Jasmine gown is the one I tried on last Fall and it was too tight to get on at all correctly, but this time I got it on! It wasn't zipped all the way, but it looked totally different on me. My body has definitely changed. I see that now! All of this hard work is worth it and going to be worth it in the end and I have to keep it up after the wedding.

I plan to visit a few different local bridal stores and try on more gowns. I have to start making appts. and try to get everyone together again. It was so much fun! The gowns are so pretty and don't know how I'm going to choose.

This is the before pic of that Jasmine gown:



Here's the after:



it's hard to tell, but I could FEEL the difference, big time. I've lost only 9 pounds, but over 40 inches. That dress is a size 8! Size 14 gowns were fitting me and I probably could have worn a 12, but all the ones I tried on were 8's, 10's and 14's and last time I went an 8 wouldn't go around my big butt and I was told I a gown size 16. So, my plan is to order my gown in a size 10 and that means it'll be a size 6-8 street size. I have more work to do to be able to wear a 10 perfectly, but that was all the motivation I needed and I know I can do it by November 6th - my special day!

These are my two faves -

Essence of Australia D1042 :


Mori Lee 110233:

This is MY ring! It will be ready by the weekend. I'll try to explain it best I can from the receipt and what the salesman told us...

Band:
White 18 karat milgrain contemporary semi mount with .45Tw round diamonds
Diamond: Loose one .74 round, J, SI-2 diamond

The stones are bead set with a mill grain edge, so it's looks vintage like. The band splits on each side. It will have 2 signature cut pink sapphires on each side (these are replacing the diamonds).

We got it at Shannon Fine Jewelry in Champions Forest. Kyle's Mom worked there for many years and we got an amazing deal on the band and the diamond. They were so awesome and helpful there! It was such a fun experience compared to shopping around at the mall stores. When we got there I showed a lady that was helping us at first what I liked and explained some ideas of what I like and she brought a few rings out and when I saw this one I LOVED it immediately. YAY! I'm so happy! I can't wait to have it and wear it and keep it on forever and ever. I love my HONEY!

http://www.shannonfinejewelry.com/fine-jewelry-houston.html

The picture looks funny with the diamond just sitting in the setting, but it'll be fitting in there better once it's all made. :)

The jeweler sent me the better pictures. I'll post more once I have the ring in my hands. :)

I just wanted to post that I'm going to look at gowns on Sunday. I'm going to the only other place I've been before The Princess Bridal in Old Town Spring right near where I work and live. They happen to have 2 gowns I want to try on and they still have the original gown I loved there (Jasmine) so I want to try it on again. They said they have 60 new dresses in since last time I went, too. So, I'm super excited! Also, I've lost almost 10 pounds and over 40 inches, so I'm hoping it'll be a better experience for me. My best friend (MOH), step sister (MOH), sister (Bridesmaid) and sister in law (Bridesmaid) are also going with me, too. I invited my trainer cause she wanted to go, but she has another wedding to attend after all that weekend and my step Mom might come, too. YAY!

I'll do a post update if anything good happens.....wish me luck!

My FH has a tattoo artist friend, Peter Ringlaben, that lives in another state and is coming to Texas soon so we have to choose our couples tats pretty soon. We decided soon after getting engaged we did want to get some sort of couples tattoos, but keep changing our minds about what we want. I can't find any good pics of ideas either.

I was thinking 'you are all I need' in a script font on our wrists (we love the Radiohead song). We could even do the beginning of it like "You Are..." on me and then ",,,all I need" on him. Only thing is he wants his on his back and I want mine on my wrist or top of my arm.

Do you have couples tatttoos? Are you planning on getting them?

Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I liked these ideas too:

1. Peas and Carrots (We LOVE Forrest Gump and quote it probably daily)

2. Star combination of our wedding date (If I can find this info)

3. SMALL heart key on me and keyhole on him with our wedding date under it

4. Celtic Knots of our choice (to represent also for our renaissance wedding)

5. I get 'baby' and he gets 'honey' since that's what we call each other.

6. Matching baby honey bees pictures

7. Someone posted they found a website with a generator that puts two words together you read one word up right and then when you flip it or look at it upside down it says another word..and we could use our nicknames "honey" and "baby"

8. I also love the phrase "you are my always and forever" so maybe we can do that one in just text with the wedding date, too or something.

I also found these AWESOME earrings while looking for tattoos. I LOVE them! http://www.alchemygothic.com


The enchanted Celtic heart tattoo means:

This knot work heart embodies the sentiment of the poem: "Entwined in my enchanted heart, with no beginning and no end, my Love you are."

So, my sister was going to be my Maid of Honor, but she has been very busy since I asked her to be MOH and now she is going to be out of town from June until November right before my wedding. So, we talked and I decided to move her to a bridesmaid and make my BFF my Maid of Honor. We also added my step sister and my sister in law.

My step sister will be a bridesmaid or Matron of Honor and my sister in law will be a bridesmaid.

My fiance will be adding my step sister's husband as another groomsman and we aren't sure who the other groomsman will be yet.

I'm so excited! Everything is falling into place!!! It sucks my sister won't be here and hasn't been able to do much, but at least she still wants to be a part of it all.

We are almost 200 days away already!

The rest of our wedding party is in a previous post if you want to check it out.

Maid of Honor: Jeni (BFF!)

We met in gym class in 1989. We have been best
friends ever since! She's been my rock during some
hard times in our teens and has continued to be the
best friend to me no matter what. I know I'd be a totally
different person if it wasn't for Jeni teaching me so much
about compassion and love to have for others and myself.
I love her so much and I'm so happy she will be my
bridesmaid.
BFF's 4/ever!

Matron of Honor or Bridesmaid: April (step sister)

My Mom married April's Dad almost 20 years ago. We've
grown much closer and closer over the years and have children
that are almost the same ages. I'm so excited she will be in
our wedding. I wanted her to be a part of my big day all along.
She's a wonderful Mother, Wife and Woman and just got accepted into UT!!!! HOOK EM!!!!!

Bridesmaid: Angela (real sister)

My little sister is very special and dear to my heart. Even though
we've had a rough year, I trust her and know that she will always
be there for me by my side. I love her so much and don't know
what I'd do without my her. I miss her a lot, but I'm trying to be
understand and let her continue on her journey of life right now.

Bridesmaid: Kylie (Sister in law)

Kylie and I have become much closer in the last year. She married
my step brother (April's brother) in October 2007. She's been
amazing and by my side through really rough times. I love that she cares and really wants to help and she said she was honored to be my bridesmaid.

I found out that the only other wedding dress store I've been to, The Princess Bridal, carries this gown and I just called and they have it in a Size 8. Should I go try it on anyway? I've lost over 30 inches and 7 pounds so far during the People magazine weight loss challenge, but an 8 is so freakin small! I'm so intimidated. I just love this gown though.

I also asked about the Kitty Chen gowns that they had suggested previously on the phone when I called about a Claire Pettibone gown a couple months ago the lady said they'd have Kitty Chen in March, but when I talked to her today they didn't get any of the ones I liked so that's a bummer. They are having a trunk show in June and she said maybe they'll get some of the designs I like for the trunk show.

UGH! I can't wait until my dress is chosen and bought!

You are so lucky if you already have your dress!!!

I'm going to keep better track of wedding ideas on this post so I don't forget and lose track...

Here's a few ideas for our guest book jar and a $2 tree as wedding favor. It goes with our theme and I can just put pretty ribbon around the bagged tree and set them in a pretty basket. I wanted to do Honey Jars, but it might be too expensive. Martha Stewart Weddings is a great site! I could stay on that site for days!

Here's the tree info:

Bagged
This "less packaging" option works well for employee events, give-away incentives, family days, and other events where you need plenty of trees to go around. The poly bag is beautifully printed and includes planting instructions.

http://www.arborday.org/shopping/gifttrees/step1.cfm

Hello everyone! The next issue of People I am in is supposed to come out next week. So, be sure to Check it out!

I have to weigh in today because the 2 brides that have lost the most will get the most space, but we will all be in the article. I've lost 7 pounds and over 30 inches total, but if I have lost 10 pounds I'll be tied for the most weight lost so far. I just weighed in 2 weeks ago so I'm not sure if I lost another 3 pounds already, but I'm going to meet my trainer to weigh in again.

Wish me luck!

EDIT: I went up to the gym and used the same scale and I GAINED 2 pounds - but it could be that I have jeans and 2 shirts on, water weight or muscle....yeah, yeah that's it. I feel like I've lost more inches, but that's not what is counting today. I wish there was no such thing as pounds! UGH! I'm trying not to freak out about it and get back on track. I'm not too far behind the other brides if the highest loss is indeed 10 pounds. I just have to get my food diet PERFECT and reach 10 pounds by 3/24/10 for my official weigh in that is every 6 weeks. And, up my cardio on weekends and look forward to our new schedule of 2 days of cardio and 2 days of strength training. I feel like with my body it's the cardio I need and my diet needs to be perfect with what she created for me. Sometimes I don't eat often enough and I might skip 2nd and 4th meals. I won't give up! I talked to my trainer and that helped a lot. I think I need a honeymoon before the wedding to relax. I don't see how I am going to be able to handle all of this the month of the wedding. It's like brain OVER LOAD!!! There's so much going on in my life with family, friends, work, the magazine, trying to get healthy and everything is just so much I can't sleep and I don't want to eat.

I found this dress online a while back and I really like it, but I want to try it on. How do I go about finding it my area to try on when it seems like its out of season to hard to find. It's not even on the Watters website from what I can tell.

Watter Watters 7013B

EDIT: WE NOW HAVE THE GUEST LIST FROM 125 TO 85! WE CHOPPED IT UP IN MINUTES WHILE EATING SUBWAY AT OUR DINNER TABLE AT LUNCH. IT WASN'T SO BAD AFTER ALL. WE ARE GOING TO JUST KEEP IT AT THAT. WE REMEMBERED THAT MY CAR WILL BE PAID OFF IN A MONTH AND WE ARE BOTH GOING TO LOOK FOR PART TIME JOBS AND WORK AFTER OUR FULL TIME JOBS FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO TO SAVE UP A FEW EXTRA BUCKS (IF WE CAN FIND A SECOND JOB) AND KEEP THE LIST AT 85. SOME MIGHT NOT SHOW UP, BUT NOW OUR WEDDING LIST IS ALL FAMILY EXCEPT FOR 3-4 CLOSE FRIENDS EACH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT!!! WE HAVE A HUGE FAMILY WITH MANY SIBLINGS EACH (ME 7, HIM 4) AND REALLY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WHAT WOULD MAKE US HAPPIEST IS TO JUST INVITE CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I AM GLAD I KNEW IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO CHARGE GUESTS FOR A TICKET FOR THE WEDDING. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO ASK OUR PARENTS FOR AN AMOUNT THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO HELP SO WE KNOW FOR SURE. THAT WILL REALLY HELP IF WE KNEW FOR SURE WHAT ALL 3 SETS OF PARENTS DECIDED TO DO. WE WERE TOLD BY ALL 3 THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HELP.

*HUGS*

So, now, we are discussing this option of adding to the rsvp that if the guest plans to attend our wedding they will need to purchase a discounted ticket of $15 for adults and $6 for children. This would be the lower wedding admission price and we would pay for the food and drinks for our guests. But, I really feel like that's charging them to attend our wedding and I hate to do that. This wedding is going to cost us over $10,000 - NOT counting the rings, dress, flowers, costume and favors and whatever else comes up. We just don't have that kind of money right now!

We agreed to the package that is $6,500 for 50 people and since we really can't cut our wedding guest to less than 125 we thought maybe we can have people pay their initial way in, but I'm so torn about what to do. What would you do???????????? We have to pay off the $6,500 by 8/31/10 and then the balance is paid the day of the wedding. We've only paid $1,000 down and wanted to pay $500 a month and try to get that $6,500 paid off with cash and no help from anyone, but it's already looking tight.

I don't want to have to charge people to attend our wedding, but this wedding is so unique being at the festival and so expensive since every person has to have a ticket to enter the gates and to eat it's $25 a person. My FH and best man talked about it came up with this new idea, but I'd really rather ask our parents for help and the actual amount they are willing to help and/or take out a loan and charge whatever balance we end up with if we can. My FH says if we do it this way more people can be invited and more people will come that really want to be there.

This is so hard. I am thinking about just cancelling it all together. Our list is what it is and everyone to it I want to be there or they wouldn't be on my freaking guest list. We have 100 adults and 23 kids on our guest list so far. I wish we had more money. This is so ridiculous and stressful. I had severance and bonus's at my other job and now that money is all gone that we could have used had I known I was getting married. We have no rich family or we can't get second jobs since we are so exhausted as it is. I'm just about to throw my hands up and say forget it. Maybe we should have just gotten married in our church and had the reception at a family members house or something.

I still don't have my ring or dress and anything bought except the down payment and save the dates. I have ideas and plans but everything cost money that I'm waiting to have. How am I supposed to do this and I'm trying to lose more weight and go to the gym 4 days a week in the mornings for over an hour and I have to focus on eating right. I just want to cry.

PLEASE HELP!

I saw another bride post this (ccranetobe) and wanted to do this with autumn/fall colors and flowers for our fall wedding. This would be great to do for our wedding since we have to carry everything in and out of the festival ourselves and the tin would be easier to handle than glass vases. I would need about 8 of them and I'll just put them around on the tables and the guest jar table. I would just need to get some fall colored flowers and put them in the tins.

Any ideas of how to help me do this in a fall theme as far as the scrapbook paper and ribbon??? I'm going to attempt a few DIY projects and I'm not very crafty, but I really wanted to do personal touches like this for our wedding along with the Honey Jars for the favors. We will have access to a wagon to help with getting everything in an out so it will be limited space to carry it all.

That's the only bad thing about this venue. We have to get everything out for the next wedding to begin. So, whatever we take in has to be considered to get back to the cars.

http://www.weddingchicks.com/wedding-chicks/diy-templates/26371/diy-floral-container-covers/

I love looking at other wedding websites to get ideas of how to make mine look the best that it can look. I'd love to see yours if you are willing to share it so please post below!

Congrats to all of the brides to be!

Wedding planning is so fun, huh? LOL!

Here's ours:

http://www.mywedding.com/kyleandsherry/

1) When is your wedding day?

November 6, 2010

2) What day of the week will it be?

Saturday

3) Are you getting married in a church?

No

4) How many in your wedding party?

I have 1 MOH, 1 bridesmaids, I best man and 1 groomsman. Small, but perfect!

5) Where is your reception?

New Market Arbor at the festival

6) How many guests are invited to your wedding?

Around 125 guests. We haven't finalized the guest list though.

7) How long are you waiting to Tie The Knot after your proposal?

It was May 2009 so 18 months total.

8) Who are you hiring as your photographer & videographer?

My fiance's best friend's Dad is a photographer and is doing our wedding for $300. We are very lucky and grateful!

9) Did you have a DJ or a band?

We will have live renaissance music being played provided by the ren fest wedding package.

10) Will your father walk you down the aisle?

I think my Dad will wait for me and walk me the rest of the way into the chapel once I get through walking from the sword arch and horse carriage.

11) What color are the bridesmaid dresses & groomsmen vests?

We don't care what they wear

13) Are you/do you know if you are having a Bridal Shower?

I'm not sure. No one has time or money so we might through our own shower/party because we also have to hand out the renaissance festival tickets for guests to attend our wedding. We don't want to mail them.

14) What type of limo will you get?

Notta

15) Where are you going for your Bachelorette/Bachelor Party?

I don't know

16) What type of wedding gown/tux are you two wearing?

My gown is unknown at this point. I've tried on a few and like a few but I'm losing more weight before I go try on gown again in April.

My FH is planning to wear renaissance attire.

17) Where are you going on your Honeymoon?

We are taking a 7 day Carnival cruise to Jamaica, Grand Caymen Islands and Cozumel out of Galveston, TX and inviting all friends and family to join us and taking our kids.

18) What do you think will be your favorite part of your wedding day?

Seeing him see me for the first time in my perfect dress. I also can't wait for my hair and make up to be done professionally by my step sister.

21) How long till you are married?

254 DAYS!!! Time is flying by!

I found this posted on a website for Renaissance and Medieval themed wedding ideas and LOVED it. I call my fiance "honey" so I really wanted to incorporate something honey related in the wedding. And, this is great since it's earth friendly. I'd have to figure out what to put on the label if anything to keep with the theme and maybe just some ribbon or something earthy looking to wrap around it. So fun!!!

Maybe I can do some jam or pumpkin butter, too.

My mouth is watering.......


Honey Jars from the Lady of the Manor

Buy a large quantity of good, rich honey (or honeycombs) from your local health food store or beekeeper. Pour into small glass hexagonal jars. (Specialty Bottle is an affordable source ...) Print out custom labels and affix. For extra flair, top off the jar with small silk roses, or tuck it all in tulle bag and tie it with ribbon. Include a silly saying: Two Shall Bee as One. Meant to Bee. This favor has an authentic medieval feel!

I wanted to save these for future reference because I had no idea Party City had such cute stuff and ideas! I always shop there for birthdays and holidays, but didn't really think about the wedding stuff.

If you are on facebook, definitely become a fan of Party City.

Did anyone use anything from Party City? I'd love more ideas. :)


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=154788&id=10416136305&ref=mf

Omg, I'm so happy! I finally decided on these Save the Dates.

I used a coupon in google that I found for 50% off of postcards.

It was $36.00 total including 100 postccards, color on the back and shipping.

I hope they look pretty once I get them!

Vistaprint gets you with the shipping. Cheapest shipping was $9.92, but that total was still $30 cheaper than zazzle and all of the other sites I checked into.

Here's the link for the 50% off of postcards:
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/vistaprint.com
It gives you a limited selection, but it's only $14.99 for 100 cards and then an extra $10 for color on the back and then $10 for shipping.

Click on the one that says:

CLICK HERE TO CLAIM

50% Off Postcards. Mailing Services Available. Up to 80% Off All Products!

EDIT: I'm thinking about using these stamps I created, too. They are almost as much as the save the dates though! UGH!

Yesterday we decided to go ring shopping. We keep putting it off and other things come up so I told my FH I really wanted to go today just to try on what I like and see it in person and not just online and it was Valentines Day. It was fun! We went to the mall which I usually avoid at all costs unless it's Christmas. The jewelers we wanted to go to were closed so we figured we'd just try the mall jewelers so I can see rings in person since I'd only been online shopping.

Anyway, we went to the jewelry stores that were in the mall and I know now that I do LOVE the 3 stone princess cut settings with a plain band. But, I want pink sapphires on the sides with hearts and an inscription inside. Kyle has already contacted a couple jewelers with some questions about another Kirk Kara ring that I fell in love with that I saw on a brides.com email. So, we'll see what happens. We might end up having something made which is fine with me, too.

And, I ended up getting the cutest watch with a pink face at Fossil. I needed a watch so badly. And, I got a pink baby Minnie mouse at the Disney store. She's adorable! I love Disney movies. I know it's weird since I'm a grown woman, but the Disney store is like a candy store to me. I love it and Build A Bear the best in the mall. And, James Avery. And, Kyle knows all this so he's used to it. He puts up with the little girl stuck inside of me. haha!

OOOH! THE best part of the day was when we went through JC Penny's and I decided to try on some work out clothes since I really need them and the sales were awesome. Well, the larges are kind of loose on me now and it felt so great! I got 2 pairs of pants, a shirt, a jacket and 2 sports bras. It was such a cool experince not wanting to just sit and cry in the fitting room when trying stuff on. I can't wait until I'm in the mediums or smaller and smaller jeans and trying on real clothes and loving that fit.

It's the small things in life that are important that make you feel great about yourself like being in a quiet tiny fitting room and the reflection is so different that you see and you realize that it's real - that you really did that and you are going to keep going and not let yourself down. I'm looking forward to my next weigh in. I never thought I'd say that! LOL!

I also cleaned our master bathroom so it's nice and shiny and we also cleaned Kyle's car at the car wash and now it's sparkling and we picked up the kids at home and we all went out to eat at Goose's Acre which is a great restaurant by the water in The Woodlands and sat outside, but it got too cold too fast so we moved inside and our waiter was the coolest waiter ever.

My step sister will be doing my hair and make up. She is an award winning colorist and make up artist. I'm so excited to have pretty hair with flowers in it. It seems so like me and so girly and I can't wait for this part of my wedding. It's going to be so pretty in pictures, too. Here's a few examples of what I found that I like. I want it down partly and she said she planned on doing it half down and half up. Please let me know if you find any more that are pretty like this.

So, I'm in newly in LOVE with this designer! Her name is Kitty Chen. She reminds me a lot of Claire Pettibone.

What had happened was - I called The Princess Bridal in Old Town Spring just to see if they carried a certain Sohia Tolli gown and a Mori Lee gown that I wanted to price and of course they didn't have them. She said they just sold the Sophia sample even! So, I then told her the deal and how we are getting married at the texas renaissance festival, but I still want a traditional gown - yada, yada, yada - if I can find the right one and she asked me if I'd seen gowns by this designer. So, she even told me which ones to look up on the website and omg - aren't they beautiful!? I even found a couple more I liked.

She said she just talked to Kitty a couple days ago and that they'll have some of her gowns in by March so I need to call her back next month to avoid having to pay a $50 shipping fee to have any of them shipped in now. She said I have time since I'm not getting married until November. I can't wait until March now to see them!

I asked her range of cost and she said $1500 - $2,500, so they run kinda high, but I LOVE them so I'm really going to try to at least try them on and if I have to try to find one cheaper used or something, I will. I need a wedding gown fund, a second job, rich parents or some lottery winnings. LOL!

Kitty Chen - Renaissance

http://www.kittychencouture.com//

When my FH proposed, he said he wanted us to
choose the engagement ring together because he
didn't want to get me something I didn't like. So, we
wanted to go look around this weekend since we are
taking a few pictures at the ren fest Thursday after we
meet with them and pay our deposit.

I have an idea that he has no idea where to go and I don't know
how to do this either. I've heard not to go to Zales, but I just have
no idea what to do, where to go and what to get. We wanted the
ring to be in our save the date pictures and I wanted to get engagement pics done soon, too and have it for that. I have
the ring he proposed with, but its not my real engagement ring.

Are there any other brides out there who did this or going to?

I think we are going to have to charge it or open credit to
get a ring since everything we have saved so far is going
to go towards the wedding on Thursday when we meet
with the Ren Fest coordinator.

Anyway, I've attached some that I like that I have found
online since May, but I'm not really picky. It doesn't have to
be pink.

I just need to know where to go and what to do
and how much to spend. I think once I see it, I'll know it's the
RING and I'll love it. We share money now and have for
a few years so it's OUR money and OUR decision.

Don't I need to ask for conflict free diamonds, too?

I guess I'm nervous! Haha!

Well, I talked to the wedding coordinator for the TRF on Friday and sent over the contract and information to book our wedding. She couldn't open the attachment so I faxed it over today. I also set an appt. with her for Thursday, Feb. 4th at 3:30 in order to see more pictures of past weddings, get invitations design ideas and wording ideas, cake decor ideas (they provide the cake), any other options we want to add to wedding package, etc. She said I can pay the deposit then and it just needs to be at least $1,000 but we might pay $3,000 in order to use the money we just received from our tax return. The more we pay now the less we have to pay by August 1st. :) And,the more cash payments the better! I refused to go in debt for my wedding.

Right now, we need to just get our monograms decided and Save the Dates created and sent before I lose my mind. A friend is going to use his Dad's camera (he's our photographer) and take a few pics of us at a local arboretum or somewhere locally for our save the date picture. Then I can move on to invitations and tweaking the guest list that is already 125 and that's with over 20 kids under 18. Ugh!

Anyway, another bride on WBC is so sweet and helping me create a monogram like hers and it's so pretty! I can't wait to see it. I'm so not creative like most brides are so I need all of the help I can get.

Oh yeah, and the most important things is we also need to get my engagement ring! FH wants it in the save the date picture on ME. Maybe we can go this weekend. YAY! I really have no idea what I want so I guess I'll see it and know. haha!

This whole wedding thing is so sweet! I never thought it would be like this which is fun and exciting! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've loved this song for a long time and wanted to share it with
other brides. It touches my heart as a wedding day song. It
makes me think of hope and faith and love. So very sweet. Read
the lyrics, too. His voice is amazing. I LOVE IT! I hope you enjoy
it and congrats to each and every one of us for finding love and
being a bride and wife soon and having our one true love find us.

God bless!

I'm on page 95 and my fiance and I are on page 100!!!

It's a long story how this all happened, but I was chosen with 5 other brides to participate in a weight loss challenge with People magazine.

They are providing me with a trainer and nutritionist for the next 9 months. I'll be in 4 issues. We are all Fall 2010 brides and from around the country.

My trainer, Vanessa, is amazing (she's also engaged) and I chose her to be my trainer since she was also working with my BFF and she is such a great person. She is also a nutritionist and licensed psychologist...so this outta be interesting.

Today was my second workout and I worked out yesterday evening for the first time. I've been doing cardio all year but not a bit of strength training in about 2 years.

So, I'm miserably sore, but I feel good already after only 2 sessions. And, I can't remember the last time I got up at 5 am! We worked out from 6 -7 am today. I'm tired yet I feel great already after only 2 workouts. I can't imagine how I'll feel in September!

We are going to be working for an hour a day monday - thursday evenings except Wednesday will be morning. Friday is my OFF day and I'm allowed one cheat meal on Friday. I am to do cardio at home (or wherever) on saturday and sundays.

I just can't wait to try on weddings gowns and be smaller and be able to pull up the size 10's and then find my dream dress and be able to buy it in a size 10 (or smaller) just like I have dreamed since the day he proposed! And, I can't wait to shop for cute clothes for our honeymoon. That's going to be a blast! I'll need a new and improved bathing suit.

All I wanted was to be happy and healthy again and God heard me and answered my prayers. I have just felt like my FH deserves the Sherry in the size he met me and deserves to marry a healthy ME to start our marriage out right.

***If you want to lose weight and have FREE help and support join me at sparkpeople.com

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=MAZZY0774

***The pics are in the magazine and were taken at the photo shoot for the magazine. It was fun although my little toe was numb for 4 days afterwards from being in heels for 8 hours. eeeek!

My BFF, Jeni, surprised us with a $50 contribution to our honeymoon for our Christmas gift. I was so surprised to see the message on our honeymoon site. Woo-hoo! Thank you, Jeni!

Now, it's like it's for real now! I just love the honeymoon website that we are using. It's handy and I'm trying to learn it and keep it organzied as we get closer and closer to the wedding.

Thank you again, Jeni! I heart you soooooooooo much! I LOVE you bunches and bunches!






http://www.carnival.honeymoonwishes.com/Wedding-Website-54059-Sherry-Councell-JustinKyle-Thomas.html

So, we had decided to have a maid of honor, best man
and 2 bridesmaids and 2 groomsmen, but we decided
to make the wedding party small and just have 2 people
on each side of us. We wanted to cut costs and stress
and the people in our wedding party have fully agreed
that they want to be a part of our wedding. I did not
want to cause anyone stress that would effect my
wedding day later. So, introducing....


Maid of Honor: Angela

My little sister is very special and dear to my heart. I know she
will be a wonderful Maid of Honor. Even though we've had
a rough year, I trust her and know that she will always be
there for me by my side. I love her so much and don't know
what I'd do without my little Sis.


Best Man: Michael

Kyle and Mike are fraternity brothers and have
remained close friends throughout the years.
Mike is very special to Kyle and always will be.
Mike and his family moved to New York, but we
still love him anyway. haha! He promised to be
by Kyle's side on his wedding day no matter what.


Bridesmaid: Jeni

We met in gym class in 1989. We have been best
friends ever since! She's been my rock during some
hard times in our teens and has continued to be the
best friend to me no matter what. I know I'd be a totally
different person if it wasn't for Jeni teaching me so much
about compassion and love to have for others and myself.
I love her so much and I'm so happy she will be my
bridesmaid.
BFF's 4/ever!


Groomsman: Todd

Todd and Kyle met in college at U of H in 1992. Kyle
and Todd have stayed in touch no matter what and
have leaned on each other through the good and
bad times. Todd's a great guy and loves beer almost as
much as Kyle does. haha!


Ring Bearer: Travis

My 13 year old son is such a great kid. He is so
happy that Kyle and I are getting married and
he's more excited about getting to go on the
cruise with us afterwards. I love him so much!


Flower Girl: Logan

Kyle's daughter is 8 years old and she is so
happy we are getting married, too. I can't wait
to dress her up and have her sitting with me
in the horse driven carriage on the way to marry
her Daddy. Awwwe!

My friend Jeni found these links and I loved them so I wanted to save them for ideas and future reference. I LOVE the cakes! I'd like to incorporate butterflies, dragonflies and fairies if possible into my wedding. I also love Bows and anything pink. So, we'll see what we can come up with. I also have to try to stay with the renaissance/medieval theme, too.

What do you think? Any ideas?

http://http://www.squidoo.com/ButterflyWeddingFavors#module42424622/

http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/butterfly-themed-wedding/9d5348f5a80eef85.html/

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