Happy New Year Hive!

Good morning Hive.  It's still dark outside, I'm curled up in our recliner with my robe, and my sister is upstairs sleeping.  It's my wedding day!!

After 15 months of planning, the day has finally arrived.  We had a wonderful time at our rehearsal dinner last night and emotions started bubbling over.  Even now, just thinking about seeing Mr. Ball Cap for the first today causes tears to run down my face.

I'm nervous but so excited to begin this day.  I want to soak in every minute and enjoy it to the fullest. 

Hive, it has been such an honor to be a part of this community and share my journey with you.  You have offered amazing support and advice and were always there to lend an ear.  You have made this experience all the more special and memorable.

So this is it!  My last moments as a single gal.  I'm ready to put on my beautiful dress and wear the incredible cape MOB made for me.  I will also carry a piece of the hive with me today.

I wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

Signing off, for the last time as a Miss, Sunhat.

A Moment to Myself

Last week, my wonderful mom (MOB) surprised me with a gift certificate for a facial and massage at a spa in downtown Chicago.  She wanted me to take some time for myself to de-stress and relax before the wedding.

The Spa on Oak offers an Oak Street Refresher package which includes a 45 minute facial and a 30 minute massage.  I have never had a facial before so I was looking forward to that experience.

I made an appointment for 3:15 on Thursday.  Unfortunately it was raining like crazy, but I caught a cab and made my way to the River North area of the city.  I had never spent any time in this area and I was definitely taken back at how beautiful and high-end the neighborhood was!  The spa was surrounded by boutiques such as Jimmy Choo, Hermes and Harry Winston.  I couldn't afford to even look in the windows!

Getting Paper

Look what we got on Wednesday!

Well, you can't see it all that well, but we went to the Daley Center in downtown Chicago and picked up our marriage license!

Mr. Ball Cap's family and my parents all met downtown, and after we received our license, the group walked through the Christkindlmarket and checked out the tree inside of Macy's. 

All I Want For Christmas . .

and the wedding is SNOW!!!

I'm a winter bride and yes, we chose to have a winter wedding on purpose!  People still seem to be so puzzled that we would want to get married during the time of year where, in the Midwest part of the country, it can plummet to unbelievably cold temperatures and mother nature can drop 5 feet of snow on your butt overnight. 

While we don't wish to contend with this on the wedding day,

Image via csc.cs.colorado.edu / Photo by Ken Woitaszek

I ache to have gorgeous pictures like these:

Image via weddings-place.com

Off to the Races!

Last Saturday, December 3rd, bridesmaids, family and friends helped to throw me the coolest bachelorette party.

How cool you ask?  Take a look at this!

This is NOT a photoshopped picture!  I will get to the details behind this in a minute.

Airbrushed Makeup Trial

In between my first dress fitting and bachelorette party, (which I'll post about next!), this past Saturday, I was able to squeeze in my makeup trial.

I wear makeup everyday so I'm not afraid of going for a more dramatic look for the wedding.  Bare Minerals is my current choice for foundation and concealer, but thanks to you smart and informed peoples here on the Hive, I learned that this type of makeup does not photograph well.  Apparently it reflects the light and can make you look like a grease face.  Yeah - that doesn't sound very bridal to me!

After learning this tid bit of info, I knew airbrush was the direction I wanted to go.  I've never worn airbrush makeup, but my FSIL did for her wedding and she looked radiant. 

My makeup artist, Anjelica, asked that I bring pictures of makeup looks that I liked.  Pinterest to the rescue again!

Image via ProjectWedding.com / Photo by AllMadeUpTeam.com

Weight Loss and the Dress

Hi Hive!  Sorry I haven't been around as much lately.  With less than a month to go, things are getting pretty crazy.  I have a lot to share with you, especially since I was able to cram a dress fitting, makeup trial and my bachelorette party all in this past Saturday.  Today, I wanted to update you on my weight loss journey and show you the results of my first dress fitting!

I shared my weight history with you here and how I came to start the Ideal Protein program.  It has now been a little over 9 weeks and I am proud to say I have lost 31 pounds and 18.75 inches!  I still can't believe how well the program has worked for me and how much success I've had.  I had hoped going into this that I could maybe lose 30 pounds before the wedding.  Looks like I could have set a higher goal for myself!

With this weight loss came the all important question - how will my dress fit now?  If you recall, I ordered a size down in my dress not knowing there was a 3 inch difference in the dress maker's sizing.  When my dress first came in - it didn't fit - not by a long shot.  My first appointment was on Saturday and I am not sure it could have gone any better!!

DRESS PICTURES AHEAD!!  NO LOOKING IF YOU ARE MR. BALL CAP OR MY DAD!!

A Three Shoe Bride?

Unlike a certain "celebrity" who chose to wear three different dresses on her wedding day, (only to file for divorce 72 days later), I will NOT be wearing more than one gown.  However, I will be wearing three different shoes.  Yes, good people of the hive, I am a three shoe bride.

Aside from the first step of admitting I may have a problem, this wasn't something I planned out.  You have already stuck with me through three posts on my ceremony shoes - One, Two, and Three, and a post or two on my sparkly Ugg boots.  So what in the world would entice me to look for a third pair?

Dancing.  That's right - gettin' down, shakin' your groove thang, show me what you're workin' with - dancing.  I love to dance and plan on bustin' a move with the best of them at my reception. 

As I was going through the timeline of our day last week, I realized we needed to pull together an amazing song list for our DJ that would keep the dance floor jumping all night.  That got me thinking that maybe the Uggs weren't the best choice for moving freely about the dance floor.  While they will keep my tootsies toasty warm commuting to and from locations and will look amazing in some outdoor pictures, I think they may hinder my running man skills on the dance floor.

Zappos is my go to place when I get the shoe shopping urge.  Their 365 day return policy just can't be beat.  I ordered the Astrella flats by Romantic Soles in pewter.

Image via Zappos.com

NYE Bling

While our wedding date just so happens to be New Year's Eve, we aren't necessarily going all out with a New Year's Eve theme.  We are simply adding elements that compliment the holiday while trying to avoid going too over the top.

So far, I have shown you our personalized clock and the boutonnieres.  Next up is some sparkly table decor!

Thanks to Pinterest, I found my next DIY project.

Image via Blowout Party / Photo by Kristen Steele Photography

I knew just where to find those big letters so I skipped my happy booty over to JoAnn's, used my 40% off coupons (they accept Michaels and Hobby Lobby coupons as well!) and scored a bunch of paper mache letters to spell out 'NYE,' 'MR,' and 'MRS.'

Recycled Wedding Goods

Mr. Ball Cap's brother was married in September of 2010.  We are very close to his brother and sister-in-law, and their daughter is our Jr. Bridesmaid.  With their wedding not far behind us, they still have many of their supplies on hand.  Future Sister-In-Law let me know early on that I was more than welcome to use anything they had left over.  It was a sweet offer, but one that I sort of forgot about once I got into the heavy planning stages.

Fast forward a month or so ago, and we needed to make a decision on the card box.  This wasn't something that was a high priority for me or anything I wanted to spend a lot of time or resources on.  I just wanted it to blend in with the overall look of the wedding and be practical and useful.

My first thought was to follow the movie "Up" inspired mailbox trend.  I find this idea beyond adorable and love the personalized touch.

Image via DisneyWeddingBlog.com / Photo by Wildflowers Photography

(Super cute "Up" inspired engagement shoot.)

NYE Boutonnieres

One of my very first posts was on New Year's Eve inspiration, and in that post, I shared this photo:

Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Scott Lawrence Photographs

I finally got my butt in gear and started the boutonnieres using this picture as a reference.  Now that the stores are already filling their shelves with Christmas items and Macy's on State in Chicago is cranking out the Christmas tunes, it is much easier to find holiday appropriate items.  MOB recently found a bag of blowouts in colors that would match the wedding.

Sharp Dressed Men

When envisioning the overall look of our wedding party, I assumed having black tuxes for the men folk would clash with the navy of the ladies.  I had a hard time picturing black and blue looking nice together.  I needed a visual to help me gain a clear picture of how the entire bridal party would look.

As a reminder, this is what our ladies will be wearing:

Ava Collection by Mori Lee #602 in Mid Night

No More Running of the Brides

It's a sad day for bargain hunting brides.  Filene's Basement, a subsidiary of discount retailer Syms Corp., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to liquidate operations.  This is the third time Filene's has gone through bankruptcy and it appears to be the final hurrah.  (Read a full article of the announcement at ChicagoTribune.com.)

It is no coincidence the bankruptcy was announced just in time for the upcoming holiday season.  There really seems like no better time to liquidate inventory.  The word is that liquidation will run through January, 2012 and store closings will occur when the merchandise is depleted.

What this ultimately means for brides, and future brides-to-be, is that the the famous "Running of the Brides" events are a thing of the past. 

Image via Boston.com

A New Year's Eve Wedding Invitation

The RSVP's are rolling in so I can finally share our finished invitations!

Bridesmaid K has designed and made invitations for several people over the last couple of years, so after my engagement, she showed me her designs in case I was interested in any of them.  She knew I wanted to make my own and as luck would have it, one of her designs was perfect!  She mocked up the main body of the invite in our colors and it helped confirm this was the route we wanted to go.

MOB ordered multiple paper samples from a company in Gary, IN.  I wanted a cream color, but nothing too yellow, as well as a midnight navy paper for the background.  We found exactly what we were hoping for and the navy even has a nice shimmer to it to give it a wintery feel.

Drum roll please . . . . . . .

Fall Themed Bridal Shower

On Sunday, October 23rd, we had our first bridal shower!  My mom (MOB), MOH Sister and Bridesmaid L hosted the event at my dad's Masonic Lodge in Michigan City.

Mr. Ball Cap and I arrived a little early and I was greeted with a huge surprise!  My Aunt from South Carolina (and Uncle) had surprised everyone and drove up the day before.  It was so good to see them!  We were blessed enough to have guests travel from all over including Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania.  I couldn't thank these people enough for the effort they made to be there with us!

There were two games played during the shower:  What's in Your Purse and Bridal Bingo.  For the first game, my mom asked about random items that may be found in your purse (a bobby pin, toilet paper, screwdriver!) and you received points based upon the items you had.  Most points wins.  My one Aunt had a wrench in her purse for some reason!  Bridal Bingo was played while we opened our gifts.  Everyone filled out their own bingo sheet with gifts they thought we would receive that day.  Mr. Ball Cap and I were lucky enough to receive a little prize every time someone else won a game or yelled Bingo!

So enough with the details - you want to see pictures right?!

The shower was fall themed and each table had its own pumpkin as a centerpiece.  Bridesmaid K's mom wiped down the pumpkins with cooking oil to shine them up!

Hair on Trial

Yesterday was our first bridal shower so I thought it would be the perfect time to have a hair trial.  Not only would I be testing out a wedding day look, but my hair would look great for the shower!

Mr. Ball Cap's cousin, L, has been doing my hair since I moved to Dyer.  She recently had a baby and now works out of her home.  I take every chance I can to get over there for a baby fix!

At my last appointment with her, I gave her a print out of looks I had found online.  I was drawn to a similar style over and over again.

Image via TheKnot.com

Stamp Price Hike

On Tuesday, October 18th, the U.S. Postal Service announced that on January 22, 2012, the cost of a first-class mail postage stamp would increase from 44 cents to 45 cents.  Now while a one penny increase may not seem a lot, when you are mailing hundreds of STD's, wedding invitations, and thank you cards, it could have an impact.

When I created my wedding invites, I knew from the start that my postage would be more expensive due to the 6 x 6 size I chose.  Mailing a square envelope costs more.  What I didn't think about was that the gorgeous card stock we used was a little heavier than most invitations.  Put those two together and you have one heavy and oddly sized invite.

When I took an invite in for a preliminary weigh-in, the postman had a yikes look on his face when he saw how much it would be.  I honestly think he was scared to tell me!  I told him I knew it would be pricey due to the size but I was not expecting over $1.00 a piece!  Thankfully I have saved a ton of money in other areas of the wedding so this isn't going to hurt aour budget, but I still don't like the idea of having to pay that much either!  Oh the price of fabulous invites.

I can't wait to share the finished product with you all!  They should be on their merry way on Monday.

The Ideal Me

Preface:  This is a wordy post but please hang in there with me if you can!  I'm in no way offering any medical advice or promoting or advocating any weight loss program.  This is simply my experience. 

I've been debating writing this post but I want to be open and honest with my fellow bees.

It is no secret that I am a plus-sized gal.  I've struggled with my weight most of my life.  My weight gain really started my freshman year of high school.  Having the freedom to buy whatever I wanted for lunch and the fact that I no longer played sports (I was a cheerleader, played volleyball, softball and was a dancer in grade school) was a dangerous mix that resulted in way too many calories consumed and hardly any being burned. 

I was still under 200 pounds when I started college, but each year, more and more weight was added.  I went to school full time and worked a part time job and left no time to take care of myself.  My senior year, I lived in an apartment with three other girls.  One of those girls, D, was super into eating healthy and exercising.  We started working out together (Tae Bo!) and soon enough, I had lost some weight and really toned up.  I was so happy the day I could make it through the entire tape without stopping for a break!

Three, Two, One . . . Happy New Year!

If you remember way back in one of my earlier posts, I had found some New Year's Eve inspiration in the form of a clock.

Image via Miller + Miller

MOB came through and found the perfect clock for me to attempt my own DIY project.  The Walmart clock was a great find and will look so nice hanging in our home after the wedding.

90210 - Zip Code Woes

I miss this show, don't you?  And not the re-make either, although I haven't watched it so I don't have much of an opinion on it.  I miss Brenda, Brandon, Dylan, Kelly, Donna, David, Andrea and even Steve. 

Image via Tatertotsandjello.com

But this post really has nothing to do with that famous zip code and instead deals with my own zip code issues.

Circle of Love

Six to five months before our engagement, Mr. Ball Cap and I decided we should probably visit a jewelry store to educate ourselves about engagement rings and the styles we liked.  We knew our first stop had to be Albert's Diamond Jewelers.

Albert's has been in business serving Northwest Indiana for over 100 years.  Also, their local commercials crack us up!  As soon as you walk in the door, they make you feel right at home and you aren't pressured or hounded to buy.  Our consultant, Emery, was awesome.  I gave him an idea of what I liked and didn't like in rings and he was great at steering us towards different styles based on our reactions to what he showed us.

My only firm criteria was that I wanted silver vs. gold and I disliked heart-shaped diamonds.  I tended to favor a little more vintage look and didn't want a super thin band.  I got to try on a lot of different styles and I was surprised at how opinionated Mr. BC was about things! 

After we left, we both felt there was no need to visit anywhere else.  I told Mr. Ball Cap he was on his own from here on out and I wanted the final choice to be all his.

Ladies, he couldn't have done a better job!

That 70's Wedding

Miss Fox and I were recently on the same wavelength.  She wrote this post about her parent's wedding photos and as I read it, I had my parent's wedding album spread out on the living room floor!

I was going through their wedding pictures trying to decide if I was going to use them in any way on our day.  I've looked at their wedding photos many many times over the years, but I had completely forgotten an element of their wedding hits close to home as my life as a Bee.

One Hot MOB

We have family in the Carolina's, so during a visit back in June, MOB and my Aunt travelled to Bridal Mart in Burlington, North Carolina. MOB was on the hunt for her Mother of the Bride dress.  I was sad that I couldn't be there to shop with her, but I knew she couldn't pass up going to this huge Bridal Mart while she was in the area.

I made my mom and aunt promise that they would text me pictures as mom tried dresses on.  They kept their promise!

Unknown Style

How Charming!

Like many bees before me, I too wanted to honor my Weddingbee moniker on our wedding day.  Mrs. Snow Cone's charm is what really cemented the decision that I just had to have a little sunhat charm of my very own.  And I still can't get over Miss Funnel Cake's amazing talent.  I would have never thought to try and make my own!

I followed in some very smart footsteps and checked out Etsy.  A search for 'Sunhat Charm' resulted in this:

Image via MixnMatchSupplies Etsy Shop

100 Days and Counting . . .

Yep.  It's official.  We are 100 days out from the wedding.  Holy crapola. 

This is the perfect time to take inventory - what is done, what is in process, and what is left to do?  I've been keeping you pretty updated on what is done so I'll share some of the projects still in process.

First up:  Invitations

The Great Escape

We are quickly approaching the 100 day countdown to the Sunhat / Ball Cap wedding.  I'm trying not to freak out about going into double digits.

The last couple of months have been quite hectic and stressful for us.

• We lost my grandma in early August
• My other grandmother's Alzheimer's has gotten severely worse in the past month and she is still in the hospital
• September 15th was a busy tax deadline for me
• Mr. BC has been on a new job hunt for quite some time
• I'm on a diet (that's a story for a whole other post!)
• My car's alternator decided to go out on me (but at 148,000 miles, things are bound to happen)
• The wedding list isn't getting any shorter

Marriage Preparation - Back to School

On Saturday, September 10th, Mr. Ball Cap and I attended our Special PreCana marriage preparation class.  The Archdiocese of Chicago requires a marriage preparation course in order to receive the sacrament of Matrimony.  We were able to choose from two courses:  PreCana or Special PreCana.

Family Ministries.org describes the classes as follows:

PreCana is designed for engaged couples in their twenties with no special concerns. They are designed to cover topics that will help you in your married life.

Special PreCana is recommended for couples if one or both are at least 30 years of age or older; or for those who were previously married, or for couples who are living together, or are civilly married for less than six months. This class utilizes the dynamics of regular PreCana, but more emphasis is placed on the areas of married life to which the more experienced couple can relate. 

Through short talks, sharing of the facilitator's own experiences, group exercises and personal reflection, engaged couples are guided through topics useful for a successful future marriage. Some of the topics presented are: the changing nature of marriage, personal growth, and couple adjustment, mutual decision-making, the elements of effective communication, conflict management, intimacy and sexual expression, financial planning, sacramentality, goal setting, the extended family, where to find help and counseling for marriage, and interfaith marriage.

A Homemade Shower

Earlier this week, I received this in the mail:

Lighting the Way

This weekend was very busy and productive in wedding planning land.  Mr. Ball Cap and I attended our Pre-Cana class and my MOH, MOB, Bridesmaid K and I spent most of Sunday working on the invitations.  I will share the details of all of these soon, but one other item we were able to fit in was the table numbers. 

I've mentioned many times that Etsy provided a lot of wedding inspiration for me.  During one of my early searches on the site, I came across luminary table numbers.  Mrs. Jaguar fell in love with these as well - she sure does have great taste!

Image via Poppy Seed Station Etsy Shop

A Toast to You

During our registration process at Macy's, I felt that we had to add a set of toasting flutes to our registry.  Of course I wanted to have a special set that we'd use on our wedding day, but all the formal stemware we came across didn't really feel like us.  We did find one set that we both liked and went ahead and scanned it.

Nambe Champagne Flutes via Amazon.com

Maids in Navy

Several weeks after the first bridesmaid dress excursion, MOB, MOH and Bridesmaid S met up in South Bend, IN at a bridal salon to try on more styles.  I wasn't able to make the trip out there as it was during tax season and I was slightly busy. :)

The ladies did an amazing job at taking lots and lots of pictures and calling me with questions and opinions on what they liked best.  I wanted my girls to be comfortable and like what they would be wearing so I was happy for the feedback. 

Warning:  Picture heavy post ahead!  Because I wasn't there, I don't have style numbers for many of the gowns and I apologize for that.

Dressin' My Maids

When it was time to look at bridesmaid dresses, my MOH, Bridesmaid S and Bridesmaid K joined me and MOB at a shop near my house.  We had an appointment, but when we walked in the door, there was no one around!  We waited a few minutes and hollered out a hello or two but still no one.  We finally had to walk to the back of the store to find the associate.  This rough start made me a little nervous but I was determined to have a good experience and have fun! 

I told the associate we were looking for floor length dresses for a winter wedding and were looking for options in silver, pewter or charcoal colors.  She directed us to the right area of the shop and let us look at our leisure. 

The girls knew I really liked dresses that had a brooch or beading embellishment - something to make them stand out and have a wintery feel.  Other than that, I was pretty open to styles and suggestions.

Bouquets for the 'Maids: Part II

Now that all of the bead "stems" were completed, we were ready to assemble the bouquets.  We had about 600 stems of clear beads and 100 of silver and each bridesmaid's bouquet was to have approximately 100 stems - at least that was the original plan.

MOB and I started out by making piles of 50 of the clear beaded stems so we could confirm we had made enough.  Then, for some reason, we started assembling the first several bouquets with 75 clear beaded stems and 15 silver beaded stems.  This obviously does not add up to 100.  We kind of spaced out about grabbing 10 more stems from the extras pile.  We realized our error after the 3rd or 4th bouquet but I was not about to unbundle them just to add 10 more.  We counted correctly on the remaining bouquets and added any extra leftover stems to the MOH's bouquet.

Supplies used for assembly:

• Wire cutters
• Thick work or gardening gloves
• White Duck Tape
• Tennis racquet tape
• Ribbon (color of your choice)
• Hot glue gun

Bouquets for the 'Maids: Part I

Once I had all of the supplies to make the bridesmaid bouquets, I recruited some help in the form of my MOH, MOB, BM A and FMIL, and we to work on cutting wire, stringing beads and twisting the beaded strands. 

Here was our inspiration picture (from this previous post):

Cake Boss

Remember my post about choosing a cake design? 

Everyone had a different favorite but a handful of you agreed with mine:

Image via Slice Cake Studio

Dancing with My Father

The father/daughter dance is something I'm really looking forward to.  My father is an amazing man and has always been there for his daughters.  He is the smartest, hardest working man I know and I am so honored to have him walk me down the aisle on my wedding day.

When Butterfly Kisses came out all those years ago, I thought for sure it was what dad and I would be dancing to.

Picking a Palette

I can't say that I've dreamed about or had my whole wedding planned since I was a little girl.  What I did always know, was that I wanted to be married in the winter and I wanted the colors to be navy and silver.  The rich, dark navy against fresh, white fallen snow seemed so dreamy!

I can't pinpoint one thing that drew me to the navy and silver.  Maybe it is because those were my high school colors?  Go Wolves!

Image via PrepSportswear.com

Registry Rumbles

Registering for wedding gifts was not as fun as I thought it would be.  Whew!  There - I said it out loud.  What a relief! 

I understand that everyone has their own opinions on the whole registry thing, but in my circle of family and friends, a registry is expected and almost demanded!  It isn't frowned upon and is the norm for an engaged couple in these parts.  I have already had numerous requests from people to have the right to an early sneak peak or to have "first dibs" on choosing our gifts! 

Mr. Ball Cap and I decided on Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy's, and MyRegistry.com.  MyRegistry allows you to add items from any website on the Internet onto one universal gift registry.  It is free to set up and it also allows you to sync other existing registries you may have out there (from Macy's for example) all to one page.  This site fit our needs well.  As Mr. Ball Cap and I are well into our 30's, we have accumulated quite a bit of household things during our life.  While we do need to replace quite a bit, there are other items that would be more practical for us.  We'd love to be able to register at Lowe's or Menard's, but sadly, they do not offer registries.  By using MyRegistry, we can add any item from these stores (or any other online store) to our registry and our guests can go to one site to see it all.

Please Leaf Your Thumbprint

Making the guestbook decision was quick and easy.  I ran a "winter wedding" search on Etsy and found this:

Image via Lovliday Etsy Shop

No Mad Hatter Here!

Hello Hive!  Miss Sunhat here and I think I'm still in shock that I'm really a bee now!  I can't tell you how excited and honored I am to be blogging for the hive.  I found the e-mail at about 1 AM after getting home from a concert (Stone Temple Pilots yeah!) and couldn't sleep for hours!  I've been reading Weddingbee for about a year and a half now and when the tea party generation of icons came out, I knew the sunhat was just the icon for me!

Why a sunhat?  Well I love hats - really love hats.  Like I was waiting for my invite to the royal wedding so I could rock the hell out of an amazing hat.  The bigger the brim, the more I love the hat.  I may not have gone this route:

Image via TruthQuake.com

But something like this would have been so fun and lovely to wear:

Image via TheBigFatIndianWedding.com

Losing Those We Love

Unfortunately this post bears extremely sad news.  On Monday, August 8, 2011, we lost my wonderful grandmother.  My heart is still broken, yet I'm comforted knowing she is out of pain and at peace.

I was lucky enough to grow up next door to my fraternal grandparents.  In fact, it was their farm we used for our engagement pictures.  As a kid, I simply had to take a 3 minute walk through the back fields to reach their house.  Grandma would always have candy bars in the fridge and we'd sip on grandpa's delicious "iced tea" concoction (I know it had Tang mixed in there!).  My grandparents read to my sister and I all the time and taught us how to become fairly good rummy players.  I clearly remember answering my first final Jeopardy! question correctly in their living room (they were avid viewers).

While these are memories I will always treasure, one memory I will not having is the two of them being there on my wedding day.  Grandpa passed away 10 years ago, but I always expected grandma would be there with us.  My heart aches each time I think of how she'll never see me in my dress or witness our beautiful Mass. 

I have no doubt they both will be with me in spirit on that day.  I am grateful grandma was able to meet and get to know Mr. Ballcap and she adored him.  She was so happy for me and loved that I found a good, Catholic, Polish boy!  Her faith was the strongest I have ever witnessed.  I want to be sure to honor her and my grandfather in the best possible way during our ceremony. 

This week we will take the time to mourn and honor this amazing woman.  She'd give my dupa a swift kick if I didn't get back into the joy and fun of wedding planning soon.  Losing a loved one is never easy, but losing her before one of the most important days in my life magnifies the grief.

I wish I didn't have to write such a heavy post, and there is no way my words can appropriately convey all I'm feeling, but I know I am not alone.  I have an amazing family and an even more amazing fiance that provide a fantastic support system. 

To those of you out there who may also be grieving, may your family and faith help you through this difficult time.

These Boots are Made for . . .

Walking!  Dancing!  Struttin around!  My Ugg sparkle boots have arrived!

How Me Became We - Part II

So in my previous post, you learned how foolish I was by pushing away a great guy for no real good reason!

I thought about Mr. Ball Cap quite a bit over the next couple of months, and as much as I tried to get him off my mind, I just felt so bad about how I handled the whole situation.  I assumed I had blown it and hoped that someone else great would come into my life.  But then, on December 17, 2008, while at a friend's Christmas party, I received a text that simply said "How are you?"  It was from Mr. Ball Cap!  I was in shock.  I was surprised he even kept my number!

Over the next few days, we texted and talked and he asked if I wanted to maybe hang out again.  I agreed and we set up a time to meet up.  But then . . . he cancelled on me.  Now I know that sounds terrible, but he actually had a valid reason that I believed.  His youngest brother was going into the Air Force and the family ended up planning a farewell get together for his last night on the same day we were supposed to meet up.  I couldn't blame him for that and hoped he wasn't really blowing me off.

How Me Became We - Part I

I think I owe you an explanation on how this couple came to be!

After graduating from college in December, 2001, I started my accounting career at the height of tax season.  I was lucky enough to join a firm with a fairly large department of young accountants.  I made lifelong friends fast and spent the next 7 years having a ball.  In 2003, the housing market was primed for young buyers so I purchased my first home.  Life was good.  I was having so much fun, but had no one special to share my life with. 

My friends started to get married and have children and I found myself wanting the same.  The circle of people in my life was pretty tight and after going to the same restaurants, clubs, etc., week after week, meeting someone new was proving difficult.

So what is a modern, independent woman to do?  Turn to the Internet of course!  I decided it was time to put myself out there and start meeting people outside of my everyday routine.  I doubled my efforts by joining a dating service and e-Harmony.

Trade Show Jackpot

On Friday, July 22nd, MOB and I had a mother daughter day and went to another of Transworld's Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories show.  I first discussed the show in this post, and we wanted to go to another to see what other wedding goods we could find.

Going on a Friday was a great choice.  The doors opened at 9:30 and we arrived about 20 minutes early.  We waited in a makeshift line and made a game plan on which way to go first.  As the crowd filed in, we were handed some free goodies:

Impulse Buys

The wedding is 4 MONTHS AWAY!  Saying that out loud incites a panic attack inside my head but I'm still keeping cool for now. 

With the time ticking away faster and faster, I find myself having the need to snatch up anything that crosses my line of site that could even remotely be used for the wedding.  So far, my impulse buys have worked out or will be used, but I need to get these in check in order to stay within my budget. 

My recent grab?  Just a small $170 purchase. . .

Image via Ugg Australia.com

Shoe Blues Part III

Who knew I could go on about shoes for 3 posts!

So after shipping the four ivory shoes back to Zappos, I was stuck.  I put the shoe decision on the back burner as I had more than enough time to figure the problem out later.  There was just one thing - I couldn't get those Caparros off my mind!  The more I looked at them, the more I knew how perfect they would be.  They had a classic look and the sequined trim made them all the more special.  Don't remember what they look like?

Image via Bridalshoes.com

U & I

During one of several daily browsing sessions on Pinterest, I saw this:

Image via Bridal Elements.com

Shoe Blues Part II

After deciding that maybe I wasn't a colored shoe bride after all, I switched to looking at ivory shoes. 

One of the first things my MOH (maid of honor) Sister did when I had found my dress was to send me a picture of these:

Caparros Meaghan via Bridalshoes.com

Shoe Blues Part I

When I first started thinking about wedding shoes, I wanted this:

Image via OurWeddingPlus.com

Image via Confessions of a Bridal Consultant

Taking the Cake

The cake has always been one of the more important things for me during the planning process.  I love beautifully decorated cakes and the artistry behind them.  I've been known to watch marathon sessions of Food Network Challenge!  However, choosing the right vendor who could pull of the look and taste we wanted was causing me a bit of stress.

At the various bridal expos I attended early on in the planning stages, I kept running across a bakery that had recently opened in the Northwest, Indiana region (names will not be mentioned to protect the innocent or not-so innocent).  Their display booths were bright and fun and the photos of their cakes blew my mind.  This place definitely had some talent.  I took their business card and brochure and was certain I'd be meeting with them in the future.

MOB did a little leg-work on her own and mentioned this bakery to lady she works with.  The verdict?  Two big thumbs down!  I was in shock!  My mom's co-worker had attended 2 weddings that used this bakery for their cakes, and while the cakes looked stunning, they tasted awful!  The flavors were not good and the cake was dry.  My heart sank at the news.

However, said co-worker had attended other weddings with amazing cake results - taste and good looks!  She recommended a woman named Linda who has been making wedding cakes out of her home for years.  Her prices are reasonable, the cakes are beautiful and the taste is fantastic.  I couldn't have asked for a better review!

Save Our Date!

I always knew I wanted to do photo Save the Dates.  I liked receiving these types in the past and hanging them on my fridge. 

Because we didn't get our engagement pictures taken until May, it was already pushing the 6 month mark by the time we settled on a design, finalized the guest list and sent them on their way.  I wish I had planned a little better and was able to spend more time on adding special touches to these, but I had to let it go.  They still turned out great!  Wanna see???

Meet Virginia

I heard this Train song on the drive to Miss Pamela's.  It must have been fate.

Video via YouTube.com

Return to Sender

Our return address stamp has arrived!

I had a promotion code at the time of my order so I received the Life's a Beach die set as a free gift.

Saying Yes to the Dress (Salon)

After our September engagement, I was in no hurry to rush out and try on dresses.  Now don't get me wrong, I couldn't have been more excited about finding "the one."  It was more the prospect of actually trying on the gowns that made me so hesitant.

As a plus size bride, it isn't easy to find a bridal salon you can walk into and try on a dress that fits.  Samples don't generally run up into the 16's, 18's or 20's.  The idea of having to purchase a dress without seeing what it really looked like on my body scared the crap out of me.

My mom came to the rescue and found Miss Pamela's.  Miss Pamela's is a plus size bridal salon in Rochester, Indiana specializing in only plus size bridal and prom gowns.  The salon carries brands such as Jasmine, Maggie Sottero, Allure, Mary's and more.  A 2.5 hour drive was no obstacle for the chance to walk into a salon and try on any dress I liked.

Ring My Bell

While browsing the Weddingbee classifieds several months ago, I ran across this post.  The bride was selling items used in her winter wedding and one of the pictures showed 2 sparkle navy baskets.  I was less interested in the baskets themselves and more interested in what was inside the baskets. 

Image via Weddingbee.com

I was curious what the bells were used for as I couldn't read the tags.  I e-mailed the seller and she responded they had used the bells after their ceremony.  Each guest grabbed a bell on their way out of the church and when she and her new husband exited, everyone rang the bell.  This was her alternative to the bubbles, rice or confetti post-ceremony toss.

Now I had been racking my brain up until this point for ideas for our church exit.  Being that it is going to be cold outside, bubbles were out, and the church doesn't allow for things to be thrown if there is clean-up required.  I wanted something that would be quick and would fit in with the season.  These were perfect!

He Put a Ring On It

September 25, 2010 seemed like any other ordinary Saturday.  Mr. Ballcap and I made plans to have my dad come over and help us with some landscaping and home repair jobs.

Unbeknown to me, while the guys returned some yard equipment, Mr. Ballcap took the opportunity to ask my dad for permission for my hand in marriage.  I always loved this tradition and it was never a question for either of us that Mr. Ballcap wouldn't ask.  My dad told him he and my mom would be honored to have him in our family.  So sweet!

The guys returned to our house and grilled up lunch.  Mr. Ballcap's phone was on the kitchen island and while he was outside, it rang.  The number on the caller ID didn’t have a name associated with it so I opened the patio door and tossed him the phone.  He answered and just kept saying “yes, uh huh, yes, ok, thank you” to the person on the other end.  When he hung up, he just mumbled that he wasn’t sure who it was – some lady rambling on and he doesn’t really remember what she said or was talking about. I was completely confused and shrugged it off as a wrong number.  

Now let me stop here for a moment to say that I typically pride myself on having fantastic instincts and have ruined many of a surprise in my time, however, on this occasion, I just went about my business and never had the slightest inkling something was up. 

Later that afternoon, the guys proceeded to work on various house projects.  I found my dad in the kitchen working on the refrigerator but Mr. Ballcap was nowhere to be found.  I asked where he was and my dad said he didn’t know.  I searched around the house and took a peak outside and noticed Mr. Ballcap's truck wasn’t in the driveway.  Where in the heck did he go – and without saying goodbye?!

Back inside I was confused and getting slightly worried.  I texted Mr. Ballcap and received no response.  Then I called – no answer.  A few minutes later he called back.  He said he was at Menard's getting a new garage door opener switch.  Made sense to me and I thought nothing further of it.

That evening, after my dad left, I settled into my favorite spot on the couch.  Mr. Ballcap headed down the stairs towards me and asked “Ya know what I’ve been thinking?”  Now of course my sarcastic self retorted “Oh boy, now what?”  He came over to me, knelt down next to the couch and pulled a small box out from behind his back.  All at once, a million thoughts swirled around in my head – Oh my gosh!  This is it!   I can’t believe he’s proposing at home!  I look like a bum!  I’m in sweatpants!

After I allowed myself to focus back on the moment, he opened  the box and asked “Will you marry me?”  I believe my first words were “Are you serious?!”  Tears welled up in my eyes and I gave him an affirmative “Yes! Yes! Of course!”  I was in full on cry mode at this point and he slid the ring on my finger and we hugged and kissed.

He later told me he hid the ring in our garage but couldn’t stand knowing it was out there.  He only had the ring for about 3 hours or so before he proposed.  I loved that he couldn’t hold on to it for very long and just had to ask me!  Mr. Ballcap was later concerned we didn't have some grand, romantic proposal story but I told him there was no need to worry about that.  I love our story.  We'll always have the memory of that proposal in our first home together, and that, I think, is very romantic!

How long did your significant other have the ring before proposing?

Stamp Traveller

I'm looking forward to having our return address stamp travel all over the country greeting our guests.  I had spent more than enough time on Etsy drooling over amazing custom return stamps such as:

Emilie Friday Calligraphy via Etsy.com

Glitter Puff's Shop on Etsy.com

Note Trunk's Shop on Etsy.com

Flower Alternatives

As I've mentioned, I really wanted to try and save money in the flower department.  I was thinking of alternatives for the bridesmaid bouquets but I'm not a big fan of the faux silk flower look so I didn't really want to head in that direction.  Then, at a bridal expo in Valparaiso in mid-January, I found this:

(Personal Photo)

One of the local vendors had this crystal bead bouquet on display.  The more I looked at it, the more I thought it would fit in with our overall look and it would add a festive touch to the bridesmaids' ensambles.  But at around $100 a pop, there was no way this would be a cheaper alternative to flowers. 

So with a picture in hand, my mom and I went about searching the internet for DIY versions.  Offbeat Bride has a great tutorial for making these and after reading through the instructions, I knew we could handle this project and save some $$$ in the process!

Have you seen this?!

Image via FavorAffair.com

Image via CoxAndCox.co.uk

 This takes the sparkler send-off to a whole other level! 

You can't go on any wedding blog worth its salt without seeing gorgeous sparkler send-offs such as:

Image via IntimateWeddings.com/ Photo by Swensen Photography

Image via SparklersOnline.com/ Photo by Shannon Ho Photography

Image via OnceWed.com/ Photo by EVS Media

Sigh - so lovely.  

However, the more I think about it, the heart sparkler probably isn't as practical.  It won't burn long enough and the heart shape isn't really going to come through clearly in "sparks" once lit.  These would,  however, be adorable to top off cupcakes or petit fours!

We won't be having a sparkler send-off but our guests will be seeing sparks before the end of the night! (I'm not talking about this Sparks although she is grogeous!)

Image via Weddingbee.com/ Photo by averyhouse