Thursday, September 23, 2010

Flower Girls & Their Dresses

To ask my Flower Girls I made them a card, and a doll cut out, custom to look like them, complete with smiles and googly eyes! And I also gave them peacock fascinators! We are going to play with them, and see what way works on them best! I just thought they were too cute!
Flower Girls Card
Flower Girl Hair  Clip (Me)
About my Flower Girls! We decided to choose two young ladies, one from each side of the family, we have so many adorable and wonderful cousins to have chosen from and it was so hard, but I know the girls we chose are going to be so delighted!

Grace Lucille Hall :

My cousin Mike, eldest of my Aunt Pam’s three children, has the cutest daughter in the world! She is currently in 2nd grade, she’s definitely shy but once you crack her, she’s just one ball of fun! We wanted nothing more than to have her be apart of our big day.

Regan Isabella Long:

Christian’s Uncle Tory, lives in Mesa, Arizona, so rarely do we get the pleasure of visiting and spending time with he and his beautiful daughter Regan, but when we do, its always memorable! Regan is in the 1st grade and not only is she adorable, but she is such a character. She truly is a princess on Earth! We couldn’t be more excited to have her not only come out from Arizona for our big day, but to have her in our wedding!
 
I know these two girls are going to bring so much joy , love and beauty to our wedding, and we thank you both so much for accepting our request to be apart of our wedding party!

The Flower Girl Dress

So I know I am early but I jump started on my Flower Girl dresses.  What can I say, I got excited!

My previous L.A. trip (September12th) is when I discovered these beauties! 
$30 for the cutest dresses and *BEST OF ALL* in my colors!
So I knew it had to be meant to be, right??

September 19th, Mom, Aunt Jill (Mom’s Little Sister), Janice ( Maid.O.H) AKA: “Ju” , Grace (Flower Girl) and I all jumped in the car and headed to L.A. Fashion District on Sunday morning! We all met at my house about 10am, then picked up Aunt Jill on the way to the freeway, we eventually got on the freeway about  11am. 

Typical L.A. traffic, ugh!

We all survived Mom’s driving; she even managed to go down a one-way street with cars heading full speed toward us! Yes my mom is no Angelina Jolie but she thankfully got us off the street and safely parked atop a roof.  We ended getting great parking (Santee and 12th) and the stairs took us right down into the alley! SWEET! The crowd was NOTHING, compared to what its usually like. We did some Santee Alley browsing and then walked up to Pico and Maple.

The first place we stopped at was this huge two story building with dresses galore and I believe (Olympic and Maple) they had the dress in the window that I liked, just not the color, but they had a nice dressing room area, so we thought it would be best to even try on for sizing.

The dress was adorable! 
Here is Grace modeling it in Fuschia for us! Isn’t she just a doll!

This particular shop wanted $50, I knew a few doors down I could save at least $20 more! So we passed, especially since they didn’t even have the dress in the right color we wanted!

Next shop, same dress, $40…PASS!

Hi-Kids Collection! WINNER! Even though last week she said $30, she wouldn’t go past $35, she said it had been a slow day or something, which I did notice. So we got two dresses, guess’timated the size and the lady ensured that we would be able to exchange as long as we had the receipt! *PHEW*
I know I’m jumping the gun, I mean my wedding is more than a YEAR away, but I have learned that when you go out to L.A., it might be there then, and then gone tomorrow, so I knew I had to jump on it. And the price was right and I wouldn’t kill myself losing $35!

As for the color I chose, it was tough! They don’t allow you to take pics, but I snuck some! It was between the Purple and the Teal! Grace loved the "Blue" (lol) and she loved the dress, which made me happy! Spaghetti Straps, Square cute neckline, large band waist, with removable bow (which will stay), removable brooch (will be removed, cheesy), matching shawl and a bubble hem!

And being that both my flower girls are currently both in 1st and 2nd grade, I loved that I could possibly get away with a brighter and more fun color, so I chose the TEAL!

I really love these dresses, they really mean the world, and are going to tie so well into the wedding! And of course, going to look AMAZING on the flower girls! I already cant wait!

Friday, September 17, 2010

E-Picnic Favors ::FAIL::

If you didnt know, we will be having our Engagement Family Picnic November 6, 2010. 
 It will actually kick off our 1 YEAR COUNTDOWN until the big day!!

I had the CUTEST idea for inexpensive but cute favors. 
I found these huge packs of tealights for dirt cheap, like $3 for 25 and they come in these cool colors that I still think would be considered fall'ish!

I went to the DollarTree to do my usual "lunch browsing" and found these cute small tins 3pk for $1. 
So I grabbed a few packs of tins and went on my way.

I waited until just recently to start my favor experiment...

It was a MESS! 
Super Glue everywhere, Tins were so cheap they would bend/dent from just the pressure of holding it! 
They were just UGLY! 

I even made these cute small labels with our "logo" from our E-Picnic invitation.


Such a bummer, so now I am looking for new ideas since I have all these tealights!
Here they are! 


So I asked some friends and actually got  IDEA #2 from my friend CeCe!
She suggested getting those small metal pails they sell for favors at Micahels or JoAnns and then putting the sand or whatever filler in then put the candle, decorate with ribbon and Wa-La!
I thought how adorable would that be, and how perfect that would go along with that simplistic picnic idea!!

So heres to IDEA #2 taking into effect!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Accomplished!


What to do? What to do? 
It feels so weird to have everything done, and early!

So I have almost all of the engagement party invites out! We only have about 3 or 4 that need to go out but we are just waiting on addresses. 

I feel so accomplished, like I am on this! I’m usually such a procrastinator, but hopefully planning my wedding throughout the next year, will teach me how to be a little more diligent! 

LA Day was a success, which makes me ecstatic, and even more so after telling my MaidO.H. about the flower girl dresses we found and what a great deal it was! After discussing it with her and my mom, we decided to give it a shot! What’s there to lose, right? So our plan is to get their dresses at least one whole size bigger than what they current wear. Using my cousin Grace, who will be one of my two Flower Girl s as our model!  Depending on the fit and sizing, we’ll see what we do! Best case scenario, they are a little big on them the month or so before our wedding and we can have them altered to their size. Worst case scenario, they don’t fit and we just have to buy new ones!  Is it worth the deal? HECK YES!

So what’s next? Now its time to save my dollars and cents for this engagement party! 
This is my chance to go DIY crazy, and that is the most exciting part! 

We aren’t doing the typical engagement party.  We are going to host a family picnic! Complete with blankets, butt cushions, lemonade , yummy finger foods  and games to help us get to know one another better!
I am so excited, yet so nervous! So much to do, and what seems like a lot of time, but really its NOT!
Im so anxious for the weeks to come! 

This week we are planning on giving our Bridal Party Gifts out and doing our “askings”! So far so good!
Everyone is so happy for us, which only makes us that much more excited to get married!

PLANNING PLANNING PLANNING!

Now Im currently brainstorming, what do you think of when you think of a picnic in the park??

= ))

Saturday, September 11, 2010

L.A. DAY!!

Oh how fun today was!!
I had my Mom, my Dad and my Financee!
(Yes, Christian is my Finance-e, he says im worth making payments toward!!) 
What more could a girl ask for!?

Productive!
We can officially cross off Bridal Party Gifts!

The cards have been made! CHECK!
The shirts have been bought! CHECK!

Now its time to ask! 

So let me tell you about my THREE Deals!
Which is the second part of the excitement!
(Only because Financee and I had a really great idea for our awesome Bridal Party)

DEAL #1

I was planning on buying Tuxedo Tshirts for the Groom and his Dudes 
I found some on Etsy for $9.99/each + $14.95 S/H 
(that was their offer to me for a large order)
Which was actually pretty decent compared to what I had seen elsewhere. 

Until Today!

This shop in Santee Alley was full of shirts!
So I asked the guy (fingers crossed) if they had a Tuxedo Tshirt?
He said "YES!!"
Their offer $8/each; 3/$20 or Buy 6 get 1 Free!
I needed 6 Total
(Groom, F.O.B and Groomsmen)

So we walked away with 6 Tuxedo Tshirts and 1 Laker Tshirt for the Fianancee!
All for $42 and some change!

DEAL #2!

Bridesmaid Tanks!
So a few weeks back at the Queen Mary Bridal Show in Long Beach,  I bought my mom and cousin a rhinestone ribbed tank top each to where for the rehearsal or engagement or wherever else they wanted to wear it! Since then I have been trying to find a good deal on them since I paid $20/each for those at a "Bridal Show Only Price" and are listed in their catalog at $30/each! Ouch! I love all my girls that I am asking to be in the wedding but at $30/each that was going to hurt! Even just buying 3 more! So I search and decided I would just buy the rhinestone transfers and some Old Navy Basic Ribbed Tanks and make them myself. 
NOT!
Because after today I dont have to, and for cheaper!
All black, all in great sizes and fits for each girl, and rhinestones! 
and at the perfect price! 
$10/each!
So once again UNDER BUDGET!

DEAL #3
I wanted to do something different for my Flower Girls! 
I didn't want to just so another tank top or tshirt but something any little girl would love!
HAIR CLIPS!!!
So since I am going to be incorporating Peacock feathers in our wedding, I decided to give them a little preview through the flower girls!
They are adorable and handmade oh and at only $5/each, I couldn't help it!

I really can't wait to see everyone and ask for them to be apart of our wedding! 
...and to give them their gifts!

The only person we have left to get a little gift for is our ring bearer, 
and we are thinking up something special just for him!

But the best party of TODAY was just being with my parents and Financee, on such a beautiful day!
=)

Friday, September 10, 2010

Theme? Style? Formal? Casual?


Its really been fun looking through catalogs, going to Bridal Shows with my mom, seeing whats out there and what people typically do for decoration and so forth. 

There are so many options, its amazing! So much talent, and locally! 
Not only am I fan of local talent and vendors, but I truly love the website Etsy.com. 
I buy hair clips and ribbons and bows, anything that really catches my eye! 
Oh and its great form of window shopping!

So back to my "style", I have never thought of myself on top of the Fashionista world and always have considered myself a "T-Shirt, Jeans and Flip Flops" kinda gal! 
Simple!

But now that I am becoming a Wife, I thought, why not turn up the "Classy" notch a bit!

So my theme and style is "Sexy!"
 And Christian wants "Formal"
So it works!

I have been asked so many times and its something that I find myself continously struggling trying to explain to other my vision. 
Until I met my Wedding Planner Nikki! 
She is going to make my visions come into a reality!
I am so lucky and so grateful that she understands me and what we want!

We want a romantic ambiance. 
Dim lighting, candlelight, colored lighting coming from the corners of the room.
Ostrich Feathers, Peacock Feathers, Modern-Marie Antoinette!
Our main colors will be are Black, Teal, and Sangria or Plum with a Silver Metallic Finish. 

Shimmery Black-Charcoal
Eggplant - Plum
Teal
It's going to be BEAUTIFUL, let me tell you right now! 
I can not wait until we start gathering our supplies and stuff for our centerpieces and decorations for the wedding!

Beautiful Wedding Coming Fall 2011!


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Proposal!

So its every girls day dream right? To envision the day Prince Charming comes and swoops you up and takes you back to a life full of oohh and ahhhss! Well I found him and for the rescue, I'm loving every minute of it!

July 20th, 2010


Well since Christian broke his right foot that Sunday, he was relaxing on the couch when I got home from work. We snuggled up and talked about our day, as we do everyday after work, and he went on to tell me how he got me a little present for all the help I've been since he injured his foot. Only problem was that it was upstairs in our room, we eventually got upstairs! So there he was hobbling around the room, mumbling to himself, he said "I must have hid it somewhere good because I can't remember where I  hid it."  While I sat there watching him hobble around the room, I finally told him to sit down since he needed to stay off his foot and I would look for him! Im looking everywhere, cabinets, under the bed, drawers, etc. So there I am on my hands and knees looking in the closet and I hear "Oh, here it is!" Happy to have thought he finally found where he might have misplaced my present, I turn around, and there he was, with my ring, asking me to marry him!  I just melted! It was perfect, he caught me totally off guard, wasn't expecting a thing! I didn't know what to do or say other than jumping up and down saying "Yes Yes Yes!"
I was so excited! I didn't know what to do first!
We decided to get ready and head out to grab some dinner! We headed to the Cheesecake Factory, had some great food and dessert, talked about our plans and how excited we were for the future.
Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures other than my ring, but that night will forever be a memory in our hearts!