If life wasn't crazy enough with working on our home, Ryan and I getting used to living together after having opposite schedules, trying to figure out my place in the photography world, enjoying our adorable lil' nephews Evan, Forrest, and Levi plus Vivian, our adorable niece... Ryan and I also have a puppy or at least is the size of one, Jack, who is a Jack Russell mix! How fun and YES, and a little crazy, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hard to believe its almost here...

As weird as it is, it still doesn't seem real yet! I don't know if thats good or bad... I'm glad that at this point I'm not stressed!

This past weekend, I got to share my favorite place with my favorite people! Saturday, my wedding party, moms, mistresses of ceremony, Malachi, and Loraine headed up to Leland for beach time and wine sipping! It was a beautiful weekend for our festivities! We headed out of 8:00 a.m. arriving around 11:30 a.m. Grandma had created a warm welcome with a construction paper sign greeting us! When we got inside, she created a wall of Julie in Leland! :) Jill, Suzie, and Chris put together a very yummy lunch and we headed down to the beach for some sun! After spending some time in the water, we decided to head out for wine tasting stopping at some of my favorites: 45 North, Tandem Cider, and Leelanau Cellars. After Leelanau Cellars, we stopped at Just Knot a Bar for some dinner. We kept the rest of the night low key... opening the wonderful gifts the girls got me and playing a few games about how well I know Ryan. We called it a early night since all the fresh air, sun, and wine tired us out! Next morning, more goodies were out... by the way too much food! I was soo stuffed by the end of the weekend! Keri and I headed back mid-morning since a bunch of stuff was waiting for both of us at home.

Plain and simple, it was the best Bachelorette Party EVER! Love you ladies for doing that for me!

This week is motivation week... we have been trying to tie up loose ends and get stuff set up for next week. Favors come tomorrow. The seating arrangements are made, just have to put them on the Harbourfront seating map. Applied for our marriage license to be picked up Friday. Picking up my, Rachel, and Jenni's dresses tomorrow.

We are getting there! Maybe next year it will all kick in.... thank goodness I have to only work Tuesday and Wednesday next week! :)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Getting Stuff Done

I met up with mom last night to run around town getting things done for the wedding! Sure didn't know we had so much to do still but we ordered flowers for the jars for the ceremony, picked up supplies for the h'orderves in the park, and talked in general about how the day will go. I've got a few things I need to get done for the wonderful people that have been helping threw out this process! But besides that... my main goal is to get the seating chart completed, make name tags and table tags, and making sure that we don't have any surprise guest just showing up!

First we have to get through this weekend of fun at my Bachelorette Party in Leland and my INS 22 test on Wednesday! AHHHHHHH!!!!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

FAVORS!

Ever since the beginning that I really thought about planning a wedding... these were the one favors that I wanted to give the most! So I'm extremely excited to see them and see peoples reactions! I compromised with Ryan so that we have 2 varieties but both will look sooo cool! I created the graphic myself which goes with the graphic I created for the invites!

My wedding is going to end our wedding season with a BANG! :)

IT’S GOING TO BE FABULOUS!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Friends and Family

I feel so lucky to have some really great friends! I'm looking forward to seeing some of my peeps that I don't get to see often... Anne and Lucas, Shannon and Billy, and Tricia and her fiance! :) It stinks that Rachel and Nate are unable to make it, especially since its been a few years. But maybe its a sign that we have just grown apart. It also stinks that Kammie and her fiance won't be able to make it. :(



BUT I'm excited to spend time with all my closest friends and family... I'm not going to let people that aren't going to be able to make it, get me down!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Meeting with Pastor Chuck

The most nerve racking part was totally cool! He was very open and flexible. He is going to perform a beautiful service. He ran through everything and asked us how we would like certain aspects. He provided great advise and wants to make sure that in 20 years we are even more in love then we are now! :)

It all should be feeling real but hasn't really kicked in yet! Bachelorette Party in Leland this coming weekend... can't wait! :D

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Practice Hair and Makeup!

OH MY GOSH... I'M SOOOO GLAD I CHANGED SALONS! I love Crystal at Reds! She was full of energy, fun, understood exactly what I was looking for! We messed around and she made my hair the general shape to get an idea of how it would look. Than she showed Jill how she is going to put in the veil and showed her how she can take it out! Than we put on the birdcage veil... which is sooo adorable... so glad I bought it. Next she did my practice eyes! It looked AMAZING! So much better than the lady at the Clinque counter... she also gave me some fake lashes that were so like fashionista! :) But it also looked so natural... I think she understood that I wanted to look like ME! But just a better version of me! Very excited for the day of...

Saturday, August 14, 2010

More Progress Made

Ryan and I ran errands this morning pertaining to the wedding.

I called another salon and scheduled hair and makeup appointments. The salon I was originally hoping to go with basically told me they could only get 2 people to do 6 girls hair and 2 girls makeup... I DON'T THINK SO! For Keri's, we had 4 girls doing hair for 7 of us. With one of those being specifically for Keri. I wanted that... I'm the bride and deserve to have the extra attention to my hair... especially since I have ALOT of hair! The salon I scheduled with is right across the hall from the reception location. So... if people get done early, they can just walk the few steps to the reception room and help with setup! I feel much better knowing that we will have 4 girls to do our hair! :) I got in next Saturday to get a practice done! :)

Also, Ryan and I stopped at Meijer to pick up pictures I had printed off for the table decorations. I've got about 28 misc. scenic pictures from Leland. Mom has some too... so we will have to take a look and go threw them to see what we want to use for table names! While there, we saw they had boxes of 36 individual bagged chips that we purchased for the rehearsal dinner. To us, the rehearsal dinner isn't as important as the reception dinner and with that, we are keeping it simple. Subs, Chips, Salads... especially since we are just using the park picnic shelter to do it!

We made a trip to the wine specialty shop right by our house to purchse 24 cobalt blue while bottles and 25 corks! That was the last element needed for the centerpieces/tables. I've already started making a wine bottle lamps but can't find my wire that I have :(... I'm sure it will show up!

My party dress is coming Monday and I'm going to nail down information with our Rev. on Monday! :)

Feels good to have so much done when we are this close! :D

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Shoppings got to stop!!!

I just bought myself a new bathing suit at VS for the honeymoon in MEXICO! :)
Can't wait to get it!


Few things to do on my list this weekend... but still making lots of progress. Just need to meet with Rev. Doornbos, call on renting chairs, and figure out what we would like to do for rehearsal! After being at Keri and Bob's rehearsal dinner, we like the idea of keeping it simple with subs, chips, and veggies... I'm leaving it up to Ryan, I've got enough on my plate! :D

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Feeling like everything is on track! :)

We met with Scott from Harbourfront tonight and he made us feel so much better! He was able to answer all our questions and answered questions we didn't even have until he answered them! :)

They know there stuff and are going to make the reception a party to remember!

Just a month away.... how CRAZY! :)

Time to Party, Dress!?!?

Obviously, if you've seen my blog, I'm all about dresses for the wedding! We'll I got myself a party dress to wear at the reception! All I'm going to tell you is... it simple, beachy, and was a steal of a deal! :)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Officially Mr. and Mrs. Trayers!


What a wonderful weekend! What a beautiful day! Keri and Bob are MARRIED!

I feel so lucky to have been a part of such a beautiful event! The Lawton Community Center is an amazing place! Oldest winery in Michigan! The place has so much character and such a big space to take over. All this made it perfect for Keri and Bob's wedding!

I'm so proud of Keri! She let the stress go and seemed to enjoy her day to the fullest! She made a beautiful bride for her dashing groom. As she walked down the isle to him she was just glowing. I did real well holding myself together... but I do admit, I had tears many times during the ceremony!

Good food, great company, and ALOT of FUN! I can admit, I was at the photobooth serveral time with several different groups of people! I also rocked out my 80's sunglasses from Jilly-bean!

Keri and Bob seemed so happy and it was an amazing day for a wedding! Congrats again, Mr. and Mrs. Trayers! :) Love you both! You are always going to be my best friend, Keri, I'm with you for the long hall! :D

Friday, August 6, 2010

First Response! :)


Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Schneider for being our firsts! :) Hope your wedding tomorrow is beautiful and everything you ever could of imagined! Wished we could celebrate with you... we'll just have to celebrate at a later date!


P.S. Steph and Ryan a.k.a. "the neighbors" - I would of expected you first, since not only did we hand deliver it the day before we sent them out but cause you are also right next door! :P

Since you have your invite now... I'll Post Pics!




So far... everyone has gave me compliments on the invites! All the hard work paid off! Now don't forget to send them in before August 21st... and pick an option for dinner... Beef (which will be prime rib or a sirloin, Ryan hasn't made his mind up yet) OR Chicken (stuffed herb chicken)!!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Items to Check Off the "To Do" List

INVITES ARE DONE! After breaking down and taking the mailing address labels to Office Max for only $3.05... I wished I thought of it Sunday when I wasted all this time yelling at my computer and printer. Ryan and I finished them off tonight and he is bringing them to the post office tomorrow! Look for them at the end of this week in your mail box! ;)

We dropped off our neighbors who thought they looked really good! It was great to hear all that work really did pay off!

I got the last grapevine napkin rings from Hobby Lobby today! We have enough for everyone that is invited... so no worries about running out of those!

Today I also met with Shelly, our florist. We narrowed down what we were thinking. Unfortunately, the bill went up... but I had to add a few more tables. But in the end, I have a feeling everything will look beautiful!

OH... biggest thing about the wedding today... I GOT MY BIRD CAGE VEIL! :) It looks beautiful! Can't wait to wear it!!!!!

Hopefully tomorrow we will cross more wedding "to dos" off the list! Hard to believe 46 days!

Jewelry is In

I wasn't sure what route to go since the dresses are strapless/spagetti straps... but I think I found something perfect that is simple but elegant, just like I'm hoping our wedding will turn out!

I found them off Etsy and even got myself one! Might even wear it at the wedding too but we'll have to see how my whole outfit(s) come together! But I know they are something that can be worn with any outfit!

Looking forward to giving the girls all the goodies I've got them! :) You'll all just have to wait and see what the girls have on the big day! ;)

Monday, August 2, 2010

The Engagement Photos are UP!

Here is a link to our engagement session posted on Ashleys blog! They look wonderful! I'm EXTREMELY happy! She will be posting the rest for me and Ryan to see! CAN'T WAIT! Enjoy!

http://www.ashleyfolkemaphotography.com/blog/?p=4711

Sunday, August 1, 2010

More Sneak Peaks...



Ugh... Invites!

I'm still excited about the invites and at the moment, the way are looking! BUT... what is being a thorn in my side is the address labels! After trying 3 different printers, the same thing keeps happening... they get jammed! From what I can tell, they are way to thick for any HP printer! So, cross our fingers that tomorrow, I can find some labels at Staples that would work. If not, than it looks like I'm hand writing all the address... boooo! :(

Hoping to get them out like TUESDAY!