bridesmaid dresses

h a p p y h o l i d a y s ! ! !

I am sure you all are busy getting ready for Christmas and what not. I just wanted to drop a little line before everything gets chaotic and I forget to update the blog!

I think I've found your bridesmaid dresses!!! I found a website that sells really nice dresses that are really affordable!! The one I really like for all of you is actually a dress you CAN use again. I PROMISE. I have decided that I am going with the platinum color (closest to grey). You know me and my OCD self, I want a particular yellow and I know I won't be able to find it anywhere. We're just going to have to accessorize with lots of YELLOW :)

Below is the dress I really like for all of you. It's under $100 too! When I make my final decision we'll be able to order it online. You can get it custom sized too for all you tig-ol-bitties and big booties. haha

Let me know what you think:

Talk to you all soon! Love you!

Michelle

dropping a line.

Hello My Lovely Bridesmaids :)

I have been putting the wedding planning on the back burner since I've been traveling, as all of you already know. With October soon coming to an end I will be hopping back on to the wedding train! The next big thing on my agenda is ... the guest list. I am planning to send out 200 invites. I highly doubt that everyone will RSVP yes and if they do, 200 is still do-able.

I am thinking that I may have two wedding invite lists; A list & B list. Unfortunately, Drew and I can not invite everyone we'd like to, BUT if there are enough people who don't RSVP "yes" to our invitations, we'll send the "B lists" guests an invitation.

My plan is to have the Save the Dates out by March 2011. First round of invites will probably go out in May and second round late June. Thoughts?

BACHELORETTE PARTY: I am planning to go to Vegas in May! Please let me know available dates for all of you, obviously I would LOVE for all of you to come, but I understand if your budget/time constraints will not allow you to. Most likely festivities will begin Thursday and we will fly back Sunday. Let me know if any of you have any hook ups or contacts in Vegas :) or if you have any hotel points that might benefit us for the hotel. Obviously, the more the merrier (and cheaper) the weekend will be if all of you can make it.

Let me know your thoughts/concerns/ideas. Sorry I haven't been accessible lately, being a jet-setter is kicking my butt! This is actually the first Sunday I have been home since September! I'll be in Florida from Thurs-Sunday next week and in NY, again Thurs-Sunday, at the end of the month.

If anyone wants to come to NY with me let me know! I will be celebrating Halloween weekend there! Love you all & miss you!

Michelle

Arts & Crafts

Ladiessss,

I hope you enjoyed your weekend :) and you are currently watching the Redskins beat the Cowgirls BUTT! haha.

Melissa decided to come visit today so after some much needed shopping we came back to my apartment and I showed off my arts & crafts box .. basically one thing led to another and we were inspired to work on Save the Dates! With April's ideas, Melissa artsy-ness and my vision we came up with this:

VAWLAH! We didnt have any other numbers besides the green, BUT i'm not going to lie, I really like the green accent with the yellow and damask. These are rough drafts, but I think it's pretty close to the final ;)

What do you think?! I LOVE them!

they're back!

Once again the creative department for our wedding - -aka April & I (mostly April) came up with an STD design! Dang those STD ideas, they keep coming back ;) haha.

This is a rough draft! The picture will be different.

Front & back:

Front: (With the pull out date)

The yellow circle will either be a magnet or a sticker - - still need to figure out which one is the most cost effective.

I am planning to have these sent out either 6-9 months before the wedding. It's better to get them out sooner than later, especially with people's busy schedules. I hope all of you have already marked your calendars!

What do you think!?!

Signed, Sealed & Delievered!

venue status:
I am proud to say that we have officially booked the Westin as the venue for the wedding reception next year! I signed the contract and gave our deposit today! :)

We are moving right along!

that is all haha!

THE ONE.

HI GIRLS =) I fell in love today. It was the first dress I tried on. I almost threw up, I loved it so much -- and as most of you know, wanting to throw up is a good thing for me! haha

I told Drew that I love this dress ALMOST as much as I love him. April and I went to Blush Gowns - a bridal consignment shop in Newport News. At first I was little skeptical, but love does come unexpectedly ;)

Check it out:

NOW... let's hear what you think ;)

Say Yes to the Dress

Here are the two dresses that I really liked during our first wedding dress shopping experience. I definitely want to keep looking...

Option 1:

Likes: lace, low back, details

Dislikes: price (haha)

Option 2:

Likes: price, simple, elegant

Dislikes: doesnt scream bride - I could wear it to the next Marine Corps Ball

Update: April is coming to visit next weekend (August 27th). We will be going to a wedding dress consignment shop! If you want to come up/down to Newport News that Friday I will be making an appointment for that afternoon!

Let me know your thoughts on the two dresses and/or if you want to come to the next wedding dress excursion :)

... til next time!

Saturday, August 7th

Hi Ladies! Welcome to August! Where did July go? :)

So this Saturday, August 7th, we have an appointment at All the Rage in Virginia Beach at 12:30PM.

I'm thinking we can either grab something before and/or after we go!

I am so excited! Cant wait!

STD idea

no no no, not what you're thinking, silly. Save The Date ideas. hahaha ;)

So along with my creative partner in crime, April!! we have come up with a great save the date idea!

Check it out:

But instead of just having the date, April thought it was better to have a note in there say something along the lines of "Would you please Save the Date" with a check box for "yes" & "no". I know most of you sent your bfs notes in middle school, because Drew & I did all the time. He use to spray it with his cologne ;) haha!

I LOVE IT! What do you think!

inspiration

not your average bridesmaid :)

Friday Night. Out on the town? Nope. Sitting at home watching tv & movies in my PJS =)

After watching say Yes to the Dress on TLC I found myself looking at wedding & engagement blogs and now I'm sitting in my apartment planning again, like the little happy wedding bee that I am =)

I know that some of you have already seen this, but just in case you forget or wanna share your thoughts/concerns via blog here is your (hopefully) future bridesmaid dress:

of course in the mango/daisy/marigold yellow :)

I am shooting for the end of July or first week of August to start dress browsing. So mark your calendars or pencil me in!

Shops I wanna visit:

1) All the Rage - Virginia Beach

2) Maya Couture- Norfolk

3) Kleinfeld - New York ... haha! maybe

.... more posts to come :) STARTING COMMENTING! dont send me emails! lol just comment so everyone else can see!

time to shop!

Hello again lovelies!

Just wanted to know everyone's availability in July & August (weekends), I know that some of you out-of-towners will probably not be able to be come down, but I would love to start dress shopping.

With the venue pretty much secure, its on to the next big thing!!!

Just re-post your dates! Thanks!

Yeeeeeeeee. i am so excited, if you haven't figured that out! haha

<3

wedding bee! bZzzzzZ!

Just a couple of updates for ya...

Theme:
I was thinking to myself, what patterns and designs do I think of when it comes to Drew and I? ... HA! Nothing really, but then I thought about our life together. Our love affair has dated back to 1997 when we met in 7th grade.... so thats where I can up with the vintage idea.

I originially just wanted to do Modern Chic, but I thought, why not combine the two.

Then WAH-LAH, I thought of Modern Chic with a Vintage Twist. I already have some great ideas in my head for centerpieces, place cards, Save the Dates, etc :)

Venue:
Today, my parents and I looked at the Westin in town center, Virginia Beach. Orginially, we were thinking this is way out of our price range. Considering the amount of guests, venue, accessibility, etc... I think the Westin is home to our future wedding reception! I instanty fell in love with the venue when we were touring.

It takes a lot to impress my mom if you dont already know that about her.. she was ready to write the check for the deposit today! haha.

The only thing left to do is bring my in-laws, just in case they don't like it. I know we were thinking of other venues, but it just felt right at the Westin. I would have loved to do it at the Contemporary Art Center, unfortunately the venue does not provide catering, bar, etc. We will all be too busy to be worrying about that the day of.

I would like to secure the venue by the end of this month. I will not be traveling until September, so I would really love to start looking for dresses this month and/or throughout August. As always, I will keep you updated :)

Michelle

FINALIZED!!!

Alright, so unfortunately Father Tim is unavailable 9/10/11 next year. Which may be a blessing in disguise because April already has been invited to another wedding the same day... SOOOOO the new and finalized date for Andrew and Michelle's wedding ceremony and reception is....


Saturday, September 17th, 2011 WOOO HOOO.

So far the contenders for the venues are:
1) Contemporary Art Center
2) Holiday Inn
3) Westin

I will TRY to visit the Westin this weekend :)

UPDATE!
September 3, 2011 is labor day weekend next year. With all that will be going on that weekend, availability of venues and prices, we have decided to change the date. I have contacted the church and most likely the date will be changed to September 10, 2011 aka 9/10/11.

I will keep you all update. With this said, I will be begin looking at venues this weekend with my mom and mother-in-law. Dress shopping will start soon :)

so get ready ladies!

wedding date

So after talking to Father Tim, at Holy Spirit (our church) we have decided the wedding date will be. . . .



September 3, 2011 :)



Mark your calendars ladies! let the wedding craziness begin!

i do.

That's right ladies; we did it.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11AM. Barefoot on the sand with Reverend Dawn Kenny, both sets of parents, one best man, one maid of honor and a cousin photographer. A little prayer was said, we exchanged vows and said " I do ".

I cried the whole time but managed to get it together while I stared into his eyes and said my vows to him. I wish all of you could have been there; but I know you all will be next year.

Drew and I are actually going to look at venues tomorrow in the middle of trying to get important paperwork done before he has to leave June 3- a month before our 4 years...

Just wanted to keep you all updated! Also, I believe I sent all of you an email about making a scrapbook for him before he leaves. I would really appreciate if you could either share a story or write encouraging words for him. Ill be putting the words in the back of the scrapbook. Just shoot me an email mdmadridejos@gmail.com... I actually need it sooner than later, so if you get the chance I know he'll appreciate it a lot. (It can be short and sweeet; no need for a novel haha)

Thanks! Love you all!!!

Michelle

update!

l a d i e s ! ! !

so i have an update on the bridal show; i cant go! that weekend I have to be in Charlottesville for work ANNND Drew's family is hosting a party for him (since he's leaving for Afghan in June) in Maryland ...

I am going to suprise him and go to MD after my program. Shhhh.. dont tell :) He is going to be soooo shocked! i am so excited!

BUTTTT,keep your eyes peeled for upcoming shows ANYWHERE.. seriously, if you want to plan a day trip to Kalamazoo, lets do it! just need a heads up of course!

thanks!

ps- if you have random thoughts, ideas, concerns... just blog it! seriously, just do it :)

show @ the Holiday Inn

hello beautiful ladies!

I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the spring weather, or in my case survived the weekend from all the spring allergies :)

Last month I went to a bridal show with my Mom, Dad, future mother in-law and MOH (Maid of Honor), Melissa @ the Crowne Plaza on Bonney Road. I arrived fashionably late, of course-hehe, and didn't get a chance to see everything. I didn't even receive a free bridal tote! :(

There is another show on April 25th at the Holiday Inn Executive Inn on Greenwich Road, in Virginia Beach from 12-3. This place has actually been newly renovated and I would like to visit the place as a possible venue :) I'm not sure if I wanna go again, butttt if I get some people to come with, maybe I'll go again!

Tickets online are $5, $10 at the door. Let me know if you want to go! Check out the website.

thanks,

the blushing bride <3

random thoughts

Bridal Babble...

After looking at engagement photos from photographer websites I've decided I absolutely hate couple kissing pictures. From this day forward I say "I DO" not want to take couple pictures unless it is Drew and I kissing at the altar :p

Check out the Contemporary Art Center in Virginia Beach

... a possible venue for our wedding, your thoughts? just blog it!

invitation inspiration

And the Invitation Inspiration begins!
[lime green.gray.black&white damask.marigold]

the happy couple

Michelle & Andrew
Engagement party: April 3, 2010