I Think I Found My Dress!!
I went dress shopping tonight with Renee, my wonderful friend and personal attendant who happens to be a total “wedding person.” 
It was awesome! I was not really in the mood to prance around and model dresses but I pretty much got over it the minute I put this dress on. Though not terribly traditional, I’m not sure I want Andy to see it so I’m really fighting the desire to post a photo!!
But, any interested parties can certainly e-mail me and request more info or photos!!!
Goal: Find Reception Site – CHECK!
The Zaruba-Meckley wedding reception will be held at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois. Formerly known as The Mark of the Quad Cities, this venue offers seating up to 500 (though we may need less than half that!), plenty of parking space, as well as a convenient walking path to the Radisson Hotel for our overnight (and/or intoxicated?) guests. (Group room info coming soon.) Additionally, it is located across from the John Deere Pavillion, which is one of Andy’s favorite places to take out-of-town friends and family.
Did I Mention I Like Color???
Color inspiration for your viewing pleasure:
Notice any trends here? Bright. Bold. Fun. Whimsical. (Yes Andy, maybe a little Dr. Seuss.) For overall “colors” so to speak, pink & orange are looking pretty good. (Wait until you see our Save the Date Cards.) And I’ve always been a gerber daisy & rose girl. Yay! We just might be close to our final decision on colors.
(P.S. The John Deere centerpiece is just in there b/c I thought it was appropriately cute.)
Save the Date Cards on the Way!
I played around this weekend and came up with a few designs for our Save the Date postcards. Andy surprised me by choosing the crazy-colored design over the simple, more contemporary style. (He felt they were “too plain,” which is fine by me because if you recall, I love color!) I uploaded the design to my favorite online printer and am now anxiously awaiting their delivery, which should be late this week or first part of next week. Yay!
So, just a reminder. If you haven’t already entered your information on our Guest List – PLEASE do so we can send you one of our fun Save the Date Cards!
Wedding Stress (just a little)
I’ve booked the chapel, reserved the videographer and I’m considering a fun and sassy bridesmaid dress. Last Friday I went to poke around the hotel that has recently moved to the top of my list for the reception for several reasons (location, size, price, just to name a few). I met with the new catering staff and everything seemed peachy. I left a message Friday night that we want to book it. I thought things were really falling into place…that is until Monday.
I walked into the office this morning to find a message from a co-worker that said, in summary “DO NOT book with that hotel until you talk with me.” Then she was out sick today! Yikes!! I posted on a local wedding message board and got a response from someone who basically said the same thing and then went so far as to say by the time we have the wedding she suspects they may be under a new name. WHAT????
To be fair, there was also another post from someone who had attended a wedding there and thought everything was fine, except the bartender. I’ve been to a few events there myself, but that has been quite awhile ago. I need to know more about HERE and NOW.
GRRR. I’m not the bridezilla type, but I’m starting to feel a tiny bit of stress! But, I’m not going to get TOO worked up about it yet. One would think that I could find ONE decent hotel in the entire Quad Cities to host this shindig, right?!
Yay – Got our ring back!
It fits perfectly and it suits me much more than that gaudy rock I’ve been wearing. (Haha – we went to an MBA luncheon for the University of Iowa and I was trying to hide that ginormous thing!)
P.S. I just got word I’ve been officially accepted in to the MBA program – Yay! Andy’s working on getting the rest of his stuff submitted and then we’ll both be busy little bees next year working full time, planning a wedding AND going to school!
I LOVE Color
I LOVE these!!! Is it awful to NOT want traditional fall colors in November?
Ooooh…they would go nicely with that crazy cake I posted!!!
Theme: Whimsical Wedding (or a “Dr. Seuss Wedding” as Andy puts it)
Ohhhh…..
Are these fabulous or what?!
DATE HAS BEEN SET!!!
Mark your calendars….NOVEMBER 1, 2008!!!!
The ceremony will be held at Tanglewood Chapel in Bettendorf, Iowa and we are looking at a few options for the reception, but it will be at a hotel for the convenience of our out of town guests. Stay tuned for more details!!!
The Substitute Ring
Andy felt it necessary to get me a substitute ring while the real one is being sized. He marched me into Claire’s at the mall and proudly asked the salesgirl “Where are your giant fake engagement rings?” So I am now wearing a giant, sparkly 3 carat fake rock. It’s a little big, but it’s kinda pretty.
Andy said maybe he should’ve got me this one first. I told him I would’ve still said yes…and he could’ve saved a whole lot of money!! (Plus, now that I’m getting used to wearing this gawdy thing it’s gonna seem like the jeweler shrunk my real ring!)
