Heeelllllppp!!

Okay...So I need some help from my wedding people close by. So as most of you should know, I am (attempting) to make my own save the dates. They need to be sent out SOON! Like the end of September. I have them all put together - since I had time in the summer. Now I have to attach the numbers to the string (see the examples below in previous posts what they are going to look like) and stick the numbers in the envelopes. I also need to add the magnets, and add the addressess for everyone. So LOTS to do and I am back in school and do not have NEARLY as much time as I used to. I have passed most of them out to people to help me finish, but haven't gotten any back because 2 of them have also started school and do not have time. If you think you could help let me know! I need them ASAP!

*Good News- I started back to school this past week. Most of you know how my year went last year....HORRIBLE class!! This year I LOVE my class! They are so innocent and well behaved. Yes, it is only week one, but I am NOT going be ms. nice teacher this year. I am laying down the law and going to have a GREAT year with my kiddos!

Back to School

So I just wanted to inform those of you who are following the blog...I probably won't be updating in a while. My goal was to all of the big stuff completed while I was on summer break and I did! Two things we recently finished was we booked the florist! We are going with Two Littlw Buds- they are located in Bridgewater Falls right up by our house! We also booked our honeymoon!!! We will be going to St. Lucia for 10 days with Sandals Resorts! :) We are pumped!
I will keep you all updated as new things arise once school has calmed down a bit and I can start more smaller details! :)

Engagement Pictures!

So Nate and I had our engagement photos taken about 2 weeks ago. Our AWESOME photographer Ted (from Kortnee Kate Photography- her husband) did an amazing job. We are thrilled with our pictures. They are all uploaded on my facebook page (http://http//www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=48204006). But I have attached a couple here. I LOVE COMMENTS so leave them here or on facebook. My parents haven't given that great of comments- they said they are very different and artsy. But that was exacatly the look I was going for. My mom said "there are none of you two just posing and smiling at the camera!" Well if I wanted those I would have just went to JCPenny to have our pictures taken! haha

Update Later!

List Complete!

Hey everyone! So sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I lost my password for a while and have been extremely busy! So I have lots to inform you all on, although I am sure most of you who follow already know most of this!
Well I went 2 weeks ago to go bridesmaids and wedding dress shopping. I found a couple bridesmaids dresses I like but not sold on just one. So as far as that goes I am closer to what I want but not there yet. I DID find my dress!! I am absolutely in LOVE with it. I can't shatre much on here because Nate might snoop haha. But to give you a little clue- it is extremely funky and defenitely won't be in style in 20 years haha.
We have also set a date for our engagement party-my mom's friend is hosting it up at his house in Monroe. So that is what we are focusing on now- is planning for that. We have our engagement pictures next Friday- July 8. For some reason, I am exremely nervous about them. I gues it's like the first wedding thing we are doing. It's funny because I have nightmares about them and how all things are going to go wrong for them, you all know me! :)
But I made a list of things at the begining of the summer, I think it is even on here about 2-3 blogs ago, of things I wanted to get accomplished this summer and guess what?? IT IS FINISHED!!!I still have PLENTY to do but thankfully all the big stuff is done. When it comes to the little stuff, I have it all in my head its just a matter of making it and finding it :)
Sorry I can't upload any new pics this time! But hopefully more will come! I have saved my password so I will be blogging more and more now!

LOTS accomplished!

Okay everyone so I come bearing good news! I have made LOTS of important decisions in the last 2 weeks...(my first 2 weeks of summer ...may I remind you!). MY stepmom Beth and I went to meet with the photographer and ended up booking with them! So here's the story... as you all know I REALLY really wanted Kortnee Kate Photography - they are really funky and I LOVE their work. Well when I inquired about them, our wedding date was already booked with them. So I was back at square one...but they did this photo booth called LiveClick that I wanted to do even though they couldn't do our wedding and I also wanted them to do our engagement session. So Tim, the husband to Kortnee, and I played phone tag for 2 weeks. I finally called one day outta the blue- got his voice mail and left a VERY pertanent message that I NEEDED him to call me back. So.. I received a phone call about 2 hours later. He explained that he saw my missed call and listened to my message but was on the other line with the bride who had originally booked MY date with them. He said the bride decided to change her date so my date was open! I made an appointment to meet with him the following day. My mom was busy and so were both of my MOH's. So I asked my stepmom Beth to go with me. Their studio is in Mt. Adams, and it is soooooo cute!! I love it! So after talking for 2 hours and looking at LOTS of their work- we booked with them!!! WHOO HOO!! I am sooo excited about the pictures!

On another note- my family from California is in tow this week and I wanted to include them in the wedding planning a little bit. So today we went into Olde West Chester to look at flowers and invitations. My sister's boyfriend Wes- his mom has a little flower shop there that was ADORABLE! I think once I decide what EXACTLY I want, I think she will do it best. She made me a sample bouquet to take home. The picture is attached!

We went across the street and Wes's cousin works at a little stationary shop- again.. SO ADROABLE (thanks Wes for having your family plan my wedding hahaha). I had absolutley NO IDEA what I wanted for invitations, but I wanted something FUNKY, and different-- are any of you surprised?!?! haha weirdo me! But anyways I found exactly what I wanted after looking at many many different ones. I found 3 different kinds I liked and the designer is going to make something using elements of all 3 and create a whole new thing! AWESOME huh??

I think I have found that I prefer these little shops over all the big companies that are at the bridal shows, and in the magazines. They seem to be able to work with you more to get exactly what you want. They don't have pre arranged packages that you have to choose. I am extremely happy with the way everything worked out today. :)

Ahh its coming along!!!!!

WHOO!! I'm Baackk and Ready!

Whoo! School is finally out so now starts FULL TIME WEDDING PLANNING! So I am going to need lots of help, bridesmaids, maid of honors, firends, and family- get ready! I am going to need ALL of you! If you are ever free- call or text I am SURE I could use your help!

So first things first here are the only things set in stone and planned

1. Ceremony Cite

2. Reception Cite

Here are the things that need to be done BY THE END OF JULY!!

1. Flowers- hopefully my sister's boyfirends mom can do this part!

2. DJ-Nate pretty much knows who he wants- just need to confirm and book

3. Photographer for Engagement pics-working on that NOW!

4. Photographer for Wedding

5. Bridesmaids Dresses

6. Wedding Dress

7. Ideas for seating cards- I want a FUNKY idea- you all know me :) nothing original!

I am sure there is more but that is just what I can think of off the top of my head...soo LOTS to do! If you have any ideas or can recommend someone or something, either comment or FB me!

More to come soon!

Moving on...

Well helloooooo!! Sorry I haven't been updating the wedding life lately. I only have 7 days of school left (with kids) and I have been trying to focus on that while it is still in session. So the wedding plans have been put to the side. But... I have been searching for photographers since Nate and I need to get our engagement pictures taken pretty soon this summer. I want someone funky, and fun. I don't necessarily want the lovey dovey and traditional pictures. I mean you all know me, I am so NOT tradtional! haha.

Anyways I have found 2 that I am trying to decide between. Laura Laine Photography in West Chester and Kortnee Kate in Glenway. Check out both and leave your comments of what you all think.

Nate and I want to have the same photographer for both engagement and wedding events.

I have attached the websites, check them out!!

http://www.kortneekate.com/blog/galleries/

http://www.lauralainephotography.com/w-lizandjames/

UPDATE- on Save the Dates

Okay guys, so I had ordered some stuff online since the last post about save the dates to kind of recreate the ones I had posted. So this is NOT what they will look like EXACTLY! Size wise, the white paper will be smaller (I am still playing around with the size). And the colors of the green number in the middle is not right either. The white paper is also just coputer paper but will be textured cardstock. Other than the small details, I need opinions what do you think???

ALSO!!! They WILL be magnets!! We will be attaching the skinny magnet roll to the back so it won't even make it look funny or thicker. It sounds tacky but its really not! The pictures are how it will hang on the refrigerator.

COMMENT PLEASE!

Main Entertainment

Okay so I need more advice! I have a Groomzilla, and he found this DJ (everlasting Sounds) that he wants to book for the wedding. Now granted, I kinda like them as well, but the price is crazy outrageous, but they say thats what you pay for something like this. They would do our ceremony (since it is an outdoor wedding, they would set up everything and we could have all the music and everything we watned), and the reception. Now the reception is where it get pricey. Of ocurse Nate wants the platinum package which is about as good as it can - even with added things- I think he added pretty much everything. They would do colored uplighting all over the room that would light up the walls, they would light up the head tables, light up the guest tables, use a spot light for the wedding party, unlimited music, initial on the dance floor in any color lighting, and Nate wants the lights with the material drapped from the ceiling.

Now I know the DJ can make or break a reception and I have a party family and 2 huge fire departements attending this wedding/reception so I know we need to go big, but is this too much? The money is not a problem, just don't want to over do it. Let me know what you all think!

Here is the website for the company if you want to check it out. We are attending a wedding at the venue we chose for our reception where the DJ will be performing so we can see if we like them. The couple who is having their reception also chose the platinum package so we will be able to see what we would be spending the money on.

http://www.everlastingsounds.com/

Save the Dates

So here is where we need your help. I am trying to find/create a unique save the date to send out this summer. I have found these (in the picture) and that is what I have in mind. Do you like it? What would you change about it?

I have played around with my cricket and made one similar just changing the colors. We also are interested in maybe sticking a small magnet to the back so the date falls and hangs on the refrigerator.

PLEASE LEAVE SOME COMMENTS!!

Wedding Planning Begins

So we have finally made some big decisions about the wedding. As most of you know, I have been trying to wait it out to plan everything because I wanted to focus on school. We have since then, picked and booked both of our venues for the wedding ceremony and the reception. We will be getting married at Sharon Woods in the Heritage Village at the Hayner House Porch. (See picture). We will be having our reception at The Oasis Conference and Golf Center in Loveland, Ohio (see picture). We have looked at many different options but these worked the best for us and all 300 of our guests (yes it will be a large wedding!).

We have also created and asked all of our wedding party. We were waiting to share any news about the wedding until the wedding party was notified.

Rachael Nate

-Jessica Osborn (MOH) -Matt Wyatt (BM)

-Courtney Ward (MOH) -Patrick O'hail (GM)

-Heather Rector (BM) -Matt Graden(GM)

-Megan Hawley (BM) -Mason Bittner(GM)

-Emily Leininger (BM) -EJ (GM)

-Katie Schmidt (BM) -Joe Schmithorst (GM)

-Natalie Peterson (BM) -Bryan Brumagen (GM)

-Zoe Lintz (JBM) -Chase Lintz (JGM)

-Karigan Schmidt (FG) - Aiden Eckerele (RB)

-Troy Ward (U)

-Brandin Ward (U)

-Nick Boehmer (U)

-Mike Faulkner (U)

...Yes, we have a HUGE wedding party! I have also chosen the colors for the entire wedding theme. It will be periwinkle blue, and spring green. The girls will be wearing blue dresses with green sashes and bows in the back. The boys will be wearing black tux, with green vests and ties. They will be wearing old school black and white shoes. The flowers will be white and blue hydrangeas.

When I know more..I will be sure and post it!