Here Comes the Bride!

After playing a few rounds of cards, tightening my bodice a few times, and testing my ability to pee solo, it was FINALLY time to "get 'er done!" =) (And, by this point in time, that's exactly what I was wanting to do!).

My girls drove me the mile or so from the house to the beach park. We parked off the side a bit and I got to watch some of the guests arrive, and my brother/minister handing out programs* from a cute little woven basket (ever so manly! lol).

*I'll do a "program reveal" in a later post! I was really happy with the way they turned out.

** Photo courtesy of one of our lovely guests

Finally we got the signal from our DOC that it was time to start lining up. I waited at the top of the path near the parking lot until Jacob made his way up the aisle (we weren't seeing each other beforehand, remember? It was kind of fun trying to avoid each other all stealth-ily actually! lol), and then I made my way down to the beach where the rest of the wedding party was lining up and waiting for their signals.

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography
One of my FAVORITE photos of myself. I'm so happy and sooo excited!

** Photo courtesy of one of our lovely guests

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Another of my brothers acted as our ceremony musician. He played "Raise Me Up" by Josh Grobin during the processional and then played the wedding march as I made my way down the aisle.

First my brother/minister and my grandmother, followed by Jacob and his parents...

** Photo courtesy of one of our fantastic guests!

** Yet another guest photo!

** Guest Photo
If I was Jacob, I think THIS is when I would have been the most nervous! Standing up there all by myself like that... yeah.... nervous. =)

Best Man, AJ with Matron of Honor, Josie...

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Bridesmaid Holly, with Groomsman/Brother-of-the-Groom, Zach...

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Groomsman Aaron with Bridesmaid Jessica...

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Flower Girl/Niece of the Groom Sophie with Ring Bearer (who didn't actually carry the rings. lol)/Nephew of the Groom Aiden...

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Ring Bearer/Nephew of the Bride Satori and Flower Girl/Cousin of the Groom Janae...

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography
I know I've shown this photo already.... but I just love the look on his face! lol

FINALLY it was MY turn! =)

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

I chose to go a little non-traditional and have both of my parents escort me down the aisle. My parents raised me and supported me together as a team... it felt wrong not to include my mother in this special moment.

** Photo courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

Nobody got any photos of Jacob's face when he first saw me =( But someone did get this shot of my brother/minister. I LOVE it. It almost makes up for the lack of Jacob's facial expression.... almost. =)

** Guest Photo

Ceremony up next!

Now What?

I'm feeling kind of at a stand still wedding-planning-wise right now. We still have a little over 10 months to go... and I think it's this (what seems like) long period of time that is jilting me. We already have our reception site booked, our photographer kinda booked (I'll reveal this as soon as the paperwork is signed!), we have a beach picked out for the ceremony (just need to figure out the permit stuff), we have our wedding party picked out, we have our videographer (my brother) booked, we have our minister (my other brother) booked, and we have the ceremony music (my OTHER brother) booked. We even have a lead on a florist (who I sent any e-mail to yesterday), and are down to two possible options for catering (DIY-Family or the hotel where we are having the reception).

So, my question is, now what? I'm feeling the urge to shop (been scanning etsy and the dollar tree online for the last couple of days!), but I can't shop for dresses until Dec. when all of my bridesmaids are in the same state at the same time... and, even with shopping I feel like it's too soon! I don't want a PWC sitting around my house for MONTHS. I also want to do our invitations... but again... too soon! I don't want to get them all done and then have them just sit there! And then, God forbid, what if something happens and a change needs to be made? Then I have to do them all over again!

*sigh*

Yellow Dresses?

Our wedding colors are blue, yellow and white. The picture in my head was always white table clothes, with blue bridesmaids dresses and yellow flowers. I can just SEE it.

Then I ran across some wedding pictures...I know my MOH will kill me if I put her in yellow, but I am REALLY digging these marigold dresses that the bridesmaids wore for the wedding of We Met in a Bar blogger, Heather.

Very Creative Spin on Reception Speeches! =)

I know it's long... but it's worth the watch!

Can Anyone in My Wedding Party Sing?

I LOVE this! People are getting so creative with these things... I love it!:

Do You Think I Can Get My Wedding Party To Do This??

OMG! I laughed and then I cried... this is just fantastic and they all look soooo happy!

The BUDGET

When I originally thought about our somewhat meager budget, I didn't think it would be THAT big of a deal to fit everything in... but then, with the help of some internet sources, I did some calculations and got a little nervous... (I REALLY shouldn't have done all this at 11:30 last night... I was up half the night thinking about it).

I found this Wedding Budget Worksheet that shows an idea of what percentage of your budget should go toward each of the (apparently numerous) expenses. As well as a free download-able spreadsheet to input your expected costs and your actual expenses (Yes, I realize that I am somewhat overly organized... but it's only going to help in the end, right?). After doing this I see that I have exactly $45 to buy "gifts" for 10 people (I have put bride-groom gifts to the wayside at this point). So... if you're in my wedding party, I need to know what kind of cookies you like! lol (Holly has already put in an order for peanut butter lol).

I've never been a big "do it yourself" type of person... but it looks like I may need to figure some stuff out pretty quick! lol I read an article online about a women who tried to barter for her wedding on craigslist... she posted an add talking about her circumstances and how she really wanted a nice wedding day for herself and that she was willing to trade her services in home design/repair for wedding expenses... the next day she had a DJ, a videographer, and a guitar player for the ceremony! Maybe I should give that a try! lol

Wedding Party!

Yay! I finally have my wedding party finalized! Jacob and I will each have three friends standing up with us. Jacob has his brother and two friends from the U of O. I managed to get a representative from three different "eras" of my life... high school, college, and "beyond"! lol

My Matron of Honor (MOH), Josie, went to high school with me in JC. I was the MOH at her wedding (though she ditched all the wedding planning and 4 of us flew to Vegas for a Little White Wedding Chapel ceremony) and now she'll be returning the favor! =) I still remember when she was a bit of a tom boy in high school and I had to practically bribe her to wear a skirt to the homecoming dance... now I get to dress her up in a poofy-girly dress if I so desire. ;)

I met Jessica, one of my two bridesmaids, when I worked at Papa Murphy's while going to school in Ashland (come to think of it, Josie use to work at a P. Murph's too... lol). Jessica was a year ahead of me in school and moved up to Eugene when she graduated, and I followed a year later... ultimately getting a job at the same place she worked when she left to spend time with the Peace Corps in Fiji (I'm still a bit jealous about this! lol). Now, after two years on a tropical island, and a beach wedding of her own, she's willing to help me out with mine!

Holly is another of my craigslist finds. =) She moved down to Eugene a couple years back and posted an ad looking for some females to hang out with... as I was in need of some estrogen as well (Josie lives in Iowa (which is where Holly originally CAME from) and Jessica had just moved to Fiji) I responded... and, in totally platonic terms, it was love at first sight! lol She's FANTASTIC! So much fun and an awesome friend. She's currently finishing up her time at the U of O before she heads off to ride across the country next summer on her spiffy new bike with her two dogs in tow! (She just better make it back before the wedding! lol)