excuse the absence

Hey everyone! I will be absent from the blog until early next week. The quarter is coming to an end therefore I have a ton of assignments and student teaching that I need to wrap up. We also leave for formal on Thursday and planning for a trip is always time consuming. I apologize now for not blogging this week.


xoxo
the engaged couple

THE BAND!!!

Right after we got engaged booking a band was at the top of our list…Music is extremely important to both of us because we feel that it really sets the mood for the reception. We want a party where everyone is on their feet so we knew a great band was a must! As soon as we started listening to the Glenn Rainey Band we felt they could be a great fit but wanted to see them live first.

A few weekends ago we were given the opportunity to go over to Natchitoches and listen to them live and in the first 10 minutes we knew this was our band!  They are a very talented group with a soulful sound; everyone will be on their feet for sure. 

Another positive that I have found Glenn Rainey offers is playing the ceremony music as well. They are the only band I spoke with that offered this and I feel this sets them a world apart not to mention his ceremony music is BEAUTIFUL!! Instead of having to book two different people they can do it all.  

I cannot say enough positives things about the band thus far.  We have been talking to them for about two months now and they have kept open communication throughout the entire process. After they gave us a quote they continue to email and touch base just to check in, assure I had no more questions, or let me know any shows that they had coming up.  I loved that they never forgot and they gave me the feeling that they would make sure to make our night very special.  When we arrived in Natchitoches and introduced ourselves they knew exactly who we were and could not have been friendlier!

Please go to their website http://glennraineymusic.wordpress.com/ and check them out.  

NOW CLICK ON THE LINK AND LISTEN TO THEIR STUFF!! 

Xoxo,

The engaged couple

Bridesmaids Boxes

When it came to choosing the wedding party I knew I only wanted the most important people in my life standing with me; the people I knew I would stay in touch with and remain friends with  for the rest of my life. I am so fortunate to have a lot of friends but there are a handful of people I call with good new or bad and have played a vital role in helping me become the person I am today.  I also wanted my bridesmaids to be very involved with the wedding planning process and there with me every step of the way. 

Since my bridesmaids are so important to me I wanted to ask them in a very special way and from the very beginning I knew I wanted to compile alot of little things to make something very special and here is how it all turned out (forgive the pictures please because they aren’t the best)...

I made/bought all the things I needed, them put them in a box, and wrapped them in the wedding colors.

           

When they opened the box the first thing they saw was and handmade card.

     It read, “Through the in’s and the out’s and the thick and the thin, no matter what's happened there you have been.  You smile when I need it and listen when I grieve, you hug me when I cry and blow boogers on your sleeve. I treasure your friendship more than diamonds or gold and I promise I will even when were saggy and old.  So please stand by my side when I say “I DO,” for I wouldn’t be me without a friend like you!”  I then wrote in each card about how much I loved them and what an impact they have had on my life. I cried when I wrote each card and everyone cried when they read them so they were a big success.

After they read the card they could open the rest of the box which included a framed picture of us, a note about the bridesmaid dresses with a swatch of fabric so they could see the color, personalized stationary with the monogram we are hoping to use at the wedding, a CD with music that reminds me of them, and a bridesmaid survival kit and my two matrons of honor got crosses in their box.

       The survival kit had  a tag on it that gave explanation about all of the contents. The tag read, “ This survival kid was made just to say, I’m thrilled you’re beside me on my wedding day! There’e chocolate to give you that sugar high,, and a a packet of tissues incase you should cry. Theres lip gloss to help you care for your smile and a incase a nail should break, I’ve included a file. There’s bobby pins and hair spray to keep every strand in place and pony tail holders if you just get tired of your hair being in your face. There is SHOUT if you should sill on your beautiful dress and breath-mints to help keep your breath minty fresh. There’s Tylenol and Tums if it’s ill that you feel, And band-aids to help you tackle your high heals.  Ive put everything in this handy pack, So you know this bride has got your back!  This kit was created so that you can see, just how much you mean to this bride-to-be!

       So thats everything that I included in the Bridesmaid Boxes. I was very please with how everything turned out and the girls loved them.  I will never be able to express how much I love each and every one of my bridesmaids but it’s a start.

xoxo,

Amber

Houston Trip

          I am finally getting around to posting about my trip to Houston. I think it was one of the funniest and exciting times I’ve had since I started planning the wedding.  After getting engaged I knew I wanted to go stay at my Aunt Harriett’s house and try on dress at Brick House Bridal. Amanda, one of my matrons of honors got her wedding dress there when she got married in 2005.  And my other matron of honor, Rachel got some of her accessories there. I remember going with Amanda and what a fun experience it was therefore I knew it was something I wanted to do.  After looking through magazines and pulling dresses I liked I found one commonality – they were all carried at Brick House which reaffirmed my feeling that it was a MUST in the search for the dress.  

We planned a weekend that would work for everyone and off we went.  It was a house full of girls: Amanda Lawless, Rachel, Amanda Brown, Aunt Harriett, Aunt Pauline, Granny, Mom, and Me. I knew that this was the weekend I wanted to ask “the girls” and Amanda to be in the wedding; They are three of the most important women in my life and I can’t imagine my life without them. I was so excited to finally get to spill the beans and not have to keep it a secret anymore so I planned the bridesmaid boxes, put them together, wrapped them, and hid them as soon as we got in before anyone could see them. I knew I would have to give them to everyone that first night or I would explode with excitement; as soon as dinner was over I gave out the boxes, we cried, and everyone said YES!

That night we tried on the bridesmaid dress and talked wedding. Rachel just got married in May so the wedding planning is fresh on her mind! We all tried to go to bed pretty early because the next day was going to be dress trying day but Amanda and I were just too excited and ended up staying up till 2am talking and looking up everything online! The next day we all went to Brick House to try on a TON of dresses.  It was so fun to have everyone there and get all the different opinions! I love these ladies and knew they would be HONEST!!

The weekend flew by and it was so much fun! I'm ready for the summer so we can all go back and lay out by the pool! Love you all!

Xoxo

The engaged couple

Wedding Fever...

Yesterday I had wedding fever. It was Susan’s first wedding shower and we had Reece and Jodi’s wedding. Overall it was such a fun day. Susan’s shower was so fun! She had a million presents and got amazing stuff. The wedding was beautiful; I don’t know what it is about a wedding but they just make me so happy!  

Andrew has been in Mississippi since Thursday and I am so ready for him to come home. We go every year for the Catfish Festival and this is the first year I have missed it :( . 

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and has a great week!

Xoxo

The engaged couple

Ps. I would love to tell my parents Happy Anniversary! We love you very much and I am so luck to have had such great role models in my life!

More on Megan and Seth...

Hi!

I hope everyone had a great little Easter Break. Andrew and I went to Shreveport to spend the weekend with my family. It was such a fun relaxing weekend. Friday we went up to the Elks and ate some fabulous fried fish then on Saturday my dad was boiling crawfish at the cub and we spent the day hanging on the patio and eating; it was amazing!! Also, I just want to announce this is my first post from my new MACBOOK PRO!! Yes the old HP had to go to computer heaven and my amazing family got me a mac this weekend! I am so lucky and loving the new computer!

I have to sing the praises of megan and seth again. They sent me a link to a sample slideshow and it was so good! I loved getting to see more pictures that aren’t on the website! Everyone should go look at their work some more...I can’t wait to see what they do with me and Andrew! I can already tell it is going to be very difficult to wait for time to take engagement pictures.

xoxo,

The engaged couple

"Hoppy" Easter!!

Hey everyone! I hope your having a fabulous weekend with your family and friends! I forgot to bring my computer to Shreveport with us for the weekend and I refuse to blog from my iPhone all weekend plus I want to hang with the family! I just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a very happy Easter!

He has risen!
Xoxo
The engaged couple

Our AMAZING Photographers -- Megan and Seth

          Lets see…were to begin with these crazy two. Megan and Seth are two very talented photographers that we were lucky enough to snag to document our wedding process. Andrew fell in love with them at the first meeting but I was still concerned. Photography is the most important thing to me when it comes to the wedding therefore I want to assure that it is perfect! After meeting with them again to discuss my bazillion questions and concerns I knew they were the right choice for us! I mean anyone who can still love me and want to work with me after being asked a ton of questions and responding to all my emails is a catch!

They are two of the nicest people I have ever met and our personalities really “click.” They know their stuff and although they have only been taking pictures for about 3 years you would never know.  I am confident they will take great pictures and document everything.  They are more like photojournalist than just photographers which is hard to find!

            One of the big things that set them apart for other photographers we met with is they are open to anything we want. Instead of having the attitude of we have been doing this for a while and aren’t open to new ideas they want suggestions! They are the types of people that want to get to know our personalities to assure that our pictures reflect us.  They also always capture the little details. I knew I wanted at least 10 hours of wedding day coverage to assure that every moment is capture but they go above and beyond; they will be with me from the moment I wake up if that is what I desire…They offer all day coverage and It doesn’t get better than that in my eyes!

            A quote that summaries my excitement to the T is from my mom, “Please at least wait till I stop the car to get out.” When we pulled up to the meeting on Sunday I was so excited to see them I almost opened the door before she stopped! I can’t wait to meet with them again to talk about new ideas, shoot locations, and everything else pictures not to mention take engagement pictures in the fall!

            Everyone should go over to their website and check out their work because it’s fab! SO HERE IT IS CHECK THEM OUT…. Megan and Seth's Website!!

Xoxo,

The engaged couple

My momma was here :)

            Wow…What an amazing weekend I had. Number one it was the start of my spring break which was much needed and my Momma came in town. There is something about having your mom in town that just makes you feel better…I don’t know what it is but I love it!! Andrew went down to Baton Rouge to hang out with some friends and ask someone, who will remain anonymous, to be in the wedding therefore we thought it would be the perfect girls weekend!!

            She came in on Saturday and we spent the afternoon walking around downtown Ruston, shopping and relaxing. We had plans to go to 102 Bistro for dinner since they got a new chef but ended up on the patio at Portico, one of our favorite places.  It was such a relaxing day and ended with us piled up in my bed watching a movie.  I felt like I was a little girl again. 

            On Sunday we drove over to Monroe to meet with Megan and Seth, a potential dating photography duo. Andrew and I had meet with them a few weeks ago and Andrew fell instantly in love! They are super sweet and have a great sense of style and personality.  Before we made any commitments I wanted my mom to meet with them and get a feel for their work.  She instantly fell in love and thought they fit Andrew and I perfectly! We had an hour and a half chat that ended with BOOKING OUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAHER!! All that is left to do is sign the contract and pay the deposit and the day is ours! I know they will be a tremendous asset to our wedding and I’m looking so forward to working with them! I know they will do a fab job at capturing every moment and will still love me when I have my bridezilla moments!

            Overall it was a very successful weekend and I wouldn’t have rather spent it with anyone else.  I love having my mom an hour away. She is my best friend and I feel so honored to call her my mom. I hope one day to be half the mom and woman she is!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far. Since I am on spring break my goal is to catch up on all my blog post and get organized. I finally came up with a system that I think will help me stay on top of everything better!

xoxo

the engaged couple