CONFIRMATION

Quick Update!  It is official, the contract for Ross Bridge is in and it is ours!  YAY!  It is relaxing (somewhat) to know that the big aspects of the wedding planning are getting checked off the never-ending list...

Also, we sent the contract in for AZZ IZ!  They are also officially ours.  Should be a great reception!  I am coming up with ideas for the BG Dance off!!!  This could get out of hand... 

Other than that, I am thinking of making an appointment for a bridal salon here.  I want to go soon!  I am tearing out tons of pics from the magazines that Annie got for me (It seems like I get a new one everyday-thanks Annie it is great)!  There are a lot that I really like.  We will see how they look on!

I also am finalizing our honeymoon!  YAY!  We are going to Kauai for 6 nights and Hawaii (Big Island) for 7 nights.  Click on the links to see where we are staying.  I met with a travel agent here in Bham and got some good recs- Hawaii is her specialty!  There was no way to fit in Maui because of the time of year (Christmas and New Years).  Every hotel has 6-8 night minimums during that time of year so we chose our favorite islands from what we have heard.  I am thinking that we may go to Maui to drive the Road To Hana one day, apparently we will be "island hoppers"  That sounds like a good retirement job!

Florist Update

The above logo is the one that I am leaning to.... any suggestions!
Ok, so went to Rachel Goudel/Andy Boyles and LOVED them!  So artistic and creative and the house was the coolest place I have ever been to.  I cannot explain it because my vocabulary sucks, but it was amazing and eclectic (that is a good word)!  I will be anticipating a quote and hopefully they will be within reason.  Then, I have it narrowed down to 2 florist/event designers and will have to make a hard choice.

Anyways, that is my update on what I have done so far!

Monograms

This is so much fun, there are so many monograms/wedding logos to choose from!  Anyways, two new websites that I love.  Please give any input that you may have, this is going to be a HARD choice!

True Love Logos  I love CL-12 under classic!

Love Letters

Today I am going to see Rachel Goudel for one last flower consultation and then I should make a decision based on their quote.  I will also be turning in the Ross Bridge and Azz Iz contracts.  Things are getting finalized!  

According to Lauren, I need to start looking for my dress... UGH!!!  I need to lose like 40 pounds before going to do that!  I am going to maybe, tentatively, go in February or early March.  I understand that they take a while to order and get in/do alterations.  Should be exciting! 

Ok, so style me pretty, is my favorite website!  I love these invitations!  I am cornered between something like this or something with a monogram...  Lindsay, I hope that you can recreate these!!!

Planning, planning, planning

I am looking for a monogram to help personalize our wedding, tell me if you like any of these shown above, I love a few of them... 

Just a quick update on what I have been doing for the wedding.  We have the band contract in hand, just have to fill it out and get is confirmed. AZZ IZ should be great!  

The Ross Bridge contract has to be completed by January 28, I am currently working on finishing it to turn it in next week.

I go to Rachel Goudel on Monday to meet for a final flower quote.  I got a quote from Jon Davis with Avid companies and WOW.... It was 6,000 more than the other quote and I feel like it was the same stuff, actually, I know it was since I have "the vision"!  I was very surprised considering that the other one was already high!  Anyways, so needless to say, over 10,000 of flowers will not be at our wedding.  After I go to Rachel on Monday I will be going back to FlowerStems to see what we can work on.  Depending on Rachel's Goudel meeting, I will either go with FlowerStems or her.  Will be finalizing that next week as well as the other mentioned above.  Then.... I get to do the FUN STUFF, like shopping for bridesmaid dresses and of course, MINE!   Once I lose a few more pounds I will try on those dresses, but NOT until then.

Also, I am meeting with a travel agent tomorrow to help planning the honeymoon!  So exciting! 

anxiety

For all you anxious bloggers... I have so much to say but I am soooo exhausted.  Just a quick note to tell everyone that I am still planning the wedding and haven't gone crazy just yet!  I have discovered that I am so super organized (duh) but the problem with that is if there is a space that isn't completed in my list, I feel like I need to put something in there!  haha.  SO, mom and I got a bit done.  We got a wedding coordinator for the day of that we will be using.  It is Anita, and who Kelly used in her wedding.  I have heard good things from her and a quote from my mom "I feel like the world was lifted off my shoulders when we met with her".  It is hard to plan a wedding when you are starting from scratch, in Leesburg I would know everyone and have it done!  However, here I have to do so much background digging that it makes it more stressful.  Anyways, needless to say Anita will be out lifesaver and hopefully keep our sanity especially with the details which I love to overanalyze anyways...

FLOWERS FLOWERS FLOWERS...  I overbooked my appointments therefore have 1-2 that I want to go see before making the decision.  I loved Jon Davis with Avid Companies.  They are more "event" designers rather than just flower makers which I am finding is what the ''in" thing to do is.  Here is the website.  They were amazing, but haven't gotten a quote yet, so we will see about that!  I also really liked Flower Stems by Vince Gray.  They are previously on my website so see that link if you want to check it out.  Very good quote.  As I was told "You may like sticks and stones but you like expensive Sticks and Stones.... Got told more than once that I have remarkable and expensive taste"  And my mom just said, why of course, wouldn't expect less!  

Norton's florist was in simple words, awful.  The quote was comparable but the quality and innovation was poor by the lady.  Just  lacking creativity and wanted it to be like the usual stuff she does.  I just have a thing about someone with a template, I feel like it is not original and just filling in the blanks...  I didn't make it to Rachel Goudel/Andy Boyles who I am sure to love.  I am hoping to get by there this upcoming week.  I have personally seen their work (Kelly's wedding) and it is in line with my type of floral ideas.  Will be contacting them to see when I can stop by since the appointment with Anita ran over!!!  Anyways, so this is the update.  I am so sorry that I haven't kept it up to date, but by the time I would get home, I hit the bed asap!  Oh, and yesterday went to my first knitting class!  It is a good way for me to learn patience and I absolutely love it!  I am working on my scarf and if the weather stays in the teens I will be needing lots of scarves!  Will keep everyone updated and take pics of my new hobby!  muhahaha, love you all!

New Florist

Love lots of pics from this florist one and will be meeting with them this week!  I feel like they can incorporate what I like since a lot is just like their style...  Kelly used them at her wedding and everything was super gorgeous!  Maybe I will find a  pic of what they did at hers and you will see how awesome they are! 

Mom should be here in a couple of hours and I am looking forward to all the frenzy that is going to be coming our way!  Will be posting a lot this week, so be ready with comments please!

Picture ideas

And I love these amaryllis.  I think that they would add a nice touch and guess what, they are a seasonal flower for December!  

Picture ideas

New idea!  This is the look, not the colors that I am going with.  With lots of candles I think that it will be gorgeous!  

Update!

Let's See where do I begin... Oh yes, GO GATORS!  Amazing game and an amazing team.  That was one of the best games I have been to and I enjoyed it thanks to my mom!  Ryan was the loudest in the stadium I truly think.  

Anyways, an update on all that has been going on.  I went to dreamcakes and was so-so on the taste and style of cakes that the lady usually makes.  I just wasn't that impressed, nothing jumped out at me.  Therefore, I am going to check out a few others.  If anyone has any ideas on AU or FL cakes, please let me know of some.

My mom is coming up this week to check out some florists.  I have scheduled a few and am kind of scared to go.  I am not the biggest floral person, Ryan calls me "sticks and stones"!  We are also meeting with a wedding coordinator to be used on the "day of" just to help execute the wedding!  It is the one Kelly used at hers so I have a good report of what she does and know that she is a hard worker, which is what I need.  Also, I am going to Ross Bridge again with my mom.  I absolutely love it.  It just has a really sentimental value to it and I love the tall ceilings with wood framing.  I think that with the lighting and it all set up it will be gorgeous.  We are having a "cocktail" hour for the guests before the actual reception which will take place outside of the banquet hall.  I am leaning almost 100% to Ross Bridge because it is really accessible for out of town guests which will be 99% of people coming.  That is a huge plus because people won't have to drive around the world. 

We are also in the works of planning the honeymoon!  Hawaii is going to be the locale and it is going to be from December 20 to Jan 2!  I am so excited about this.  What an awesome vacation!

OK, I am going to keep everyone posted.  The big details are almost out of the way but I am going to start looking into DIY (do it yourself) projects for the small details.  So, if you see anything that you think would be a fun project please let me know!

Also, the "list" of who makes the cut on bridesmaids/maids/matron will be coming out shortly!  I have to finalize it and then everyone will know their roles!  hahahahhaha, i love you guys!!!!  You know I have to keep you on your toes!  

Bridal Show

Today at the Wynfrey there was a bridal show.  What a good sport Ryan was, he actually enjoyed it and there was a "groom's room" so that helped a bit!  Tons of ideas and vendors from around the area.  There are lots of places, specifically florists and cakes, and photography that we liked and many that didn't make the cut!  

Here is a list, please check them out as you please!

Flowerstems (florist)

Nortons (florist) 

Dorothy McDaniels (florist)

Lighting:  Design Productions

Cakes:  

Olexa's 

Angels

Photography:

Studio G

The Blink Lady

Arden Photography

Mark Lawley

Zack

Linens

This is a good list of the vendors that were there and others that we are looking at!  Wow, what a list and hopefully I will be reducing it asap!

Bridesmaid Dress Thought

I love this color, it is different and will go with my theme colors well.  I like the front of this dress, not sold on the back though.  It is a chiffon A-line gown so think that it would look great on all.  Input please

Jim Hjelm

BAND!

Love this band!  They look so exciting and play at lots of events that are people our age.  Plus, they play back that a#@ up and if anyone remembers, that is what my first wedding dance with my husband was always going to be!!!  Good thing that I have changed a little bit!  They are a mix of punk, dance, top 40, and motown and that was what we were looking for.  I like their extensive play list, a great amount of variety.  More information on whether or not they will be ours!

Here is the band:  Azz IZz

Enjoy the demo!  

car

Look at the 1939 Rolls

Cakes

Going to visit this cake company next week.  Heard really good things about her and like all of the cakes on her website.  We are doing 3 cakes!  Annie, there will be lots of icing for you!  The three cakes are: the wedding cake (will take suggestions for decorating, I would like something simple but elegant), a Gator Cake, and an  Auburn Cake!  So fun.  Ryan wants one to be like the AU stadium and I am still deciding on the Gator cake.  I am going in next week for cake testing and to go over ideas, etc 

Here is the website:  Dream Cakes.

Hope that everyone is enjoying their New Year!