Well this isn't good..

Since the start of all the wedding planning we were sure of two vendors we had to have, our photographer (more on her later) and our florist. Lynn is a close friend and cousin of my FMIL and she just happens to be a wonderful florist as well. I had worked with Lynn previously on some centerpieces for my MOH's shoe themed bridal shower last year.

She took shoes that I found at Goodwill and incorporated them into the centerpieces...

...and I think they turned out great!

Love the little shoe ornaments!

I was so happy with what she did and what I'd seen of her other work that I knew she had to do the flowers for the wedding.

This past weekend I had lunch with FMIL and she told me that with the economy the way it is, Lynn's shop was suffering and there's a chance that they might close! The shop is a real family business, with everyone including her mom working in the shop part or full time; I can't imagine losing something like that and my heart goes out to them. I just hope that they can find a way to ride this out and keep the business going.

Obviously I am most concerned about how they will make it through this, but I did have to think about what this means for the wedding planning and bugdet. Lynn had generiously offered us a sizable discount on the flowers (I think in part because FMIL promised her facials for the rest of her life; FMIL happens to be an anesthitician!). The discount had allowed us to move some of the money we had budgeted for flowers into other projects and details.

Because there is still so much up in the air for Lynn right now, I don't want to hit a sore spot and ask her about an event 10 months away when the next few months aren't even certain. What I am hoping is that she might still be willing to do the flowers if I supply the vases and the flowers. But I have no idea what sort of space she'll have or what her time constranits will be and I don't want to impose so I'm also going to start looking into other options. Unfortunately I've become rather attached to some of the details that we've been able to add with our shifted finances, so I'm thinking the DIY route may be the way to go. Or maybe I can do the centerpieces but have a florist do the boquets. Perhaps its time to look in the floral arranging classes at UWM???

This would be too cool for school

Lately J and I have been tossing around ideas for engagement photos. Even though we love the photos of our engagement (technically that would make them engagement photos, right?) we both want to do another set, sans dogs. We (ok, mostly me) want to do something a little quirky and fun for the photos; some of the ideas that have been tossed around were Riverwest neighborhood, a bowling alley and most recently a roller rink. All of these place are close to home and close enough for our photog, Casey to shoot us.
But I have to admit there is one location that I have been secretly lusting after for a while...The Neon Museum. Have you ever wondered where those old neon casino signs in Vegas go as their final resting place? They go to The Neon Museum....



J and I are huge fans of Las Vegas, especially old Vegas (Golden Gate Casino anyone?) so I thought it would be fitting to be surrounded by something so uniquely us... Just one problem, Vegas isn't cheap. Well, it's sort of cheap, but when you're saving for a wedding it's not cheap enough. I researched flights and hotels and while I found some good deals I just couldn't justify going just for photos (even if they would be amazing).



Enter our friends Ike and Sarah...
Ike and Sarah got engaged about 5 months ago and have been trying to plan a wedding that worked for them. Unfortunatley the idea of a hometown wedding has been more stressful and frustrating than they would have liked. I had a chance to talk to Sarah today and she told me that as of late she and Ike are talking about eloping...to Vegas! Which would be awesome, not only because a Vegas wedding would be perfect for them, but if they did go that route it would give us a legitimate reason to go to Vegas! Woo-Hoo! I'm trying not getting my hopes ups (much) because they are still just talking about it, but come on!

Back to it

So after a long hiatus I'm back to the wedding blog (and in a sense back to wedding planning). This last month and a half has been incredibly stressful...finals, MCATs, new job, being sick, sick dog...just a lot going on. But now that I finally have my head on straight its time to get rolling.

We've passed the 11 month mark...which is CRAZY!!! I'm getting married in 11 months...that doesn't sound right.

You're probably wondering what I've done since my last post which was at the 1 year mark...well I'll tell you. I've done nothing. That's right, nothing. With everything else that was going on wedding planning got shoved to the bottom of the list. But no more! Before I could begin any one project I had to organize, so during a very boring meeting I put together a list of all of my DIY projects that I hope to accomplish over the next 11 months. *deep breath* They are (in no particular order)
-Design/Print Save the Dates
-Design/Print Invites
-Custom cocktail napkins
-Shower hostess gifts
-Bridesmaids gifts
-Wedding cake (yes, you read that right)
-Programs
-Rehersal Dinner Invites
-Dessert Buffet cards
-Mason jar candles
-Wish Tree
-Photobook Guestbook
-Wedding dog collars for the pups (they have to look pretty in the pics too!)
-"flags" for the patio (more on that later)
-Beer menu for the bar
-Card box

It's going to be a busy 11 months....so stay tuned

365

We are officially 1 year away from the big day! I really can't believe that we have been engaged for almost 8 months now. I took the dogs for a walk yesterday and we went past the spot where J and I got engaged (I haven't been there since he popped the question). I must have looked like such a fool...i was just standing by a fence with a big, dumb grin on my face and misty eyes. But oh well...I'm a bride I'm allowed to get sentimental!

In the park...popping the question.
My response: "Shut up..you're joking...shut up"


Even though I never really wanted an engagement longer than a year...I have to say it has been kind of a blessing. I am so far ahead of the game at this point that I can hardly believe it...here's the recap of everything we've done so far:
-Booked the ceremony site
-Booked the reception site (which books up so far in advance, so a long engagement was a really good thing)
-Bought my dress
-Bought my veil and hair pieces
-Booked the photographer
-Booked the "photobooth"
-Bought the printing supplies for the invitations
-Met with the pastor (more on that later)
-Picked out our colors (more on that later too)
-Asked most of our bridal party

But...(there's always a but) the list of things yet to do is 10 times as long...so I shouldn't get too cocky. Ah well...i still have a year!

Thin Thursday

I've decided to try something new on this blog..."Thin Thursday." Thin Thursday is the day where I break down my weight loss progress for the week. I figure if I am at least accountable to something (even if it is just my blog) I may have better luck trying to lose weight.

Problem...this past week was a bad week to start being accountable. It's finals week which means I have been living in the library and living on a steady diet of junk food and caffeine. Yeah...not such a good week. I'm pretty sure that I've actually gained a pound or two. But on the upside, I have one last marathon study day today, my last final tomorrow from 10-12 and then I am free (sorta...I still have my MCAT in June). Starting tomorrow I should be able to get myself into somesort of work out routine. I'd better since I'm going to be competing in a triathlon in September!! But more on that next week...

So much time and so little to do...

Wait...strike that, reverse it.

Lately my wedding planning has been kind of bumming me out. Well actually it's the lack of wedding planning. For the past few weeks most of my wedding planning has been put on hold because of school and it's been getting me down. We're about a year away...and yes, I know I still have a lot of time to plan and I already have a lot done...but I want to do more!

I'm really anxious to get started designing my invites and save the dates plus there are a million other crafty things I want to get started on. But it's all been put on hold because of school. Finals are next week, MCAT's are in a 6 weeks and my internship starts in 3 weeks. Once the MCAT's are done I'll be able to really get going on the planning and crafting. For now I'll just have to settle for my 15 minutes a day of perusing the wedding blogs and bookmarking pictures.

Oy vey!

I got a very exciting letter in the mail today...it was a letter from my dress shop letting me know that my dress has come in! I am so excited and can't wait to go and try it on agian!

But...with this excitement has come the realization that I have to walk down the aisle in this dress, everyone gets to see me in this dress, I have to get photographed in this dress. Which is way today, that letter, was the motivation for me to start working out and getting in shape.

A few months ago I heard about Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred from some girls on the The Knot and I thought I'd give it a try. I ordered it and then it sat on my shelf...until today. I decided that today was the day to try it out....

Oy vey!

Now yes, I am very out of shape right now, but even so that video kicked my ass. I didn't know that a 20 minute work out could be so hard. My legs are already jello (going up the stairs just now was painful) and my arms and shoulders are already getting sore. But if it doesn't hurt it isn't working right?

So the plan is Shredding 3 days a week, looooong walks with dogs 3 days a week for the first week. The second week I am going to add some yoga into the mix...the third week, I'm not sure yet; I need to see who the first two weeks go.