Here Come the Men in Black

There are few things I love more than a man in a tux, especially when it is A in a tux. We debated, but settled on ordering tuxedos from Men's Warehouse. It seemed easiest because his best men x7 (Andrew still has not/does not seem to want to pick a best man) are all over the country, from Washington to Florida and our fathers live in Illinois (mine) and Minnesota (his). Andrew will be wearing an ivory vest/shirt to match my dress: The groomsmen will be wearing the same pattern of vest in brown to match the bridesmaids: The fathers will wear the same pattern of vest in silver: All of the dapper gents will wear these tuxedos in Super 100 as to not wilt during our outdoor ceremony: The will all wear these cuff links: And, we are not going to follow the trend and go with ties. Andrew has chosen the ever classic bow tie to complete his wedding day look. I was quite surprised!

Andrew will be wearing an ivory vest/shirt to match my dress:


The groomsmen will be wearing the same pattern of vest in brown to match the bridesmaids:

The fathers will wear the same pattern of vest in silver:

All of the dapper gents will wear these tuxedos in Super 100 as to not wilt during our outdoor ceremony:

The will all wear these cuff links:

And, we are not going to follow the trend and go with ties. Andrew has chosen the ever classic bow tie to complete his wedding day look. I was quite surprised! How did your fiance surprise you when you were chooisng his wedding day attire?

All pictures and products from www.menswarehouse.com.

Rave Review-Tungstenworld.com

We ordered his band on Wednesday, it was here on Friday, even with the New Year's holiday. It is exactly what he wanted, fits like a glove and came in a beautiful wooden box. Not only that, but Tungsten World offers some things that no other jeweler we shopped at did: a 30 day exchange policy, in case the fit isn't quite right, a guarantee that the ring will be replaced if his ring size changes (Tungsten is so hard it can't be sized) and it can be engraved (which is rare because tungsten is such a hard metal)! All this for under $200! I swear I do not work for www.tungstenworld.com.

Without further adieu...My man's band:

Now I need to devise the perfect phrase for engraving...Hmm...Any suggestions? What did you inscribe on your FH or DH's band?

Congratulations Bridgette and Dave!

On December 29th, my friend and bridesmaid, Bridgette got engaged. Here is the very sweet story, in her words:

"We got back Saturday from a great visit home to both of our parents' houses for Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations. Sunday we spent the day relaxing, then headed up to the mountains that night. Monday was spent at Keystone on the slopes. It was a beautiful, warm day with a perfectly blue sky. When we got back to the condo from skiing, Dave suggested that we take a walk before sunset. We spent time exploring the shores of Lake Dillon and the amphitheater. On our way back to the condo, Dave took my hand and turned me around toward him. He reached in his jacket and said, I've wanted to do this all day." Then there at 9,017 feet by a glorious ice-covered lake and snow-capped Rocky peaks, Dave got on one knee and asked me to married him. I, of course, said yes! Afterwards we spent the next few hours calling family and friends. That night we celebrated with dinner at Pugs Ryan and then a movie by the fireplace."

Congratulations you two! I've already had so much fun planning and dress shopping with Bridgette!

Long Time, No Blog...

Okay, so all of the usual excuses apply. I had a huge graduate school project due, I was in Minnesota for a week visiting A's family and I got sucked in by the holidays. But here I am and I'm back with a vengeance. This past week has been, as I affectionately refer to and as A somewhat less lovingly refers to, bridal boot camp. In this past week we have checked off several to dos including:

• Reserving the space for the rehearsal dinner.
• Selecting and ordering A's wedding band.
• Choosing and ordering tuxedos.
• Choosing an invitation suite.
• Asking A's cousin, Mark to give the sermon at our wedding.

Yessss! Less than 6 months to go and feeling pretty good:) If I can only get a real handle on Weight Watchers in 2009. Sigh.

More from me very soon, I promise!

Ohhh...Ahhh...

This is being shipped out on Saturday! I plan on placing it on the escort card table. How will you decorate yours? Photo and product from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5317160.

Great Christmas Gift Idea!

I saw this on Brooklyn Bride; these wedding cake replica ornaments are made by Etsy seller gorgeousredhead.What a cute ornament for a newlywed couple to add to their Christmas tree!

Special Moments Playlist

So far, these songs are on my play list for the wedding; it's kind of early to start thinking about music, as our wedding is not until June, but I've been trying to compile them as I go along so I don't get stressed out in the months leading up to the wedding:

Wedding Play List:
First Dance-FI is going to pick this one out; I'll be curious to see what he chooses!
Father/Daughter Dance-“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
Cake Cutting-“How Sweet it is to be Loved by You”-James Taylor
Last Dance- “Goodnight Sweetheart”-The Spaniels

Any other suggestions? Any moments I've missed? What songs do you love to hear at weddings?

Any help will definitely be appreciated!

On My Christmas List...

Design/Hoodie from www.inkboxdesigns.com.

Technically I Didn't Need It, But...

I ordered it anyway and I love it! What a cute photo opportunity, come rain or shine! It wall also be a wonderful keepsake from the wedding that will make me smile every time it rains!www.signaturebella.com. How are you preparing for extreme heat or rain on your wedding day?

We Searched High and Low And...

The dress my sister fell in love is so new that David's doesn't even have it online yet! I'll post pictures as soon as it makes its debut. It's strapless, tea-length and has some ruching along the waist. She will be wearing it in candy pink, which is between a baby pink and a fuchsia. I love it because it is like the other bridesmaids' dresses from J. Crew (simple, dress cotton and tea length). While the other gals will wear brown, they will also wear sashes with their dresses in candy pink. I love that the color is named candy pink, as it combines two of my greatest loves (candy and pink, of course). We did not expect to find her dress at David's Bridal, but in the end it was our favorite. What unexpected items or shops have you uncovered during your wedding planning?

My Mom Ordered Her Mother of the Bride Dress Today...

Hers will be clover green (which is basically a cross between the color of a green apple and kelly green). Her dress (and my sister's which I will post tomorrow) is from David's Bridal (www.davidsbridal.com). Check and check. Where did your mom find her dress?

If I Didn't Already Have Enough Pairs of Shoes...

I would buy these to wear as my "something blue." Sigh.
Image courtesy of Oprah Magazine.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones! A and I are celebrating in Chicago with my family, so we'll see you again on Monday! Cheers!

Image from: cbdyag.wordpress.com/.../

Maid of Honor Attire

My sister, my mother and I are going shopping on Wednesday so my sister can find and order her Maid of Honor(MOH) gown. Since she is the MOH, she will be distinguished from the other bridesmaids by wearing a different syle gown in a different color (light pink). I love the affect of this in pictures, and since she is 10 years younger (literally) than the rest of us, I thought a different dress would be more appropriate. While all of the other lovely ladies are wearing dresses from the J. Crew Occassions Cotton Cady Collection in brown, she is currently favoring these little numbers(in light pink):

This one, which for some reason turned out HUGE compared to other pictures, is her favorite choice.

This is another simple option. I like the idea of her wearing a brown sash, as all of the other girls will wear pink ones. I have a cute broach I would give her to add to the sash as well.

This picure was added to show which color her dress will be. Luckily, she likes pink too:)

All pictures taken from:http://www.jimhjelmoccasions.com/teas/index.html

Meet the Parents

Andrew and I are finally introducing our parents to one another on the day after Thanksgiving. We are all getting together for lunch; A's parents are driving from Red Wing, MN to Morris, IL where A's only living grandfather resides. My parents, A and I will drive from my parents' place in Frankfort, IL (a SW suburb of Chicago near Orland Park) and meet them there. I predict they will get along well, but here are some tips from The Knot I found to read to calm myself a bit beforehand:

DON'T FORGET
*You can prepare until your eyes pop out, but whatever happens will happen. Here are some mantras and tips to keep in mind once the food starts flying:
*You Are Not Responsible For Them: Parents are adults (too) and you can't tell them what to say or how to act. They are responsible for their own actions and mistakes.
Have a Sense of Humor: The best defense against disastrous first meetings? Lighten up and keep your sense of humor cemented firmly in place.
*Cut Your Parents Some Slack:Don't sweat it if your dad tries too hard to be funny or your mom fusses over every little thing: Remember that your parents are very likely nervous about this meeting. It's not everyday they meet people soon to be permanent (albeit extended) members of the family!
*Steer the Conversation Away From Dangerous Waters:The purpose of this first meeting is simply to get acquainted. This means no wedding talk -- especially about the budget! -- no white elephants (charged issues), no political debates, no talk about exes. Remember: This is not the negotiating table.
*Don't Force Them to Click:You'll likely be stunned at how different your parents are! Don't try too hard to find things they have in common or to show how much they should like each other. The chemistry may take time, or may never happen. All you can hope for it that they get along -- many couples don't even enjoy that luxury!
*Edit Yourself:No matter how comfortable you are with your parents or with his, remember that they don't share the same easy rapport with each other (yet). Keep dirty jokes and personal stories hush hush for now.
*Suck It Up:If the evening seems interminable, remember that this may be the only time you'll have to spend with both sets of parents alone. From here on, other family members and friends are often included in the mix, easing the pressure considerably (whew).

Good luck to all of you who are meeting your FI's parents for the first time or are introducing your parents to one another! Please let me know how it goes, or feel free to share any tips you may have with us all!

Source:http://www.theknot.com/ch_article_local.html?Object=A00801171351&keyword=DC&market=&MsdVisit=1

Time Off

I'm taking today and tomorrow off from posting to celebrate my birthday! I hope everyone has a wonderful end to their week!

A Little Black Dress

For my birthday date with A coming up this Saturday. I found it at J. Crew and I love it! What do you think? What shoes would you pair it with? I am thinking some calf-length, high-heeled, suede boots...

Gifts For The Cure

As my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor, I've done all that I can to support breast cancer research and support and do at least one Race for the Cure each year (I once ran one on showshoes!). Naturally, when I saw this in the American Cancer Society's Hope Shop , I had to buy them for my bridesmaids.

I will use them as welcome bags (which will include each girl's favorite snack, a Nalgene waterbottle in her favorite color, a pair of flip flops from Old Navy in her favorite color and an enamel picture frame in the wedding colors.)

Portions of the proceeds from the sale of the bags benefit the American Cancer Society. To purchase, for $10 each visit www.cancer.org/hopeshop. Happy shopping!

Boot Camp

Tomorrow I think I may drop in at Genesis Fitness for a Boot Camp workout. I'm looking to shake up my routine and to look toned in my dress. Have you ever been to a boot camp workout? What did you think? I'll be sure to let you know how it goes if I make it instead of going for a run.

Where in the World are Erin Marie and Andrew?

Since Andrew's busy season as a wind energy project manager is summer, we'll only be taking a quick mini-moon after the wedding (from the Monday through Thursday follwing the wedding). We're toying with a few ideas; the wish list includes a locale with a relatively brief flight (3 hours or less), a combination of romance/adventure, and a place that is somewhat inexpensive. We plan to go to South America (Peru to hike the Inca Trail and possibly Ecuador to dive the Galapagos), so this will just be a quick trip for us to get away as newlyweds and to enjoy one another's company in a relaxed setting after the stress of the wedding. So far, we have these ideas....

Nappa Valley (http://www.flickr.com/)

Lake Tahoe (http://www.beautifulvista.com/)

Oregon Coast (http://www.oregoncoast.edu/)

Sedona (www.traveleze.com)

Which would you recommend? Do you have any other ideas that we have not considered?