To Be Inspired....

I am hitting a brick wall at the moment. Despite the go-ahead from C to plan, plan, plan there is only so much I can do without having set a date/have the groom's seal of approval (since it is his wedding too!). And as much inspiration that I have gathered from the Internet and my various favorite daily blog reads, I think a main source of inspiration would be one's wedding dress!!

In casually looking at various designers, I found Melissa Sweet:

above: the Sydney dress. below: the Lia dress.

I have yet to decide if trying on dresses for me will be more like pulling teeth or one of the most exciting times in my life. I imagine somewhere in between!

Change of Season...Change of Mind

Maybe it's because the seasons are beginning to change and its beginning to feel like fall from the campfires I smell to the displays of Halloween candy in the stores. Or maybe its because I have seen so many great wedding themes/ideas from all the blog snooping/browsing I have been doing. I don't know what it is, but every since I saw that anexcitedbride is changing her wedding colors, I have been beginning to re-think my navy and green wedding color scheme.

The problems that I have with the navy/green theme are:

-The navy BM dresses clashing with the GM's black tux's

-Is the green too bright? I LOVE the green flowers. They would appear in the bouquets and in the centerpieces but I'm worried about using too much of the green because it's not too nautical-ish and I'm worrying it might be overwhelming and too much of a "pop".
Other alternatives I have been toying with:

-A navy and champagne/almost brown scheme. It's still nautical-ish. However, without the green, or another color it seems somewhat bland. And I would still have the prob with the navy BM dresses and the black tux.

-A navy and a plum color scheme (too dark?)

-Skip the green, navy, and tying the knot theme all together and have the BM wear black dresses.

Help.

Potential BM gifts

I thought that a nice change from the somewhat "standard" pearl necklace gift for the BM's would be this bracelet that I found on Tie It With a Bow . These bracelets can be engraved with the BM's names and I know that they will be able to wear them again....and want to wear them again!
And I liked these rings from Tie It With a Bow too:And going along with this post, I found another tote for my BM's where I could put all of their gifts and they could carry it around with them on the day of the wedding. And what makes it even better is that its from J. Crew!

Rants and Raves

I decided that a great new addition to my blog would be a post called Rants & Raves. You know, just a way for me to rant & rave and for others to have to listen to my rants and maybe become inspired by my raves!
So here it goes...
Rant: I cannot book a photographer, church, or a reception hall without a date! I'm not really raving about this, I suppose if I wasn't "pre-planning," I wouldn't have this issue to "rant" about!! But when I can book a photographer, it will be Jessica Strickland . I mean, how could you pass this up:

Rave: My favorite blogs never cease to disappoint me when they post something FABULOUS each and every day. An Excited Bride made this post yesterday and proved that you can get a J. Crew (bridesmaids) dress from ebay for about $40....made my night!
Rant: Some of my fellow bloggers have been falling behind...where are you!? I miss your posts and the inspiration that you use to give me everyday!
Rave: Coke Zero. Tastes just like Coke, not like diet, and 0 calories....amen.
Rant: When you search for navy and green wedding colors/schemes on google, it gives you the UGLIEST pictures. I won't even post them they are so nasty.
Rave: My new favorite bloggers: Snippet & Ink, Perfect Bound, and Living the Swell Life!

Daily Boards

Tonight I stumbled upon another great find thanks to a favorite blogger of mine, Classic Bride.
Snippet and Ink will be my new daily read. Everyday she will (hopefully) post an inspiration board based around a theme, palette, or mood! Maybe I can convince her to do one for me!!
Here are some of my favorites:

What a lovely fall inspiration board! I especially love the pumpkins on the fence, the pumpkin beer cooler, and the tree ceremony site!

This inspiration board is entitled "Shipwrecked" so I just couldn't resist posting it! I love the ribbons blowing in the wind against the clear blue sky.

Checking out Snippet & Ink is a must. Cross your fingers she will post everyday because I cannot wait to see what she has in store!

Something to Smile About...

...pictures! Even though the photographer is crucial and undoubtedly a must, I haven't thought much about who will be lucky enough to snap the pictures of C & I on our special day....until now. Tonight, after looking at about 5 Indianapolis photographers blogs and being unimpressed, I was smitten.
I came upon Jessica Strickland's website. L-O-V-E.
I am in love with Kelly & Tim's photos. And then I came across Kelli and Jeremy's photos and that's when I knew that I wanted Jessica as my photographer. Check some of Kelli and Jeremy's pictures out:

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THIS IS MY DREAM PHOTO. When it's actually C& I in there it will be framed in our house FOREVER.

love love love love. i want. where is the dotted line?

To Have & To Hold

Today I sent out an e-mail to a couple of my sorority sisters about this blog. I can't say that many of them were too suprised in finding out that I have been "pre-planning" my wedding for over a month now. So ladies, I hope you enjoy!!

Annnnd in case any of them were wanting to get me something for my upcoming (fingers crossed) engagement, these orbs from Scarlett Alley would be a precious gift that I would treasure forever:

Just a thought! =)