Thursday, January 28, 2010

4 months and counting.............................

Well I am probably going to go down in history as the worst wedding blogger ever!!!

I haevn't written since October and trust me a lot has happened in just a few months.

Planning the wedding has been going really well. We have had some bumps in the road but all in all things couldn't be better. All of the big "to do" items are done and now it is just time to try and attend to the small details like (makeup artist, invitations, etc.)

On the agenda for this month:

1. Find transportation to and from the wedding. I really really wanted to have a trolley take us to the ceremony but those beasts want $425 for 2 1/2 hours. Well you can only imagine what I told them I thought about that price. I really don't want a limo of any sorts, not that I think there is anything wrong with riding in a limo, it is just not me. I am also thinking of my dress. I really don't want to get it wrinkled so the only way to ensure that is to ride is something where I step up instead of step down into the vehicle. Any ideas would be greatly apprecaited.

2. Gosh darn food and beverage contracts: I have ready basically every website, magazine, bridal book to find out how to budget for alcohol but no where have I found the numbers to be accurate. Ya see, we have some drinkers coming to the wedding, and we aren't talking about the cheap stuff. My mom is insisting we have top shelf everything!!!! I am estimating that for 100 people it will cost around $10,000 just for the drinks (ouch).

3. Linens: Someone please please go into the linen and event rental business. You will make mega bucks ripping brides off with your exorbitant prices. Can someone tell me why would I ever spend $25 for a piece of sheer cloth that no one is even going to notice????? They probably bought that thing for $5 and have quadrupled their investment.

Okay now onto the funny stories.

$300 Hair: Yes ladies, and gents, you are looking at a $300 hair-do. The past few months since Seth and I moved to Greenville, SC I have had the worst luck trying to find someone that can actually highlight blonde hair (okay well technically I am a Brunette, but I have not see that since high school). The last die job I got I walked out looking like a zebra. I know my hair is bad when Seth says "hmm how about you just die it one color". Anyways, my mom suggested we use a new hair stylist that one of her Florida friends recommended to her. I asked her how much it cost, and she said hmm around $200. That seemed a little high but in DC I was playing about $180 so I thought for a really good cut and color, I would be willing to bump it up $20. Hahahaha, oh boy was I wrong. Now I have to give the hair stylist credit, he spend about 3 hours on my mop but still when he told me the total to write my check out to I almost choked. In fact I went through three checks just writing the amount in because I could not for the life of me concentrate enough to right the correct amount. Lesson #1: ALWAYS ask the prices ahead of time.

Next week my mom and I fly to Florida for my bridal shower. I am very blessed to have such wonderful role models in my life. My mom's three best and oldest friends are throwing me an intimate bridal shower. I am not sure what I am most excited about, the shower, or laying out by the beach getting a tan.

Getting in shape for the wedding: I am a prime example of what happens when you get 100% comfortable in a relationship and completely let yourself go. Well that is exactly what has happened to me. Seth makes me feel so wonderful, maybe a little too comfortable, that I have packed on some extra lbs. I only have four months left so I have been kicking my ass trying to get in gear for this thing. I am trying to loose anywhere between 30-40 pounds which I know might seem impossible but I am willing to do whatever it takes. I have been on the South Beach Diet, although I cheated the past week, and I really have seen an improvement. The only problem with this diet is..... NO DRINKING!!!! Hello there is something wrong in life, if you can't enjoy a little sippy sippy after work. Wish me good luck and send me any workout ideas you all might have.

Alright, I think that is it for now. I promise I am going to start writing in here more, not that I think anyone cares what I have to say but in 10 years when Seth and I are happy in our gorgeous home with our puppies (Charlee), and maybe MAYBE a little one running around, we can sit and remember how crazy things were.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Guess who has a dress.........

Okay so I can't believe I get to write this.......but...... I found a dress yesterday!!!

Not only is it a dress, but it is THE dress. Even in my wildest dreams I could not have imagined a more perfect dress for myself. The best part of all was how it all happened.

About a week ago I bought a local magazine called TALK Greenville. It is a local magazine and I bought it to see who the top 25 best looking women in Greenville were. Seth also happened to look at the magazine and folded over a page when he saw a local bridal store. On Sunday my mom, dad and grandma (she was in town from Florida) came over for the day. After walking around downtown Greenville and a large southern brunch all I wanted to do was go home and relax. Unfortunately, there was a football game on so all my mom wanted to do was get out of the house so my Dad could watch. Seth suggested Grandma, Mom and I go to this boutique. With much hesitation I decided to go, and thank God I did.

The boutique I went to was very small (maybe had 150 dress, only about 18 in my size). After trying on 5 dressing, and not liking one of them, the owner suggested one last dress that caught her eye. The moment I slipped into the dress I knew it was the one. I can't give out too many details since I really want it to be a surprise, all I can say is I truly feel like a princess in it.

Even though I have been planning for this wedding since the 1st of January, it didn't feel real until now. I am so excited and can't wait till May 22nd when I get to become Mrs. Colton.

Friday, March 20, 2009

NEW WEDDING DATE: MAY 22, 2010

Okay so I promise this really is the last time, hopefully! Seth and I have changed the date of our wedding once again. The new date of the weekend wedding festivities will be May 21st-23rd of 2010.

The reason for the change you ask? Well, we found 1/3 of Seth's groomsmen were not able to be in the wedding if we had it on the 15th, so for obvious reasons we just had to change it.

Next weekend is our engagement party in FLORIDA!!! I am so excited. We invited 75 people and it looks like we have 76 people coming. Great turnout! I was getting worried about not having the right outfit, since I want to look cute and presentable but still be nice and cool for the Florida heat. But it looks like I found the perfect dress, and I can't wait to wear it.

Besides picking the location for the wedding and our bridal party, that is really all of the planning we have done so far. I think the majority of our planning will happen this May when Seth, my mom, and I go to North Carolina to meet with vendors. Both Seth and I are pretty set on using the same photographer that photographed our engagement (see link to her site). I also have been asking around to find recommendations for florists, DJ's, etc..

I still can't believe this is all actually happening. I know this sounds cliche, but I really did know that I wanted to marry Seth the moment I met him, and I even had a boyfriend at the time. The moment I met him I just fell head over heels for him. He was everything I could have ever imagined, and more, so to know that soon I will be marrying him, just makes everything seem magical.

Not that I have a lot of people reading this, but for those of you who do, I can't wait for you all to share this exciting time with us.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

P.S. The date has changed again, May 15, 2010

Hilarious how I don't post anything for over two weeks and then I post again two minutes apart.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we have changed the date again, but this time hopefully for good.

I will become Mrs. Seth Colton on May 15th, 2010. We had to change the date since I had completely forgotten that my cousin is having his Bar Mitzvah on May 22nd, so obviously that wouldn't work out. What stinks is that I really love these cousins but now because the wedding and Bar Mitzvah are so close, they most likely will not be able to attend.

I am just ready to start moving forward with the planning.
This weekend, my parents are flying me down to Florida to do some shopping and planning. It is so hard to be doing this and not have my mom by my side the whole time.

My mom and I are closer than any mother and daughter can be. She is my best friend and truly my soul mate. My mom and I have been through everything together, good and bad. So it is very hard to be planning such an important time in my life without her by my side.

So for now I am learning how to balance building this wedding with Seth but yet still having my mom be apart of every moment. Although there may be bumps in the road, I am incredibly lucky to have such an amazing, supportive family, and know the family I will soon gain will only make me even luckier.

Most magical weekend

This past weekend Seth and I revisited the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. For those of you who have never heard of the Homestead, you are not alone. The Homestead is a "diamond in the rough". Located four hours southwest(very west) of Washington, DC. Just think "Great Gatsby" meets "Dirty Dancing". Extremely old school feel, with the amenities of a luxury hotel. I took Seth there this past weekend as part of his Christmas present.

Apology ahead of time if I sound as if I am bragging, but how is it possible that even though Seth and I have been together for five years, everyday with him feels like the first. I still get butterflies in my stomach when I am near him and still wake up every morning pinching myself. This weekend was so magical. We are the very best of friends so we rarely ever get tired of one another.

Not sure what was so magical about the whole weekend, but it was. Plus this was our first time being there as an engaged couple. I can't quite explain what it feels like to be engaged other than I want to tell everyone, anyone who is willing to listen. Doesn't matter if you were the housekeeper, front desk clerk, or random waitresses, I was telling everyone this weekend that we were engaged!!!!

Overall I just feel truly blessed and hopefully this weekend when I go home to Florida I will actually have a breather to start planning.

Thank Heaven for Fairytales, because they do come true.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

We have a date!!! Sort of.......

So it looks like we (I) have decided on a date for the wedding. May 22, 2010!!! I think it has a nice ring to it.

Now all we need to do is pick a venue. I really am leaning towards this one place because we can have everyone stay on the grounds that we are going to have the reception. To me the convenience of it all is way worth it.

This weekend Seth and I started our registry. I can't even begin to describe how incredibly exciting that adventure is. Literally you walk into a store, everyone gives you their undivided attention and you get to walk through the whole story and basically can pick out anything and everything you want!!! It is like a dream come true. Thank God they do not allow me to register for designer handbags or shoes; we would be in big trouble.

This weekend Seth and I will be taking a trip up to Maine to visit his family as well as attend a wedding in Boston for our friends Maria and Sam. I love attending weddings. It is a great opportunity for me to see what I like and don't like.

Very excited also for Monday nights festivities here in DC. My good friend Regan will be in town and my other friend Brinkley is having a cocktail party. On that note, when is it too early to ask your friends to be in your wedding?

I know this is going to sound cheesy but last night while Seth and I were watching TV and I was complaining of yet another stomach ache, I reflected on how great my life has become. Sometimes I feel like it is too good to be true. I might not have the perfect career but I sure do have the perfect family and soon to be family. Thank God!

Next post I think will be about our Florida engagement party, and the fact that my mom has not been able to sleep just thinking about it! She is crazier than I am.

Okay done for now. Make it a great one!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Just Pick A Date!!!

Why is it so hard to pick our wedding date?

Do you have any clue all of the things you need to think about when deciding on the day?

1. What time of year (winter, spring, summer or fall)?
You also need to factor in the colors you will be bringing into the wedding. The last thing you want is spring colors during the fall, although knowing me I think that would be fine.

2. Day or Evening wedding?

3. Inside or outside wedding? If it is outside, you need to arrange an alternative just in case the weather is bad. I have chosen an inside wedding, just to avoid the added stress. Plus, I have the tendency to be steamy in 60 degree weather. I have actually been stalking the farmer's almanac

4. How many people do you invite? Do you really have to invite everyone that is in the family?

5. How do you decide on the wedding party? I don't have a lot of great girlfriends, but the ones that I do have seem to be in a wedding every other weekend so there is a part of me that feels bad asking them to be in yet another wedding......

So, I have until Sunday night to decide on the date/venue. Any ideas for Hendersonville, North Carolina??? I know not necessarily the hot spot for destination weddings.

Oh yeah, and Seth and I get to go register this weekend.

The fun begins.................