monday fun day?

I saw this on the blog called Everything Fabulous. This is such a good way to think about the week.

enjoy!

I love wedding pictures in front of windows with long curtains
They look so classy. However, this requires some grace and poise. damn
Also love the hair, however this would not stand up to FL heat

Taking a Break.

I'm taking a break from designing the wedding invitations (yes, I know what you are thinking...bad idea) and looking at something else that has been occupying my mind lately. I'm getting a new house next year with a boy roommate! This means that a whole new place to decorate! Bad news though is the boy roommate (Craig) will seriously disapprove of any pink or super girly-ness in our house. Ok I can compromise. I LOVE white comforters and am determined to have a super fluffy one. He has agreed to this.

i love decorating

look at all the colors you can add :)

On another side note. My mom and I are having some major disagreements about the shoes. We have found all these pretty ones, but they are all four inches high. I have major issues with shoes in the first place and they rip my feet apart. We are trying to find shoes that I will wear all day and not end up barefoot. I think that these would be perfect. They are a perfect gold, wedges, and Lilly. Call me, text me, leave me a comment. Are these not appropriate for under a wedding dress?

I have a feeling the answer is no.

wedding registries

DONE DONE DONE

As I have said you would have thought this would be a lot of fun. No its stressful! Mommy #2 (also known as Mrs. Sharon) graciously finished this unpleasant job for me. She LOVES to shop and is really good at making lists and getting everything you need done. Not to mention she knows all the good stuff. She really made the point that we have nothing because I am fresh out of college and well he is a guy. However, I am tempted to register at a third place, Pottery Barn, for the simple fact that I am dying to have a collage wall at my house. I would literally be the happiest girl ever. I have all the pictures picked out for it. This will be my first big buy with a big girl paycheck. And if you register at Pottery Barn you are entered to win a honeymoon. 

yes I know I really need to get off this.

Now for some registry highlights....

steam shark: hopefully  up to the task of  a Great Dane

pretty sure I have wanted this since forever

pretty enough to take to a party 

Fiesta Ware: it just makes me happy

Pint glasses for Craig...yes we remembered him. Actually, who are we kidding. He is
so gonna benefit from the kitchen stuff...boy eats like a horse

Craig's Area

Ah the honeymoon. Thinking about this lovely vacation is getting me through every crappy day of internship and every temper tantrum I want to through over this wedding. This is strictly Craig's job though. I will be helping with the ideas of where to go and what to do but that is it!

Ideas so far.....

1) European Cruise
  we run into problems with this with timing. We wouldn't be able to leave until the week after our wedding and get back until the day before Craig needs to go back to work. (As of right now, I will be playing happy housewife....so much for that college degree)

The things I would do to go here

2) Montana
  No, I am not even entertaining this idea. However, Craig is. I told him if I couldn't wear a sun dress and a bikini I would be unhappy. He claims it will be warm...yeah maybe between 12-3 everyday

pretty, yes. Would I ever agree to wear hiking boots on my honeymoon. NO

3) California
   This as of right now is our best possibility. Big Sur and Napa Valley with cute Bed and Breakfasts are right up my alley. and sun dresses can  be worn

I have always wanted to go here

Needless to say we will not be going on a traditional honeymoon. But really its us, no one should be too surprised


P.S. Ballston  Spa , NY-- one of the homestead possibilities in August had a high of 9 degrees yesterday

wedding veil....warning Craig don't look

My dress came in!!! My mom and I are going to ATL next month to pick it up. I am so pumped. We are waiting a little bit because we are responsible for storing the dress until the wedding in August. We are moving houses and I could see it getting lost and having a bridezilla moment.  We decided that we are not going to keep it at Brides by Lori to be altered because I would have to go up like two weeks before the wedding for my last alteration and to pick it up. Thats a bit stressful. We have also picked out a veil. Here is the only picture that looks decent.

ok I put this one up because you can see my veil better
ignore the creepy eyes

I thought about not having a veil period. I feel like its going to severely get in the way, I mean the point of the veil is to wear it over your face and be a blushing bride. Who wants to do that, I'm not embarrassed to get married, Craig might be though. We can get him a veil.... haha ANYWAYS I wanted a fluffy veil but nothing long and could possibly have me going headfirst down the aisle. You laugh but it could happen. I also joked about getting a veil like this....

I could see Craig asking me what happened to my veil on the alter

Reception Decor.

This makes me panicky to even think about. Thank goodness for Patty and her calm ways. We were able to figure out centerpieces and linens.

Linens: For sure falls under crap that no one ever thinks about until they plan a wedding. We decided to go with a white linen with navy blue linen napkins to add some balance to the joint. Throw off the pink and orange a bit.

Ok, centerpieces. As of right now we are going to need twenty tables (cross your fingers we won't need more!) and we are going to have half of them with candles and the other half flowers. For the candles we are going to have one taper in a glass cylinder in the middle and three or four smaller candles going around it. My dream of having these tapers were shot down with the no open flame restriction.

Flowers, I decided I did want Gerbera daisies but I could no just do those alone. Every time I see a wedding with Gerbera daisies and nothing else I find it as kind of a let down.  Also I feared that the brightness of the daisies would be overwhelming. I decided that I would mix hydrangeas and other flowers to create texture and to add something more appealing to the eye. 

These are similar to what I am hoping for.

My biggest fear of all this is that she has no pictures of arrangements she has done for the flowers or the candles. It makes me nervous because I can't envision it and I don't have control over it. So please pray!

The head table is going to be a family style table with candles going down the length of the tables. I decide it would be more romantic and frankly I'm a pyro so I'm gonna end up playing with them

Lastly, vases. Patty uses clear vases for all of her arrangements but I saw these vintage milk glasses and just can't help but want them on my tables. 

Call me crazy but I think they add a lot.
stylemepretty.com

two dresses I would totally ditch my dress for

There is only two ways I'd cheat on my wedding dress. Both start with Vera and end with Wang. LOVE every dress this woman makes. (well besides the ones with color)

vera wang eliza

love

This could possibly be my favorite wedding dress of all time

Patty the Flower lady

We ordered our flowers over the course of my month off. I was shocked to realize how easy it was to make some choices. This meeting started off great because we were on time. Our wedding meeting place seems to be the local McDonald's in Niceville. I know what you are thinking, but this is the classiest joint in Nice ville that is open all day and has coffee. I mean how many McDonald's have you gone to that ask if you would like refills?

Moving on. Patty was really straightforward with us the entire time and not trying to get us for all we are worth. This make things SO much easier when you are working with vendors because you aren't sitting there worrying about how much you are spending you are enjoying yourself.

Things that made Patty a fabulous lady:
1) she suggested that since Craig can't wear a boutonnière none of the groomsman should. She says they will look out of place. I like this because honestly how many guys really care if they have a flower stuck on their shirt, jackets are going to be thrown off, and its gonna save us over a hundred bucks.

2) Corsages. Nice,but no thank  you. Mom has opted out of her corsage in favor of a bouquet that will be given to the statue of Mary during the Mass. My Grandmothers will have them, even though I can already see MeMere asking why she has to.

3) She was really honest about the church. Do you know how you see all those weddings with the church overflowing with flowers? Yeah well they aren't Catholic. Catholic Churches tend to be strict about what you are and are not allowed to put in their churches.

Things that maybe stressed me out.

1) She mentioned Hurricane season. uhhhhh Start praying now. Even though everything is inside, the Air Force bases are the first to shut down in an event of an possibility of the hurricane

2) She declared the other Catholic Church that I decided not to get married at lovely. For about two minutes there she had me changing the wedding to the other church. Don't get me wrong I love the church I am getting married at, but she was mentioning architecture of the other church and I was getting visions.  In reality St. Mary's has more meaning AND it is already taken care of.

Which brings me to another Mom/Daughter heart-to-heart:

Mom: DO you really want to change it to Christ our Redeemer?
Me: Maybe....Craig really liked it (my scapegoat for everything)
Mom: Well you know St. Mary's has a really long aisle to walk down and it captures all the attention.
Me: Mom, I don't want to be the center of attention
Mom: Bullshit Madeleine

She really shows her true feelings about me through these conversations.

Earrings for wedding?

These would fulfill my own standards of wedding tradition: Something old, something blue, something new, something j.crew!

note: j.crew took these off their website yesterday, so if you see them back up let me know!

j.crew

the birdcage

The birdcage is going to turn into our mailbox for our wedding. My mom and her friend were out at antique stores two weekends ago and I get a call asking if I would like a bird cage. My next question was of course, why am I getting a bird? (of course not, I killed my beta fish and those things never die...) She says no, but its white rod iron and it would serve as a perfect birdcage. I was skeptical, but we bought it and now it is creeping up on the list of my favorite wedding things.

Since it stands alone on the table next to it is going to be the postcards which the guests will sign in a metal tray of some kind. This tray will also hopefully look vintage and the postcards are going to be a mix of postcards collected by friends and family along with some vintage ones.

I also met some Canadian friends this weekend. They were trying to convince me that I should go on my honeymoon to their hometown of Toronto. I must admit if every Canadian is as funny as this man, I just might. (as an added bonus he didn't say "aye"once). We have decided that we will more than likely not do a traditional honeymoon to an island, but look for something very different. Canada is very french.....

He is a history teacher too! He gets paid 90K a year, unlike me.
he also has a blog, logging his snowbird journey 

Final shoe choices

the countdown on my new calender

7 Months to Go! Right now I am sitting pretty with wedding stuff (minus the DJ) but I really want it to be 6 months to go because that will make it seem SO much closer. I will be panicking a little more around the sixth month mark. Anyways I have to start ordering my heels so I need some input! What do we like?? Here are some of the other options...

pour la victoire

I am cutting myself off soon. I keep finding more shoes that I like and once spring shoes come in I will be done for. So here are some other ones I've found....

These are in the running because of the bottom.

nina

badgley Mischka

Is this real life?

This morning I start my last semester of college. What the heck?! Two nights ago the Auburn Tigers won the national championship. Really this can't be real life. Senior year has been the best year of my life so far. I managed to have only 10 hours of classes last semester, four day weekends, I got engaged, I had the chance to have a once in a lifetime weekend with my best friends from high school, I get to plan a dream wedding, dream dress, a perfect football season, and my parents now live in sunny Florida

avoid this

7 semesters down, 1 to go. This is a big one. Student teaching. I look and act like I'm 16 and don't always think before I speak. So not only do I have to work on being a teacher, I have to work on acting my age. But I mean there are some great things to look forward to. Like that diploma! Since I believe in first impressions and pretty things I have some pretty Lilly desk accessories to help me through my internship. My kids are gonna think I am a freak

I was awarded mostly likely to be on the show Stepford wives during our education lunch. great

Winter Wedding accomplishments

I'm the idiot who sent save the dates without addresses. 

So the Winter List:
1) Gather all the pictures of my family at their weddings for the dessert table. Get them re done and find frames for them to go in.
2) Find frames for the Table assignments.
- repaint them white
- find scrapbook paper to put in the background
3) Make my own address labels. Realized I could do this in publisher. I can make them cute and so much cheaper!
4) ORDER, ADDRESS, and SEND save the dates. They will be at their destinations by December 24th or else. I actually leaving Auburn crack o dawn Saturday to make this possible. I have to have them out by the 17th. Holy cow.
5) find fun fabric for the dessert table. Hopefully some Lilly?
6) oh no big get a DJ
8) Find a mailbox and paint it white
9) Figure out Postcard deal.
10) Figure out Flowers?
11) Do something about my shoes, veil, and jewelry. Apparently I need those for when my dress comes in


So I got most of the list done. I missed the DJ appt when I got stuck at the Doctors for two hours ( He was debating whether I really had asthma and if I really was a competitve runner). My mom talked to them and they seem to have a pretty sweet hook-up, but I have to call them back.

The pictures from my relative weddings are thankfully sitting in matching frames on my grandparents bookshelf. I need to get the pictures re touch and still get the Schaefer clan's.

My mom nixed me getting a mailbox so soon because for 1) they are building a new house and are currently living in a shoe box and no where to put it 2) The idea needs to be hashed out more (Ditto for the postcards) 3) since I wrote this blog to put up, we have found a large white birdcage to slip mail into. Thoughts? picture coming this weekend

I have not finished my frames finding because it was at tjmaxx that has Lilly , fabulous heels , and stationary. But I have 5 and I need like 4 more and I'll be set. I have a feeling my mom will go alone and save herself some money

I really know that you aren't surprised I bought this. You must admit Barbie looks classy. 

Shoes, I don't even want to talk about. I need to make a decision soon so I have a time to buy a couple pairs online, narrow down the ones I like, and get the right sizes for them. Jewelry and veil I haven't even thought about

P.S. I added new blogs under "Pretty Things" so if your school/work  was cancelled like mine check it out!

mom's dress

The woman wants to add this dress into the budget so we better start looking for it.

The things that she has said about her dress:
1) I don't want an awful MOB dress
2) I want it to be summery
3) An interesting neckline?
4) Shes not wearing white :)

I thinking maybe some pattern, a sundress, nothing overly fancy because she needs to be comfy. She is gonna be a mess that day. Love you momma :)

nordstrom

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3131184?origin=category&resultback=6625
this one won't copy

hmmmm....color I like pattern?
comes in navy also
nordstrom

 

nordstrom..dunno how I feel about the black

Mom and Daughter Relationship

I'll admit I have been slacking on this wedding thing this week. I have SO much to do, 7 months is coming up! If you know me it is better for me to stay ahead than to stay on time because I began to freak out about things.

Conversation with my mom today:

Mom: We need to look at the budget.
Me: Fine what do we need to add?
Mom: [Listing things off] How much do you think my dress is going to be?
Me: Why is YOUR dress going on the budget
Mom: Well its for the wedding.
Me: If its not about ME, it does not belong anywhere on that budget.
Mom: Wow, you are a huge brat

Yes, Those words came out of my mouth. It was funny because this is a typical conversation between my mom and I, but OMG I am a Bridezilla!

So this is why we need to stay ahead, keep the zilla in me at bay.

us on better days. My mom makes me look like a giant

Later that day.

Mom: Madeleine, you know those shows about hoarders?
Me: yeah...
Mom: Well your room kinda looks like one of those with all those clothes everywhere

After I get out of the shower a little bit later....

Mom: hehe I sent a picture of your room to Craig. Now he has evidence that you are a slob
Me: YEAH WELL YOU RAISED ME!!!!
Mom: You are your father's child and you need to practice cleaning and organizing before you get married

Meanwhile, this woman is moaning about how she misses her cleaning lady and how she hates cleaning.

Needless to say I slaved away and cleaned or organized my room and clothes bins. Meanwhile wedding stuff went to the wayside

wedding videos

I decided against getting a wedding video mostly because without a doubt in my mind we will be in complete love with it for about a month and then forget all about it. AND then I saw this wedding video and it made me want to cry it was so cute.


Jordan & Aubrey // Laguna Beach, CA from FortyOneTwenty on Vimeo.

Kenny Chesney - Me And You

I found this song as I was driving back from Charleston and being whiny about leaving Craig. I heard this song (along with a hot Krispy Kreme) and it made me happy. I love this song because Kenny sings it and because of the lyrics. Another contender, I think so.

New Year, New Life

Do we like this hairdo?
stylemepretty.com

This year is going to be big, huge, life-changing. Why may you ask? At some point this year I will be forced to become a full fledged adult. Not just a make believe adult with Daddy's credit card. I was putting all the stuff that I already know for the year in my Lilly Agenda and it is packed! For example, I have Mother's Day, College Graduation, and my birthday three days in a row in May. But, as we all know most importantly we're getting married! It is only 7 months away and I have so much to do! I am really trying hard to get it all done considering I am laying on the couch and reading stylemepretty.com.

why is he eating her toes?
stylemepretty.com

You can't blame me though they have their first ever E-Magazine and it has the best weddings of 2010 in it. Wedding research right? I also got a sweet new laptop and it needs to be broken in so this is all really in the name of being productive.

I love love paper goods, but they are so darn expensive

The Georgetown Finest is the best wedding of the year in my opinion. Maybe its because they got married in a place close to my heart or the fact they have pictures at the fabulous cupcake bakery, or perhaps because they got married at the most fabulous red door chapel downtown.