It's in the mail!

Well, we registered at Target yesterday. It took a lot longer than we expected, but it was fun going down all the aisles and picking out what we wanted in our future home. We really like quality items, and we focused on kitchen items since we don't know where we will be (which means no curtains, tablecloths, etc. because we don't know how many windows we will have or if we'll have a table or not). Zach added some Legos, and I picked out some cookbooks. ;)

I got some wide blue ribbon that will work nicely for a sash if knotted and looped over in the back. (I think it will look tacky if it is tied in a bow.)

We also looked at some wedding bands at JCPenney. Zach got sized and found one he really liked that will match my band. (I just want a simple one so as not to take away from my diamond.)

Speaking of diamonds, my ring will be shipped Thursday, which means it will be here Friday, which means I can wear it on Saturday for our engagement pictures! Zach's mom loaned me her ring to use because it's similar, but is in yellow gold, instead of white. But we had decided to not do any close-ups. Now it doesn't matter!

Today we finished the invitations! There are a few here and there that we are waiting on correct addresses, but tomorrow they will be in the mail. Watch out!

Meet the Parents : )

Last night we went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe with Zach's parents and my mama. It was the first time we have all met, but I think it went really well. :) Then again, my mother loves EVERYONE, but, seriously, I think everyone got along and liked each other. That's not to say things got off to any easy start...

En route our tire blew out...and it was a brand new tire! I didn't even realize it had blown; I thought we were just driving over a very rough patch on the Interstate. *lol* We were two exits away right by the Rodney Parham exit, and it was a very busy part of the Interstate because it was right after the on-ramp at Cantrell and right before the next exit. So Zach's parents came to help with the tire. (I know how to change a tire, too, but I was wearing a dress and heels--not really practical clothing to work on cars on a busy road.) His dad helped him out while his mom and I went ahead to the restaurant because my mama was running late and had just arrived. We sat inside and talked and talked while Zach and his dad put the doughnut on, came and picked up the other car, and drove to Sears on University to get the other tire patched. We were supposed to have dinner at 5, but we didn't end up sitting down until around 6:30. *lol*

Anyway, I showed them my bouquet that Erin had made. I love it! It is a hydrangea bouquet with four different kinds of ribbon wound through the flowers. Erin tied all the ribbon into bows at the back for a very nice finish. Here are some pictures; they are not the best because I took them on my phone.

We also hand-delivered their invitations, which they loved. We have to get some more pearls to finish the last batch tomorrow because Hobby Lobby is closed today. After we look at rings and go register at Target and Wal-Mart today, we are working on the envelopes and mailing labels so most of them can be sent off tomorrow! Cha-cha-cha!

Goin' to the L-I-B-R-A-R-Y, and we're gonna get married...

A lot has been going on, so I've had to miss writing a day here and there. We went to Little Rock on Monday and picked up our invitation and flower supplies. Tuesday we stayed in town and got the rest of the invitation materials (white ink had to be exchanged for silver and LR was out of pearls), and we stopped by Faulkner County Library.

We hadn't heard from them, so I felt the need to double-check, in person, that we would still be able to get married there. (I get really nervous about these sorts of things.) Ruth Voss, the librarian, spoke with us again and promised to commit to being there if the assistant librarian could not be. She said it was full steam ahead! We went all around the library again, looking at doors we could use to bring in decorations, food, etc. and how to arrange the chairs--those sorts of details. We also asked if they had a projector and screen for our slideshow, which they do. HUZZAH! We are getting married in a library on September 19th--perfect!

This news also means we can make our invitations this week. We are going to work on them tomorrow, aiming to finish them to be mailed out this weekend. Zach bid on some Tenniel Alice illustration rubber stamps, but we'll probably have to use them on wedding decor or for the reception envelopes because they won't be in on time. We bought a key rubber stamp to use instead of the herald rabbit...and possibly in place of seals. Hopefully the Post Office has King and Queen of Hearts stamps...

Speaking of the Post Office, Zach called them again on Tuesday. Turns out my ring is NOT lost...it has just failed to arrive in Washington yet. Registered mail can take a while to arrive, and until it does, the Post Office will NOT have a record of the package. Whoever was on the phone on Monday was a liar and an idiot who didn't know a thing about registered mail. If you don't know, just shut it, ok? (Nearly gave my mother a heart attack when I told her my ring was lost...)

Erin is assembling my bouquet and making it beautiful. Tasha is planning on taking bridal pix at The Old Mill once I have a sash and everything in order. Our engagement pictures are scheduled for the 22nd. Zach's parents are working on food and flowers. We have figured out the party favors. Zach booked a bed-and-breakfast in Eureka Springs for the 20th and 21st. (We realized that Eureka Springs is three-and-a-half hours away, not leaving us much time to enjoy the B&B if we stayed just the 19th and 20th; we're staying in the area the first night.) :) Everything regarding the wedding is coming along. I just want everything planned and squared away, with as much done as possible before school starts next week.

I'm so excited! I can't wait until we're married!

Work(s) in Progress

Lots of things have started rolling...! ! !

On Monday, we went to talk to the staff at Faulkner County Library. I was sooo nervous, which made Zach nervous, which made me more nervous, which made him more nervous...oh, it was a vicious never-ending cycle in the parking lot. Zach said I should probably talk since I am the bride--and people are supposed to listen to brides. *lol* When we went in, we were so nervous that we even let a few people cut in line. Then I went up to the desk and simply said, "I don't know who I need to talk to, but we want to get married here."

And how did the assistant reply? "Well, I'll go find someone, but they're probably going to say no." :{ (That certainly didn't help our anxiety, to say the least.

Well the librarian came out, and I introduced us (and provided a snippet of what we needed), and she introduced herself (Gosh, what was her name?! Something "Voss...") and said we should just go sit down in her office and chat. She was very sweet and enthusiastic, which definitely relieved some of our anxiety after that first negative comment. She assumed that we wanted a meeting room, but when we said we were looking at the stacks, she said that would be absolutely fine. The library is very receptive to our plans because they have had two weddings in the stacks previously (!) and would allow some food & beverages, decorations, etc. She took us around the library and talked about how lovely and perfect it would be for us. (It probably didn't hurt that we told her we wanted to provide a monetary donation to the library!) She took down our information and is supposed to call us soon once she has confirmed that a staff member can stay after hours. But even that didn't seem a problem, and when we said we would pay of course, she said that wouldn't be a big deal.

If we haven't heard by Friday, we are calling back because we need to get the invitations going out soon.

Speaking of invites, I think I designed our invitations yesterday at Hobby Lobby in about 30 minutes (!). Zach and I went back today after a lunch at Holly's (I had THREE kinds of potatoes. ;), and he liked my ideas a lot (!). We are probably going to do light blue textured cardstock with the information printed in the center. Across the top, we are going to stamp a white or silver border of some sort (either hearts or floral) and add some pearl embellishments here and there (because pearls are elegant and I plan to wear them). We may add the border at the bottom, depending on how crowded the text is. There will be a quote from Alice in a smaller font before the information, and then on the envelopes we are going to stamp the White Rabbit as the court herald and the words "OPEN ME." We haven't decided if we are going to use any seals or what-not (though we like wax seals and found some cute blue and silver sticker seals at Big Lots)...but the post office has King and Queen of Hearts stamps right now. Perfect!

Initially we had planned to do our engagement photos this Sunday with a student photographer who did some of our friends' photos. She was very excited about the Alice-inspiration behind our relationship and started coming up with all kinds of ideas, like using our tea set and picnic basket under a tree with lights. We are sooo excited. : )

Today, however, I was washing my hands in the bathroom and was looking at the ring I have been wearing since mine was shipped off to Washington to be re-sized. We sent the engagement ring off on Monday, and since then, I have alternately been wearing my "True Love Waits" ring (which is a heart encrusted with alternating sapphires and diamonds) and a yellow gold ring with a diamond stud my mother gave me.

Even though I don't like yellow gold, Mama's ring fits perfectly, unlike the "TLW" ring, which requires a snuggie, so I decided to stick with Mama's ring to get in the habit of having a ring on that important finger. (Now it feels naked without one!) Well I was looking at it when I realized, "You HAVE to have your engagement ring for your engagement photos, Dum-Dum!" Guess when my ring is coming back? That's right...not until next week. This means our pictures are temporarily postponed. : (

Hey, at least I have more time to get my hair-did, right?

Tomorrow Stephanie and Tasha are going wedding dress shopping with me. Can't wait...!

Here's your notice: SAVE THE DATE

So this morning I decided to start perusing invitation ideas because that seems to be a logical place to begin, right? (We have already started physically looking at wedding locations and researching officiates, and this is next on our to-do list.)

I found this incredibly horrible VerseIt.com website that prided itself on being a resource for invite wording; Zach and I laughed and laughed over them, especially the fishing ones and this gem ("Out of wind and prairie dust, a cactus flower stands: a tribute to our love so true are elements it will withstand.")

After looking at site after site, I noticed that many focused more so on "Save the Date" cards than on the actual invitations, the idea being that your invites take their cue from your "STD" cards. I am familiar with "STD" cards, having received them in the past for my friends' weddings. I also remember an episode of "Regis and Kelly" a couple years ago in which the co-hosts debated the etiquette behind "STD" cards. One of Regis's daughters was getting married and had sent out some "STDs;" her father insisted on how useless these notifications were. Shouldn't the invitations serve as your notice to "save the date?"

I agree with Regis. (Hey, I like Big Poppa.) So I began to look at "STD" etiquette. On one website, I found this statement:

Save the Date Cards are announcements that inform your guests of your future wedding in order to keep your special day free (DO THE INVITATIONS NOT SERVE THIS PURPOSE? THEY ARE SENT BEFORE THE WEDDING AND TELL YOU WHEN IT IS HAPPENING.).

They ("STD" cards) are essential in the following situations: if many of your guests are traveling to your wedding (AREN'T WE ALL TRAVELING IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER? OK, OK, I KNOW...WE HAVE A FEW OUT-OF-CENTRAL AR AND OUT-OF-STATE GUESTS, BUT WE ARE HAVING AN INTIMATE WEDDING WHERE PRACTICALLY ALL OUR GUESTS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF OUR QUICKLY APPROACHING NUPTIALS PERSONALLY. IF THEY CANNOT COME, WE WILL MISS THEIR PRESENCE, BUT IT WILL NOT MAKE OR BREAK OUR WEDDING.),

your wedding takes place on or around a holiday (NEGATIVE--SEPTEMBER 19TH IS NOT ON OR AROUND A HOLIDAY, EXCEPT MAYBE AUNT TAY'S BIRTHDAY. MY APOLOGIES.),

you are planning a faraway destination wedding (NOPE, ARKANSAS IS NOT FARAWAY FOR MOST OF OUR GUESTS.),

or your wedding will take place in a seasonally busy or tourist locale (WE'RE GETTING MARRIED IN ARKANSAS. THIS IS NOT A HAPPENING PLACE.),

where the flights and hotels perhaps book up early (I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM--IT'S ARKANSAS. I IMAGINE OUR OUT-OF-CENTRAL AR OR OUT-OF-AR GUESTS ARE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO MAKE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS.).

These are situations when "STD" cards are necessary, and I do not think these stipulations apply to our wedding. Traditionally "STD" cards were only used for the most formal weddings or those occurring on or around holidays, and obviously we are not going hoity-toity. Everyone is busy, year-round, so even if you sent "STD" cards three years in advance, there would still be invited guests who would or could not attend.

So here is your notice to "save the date;" we're gettin' hitched September 19th! HUZZAH! If you get an invitation within the coming weeks, we would be honored if you would attend as one of our guests. If not, you didn't make the cut; our location may be too small, so we will only be able to invite so many relatives and close friends. Sorry, but we want to crush all of your egos upfront. You matter, but it's OUR wedding. I hope your prayers and best wishes will still be with us, even if you have no need to save OUR date.