Going to the chapel...

Well guys, with a little less than a year to go I already got a wedding dress. It was one that I had my eye on for over a year (sad huh? lol). I'm absolutely DYING to show Daniel because I can't keep a surprise to save my life, but Im under strict orders from my mom and Amy to NOT, under any circumstances show him the dress lol. We made the trek to Green Hills yesterday and I was accomopanied by my mama and best friend Amy. It was so fun and felt so great to be surrounded by love on a special day like that. I had already set up an appointment with a personal shopper at JCrew (sounds fancy, but I assure you the service was free yippee!) and had a huge dressing room waiting for me with my top three dress choices all laid out ready for me to try on. Andrea, the personal shopper, advised me to try on the dresses in a 3-2-1 fashion, with my least favorite being the first to try on.
I did this and the first two dresses were exquisite. But then...
I tried on my all-time favorite, to-die-for dress that I said over a year ago (long before a ring was ever in our minds) "that will be the dress I get married in."
It. Was. Fabulous.
It was amazing. Truly and utterly. I came out and everyone went 'Oh yea, that's it.'
It was perfect for me. No frills. No lace. No beading. Just pure lovliness and simple elegance. With one sexy silhouette. I was smitten:)
I will admit though that even though it was definitely on the low-end price range for a wedding dress, it was the biggest purchase I've ever made, personally and that was hard to swallow. BUT I kept telling myself... we're having such a simple affair as far as the wedding goes (food, music and friends in a field) that I was getting that darn dress, the dress that I had been eyeing for over a year.
I also picked up some awesome bright red nail polish to wear on our special day. I'm envisioning short red, retro nails and a homemade (or cheaply bought!) birdcage veil.
If you know me, you probably know that I was never all for a wedding... the important thing was that I just simply wanted to MARRY daniel. I always told him that I wanted to elope and then celebrate with family later, but he never budged on the wedding idea. But now that I have this amazing dream dress... I'll admit... I'm all over the idea of a (SIMPLE!) wedding :)

Ideas, ideas and more ideas...

So even though I confessed to not being very "bridal," that doesn't mean that I haven't thought about my wedding day for quite some time.
As I've said before, glitzy lights with a big huge monogrammed caked and ruffles everywhere might be the epitome of glamour for some brides--and good for you, you go one with your glamourous selves! But I prefer a much more low-key wedding style. I've been looking at www.oncewed.com for eons now (seriously, AMAZING diy projects and gorgeous ideas) and have been seriously smitten with the overall style of weddings featured on the site.
Lights haphazardly strung up in trees, wild flowers sticking out of mason jars, tea lights in old jam jars serving as center pieces... I know you're probably thinking it al sounds really ridiculous, but I'm tellin' ya... head on over to oncewed.com and you'll be surprised how lovely an empty field can be when done up with a few homey accents:) I know I was! Here are just a few photos from OnceWed.com for a little taste of what I'm talking about. Hope everyone has a happy Thursday! (I'm nursing a cold...boo!)




TWINKLE LIGHTS! Need I say more?


Love that little pug... can't wait to take wedding photos with my own sweet little pup:)


I LOVE how this bride wasn't afraid to "casualize" her gorgeous dress with a sweet little cardigan... COMFORT IS BEAUTIFUL! lol


I am so about the idea of not making my bridesmaids buy the same dress or a new dress period... I want, more than anything, for EVERYONE at my wedding to have a great time and to be comfortable. I MIGHT, MIGHT, MIGHT sweetly ask my bridesmaids to wear ANY dress in a blue or green shade, but I doubt it. I decided long ago that I do not care what ANYONE wears... I just want to be surrounded by friends and family who I love and love us:)

DRESSES

Ok. It's time for me to admit that I am NOT a very, um, "bridal" girl. That poofy skirt, lace overlay, long veil, ball gown style dress selection is NOT for me. I'm thinking either a simply glitzy shift dress like the beaded jcrew icicle dress. I've had my eye on it for quite some time.



Also... I LOVE the jcrew halter column dress and the jcrew bow dress. All are simple yet eclectically special. No frills or ruffles for this girl!
jcrew halter dress


jcrew bow dress

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did it... after three years of dating and holding each other's hands on this crazy roller coaster of life, Daniel proposed to me last night on the deck of my parents' lake house. It. Was. Perfect. It's been no secret that I've been dying to marry Daniel for, well, ever now. I was beyond surprised and THRILLED when I saw him get down on one knee after asking me to come outside and look at the stars.
I was determined that I was going to stay inside for the night and rest up in my PJs after canceling drinks with Amy, Amanda, Nathan and Sarah. Daniel kept urging me that we should go out for my birthday and that I'd regret it if we didn't. I gave in and got ready... I noticed how Daniel changed into an unusually nice outfit--much nicer than his usual attire of jeans and a tee:) He looked absolutely adorable in his grey and white striped button down.
Right as I was ready to leave, he called me out on the front porch to look at the sky... I thought it was strange of him, because he's always read to get going to our destination after having to wait on me to get ready.
I walked out ,he turned to me and put his arms around me and asked me, "You know I love you right?"
I replied "yes, of course and I love you," as I put my head on his shoulder and wrapped myself in his hug.
He paused and said very slowly, "Which... is... why..." and he knelt on one knee.
My hands went up in the air by face and my mouth dropped.
"I was wondering if you'd mary me?"
I jumped up and down and immediately yelled YES YES YES of course!!!
I asked Daniel, "Are you for real?!?!?!"
He looked up at me with the sweetest watery eyes and the BIGGEST smile I'd ever seen and said "this is for real."
At that moment in time, I was ECSTATIC!!!!!
And still am!
We kissed and hug and oogled the ring on my finger for a few minutes then Daniel swept me away to celebrate with Amy, Sarah, Amanda and Nathan.
I had the best night and enjoyed spending it with such amazing friends who were genuinely happy for us.
We are so blessed.
I am beyond thrilled to be marrying Daniel... he's my best friend and the love of my life. He makes me laugh like no one I've ever met and I know in my heart that we have an unwavering love for each other.
We have one crazy ride ahead of us over the next year (as we are planning to marry in October 2011)... We hope you'll celebrate the ride with us:)