Our E Pics are DONE!

We FINALLY completed our engagement photos.... We MAY go back for one more session...but with 53/52 days remaining until the big day...there may not be time.

Yes...I look like a whale by the hips...but hopefully I can fix that in these 50 or so days! :-)

Update: Wedding planning...new job...and a phat @$$

I have been doing a horrible job of updating my blog. I have been SO busy...but I could better. I am planning to start planning each hour of my day. Atleast for the next 6 months...it should make ALL of these flow a little better.

Wedding planning:
The wedding is still in Memphis. :-) Throughout this entire process, so much has changed. At one point I wanted to write MYSELF a prescription for Prozac. I mean, I always knew that a wedding was a big deal but my GOSH. Who knew it was so complicated! :-)
At any rate, to date, I have completed the following for th wedding:
Confirmed my venue (A Golfcourse...oh lala :-))
Booked the honeymoon and started payments
Created a Wedding Website (bare bones)
Created a Honeymoon Registry
Submitted my application for my passport
Selected and began payment on my gown
Designed, created and mailed 50 of my 90 Save the Date Cards and Magnets
Ordered Tissues for my tears of joy packets
Loved on my FI :-)
Selected my cake
Booked my photographer

Whew! At times, I get a little overwhelmed. I feel SO batty like I am driving ALL of my friends insane. BUT, I must say, I am seeing progress! :-)

School
I have 5 classes and I will COMPLETE my bachelors degree. WHOO HOOO! Now, why I selected a wedding date 2 days after my last final, errr huuhhh.... not sure. :-) I WAS inducted into ASL last week (National Honor Society). I am very proud. My FI, son, mother and future mother in law came out to show some support. It was a very happy night. My little family and I celebrated by having dinner at Houston's immediately after.

Hair
OK, so my hair is in this short pixish cut. It is growing pretty fast but not fast enough. My sweetie loves this cut and I must admit I feel pretty fly. However, after the wedding, my transition back to natural hair will begin.

Weight:
Ok, so I lost about 25 pounds a little bit ago. For the most part, I have kept it off but I am still too.darn.big! With a wedding dressed ordered for my special day, I am determined to get down to a size 6! Esp with baby plans in the very near furute. I can NOT walk aroud looking like the koolaid man. Not.a .good.look! I am going to start working out next week (I hope) and continue with my portion control. Hopefully the two of these are enough and I will not have to disturb my daily wine escapades...T loves the wine. LOL!

Starting weight: 169...
Oh what a fatty! Seriously. My butt is HUGE! I remember about 5 or 6 years ago I actually WANTED more weight in the hip/butt area. My gosh...be careful what you wish for! LOL

Ok...I must go. My two guys and I have been in the streets all day...and this Cabernet is talking to me. :-) I promise to do a better job journaling these next 6-12 months. I am very curious to see how much my little world changes.

TTYL

You want me to pay HOW much?

My last post, I mentioned deciding on a venue for my wedding/reception next March. Well quite a lot has happened since my last post. Let's see...

1. I had a melt down after feeling I did not have ANY support from my MOH and Mother.
2. Called my FI and told him let's just elope.
3. Decided to have a get married at the courthouse and take dreamy honeymoon.
4. Moved up the date.
5. Got depressed because I wanted SOME form of a wedding
6. Decided on a Destination Wedding/Honeymoon.
7. Decided on the location.
8. Got FREAKIN excited.

When I called my sweetie in tears, he did the best possible thing. He listened. He let me get it ALL out and when I told him I no longer wanted a wedding. After MUCH conversation...we decided that a destination wedding would be best. When I shared the news with friends and family, everyone asked was I sure I wanted to do it that way. Well the answer came when we received the contract from the venue we'd selected before our change of plans. The contract listed a price significantly higher than quoted during our consultation. Welp...it's set in stone!

Destination wedding...here we come! I couldn't be more excited. I have already contacted a travel agent and we plan to pay our deposit to get the ball rolling.

Next up....Engagement pictures! :-)

A Special Place for a Special Ceremony

My sweetie and I are currently planning our wedding for March of 2012. I am starting to get really serious about wedding planning and I decided to start with my venue. Early in, I had an idea of this beautiful venue. Although I heard the location was rather expensive, I just had to go and see for myself. Well, I sent an email and received the rate package. The ballroom rented for $1800...not bad right?! I immediately made an appointment for my sweetie and I.

Well when we walked in, I was sold before I even spoke to a sales agent. The decor of the venue even agrees with my colors! It would not have been better. I gave the sales agent a few more details (number of people, type of food, dancing, etc) and sat back to wait for my quote. Well about 2 weeks later, which was rather slow for me, I finally received the quote. I was VERY disappointed to learn that my dream venue was WAY over my wedding budget. We were looking at almost 8K just for my venue and food. What about flowers, photography, attire, video, etc? So...back to the drawing board we went.

I decided to check out our local Racquet Club, a couple of Country Clubs, a local Bontanical Garden, a hotel and a Civic Center. One of these was elimitated right away. Two are still top contenders....

I am STILL waiting to hear back from one of the vendors after calling AND emailing on Monday. Which one will I finalize? I can not wait to see. I am ready to get this portion of planning under my belt so I can start the search for a dress!

Until Later!
T

I am Engaged! What do I do next???

The first day or so of being newly engaged is like a dream. You stare at your ring until your left arm is stiff. You carefully remove your prescious rock to lotion your hands, cook, wash dishes or any task that could possibly harm your new treasure. It usually takes a couple of days for the enormity (yes...I created that...you like that huh) of the situation to finally sink in.

Suddenly it hits you like a ton of bricks...

I am getting married?!?!? Oh...my...gosh. What do I do first? Where do I start?

If you are newly engaged, here a few things you may want to do first:

1. Set a date

Before you can being planning, you will need to know your date. Your date will determine how much money you need to save and how quickly. The date will also have an impact on selecting your venue...the closer the date...the harder time you will have booking a venue. Make sure to allow time for scheduling and booking a venue.

2. Set a budget
Many new couples or engaged couples argur most over money. Don't place unnecessary stress on your relationship for a ceremony that is usually more of an advantage to your guests than yourself. Make sure that your finacee is involved in the financial planning or budgeting associated with the budgeting. We are aware that this is your first and last wedding, but is it really necessary to break the bank. Work with your future hubby to set a budget that pleases you both.

3. Shop for your dress.
No matter what the size, time and location of the wedding, all brides will need some form of a gown. Whether you have a destination wedding or a traditional wedding, there will be special attire for the bride. Many bridal gowns require a number of weeks for processing time. Do not let this deter you. Selecting and paying for your dress well in advance would definitely work to your advantage.