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!
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.....!
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.
I guess I really should be asleep right now because I know I have a long day tomorrow....but I have been dying to start this blog for weeks! I'll start with a little background info and work my way from there!
Michael and I started dating around May 2008. I left for Knoxville in August and came home to go to UAH in May of 2009. We were both accepted into the UAH College of Nursing in April 2010.
August started our first semester of nursing school....which is a completely different world from any other types of class! It is rigorous, ridiculous, and rewarding all at once. I am proud to say that the semester finished well. Christmas break has been an awesome breath of fresh air and I know that starting back in Jauary will be so hard!
In September, Michael proposed in Knoxville! I was so excited and so shocked, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I am so excited that I am going to spend every day of the rest of my life with the person that God made just for me! It is an amazing thing to think about.
Since September it has been difficult to make any wedding plans....but they are coming along. So far we have.....
-Set a date! FINALLY! We will be married July 14, 2012
-Found a ceremony location! The ceremony will be held at Randolph Church of Christ in Downtown Huntsville. It is a beautiful, old church that was built in the late 1800s. It is complete with stained glass windows, beautiful wooden pews....and a center aisle!
-Found a reception location! The reception will be held at GaN Corporation in South Huntsville. GaN is where Daddy works as the Director of Operations. The building is the former site of the historic Mr. C's Restaurant and Tavern. It is complete with 4+ chandaliers, beautiful staircases, and stained glass windows, among other things.
-Chosen my bridesmaids! I am so excited and very pleased with the ladies that I have asked to be a part of our special day!
Before school starts back I am hoping to contact the photographer that we like, finalize colors and flowers, and finish researching caterers and florists.
I have also started a wedding website! This is something that I just thought was SO fun and I could not pass up the chance to make one. It is still in the early stages......so there will be more about that later!
Enough wedding stuff-it is almost Christmas! I can hardly believe that we only have 2 more shopping days left and I still have a few gifts to buy. I am not normally this behind! Tomorrow and Thursday will be full of getting ready for spending lots of time with family, eating lots of food, and giving lots of gifts!
