Hatch My House

So tonight I came across what I think may be the perfect solution to our registry dilemma. Paired with the darling poem Karen found we're sure to have one dynamic duo. Now mind you while I realize that many people may not be comfortable with the idea of a money registry I think this site is great! Worth a shot I think. It's an interactive gift registry. Go ahead search for us (either use my name or our wedding date - I can't figure out how to allow a search with Chris' name) by going to www.hatchmyhouse.com and "find an event". Guests can purchase exterior items such as planters, columns,roofing, and windows OR interior items such as pillows, lamps, and furniture. The money received from the "items" purchased will go directly to our savings account via paypal. Love it!! And while the picture doesn't look a lot like our house other than the color I think everyone will get the idea...

Ok so here's our poem courtesy of Karen Anderson. Once again - Love it!!

They have their dishes and towels
They have pots and pans and oven mitts too
So what do you get for the Bride & Groom
Whose house is setup in every room?
Their house needs repairs and some upgrades too
But you can not register for carpet and glue.
A well that holds wishes is the way to go
So lets make it easy for all that know.
An envelope will be provided for those who have room,
To give a monetary wish to the Bride and Groom
A wishing well will be on display at the reception hall
To attach your wishes, for the couple, with love from all.

More Hairstyles

Goooood moooorning,

I wanted to thank you ladies for coming over yesterday to get measurements for your dresses. The sketches Tina drew were lovely interpretations of your ideas. I can not wait to see each of you in your dress (and shoes!). I know we briefly touched on the subject of hair and some of you have been sharing with me your ideas. Love them! I am fine with you either having your hair up or down - I know you will all look beautiful either way. Attached are three more hairstyle ideas to add to your list of possibilities. Please be sure to take a look at the ones Karen found too. Talk to you soon!

Holla back young'n (Hoooo Hoooo!)

I don't have too many more updates for you as of today but figured since I am no longer "on call" I'd drop a few lines :)

As you all know we will be meeting at my casa this Saturday so that Tina can measure you for your bridesmaid dresses. Can't wait to see all of the styles you picked out!! I will also be finalizing our cake and dessert order as well as tasting a few additional flavors Saturday afternoon (thanks KA). Yummy!

On Sunday Chris' Aunt Ella and I will be going to the venue to decide on our "lay out" and finalize the amount of tables we will need. This will help us to figure out exactly how many centerpieces we will need.

We have also finalized our plan for favors. We decided to follow our hearts and stick with our original plan and will therefore be doing a "charitable favor" SO if you have any ideas on wording please please holla at your girl.

P.s what's another word for finalize? I used it way to many times. Where's my thesaurus?

Hair style # 4

Hair style # 3 ( I only like the braid leading up to the bird nest (lol)

Hair Style #2 (looks complicated, but cute and romantic)

Hair Style # 1

Good morning Ladies,

Just wanted to provide you with a quick update as to how everything is going. This weekend Connie and I did a cake and dessert tasting - so yummy!!! I am convinced we have found our vendor - a place many of us have come to love. Connie and I are very excited about this :)Prior to that we visited the flea market and were able to scope out a few great finds that could be used for the decor. We also discovered that the flea market as some great vintage jewelery and accessories. We are hoping to go back before the wedding. I don't know if we have a "theme" to describe our wedding but I guess you could call it a vintage garden type theme??? I'm not sure. I just know that I LOVE vintage pieces or vintage inspired pieces (which cost less than the real thing) and I love all things romantic. If you ladies have any ideas for the decor please please post. I love both seeing and hearing them. I am leaning toward making the centerpieces myself maybe even the bouquets. While I am not a florist what I am is on a budget :) Below is a picture of how I would like to do the table cloths...

With regards to completing the tasks left before the big day, as of now...

• Connie has been helping me with all things food :)


• Karen is looking up hairstyle ideas


• Both she and Connie have also been helping with favor ideas


• Teria is going to be helping with hair also


• Ana and I are also working on a couple projects as I type (Ok so not exactly as I type but as I typed last night) including the invitations which will be going out soon both via Internet and USPS


• Karla also been helping me with researching different things but I have asked her several times to relax and focus on July 31st (her wedding day) after that I will gladly hand over some projects her way (Tough Love Karla. Tough Love).

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all of your help. Remember that your best is always enough. I know that you all are each one (singular) person (singular) with many roles (plural) in life and I while I am thankful that friend and bridesmaid are two of them I don't want to consume you all with jobs and tasks. Not to mention I would just love it if you were to actually be able to enjoy being a bridesmaid :) I know August 28th is quickly approaching BUT I am confident and prayerful that things will all work out and we have already accomplished so much!!


Again if you have any ideas please post them. I only ask you to do this because it makes it so much easier for me to go back and look at things and keep track of all of your fabulous ideas!!! Plus I enjoy your comments.


Jalayla and I are so excited to be marrying Chris :)



Love you!

Tina's Lovely Rendition

Hi ladies for your viewing enjoyment here are pictures of Tina's beautiful rendition of the J Crew Dress :) Please be sure to contact her to provide her with your measurements and also the style of dress you have in mind (if you could also share that with me too that would be great as my hope is to have everyone be somewhat different)...Let me know if you have any questions.

"Gonna dress you up in my love..."

Good evening ladies. So tonight Connie came over and we spent hours looking at magazines and websites for wedding ideas. Thank you Connie!! One of these things being the bridesmaid dresses. Attached you will find what I believe are lovely pictures. The colors are soft, the fabrics flowey, and the options limitless. I can't really really give you a name for these colors - blush, sand, oatmeal, creme, khaki...to make it easier I will refer to them as neutrals. Soft colors. I have also attached a dress from anthropologie which is also quite lovely. My suggestion, because I already purchased the shoes (I know but I did) is to take your shoes with you on your dress hunt. Try them on and see if you like them with your find. I really would love for you to pick your own dresses. Wear what makes you feel beautiful, feminine, and comfortable in your own skin. All I ask is that you share with me a picture of your find before the big day (way before if possible :) ). Again I am going for a more soft romantic look...its fine if the dresses are simple as we can always use accessories to add to our overall look.

If the shoe fits...

Hey ladies just wanted to post a picture of the shoes. I saw them several weeks ago while with my mom at Nordstrom. It was love at first sight. Around the time I started sending you my random requests for your shoe size my mom and contacted Nordstrom and found out they were 1/2 off!!! We immediately started ordering them in all of your sizes as the Topanga Nordy didn't have many left. You may be wondering why the shoes have been selected already. I do understand that typically you find the dress first then the shoes but my hope is that you can find a dress to compliment your shoes :) So without further ado-






Hope you ladies like :)

Love Sweet Love...

I think I am going to incorporate that quote into the wedding. "Love sweet love"...Hmmm. Below are pictures of two lovely dessert bars I came across. Figured I'd share just in case you were up looking for a midnight snack. Yum.

What have we been up to?

I wanted to update you to let you know that things are getting accomplished.

• As you know we have the venue.
• We have our servers and bartenders.
  
• I have met with the invitation designer and will be emailing her our invitation wording by Tuesday. She will have the invite ready by the end of this week.
• I have an appointment scheduled with the rental company but we have already secured them for the wedding.
  
• We have our wedding coordinator (Chris' Aunt has a ton of experience in this area as she does weddings and has volunteered her services). Yay!!! She has also volunteered to make the table cloths so if you have any ideas please please share.

There are a few other things that I am working on at this time including the FOOD. We have spoken with a couple vendors and will be contacting several more.

Karen's Find

So I wanted to post the picture of the dress that Karen found Friday. Why? Because we LOVE it!!! We are hoping to find something similar and will be talking with Tina (our friend and amazing designer who will be making us a dress sample) to see if she can recreate this lovely piece. Well done bestest. Well done.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Today was a sign. Maybe. Karen sent me the exact photo my mom and I had fallen in love with days before.... While I am a big fan of the muted soft colors given the time constraints I am also considering black dresses with the muted pink shoes. I also love the idea of different styles and even fabrics but in the same color palate. I will post pics of the shoes I found soon to see what you think.

Wedding Venue

Below are a few pictures of the venue. Really the pictures don't do it justice not to mention they do not all reflect some of the changes Susann, the owner, has made (whom by the way is very kindhearted and helpful). The garden is even more beautiful in person, It's whimsical, romantic, and sweet. I have attached the link so that you can go to Susann's site and view more pictures.

http://www.achairinthegarden.com/Home.html

Be inspired ;)

Krishann

Isn't she lovely....

Meet my lovelies :)

Delaya Briscoe

Karla Fountain - Bridesmaid (and soon to be bride woop woop!!!)


Karen Anderson - Bridesmaid



Connie Llanos - Bridesmaid

Teria Broadous - Bridesmaid

Robyn Joi Reed - Bridesmaid

Ana Thompson - Matron of Honor

*Photos taken from facebook hence the small portions left of people who used to be in the photo with you :)

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” ~ Elisabeth Fole

I want to thank each of you for accepting my invitation to be a part of what will be an amazing memory hopefully not only for Chris, Jalayla, and I but for you all too. I love each of you with all of my heart and thank God not only for your presence in my life but also for the lessons you have taught me, the shoulders that you have provided for me to lean on, and of course the laughs - moments of uncontrollable laughter one of life's most simple yet sweetest joys. You know my plan isn't only to grow old with Chris. I'd like it if you ladies stuck around too ;)

Now before I get too emotional my purpose in starting this blog is to help us have a way to all stay connected (Karla you inspired me). While it is a honest attempt please be aware that in the event that our posts (or my posts) dwindle and eventually become nonexistent prior to the big day do not fret - everything will be ok. Unfortunately with my job I am sometimes slow to respond or contact you ladies but again - do NOT fret worse case scenario I will call you at 6:00 pm as I drive through the mountains (of course I will probably call you again at 6:05, 6:07, 6:10 as my calls frequently drop until I make it to the the other side.

Now, while I won't post everything I will do best best to post pictures of pertinent details such as bridesmaid dresses/dress ideas, flowers, decor, and of course the venue.

I know the wedding is only 2 months away but ladies - have we not conquered bigger feats? From writing published news articles, to graduating high school, to getting degrees, to closing escrows, to starting business, to planning and overseeing company events, to raising little ones, again - raising little ones, one more time - to raising little ones (who are quickly becoming no so little ones)...what I am trying to say is ladies we've got this...

we've got this....


yup - got it.