I'm better at planning than I am at blogging!

I thought I'd become the ultimate blogger and every week post some goodness; however, that is not the case!
I found a pretty extensive "to-Do" list that another blogger posted so I copied it just in case I had missed something (after 900 lists in 30 notebooks I'm a lil paranoid that I'll forget something!)

Overall:

Set a date 8.30.2013

Book a venue Serendipity Gardens

Book photographer KS Gray Photography

Engagement photos done

Book videographer (if it is in the budget)

Book DJ DJ Kerry through the Venue

Ask bridal party to be in wedding

Create wedding website That would be this ;]

Book florist Flowers etc in Beaumont

Buy wedding dress David's Bridal

Select bridesmaid dresses I think this is done, gotta check that the last one was ordered!

Select and order groom & groomsmen attire -- halfway done, hard to do apparently!

Find veil David's Bridal

Book cake baker Michelle's European Bakery in Redlands, sooo good!

Buy cake knife and server Using Mom and Dads <3

Order save the dates Shutterfly.com

Finalize guest list

Cake topper Love em

Ring pillow 

Send save the dates

Order guest book -- We have an awesome guest quilt but the coordinator 

suggested we still have a guest book!

Register Target and BB&B

Reserve hotel room blocks

MOB & MOH dress shopping

Find wedding shoes -- Fingers crossed I can BORROW these ;]

Choose wedding jewelry

Find garter

Clutch for bride -- is this necessary?

Something old

Something new

Something borrowed

Something blue

6 pence

Make day-of emergency kit

Book makeup artist and hair stylist

Props for photobooth

Hair and makeup trial

Dress Fittings

Order invitations

Send invitations

Bridal party gifts -- halfway there

Purchase wedding bands

Put together picture list for photographer

Get marriage license

Book transportation for wedding party

Music selection for band and for ceremony 

Order thank you notes

The rest of her list had more things that I didn't need than did so I deleted it :D Hopefully this week I can get our card box mailbox finished and call a few more Limo companies, I really wish we could get a referral but I don't know many High Schoolers or fancy people I guess!! I'm pretty satisfied with where we are planning wise, most of we have left to do cant really be done quite yet! If you get the paper start saving your Michael's coupons for me, I need to get the last of my centerpiece things there!!



 Was there anything you forgot at your wedding or almost did?

Hotels

We finally got some room blocking taken care of now I can share that info with you :] If you'd like to make reservations at any of these hotels just give them the last names of Bride and Groom and you'll receive the discounted rate as long as you book by August 1, 2013!

The first is Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Beaumont, Ca and they have rooms for $104.00/night
http://m.ihg.com/hotels/hiexpress/us/en/hoteldetail/bmtca

Ayres hotel in Redlands is a couple miles further but has more things close by, they have rooms for $99.00
https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?__VIEWSTATE=%2FwEPDwUKLTU3NzYxNzY0M2Rk3NT9raOVEQHB97jfrXuuisH05H0%3D&__EVENTVALIDATION=%2FwEWBwKulZClBAKqmsaRBAKv95ooAqKVlcIEAuLfxOwIAqP6zvoJAtrvhXAyIpGhbrmMKyenNgm3zn2Lhl3ErQ%3D%3D&hotelid=15361&datein=8%2F30%2F2013&length=1&adults=2&children=0&utmstring=

Lastly is the Country Inn and Suites and that's where James and I will be staying! It's also in Redlands and I'm waiting for the sales manager to call me back with exact rates but it looks like a neat place... the party doesn't have to end at Serendipity ;]
http://m.countryinns.com/mweb/reservation/rateSearch/viewRateDetails.do?rateId=14725999

Flowers and Cake!

I meant to post this A VERY LONG time ago but I was waiting for the confirmation email from the florist! Anyhow, I thought I'd start with asking if any of you did or know of any neat wedding traditions?! We have all the dances, bouquet and garter toss etc. but I like those things so I want more ;] I did see online where the bride wrote her single Bridesmaids names on the bottom of her shoe and the one most on at the end of the night was the next to get married, I want to do that! I like the southern tradition of the charms in the cake but I don't want to put the baker through that trouble... maybe at the bridal shower ;]

So the florist... My wonderful Momma took me to the florist since James didn't really have a flower preference and was much more interested in the cake tasting! We're getting our flowers done at Flowers Etc. in Beaumont and the owner was really great. It amazed me how he could pop off flower combinations and their colors off the top of his head! My bouquet is going to have a mixture of flowers: Purple hydrangeas, purple stock, purple statice, purple delphinium, green coffee beans, scabiosa pods, seeded eucalyptus, eggplant callas, pitt, burlap ribbon, twine love knots

I don't know what Pitts are are I can't imagine these together in my head but he was pretty excited about it and I have faith I'll love the outcome! The throw away bouquet is part of the package but I have no idea what that will look like!

BRIDESMAID BOUQUETS were another story, I wanted each bridesmaid to have an all white bouquet of one type of flower, apparently that is really expensive so we compromised! There will be 2 of 5 types of bouquets, 2 All Dahlias, 2 Tulips and Roses, 2 Carnations and Ranunculus, 2 Mums and Lisianthus and 2 All Gerber Daisies

Dahlias

 

Mum and Lisianthus

Carnation and Ranunculus (kinda)

Gerber Daisy (Erin's bouquet)

Tulips and Roses (Staci and Kristen's bouquet)

 The rest was easy, James is going to have a purple carnation with green coffee beans and twine love knot for his boutonniere and the groomsmen, ring bearer, father, grandfather and officiant will have White mini gerbera daisy (with a white center) twine love knots

The mothers and grandmothers will have a Pin on corsage with white roses, green coffee beans and ivory ribbon. 

There will also be 16 mason jars with purple stock, purple delphinium, green coffee beans, purple statice, purple larkspur on shepherd hooks with burlap ribbon! I'm not gonna find pictures of that :]


Then there was the cake tasting at Michelle's European Bakery, James' favorite part so far ;] Let me start by saying those cakes are delicious! I can't stand Coffee flavored anything but even that was pretty tasty! We tried a Mocha, Victorian Raspberry, Lemon Torte, Orange Poppyseed and a Double Chocolate slice and decided on a 4 tier cake with two layers of Victorian Raspberry, One Victorian Strawberry and one Carrot cake covered with white European whipped icing something or other (it's kind of like whipped cream, soooo good and not excruciatingly thick!). Two layers will have little frosting dot embellishments and the other two will be plain but all 4 will have a purple paisley ribbon that I have yet to purchase around the base! Another reason for me to finally go to Hobby Lobby ;]

We also booked our Photographer (Thanks to Chris and Kristen) and our taking our Engagement photos with him on January 11th at the Claremont Colleges, I'm nervously excited for this event! Luckily we booked while Kevin was running a promotion and included in our package is a disc of all the edited photos, this will come in very handy! 

We also sent out some of our save the dates! We pretty much sent them to everyone out of state and a few other folks; however, we still have a ton of people on our list who we haven't sent them out too so don't worry if you haven't received it yet <3 
With a week and a half left of my winter break I still have a few wedding things I can get done! The top of my list is blocking rooms at a few nearby hotels and researching day of transportation (anybody with Limo recommendations?) and finding a rehearsal dinner option that can house our millions of bridal party folks ;]

<3 

I swear I'm not a slacker ...

I've stopped myself from updating SOO many times because I've wanted to wait until I could post all of the bridesmaids dresses but then I realized I could just add the last one later (Sorry Steph!) Here they are:

Tara

Kayla

Megan

Kaci

Erin

Staci

Emily

Kristen

Nichole

 They're so beautiful, I know! I must say this was the most fun in regards to planning thus far, I am incredibly lucky to have a group of friends that are open-minded, easy going and beautiful! Extra thank you to Tara who tried on every dress multiple times (first so I would know which short dresses they could choose from, second to see if I wanted 1 or 2 colors, third to see which length of boot would be the best and finally to pick out her dress!) I know she had done doing so but that was definitely above and beyond and I love her for it! Kayla is the only jerk who was picky and only tried what she wanted to ;] geesh! Erin took it the most serious in the best way, she was also my right hand woman when the group of 4 were picking out their dresses, thanks again for helping me keep track and finding dresses, your attention to detail and fashionistic ways also helped me a lot, yes I just made that word up! Kaci, Megan, Nichole and Staci all went together and Kaci just may be the best sport ever, trying on 8 or 9 dresses at 8months pregnant is no easy task! The other 3 were hard to pick, Megan never got the right size to try and just about every dress was too long but then the dress I didn't think I'd like at all looked perfect on her! Couldn't picture it on anybody else! Nichole and Staci are both blessed with a small waist and not so small butt and every, I mean every dress looked gorgeous on them. They had to try a few on multiple times before we could choose just 1 ;] Emily might have been my favorite, "I'm just telling you now, I'm not wearing a strapless dress, they don't fit right right and I don't want to be falling out", well I'm mean and said, "Wellll, you're gonna try em all on cause you never know, they look different on and that's the one thing I've learned so far" ... guess who got a strapless dress and fell in love with it! Kristen is 8'22" and I was ready for all the leg action she was gonna give me in a short dress, I was not ready for her to knock me out with the first dress she tried on! There was no topping it, it was the perfect hooker cowgirl dress for my boo head! She tried on the rest for giggles ;] I'm a little sad that I only get to do this one more time, I am in love with playing dress up with my favorite people haha!!

What else have I done.... I have just about all the centerpieces bought, I'm trying very hard not to assemble them already! We just need the perishables and 14 more 5x7 frames for the table numbers! There will be 4 different centerpieces, some in large mason jars others in baskets and then some in tall vases. I'm also trying not to give it all away, we'll see how well that goes! Also, while I'm thinking about it, I overuse commas! I always have and always will so try not to let that bother while you read lol! I can't remember if I mentioned this before but our favors will be pictures from the photobooth as well as a S'MORES BAR, my Mommy is wonderful and hooked up 128 s'mores sticks (which I have hidden so no one tries to take them to bonfires instead *JAMES*)! The venue/coordinator told us there are 3 tables to decorate and we've decided the first one (the guest book/present/card/welcome table) will be adorned with hanging picture frames of the bridal party, we have 4 and will be using our 50% coupons this week to get the remaining 6! I'm not sure if we'll decoupage or stain them or if we'll leave them as is but I'm excited to start filling them with pictures! The 2nd table is out on the cocktail hour deck and she said this is where most couples put a bunch of pictures of themselves, I don't know what we'll do there yet, that or wedding photos of our loved ones! I can't recall the location of the third table so I don't know what we'll put there ... wow there actually is something I haven't thought of yet ;]
Last week I got the bridesmaids gifts woo hoo and we already have half of the groomsmen gifts! The groomsmen gifts will all be a lil different since 3 or 4 of them will have to take it home on an airplane! We have an idea of who we'd like for our photographer (he just did Kristen and Chris' wedding and did a wonderful job) but are waiting to see if he posts a promotion at the end of the month. Hopefully we get that settled by December so we can get our Engagement pictures done and Save The Dates ready and sent! My Momma didn't think STD's were necessary but since our wedding is in the SUMMER on a FRIDAY and a HOLIDAY WEEKEND, I thought it would be a good idea to let the people we REALLY want there know! Especially since we've already forced my "uncle" Phil to change his camping plans to a closer location :] We rescheduled our florist appointment so we could family time in Angelus Oaks and I'm really looking forward to getting that done, James on the other hand is not excited about flowers, the extra cost or driving to Beaumont on his day off but I love him even more for WANTING to be part of EVERY aspect of the planning <3 He's looking forward to cake tasting and we have that appointment coming up as well! I can only imagine what sorts of flavors he'll want to pick... I'm gonna push him towards Carrot for a tier! I was gonna try and post a picture of the two cakes I like most but I can't ... another surprise for now ;]

After the appointments I think the next thing we'll get and work on are the place cards and the unity candle stuff, we decided to do that so that we're doing something during the reading but I may change my mind again :] I'll leave the rest for next time and by next time I mean 2 weeks tops, no more of this whole month and some change business!!

<3

Ideas and Outfits!

I wanted to start this post with Jason who received his present and said, "I murst say yes!" LOVE HIM!

This week our girls started the quest for their bridesmaid dresses! Only two have picked thus far so I wont post them but I thought I'd show the highlights of bridesmaid dress shopping so far (which both happen to include people in extra large outfits!):

All the shoes have been purchased and the girls will be wearing cowgirl boots! Yaay <3

Thank you Erin for seeing the sale and telling me! These boots are originally $69.99 and were on sale 2 days only for $29.99 at Kohls! Erin, my fashionista, hit the nail on the head with these! They'll be flattering on all and look great with all the dress options!

Two days before the girls were able to pick I went to the BrideWorld bridal show with my mom in Ontario, I wasn't really looking for anything there since our venue includes just about everything we need but I wanted to go to one with mom just so we could say we did! Sandra from David's Bridal in Ontario was there and she is such a doll, if you ever go there make an appointment with her, anyhow I wanted to wait to try dresses on when she was in the store but they were having a sale and gave me a $50 off coupon so we decided to head over to David's Bridal after the show! I was feeling anxious about the whole idea because I was scared I wouldn't like anything but I've watched enough shows to know not to go in with a very specific idea so I told the consultant I was an open book, anything goes! I told her about our rustic, country theme and she came back with a dress I was unsure of .... once I put it on, I was in love! I tried on 3 other dresses just to be sure and there was 1 other contender but I ultimately chose #1 <3 My veil has already been shipped and I can't wait to pick up my dress! 11 months and 15 days until I can wear it all day lol!

The other thing we already purchased was half of our cake topper, yes half! Hopefully we get the other half on Sunday or my idea might be out the window ;] I'm sure most of you Disney fans have seen vinylmations and we're going to get a cars themed one (which we purchased) for James and an Ariel one for me! Here's the cars one:

He's so cute right!

We also started a registry at Bed Bath and Beyond which brings our registry list to 3 including Target and Travelersjoy.com (a honeymoon registry that I don't think will be very effective but I thought I'd try it out!)

Now for my thought and ideas for the next steps :]

1. The next step is an appointment with the florist! Hydrangeas are my favorite so I'm pretty sure I will incorporate those into my bouquet but for the girls' bouquets and boutonnieres I'm going to start off ambitious! We'll see how it goes after our initial appointment but these are some of my ideas

For the ceremony we're going to line the aisle with shepherds hooks that will have hanging mason jars wrapped with burlap and lace, I just don't know what flowers will be inside. Maybe some babies breath with a dainty lavender colored flower :] We also need SOMETHING for the altar! This is where I would love your ideas ... they offer a fabric to drape on the front which looks nice I just don't know if there should be something extra, a little extra flair if you will! What else does the florist need to know? My checklist says, aisle runner, sweetheart table, centerpieces and cake! CENTERPIECES! We don't have a set idea for those but I was thinking of incorporating green apples since green is one of our colors and we'll be surrounded by apple orchards in Oak Glen! What do you think? Any other suggestions?

2. The next thing we'll have to do is get our engagement pictures taken and order/send out save the dates! We're planning on taking those in the fall so likely in November and apparently you send out STD's 6-8 months ahead so that would be December-February! My friend Kristen had super cute save the dates made from mixbook.com so I think we'll look into them as well which I'm excited about!

3. Our venue requests that we have a seating chart and/or escort cards (I like that because it gives me one more thing to make a list about lol) I don't necessarily want to do escort cards because we already other ideas for favors and no one is gonna hang on to the little tag that says what table they sit at! I've seen where the couple writes the table number/name in the panel of a recycled window along with the people sitting at that table and I thought that was a cute and clever idea ... where do I get a recycled window? Do any of you have one? If that doesn't work out I do want something equally unique, we also saw a cute idea with polaroids but we're having a photo booth so that would be a lot of pictures!

4. Speaking of tables and pictures, we've been tossing around ideas for table names/numbers and one of our favorites was having a photo of each of us at age 1 with the number 1 at table 1 and so on! The other favorite was just a simple number (1, 2, 3...) in a cute frame

I think I've done enough rambling and planning for today, next post will likely be the bridesmaid dresses!! Eeek :D

<3 Lauren

Our Lovely Ladies

 The girls in our wedding are so important to me and I needed to think of something that would show them how much it would mean to me to have them beside us on our big day! I started searching the internet immediately for "bridesmaids" poems and none seemed to fit quite right so I tweaked them up and made a custom one! Each girl received a unique homemade card with the silhouette of the Disney Princess I'd like them to emulate at the bridal shower! Yes, I said Disney :] I need a disney bridal shower and I love these girls are like princesses to me, so each will be the modern day version of one of the princesses (trust me girls, it'll be fun LOL)

This was the poem attached to their bags:

 This survival kit was made just to say

I need you beside me on my wedding day

There's candy to give you that sugar high

and a packet of tissues in case you should cry.

Lip gloss to help you care for your smile

if a nail should break, I've included a file.

Homemade card so there's no uncertaintity

some life savers to keep your breath nice and minty.

There's perfume inside to make you smell sweet

and your piece to the puzzle, you make things complete!

I've put everything in this little pack

so you'll know that this bride has got your back!

This kit was created for you to see

how much you mean to the bride-to-be!

 Kayla Michele

I met Kayla in 2001 when I sat across her in Mrs. Bogle's 8th grade English class! Our friendship turned to a sisterly bond our senior year when we shared yet another English class as well as Yearbook! Kayla is the epitome of a supportive, loving friend and I am so thankful for all the times we've shared and the times we have to look forward too!

Tara LeAnne

Tara might be my cousin but we didn't have the pleasure of meeting until July of 2008! It's probably a good thing because we might have detrimental to others had we grown up together ;] Tara is a very special person in my life and her big heart makes me love her even more, let's just hope our emotions don't have us crying for the next year!!

Megan Nicole

 Megan was the 2nd friend I ever made and is tied for the longest friendship I've ever had! Most people don't make it to 5 years and somehow we've managed to love each other for almost 24! Her sweet nature and loyalty is what sets her apart from most and keeps her close to my heart!

Kaci Erin

Kaci was my very first friend and I know that because there are several home videos of me looking outside and waiting for Kaci at the door at the age of 2! Kaci has a large attitude, I mean personality and she will tell it like it is to anyone but underneath her tough exterior she is the type of friend that everyone wants to have! The friend that is willing to help at any cost and the one to drop what she's doing to help someone out!

Erin Marie

I've known Erin my entire life, not only is she my cousin but also a friend and mentor! She has always been there for me to look up to as well as to offer advice and guidance! She is a wonderful example and I'm so thankful that we continue to grow closer!

Staci Ann

 Staci and I have been friends since 1999 when we were in the same electives class in 6th grade! Our freshman year of High School we sat next to each other in English and threw baby showers in PE, the following year I convinced her to join every club as well as to be a football manager (best decision ever)! We were together every day and built an unbreakable bond! Staci only grows as a person and never changes from the friend that I love so dearly, she is definitely a breath of fresh air to the crazy that can be my life!

Stephanie Ashley

 Stephanie and I met in High school and bonded because we each have low tolerance for idiots! That or she was dating one of my best friends for a bit. Nonetheless she is one of the most genuine people I have ever met with a heart of gold to match! She is sweet as can be with a wild side, kinda like me ;]

Emily Ann

I met Emily when I almost beat the shit out of her for bullying my little friend... the next day she found me to apologize (she was pretty scared) and I adopted her as my little sister! She is something else, independent and adventurous and out to get everything she deserves! She makes me proud and it has been a blast watching her grow into such an amazing woman!

Nichole Renee

 I haven't even known Nichole for a year yet but it seems much longer! She is the hard working, silly and beyond caring cousin of James! We've bonded so much in this short amount of time that I knew she should be a part of the wedding party!

I can't wait to start bridesmaid dress shopping <3

Groomsmen

 THE GROOMSMEN!!!

(finally)

*Spoiler Alert: Jason and Ryan, don't scroll down if you don't want to ruin your surprise in the mail :]

I'm just too impatient to wait another week or so to tell the world ;]

 Jason

Jason is James' brother and currently stationed in Germany with the Air Force so James was unable to ask him to be the best man in person. Fortunately, we are a lil creative and still wanted to do something special so we went on an adventure to find a few things to send his way! Most of you have probably noticed that Mustaches have become quite popular lately, from icons on rings and other jewelry to T-shirts and car decals and recently it seemed as though Jason was growing out his own mustache so we thought we could use that as a theme and made him a little "mustache" package to ask if he would be the best man! Hopefully he finds it as clever as I did ;]

Ryan 

Ryan is James' cousin who is also in the Air Force and is stationed in England! Lucky Ryan got asked to be a part of our wedding over Facebook but that just isn't good enough for me so we sent our super hero a lil present too :]

Darren

Darren is James' friend from High School and the last groomsmen that didn't get asked in person (I really hate that that had to happen but grateful they all said yes!). Darren was also in the Air Force and while enlisted he met his now wife and they live in Illinois so we sent him a "Top Secret" package asking him to be a groomsman :]

Derek

Derek is Derek and that's all there is to know ;] Just kidding, Derek is basically my brother-in-law and a couple weeks into dating James and I were watching Bridezillas or Four Weddings and I said, "No matter what Derek, Kayla's husband, is going to be in my wedding!" Lucky for me the two of them really hit it off and James loves Derek a little more than I do!

Mitchell

Mitchell is James' longtime best friend! Their families go way back and there was never any doubt in James' mind that Mitchell would be standing up there with him on his wedding day! 

Kevin

Kevin is James' cousin and one half of our favorite crazy couple to have family game night with! Kevin recently got married so hopefully he'll have some positive advice to pass along to James ;]

David

David is married to my very first friend so he and James were forced to get to know each other! David has become such a good friend to James and is always willing to lend a helping hand :]

Justin

Justin was one of my very best friends in High School and has continued to be so since then! He and James share a love of Disneyland and Me of course so they bonded rather quickly ;] James asked Justin to be a groomsman while he was working at Soarin over California so we didn't get that happy bonding picture yet lol!

And these are our wonderful groomsmen that we are so thankful to have and love so much!! <3

There are 2 more bridesmaids to ask and hopefully I can unveil those this week ;]