Location, Location, Location

We secured our reception location today! Our wedding reception is officially at the Overlook Event Center on June 20, 2008 at 7:00. The site is awesome, but it's still hard to imagine how everything will look with the tables and centerpieces.

Here is a picture to give you a feel for it. The window is my favorite part!




I also got to take a few pictures of our ceremony site. Kris and I feel so blessed that we get to have our wedding at his aunt and uncle's house. We love their backyard and we think it is beautiful!

My Super Foxy Maid-of-Honor

Maid of Honor Outfit (closer)
Originally uploaded by Rockabilly Bride

Lindsay and I met up and went to the mall today and what started as a scouting trip for possible maid-of-honor outfits turned in to a mini shopping spree. We were able to find a smokin' hot outfit for her to wear at the wedding. It has everything: black and white polka dots and some beautiful hot pink shoes that make the outfit amazing!

Her awesome shoes!

Every Little Girl's Dream: The Dress

I have to admit, I went through several different phases (at a pretty rapid rate) when I was trying to find my dress. I started out thinking that I didn't want a "wedding" dress. I found a really cute swing dress on Daddyos.com that was black and white like a tuxedo. When I showed it to my mom, she liked it, but didn't think it was right for a wedding. She told me, "You should be the most dressed-up person at your wedding!" I figured she was probably right, so I started looking at some "fancier" dresses. I found one at Jessica McClintock that was beautiful and retro - very similar to the one that Marilyn Monroe wore in the picture where she is standing over the grate and the wind is blowing up her dress. I went with Kris's sister and mom to try it on, but we weren't sure exactly where the store was, so we stopped at David's Bridal to ask directions. While there, we decided to look, just for fun. I found a beautiful dress that I liked a lot, so I made an appointment to try it on. We went to Jessica McClintock and I tried on my first choice. It was beautiful and it looked nice on me, but it didn't feel like a wedding dress. We went back to David's Bridal and I tried on the dress I chose there. It was perfect! The dress had all the elements I was looking for - it was casual, simple, and had a retro feel. Can't wait until the wedding? Take a look! Be sure to click on the "alternate view" link to see the back (that's my favorite part!).

I have to say, having the dress is really exciting, and I think it is definitely helping me focus on how I want everything to tie together.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Engagement Edition

How did Kris propose?
Kris and I have been dating for five years, and we have discussed marriage off and on for awhile. We decided together that we should make an "official" commitment to each other. There was no "real" proposal, it was more or less a mutual decision.

What about the ring?
I've never been a fan of big jewelry or gems, so I wanted something I could wear every day. Kris and I both have Irish ancestry, so the symbol of the claddagh is very significant for us. Ultimately, Kris and I chose matching stainless steel bands with claddaghs laser-cut into the band. Both of our rings are engraved - mine has Kris's name on the inside, Kris's ring has my name on his.

What kind of wedding are you guys planning?
Kris and I want to have a fun event that people will remember. We want everyone to feel at home and we're encouraging our guests to wear whatever they feel most comfortable in, whether it be jeans or a dress! Our wedding colors are black and white, with accents of bright pink. We're going for a rockabilly/retro feel, so expect a '50s feel and lots of polka dots!

What sources are you using to help you plan?
Since we're not planning a traditional wedding, most magazines and books don't really give the advice I'm looking for. Offbeat Bride, by Ariel Meadow Stallings, is awesome because it gives a lot of great tips for unconventional couples and, while reading it, I felt relieved because the book confirmed for me that I'm not a freak just because I didn't want a diamond engagement ring. If you're a bride-to-be, then you should definitely check out her website: Offbeat Bride. There's an excerpt from the book, so you can get a feel for the writing style. Even so, I'm also using some more traditional sources. The wedding planner website, www.theknot.com, has excellent resources, including a budget creator, a guest list creator, and tons of stories about real weddings. I also have an awesome wedding planner notebook - The Simple Stunning Wedding Planner. It's aimed at more traditional brides, but it is durable and has several pages to put pictures and inspirations. I was able to find a couple of pictures of wedding cakes that I liked and then sketch out my idea for a cake based on those pictures. Also, www.wedorama.com has a great flash site template that allowed me to create a wedsite that was simple, stylish, and informative!

Can we give you advice?
Of course! Obviously, I have never done this before, so if you have ideas - lay 'em on me! I will listen to any and all tips.

Welcome!!

Since you're here, I have to guess that you just came from our "wedsite." If you just happened on this blog, you should definitely check out the site!

So, the site is pretty formal - mostly because Kris and I are using it as an extension of our invitations. In other words, it's all the stuff we wanted to put on the invitation, but couldn't fit on the 5x7 piece of paper. And even the website isn't big enough to put down all of my thoughts! If you know me well, you probably know I love to plan. I relish little details and I like to have everything planned down to the nth degree. Since ALL of our guests don't need to know about which toasting flutes I'm buying or how I'm doing my hair, I created this blog - mostly for myself, but also for my fellow detail-loving freaks. (And I know you're out there!)

I have to say, I never thought that I would be planning a wedding. I definitely didn't think that I would be writing stuff down in a wedding planner and scouring wedding advice sites, books, and magazines for ideas (and answers). And I never dreamed that I would be worrying about registry etiquette or when to send out Save-the-Date cards. But here I am - I love my planner (Thank you to Kris's Aunt Joannie!) and I spend a great deal of my free time on www.theknot.com and other wedding sites.

But never fear, because Kris and I aren't planning a by-the-book, big poofy dress, giant diamond engagement ring wedding. Our wedding will definitely be like us - kitschy, fun, and generally odd. (To give you a hint about the creative planning process - my planning guide is called Offbeat Bride.)

So, if you're interested in the details . . . or hoping to witness a slow, painful meltdown by yours truly, stay tuned and check back often!!!