Developments

Last Tuesday, Johnny and I officially became engaged. He suprised me when I came home from work with take home Red Lobster and my beautiful tanzanite and diamond ring in a little red box. We changed our facebook relationship status and posted about it and we got well wishes all night. Since then things have been in high gear.

When I visited my parents this past weekend I picked out my dress with my mother and grandmothers help from etsy. I'm getting my dress, petticoat, and bolero from the same little shop so they should all be ready to go at the same time. My mother is also buying my dress which saves us money and is a lovely gesture, so now all I have to do is find something to do with my hair.

Tomorrow, we'll probably tootle over to the Men's Wearhouse after we go to visit his parents to see what they've got in terms of suits. Johnny still hasn't decided on his clothes but he has more time than I do. He can't seem to decide between just going ahead and getting a suit or going more casual. I say do whatever you like that's what I'm doing; Honestly, I'm just happy to be marrying you.

My main issue right now is with some of our beloved guests who can't seem to get their plans in order. I hate to be a nag but gas prices and airfares are going up, and I don't want to bankrupt people when they come to my wedding. As it stands now we have officially 5 guests: my mother and grandmother and his parents and brother. We've invited 5 others, two of whom are the best man and maid of honor.

I get more excited every day this thing gets closer. There's only 110 days left until I get married.

Went to visit trista's parents.

It was a good visit we managed to figure out the location of ou reception dinner. The round table buffet at the Excalibur. Looks pretty sweet and not too expensive. Now we just need to make sure who all is coming so we can make reservations. Tried to call both Shelby and my brother and neither one answered. Need to get these numbers down ppl! Answer the phone!

I told my Mother

I told my mother and my grandmother and it went great. I feel a little guilty for waiting so long actually but I wanted be sure I had things lined up before I told her the plan so I wouldn't be tempted to backtrack if it didn't go well.

I'm very happy and excited that it went well. Next weekend when we go into Shreveport for a visit she and grandma are going to look at dresses with me. I'm really looking forward to it. I found some beautiful short white ones on etsy that honestly seem to be better quality than what I've been thinking of so far. There's still some time to figure it all out and I'll feel better once I can get their chop on it.

117 days left.

Date is set!

Title says it all really. We called the Little Chapel of Flowers last night and spoke with the wedding planner and put down our deposit for our wedding in the Magnolia Chapel for July 1st! The 1st is a special date already because it will be our second anniversary or when we started dating. After this year it will be our wedding anniversary! We got everything hammered out though and we are ready to go!

I am very excited. Now we just need to pay off the rest of the balance, get me a suit, Trista a dress, and Shelby, Amanda, and Amy all on a flight! It should be so much fun. I am excite!

Nervous

I notice that the closer this gets the more nervous I am about it. Surely, this is normal?

Fortunately, the nerves are tempered with a great deal of excitement. I love Johnny and he makes me happy. We laugh all the time. We respect each other. I know that I won't ever be embarrassed to say, "This is Johnny, my husband." I am already proud of everything he's done to help us get this far in creating our new family. It is not possible for me have done better.

I'm getting too mushy.

121 days left.

Hurdle 1 crossed.

Well we told our parents this weekend! My parents took it very well, my dad actually said my mom had been waiting to hear this, and my mom said my grandma has been really waiting to hear it. As expected my parents both greatly approve of the Vegas idea. They have been telling me I should elope since my brother and his wife did it way back when. My parents also did something amazingly awesome for us and have agreed to pay for our hotel and flight cost for the trip! Now that our flight and hotel is booked it almost feels like the wedding money battle is half over (in some ways it is.).
Next step is a deposit on the chapel, and sense I got paid today I expect that to happen post haste! Oh and we are staying in new York new York woo!

I found some more books at work recently on the subject of non-traditional weddings, specifically Let's Elope. Granted, its a decade old at this point but it's still useful. For example, I had no idea what to do about engagement or wedding announcements, now I do. It also supplied more reasons for eloping, strategies for your parents, and information about places to go other than Las Vegas, which I had not even thought about, much less considered. I think we'll stick with Vegas though.

I spoke to Amy about the possibility of her making the wedding. I wanted to give her a lot of lead time because I know money is tight for a lot of us. She's my best friend in the whole world and she lives in Florida now. It'll be tough to plan everything without her. I really hope she can make it.

It would also be nice if my parents could make it, but I don't have high hopes. Much like Amy, there is work and funding to consider and they are not small considerations at all.

126 days left.