This is sexylittlebride's Green Wedding!

Ok... after already having a 1 year countdown go miserably wrong (FI and I were both sick! :( ) We get another chance to celebrate just one more year before we're husband and wife. We're doing a night on the town in Detroit and basically going to all the places that we went on our first date. I think it's fitting.

Now... the part I really don't like, waiting.

I love mantillas! Someone tell me why they have to be so freaking expensive!!! The crafter in me is beyond excited. I went to Habermans' in Royal Oak (one of the best fabric stores in Michigan) and found a Chantilly lace that is perfect. I bought a yard, just to test it out and see if I would even be able to DIY it. It was a success!! Using 'Unique Stitch' which is a fabric glue, I applied the lace (which I cut and trimmed to just the scalloped border) to the edges of the tulle. It dried clear. I also did some hand stitching with invisible thread to secure it in some spots. It came out beautiful. I know a lot of brides would love to have this style veil, but can't spend the money to have one. This is a great way to get what you want, and to save a bit of money doing it too! This is just the sample, the finished one will have the cut edges of the tulle hidden behind the lace.

I'm so very, very excited to say... we know have our photographer. Leah Stafford comes highly recommended from all of the DW knotties. She's from Norhtern Ohio and just a few seconds of scrolling through her work and you'll see why. She's coming to Key West with us and will be traveling up to Detroit in December to take our engagement picutres. I have loved photography since I was little. I could just flip throught the pages of magazines and be awed, not by the fashion (that came later) but by how people could capture images. FI's grandfather was a photographer. I've seen some of his work, it's very good. To me, photography is one of the most important vendors [i]especially[/i] for a destination wedding- there are so many people who won't be there to celebrate with you, so all you'll have are the photos and videos you bring back.

Leah is a former DW Knottie and knows exactly how to capture the moments. If you take a look at her site, click on the 'Intimates' section. Typically known as 'boudoir' photography, she is a nationally known photographer and travels all over the country photographing women in their most intimate settings. I think it's amazing and definetely plan on doing a session of my own. Adam even agreed to do a couples shoot.

Also, we have a hair/makeup stylist in Key West. Marie-Pierre is one of the best stylists on the island.

Ok... I was researching TTD pics that I wanted to use for my inspiration. I stumbled upon an AMAZING photographer and his blog, Matt Adcock. This is the picture that made click on his blog in the first place. Adam and I want to do a couples intimates and a couples TTD. I thought this shot would be amazing to replicate!

I know, I'm like a damn teenager again. FI will not be going with me to see it. He can't stand it but still he bought me the fourth book as my sweetest day gift. HOWEVER, a coworker and I will be going at lunch time on the 21st! :) I got her hooked on the series as well and we're both very excited.

So, FI and I were trying to come up with our quote. The favorite of mine has always been R. Browning's: "Come grow old with me, the best is yet to be." But yesterday, FI bought me a bookmark and I just threw it into one of the books so I wouldn't lose it. When I went to take it out this morning, it was on the page of the book where Edward says,

"Look after my heart, I've left it with you."

I gush and go awww. FI says, "What? What's so aww?" I hand him the page,tell him to read it, and he goes, "That. That's our quote." Some people may think it's corny, but you know what? I don't care. If you take it out of the book and just apply it to a relationship, marriage, specifically- it's rather fitting. Anyways... Very happy!

That is all continue your regularly scheduled blogging :)

I never liked blogging before, but then as I started posting more and more. It's a relief, b/c my family and friends are sick of "all-wedding, all the time" I don't even know if people read this thing, but it's nice to get it all out and not piss people off in the process. With the wedding more than a year away, I wonder how many more pages I can rack up :)

So totally NWR, but in the spirit of Halloween and our church ceremony next Halloween... we're all about it this year!



FI made an awesome graveyard and made custom decorations. It was fabulous! I'll post more pics of that later.

So easy to do, but I haven't seen to many brides do them DIY.

I was at Archivers, and found some AMAZING damask paper. I bought every sheet they had, figuring I'd use it for something right? :) Well, FI and I had to go to Kinko's to mail out some packages, and in the clearance bin was green envelopes!! SQUEE! 50 for a buck! And they're perfect size too- 6X9 so it'll fit our DVD STD and the paper one too.

I tried it out on one, and loved it. I measured the paper to fit along the width of the envelope. Then I measured just below the glue line (the part you lick) to 1/4 of an inch below the inside flap. Becuase the flap is angled, I angled the paper as well. Using some permanent glue runner, I lined the upper part of the liner (the part next to the glue line) and slid the rest into the envelope. Using glue dots, it's held securely in place.

They turned out pretty good, IMHO.

I seriously am obsessed. I can't get enough of the 'Twilight' series. It's like heroin. Seriously. I know, I know, I named my dog after a fictional vampire. WTH! I read the books and I'm itching for the movie to come out. It's like I'm in middle school all over again, which is a rush b/c I haven't been this passionate about something (except FI and wedding) in a while. But at the same time... I feel like I'm way to old.

Never the less, it didn't stop me from ordering tshirts from customizedgirl.com check em out (CG15 will get you 15% off your order :Þ):



(yes meteor is spelt wrong, but I fixed it. I just don't have a picture of that one)

So... we now have a furbaby. A cutesy little Chihuahua. He's a rescue dog... the best kind ;)

I named him Edward. After Edward Cullen from the 'Twilight Series'. I read those books in a week...seriously, if you love a good twisty type of story, read them!

He's such a cute little guy and I just had to post pics of my little ones:)

Cody is a rescue dog as well. We have NO CLUE what he is, the vet doesn't know either. And of course, our princess, Miss Dior.

Edward:




Cody:


Miss Dior:

There are so many options now that we are having our reception on a boat. To make things easier (and shatterproof) when we hit waves, I have been thinking about doing designer paper plates. If that makes sense. I have seen the plastic champagne glasses, the damask napkins, and i'm thinking... black sturdy plastic high gloss plates. We'll only be having hors d'ouerves and cocktails. There won't be a dinner- well a sit down dinner. The captain doesn't mind either way. Our welcome dinner and send of brunch are very formal, so I think it'll mix it up. Opinions?

My name is JoAnna and I'm a scrabook-aholic. I went to my local scrabooking mega-awesome store, Archivers, and I finally found a lime slice die cut (it's actually supposed to be watermelon slice but I dont' care :) and had to use it somewhere... so on the STD it goes. I'm not sure if I want to stamp the info on there, or have it in calligraphy but it'll be in silver ink. It looks more yellow than lime, but it's actually called 'hot lime' so it's not going to be so bright.

We're going to have DVD STDs as well, and going to highlight moments of me and Adam and then Key West and do a highlight of the places where the events will be. Still haven't decided what song to set it to, but we'll see. I think 'Could you be loved?' by Bob Marley... cause he's a fav of mine and to give it a beach-y feel b/c nothing else will really be to 'beach-like' even though it's on the beach. If that makes sense.

I know, I know it's like everywhere now. I went to Meijer (it's like a walmart but better) and they had pink damask folders and notebooks for school and i'm like Seriously??? I threw a fit and Adam just laughed. I"m like this wasn't popular when I wanted to do it! (which was last August by the way but b/c we switched locales Iswitched themes)

I'm like grrr... but that still didn't stop me from buying some stuff...

OH!! Did you see the stuff at target with damask???? Like little girl back to school stuff with damask and skulls on it i'm like what??? and there are some really nice picture frames that are black and white with damask that are 5.99 if you see some. I've bought a few already.

This is some of the stuff that I've got already... but hey now I have 430 more days of more damsask obsession:Þ Michaels has a section with lots of damask items. I got cards and ribbons. Anna Griffin has a corner stamp out and rubber stamp in damask too. Had to pick that up. My grandmother found us a photo album for some non-pro pics and I was at Walmart and found some more damask cards and some rub-ons for the DIY unity candle.

Holla!! :D

Now that we've switched locales... New dress and....

I've found it!!





It's gorgeous and so romantic for a sunset beach ceremony in Key West!

I'm just so thrilled I had to share.

I think I'm going to do a french bustle with the train.

I never saw myself in a lace gown but it made my heart pitter patter.
It's sweetheart neckline is just enough. And the silk adds just the
right amount of softness. The bling will come from accessories.

It's new from the Fall 08 line.

I'm need to find a lace bolero too. But I would want the lace to
match at least a little bit.

I know it's fairly easy to figure out, but I found this video online with good instructions:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6123394511925266753

We're getting some of these hanging chrystals Here

And we're also getting some of the crystals in the floral dept at Michaels

:) I figure we'll NOT do the manzita branches but something I can find at Michaels b/c the shipping on those things are ridiculous. Spray the branches silver then do a damask wrap around the pot and then hang the crystals.

Sometimes, it's fun to laugh...

I found that while looking at birdcage veils online and it was too funny. Look at the dad's face! :)

Ok, so I ,have thought long and hard about this. I would want a feather fascinator and the bird cage veil is just what I'm looking for.

We've decided to get matching fleur de lis tattoos. We're not quite certain on the details, but he might pick a design and i might pick a different one. As long as it's a fleur it's ok. Or we might get the exact same ones. Most likely to be placed on the back somewhere. It's special and meaningful to us. Here is the one I really, really like... minus the flowers. I might just do an outline of the fleur de lis but have it shaded inside with a damask pattern... I say that now, but will likely not do it. It would be a sweet one to see though.



Adam likes this one:



We have tattoos already. He has a tribal and I have 3- a celtic cross on my lower back, a courage kanji symbol on my right foot, and 4 shooting stars on my left foot. I came up with the idea and he absolutely loves it. Squeee! We'll get it about a month before the wedding.

We would never get each other's names... (Johnny Depp has "wino forever" on his arm... I don't think so) but would like to have another reminder with us always (besides our rings).

Adam and I are trying to incorporate the "Fleur de Lis" into as much as we can. As it is a symbol that we hold dear to us. I have found some great fleur de lis jewelry here.

I think i'm going to get the BM the pink compact mirror in addition to the rest of their gifts.

Well, last night anyway. To get married in the Catholic church you have to take this test. Even if only one if you is Catholic (I am, FI is Jewish) But still wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. We took it in the same room so when we were done, we compared answers before we took them to the priest and we had a couple different answers on some key questions, but i think it was b/c we were reading to much into it or just didn't understand the question.

Anyways... my grandparents anniversary was yesterday. 47 years! It's crazy... I'm a sentimental fool. But I love them more than anything (other than FI).

If anyone has questions on the test, let me know, and I'll tell you what I thought of it.

FI and I were at JoAnn's checking out the wood letters and came across a really cool 'G', so we bought the J and the A to go with it and then I spray painted them "Emerald" green... which is more hunter, but it's ok, becuase we're going to layer it onto the damask fabric. I'm also going to paint the damask pattern on to them, so it'll break up color that way too. This is stage one, I'm painting the damask pattern tonight, I'll post pics for that later.

Ok... I was on my lunch break just wandering in the scrapbooking section. And there is a whole bunch of stuff going on clearance, so I check it out and BAM! There are 3 packs of silver pre-folded "greeting cards" with envelopes. Now granted, I would like to think I'm fairly crafty, a lightbulb goes off and goes, "Instead of pocketfolds, you can do booklet style invites. For 50 'cards' and envelopes it was only $9.08. I'm going to print the invites the same as I posted yesterday just going to modify them a bit so that it flows from one page to the next. I'm going to paper punch them in two spots along the spine and string them with black ribbon.

AND... there are mini envelopes (10 for 1.18) in the same silver that we will use for our RSVPs. They are so cute. I'm going do line them myself with green metallic paper.

I'm talking with the bride who is a complete inspiration to me! She is the one with the awesome green damask cake and letter boards in my bio!! She's really nice and her wedding was in SoCal! Her photog was Jimmy Cheng and he is based out of Orange County. His blog is here: http://www.jimmychengphotography.com/blog

It's amazing how people find e/o online. I was reading "with this ring's" blog (with--this--ring.blogspot.com) becuase I'm a blog addict I can't help it. and Jeanette said that she was the one who did it all, but she doesn't have a blog or bio or anything, all it had was her aim sn. So I added her and poof, next thing you know she's sending me the rest of her pics from her wedding. Jeanette and her FI payed for it all by themselves. It was amazing.

YEAHHH!

There are more pics on my other blog... here: http://goldstoneandco.blogspot.com/

So this weekend, I designed my invites!

It started with a damask icon and then for color I added the green circles and placed them to look like they were coming out of the flourish. We'll have them printed on white cardstock and with a black metallic pocketfold. Our family friend owns a print shop so we're getting them printed for free for our gift! I'll take free printing any day over a fondue set ;Þ



The panel cards will be as shown. I've designed it so that the damask flourish on the right lines up perfectly and that each layered card is cut at just the right spot.

The continuation of the inspiration boards...


Most of the items seen here will be incorporated into the reception.

* The dresses will be floor length taffeta gowns
* Damask votive candles
* Centerpieces with white roses and hypercium berries and ostrich feathers in mint julep cups.
* Tall tapers with silver candlesticks and votives with crackled glass holders
* Green French Macaroons
* Black or Silver Chargers
* Damask Runners
* Green Cardstock Save the Dates
* Peonies, Calla Lilies, and Lily of the Valley for my bouquet
* Peony BM Bouquet
* Green, black and silver candy buffet

So this is what I have so far...

Still working on it, and have to get approval from the FI but I think it's going to work out best if we go with the vistaprint postcards.

http://www.vistaprint.com

In case you're the last one to hear... this site is amazing and I have been ordering from them for years.

Basically, this is the look i'm going for.

So I've gone and done it... It's official. Damask and Emerald Green it is. Just been searching up on damask print and finding lots of great stuff. I have a bio up for all my knottie friends. Let's see where I can go on my trip down the Emerald Aisle! HA! Speaking of... Honeymoon destination is... IRELAND!!! SOO EXCITED! THANKS FMIL!

I have fractured my ankle in two different spots... rendering me helpless for a few weeks to say the least. I was bored on Sunday and started playing around with hair and make up and finally found a style that is so me. I am constantly pinning flowers behind my ear, I have since I was little. It's very soft and romantic, but also kind of reminds me of the Pin-Up style I love so much. So... here it is.

I'm so excited. Finally, FI and I decided what we are going to serve at the E-party. We're cooking ourselves and my grandma was a cook for many years so she is helping as well. I'm so excited. I can't wait, I'm hungry just thinking about it.

The Menu is:

Orange Chicken
baked chicken with orange marmalade Sauce with onions and garlic

Cherry Barbeque Chicken
grilled chicken with Sweet Baby Ray’s and Montmorency cherries

Swedish Meatballs
beef meatballs with a rich cream sauce

Whipped Sweet Potatoes
baked then whipped with nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar

Diced Cheesy Potatoes
baked and diced potatoes with a four-cheese sauce

Green Beans Almondine
fresh string beans sautéed in oil with garlic, almonds, and tomatoes

Maple Glazed Carrots
baby carrots with a buttery, maple sauce

Garden Salad
fresh greens with tomato, onion, cheese, egg, and croutons