Let's get caught up....

So I haven't blogged in a while. Saying that A LOT has happened would be the understatement of the century. I am actually currently bored to death in class....so we will see how this goes! :)

In August, Michael and I were finally, finally able to go and have our engagement pictures made! It was really exciting for us! Although the day was very humid and my hair was crazy curly and Michael was sweaty, it was really fun and we are BEYOND pleased with our pictures. We LOVE Alyson and the work she does! She was close to 8 months pregnant and she did not let that stop her! You can see a slide show of our pictures on her blog. For family, you can order pictures here. You can see a preview of one of our pictures below!

In the last few months, we have had the opportunity to take care of quite a few wedding things. We met with our reception lady, Barbara, and have decided on lots of things! We know what we are doing for food, decorations, flowers, etc. I have also decided on bridesmaids dresses and colors-for sure...finally!! We have also taken care of the layout of our reception and some other details with that. Michael finally decided on his groomsmen as well. It is very exciting to know that is out of our way now!

Our wedding website is FINALLY finished! You can view it at this link http://www.weddingwire.com/AnneMarieandMichael. Go check it out, meet our wedding party, check our registries, and sign the guestbook! We would love to hear from ya'll!

October was, by far, the craziest month we have had! We had the opportunity to re-take HESI's that we missed due to the tornadoes, in addition to taking our regularly scheduled tests and HESI for OB. Talk about a stressful few weeks! On top of that, our sweet, sweet puppy Tucker was hit by a car. We have had a really hard few days without him and we are hoping for things to get better soon. Please be thinking of us while we are missing our sweet baby!

This semester we have had the opportunity to go to Auburn and Knoxville and that has been great because we really needed to get away from school for a while. We were really glad to see friends and family, and of course, watch some football!

Another exciting bit that I want to talk about is one of my new purchases! Mom and I were in Hartselle taking care of some wedding dress things and we were able to stop by some antique shops and browse around. Thanks to my awesome Mom and Nana, who have taught me well about antiques, I was able to make my first antique purchase---a secretary! I am so beyond excited to add this to our future home and I am blessed that I had great guidance in buying this awesome piece of furniture. Pictures are forthcoming-we will be picking it up to bring home in the next 2 weeks!

This week Mom and I were able to go and choose my veil and headpiece for my wedding day. Very exciting and very surreal. It is all getting closer and more real...I can hardly wait! I am very pleased with my decisions and thankful for the guidance of my mother during this time. She rocks!

There are just a few more things I want to blog about. In the next few weeks we are supposed to be beginning our pre-marital counseling. We are really excited to take this next step in strengthening our relationship and preparing for our marriage and not just the wedding...because after all, the marriage is what really matters! I have also recently started a new job doing research with a nursing professor on campus. This has been an awesome blessing and I am so very excited to have this opportunity!

The final thing I would like to blog about is our future! There are so many uncertainties right now with what we will be doing next semester and when we graduate. Today we have the opportunity to decide where we would like to precept next semester. That is crazy that we are so close to being done! We are also trying to figure out what to do when we are done with school. This could include finding jobs, going to grad school, or taking a nurse residency position. Please pray for us right now as individuals and as a couple as we make some big, and tough, decisions.

I am desperately going to try to blog more frequently...but I can't make any promises! Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, but we will see!

Free at last!

So today at 3:30, M and I began our 2 week long summer vacation. What's in the works for the next 2 weeks? Work, sleep, getting ready for fall semester....oh and some wedding planning of course! I am extremely thankful to be done with class for a bit!!

I am in a list kind of mood, so here goes my blog post!

Newest updates about all things wedding....
1. I am about 99% positive that we have found our wedding invitations. I have one place left to look, but I think what we have found will be hard to top, at least in my mind. This invite is really what I was looking for...traditional, classy, timeless, etc. Thankfully, M liked it too so that is awesome!

2. Wedding website will be posted as soon as M finishes asking his groomsmen to be his groomsmen. When will that be? I don't know. Obviously my May 31st deadline for the website is WAY out the window!!

3. Our guest list is growing and our ceremony location is not. Decisions, decisions...possible changes, who knows! M has graciously volunteered his time in this area, so I am nearly willing to let it go and let him make the big decision. Who knows how that will go! I know he knows me well and knows how important this day is for us, so I am sure he will make a fabulous decision!

4. Engagement pictures are scheduled for August 22nd. We are really excited to finally spend some with Alyson and have these pictures! I am especially excited about seeing them and choosing portraits for canvases, etc. It makes me excited to decorate our future home!

5. We are meeting with Barbara soon! Very excited to nail down the food, flowers, cake, and reception details.

That's all for now....definitely some more int he next week since I will actually have a little time to devote to planning and spending some real time with my love!

This One's for the Girls!

Once again I should be studying or something of that sort, but other things, like blogging, are just way more important!

This past week M decided that we should skip out on Thursday's class and head down to Backwoods for the week.

Disclaimer #1: Everyone that knows me really well knows that this is always a hard trip for me because I really, seriously dislike the "great outdoors", as fabulous as they can be. I also really enjoy air conditioning, and there's not a lot of it at this place......so you can see why I sometimes have a more difficult time saying yes to these trips. But, this is honest to goodness M's favorite place in the WHOLE wide world (for good reason), so I do enjoy going to be with him an his friends despite the heat, bugs, other outdoorsy elements, etc.

Anyway, we decided at about 3 that afternoon that we would leave for Backwoods...so we got the oil changed, dropped Tuck off with my parents, packed, and we were on the road by 6. Talk about a whirlwind of a few hours! M drove, I finished homework, and we stopped at McDonald's to use their WiFi and submit our homework. Crazy night!

I was honestly very excited to get out of town for a few days and I was really glad to get that school work out of the way. I was even more glad (and thankful!) when I learned that I was going to be sleeping in a cabin with A/C. I'm sure many of you can relate to my feelings! :) It was so great to get there and see so many people that we have not seen since last summer. I forgot how awesome it was to sit and not have to worry about things. It was great just to visit and catch up. It was also an awesome visit because we got to see just about everyone that we were hoping to get to spend some time with!

The second night we were there might be the reason that this was my favorite road trip to camp yet, and probably will be my favorite ever. The girls (I say girls, but they are all married and a little older than me...but just as fun and great girlfriends!)  that I was hanging out with decided to have a night of fun...and who knew it could turn out to be so eventful!

Around 3 AM or so we decided to play a joke on M because he was sleeping in a camper out past the main part of camp. Obviously we were being silly, we had the giggles and our idea was perfect (although not completely thought through)...until it took forever for him to wake up and notice the joke! After we successfully video taped the hilariosity (I think I just made that word up!) we headed back to the main camp grounds...where we got caught. We had been ratted out. We got lectured. And I was basically scared to death.

Disclaimer #2: Because of the events of that night (some of which cannot be revealed!) I am pretty sure that I love Backwoods and it is safe to say that it is one of my new favorite places. I also love, love, LOVE the ladies that I got to know this week and I am really thankful for the kindness that they extended to me in allowing me be involved in their crazy antics!

There are a few things developing with our wedding plans...but I will blog about that later this week when i am procrastinating during my study time for finals on Thursday!!!

P is for Procrastination

Tuesday we have a test, and I should be studying. But, today I have been the master of procrastination....and it continues with this blog post! :)

There are a few things that I want to blog about....mainly work, school, and more wedding things! Very excited about some things that are happening right now!

Work has literally taken over my life in the last week. I usually work one shift a week (12hrs), but this week I worked 3! Seriously, it was an incredible shock to my sleep schedule and my body. It was definitely a great glimpse of what I can anticipate once I graduate and have to work all the time. Of course it may not be as bad then because I won't be in school and planning for a marriage and a wedding, but who knows. Life seems like it runs 9087536 mile an hour all the time.....so I am learning to enjoy every second of what is going on in my life right now-whether good or bad-because I won't ever be in the situations I'm in right now.

School? What is there to say about school? Two words: Burned. Out. That's all. The end. Those 2 words are probably the reason that I am not studying right now!! Definitely ready for a few days of "summer" so I can relax and do "nothing." <----Is there such a thing?!

A few new things have happened with our wedding plans. Things are slowly starting to become more real, and for a few different reasons. I think the biggest reason is the fact that we have so many friends that are engaged and many more that will be married in the next few months. This almost makes me think "WHOA! We are old enough for THAT?!" Today my little sister Becca (she's 11) said "Why are all these people that you getting married? It's really weird!" And she is totally right! It's weird to think that we aren't little kids in elementary school like her anymore...but that we are adults that are about to commit the rest of our lives to each other. What an awesome (and scary) thing!

So wedding plans....

-I ordered one of the gifts for my bridesmaids this past week and got them already! They turned out great and I am really excited about them!!

-Last Friday, Mom and I drove out to Hartselle to visit Something Blue. I was having some cold feet about something about my dress. I know that comment was really vague, but I don't want to give away too many details! Anyway, we went by and everything is fine and that was a HUGE load off of my mind! Funny how we (and by that I mean "I") sweat the little things.

-Last Saturday M and I went to a wedding reception to see some work that Barbara, our caterer/baker/decorator was doing. She is just a fabulous in person as her pictures have been from previous weddings. We were able to get some great ideas from seeing her work in person. It was really great for M and me to connect over this reception stuff, too. He sometimes doesn't enjoy wedding things so it was fun for me to have some good input from him. I am really pleased that we are going to use her!

-I think Michael is going to ask his groomsmen to be his groomsmen soon. This is basically the biggest development ever because that means I will be able to complete and debut our wedding website. Awesome!

-I have ordered some sample wedding invitations. This is probably one of the biggest decisions I will make outside of my dress. I absolutely love stationary/personalized things and this invitation is no exception to that love and obsession. I am really excited to see and touch those samples and think about the fact that that invite has our names for our wedding on it. Another thought that makes everything seem more real and a little bit closer to happening!

Ok, so I have successfully wasted about 45 minutes on this post so I think I should at least try to get back to studying. Hopefully my next post this week will be about a few more wedding things and our house! I am still trying to get some pictures together so we can show it off!

Let the coutdown begin!

Well, today marks exactly one year from our wedding date! So of course, I am pretty excited! Now the wedding madness is truly about to be full speed ahead until the big day!

A few updates....

First of all, I am going to start posting at least once every week. It is always such a great stress reliever for me to sit down and "blog" about what's going on in my world so I am really going to do my best to update as much as possible. Another reason for posting is because the majority of M's and my family and friends, and even wedding party, are out of town. So this will also be an easy way for us to keep in touch with everyone, rather than having to re-tell information over and over again! I'm hoping that this will also take some stress off of me with summer school. Booo summer classes!

Another thing that I am also going to start doing is telling you about our jobs (with no HIPPA violations, duh!), hopes and plans for our future, and updates on the new house! This way everyone gets the FULL picture of nearlyweds in nursing-which could sometime be a good or bad thing. And obviously I am loving some alliteration tonight!

The next update we have is that we had to postpone our engagement pictures again. In case you missed it, Monday it was a steamy 100+ degrees outside (yuck!) with a 100% chance of rain (yuck again!) at 7PM when we were supposed to take our pictures. Thank goodness for a flexible and gracious photographer, Alyson with Eternal Reflections Photography! Can you tell I'm slightly obsessed with her?

The last thing that I want to talk about is my cousin's friend Amanda Perna. She and my cousin, Amy, roomed together at the University of Alabama their freshman year. Amanda will be on Project Runway this coming season! SO awesome! So, here is a link and EVERYONE needs to go and vote for Amanda!

Look for another update next week!

Moving Madness

So we all know that I am a really terrible blogger...so I apologize again for a considerably large length of time between posts! But, here goes the last month of my life in a nutshell.

WE MOVED! The end.

Ha!! I wish moving was that easy! In all seriousness, Michael and I found an adorable 2 bed, 1 bath home in the Medical District of Huntsville that is in walking distance of Huntsville Hospital. It is white with black shutters, has a cute little red door, the most adorable door bell ever, and an upstairs that has been renovated and now includes M's new man cave and a 10x20 walk-in closet that will be mine when we are married. Can I get an amen on the closet space? :)

Basically this move blindsided both of us and the last month or so has been an absolute whirlwind. We found this house, I moved back home with my parents to save some money, and M moved into the new house...all in about 2 weeks. I am thankful for my awesome parents/family and our incredible friends for helping us move things all over Madison/Huntsville. We truly, truly appreciate your help, support, and encouragement with this big move!

While all the moving has been going on we have also been in class and I have started a new job at Hunstville Hospital. I will definitely be thrilled when this mini-mester is over. I am ready for some time to relax and forget about projects and papers.Hand in hand with school and moving has come lots of stress and not a lot of time for lots of fun things. Right after we moved the stuff into the new house, M and I shared dinner on the floor (we didn't have a couch or loveseat yet!) and realized how crazy the last few weeks had been. I am really thankful that we have been able to spend time with eachother recently and that we have been able to work through some things that have been thrown at us. This opportunity to move has made me appreciate him so much and it has also made me more excited for our wedding and our marriage. Which....in case you're wondering....is only 385 days away!

In the last 2 weeks, I have gotten a few wedding things done. We have chosen colors (and a bridesmaids dress!) and I am so glad to have that weight lifted from my shoulders! The bridesmaids will be wearing a blue color...it is a cross between a royal blue and a navy. It is a really beautiful color and it should really compliment my dress. Flowers will be whites and light pinks for another touch of color. I am so excited for the girls to get measured and get these ordered in the coming months. I can't wait to see them.

Our engagement pictures have been rescheduled for July 11th. Between orientation at work and moving, there was no way we could keep our original June date for pictures. M and I really looking forward to our shoot with Alyson and can't wait to see the pictures.

We have also decided to have Two Strings and Ivory play at our ceremony instead of our reception. I am super excited about this!!! I think it is going to be a perfect touch to the ceremony. And speaking of the ceremony, during May we had the opportunity to visit our ceremony location, Randolph. I was especially glad that we were able to go because Nina and Laura beth were able to see it for the first time. Here are a few pictures!

Center aisle and old wooden pews

Stage area...obviously a lot of these things will be moved!

The final piece of excitement from the last few weeks is with our website and wedding party. M is getting his guys together and as soon as he is finished deciding and asking, I will have the website posted. I am really looking forward to having that checked off of my to-do list.

Finally, in the next 2 or 3 weeks, we are planning to meet with Barbara of Barbara's Wedding Shop to discuss flowers, catering, cakes, lighting, etc. for our ceremony and reception. We have heard and seen awesome things come from her wedding decor so we are excited to see what she has in store for us! After we take care of this bit....it will be smooth sailing for a while!

Hopefully for my next update there will be pictures of the new house, a sneak peak of our engagement session, and the wedding website debut!!!

Tears, Tulle, and Temptation

As some of you already know, I said "yes" to the dress this past Saturday. It was a stressful but fun and rewarding day. My blog title today? It just about perfectly sums up the events of my morning appointment at The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, Alabama.

Let's face it....we all knew there would be tears because, quite frankly, my mother and I were both involved in the process and we are cry babies. Tulle....it is the only hint that I will be giving about my dress until the day that is unveiled at our wedding. Maybe it is made of tulle.....or maybe not? :) Temptation describes the instance when I tried on a dress that was one I have been stalking for quite some time. I loved it to death.....but it just was not what I was looking for. Tempting? Quite so.

Saturday morning was hectic and I was already a nervous wreck. I stayed at my parent's home in Madison so that Mom and I could swing by and pick up Nina and then head to Hartselle. Laura Beth was driving in from Auburn that morning to meet us at Something Blue. I went to my house in Huntsville on Friday night to pick up clothes, etc. but after a Starbuck's date with some lovely friends...I realized I packed everything but a shirt to wear. Since it was midnight 30 when I discovered this, I decided to drive back to Huntsville in the morning. BAD IDEA! We all know I hate to run late and I was the one running late! Frustrating.

We got to Hartselle, parked, and then had to help Laura Beth parallel park.....and then we went in. I was nervous and unsure of what to expect but I was thoroughly glad to have three of the most important people in my life with me.

We walked in and I met my literal fairy god mother, Robin. She was absolutely FABULOUS. She asked me a few questions and asked if I brought any pictures. I showed her the first picture and she already pulled two gowns, then she pulled the exact gowns in the pictures, etc. She was great!!! We looked through the racks, pulled a few more dresses, and then we decided that it would be time to try some on. This is the part where I walk in the room and see like 15+ wedding dresses hanging. At this point I was just excited so I took off my shoes and got ready to change while Robin brought me some fabulous peep toed pumps with rhinestones and a four inch heel. We were well on our way to trying on some lovely dresses!

The first dress I tried on was beyond incredible. I walked out and stood on the pedestal, held the mirror, had a veil put on me....it was truly a real bridal experience. This dress was so fabulous that it was in the running until the very end-and it became the dress that nearly every other dress was compared to for the entire day. I tried on 2 or 3 more dresses that I liked but not as much as the first. Then I tried on this fabulous Justin Alexander dress that I had been stalking in a magazine and online. It was an incredible dress and we all agreed that it was to be set aside and put into the running with the first dress.

It was when we were walking back to the dressing room that I saw THE dress I had been creeping on. We decided not to try it on because it was a ridiculous price....so we went on our merry way with a few more dresses. I liked some more, but not in comparison to the other two. There were only 2 or so dresses left in my room when Mom decided that I should try on the dress I'd been creeping on. I basically love my mom did you know that?

So I put on this Justin Alexander dress and I was immediately overwhelmed and beyond confused. It was a lovely dress and I was in love with it...it even gave me the butterflies and flushed feeling. Laura Beth, Nina, and Mom all loved it. Tempting. But something just was not right! It was not as flattering as some of the other dresses and it was certainly a lot more poofy. We decided to hang it on the rack with the other two dresses that were to be revisited.

Then I put back on the first dress that I tried on all day. It was lovely and flattering and everyone loved it-but something was still missing for me. I had in my head this picture of what I always thought I would wear on my wedding day and how I would feel...and this dress was not saying those things to me. Standing on the pedestal at that moment in front of the mirror might have been one of the scariest moments for me, as stupid as that sounds. The dress I had on was awesome and the next dress I needed to revisit was equally as awesome....but they were exact opposites of each other. The third dress was mostly out the window because of price and that weird feeling. Two dresses, complete opposites, doubly confused bride-to-be.

As I was standing there, an associate brought out this dress and suggested I try it on. I was not opposed since I was already confused as all get out, so I figured that another dress couldn't hurt the situation any more. Mom and I went back to the dressing room where I just sat and took a break. I really thought I was about to bawl my eyes out due to frustration and confusion. Fairy god mother brought me some water, Mom gave me a pep talk, and I was ready to try on one last dress.

I think that before I even walked out of the dressing room I knew this was my dress. Something was different. I felt different, beautiful, and like a bride. I walked out and stood on the pedestal, feeling less overwhelmed and more confident. Mom was looking weepy, I felt weepy, and Nina and Laura Beth were already crying!

Can I please just interject here and say that Nina and Laura Beth don't cry?! This was HUGE!

Of course since they cried, you know I did too! We all knew it was the dress and before I could even say "yes" LB and Nina had their cameras out snapping pictures-which was a big deal because you have to purchase before you can photograph. They knew just as well as I did that this was the dress. We all hugged and cried happy tears, called Daddy, and took pictures.

Overall my experience was wonderful. I loved the dresses, and although I became slightly confused about my decision during the process, I know that I ended up with the perfect dress. Robin was truly amazing and if anyone goes to Something Blue looking for a dress, I would highly recommend her. I truly believe that this dress was made for me to wear it. I can't wait for everyone to see it-especially Michael! I know he is trying to be sneaky but he is just going to have to wait another 431 days to see it! :)

Keep looking for more updates this month! I am trying to finish up our wedding website and we are scheduled to go back to look at our ceremony location next week. I also have a potential update on bridesmaids dresses as well as colors!

So obviously I'm a lousy blogger....

I have not posted in forever! There are a few good reasons why....so I am going to take a minute to share them with you. Hopefully in the future I will become more consistent with my blogging skills.

Firstly, M and I have been absolutely swamped with school. Between tests, case studies, MyNursing Labs, clinicals, etc. things have just been crazy. We only have about 2 weeks left in this semester and I could not be more thankful! So very ready for a break during the month of May....then it is off to more classes in June and July. May is much anticipated and will be warmly welcomed with lots of sleeping in and spending time at the pool....and wedding planning!

The next reason that I haven't blogged in a while is because there hasn't been a lot going on wedding wise because I honestly have not had a lot of time. Thank goodness for my awesome mom and close friends who have been keeping on track with numerous magazines to thumb through, planning notebooks to compile, and tons of web links to check out. I'm currently loving the job that my MOH's are doing.... so a huge shout out to Nina, Laura Beth, and Mom!

In the last two months I have been seriously working on our wedding website. It will debut in MAY! So be looking for that in the future. I am really excited about it because it is going let everyone learn a lot about us, our wedding party, and our wedding itself. I can't wait for everyone to see it!

Another big thing that M and I have accomplished is completing our registries! We have chosen Belk and Bed, Bath, and Beyond for our registries and we are so excited. I have to give my mom another HUGE thanks because she really helped us decide on some things and gave us some really good advice. if you want to see our registries you can go here for Bed, Bath, and Beyond or here for our Belk registry. For the Belk registry you have to type in one of our names. Check them out and let us know if we are missing something that you think would make an awesome addition to our future home...where ever it may be!

We are also in the process of booking a date for our engagement pictures. I am really looking forward to our session with our photographer Alyson. I am totally in love with her! She sent us some monogrammed stationary just to say "thank you" for choosing her. We all know I LOVE monogrammed things...so of course I was really impressed and excessively excited. Check out Alyson's work on her website Eternal Reflections Photography by Alyson.....she is awesome!

I have also gotten together with some wonderful ladies in my life and we have chosen a date to go wedding dress shopping. I am really looking forward to spending that time together with my mom, sisters, and a few other special women in my life. I'm not giving any more info about this....so you'll just have to check back for more posts :)

The last thing that I wanted to blog about today is my WONDERFUL fiance, Michael. He just started a job at Huntsville Hospital  today and I am so proud of him! He has been blessed with an awesome and exciting opportunity and I am so thankful for him. I just had to brag on him for a second! The other thing that I want to mention is that this Wednesday is the 3 year anniversary of our first date. WOW! I can't believe it at all! The last three years have been incredible and I cannot wait to see what the next 53 or more years are like with M by my side. I am truly thankful and blessed to have such an awesome guy in my life....for the rest of my life!

One of the first pictures that Michael and I took together....my high school graduation! This was May 18, 2008.

That is about all for right now. I am just trying to procrastinate some of that school work I was talking about earlier. Be sure to check for updates during the month of May.....I promise it will be more exciting than this post!

Free Honeymoon + Photographer = Awesome Week!!!

Well the last week or so has been nothing short of eventful for Michael and me! Lots of exciting and fun news to share in this post, so I hope you're ready!

Last week I got a phone call saying that we won a free honeymoon! We were so excited! We went on Saturday to a presentation and got all of our information. The trip we have chosen is all inclusive....TO THE BAHAMAS! The package pays for 2 nights/3 days, so we are going put in the extra money to make it 5 nights/6 days and get out of town for the week. We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to have this happen to us!

Bahamas? Yes, please!

This afternoon after we went with my mom to Hartselle to meet our photographer. This might actually be more exciting to me than the honeymoon! We have chosen to use Alyson with Eternal Reflections Photography and I could not be more happy about it! I am absolutely in love with her photos and her! She seems so fun, creative, and flexible. I think she is going to do a wonderful job with our engagement and wedding photos and I cannot wait to work more with her. To me, the photographer may be the most important person of our big day. She is going to give us the pictures to put in our new home, to give to our parents, to hand down to our children and even our grandchildren. After all the craziness of the day is over, we only have pictures (not food or flowers or whatever) to help us relive and remember that day and just how wonderful it was. Check out her website above or her Facebook page!

Also in the works this week is some musical entertainment. When Mom and I went to the bridal fair we found out about this group of sisters that play the violin, piano, and cello. It is beautiful! I am so excited about incorporating them into our celebration!

Finally, I have officially become undecided about the color of bridesmaids dresses. Pretty much any input or opinions would be more than welcome at this point because I am drowning in my own indecisiveness! This is the next thing that has to be taken care of...so send on the suggestions!

Lastly, I am so excited for this weekend because Laura Beth is coming home! I can't wait to see my little sister and spend some time with her....when I'm not studying!! haha. But I guess that is all of the exciting news for right now. I'm sure that there will be more exciting news later!

Study Break!

All afternoon I have been doing homework and studying for our test on Monday.About an hour and a half ago I took a study break to meet Mom and Becca in downtown Huntsville.....and we have booked our reception location!!!! I am SO thrilled.


A few posts ago I said that we would be having our reception at GaN, where my dad works. After some thinking and a couple of difficult decisions, Michael and I decided that it would be better to have the reception elsewhere. Our guest list was growing, and to be quite honest, the space at GaN was not! We started looking around at other places and after Mom and I went to the bridal fair 2 weekends ago, I knew that the Grand Hall at Early Works was the place for us. We have some AWESOME plans for covering up those tacky Alabama seals on the walls and other ideas as well. I am very excited that we found a place that can be just what I had hoped for.


And the bridal fair.....oh my! Very overwhelming. Everyone knows I love lists...so here it goes!
1. I realized just how expensive weddings really are! Of course you know that the big ticket items (dress, locations, caterer, photographer, etc) are outrageous, but the little things add up too. We are back to the drawing board on a "budget" with Daddy.
2. A few weeks ago I was positive I had made decisions on a few things....and now I just don't know! I have become very indecisive about a few key items and I am interested to see which way I will lean with them.
3. Like I said before, so overwhelming! Some things you can live without on your wedding day, but there were things that I had not thought of that made me think more. See #2 about being indecisive? This is why...


As far as all things wedding are concerned, I recently began the registry process. I think that it is so very exciting! While it is not the "things" you are given that make up your marriage, a lot of great memories can be made from these things. For example, my mom has a set of plates that she registered for when she and Daddy got married 25 years ago. Ever since I was a little girl I can remember eating off of those plates at the dinner table....and dinner at the Fraley household always involves some crazy, funny memories! I am excited to go with Michael and see things that he deems "needable." It should be fun and interesting!


One of the things that I am most excited about recently is a class at church that Michael and I are planning to attend. It is about marriage and I think that it will be a great eye-opener for us. I also believe it will be great for us to take a break from everything that is every day life and really focus on us and our relationship with God. So exciting!


Nothing else new is really going on....just getting along with school and work. Beyond ready for Spring Break because I cannot get that dress out of my head.....!

I promised myself not to....

But promises are made to be broken sometimes, right?


During the weekend, Laura Beth (my sister and one of my MOH's) and I found a bridesmaid dress that we liked. We looked to see where the brand was carried. Luckily enough, Madison Town and Country carries the line. We decided to go with Mom to look at the dress and maybe get some more ideas of things we liked.


The understanding in the three of us going to the bridal store was that I WAS NOT trying on ANY wedding dresses. I didn't even want to look at them! I made a deal with myself months ago to lose a certain amount of pounds before I would try one on. Not an outrageous amount, but a certain amount nonetheless.


Of course we got there and they didn't have that particular bridesmaid dress in stock. We perused the other racks of dresses for the 'maids, wrote down a few we liked, and talked. We were done looking and ready to go when Mom said, "Don't you just want to look at the dresses for a minute before we leave?" I was positively against the idea and said no, while Laura Beth insisted that she knew I wanted to look. After some more persuasion, we were in the bridal room looking at dresses. And I was beyond overwhelmed.


Amber, a sales associate, directed us to different designers, dress styles, etc. We looked through the racks of one designer in particular because there was a dress that I saw online that I thought I would like. They didn't have that one, so we looked for another. One dress that Mom loved they did have. Amber pulled it out of the bag and hung it up for us to look. It was beautiful. We continued to look...until I found this one dress. It was elegant and gorgeous. I pulled it out from the rack...but not off the rack. My mom took it off the rack and hung it separately by itself....and this is where our trouble starts.


Next thing I know, Amber is telling me that she's starting me a dressing room, Laura Beth is saying "I told you so" and Mom is asking if there are any others I want to try on! I don't know what happened in that few minutes....but my stomach was in knots and my hands were clammy and I was a nervous wreck!


While we're at it, let's get something straight. I have NEVER been shy about shopping or trying on clothes. Never ever. This was a very shocking feeling for me, and I think for my mom and sister too.


The first dress I put on. I don't think words can describe how I was feeling...but I will try anyway. My heart was pounding. Not only because I was nervous, but because it was the most beautiful thing I think I have ever tried on....way better than any prom or homecoming dress. For the first time since Michael and I got engaged, I think I really realized that I am going to be a bride. For me, putting on that first dress made those little girl dreams of being a Princess and having a Prince Charming come true. It was an amazing feeling!


But the first dress was nothing short of magnificent. If there was ever a dress to scream my name at me, this is it. The second dress wasn't me at all, and that's ok. I know that in the future there will be more dresses to try on....but I know that dress number one will be terribly, incredibly hard to top. There is a possibility that it may be the dress.


Earlier today I posted on Facebook that I tried on my first dress. A former teacher of of ours left a comment giving me a wonderful piece of advice. She encouraged me to document, as much as I can, everything about wedding planning and our time of engagement. I am so glad that she suggested that. I hope that this blog will be an awesome way to help us remember everything that is going on in our lives, and not just that one day when we get married.


I guess to finish, last night Michael and I went to get coffee together. Usually coffee means loads of great conversation...and I am thankful for that. So many times we are so busy with school and work and other things that we don't always have time to talk about things. Last night was wonderful because it just added another reason to the list of millions of reasons of why I am so thankful to have Michael in my life and how blessed I am that we will be able to spend the rest of our lives together.


I am so excited about the things to come! More later.