I’ve never been able to figure out why the bride gets two rings and the groom only gets one. Maybe it’s because the bride pays for a lot more wedding stuff. Who knows, but we finally found our wedding rings! You would have though we were on a scavenger hunt these past few months trying to find the “perfect rings”, because we just couldn’t find some that we both loved. We went to Shane Co. and they were a bit short and rude with us…definitely not representative of my name! I got free cookies and hot chocolate, though, so I let it slide.

We ended up back at Jared going through their stock of rings and lo-and-behold, we found some that we both loved! Her wedding band has expensive little clear things diamonds all the way around it and has a millgrain pattern on each side of the diamonds, which matches her engagement ring. As for me, I picked out a white gold ring that has a millgrain pattern that actually matches her rings a bit and has that “smooth-fitted” thing that supposedly makes it easier to play golf wear. To top it off, I got more free cookies and a bottle of water. Jewelry shopping isn’t so bad!

Well, it’s been a little while.  Things have just been crazy with the end of the school year and other stuff, so I’ve got to play a little bit of “catch up”.  My mom and I (my cohort in this whole wedding planning escapade…) went and met with the lady that will be making the bridesmaids’ dresses a few weeks back.  All three of us went to the store and picked out a pattern and the fabric that I liked.  The dress is so simple ( chocolate brown, a-line, strapless, t-length, with a sash), it just seemed like it would be much more affordable for the dresses to be made!  I think they are going to turn out great!

Mama and I also went to meet with the ladies that are doing the flowers.  This was one of the most fun things I’ve done so far (well, except for the dress of course!).  I love flowers and choosing types, styles, colors, arrangements, and so on was really great!  I am using mostly gerber daisies and roses in deep beautiful fall colors.  I can’t wait to see how this all turns out!

Shane and I will be doing our engagement photos here in a couple of weeks.  Victoria is going to shoot pictures of us in Rome on Broad Street and at  Berry College.  I know that she will be able to do some really cool shots in both locations!  She and I are also both very excited because some strings have been pulled and we are going to be able to do my Bridal portraits at the lovely Barnsley Gardens.  Ooh la la!!

Plans, plans, plans…

We have booked a DJ, a violinist, and a harpist.  I can’t wait to hear all of the wonderful music from these individuals that I know will really just add to our wonderful day!  Yippee!

Wahoo!  My wedding dress came in so much earlier than we had anticipated!  I went straight to Brides and Belles to try it on.  That was fun.  I really love that dress and I can’t wait for everyone to see it! 

Well, I just thought that I would make a quick little entry here. Just incase you haven’t notice, Shane has beat me to the chase of making entries on recent events! Haha…So far, I am loving making all of these plans. The photographer hunt was a little tedious, but well worth it. Mrs. DeLoach is already calling me with fun ideas for photo ops! I love it! Okay, registering was just so much fun (well, Bed Bath and Beyond was…hehe). I’m looking forward to going to Target and finishing it up even though the bulk of it is at Bed Bath and Beyond. The resort seems like it is just going to be amazing. I saw a show today on the Travel Channel about Maui and it just made me all the more excited! Woohoo….this is all fun!

Whew…I didn’t realize registering would be so exhausting! I started getting bummed with all of the bridal registry talk at Bed Bath & Beyond and so I wanted some groom registry action! She got to choose a bunch of goods at Bed Bath & Beyond (ok…the $20 towels are my pick…but if you’re ever a guest in our house, you’ll thank me! So just think…if you buy them…you might be using them some day!). After that forty-eleven hour process (ok it was more like 3 hours) we cruised over to Sears to pick out some stuff (tools) for me. So if you ever need me to fix anything, you might want to hook me up with some tools.

You can click on either link below to purchase gifts online or you can also visit the store closest to you to print out the registry and buy products the old-fashioned way (no offense old-fashioned people…I love you all). Either way you decide to give us a gift, we both thank you very much!!!!

I knew this was one area that I was going to be pickier than others in and I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to find someone that I could feel confident in their skill and work ethic.  We had narrowed our choices down to two photographers (Victoria DeLoach and then January Shiflett of Unscripted Photography ).  Crystal and I both had certain things that we loved about both photographers as we met them over this past weekend.  A decision had to be made, and so we chose Victoria.

Victoria’s work definitely caught my attention as both her eye & skill behind the camera are equally matched by her talent on a computer when it comes time to enhance photos.  I am completely confident in her ability to “see” a scene, capture it, and then “make” it.  Her wedding books look phenomenal and it’s obvious that she has done her homework and loves what she does.  There isn’t a doubt in my mind that she will capture our wedding and turn it into a beautiful story for us to remember each moment.

So the photographer has chosen a photographer!  Anybody that knows me will understand how difficult this was for me…but Victoria simply had every single thing that I was looking for.  Even if our wedding is a disaster, I know she’ll make it look beautiful! HA!  Besides…I needed a photographer that can make me look better…from what I hear about Crystal’s dress, hair-style, etc I am going to need all the help I can get when it comes to looking good!

I’ve always dreamed of the day when I would get to be a bride….and not just always a bridesmaid!  Hehe…I’ve always loved weddings, ever since I was a little girl and now the time has come to plan it!  I’ve been named a bridesmaid a few times now and I always felt so cherished when a friend asked me to stand by their side on one of the most important days of their life, so I do hope the following ladies will feel the same way:

Matron of Honor: Natalie Adams- Natalie and I have been friends for years.  We used to live practically next door to one another and we’ve been through a lot.  She’s a true friend and I love her to pieces…

Bridesmaids:

Candy Shook

Brandi Black

Linda Tinney

Jennifer Williams

Tiffany Miller

Flower Girls:

Haley Grace Shook (she will be four)

Maggie Shook (she will be two)

Lindsay Miller (she will be two)

Reghan and Reese Black (twins who will be three)

Reilly Black will be five and he will do the honors of being our little ring bearer.

I put quite a lot of thought into who would be by my side on my wedding day.  I needed someone who wouldn’t stick me on a flight across the country the night before my wedding (any friend of my best man knows what I am talking about).  More importantly I wanted someone I could trust.  Someone I knew would be there for me and help me out when I need some support.  He’s literally the “best man” for the role.

I asked my long-time friend Toby Miller to be my best man because he fit the description perfectly and I know I can count on him to at least show up!  Besides…his wife and daughter are in the wedding so he HAS to come.  haha

Now to choose the groomsmen…

Remember how I said my mind was “reeling”? All these little details are so jumbled up in my head. I think we might have found a photographer, my invitations and other things are a blessing, I’ve looked at cakes, and so much more! It seems like a long way away until November, but I just thought if I could get these big things taken care of now, I would be able to focus on smaller things closer to time and maybe (?) try to relax a little come time for the wedding. That might just be a big HA!, though…I guess we shall see!

Okay, remember when I said that there were two dresses at David’s that I liked? Well, the reason for this was that each one had **something** about it that I absolutely adored. Well…the day after the David’s visit, my momma and I went to Brides and Belles (a small bridal shop in Cartersville) to peek at what they had. Wellll, needless to say, I found THE dress there. The reason it is THE dress is because it had BOTH things the dresses from David’s had!!! Yeah! When I put it on, I just KNEW- there wasn’t a doubt in the world–it fit like it had been made for me. Soooo, we ordered it! I also found bridesmaids dresses and flower girl dresses there. They are going to be so beautiful on…Now we have a local place with that small town personal feel. I’m really happy with my decision and can’t wait to wear it! Shane- don’t be too surprised if you come home one day after the wedding and I’m just walking around the house in my dress. Just kidding (well, sorta!)

What fun!

Also, my mind is now just REELING with ideas for the wedding!

Momma, Aunt Amber, and I went wedding dress shopping today! I’ve waited 25 years to try on bridal gowns and didn’t waste a second to go after the proposal just 3 days ago! I’ve had two pictures from magazines cut out for over a year and knew what style dress I was wanting. I walked into David’s Bridal and upon entering saw “the dress” hanging up on display. It’s like the dress knew I was coming and was there to greet me or something. It was literally the first dress I saw and even after trying on several other stunning gowns (one other in particular that I still love), I am still crazy about this dress. I got to talk to Shane on the phone as I was wearing it and it just made me feel so loved and so special to be doing two such wonderful things at the same time (feeling pretty and talking to the one I love). It was so funny trying to get in and out of those things, though! There were SO many layers on the dress that it was a small miracle each time I actually managed to get one on. All the undergarments and snapping and buttoning and tieing and shifting……Whew! It was a workout–but well worth it! We also had fun picking out bridesmaids’ dresses, flower girls dresses, Momma’s dress (she’s a hottie in it), and even tuxes! Well, if nothing else, we are all going to look good!

Shane, thanks so much for loving me and giving me this chance to have such a wonderful, special day with loved ones.

I’M A BRIDE!! (I said this so many times today—like I was the only one at David’s BRIDAL or something…oh well…I’m a bride!)