I love my photographer

I scan by my photographers blog on occasion (and just added it to my google reader, so I guess I will be reading it more often) and I found these cute pics of an engagement shoot. I love that the couple looks like the couple. There are tons of sweet shoots out there with props or a theme . . . but I love that this couple is wearing what they wear every day . . . it is totally "them" (or at least I assume, I don't actually know them!!) I don't know . . . what do you think?? Cute, huh??

(All photos by the talented Alyssa Jul!!)

Dress shopping 3

These are from a bunch of different stores, but a couple were my favorites!!This is a Casablanca dress, that I really liked. Plus I believe it was only around $900. This one is a Watters and Watters dress. I really liked the flowers but it was not exactly what I was wanting
These last two were both Watters and Watters dresses. I almost got the last one! It was just a bit over what I actually wanted to spend. Plus I really liked look of the second to last one, with the straps (it was just a bit slimmer than I wanted). Oh dress shopping is so hard!!!

The Wedding Drama

There was a bit of drama at the wedding in St Louis. Doesn't really look like it though, does it? This is what M and I looked like at the ceremony. Well, you can't tell in this pic, but the entire left side of my dress is safety pinned up. Right as the ceremony was starting I realized my zipper had broken, and was splitting open. By the time the bride was walking down the isle, the entire side of my dress was open!! I ran out the back when the ceremony started and luckily the church had a coordinator who had a ton of safety pins. So I pinned up my entire dress and came back in to see the rest of the ceremony. Here are some awkward photos of my pinning job.
Normally I am not a big fan of weddings where the ceremony is at 3 pm and the reception is at 7 pm, because out of town guests have to figure out what to do with 3 hours in the middle of the day. Well, in this case, it definitely worked out in my favor!! We went shopping!! I found a pretty nice dress, I actually got complements on it all night!! I would always reply "oh, let me tell you a story!" Here is a pic of the new dress, although you cant see much of it! Luckily everything worked out in the end!!!

The Madness has begun

Have I mentioned that we have 7 other weddings to go to this year plus our own??? Well, we do. And it is really hard because they are all such important people. Two were college roommates of M, one my college roommate, 2 are really close high school friends, the 1 a current co-worker of mine, and the last one a co-worker of Ms. Out of those three are in Missouri, 2 in Oregon, and 2 in SoCal. Which means a lot of traveling as well.

Anyway . . . we went to the first one of these 7 weddings this a couple weekends ago. I just thought I would share a couple of their sweet details. The theme was a country horse theme, so a pretty fun theme!! Enjoy.
This was of course one of our traveling trips!! Good old St Louis!!
They had cowboy boot bubbles . . . I forgot to take a pic, so I found this one here.
Their getaway car was a giant truck . . . so them I must say!!
Cute horseshoe napkins!!
Their cake topper totally fit the theme . . . and totally fit the couple!! I think it is super cute!
The whole cake was pretty too!
They had two frames filled with childhood pictures. I would really like to do something similar. I think it is really sweet. The only thing I might add it a third frame with pictures of us!!
Someone had a larger version of the cake topper made up as a gift. I am not sure if this was a something the couple had made just for them, or if it is a famous sculpture, but I think it is pretty cool.
The tossed bouquet. Of course I got dragged up to catch the bouquet. I can't decide if I am going to do it at my own wedding or not. All of the single women who end up ready to catch the bouquet don't really want it. All of the women who were up there with me where saying "Bride" toss it to the left, no the right . . . I was like oh just let me have it, I know I am next!!! So here it is. Plus, you can see the wedding favors as well!
Here is a fun picture of the dance floor. It was a fun night. Check out tomorrow, I will tell you about the drama!!!

I {Heart} Olive Oil Favors!

I have talked to you guys a couple times about my Olive Designs and my Jars to make Olive Oil Favors. When I originally came up with the idea to make them I thought it was a totally original and fun idea for favors. Then I started looking around online and realized my idea had been used hundreds of times before! Oh well, I guess great minds think alike!! Plus, look at all the fun pictures of how cute they are!!!
BR Cohn Olive Oil!!! I would love to be able to use the Oil from the Winery that is the leading inspiration for my wedding . . . the place we got engaged! It is a little above my budget!! Oh well. Still pretty.

(Images: 1. The Brides Cafe 2. My Wedding Favors 3. HotRef 4. Pepper Mill Imports 5. The Knot 6. The Knot 7. The Knot 8. The Knot 9. Beau-Coup)

Don't you guys love them?? We haven't started putting the favors together yet, but hopefully some weekend this summer we will work on that! So cute!

Ring Pictures!!

I love how creative photographers get when taking pictures of the wedding rings. Here are some of my favorites at the moment!! Hanging from branches . . . so cute!
We have a piano at the B&B . . . so this might be a sweet pic! I think this one is my favorite! The little grapes are just so cute!
Another branch picture. I must really like these to have kept 2 around.
And, within a stump is pretty cool too!!

(Images: 1. Flush Designs 2. Keg Design 3. Portland Bride & Groom 4. Wedding Chicks 5. The Wedding Cabaret)

Changed My Mind

Remember those dresses I bought for possible shower dresses?? Well, I returned both of them. The purple one because it was just too short for me. And the white one . . . well it fit great and was really pretty on, but there was a stain, so I exchanged it. But then the second one didn't fit . . . and I just didn't want to do it again. So . . . I found a new one. It is not only super cute, fits, doesn't have stains, but it was also a lot less expensive!!

(Image from White House Black Market)

It comes with a cute little belt, but I think I would like to try to find some kind of flower belt or something. Anyway . . . I think it is great for my bridal shower. Now I just need to figure out what to wear for my other shower and the rehearsal!!

A special gift

Remember the guitar picks that we had made?? Well, I was meandering on Etsy and I came across this amazing designer. Andros Creations, makes rings and . . . metal guitar picks!!! I immediately contacted him and had him make a metal pick to march the picks we already had made for the wedding. Look how great it turned out!!!

(Images by Me)

I think it is such a perfect gift!!! But don't tell M! I am going to hand it over to his best man to give to him while the boys are getting ready, along with a cute note. I also, have another gift for him, but everyone will have to wait until after the wedding (or during) to learn about that one. It is a super secret surprise!!!! Every day I get more excited!

Look what my Fiance Made!!

So . . . my brother's girlfriend mentioned awhile back that a friend of hers had a peg board to hang all her jewelry. I thought this was an awesome idea so I told M about it! And here it is!!
I wish I had taken before and after pictures because my dresser was just piled with stuff. Tons of little boxes filled with necklaces and jewelry and everything!!! There are still quite a few boxes on the dresser, but it is soooooooooo much better!! Plus now I can see (and remember) all my jewelry and decide what to wear. Thanks Deanna for the recommendation.

Dress shopping 2

I went on a bunch of dress shopping experiences by myself . . . one was Saks. The wouldn't let me take any pics with the dresses on, but I snapped a few shots once they were off.

I love the beaded flower belt on this dress. So pretty.

Now this dress . . . was pretty amazing . . . and it should . . . it had a $15,000 price tag. Don't worry I budget is not that high. I actually didn't even know the dress was that much when I asked to try it on. I think the only reason that the sales woman actually let me try it on was because I was there by myself. I guess she figured I was pretty serious about my purchase because I didn't bring a posse with me!!
You can see why it cost so much though . . . there were tiny flowers, with pearl beads in the center, all over the dress. I am sure it took forever to make.
Here is a pic of the dress on the cover of Brides New York!! I can't quite remember but I think it was an Ocsar de la Renta!