Craziest Year Ever

When Justin proposed to me on Christmas eve this past year, I thought things could not get any crazier.  My family was going through a difficult time and no one was having a particularly good December.  Crazy as it seems, I thought things would settle down!  Things have settled to an extent, but Justin and I still find ourselves extremely busy.

I started researching photographers in January and I searched for two months until I found someone I was comfortable with.  We drove up to Nashville to meet with Dove Photography and we were sold!  They were awesome to speak with and the lovely Whitney had attended school under some of the same professors that I was aware of at UGA.  How awesome is that!

Then Justin and I sought out a reception location... that we can no longer use.

We followed that up by seeking an awesome florist like Amy Osaba.  I was a bit confused from our first meeting with her, but Justin managed to get things straightened out.

All the while we've been meeting with Father Tim Hepburn of GA Tech trying to get pre-marital counseling out of the way.

And don't even talk to me about dress looking!  It took me almost 2 months to find a dress I liked enough to order.  Meanwhile I stressed my parents and friends out!

Over the weekend we found an awesome coordinator we are excited to work with!  And this weekend we hope to make a decision on our reception location.  Then we move on to decorations, food, and stationary!  Ack!!!

I think the worst part is that some of my friends don't understand that when I say I'm busy over the weekend with my fiancé, we are typically trying to sort some wedding dilemma out.  I do have to say that the greatest reward will come on the day of our wedding when we both know we have given our all to make this day special and "perfect" for us!

Has anybody else gone crazy while engaged or am I alone?

Image of the Day

Vanessa Sizemore Photography

I love this image soo much.  I will just let it speak for itself.

Review for Amy Neben's The Bride's Book of Lists

When I first started planning, I was not looking for bridal books.  I figured what could be available in a book that I can't find online?  I decided to follow a random bride's advice and obtained Bridal Bargains Wedding Planner (by Denise and Alan Fields) to help me plan the wedding; I thought it would offer suggestions on how to save money when purchasing wedding things.  I think I paid around $3 for a used copy on Amazon.  Unfortunately, this was a very disappointing purchase.  At the end of my wedding, I will end up trashing the book feeling that it was almost entirely useless.  There are a few ideas and some list-making help, but in general the book only provides general wedding knowledge that can be found online.

I'm not quite sure how I heard about The Bride's Book of Lists, but I am very glad I purchased it.  The lists in the book include questions and general advice on talking with and purchasing from wedding vendors.  I do not feel that the author Amy Neben is trying to tell me how to go about doing my wedding planning, but rather she is saving me time by providing all of the lists I need in one place.  (It is also quite relaxing to go through and see all of the things I have checked off.  It makes me feel accomplished.)

If I could re-do Neben's book, I might also have included places for magazine cut-outs and a list of guests.  Otherwise her book includes every list you could possibly need for wedding planning!  If you are a bride, I definitely encourage going out and purchasing it!

Giveaways 7/24-7/30

Newly Crunch Mama of 3 is giving away avocados!  Yum!

Oh Lovely Day is giving away invitations from Jack and Jill Wedding!

Go here to enter to win a water color of your wedding dress from Ginger Vogt!

THE Guestbook (and Alternatives)

            

Quite a bit of consideration has already gone into planning the guestbook.  You never really realize how something that is such a small part of the wedding day could turn into this big ordeal!  Do you want a big guestbook or a small guestbook?  What color do you want it?  How much are you willing to spend so that your guests can leave their mark?  Will your guestbook have its own special table and someone to watch over it?  Then, after you ask yourself all of those questions, you have to ask if you even want a guestbook!

Our current options include:

1.  maintaining the look of the traditional guestbook by allowing guests to answer questions or put polaroid pictures into the guestbook.  If you wanted, you could even add a personal photo to the cover or use your wedding colors to jazz up the book a bit.

2.  having guests sign an object or around a picture.  A new trend is to have guests sign and place fingerprints on a picture (of a tree, an image from Up, etc...)

3.  going the eco-friendly route and having guests type in their warm wishes on a laptop, computer or even typewriter!

4.  abandoning guestbooks all together and having your book become an "object" using a "wish tree" or "wish jar" to collect thoughts from family and friends.  Some couples have their guests write on puzzle pieces that will be put together after the wedding.

All of these choices make it easy to personalize the guestbook.  The question is how do you choose which is the best option for you?!?

Images from:  

Here Comes the Guide  --  Elizabeth Hanne Designs --  Pinterest -- Wedding Window

  Green Wedding Shoes -- Layla Grace

Decorations

On the weekend of July 4th, Justin and I went out to Ikea and purchased our dinnerware for the reception.  We already had the silverware from an ebay purchase a few weeks before, and Justin found an awesome sale on the dinnerware.  We were really excited to get the dinnerware for much cheaper than we could rent.

After that purchase, I (mostly) have been considering how we want our interior to look for the reception.  Unfortunately, we have not yet settled on a reception location.  We have two completely different possibilities and we are excited about both.  I just thought I would share some of our current ideas for possible decorations and DIY projects.

So far, I think the biggest issue has been whether or not aqua blue or cherry blossom pink will dominate our reception space.

We picked out these wreathes (from Joann's) to go on the doors:

Originally Justin and I were going to go with a damask theme incorporating black and white with the pink and turquoise, but I ultimately decided that it did not really work with our lifestyle or reception location.  Instead I think we are going with more of a vintage look.  I do, however, think it would be awesome to use black and white photos as part of our decor.

Unfortunately, this is about as far as we've gotten.  We still have a lot to decide on.  I'm sure the decisions will come easier once we have decided on our reception site.

Giveaways 7/18 - 7/22

Oh Lovely Things is giving away a Marchare's Shop giftcard!

Win a $20 Walmart gift card from A Place for Everything!

Concertina Press is giving away business cards!

Merci New York is giving away a styled engagement shoot!

Reviewed By Mom is having a Pear Tree Greetings giveaway!

Life With 2 Boys is giving away $25 towards wall decals from Accent Studios!

Overview - Who We Are

While this blog was created mostly for family and friends to keep up with our wedding planning, I decided an overview of myself and Justin might be a good idea for new friends that may be following our humble, little blog.

I am Mandy:
  25
  part-time nanny, part-time graphic design intern
  photographer, crafter

He is Justin:
  also 25
  work-a-holic (GA Tech graduate, computer engineer)
  fantastic cook (and great at every other thing imaginable!)

We met many, many, many years ago.  In elementary school.

But I would have nothing to do with him.

Until senior year of high school.  We went to prom as friends and within 3 months, we were dating.

Six and a half years later, on Christmas eve, he proposed at Café Intermezzo completely blindsiding me.  It didn't matter.  I said yes.  He had hand picked every aspect of my engagement ring out, "borrowed" one of my rings to obtain my finger size, and asked my dad behind my back.  (What was I suppose to say?  No????)

Now we are planning our wedding.  Hand picking every aspect.  I spent 2 months researching photographers.  2 months searching for a dress AT EVERY STORE IN ATLANTA.  I am now going on 1 month looking for a coordinator.

When we started planning, I was going for something plain and simple.  Now our wedding can be described in these five words:  pink, blue, lace, flowers, vintage.  Oh - with some awesome black and white photography thrown in!  (Did I mention the cupcakes???!)

Our wedding day will be 3/10/12!  Feel free to follow our blog as we prepare for the biggest, most important day in our relationship thus far!

giveaways

Sweep Tight is giving away $100 cash!

Go here to win a $25 Macy's gift card!

Win tickets to see cars!

"Deal"icious Mom is giving away an Arby's giftcard!

The Creative Connection is giving away a juicer!

Win a coupon for free ice cream from "Deal"icious Mom!

Giveaways, Coupons, and Hot Deals is giving away $20 in paypal cash!

Well-Groomed is giving away a Hugh and Crye gift certificate!

Win Bugaboo Gifts $25 Gift Certificate from One Thrifty Gurl!

Win a Guiltless Pleasure Dessert from Leslie Loves Veggies!

The Charity Wedding is giving away Sisboom’s adorable new craft book Girl's World!

Win Mary Kay!

Go here!

Florals

Cherry blossom reception decoration choices

Who knew there were so many choices?

Justin and I received our Townecraft cookware today in the mail that we got from last week's "win".

On a side note, my mom and I will be having a Mary Kay makeover on Thursday thanks to a "win" at a bridal show.