Save-the-Date!

So last week I was FINALLY able to get our save-the-date e-mails out! As you may remember, I had thought about sending them out months ago before we got our engagement pictures. I'm SO glad that I waited and I'm so glad they're finally sent. It was sooo easy to do them as e-mails! I highly recommend this option....cause it's FREE! Most everyone these days has an e-mail account so you're still able to reach everyone.
Here is what I designed....

(Source: yours truly)

So I think I owe you all a few updates....
1.) I am still unemployed. The job search has been nothing short of frustrating, disappointing and hard.
2.) Two good things have come out of being unemployed...I have been able to spend more time with Charles and I have been able to work on my stained glass (yes, I'm a stained glass artist!) more. To see my work check out Kristal Kreations on Facebook and become a fan!
3.) I still do not have regular access to hi-speed internet.
4.) I miss all of your blogs terribly, you have no idea!! I try and check in when I can but my dial-up just takes AGES and won't allow me to comment or anything!
5.) Even though I have tons of wedding projects and decisions taken care of, it still seems like I have an overwhelming about of things left to do! lol
6.) I feel bad that I have not been able to blog often.
7.) I promise to get better about posting more regularly!

Lets Talk Honeymoon!

I believe I mentioned before that Charles and I were planning to go to Kauai Hawaii. We've decided to change our honeymoon location though. After looking into Kauai we discovered it was wayyyy too expensive for us to go at this time. Our hope is that after we're married we can go to celebrate an anniversary.

Our new location is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina! I have been to Hilton Head twice while on vacation with my mom and I absolutely LOVE it there! Charles hasn't been before though and I can't wait to be there with him! Hilton Head is less than 8 hours away from us so that makes for an easy trip. No more having to worry about where we'll spend our first night as husband and wife and worrying about how to get to the Atlanta air port in time to catch a plane!

Charles did some research and found a rental company (Hiltonheadrentals.com) and we found a few possibilities. Last week we narrowed it down to one and fortunately it was available when we need it. So now our honeymoon plans are booked and taken care of! It's so nice not to have to worry about it anymore. And the best part....the condo was under $800 for the whole week! What a blessing that was!

The condo is a one bedroom, one bath unit located on the third floor and has an ocean view! It has a small kitchen so we'll be able to go grocery shopping and have meals (especially breakfast) in our room when we want. It will be so nice not to have to get dressed and go out for breakfast every day!

Here are a few pictures:

(Source: Hiltonheadrentals.com)

We are so excited and cannot wait!! I highly recommend Hilton Head Rentals if you'd like to look into vacationing or honeymooning in Hilton Head. It is a beautiful area!

Engagement Pictures!

So I am finally able to bring you our engagement pictures! Leave me some love and let me know what you think! I won't say anything else, the pictures will speak for themselves! All images courtesy of Hope Photography www.hope-photo.com!

Some Bling for My Man!

So a few weeks ago I stopped in at a local jeweler that I'd heard about from my brother and his wife. Back in March/April they had bought their rings from Max Richardson Jewelry and raved about them, their service and their prices. My goal in stopping in was to see if they carried a ring similar to the one Charles found on superiorweddingrings.com a few months ago. If you remember, back in June I posted about the ring he found on their site.

The problem...now that I don't have a job, it was a little pricey. However I wanted him to have exactly what he wanted. He did after all, get me what I wanted! So in I went not expecting much. Low and behold, they were able to order the EXACT same ring for me! And it was nearly $100 cheaper, Praise the Lord! I ordered it right then and there and it was in the next morning. Charles and I went to look at it and he absolutely loved it! End of story. Now I have Charles' ring taken care of!

(Source: yours truly)

Our rings together! (Source: yours truly)

So what do you think? I know you're all still waiting to see our engagement pictures and believe me, I am dying to show them to you! Hopefully I can get to some wi-fi on Tuesday or Wednesday so I can share them with you. I also have a lot more to share with you....projects I've been working on, a fabulous and simple punch recipe, and so much more so keep checking back!

I feel so guilty that I can't keep up with all of your blogs anymore. I miss knowing how your planning is going and how your weddings went and seeing all the beautiful pictures. But with my dial-up it is nearly impossible to. :( Maybe soon I'll be able to catch up somehow. Until then know I'm thinking about you all! <3

Fast Forward

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Oh how I wish I could fast forward time! Even though the months seem to be flying by, it seems like we are still as far away from the big day as ever. I can't really explain it because it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. However, to me, it seems as though we are still over a year away from the wedding. When in fact, we are only nearly 7 months away! But those 7 months just seem so out of reach. It feels like every month that goes by is yet another to be added to the countdown. I realize none of this makes the least big of sense! It just seems like our big day is never going to get here! But at the same time, I know it will be here before we know it.

Maybe I feel this way because I have so much wedding related projects completed or nearly completed already. The invitations have all already been printed, assembled and the inner envelopes have already been filled out. The centerpieces are completed. The signage for the wedding is ready to go. I already have my dress and all my accessories. And I could go on and on. It's crazy how much ahead of schedule I am! But with no job and all this time on my hands I figured why not work on these projects? I might as well get them out of the way now while I have the time instead of waiting until closer to the wedding when I might not have as much time on my hands.

Are any of you other brides out there feeling this way as well? Or am I just crazy? haha

Engagement Picture Sneak Peak!

They are finally in...well, 22 of them are. Today our photographers posted a blog on their site with our sneak peak! As I expected, the pictures are FABULOUS and they did not disappoint! Here's a peak....

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Be sure to check out our photographers blog for the rest of the sneak peak! More pictures to come next week when I get the image CD!

Best Bridal Blogs Directory

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I just got e-mail confirmation that my blog has finally been accepted as a "Best Bridal Blog"! So exciting!! Just wanted to share the news with you! If you submit your blog, be patient as the process takes a long time. I had completely forgotten that I'd sent in a submission because it has been so long ago!

Finally!

Yesterday Charles and I were finally able to get our engagement pictures taken!! After being engaged for nearly 5 months...but better late than never I suppose. The Lord blessed us with an oh so beautiful day! The temperature was perfect and rain wasn't in the forecast....that makes for a happy couple....and photographers! :)

We had a BLAST and were completely worn out by the end of the session. We saw several bears, deer and lots of really fat squirrels (none made it into the pics though). We stood in fields with weeds 7 feet tall, put up with gnats, fed some horses, kissed a lot and laughed a lot! Wes & Danielle (our photographers) were so much fun and kept us laughing the whole time! We can hardly to wait to see the results but hopefully we'll get the pictures by the end of this week or the beginning of next week. So stay tuned!