A few weeks left!!!! :)

10 days left!

Hello Again Ladies!

Just wanted to let you know that you have 10 days left to give me your money for the bridesmaid dresses. $96.00 please!

I have only gotten money from Irene and Samantha... please let me know if you have any problems coming up with the money by June 1st. I don't want to push the date out any longer just in case it takes a long time for them to be shipped.

Thanks! Talk to you all soon!

Michelle

Dresses

Hello my Beautiful BMs!

Just a little reminder that your money & dress size is due June 1st! You have a little over 3 weeks to lose the weight you want, come up with the money and send it my way! (the money not the weight) hahaha.

101 days until the bachelorette party in VEGAS!

131 days until Holy Matrimony <3

Hope you are all doing well =)

Love always,

Michelle

RETRACTION

i don't know if its because I'm so excited Drew's coming home or what ... but I just tried to return the bridesmaid dress and found out that I couldn't because it was past the deadline. (I neglected to tell you that I only looked at the dress one time before and I rushed out of my apartment because I had to head to work ...)

Anyhoo, I just reexamined the dress and the reason why it looked so stupid was because it was INSIDE OUT! oh em gee. This bride is crazy!

Check it out!

Platinum Color

Size 2

It looks a little long, but then again I'm short. There is an option to put in your exact measurements so you do not run into this problem OR you could just order a standard size and alter it when you receive it.

PLEASE PLEASE go ahead and order this dress at your earliest convenience! Dress style number is BR142, platinum color.

http://www.inweddingdress.com/review/product/list/id/1384/category/7/

If you have any questions, please let me know!!!!! Sorry about the confusion and sorry I'm so crazy!

=)

172 days and counting!

hello my beautiful bms!

I hope you are doing well =). I just received the bridesmaid dress in the mail from in-weddingdress.com .... thank GOD, I did not ask any of you to buy this dress yet.

• Shipping took forever
• Packaging was messed up
• the DRESS looked so ugly I almost vomited all over it
• they misspelled my name (even though thats not a biggie -- but still)

HAHA. Good thing we still a few months until I go into panic mode!

I've found some contenders from another website, I am open to suggestions. I know that every bride swears up and down that she wants to get a dress that her bridesmaids can wear again, but i REALLY do.

• Other than that, I've met with the videographer! We will be having them videotape the whole night, beginning to end =) I'm really excited to work with them because the owner is actually an old friend from elementary school!

• I hope you all received our save the date! Invitations will be going out the end of May!

• For all of you going on the bachelorette party, keep an eye out for good prices on airline tickets. I know a couple of us are coming from VA so we might as well go ahead and get on the same flights! I do not know any details, except for the date, so if you have any questions please ask April

Last thing ... DREW'S COMING HOME =) I don't have an exact date yet, but I will know within the next week or so! I am hoping he'll be here no later than mid April. WOO HOOO =) So that means no calls, except for emergency ones when he gets home j/p hahaha, kinda.

Love and miss you all,

Michelle

my shell

Hi beloved bride to bee...
Just checking out your blog and realized I hadn't seen some of the things you had posted. Catching up on my other readings now that I deactivated facebook.

Anyway... I have a awkwardly busy 8 weeks ahead of me, butttt i need to/ want to/ have to know if you need anything (physical labor, kisses (??) ) hehe..

I'm here for u, of course, and thanks for the shout out.

<3

updates

HAPPY NEW YEAR my lovely bridesmaids :)

I hope that the holidays and the new year have brought you much happiness. It's been a crazy 2010 but with the new year, leaving the past behind and a fresh start is much needed. I have a couple of updates now that is 2011! My wedding year is here!

first things first...

SHOUT-OUT: To my lovely Bridesmaid, Samantha ... congratulations again on your ENGAGEMENT :) Not only will we be celebrating Drew and my wedding this year, but Samantha and her fiancée Cole will be getting married August 6th 2011. I am so happy for the both of you!

UPCOMING EVENT: January 16th 2011 DAVID TUTERA will be here at the Norfolk Scope for a bridal showcase! YAYAYAY! For those of you who are not familiar with him, he is a celebrity wedding/event planner. He is featured on the WE channel every Sunday for his show "My Fair Wedding". Many of you know my aspirations to be a wedding planner so I am so excited to be going to this show. It starts at 11AM and admission is $10. As of right now, Melissa and my Mom will be going to the show. Please let me know if you are free to go, I would love to have you there!

Check out the bridal showcase details here.

THEME: So far, I have been loving yellow and gray but I do want to change some things about the theme. Instead of having modern accents, such as damask I want to change my theme to more of a vintage/rustic look. Quoting April, " you do have an old soul "... I love everything vintage and classic. Below is a sample of what I am thinking ...

DRESSES: My last post included your potential bridesmaid dresses. Before I decide to go ahead and order I am going to buy one and see if I like the material. Since its an online store, I am a bit skeptical (and I have a Type A personality hehe) so I need to see for myself if its legit or not.

Now that it is 2011, I need to kick up the wedding planning up a notch. Like I have said in past posts, I am planning to have my save the dates out by March. Once I think of centerpieces ideas I will be needing all hands on deck for assembling them :)

Let me know if you have any questions, suggestions ... let me know!

Michelle

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