The First One

The first one of us is getting married tomorrow...the first one of my "bestest" friends is tying the knot!! My dear dear dear friend Kristen has been my steady friend since the moment we stepped into our tiny dorm room together freshman year. I admire her for her quiet strength, her love for her family and friends, and her beautiful personality and never-ending smile. Kristen, I wish you and T.J. all the happiness in the world and the best of luck tomorrow...you will be a beautiful bride!!

(our favorite picture of the two of us)

Our Table Numbers

Here is a the design of what our table numbers will look like:

(please credit tying the knot with the design)

Our monogram is the inspiration behind our vision for the day. By slightly modifying the monogram I created a design for the table numbers that will continue the cohesiveness of our decor.

There are so many ways that table numbers can be displayed and I have no idea what we will do yet. Once we have our initial taste testing and venue walk through we will know more about what we want our table setting to look like.

You likey?

Our Wedding by the Numbers

Following the lead of Jess of the Indianapolis Pink Book and April of blu sky designs, here is our wedding by the numbers:

236: the number of guests invited to our wedding
180: the number of guests we are roughly expecting

150: the number of guests our venue holds comfortably
150: the number of feet to the front from the back of the church to the altar

121: the number of days until our wedding

101: the number of blogs I follow
87: the number of days until my bachelorette party

50: the number of times I peruse my Google reader…per day
59: the number of days until my first wedding shower
43: the number of guests at our rehearsal dinner
14: the number of attendants
4: the number of stores we will register at
3: the number of flowergirls

And because every post should have a pretty picture:

Flowers for the BRIDE and a boutineer for the GROOM from one-of-the-most-amazing-weddings-I-have-ever-seen via whitebox weddings

High or Low?

Two brides. Perfect hair. Beautiful dresses. Gorgeous bouquets. Different "veil styles." What's your veil style?

(picture from bobbi + mike)

Left: Low Veil. Worn at the base of an updo or towards the middle/lower part of the head
Right: High Veil. Worn at the top of the updo or near the crown of the head

Vote on the right or leave a comment with your thoughts.
I think I'll keep mine on the low down.

{Update: 54 total votes. high: 18 votes, low: 31 votes, love either one: 5 votes}

Our Photographer's Pretty Pictures: Volume I

Our photographer Nicole Green had her first wedding of the summer this past weekend, and already has a couple of pictures from the event on her blog. I just had to post some of them here, because they are too good not to blog about.

For anyone that loves "the sock shot."
I wonder if we can find a white picket fence in the middle of downtown Indianapolis on the day of our wedding...
This is the shot that got me even more excited about our upcoming engagement photo shoot at the lake:
Lastly, check out the detail on this cake!
All the great pictures posted above are courtesy of Nicole Green.

How Do They Do That!?

I have drooled over this picture since the moment that I saw it:And then, the other day, bobbi + mike posted this wedding that included this shot:

Again, I said to myself, how in the world do they do that?! The answer was found in one of the later pictures in the post... (note mike leaning over the railing to get the perfect shot)

This husband and wife team never fails to impress me!

(all pictures via bobbi + mike)

My Letterpop: Issues 1 and 2

If you haven't heard about letterpop, you are missing out my friends. For a bride-to-be this is a great way to send out information to your bridesmaids without using the traditional "plain and boring" e-mail. For wedding planners think of it as a way to communicate with your brides-to-be in the months before their weddings. Send out tips and tricks, info on upcoming bridal shows, and exciting news about your business.

Here are front page screen shots of the first two "issues" of the newsletter to our bridesmaids:

Beachy

I think a beach-themed post is appropriate since some of you might be headed off to a beach or lake to enjoy memorial day weekend.
I mentioned this before, but if you are even thinking about having your wedding anywhere near a beach/ocean/body of water then you MUST check out Paul Johnson's blog. I have had my eye on this post for quite some time because Paul captured SO many great moments. The wedding was on Carillon Beach. Talk about a grand entrance before walking down the aisle!

The bride's two sons looked on during the sand ceremony and created this precious little moment captured on film.

And then there is THIS photo. Too bad I could never pull that off.

And then there is this stunner from another wedding...I think it's a fitting image to leave you with.

(all photos in this post via Paul Johnson)

A Fairy Tale Wedding

Seriously. Check it out.
Rebecca Bouck flew to Serbia (yes, Serbia) to photograph a wedding in one of the oldest churches in Serbia. Let's get straight to the point, this wedding is the real deal full-blown fairy tale wedding. It's not your typical Midwestern bride attempting to pull off the fairy tale wedding theme in a hotel ballroom. No. This wedding was complete with crowns, roaming lions outside, fairies and fireworks at the reception and SO much more.
A Vera Wang dress doesn't hurt the whole attempt at pulling off THE fairy tale wedding.
Nether do crowns.

And that, my friends, is a real fortress (castle) where, naturally, the wedding reception was held.

I'm just a tad jealous. See the rest of the pictures from this fairy tale wedding here.

(all pictures in this post courtesy of Rebecca Bouck)

Unity Candle

With the want to incorporate the unity candle into the ceremony comes the desire to do it tastefully. I love the unity candle below (Joyful Weddings & Events via Jasmine Star): I feel as though it really works with the outdoor venue it is in. Buuuut I'm not too sure that it will work in a church. Don't ask me why. I suppose I just feel like unity candles in a church are supposed to be your typical 20 year-old stuffy looking run-of-the-mill rentals.

Are you incorporating a unity candle into your ceremony? Are you buying your own or using a rental from your florist/ceremony venue? Do share (pictures are especially helpful!) your thoughts.

The Groom's Reaction

In last week's blog post and poll, I mentioned how excited I was about so many different moments that will occur on our big day. Most of you were anticipating your favorite moment to be "the first look" you get of the groom (and he of you) on your special day or walking down the aisle towards him. I couldn't agree more.

(Paul Johnson Photo)

Whether you see each other in a special place before the ceremony to share a few moments alone or if you wait until the doors to the church/venue open, the first look will definitely be a special memory from your wedding day.
As Mommy would say, "keep your eyes on the prize" as you're walking down the aisle!

(evoke photography)

What I Learned: Wedding #1

Chris and I went to the first out of five weddings occurring this summer. Attending this wedding was different than before. Why? Because I was no longer just an observer/guest. No. I was there as a sponge. To soak up any and all ideas that I could. To learn from the good and the bad and the potentially not-so-organized.

• At the rehearsal....there needs to be actual rehearsing.
• Buttons fall off of Men's Warehouse tuxedos. Emergency kits save the day.
• Remember to hold your soon-to-be-spouse's hand during the ceremony. You'll both be nervous and it's nice to have some support!
• Cut the cake or allow for speeches while guests are eating dinner...this allows for more dancing later in the night because all of the "formalities" are out of the way.
• Guests will appreciate it if you greet them at some point during the day whether it be thru a receiving line or just going from table to table at the reception.
• Limit slideshows to three to four minutes. Any longer and guests attention will be diverted.
• A really good DJ is important...and one that teaches the Cupid Shuffle will be a hit with the guests!
• A shuttle from the hotel to the reception site and back is well worth the money.

Here are some other useful tips! emily styles advice via pearls events!

We took one picture at the reception. One. At it was a horrid one. My eyes were almost closed and Chris was decked out in cornflower blue bridal party attire. We will respectfully decline to post it.

Wedding #2 is next weekend....Kristen and Terry are sure to have one of THE most beautiful days in store....no pressure!!

Raspberry Shoes?!

If you have not yet added Molly's blog These Little Moments to your daily blog reading material...you are missing out.
Today, her fabulous post was all about her BM dresses, BM shoes, and socks for the GM. I was smitten. A girl after my own heart.
(You can see my posts on socks for the GM here and here, BM shoes here , and BM dresses here).
Molly's post reminded me of this picture that I still love. Colored BM shoes.

Her BM's will be wearing red dresses and plum shoes. My BM's will be wearing black dresses and although plum shoes would be beautiful...I feel as though the plum would be too dark with my black dresses. Imagine my delight when Molly showed me that the shoes that her BM's will be wearing come in fuchsia a.k.a. RASPBERRY!

I had all but purchased 7 of them (they were IN my on-line shopping cart) before I took a deep breath and told myself that I miiiight want to hold off on ordering them. All along I just assumed that I would let my BM's wear any black "strappy" shoe. I kept telling myself that I was ok with that. But I looooooove that picture above. And I looooooooove the detail it would add! There is a little voice inside my head saying, "oh, just ask your BM to buy them. your BM dresses were only $130...another $40 brings the grand total up to what BM dresses normally cost! And you're the BRIDE! It's your day!" But the voice of resason kept saying, "it's an unnecessary cost for shoes that some of the girls might not ever wear again...don't make them do it."

So I leave it open to all of you. I even created another poll. Should I ask the BM's to fork over the $40 for the breathtakingly beautiful and perfect-in-everyway raspberry shoes that would complement our color scheme? Or should I let them wear their own cute black shoes? Vote. Comment. Do something!

{Update: 51 total votes. Yes: 31, No: 20}

Poll: Aniticipated Moments

There are a lot of things that I am looking forward to on our big day.

• Getting ready with my Mommy and the girls...putting on THE dress and the veil

(bobbi + mike)




• Walking down the aisle with my Daddy

(bobbi + mike)

• Seeing Chris for the first time that day

(jasmine star)

• Being pronounced husband and wife

(bobbi + mike)

• The first dance

(evoke photography)

And of course....celebrating at the reception with our family and friends...that's a given.

Which one are you looking forward to? If you are already married, which one was your favorite moment? Comment below or vote on the poll at the right.

{Update: 38 total votes. Getting ready: 1, Walking down the aisle: 9, first look: 19, pronounced husband and wife: 7, first dance: 2}

I Want a Long One

It started with the pictures in this post.
And then I saw this picture....

(Jennifer Skog)

And this picture sealed the deal.

(Christine Farah)

I want a long one. At least for the ceremony. If Mom is going to have two dresses then I can have two veils...

Vibrant

Because it's Monday and we all need a pick-me up. And because these pictures are too amazing to pass by.

(pictures via Jessica Claire)

I realize that I have been a little color crazy over the past couple of days (see here and here), but I just couldn't help myself! And there are SO many more to share....like any one of the pictures from this engagement shoot. Hopefully these splashes of color have brightened your day!

The Mother of the Bride

In honor of Mother's Day, I have been saving this comical post:

backstory: We bought "dress #1" months ago. Mom pranced around the fitting room area for AT LEAST 30 minutes in it while on-looker after on-looker poured on the compliments of how great she looked. It was getting out of control....to the point where she was "worried" that she might upstage me on my big day. Mom returned dress #1 a few weeks later because it apparently showed too much skin. "Dress #2" was bought after the same amount of people ohh-ed and ahhh-ed over my Mother at the department store. It looks just as good as "dress #1" and is now THE one. With that in mind....

I was talking to my Mommy the other day about all things wedding related when she let it slip that she was at the mall the other day looking for a "Mother of the Bride" (MOB) dress.

First of all, let's have a little gander at Mommy:

(she looks harmless, doesn't she?)

You can imagine my SHOCK when Mommy said she was looking again for dresses since I thought we had found THE ONE for her. Her response just about forced me sit down in the middle of the sidewalk in downtown Indianapolis and take a breather in fear of having a mini-bridezilla moment.

She said: "Well, I might just get two dresses. One for the ceremony and one for the reception."


Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhat?!

Mommy was just kidding. But STIIIIIILL. A two dress Bride? Yes. Two dress Mother of the Bride? Not so much.
I'm all about letting Mommy shine on the big day....she just has to shine a tad duller than me.

Sporadic

Excuse the sporadic-ness of my posting til Wednesday.
I am moving at the moment, going to a bachelorette party Friday night, doing an inventory Saturday, celebrating Mother's Day with Mommy on Sunday, and only having the access to the internet at work and at Panera until Wednesday.
I can see the blogging/Google Reader withdrawal starting....now.

Poll: The Registry

This past weekend the fiancé and I registered for anything and everything that we could possibly desire…from the cutest chip & dip tray to a classy pillow sham and decorative pillow. We/I couldn’t be more excited. It is only a matter of time before I begin to obsessively check the registry on-line to see what has been purchased and what is still available.
As excited as I am about what we registered for, I am nervous about the actual registry. I have heard stories about stores not allowing returns, registries not updating daily/nightly thus resulting in receiving duplicate gifts, etc.
The poll today is asking for registry feedback. Our of the 4 stores listed below, which ones have you registered at? (Multiple selections are allowed and the poll is located at the top right of the blog.)

• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Target
• Crate & Barrel
• Macy's

If you have registered at one of the above stores, please leave a comment with your thoughts on the store’s bridal registry and your experience with the registry/registries. We/I greatly appreciate it!
And because I'm all about pretty and colorful pictures this week:

(bobbi + mike)

{Update: Total votes: 33. BB&B: 13, Target: 8, Crate & Barrel: 20, Macys: 16}

Beyond the Blue Wall

I've featured a couple of Rebecca Bouck's photos before. If you have yet to check out her blog, you must do so NOW.
Earlier today I blogged about the necessity of capturing a moment in front of a blue wall. Rebecca not only captured this couple in front of a blue wall during their engagement session....

...but also a in front of a purple, yellow, and pink wall.
Another favorite of mine from Rebecca (sans a colored wall):

If you live in Arizona I am sure she would make an unbelievable photographer for your big day!

(all photos via: Rebecca Bouck)

Bridal Blue

Every bride should drag her groom to the nearest blue wall on her wedding day. Here are 6 gorgeous reasons why:

(The Brides Cafe, Christine Farah)

(Kimberly Jarman, Bobbi + Mike)

(Rebecca Bouck, Kimberly Jarman)

If there aren't any blue walls within your range on your big day, perhaps you can make the trek to one during your engagement photo shoot. You won't be disappointed.

(Jessica Claire, Christine Farah, Bobbi + Mike)

Unbustled

This is one of the first pictures I have seen of a bride at the reception without a bustled dress.

(picture via: The Brides Cafe)

Thought #1: Her dress is a-mazing

Thought #2: Does one have to bustle the dress at the reception? I never gave it a second thought since I assume that its easier to haul around a dress that is bustled v. a dress that's flowing on the on the floor (and subject to anyone and everyone stepping on it). Are you bustling your dress for your reception?

Thought #3: Can I bustle my dress BEFORE the ceremony, take pictures, UNBUSTLE my dress for the ceremony, and then REBUSTLE my dress for the reception? We want to take pictures around downtown Indianapolis before the ceremony and I would like the dress to be bustled. Could I just steam out the wrinkles before the ceremony!?

Discuss.

Tag! "Tag team back again..."

1.) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog. 2.) Share five (5) songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why. 3.) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. 4.) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

Thanks to Molly of mthreestudio and Erin at e lucky designs for tagging me! These songs will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter how hideous they are...

1. In Da Club, Ignition, etc. by 50 Cent. It seems as though 50 Cent always had a hit song come out right around Spring Break. For the entire week, it was THE anthem of spring break. It was played in the car driving to Florida, on the beach, by the pool, and everywhere inbetween. Now it takes me back to the good old days, when I was in my prime with 5 of my best friends on a spring break that is impossible to forget. Sidenote: to this day I still cannot taste/smell Bacardi O without feeling the urge to vom. That drink wore out its welcome on that spring break.

2. The Sign by Ace of Base. Back in the day this was one of the first songs I ever danced around to in my room. Pretty sure that I had a choreographed dance to this one.

3. Whoop There It Is by Tag Team. The first “rap” song I ever listened to. Back when walkmans were popular, I used mine to play and rewind the song continually in order to memorize the words. I was the shiznit. "Tag team back again...."

4. Summer Girls by LFO . I never saw N*sync or the Backstreet Boys in concert. But I DID see LFO. They were amazing. During the concert, the most amazing thing happened, Brad winked at me. He did, I swear. Ever since then I have been hooked…even though they were/are a one hit wonder.

5. Kissed By a Rose by Seal. For the record, I h-a-t-e this song. For real. But, perhaps that is why I “sing” it so well…at the top of my lungs….after I have had a couple beverages. Some equate my “singing” to the likes of a howling dog, but that is beside the point. Example: New Year’s eve. Pretty sure that one of my bridesmaids has evidence of my best performance of this song to date on her video camera. I scour you tube daily to ensure the footage doesn’t appear. That, my friends, would be too much for anyone to handle.

I am tagging...Anyone that wants to play!

And because every post should have a pretty picture...
I only hope the music played at our reception will be good enough to get me to do this:

work. it. girl.

(bobbi + mike)