Taking off....

I am taking off tomorrow...for PA. To take care of business! Finalize everything...and taste some cake! YUM!! Hopefully I will be able to update mid-week...with good news!

How adorable are these pictures? I love those green bridesmaid dresses! Click here to check out the rest of the gorgeous wedding from Theorie Photography.

Family Life Conference

Last Friday the Fiance and I took off to Woodland Hills for a weekend conference to focus on our relationship and the preparation for marriage. I heard from a friend a while back about how much they enjoyed it and how they make it a point every year to go to refocus on their marriage.
What conference am I talking about? It is called a "Weekend to Remember," hosted by Family Life. Now, as you head over to the site..please keep in mind you don't have to be married to attend...nor engaged. The conference was actually started for people thinking about getting married. There were about 500 people in atttendance...and about 15% of us were not married.

We didn't feel out of place...infact we were commended for coming...and it was nice to talk to other couples in our situation...preparing for marriage and finding our oneness. It was also nice to chat with couples with many years of experience.... over all it was a refreshing weekend.

At the end of todays session...they had all the married couples stand up...face one another and renew their vows...I must say..this was such a touching moment...We left today feeling closer...and understanding the clearer message of marriage. Oh, and exhausted! So much wonderful info!

If you are thinking this might be something that interests you....send me a message...I'd love to share!! We also left with tons of valuable books to read! I will share more later!

I had to add a pic! From our trip last summer in Mexico!! Take me there!!

Hmm...

For the past two days I have had a hard time blogging..not sure what the blockage is about. Next week I will be heading back to PA to tie up loose ends on everything. It will definitely be a crazy couple of days. I will have to figure out exactly how each table is to be set up... napkin folding...name card placement...fireplace decor...okay, {deep breath}. On top of all of that there has been a lack of follow thru on our dinner rehersal. I won't mention any names... So, I plan on taking care of that as well. So my fellow bloggers please send me some luck that everything will work out!!!

And..of course no post is complete without a picture! I took this about a month ago in Hermosa Beach. During one of our strolls....I thought it was cute!

Have a great Thursday! Greys Anatomy is new tonight!!!

SpotLight 3

Lastly, my MOH! I met Christy at PennState Mont Alto. Seriously...these were some of my favorite college memories. We were both in the health field...lived across from each other.. Again, as I think about all the fun we had...I smile! She is a complete sweetheart and has always been there for me..our late night chats...and that one night at whiskey mountain!!! She has also taught me a few things to keep me organized... :)

She tied the knot in St. Thomas in 2006! It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful ceremony! Our resort was perfect and it was so much fun to spend time with her before she married her man! She just had a precious baby girl in December and is a remarkable mom. I am very honored to have her as my MOH and stand aside me as I get married.

So, these are my three ladies! A friend from middle school....a friend from my summer job...a friend from college...I am so happy to have a friend from different chapters in my life. A huge thank you to you all for all your help and I am so excited to spend my big day with you!

SpotLight 2

My other beautiful bridesmaid is Danielle. We met years ago when we worked at Hersheypark! We made tons of memories every summer....park parties...boys... :) We even played against each other in HS tennis!! We remained friends after college...and we always picked up where we left off. Then she told me she met this boy...it sounded pretty serious...and before you know it...they tied the knot on 7/7/07! Yes, she was one of those lucky brides!!

Danielle has been so helpful with assisting me in making decisions for this wedding...and keeping me calm :) I am so happy she will be with me on my wedding day!! She will keep me straight!

This is a picture from Danielle's wedding! Infact, its a group shot of some of the Hersheypark crew! These are some of the best ladies I know!!

SpotLight!

So, I figured I take this time to shed the spotlight on my bridesmaids! I am still in awe about all the love and thought that was put into my special weekend! Each I met each of my bridesmaids during a different time in my life...which makes it extra special.

I decided to start with Danelle... I met her in middle school and she seriously owned every pair of Umbros!! I was so jealous... :) She was also an amazing softball player...she went on to play in college. The memories from high school ...ohh there are too many to jot down but I always smile when I think of those days. I still don't understand how we got away with so much!

Danelle got married in 2006 and had her 1st adorable little boy May 2008. She is a great Mother and I am so grateful for her to be part of my big day. Her husband who is a doctor, is currently serving our country and we pray for a safe return in July.

Here is a picture from the bridal shower!

One-Two-Three...

Today we had our very first dance lesson! I must admit I was really nervous!!! We chose our song (lets keep it a suprise) and let our talented dancing instructor Lisa Kellogg lead the way. I haven't laughed so much in a long time that I must admit it was sorta therapuetic :)

The Fiance had a lot of fun to my surpise! He loosened up so fast...and I saw that goofy side of him that re-emerges time to time! We learned choreography up to the half-way marker.. it took 2 1/2 hours to learn the first half. I can't wait to learn the 2nd!

photo credit: The Wiebners, Weddingbee

I found Lisa through the handy google search..took a leap of faith and shot her an email. Couple weeks later we are learning our wedding dance! If you are in the Los Angeles area and you are looking for a private instructor she is your lady! She is a lot of fun..and gets you out of your shell.

Did you take dance lessons? Or thinking about it?

Umbrellas...Please vote!

After reading Seaside Smittens recent blog entry..It reminded me how I've been meaning to order an umbrella for the big day! I think it adds a great prop for many fabulous pictures. I am just having a difficult time figuring out which one to get! Please go over and vote on my poll!


Option 1--this one has the nature element and our colors!

Option 2 --more of the modern look..black matching the BMs suits/dresses

Option 3--again with the whole nature element and it also adds more color. Very Simple!

Option 4--I love how elegant it is. Very Classy!

So my blogger friends! Do any of these strike you? Or do you know of another place I should be looking. I found all of these gorgeous umbrellas HERE.

Inspired?!

Ever thought to have your reception on a yacht? I am totally for it after seeing this picture!

photo credi: Hazelnut Photography

Petals..

When I came across this picture from Essential Sunshine Photography....I had my answer!

I found this picture from my friends photography blog! In this wedding they decided to have the MOH and BM drop flower petals as they walked up the aisle. Since we will not being having a flower girl I was so excited to see this as an option! I always dreamed walking up an aisle with petals all over! Click here to see more from the wedding!

Also-click here to check out her site!

Are you having a flower girl?

Happy Easter!

This morning..we crawled out of bed around 5am..and attended a sunrise service at the Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. The service is held outside of the church..on the lawns overlooking the pacific ocean. It is amazingly peaceful and spiritual up there...I absolutely loved it this morning...

The picture below is one of my favorites from this morning.

The grounds are kept so clean...with gorgeous gardens of roses and birds of paradise! The smell of the ocean and flowers is amazing.

We then walked over to the glass church...admiring the beauty of it...

All photograph credits, Nicole Stefan

I hope you all have a nice Easter with your family and friends!

Shout Out....

I wanted to take a minute and introduce you to a friend of mine...Miss Anna :) We met over a year ago when I first movied out to LA. She turned into an instant friend! Anna is a fashion designer and is very talented! Paintings...clothing to hair pins! When she told me that she was starting a store on Etsy, Green Tea Vintage, I was soo excited for her!!

When I saw these adorable baby shoes that she created...I just had to do a post on here and give her...a shout out :)

Hmm...do you have any friends who just had a baby?

Thinking Warm Weather...

I was thinking about our honeymoon yesterday...the warm sun....beautiful ocean...sipping a mohito!


I instantly grabbed my Victoria Secret Gift Card (a gift from my bridal shower) and drove off to the mall...where my eyes landed on this adorable cover-up perfect for Mexico!

and..its on sale... :)

I'm also anxious for summer weather!!! Have a fabulous weekend!
Thanks Val!

I wanted to share...

It has been a while since I went thru all of our engagement shots taken last year! It was such a windy day..and I was soo worried that they wouldn't turn out that good..but our photographer Dustin, put all my worries to an end... :)

For some reason...I really wanted a "half shot." When I see these shots it make me wonder what the couple are doing..thinking...Jessica, from Tying the Knot just posted her "half shot" from her wedding! I'm glad to see I'm not the only "half shot" photo lover :) When I was trying to figure out how to do our Save The Dates..I actually started out with this shot...thought I'd add the info on the left...

The shot below is one of my most memorable shots! We didn't realize how close the water was and it definitely got us! I was laughing so hard...between our soaking jeans to our heart design... we had to make our heart like 3 times!



We love Manhattan Beach...and having our pictures taken there will remind us of all our memories while we lived in California.

All photographs by Sight Photography

For the first 5!

The FI and I drink white wine for all special occasions! A good cold Sauvignon Blanc is our favorite! So, soon as I saw this picture below I jumped right to it! The guests write a message to the couple on each wine box. Then the couple will open 1 bottle on their anniversary for the first 5 years of marriage!

I figured this would be a great project for my Father to tackle. They ordered 5 like the picture below and painted them in a satin black. All I need to do is make some numbers for them and purchase a silver marker!

This will be something we will definitely look forward to for the first fabulous five!

invites & ornaments !!

Finally...Sunday....I put the last of the invites in the mail! WOW, less than 2 months to go... I have been waiting for my wedding day for years! and... it will be here before you know it. It feels like we just mailed our STDs! Now..lets just cross our fingers and do a little dance..that everyone magically fills out those reply cards and pops them in the mail!!! Now, what should I do with all the left over invites? Well, I came across this post from Weddingbee...Mrs. Green Tea. Make Christmas ornaments!

Cut your invitations into strips and roll them up very tightly!

Next, place into a clear plastic or glass ornament! Hang and reflect :)

BUT...in the meantime they will sit in their box till the holiday season rolls around... What did you do with your leftovers?

Oh..dear Monkey Tails!

Ever since my eyes landed on you....It was love at first sight....Oh please..Oh pretty please let my florists track some of you down!

photo: theorie



photo: Kim Fox Photography
floral design: JL Designs

Guest Book

I just had to add something else from my amazing weekend! Everyone at the shower signed in on a gorgeous guest book/photo album! I can't wait to get some pictures to throw in there from my special weekend! What a beautiful monogram...and lovely green ribbon...

These Ladies had taken care of every detail! The best part...the bridal shower was on my Fiance's birthday! Definitely a date we won't forget!

Want one just like it? Special Occasion Favors, Email: spoccfavors@yahoo.com

Flowers...Check!

Last Saturday, I drove down to the florist (1.25 hrs) from home...which was the day after my bachelorette night! I did good though!

I was seriously stressed out..on the way down..thinking in my head exactly what I want..did I bring the right pictures...colors..etc...The last time I went down, I new that I really liked Megan..but I wasn't sure if we were on the right page... Well we are now! {deep breath}

I am absolutely in love with the groomsmen flowers! She even made it for us so we could see what it would look like exactly! 3 kermits 1 bell of ireland with a little greenery in the back to soften it up. My Mom held it up to her shirt..we didn't have anything to create a black backdrop. Should we add black ribbon to the bottom or keep it all green?

For every other table we will have something that looks like this. White hydrangea..only!


Those other tables will have a large candle with a small arrangement. These will be done by me! I figured I could handle these! Plus it saves me over 50% doing it myself.

For Moi! I found a gorgeous bouquet online from the very talented Allie, from Flower Allie in Orange County. I had to make two changes..but that was it and my bouquet was complete! I can't wait to see it in person! I simply emailed Allie requesting what flowers she used..and she was very helpful! If you have a minute...take a peak at her site!

Some Details...

This past Sunday was my amazing bridal shower which was held at my favorite cafe back in PA. The BMs asked all guests to wear black & white! Soon as I walked in...I was seriously taken back...all the details...pictures...candles..fresh flowers...the cake!!! I only have a few pictures to share at this time...hopefully more will roll in later this week from friends!

The saying "Eat Drink and be Married" was on everything! My Mother told me she loved our cocktail napkins so much she wanted to carry it throughout our shower..and so did the Bm's!


The first detail.....They had a booklet at every place setting.

Guests filled out questions about the Bride & Groom!


Traditional gift bingo!


Cute saying...on the last page!

A delicious cookie was also placed at each setting..with an adorable matching tag!



MY CAKE!!! Here is a good picture!! It was delicious :)



I still can't believe I am back in Los Angeles!!! That weekend flew by but it was one memorable bridal shower. Thank you Mom and my lovely Bridesmaids!!