Getting started...

Obviously I have been planning my wedding for practically forever (if you are female, I know you have too) so when Patrick asked I immediately pulled out my secret wedding planning guide from under my bed and got to work. My cousin Chelsea and I had just been waiting for the moment he'd ask so we could start putting our ideas down on paper for real. We knew the where and the date (football sort of chooses it for you) so that wasn't a big issue for us. The real stuff began soon after and I realized how expensive weddings were. Even for a simple girl who was raised in a town with nothing but a pool and a gas station, wedding cakes and invitations were starting to scare me. I am still a little nervous about how to plan for how many people you expect to show up verses how many people you invite...I will definitely elaborate more on that when I understand it a little better. All the wedding websites say don't count people out, but seriously Patrick's old high school friend that he rarely talks to that now lives in Texas probably will  not make it out here a week before Christmas to see our wedding. Unless, he is already in town to see his family for Christmas. See where my people situation is coming from? Also a big issue/victory was the reception location. This is where having an amazing MOH comes into play. Having someone else not only helps getting more things accomplished in a period of time, but you also get more ideas and a different perspective. I feel like this first blog is just sort of a pile of jumbled up things, but I promise from here on out there will be less to discuss.

Among all of those things I have completed: picked out and bought my dress and veil, picked out bridesmaids dresses, helped my mom with her dress and shoes, finish paying for the chapel and the reception area, put a down payment on the food (WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE--JUST ELOPE!!!), selected our cakes, sent out save the dates, registered for our everyday plates and such (I just don't see the point of everyone wasting their money on fancy china),selected and bought his ring, selected my ring, booked the rehearsal dinner, paid two payments on flowers (again ELOPE), picked out the menu for the reception and rehearsal, picked out invitations, and picked out the flower girls dress. I know I've missed a few things, but if you are a student like me, you know you have got to get these things done over the summer because there will be no time in the fall. Also big tip!! I know it's not as nice as hand writing, but use address labels. Working on addresses takes literally weeks to a month, maybe more, to do. I went over and over and over to make sure I spelt things correctly (and still messed up). I could not imagine having to do that again when I'm under a pile of bio chem and physics books in the fall. So now all I have to do is hit print and I will be in business when it comes time to send out wedding invitations. Hope this could be some help to someone out there!

Ways I've learned to save money: make your own save the dates, if you decide to use them. I made magnets and inserted a card. The card stock was from walmart and I paid $20 for a pack of 100 with envelopes included. The magnet wasn't tricky at all, they actually sell magnet paper at walmart by the printer paper. The hard part is just making the graphics and cutting them all out. Also, buffet for food. I'm not going to spill all the details here, but if you have a good caterer that doesn't want to rip you off you will save a lot this route.

So in recent news, and I hope none of that bored you, if you are reading this, we got our first wedding present today!!! I know, I am extremely shocked too since we have six months left to go. A distant relative sent us a nice monetary gift. My question is (and I'm sure I will google it in case I get no answers) but how do you write a thank you note for money? Seems awkward but I know there has to be a great way to do it!

This is our save the date..just googled bride and groom clip art and copied and pasted. I used word for everything.

This is my dream reception. If any of you can make this happen, let me know ha