Check List

Well, nothing too terribly exciting has occurred as of late with wedding planning, but I didn't want to start neglecting the blog this early in the game, so here's what's gotten done (or at least started) thus far...

• Set the budget
• Set a date
• Booked the venue/reception site
• Scheduled engagement photos (thanks Dad! :))
• Designed our "save-the-dates" (they're so super cute, lemme tell ya :))
• Started our guest list, cut the guest list, added back to it again, and then p u s h e d it aside (seriously, who likes to do this?! not this  girl!)
• Asked 2 of my 3 girls - - someone needs to return a phone call... 
• Semi-nailed down wedding colors
• Decided to not have uniform bridesmaid dresses/shoes/ or hair
• Found bridesmaids' gifts (sorta)
• Planned the reception menu (now I just gotta find the darn caterer...)
• Picked ceremony music
• Picked important reception music (garter toss, bouquet toss, first dance, etc.)
• Continuously adding to reception music list
• Decided to not have a DJ/Band
• Reserved our officiant (thanks Mike! :))
• Registered for Forever4Real (attend a workshop and you receive $45 discount for Oklahoma marriage license - - suhweet!)
• Registered for my first bridal show
• Browsed wedding dresses online with MJ (just to get an idea of what he "envisions", don't worry, the final product will be TOP-SECRET)
• Looked at wedding bands for MJ
• Looked at honeymoon locations, again, and again, and again, and a..g..a..i..n... (we're still looking :P)
• Started a diet/exercise routine
• Looked into a wedding planner...
• Wondered why we're not eloping time and time again. (kidding...but seriously. no kidding...really though...haha, errr...:::sigh::: it'll be worth it in the end (i hope))

So, there you have it - - really, now that I look at it all there together I feel pretty accomplished! :D 

Way to go Me!!!

Always,

C Faith~

Fool me once, and we'll get engaged

I guess I had better share the "proposal story" with everyone. It has been over a week! :P
My mom convinced me back at the beginning of November to throw a surprise birthday party for MJ. I agreed, though I've never thrown a surprise party (or a party of any kind really), but she said it wouldn't be that hard and something along the lines of "it'll practically take care of itself." (funny Mom, clever Mom) Now, MJ and her had been in cahoots since SEPTEMBER!

--->That's right people, September.<--- 

They figured they could talk me into a party, I'd plan it all, and then right as I'm thinking how sneaky I am, he'd spring a proposal on me in front of our friends and family. (funny boyfriend, clever boyfriend)
So, I tell her (over text mind-you), "let's do it the weekend before, since his birthday is on a Tuesday" only I send this to MJ, not my mom! He responds with a "huh?" and I panick, "oh haha whoops! meant for mom. she's planning something for A-O (my brother) and we're gonna do it the weekend before during Thanksgiving." - - luckily my brother's birthday just happened to fall on a Tuesday as well (thank you calendar gods) and my penny-pinching, money-conscious, budget-bear of a mate replies with, "ah. cool, need money?"

...

Had I really just dodged that bullet? 

Well, I believed I had. Of course MJ, the entire time is cracking up laughing, probably thinking (funny girlfriend, clever girlfriend). 

The day comes and we have waaaaaay more food than I thought we would and waaaaaay more people showed up then I thought would and my mom's acting waaaaaay more bizarre than you'd think she would - - this having been her idea in the first place. (seriously, "lemme paint your nails", "your hair looks good", "go get balloons", "paint your nails real quick", "pick different music", "have you  painted your nails?", "let's make more food", "heat these up too...and those...and this", "answer the door, but KEEP PAINTING YOUR NAILS!"). sidenote: I'd requested my nails be done or at least painted with glitter nail polish when MJ :::finally::: decided to pop the question - - I should've known... 

MJ arrives and everyone's all "SURPRISE!" and i'm all "got you! I got you!" and he's all "yeah, haha" and everyone's all ":::laugh, laugh, laugh:::" and I'm all "eat everyone we have TONS of food!" and everyone's all ":::stand, stare, awkward:::" and I'm all "no really eat, there's plenty" and he's all "hold on" and the moms are all "the cake, the cake, show him his cake!!!" and then I'm all "we haven't even eaten, everyone - - EAT!" and he then is all "hold on a second, :::hug::: :::shove me backwards::: :::drop to one knee:::" and at this point I'm all "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? :::shaking, tearing up::: and he's all ":::NERVOUS::: will you marry me?" and I'm finally ":::crying::: yes!" Then I ask if everyone knew about this to which they're all...

:::LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH!:::

So there you have it. THE story...and pictures, cause we got those too :) You can check them out here http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/22347986/1/Marcus%20and%20Carmen?h=f37458 Enjoy!

Always,

C Faith

Venue, Venue, Venue

Oh my goodness - - what a week!
Tuesday I got online to get the email address of a venue we've had picked out for months, MONTHS people. I've been so excited about this site! Everything about it is exactly what I've always (and by always, I mean the last year or so :P) dreamed my wedding would look like. It's this gorgeous barn with a wonderful loft, beautiful surroundings, wagon, trees galore, wooden fence - - the perfect, rustic site I've dreamed of. Dreamed. <---past tense 
Back to Tuesday - - got online to get the email address because I had called a few days before and hadn't heard back, and what did I find??? A discreetly placed statement that said the Barn was no longer booking for events.
WHAT!?!?! 
I about fell on the floor...cried...took my last engaged breath of air...
OK, so maybe it wasn't that bad...but it was close! So back to the drawing board I went and literally, every single site I looked at was shot down in a matter of milliseconds (seriously, ask MJ. he was there, he'll tell you it's true). But then, yesterday my mom texted me with a few venues I hadn't looked at yet and low and behold (:::dramatic pause, cue chorus of angels, clouds parting:::)...

Skelly Lodge 

(I've attached their link on this post - - go check it out, especially the wedding albums.)
Now, we've had to give up our original, 2nd, 3rd, 4th date... Ok, the point is we have a set-date now that IS available and will be wonderful! (despite it being lucky number err, 5 :P) AND! We're touring Skelly this Sunday and (god-willing) will be putting down the deposit. YIPPEE All is again right in the world.

Here's to a crazy first week of wedding planning (and only my 2nd week of a new job - - which I love btw :D) - - up next? Photographers... yikes!
Always,
C Faith~

I'm ENGAGED!!!

Check it out! :) I am the happiest girl in the world!

I've been waiting to start this blog for months and now I can - - so here's to a new beginning and the start of navigating my way through wedding planning, dresses, cakes, guest lists, and the world of becoming a "Mrs." 

And here's also to staying true to the woman I've already become.

Always,

C Faith~