making progress

so much has happened! after a month of getting the run around from the events coordinator at our venue site we finally secured a date. and we got sept. 10! i may have had to pull out some bridezilla moves to get to this point but hey, whatever works!

so apparently brides are now supposed to send gifts of figure out creative ways on how to ask their bridesmaids to be in their wedding. i had no clue! i had already verbally asked my sister and cheryl to be a part of my day and then i find this out. so.... i had to think of something! here's what i did:





jana loves gummy's and cheryl loves wine. i think i did i pretty good!

we got our engagement pictures done by kyle about a week ago. she offered to do them to expand her portfolio which in turn helped us save on an engagement session! it was a fun time and i love her work. she's a great photographer and is going to make it huge one day. thanks again kyle!



we have also finally found a photographer that we like who isn't over $5,000. we contacted him yesterday and are starting to work out a contract. we've also decided which photo booth company we are going with! i found out about the company from kyle when she was taking our engagement pictures. they're fab! i'm excited to see what they are going to do for us. our first choice of officiant fell through because of a prior commitment but we have been in contact with another that we think will suit us just the same. i contacted a dj company yesterday and then got an interesting offer. a friend of mine from high school told me that if i flew him out here he would dj my wedding for free. i'm really considering this!
everything seems to be finally taking shape. we have contacted and have contracts for most of our "big" purchases. i'm really looking forward to the little details though- decorations, centerpieces, favors, invites, color scheme... i just hope i don't get too overwhelmed in the process. i have a great support system though. next up- save the date cards!

venue blues

about a month ago, mike and i chose our venue. on the water, in occoquan with a full club house for our reception. close enough to home where the dogs will still be taken care of, and a great price (as if anything wedding related can be a great price!). we signed up for september 17 even though we would have preferred the 10th. not just because the date is neat, but its a better time of the month. apparently another couple had verbally reserved that date but were still in negotiations about price. the events coordinator (donna) told us that we should know by the end of the week (around oct. 8) if the 10th was available or at the latest the end of the month. well here we are on november 3 and we still dont know our date! we cant do ANYTHING until we know this! i cant hire dj's, photogs, photo booths, etc. it's so annoying!
finally yesterday she told mike that she gave the other couple a 36 hour window where they had to put down a deposit or else she was giving the date to us. FINGERS CROSSED!!!!