Recaps Part 5: The Girls

Back to the recaps, enjoy!

Our flower girl Maggie!
Isn't she a doll?

Me and my bridesmaid Javi. These pictures were taken towards the end of the reception and unfortunately you can see how tired and how much my feet hurt in these pictures. :(

Me and my matron of honor Lindsey.

For as much money as I paid to have my dress altered/hemmed I was very disappointed when the day of the wedding came. Just look at all that fabric pooling on the ground! I was tripping on it all day long. When I went for the fittings everything was ok and it wasn't an issue at all. However I guess because I was on uneven ground outside it was a serious issue the day of the wedding! It looks terrible pooled on the ground to me but oh well. For all you future brides getting married outdoors...make sure your seamstress knows what he/she is doing when it comes to the outdoors and uneven ground. Apparently my dress should have been hemmed much more than it actually was. Oh well, I still look beautiful! :)

She's One Hot Momma!

Yesterday my mom and I went dress shopping for her mother of the bride dress. I haven't written about this in detail yet but my mom and brother will be walking me down the aisle (more about why later). Since she's walking down with me, I requested that she be in a floor length dress. I told her she could pick whatever color she wanted and whatever style. Neither of us understand the frumpy and dowdy mother of the bride dresses that seem to be everywhere. Next to your mother's own wedding day, this is one of the most important days of her life as well as yours, so she should look stunning! I think we managed to find a dress that accomplishes just that!!

Our first stop was to a local bridal store in Knoxville that we heard about at the Bridal Show last Sunday. It's locally owned and operated and the owner Elizabeth and her employees are incredibly sweet and very friendly! If you live around the area please be sure to check out The Gilded Gown! Our main reason for stopping in was because at the Bridal Show they had flower girl dresses advertised at $49! And they also have the tux that we want the guys in for much cheaper than anyone else! While we were there though, mom wanted to look around for dress options for her.

One of the dresses mom tried on is one that I picked out for her to try. It was a halter style chiffon dress and I wasn't sure if it would even work. The results however, blew me away. My mom could go to Hollywood and walk down a red carpet in this dress!! She looks so incredible (she always does but there's something about this dress!). See for yourself....

(Source: yours truly)
(Source: Alfred Angelo)

The sample dress they had was about 2 sizes too small so it wouldn't zip all the way but she still totally ROCKED this dress! All the ladies that worked at the salon ohhed and awwed over mom and this dress! We are 99% sure this is the dress she will end up going with. I just can't say enough how amazing she looked in it! I think she'll stick with the color black too which I really love, it's such a timeless look. The belt has rhinestones on it and the back sweep train of the dress has metallic silver beading detail. One of the best things about this dress....it's only $179! And, in November, the store is having a special on bridesmaid dresses and we'll get it for $20 off! So what do you think ladies?

While at The Gilded Gown, I found the most adorable flower girl dresses for our flower girls! I originally thought I wanted our flower girls in white but after seeing this dress I quickly changed my mind.

(Source: Alfred Angelo)

This dress is so adorable and I hope the girls might be able to wear them again too. They are only $99 a piece and the color is lavender. Obviously our girls will not be wearing fairy wings! lol I'm so glad we stopped in and found these beauties and moms stunning dress!

While stuck in traffic I was able to snap this beautiful picture:

(Source: yours truly)

Miscellaneous Stuff

This is going to be a random post. I've mentioned a few things here and there in previous posts and I'm finally able to update you on some of them!

Thanks to my dear friend Patti, we were able to get the socks I wanted for the guys! She was kind enough to go the mall in Knoxville and get them for me. I don't think the picture on the BR website does them justice though.

(Source: yours truly)

I scored these baskets at Michale's for an amazing $7.99! They were originally priced at $29.99 but the largest basket was damaged so they were marked down. I couldn't have bought the smallest basket for the price I paid for all three of them. The damage on the large basket (not pictured) can easily be covered with some ribbon and no one would ever know. We'll need baskets for all kinds of things...napkins, forks, bubbles, ceremony programs, etc. so I'll have no problem putting them to good use. And after the wedding we'd be able to use them as well!

(Source: yours truly)

As I talked about here, instead of having a unity candle ceremony we are having a unity sand ceremony. There's all kinds of unity sand sets out there that you can purchase but they come with an outrageous price tag (for what you get) and I don't care for any of them. When I stumbled upon a picture of an apothecary jar and cruets used for the sand ceremony I knew I wanted to somehow replicate that look. I found our pouring vases at Michael's some time ago for $2.99 each. Then my search for an apothecary jar began. I finally found one at Michael's several weeks ago for $14.99. I love how they look together! My sand is purple sand (from Michael's) and Charles will be using white sand that I collected from a beach in Hilton Head Island, SC. back in March while I was on vacation.

(Source: yours truly)

Remember one of my more recent posts where I talked about the silver heart boxes I got for our flower girls? I mentioned that I wanted to either make or purchase bracelets or necklaces for them so I could put them in the hearts. Well, over the weekend when I was out shopping with Charles I found the perfect thing. JcPenny was having a 50% off sale on all their costume jewelry. I was on the search for some earrings to go with a new outfit when I came across these:

(Source: yours truly)

Unfortunately I didn't realize the picture was blurry until after I got it on my computer. So sorry about that! Are they not adorable? They were originally $12.00 each but I got both of them for that price since they were 50% off.

Also in this post I mentioned that the flower girls would have a headpiece/wreath to wear. My mom has been working on them and here is a sneak peak at one in the process of being made. More on these when they are complete.

(Source: yours truly)

And to finish off this post I will leave you with a sneak peak at one of the bouquets for my maid of honor and bridesmaid. Mom hopes to complete them this week sometime and whenever they're done I'll post more about them.

(Source: yours truly)

Up next: Changes to my accessories.

All About The Little Girls

Our Flower Girls that is! I shared pictures of them here when I "introduced" them to you. But now it's time to share more about our little girls and their details.

First up, their attire. Obviously it is wayyy too early to order anything for them now. But I have found some dress that I am absolutely in love with. It was a bit hard finding dresses I like since our girls are on the younger side but I did manage to find some!

Even though my dress is ivory, I have decided to dress them in white. My criteria for their dresses: 1) not too formal, 2) no dresses that will make them look older than they are, 3) affordable - must be under $100 and 4) they need to be white.

Anyways, here's what I finally found....

#1

(Source)

I love this dress! It's so cute and it even has a little bling on it!
Price $79.99.

#2(Source)

This dress is very similar to the one above and I love it as well. It too has a rhinestone brooch on it to provide a little bling. The neck line is the big difference between this dress and the one above.
Price: $89.99

#3

(Source)

I also really love this dress. The lace on the hemline is beautiful!
Price: $49.99

#4

(Source)

This dress is only available in off white but it could work I think. I love the cutout detail along the bottom of the skirt. However this dress is silk and more on the formal side compared to what I'm wanting.
Price: $79.99

I've searched high and low for dress I like that fit my criteria and this is all I could find! I'm really leaning towards dress #2 or #3 right now. Which dress do you like best for our outdoor spring wedding?

On to their accessories! Instead of a flower basket or anything of the sort, I've opted to have the girls carry lace parasols. I found them at Michael's for $9.99 each. But of course, I couldn't leave them the way they were so a few additions were made.

Before:

(Source: yours truly)

After:

(Source: yours truly)

They will also have a headpiece/wreath with white and purple flowers and purple ribbon streamers to wear but we aren't finished making them. I'll have to share those with you when they are complete.

On to their gifts. I found these adorable little Red Velvet Lined Beaded Antique Heart Shaped Jewelry/Keepsake boxes at Exclusively Weddings when I ordered my toasting flutes and serving set. They were on sale for $9.99 each (originally $14.99 or more, can't remember). I paid the $5 (each) engraving fee so I could get the girls names on the boxes. They are so beautiful and I love them to pieces! These are something the girls will be able to use and treasure for years and years. I'm hoping to either make or purchase bracelets or necklaces for the girls and will put them in the boxes.

Eden's box:

(Source: yours truly)

Maggie's box:

(Source: yours truly)

Not bad for $29.98 huh? And I had a $25 off coupon so I basically got these beauties for $4.98!

What are your plans regarding the details for your flower girls?

Up next: Two Rings and a Little Bling

The Party...Wedding Party That Is!

So I've been blogging about the wedding for some time now and I think it's time to share our wedding party with you! I hope you enjoy a small glimpse into why we've selected these very few but ultra special people to share our special day with us!

Let's start with the man that will be making it all legal...our Pastor:
Leonce B. Crump, Jr. is my former pastor and mentor. He is such an amazing man! He has blessed not only me, but also my mom and brother with unconditional love, encouragement, wisdom, truth, friendship, support and so much more. Rather than my Pastor, he's like the older brother I never had. I am so incredibly thankful that the Lord brought him, his beautiful wife Breanna, their precious daughter Eden and soon to be baby #2 (due in November) into our lives. I cannot imagine my life without their love and support! Leonce and Breanna now reside in Atlanta after a move last September. It was incredibly hard to see them go because they are truly more like family members. However, I know they are there to further the Lord's Kingdom! I can honestly say that there is no one else I can see marrying us.

Leonce, Breanna and Eden 9/08

Maid of Honor:
Lindsey and I have been friends for over 10 years now. We were both home schooled and attended the same Co-op classes until she went to public school for high school. Lindsey is truly the sister I never had. We have cried, laughed, and fought together. We spent a week in Cancun together...that was so amazing! I know I can count on her for love, support and encouragement whenever I need it and she can count on the same things from me. She now lives almost 400 miles away with her husband Jeremy. Even though the miles separate us, our friendship continues to grow and we try our best to talk as often as possible. I cannot imagine having anyone else be my Maid of Honor!

Lindsey & me at her wedding. 1/5/08

Bridesmaid:
Javiera (Javi to those close to her) and I have known each other for about 10 years. Growing up, we attended the same church and became fast friends. However, when her family left the church we lost touch for over 4 years. Thankfully, we got back in touch a number of years ago and were able to pick things up as if we'd never been apart. Now a days, we try and get together for dinner once a week for some quality girl time. I'm so thankful she's agreed to be my bridesmaid!

Javi & me at her wedding. 12/2/06

Flower Girls:
Eden Marie is the beautiful daughter of Leonce and Breanna. She is so gorgeous, smart and funny! I miss not seeing her (and her parents) every week. She has grown so much since they moved in September! She will turn two years old come October....hard to believe! I cannot wait to have this precious little girl in our wedding! I foresee many adorable pictures featuring Miss. Eden!

Me & Eden 9/08

Maggie Anne is the oh so adorable daughter of John and Ashley, she is also Charles Goddaughter. She is so full of life and is a joy to be around. She is so smart and is such a ham for attention! She is a 30 year old woman locked in a toddlers body! I also see tons of cute pictures of Miss. Maggie from the wedding!

Maggie Anne...driving with attitude already!

Best Man:
John would undoubtedly be my longest friend. I have known him since I first moved to Tennessee in 1998. We went to school and church together. Over time, we became more like brothers instead of just friends. I would consider John the brother I never had. Several years ago, John married Ashley and they had a beautiful little girl, Maggie. Shortly before Maggie was born, John and Ashley asked me if I would be Maggie’s Godfather and I gladly accepted. Early in 2007, John, Ashley and Maggie moved to Valdosta, Georgia. Although they are nearly 500 miles away, I try to visit them at least twice a year. (Written by Charles.)

John & his beautiful wife Ashley.

Groomsman:
Chris has been my other close friend. We met in 2001 at Camp Smoky located just outside of Gatlinburg. Chris is not only an amazing friend, but a humongous Christian influence in my life. Whenever either of us are struggling, the other quickly helps his friend out. A few years ago, Chris married his now wife Amber. They currently live in Knoxville, TN. (Written by Charles.)

Chris & his beautiful wife Amber at their wedding.

So there you have it, our wedding party! Small but oh so special to us both! Neither of us wanted tons of attendants and I'm so glad things worked out this way!

As you can see, we have no ring bearers. While it's cute to have little boys in little suits, I decided against it...for a few reasons. 1)The more children in the wedding, the more chances for problems during the ceremony. 2)Neither of us have any little men in our lives who would be the right age (around the age of the flower girls). 3)I've never really understood having a ring bearer. No one I know (including myself) would ever actually put the real rings on the pillow and give them to a young child! So that leaves the poor boy to be uncomfortable in his cute little suit and bored out of his mind. (All photos are from our personal collections.)

How many attendants are you having? Do you wish you had more attendants or fewer attendants?