This is michndavewed's Chocolate Wedding!

i want lots and lots of candles without making the place look like we're setting it up for a seance. We're not having flowers as centerpieces so we'll probably use a series of vases or a Moroccan lamp (see the picture with the fruits). We initially wanted to have two framed maps (of places that are important to our relationship) anchoring a vase of candles but the maps are proving to be very difficult. If anyone can help us figure out how to make quality maps on our own, we would VERY much appreciate it. Also, please help me find the store that sells the first (red candle holders) and last (red and gold floating candles) pictures. It would be nice as well if someone can point me to the direction of a place where I can purchase inexpensive candle holders, vases, lamps, and candles. Thanks everyone.

We're still deciding on the color (chocolate brown, gold, or burgundy) but we do know that we want a fabric that has some sort of "bling" - something luxe.

The Chuppah is a symbolic representation of the home in which the married couple live. The covered roof represents security, while the open sides represent hospitality to all who enter. The four pillars that hold the canopy represent the foundations of faith and trust on which the marriage is secured.

Source: http://www.chuppah-house.com/

Dave did a great job choosing the ring.

I have finally chosen the dress for the bridesmaids (Jim Hjelm 5808T). I had three in mind but the other two were much nicer in pictures than they were in person. They don't currently have the color (chocolate dress/crimson sash) that I want so I'm having them make me a sample so that I can see what it looks like. The sample should arrive in early October. I hope that I will like that color combination as much as I like this dress. If everything is okay with it, my girls will need to order the dress by mid-October because it takes about 12 weeks to arrive. If the change in color turns out to be horrendous then... well... i'm looking at some backups just in case (tea length dresses; i don't want long). Hopefully that will not be necessary. The dress is $156 online but it cost $240 in the store - she's willing to drop it to $204 if an order is put in for all of the girls. I'll keep checking to see where else I can get it for less. Why should I make them pay more for it if they don't have to!

Why are they so expensive?

It's a very beautiful space. It's not my number one choice since I'm a mountain person but it's still very gorgeous. I love the atrium where the ceremony takes place.

I found my dress the third week of June. I was frustrated because I couldn't find anything that I liked so a friend of a friend recommended the seamstress who made her dress. I had a noon appointment with her but set up a 10am appointment at The Bridal Garden to take some pictures to help the seamstress visualize “my look”. I never made it to the noon appointment. I walked in to The Bridal Garden (I'd visited a few weeks prior) and saw a rack with dresses that had come in from the previous night. I've always laughed at the people who say "you'll just know when it's the right dress for you" so imagine my surprise when I laid eyes on my dress and immediately knew that this was "it". I had found "my" dress. I tried not to get my hopes up just in case it did not look as nice on me as it did standing on its own. I brought three dresses into the fitting room to try on (saving "my" dress for last). I spent almost 30 minutes in "my" dress completely in love and in awe. I can't tell you how much I love it. I thought I was going to explode because I couldn't scream and dance around with joy in the boutique (I had to maintain some semblance of proper etiquette) :). It's not the lace that I initially had in mind, and it is not a "typical" wedding dress but it's still amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

We're not big cake fans so we were initially going to purchase vegan cupcakes (so delicious) but the cake comes with our package. We're not going to spend money if we don't need to.

My colors are chocolate brown, burgundy red, and gold. I initially started out with chocolate and robin egg's blue but the chairs (I'll post them in a little bit) at my venue made that combination impossible. I've had to change everything about the wedding. These are the flowers that I am now considering.