Gifts for the Girls!

[We're still on our honeymoon, so here is another scheduled post]

Now that it's after the wedding, I can tell you what I got my amazing bridesmaids! Basically- I got them some of the same things but also got them something unique that I felt fit their personality or I knew they wanted.

First- it all came in a tote bag. Traditional, yes, but I liked that I could personalize them initially and then each of the girls could continue to make it their own. 

Next were the goodies inside the bag! 

I got them jewelry that matched the BM dresses

This is some of the stuff they got; they each got the tissues, hand sanitizer, and socks. Then the other gifts went to a specific girl. [Not pictured- Brittany's gift because I didn't want to take it out of the packaging]

Something else all the girls got were these gorgeous sun catchers my parents got from their recent trip to Kauai

All of the gifts wrapped up, before going into the tote bags

As I am writing this post before giving it to them, I really hope they like their gifts! I love all of them dearly and I'm so glad they decided to be a part of our wedding. I hope when I get to posting my recaps of the rehearsal dinner and such I can write how much they liked them! Now remember to come back this week- I have other scheduled posts!

THE dress, with pictures

[Hello! Matt & I are currently in Disney World on our honeymoon, so I wrote this post a few weeks before the wedding and scheduled it to post this week. No, I am nowhere near a computer right now. Don't worry.]

I figured now that the wedding is over, you should be able to see the pictures from my wedding dress shopping experience. Later on this week I'll share the pictures from the bridal shower.

You can read about the dress experience here, sans pictures: click me!

So one of the reasons I went to the Princess Bridal was because they had this dress:   

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 I really liked the sleeves and how spring-like it looked. And here it is on me:

It was pretty, but I just wasn't feeling it. So I had previously grabbed other gowns, and here are some of those...

Ah, the infamous tissue dress

As I had explained in the first post, when we walked into our little suite, there was a dress on the manikin in the back corner. I walked in and immediately knew I had to try it on. And here, my friends, is that dress:

LOVE how soft it looks

Completed outfit

So long story short, yes, that's my dress. I love the way it flatters my body and I feel like I'm wearing the dress, it's not wearing me. Here is one of my bridal portraits, so you can see it post-alterations:

Photo Credit: Kasey Lynn Photography

I am so glad my dress search was relatively easy. I absolutely love it! So, what am I going to do with it now that the wedding's over? I'm looking into donating it actually. I'm sure you'll hear more about that later.

This is it!

As you might have gathered from my last post, it has been a busy few days! My parents and I have gotten so many wedding-related things checked off the list that I feel a lot better about this whole shin-dig. We've also had some good friends come through and help us with certain things, which is a BIG help!

We finished the wedding programs yesterday, among other projects. Today I was able to organize my wedding things into different boxes. I have one for the rehearsal dinner, one for the reception, and one for the wedding itself. 

One of the piles...

We also took all of the gifts that have been currently living on the dining room table (a la Father of the Bride)...

Boxed up several of them, and moved them into a spare room we have. This room is also housing the majority of my possessions...

Scary, no?

Yikes!

So it is a lot of chaos and I tend not to go in that room. It is also now housing my wedding dress and veil, so Matt is definitely not allowed in that room when he arrives tomorrow. 


Three of my four bridesmaids & Matt are coming tomorrow! I'm so excited! I think it will start to feel more 'real' then. I can't believe the time from our engagement to now past so quickly. Now to hold on to these last few days and enjoy the time with my friends and family!

But, that also means that this will be my last blog post as a miss! It is also my 100th post, though, so that's exciting!!

I already have 3 posts scheduled to go up next week, so be sure to come by and check them out. After the honeymoon, Matt & I will be moving to our new apartment, so I don't know the next time I will be on here. Hopefully by the Tuesday or Wednesday thereafter.  


Thank you so much to those that have been commenting and all my new followers! I know lately I haven't been as good as replying back on comments, etc, but I will get better once we move, I promise! :) It has been fun blogging through this wedding-planning process and it's been great to connect with others. No worries- I will be continuing this blog post-wedding! 


So, have a good next few weeks! I will leave y'all with this verse that has centered me throughout this crazy process:


We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

Wedding week is here!

I hope everyone had a great Monday! Mine has definitely been busy!! This morning Matt & I both moved out of our respective apartments in College Station... guess that makes graduation and moving on all the more final. My parents were able to come and help me move my stuff which was good.

Side note: When you move, do you realize you have WAY too much stuff??? You try to give stuff away, etc, but you can justify owning just about everything. Someone please explain this weird materialism to me, please....

But I digress... after giving my key up, eating lunch, and driving home, it was time to start organizing boxes. I have a spare room here at the house that is becoming a storage room for all my boxes and other things to move. It's crazy how much stuff there is. But after organizing boxes and the wedding gifts we've gotten thus far, we went shopping! My mom and I both got rehearsal dinner dresses (about time, huh?) and I got another cute dress I can't wait to find an excuse to wear. 

Plans for this week?? Finish up last minute wedding things, like printing programs and getting rehearsal, wedding day, honeymoon stuff centralized. Oh, and pack.

Hint for future brides: do NOT move home the week of the wedding, and then be moving immediately after the honeymoon. Please. Save yourself some stress (though my mom says stress burns calories!) and lack of sleep. Oh, and bruises. The bruises I have on my legs from today are going to be amazing, let me tell you. 

Anyway, this week will be busy but I'll be on here once or twice more to update y'all before the wedding festivities really get started. I have a few posts already written that will be posted next week so be looking for those! 

The First Wedding

Last night Matt & I went to the wedding of our friends Travis & Ginny. I have known Ginny since basically the beginning of freshman year, at which point her and Travis were dating long distance. They remained about 8 hours apart for several years, and then he transferred to A&M. So after 4 years of dating, last night they finally got married!

It was a beautiful wedding and the reception was a lot of fun. Ginny and Travis- I wish you the best of luck and have fun in the Dominican Republic!! We'll see you in a few days!

The church's altar-- I loved the flowers!

The centerpiece at our table

Cupcakes!!

I thought the topper was so adorable!

Groom's cake

The happy couple walking in to the reception

First dance!

Creeper picture, but I loved the back of her gown!

Us with the bride & groom

Ginny wore Toms :)

During their ceremony, Matt & I just couldn't believe that we would be up there in one week. It's 6 days til our wedding. After seeing Ginny & Travis get married last night, we are beyond ready!!

Wedding Shower highlights

This past Sunday, some of Matt's family friends through us a wedding shower out on one of the lakes in Austin. The weather was absolutely perfect and the whole event was pretty chill and relaxing. Besides Matt's family, there were 3 other families there. I had met them all before, but it was good really getting to talk to them and get to know them better!

The families had provided some delicious food, including some brisket, fruit salad, and of course dessert! We ate and talked, sitting by the water's edge. Then it was time for presents. Since I had to open presents by myself at the bridal shower, I made Matt open these so he could experience the awkwardness that is having everyone look at you. I know, I'm such a loving fiance'! 

Photo credit for these pics: Matt's sister and BM Lindsey

Some of our friends got us a lego set and a mystery lego person. We had to put it together of course!

 Anyway, we got some really good gifts and it was one of the most chill wedding events we've had. I so wish the wedding reception will be that relaxed, but I know it won't be. I'm very thankful to those family friends that threw the shower for us!!


Earlier in the afternoon, a swan and her baby (apparently called a cygnet) came swimming by across the lake. When the shower was almost over, the swans came back and were met by another swan. They then exchanged the baby, as if the first was saying, "I had her all day, now it's your turn!"


The two adult swans did the whole form a heart thing with their necks, though I wasn't able to get my camera out quick enough for that. Here are the pictures I did get though!

After the baby swap

"awwww"

Graduation festivities

This past Saturday, Matt & I both graduated from Texas A&M! My ceremony was at 9 AM, and then we met up with Matt's family for lunch. After eating, we each packed up more things from our apartments and loaded them into our respective families' vehicles. [A big thanks to my brother who went above and beyond in this :)]

Then Matt's graduation ceremony was at 7 PM. Each graduation ceremony was about 2 hours and 45 minutes long. Can you say longest day ever? Aside from the day before when we attended 3 back-to-back honors ceremonies, it pretty much was. Instead of saying more of the gory details, here are some of my favorite pictures of the day!

My family and me after my graduation

Matt's family got us matching diploma frames!

Matt and his family, missing one brother

At Matt's graduation- one of the petroleum engineers had an oil derrick on his mortarboard

Matt's graduation-- scary!!

Where I'm at right now

I should be packing. Really. I have 2 boxes mostly packed, 2 partially packed boxes, and a lot of stuff remaining. I just can't get my brain around what I need to do.

OK, here's my schedule over the next 17 (!) days, til the wedding day:
-Family coming in tomorrow (Thursday) for various honor ceremonies
-Graduation 9 AM Friday morning, followed by graduation lunch with both families, then Matt's graduation later that evening.
-Saturday- drive to Austin
-Sunday- wedding shower
-Monday- drive home 
Tuesday-Thursday: home
-Friday- come back to the apartment
-Saturday- friend's wedding
-Monday- really move out
-Then that Saturday----- WEDDING

So yes, it's crazy. My parents want to move most of my stuff home when they leave Friday post-graduation lunch, so when I move out it is just the last minute stuff. But-- as Matt & I are moving the DAY after we get back from our honeymoon, my packing has to be strategic. Here are the three things I have:
-Stuff I need between now and next Monday
-Stuff I'll need from Monday to the end of the honeymoon
-Stuff I won't need til we unpack in Euless


I can't take it. Really. Disney pandora is playing and I just can't figure out how to do this. Help?


PS- don't plan on moving to another city the day after you get back from your honeymoon. This was a poor choice. Hindsight?

Craziness

Hello again!

As I warned you, the past few days have been B-U-S-Y! 

I am now a college graduate (WHOOP!)!!

We are getting married in 11 days!

Matt & I attended a wedding shower yesterday, so you'll get a recap of that soon. 

I drove from Austin to my parents' house today, where I get to start packing, organizing, and donating all my stuff. This weekend is a good friend's wedding, and then more moving out of my apartment. Then wedding week!


I know the next couple of weeks will be busy, but I will definitely be posting to recap the shower, graduations, weddings, etc. Oh, and finalizing my own wedding is going. Minor details...

Getting in the spirit of things

[I know I need to recap my bachelorette- and I will- I'm just waiting on some pictures]

We are officially under 20 days til the wedding!! They really aren't kidding when they say it goes by fast, huh?

Yesterday, Matt & I took a look at our itinerary for our Disney honeymoon and we are definitely getting excited about it! As I wanted to write a blog post this morning but am still waiting on the pictures from this weekend, I figured I would share some of my favorite Disney things with you. Happy Disney things make everyone's Monday better, right?

First off- my favorite park:

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Epcot! I LOVE walking around World Showcase, especially at night. Several countries are represented and they each have their distinct theming. 

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Something new Matt & I are going to try here is in the Future World area-- you can build and ride your own roller coaster! 

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And now-- my favorite ride:

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 Tower of Terror at MGM Hollywood Studios. The special effects, the fact that they're pulling you down faster than gravity, the view of the park, etc--- all those factors- I just love it! 

Funny story- I used to hate this ride when I was younger. I totally bought into the story and refused to ride it when it first opened. Then my parents got stuck on it and I really believed the Twilight Zone got them. My brother was waiting with me and some cast members walk up to us and say, "These are the kids." Well, my 7-year-old self just starts breaking down sobbing while they try to tell me it's OK. Finally 10 minutes later my parents finally get off the ride and all is well. But, I still never forget that experience!

My favorite character:

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Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty! Yup, I have a thing for Disney villains. Perhaps that's why I'm going in to criminology... Anyway, I love that she can turn into a dragon, and I really like the color purple. Don't have much other explanation than that... 


My favorite Disney memory:

First, I don't know if I have one that is my absolute favorite. My family and I used to go annually from elementary to high school, so there are a lot of good trips and experiences to pick from. I have also gone with family friends, my best friend, and then Matt, so those are trips that definitely stand out in my memory. 

I love walking around the parks at night, when you don't feel rushed to run from one ride to the next. Really just enjoying the sights, people-watching, looking around the shops, and taking in the magnificent detail. We have had some amazing meals, too, and you know I'm a foodie! 

A memory that springs to my mind a lot is the last time I went to Disney World, Matt got to go with me-- this was our sophomore year spring break. We were walking around Animal Kingdom and poking around the Tree of Life. There are some secret pathways and I got to see parts of the tree that I hadn't seen before, along with kangaroos! It was just a nice way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. 

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For me, going to Disney World is not just a vacation. I see things that remind me of past trips and memories and I'm able to spend time with my family and those I care about most. It takes planning, I like to make dining reservations, I make lists of my must-do's, etc, but then when I'm there, I can just relax and enjoy everything.


I will be there in 20 days with my fiance husband and I cannot wait!

and DONE

Yesterday I took my last (and only) final! I can't believe it's actually done. I will be graduating next Friday with a double major (SOCI/PSYC), several honors, and a completed thesis under my belt. Honestly- it does not seem real. Maybe it's because I have 5-6 years of grad school starting in August, so I know I'm not done with classes and papers. I'm just going to have a summer break where I'm NOT working, but instead getting married, moving, and being a house wife for 2 months.


That'll be different.


Anyway, I woke up this morning, wondering what the heck I was going to do with myself. So thus far, my to-do list includes:

• Go for a run
• Cleaning the apartment
• Selling back a few textbooks
• Updating my resume
• Start packing for move out
• Finalize honeymoon details

Ummm yeah... that's about it! I am really excited, though-- tonight's my bachelorette! My MOH and my roommate BM have put together the entire thing and I have no idea what's going to happen. I'm very much looking forward to it! 


In two weeks one of my good friends will be getting married. Then the week thereafter is our wedding. It has gone by so fast! The only other wedding-related things we have to do are:

• Finalize groomsmen gifts
• Meet with church wedding coordinator and make timeline
• Confirm with vendors what time they'll arrive
• Finish ceremony programs
• Purchase thank you cards

I think that's it. I already have a couple of posts scheduled to be posted when we're gone on our honeymoon [think actual wedding dress shopping pictures and bridal portraits], so that's taken care of.


Wow, it's really coming together!

So... close...

What a crazy weekend this has been! Royal wedding Friday morning, great date night with Matt that night, then Saturday I had a fun party to attend. Sunday was just full of craziness. Other couples getting engaged (congrats to you!), Osama bin Laden getting killed, finding out I'm getting a departmental award, witnessing flight testing.* It has been insane. 

To top it off, I am done with classes for the semester my undergrad career! That is so weird to write/type that... But now I'm in the midst of studying for my ONE final. Yes, it's only one. But it's written. And cumulative. Just like a good college final should be. Of course this is the first time I've had one of those since... umm... ever. We had multiple choice cumulative exams freshman year, but not written.

So yes, a lot of studying.

But that also means I'm edging ever closer to graduation! My final is this Friday, then one week later I walk across that stage! So excited!!!! What will I be doing in the mean time?

• Bachelorette party!
• Packing... boo
• Lord of the Rings all day marathon. It's gonna be great!
• Clean my apartment...

Yeah, that's about it. So looking forward to that. But until then, more studying about signal detection theory, levels of processing theory, and other such cognitive-related things.

Other happy thoughts include the fact that we're getting MARRIED in 26 days and then going here the next day. Cannot wait.

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*I can't believe I put all those things in the same sentence!