Lookin’ Good So Far!
Aside from the fact I will be marrying my Prince Charming,
this may very well be the best part about our wedding day.
I had a craving for a bit of chocolate yesterday so I ran downstairs and dug into our candy buffet supplies. Out of the 60+ pounds of candy I thought we could spare a few pieces. I poked around awhile looking at all the fun candy we had. It was still mostly boxed up so I began to organize and assemble a mock candy table. It appears I need to get some more containers because there’s quite a bit left and I ran out of room!
Putter ran down to check on me so the two of us sampled the Sour Patch Kids and Bit ‘o Honey. Then I sampled some of the chocolates. And a few more chocolate. (And took a couple pieces back upstairs with me when I left.) I really wanted to tear open the Fun Dip but I didn’t. And I couldn’t keep my hands of the giant whirly pops. I don’t even want to eat them. I just like looking at ‘em. For the first time in my life I think I felt a true sugar high…and it gave me a headache. 
But it sure tasted good!
For all you other brides who are having or had a candy buffet (a/k/a a “candy bar”), did you dip in your stash or were you able to contain yourself? (And if so….HOW???)
Like a Kid in a Candy Store…Literally!!
It’s here! It’s HERE!!! 49 POUNDS of candy…I have dreamt of this day since I was about 5 years old. I am in Candyland/Willy Wonka Heaven!!! 
Warning: You may get a toothache just reading this.
Haha! Okay…maybe it’s not THAT big of deal…but it is fun. Seriously – check out the Giant Whirly Pops!! Mucho props to Old Time Candy. The only thing really missing is the candy stick swirls. They couldn’t guaranty that they would arrive in one piece. I think I need some of those though, so maybe I ought to find a local source.
How Sweet It Is Indeed!
I’m kind of a sugar freak and one of our favorite things is to scour the candy aisle for fun treats. So, for our guests’ tasting pleasure, I just ordered a boatload of candy for the candy buffet including: Read more
Who Wants Pink Crinoline? I DO! I DO!
I poke around the Internet A LOT. So much that I don’t know how I ever lived without it! It’s a great source of information – you’ve virtually got the entire world at your fingertips. I find a ton of really fun ideas, many that I will be incorporating into our wedding. I found this site and decided I too, MUST have a pink colored crinoline slip! Read more
The Most Amazing Toast
A little cheesy, perhaps, but very fun and truly touching. *I* almost cried and I don’t even know Amy!
Best Wedding Toast Ever!!!! (Amy’s Song) – video powered by Metacafe
My First Custom Designed Invitation Customer!
I could make wedding invitations all day long! Here are some invitations I recently made for our friends, Aaron & Karen. Aren’t they fun?! And yes, I totally used my beautiful ring as a prop to show the 3-D name
banner. It’s really hard to get nice photos that do them full justice.
Since I’m not much of a photographer, I’ve contacted my friend Angie about helping me get some nicer photos. She does great work and I thought I’d help her put her new fancy camera to work.
Apparently I’m Not Busy Enough…
Ha! That’s so far from the truth and it’s not quite April Fool’s Day yet! Being my usual self, I have continued to pile more and more on my plate, full-time job, full-time MBA program, full-time fiancée, and when-I-have-time, a side business…but that just wasn’t enough for me. Oh no. I’ve gone and bitten off another huge piece to chew.
I’ve been having SOOOO much fun planning and making things for the wedding that I think I’ve finally found the perfect niche for my business. (For those of you who don’t know, I’ve owned and operated Etched in Time Engraving, a laser engraving & personalized gift business since 2004. I’d include a link to the website but as my life got busier I had to list the site as "under maintenance" and put off orders because I couldn’t keep up with everything.) I absolutely love laser engraving and I love that I can do about a million different things with my engraver and other equipment. The problem has always been that in fact, I tried to do a million different things because I could. Not a good idea if you want to maintain a *profitable* small business. At least I had fun and broke even if nothing else.
When I started planning for the wedding I thought about all the fun things I could make for the wedding. As we flipped through page after page of the same boring invitations I kept thinking, I want something different, something fun, and I can make something better than what’s in the catalogs for a lot less. Somehow it hit me that I could make some really unique and upscale invitations with equipment I already had. (I can’t wait to send them to everyone!) I started showing people and my wedding coordinator said "Those are WONDERFUL. You could sell those you know." Indeed the thought had crossed my mind. But, I’m too busy for that I told myself, maybe later.
As time went on I talked about the idea with Andy and he’s fully supportive and thinks it’s the best business idea I’ve had yet, aside from my lack of time at the moment. I posted a few photos online on some wedding forums and got a really positive response. I tossed out the idea of designing and selling custom invitations for other brides and well….I’m now working with 7 girls across the country from California to Canada designing their dream invitations!! (Not to worry, they are 2009 brides so I do have time!)
I am SOOO excited about this and I’m having a lot of fun. My only problem is finding another 8 hours in my day.
It’s going to be a slow process for awhile, but I’ve got a tiny website/blog started. I will be posting photos and virtual samples of designs I’ve created when I find more time (ha ha!)
So…if you know anyone in the market for 2009 or later :::wink, wink, nudge, nudge::: 
Send ‘em my way!
I Think I’ll Trash My Dress
Wait!!! Before you give me the evil eye, let me explain. When I first heard of this concept I was completely disgusted over the mere thought of it. Now that I’ve done a little more research, I am in love with the idea. Trashing The Dress does not necessarily mean to ruin your wedding gown. (Although, sometimes, sadly, it can.) My videographer perfers to call it “After I Do” and that is the term I am choosing to use going forward as well.
Some brides participate in actually ruining the gown to show their new husband that they will never need it again. Personally, if you are happily married, I think ruining your beautiful gown is in poor taste and even disrespectful to your marriage and new husband. However, I love the artsy aspect of “After I Do.” It gives the bride a chance to wear her gown again in meaningful or odd & contrasting locations that one would NEVER dream of wearing their wedding gown. Still why you ask? Some of the photography and videos I’ve seen are quite beautiful. Our videographer shot an “After I Do” session with a local bride in the snow. Check it out Here It really can be a beautiful thing.
I think it’s an interesting idea at the very least. I have no intention of ruining my new dress but think it’d be appropriate and fun to have some photos of us on a John Deere tractor since Andy bleeds green and yellow through and through. That’s one idea so far. Another might be some shots with my boys, since having dogs in the ceremony is simply out of the question. I’m going to start a list of other shots and locations I’d like to have to look back on many, many years from now so we can show our grandchildren. How fun would that be?!
Yay for Engagement Photos!
Here’s a small taste of more to come!
Engagement Photos Taken!
Andy & I had our first engagement session tonight. I say first because we had so much fun we just might do more in the Spring when we can go outside. It just so happens that my Maid of Honor is a photographer! I think we got a ton of good shots and I can’t wait to get the copies!!
Stay tuned…I’ll be posting some ASAP!
