the wedding planning update

well, we are 192 days out from our big day!  …that’s sort of a random number, but it definitely sounds super soon, haha.  so much to do, so little time!  but i can’t complain too much about the wedding planning process so far.  things have been going smoothly, it hasn’t been too stressful [it’s actually been fun!], and it just feels like things are working themselves out very nicely overall.  i will say that as i look at spring/summer/early fall, i realize how much has to happen, and much of it involves me being in dallas and that stresses me out a tiiiiiiiiny bit, but i’m very thankful for the way things have gone thus far.  without giving away too much detail, here’s where we’re at in the process:

: :  we have a date and venue picked out!  10/14/18, wooo!  it’s on a sunday, which wasn’t necessarily our first choice, but we wanted to get married this year and none of the good venues had saturdays available in 2018.  in the end, it’s been a blessing because we got my first choice for a venue at a perfect time of year in texas [and only 7 months out] aaaand we’ve also gotten first pick for our other vendors so far.  plus there are cost savings for sundays – an added bonus!

{this little chapel totally stole my heart!}

: :  i have a wedding dress!  well, actually two of them. :) for the ceremony, i’ll be wearing the dress that my mother, aunt, and grandmother all wore for their weddings.  it’s classic and elegant, and i love the history of this dress.  it’s exactly 60 years old this year!  i’ve always been a fan of vintage things, and this one is so special to me.  and then, while i was home in march looking at venues, we did some dress shopping and i found my reception dress!!  i love it so much [it has a slightly vintage look as well], and it makes me happy that i can wear one dress that has such a wonderful history and is meaningful to my family and me, and another dress that is completely my own.  it’s a dream come true!  i actually found the second dress at an awesome [albeit NOT fancy] place called anonymously yours that sells wedding gowns from local bridal shops that either were samples, floor models, didn’t sell, were discontinued, etc.  if you saw this place from the front, you’d be like WTF [haha], but they really had suchhhhhh gems.  i could have bought two other wedding dresses from there, maybe more!  i can’t wait to wear the beautiful dress i picked for the reception.

: :  i have a veil for my ceremony dress!  mimi bought it for me when we all went to look at wedding dresses in march at circle park bridal boutique in addison!  mom, mimi, nama, and my maid of honor julee all came with me, as it was my first wedding dress shopping experience, so that was fun.  the veil is long and beautiful and will be perfect with the vintage dress, which is ballroom-style.

: :  my parents are hosting an engagement party in may for jamie and me… it will be small-ish and just for the local DFW peeps to keep it simple, but jamie’s parents are coming for the weekend and will be meeting my parents for the first time!  so that’s exciting.  the invitations are officially out!

: :  we booked a photographer!  she’s awesome, and i have admired her work for many years.  she was my first choice!

: :  the guest list is pretty much complete.

{i love our venue!}

: :  we received our save-the-dates in the mail and are in the process of addressing and sending those.

: :  our wedding website is almost done!  i will probably share it on here when it’s completed, just for fun.

: :  the bridesmaids and groomsmen have been asked!

{i asked my bridesmaids with these cute little balloons in boxes that were sent to the girls with a pin and “pop me” note and the “proposal” note and confetti inside.  my mom found the idea on etsy and i’m so glad she did, because when i learned how short my timeline was to get all the girls asked and their bridesmaid dresses all figured out, i realized that i had to act fast.  i wouldn’t be able to see most of the girls in person, so i opted to send all of the proposals in the mail, and this idea was reasonable in cost and fun.  i really loved that several of the girls sent photos and videos to me of the balloon-popping!  made me happy.} :)

MOH Proposal

{above is a video and photo of the maid of honor proposal!!  [you can watch the video via the “MOH Proposal” link – i was having trouble embedding it for some reason and have too much to do to be messing with it, ha].  i love how julee was surprised – she already knew she was going to be a bridesmaid since i asked her before we went wedding dress shopping, but i still got to surprise her with the balloon by asking her to be my MOH!}

: :  bridesmaid dress colors have been assigned and communicated, and the girls are in the process of selecting their style of dress.

{these are all of the colors, minus petal pink.  all will be long chiffon skirts, but each girl will get to pick her own style.}

: :  i’ve been working diligently on our wedding registries, although we still have a little ways to go on them.

: :  we’re in the process of hiring a month-of wedding planner!  i know her personally and she’s really good.  again, we got my first choice!

: :  ring bearer proposal is in the works…

: :  we know who we’d like as the pastor but need to see if he can do it.

: :  the rehearsal dinner venue is being booked riiiiiight now…

: :  aaaaaand the honeymoon is booked!!!!!  we’re going to bali, with a couple days in hong kong as well!  we are so SO excited.

next up will be the florist, caterer, videographer, and bartending company.  and then a million other things, haha.  i feel fortunate that we’ve lucked out on getting the vendors we’ve wanted so far, and i’m also appreciative that my mom and i happen to both be pretty good decision-makers overall.  we tend to see eye-t0-eye and also make decisions pretty fast and never look back.  that helps when you have a short time to make these things happen!  i can’t thank my mom and dad enough for everything they have done so far… they are amazing and i know what a lucky girl i am to have them as parents.  my dreams are coming true every second, it sure feels like.  this whole wedding planning process is intense but FUN.  and i totally have stars in my eyes when i say that.  and to everyone else who is planning a wedding or will be someday, my advice so far [coming from a non-experienced, very-recently-engaged woman] is this:  enjoy.  have fun.  be grateful.  and know that it will all work out.  i really don’t know that yet, and yet, i do. :)  xoxo

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave