a serious change in plans.

(**Update: I just want to thank everyone for commenting on my situation, it really makes me smile! All is not lost, and I’m very hopeful that our wedding will be special wherever it occurs! Thanks again for the support, ladies!)

Today, I learned that the venue we picked will no longer be available. It’s quite an awful story and I’ll never look at municipally-owned buildings the same, but I spent the day calling to cancel all the appointments I had set and I actually found another venue.  I booked a place near Tampa.  It was actually the only Saturday they had left…maybe it was fate?!

Instead of camping out on Wednesday, we’ll be driving down to my parents house on Thursday to spend my birthday with them and scout out the new venue.

More details to come, but for now I think I need a long nap before tackling school work.

big week.

Not only did my sister get engaged last night (yeah!), but this Wednesday, Matthew and I are driving down to Sarasota to secure our venue! I’ve also made appointments to see a couple of florists and caterers in an attempt to kill 3 birds with 1 stone. I’m also meeting with my day-of coordinator on November 2nd (which happens to be my 27th birthday), so it’s a major week in wedding planning!

With that said, Matthew and I have implemented a few new rules into the household:
1. No more television. Not that we watch a lot of TV, we don’t even have a “show” but we tend to turn it on as we get into bed which causes more strain on the sleep. Instead of watching television, we’ve decided our down time should be spent playing Pictionary or going for a late night walk.

2. No more laptops after 5 pm. This is more for me than Matthew. I spend all of my downtime from school and work planning our wedding. However, too much laptop and wedding is never a good thing (at least in my mind).

3. Eat more fruit and veggies! (No explanation needed here.)

4. Wash all dishes to avoid dishwasher usage (i.e., environmental waste). We stopped using plastic bags for grocery shopping a long time ago. I bought these great cloth ones from our local market. So, now we’re moving on to another environmental goal!

I’ll post pictures of our camp out on Thursday! In the meantime, here’s a picture from the fantastic Christine Farah. This picture just might change my mind about the all ivory bouquet.

i love my sissy.

Tonight, I received a very important phone call…my sister and her boyfriend, Lawton are engaged! I rushed over to his place to hug her and see the goods (i.e., the bling) and all is well in the world! I’m so excited for them!

Congratulations, sissy! I love you!

Maybe we should rename the blog, “the Excited brides.” Yeah?!!!?!?!

(photo taken by me – Jessica & Robert’s wedding July 2007)

inspiration board #3 – chocolate and marigold!

Comment away folks!

(Photos from MS Weddings, The Knot, & Rebecca Thuss)

chocolate and green is in the lead!

Surprisingly, I’m no longer “stressing” over my color options. I think they’ll just work out in the end, especially when my florist gets involved! In the meantime, though, this is really fun!

The great visionary over at Lucky Me! (via evoke photography) posted this picture recently. Sarah will love it, since she wants green flowers!

Doesn’t this bride look…excited?!

(Lane, don’t worry a chocolate and marigold board is coming soon!)

(Photo by evoke photography)

sashes!

My beautiful sister and I spent the afternoon dyeing my hair and trying on her lovely bridesmaid dress with the sash that I purchased from Ann Taylor. I found an online coupon for free shipping and an extra 20% off, so I got all five sashes for $30! The girls are wearing their own shoes, but I had to take a picture of Sarah’s because who doesn’t appreciate a cute pair of heels?

She looks quite lovely, don’t ya think?

second inspiration board – ivory & chocolate.

It’s actually getting much easier to make these. I’m just having fun at this point. I think this will help me narrow down my color scheme! Enjoy!

(Photos from Brides, Anna Kuperberg,
The Knot & Rebecca Thuss)

first inspiration board – chocolate & green.

Trust me and the others when I say you could spend hours making one, which is why mine looks a little disorganized. I don’t have hours this week, but I did have lots of great pictures. Here’s my first scheme – chocolate & green.

(Top Row L-R: Brides, Good on Paper, J.Crew, Good on Paper)
(Bottom Row L-R: Michelle Rago, Kenny Pang & The Knot)

being a law student.

I’m going to take this week and really try to get back on task with school, papers and work stuff. Don’t worry, I’m not completely out of the wedding sphere, I’m working on a couple of inspiration boards that will blend some different colors schemes I’ve been thinking about.

The fabulous bride-to-be from Tying the Knot is thinking about completely revamping her color scheme, and honestly I’m playing around with that idea as well. I love the marigold and chocolate combo, but I think in practice it might be difficult to find the exact shade (of flowers) that I’m looking for.

Be on the lookout for some inspiration boards and a bridesmaid sash post this week! Otherwise, just think of me studying at Starbucks writing a paper on government subsidized health care and filling out my bar application.

Be well my friends!

something blue.

Matthew and I are going to Orlando for the annual CCJ Halloween Horror Nights weekend! A group of my friends from high school, we call ourselves the CCJ (Crappy Club for Jerks from the Simpsons) get together every year for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. It’s a great time had by all! We also have a great tradition called the CCJ Christmas Cookie Bake-off, I don’t think an explanation is necessary!

Anyways, we’re off for the weekend, which means a break from blogging. I suppose I need it though, after my super long post agonizing over the colors. I’ve sort of decided to drop the green color, but I may keep some subtle hues of it in the flowers!

The other day, my friend Marianna and I were looking at David Yurman rings. Have you checked them out lately? They are AMAZING. I fell in love with one and sent a picture of it to Matthew. Yes, I know I’m really bad! It could be my something blue though, no?!

This one on the left is priced a bit high, but man those cables are so cute! I love it!!!

The one on the right is more affordable and very simple, a ring that you could everyday!