Engagement Photos

Nathan Peel got together with Brad and I to take our engagement photos back in July.  Here are the beautiful results:

--Melanie

Wedding Showers Bring Crowded Living Rooms

Over the summer, I had two wonderful bridal showers thrown in my honor.  The first, in July, was thrown by my best friend, with help from my bridesmaids and my momma.  We had it at my apartment and had a simple menu of yummy (mostly finger) foods.  Chicken ring and buffalo dip.  Veggies and fruit.  Cupcakes and carrot cake.  There was also a request in the invitation that each guest bring a picture of me.  This request was made so that the guests could put together scrapbook pages for me at the shower.  I have an adorable book filled with loved ones' memories of time with me.

The second shower was in August and was thrown by a mother-daughter duo from church.  This shower had a potato theme and it was carried out so beautifully.  There were Mr. Potato Heads placed around their home (I collect these guys) and guests brought me gifts along a potato theme, as well.  Brad and I received potato chips and chip clips, actual potatoes with a microwave bag to make baked potatoes, and delicious recipes.

From the August shower.  Look at the beautiful table!

Disney Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads

From the July shower. Brad and his nephew showed up with flowers and a "training dog" for me.

From the July shower. My "bouquet" for rehearsal.

From the July shower.  Check out all of the people in my living room!  It did get a little warm...

I am not one for being the center of attention, but weddings don't care about that.  I was a little uncomfortable with having a fuss over me (and Brad!) and all the gifts, but I loved being surrounded by people I love and eating way too much delicious food.  Plus, planning a wedding loses its fun real quick and a shower or two helps bring back the excitement over getting to marry someone you love dearly.  

--Melanie

Reveal: Invitations

Guys, I am so happy with our invitations!  To me, they are the best ever!!  Thank you to Aaron for coming up with the idea and designing/printing them all.  Thank you also to my Momma, who sewed the inner envelopes and to Brad who helped stuff envelopes and keep me on task.  Now, for the pictures:

Addressing invitations in the living room.

Piles of envelopes in the Post Office, being stamped by me.

Inner envelopes. They were hand-sewn along the sides by my momma, using an orange thread. They feature a cut-out center to allow the invite to show through.  There is also a half-circle cut-out on the back to allow for the invite to be easily pulled out.

Once pulled out of the envelope, this is what the guest is looking at.  I love the bow-tie detail.

On the back of the owls, this is what you'd see.  Isn't it fantastic?

There's a map card in the invite, too, but I didn't think you'd need to see it.  Above is the reply card, mad-lib style.  These are so fun to receive!

After sewing and stuffing envelopes, Mom posted on her facebook that, "This morning I sewed envelopes for my daughter's wedding invites. Nothing 'traditional' about them! (Turned out great, though.)."  

I hope you all love them as much as Brad and I do.  

--Melanie

Update on the List

Wow.  The closer we get to the wedding (45 days out!!), the more I neglect this blog.  Sorry about that, but for those who have planned weddings, I'm sure you can understand.  Let's start with an update on the list:

address invites

punch holes in invites

mail invites

cake topper

music

• do/do not play list
• ceremony music

card box

flowers

alter dresses

• bridesmaid dress for Kerry's wedding
• my wedding dress

centerpiece "plates"

jars

favors

• order supplies
• construct

hair trial

makeup trial

set appointments for wedding

engagement pictures (These are fantastic and you should head to www.nathanpeelphoto.com to check them out.)

guestbook

• supplies
• frame (Umm...frames are ridiculously expensive, like the cost of my wedding dress expensive.  Who knew?)

signs

• Krippendorf
• guestbook
• other

Krippendorf layout

parent gifts

bridesmaid gifts

ring pillow

jeweler

bathroom basket--I have the supplies, I just need a basket.

finalize cake design

I don't want to lump too much in one post, so be sure to check back for photos of the invites, my first shower, and my shower thank yous.


--Melanie

Less than Two Months Out...

Folks, we are entering extreme countdown mode.  I have 60 days until the wedding a TON of things to get done!  Take a look:

• address invites
• punch holes in invites
• mail invites--will be mailed this morning!!!!!!
• cake topper
• music
• do/do not play list
• ceremony music
• card box
• flowers
• alter dresses
• bridesmaid dress for Kerry's wedding
• my wedding dress
• centerpiece "plates"
• jars
• favors
• order supplies
• construct
• hair trial--scheduled for July 28
• makeup trial--scheduled for July 28
• set appointments for wedding
• engagement pictures--scheduled for July 28
• guestbook
• supplies
• frame
• signs
• Krippendorf
• guestbook
• other
• Krippendorf layout
• parent gifts
• bridesmaid gifts
• ring pillow
• jeweler
• bathroom basket
• finalize cake design

Are you feeling as stressed as I am?  I also have to clean the house this week because Kerry arrives on Friday in order to throw me a shower on Sunday.  I'm so excited. Also, since invitations are going out as soon as I finish this post, I feel a huge weight off my shoulders.  Some items on the list are actually being completed by other people and I just have to cross them off the list when the time comes.  That is a great feeling.  :)

In order to keep me accountable, my goals for the week include cleaning the house, working on the ring pillow, and gathering supplies for the guestbook and bathroom basket.  Engagement pictures, trials, and setting appointments will be tops on the list for next week.  

Finally, as you'll recall from previous crazy posts, I need to figure out what I'm doing for flowers.  I saw a picture in a magazine and I really like it.  I'm hoping that I can recreate that bouquet, maybe throw in a daisy or two and be done with the flower insanity.  

Anybody up for a night of wedding planning?

--Melanie

Date Night

Brad and I went out for dinner on Wednesday.  He took me to a new pizza place in Cincinnati before we went to church.  He had a meeting and I had a date with addressing envelopes.  I wasn't exactly dressed for a date night, but we went and enjoyed our adult beverages. We people-watched and ate delicious arancini and pizza.

Proof of my date with envelopes.  I still have a few reply card envelopes to address and then the fun task of addressing the invites. I do maintain, however, that starting with return addresses was a very nice way to ease into the task.

Also, please take a look at this beauty.  It is black India ink on white paper, but I like Instagram.  This wonderful creation was completed by one of the students I worked with.  

For those of you who are curious, I updated the Budget page.  Feel free to comment me if you have any questions or if there's something else you want to know/see.  Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to continue my House Season 4 and envelope addressing marathon.

--Melanie

The Weekend

 This weekend we headed to Atlanta, GA for a stateside wedding celebration for Brad's cousin.  This picture was taken as we drove through TN, I think.

We stopped by Chris and Shelli's house after checking in at the hotel.  Brad was put to work setting up some tables and tents.  I got to scope out some of the details inside.   Shelli had done a fantastic job with all the details.  Pictured above is their cake topper that traveled to Italy with them.

 Brad and I went to dinner at a place called The Local Republic.  He had some grouper and I had a burger.  Sounds about right.  :)  We also enjoyed some delicious adult beverages and a cheese tray.

After all, we are nothing but classy.

 Down the street from where we had dinner was a tea store.  Aristeacrats.  Brad sampled and bought some tea to bring home.  

I'm not sure when it will end, but I'm bordering on obsession with these striped paper straws.  I want them with me at all times.

Eight-hour drives in the hot, hot heat make for tired and grumpy people who are so happy when they are home.

We had so much fun and I want to thank Chris and Shelli and congratulate them again.  We are so happy for you both and loved being down there.  Can we do this again soon?

--Melanie

P.S. There was a photo booth and as soon as I see pictures, I'll let you see some pictures.  Deal?