Me and my hunny are a military couple! Having it ups and downs, we have been through soooooooooo much! We met when I was 14 in high school :) Basically I never thought I would ever love him, of course. Well once he graduated he went off the the Army. So then, we use the old pencil-paper method while he was in basic training...Then he was off to his first tour of Iraq. When he came back he actually proposed to me when I was 18! Scary i know. so we started planning our wedding. I was excited. Well he got the phone call to go back to Iraq for 15 months, my heart was broken, our world turned upside down! He just got home! So I could not bear the thought of not being married, exchanging vows, and committing ourself forever while he was there. Much less wait two years to be official....So....we headed off to my hometown in the church i grew up with and tied the knot! He knew I was kinda upset about not having  a wedding so he promised..."When I get back I will give you the Wedding of your dreams". As he got on the plane I just stared at my ring, and waited for two years (his tour and time of duty station in germany).

Now, we are finally having our wedding! Re-newing our vows is just perfect, because we will be married and living the married life...in our new house on post. I can't imagine what it's like not taking him to the airport after two weeks of visitation. So he is a medic and will be working in the hospital, while I am graduating nursing school in December and will be working there also! Life is perfect...he comes home from germany in 2 weeks and we are off to getting wedding stuff done! First stop......register at stores! the funnest part:)

I did these myself....inspired by Liz Augustine (my sister-in-law) who did a great job on hers! Thanks Liz! Her page is great for ideas!

We did our engagement pictures and i picked one with some wall in order to write.

Supplies

1. get your pictures and type in your words or date in a photo shop like program. There are many others besides photo shop. Make sure you save it on to portable media!

2. Walgrees- print on mat paper as a 4 X 5.3. Do some trials first to get it perfect.

3. Buy scissors, envelopes, stamps, magnets. I bought a set of 50 envelopes at wal mart for $7 because I couldn't resist the cuteness, but! there are cheaper ones at Target (100 count) for $9.99. I ended up using these too. I also ordered some custom made stickers on zazzle.com because I was bored. LOL. but i used it as stamps for the envelope. They were sheets of 20 for $4. Role of level 3 magnets at Hobby Lobby for $2.99.

4. I printed the addresses labels on my own computer, using avery label paper for $4 at Walmart. I downloaded a template for the 30 count/sheet labels on avery.com.

5. I placed my return labels and others on the envelope. Cut the roll of magnets and placed a strip on each picture. Placed it in an envelope, sealed it and placed a sticker on it:)

Poka dots are also my theme so I HAD to get the poka dot envelopes :)

Sassy, sexy, cute, and in your budget! I looked everywhere. Wasn't really into the whole traditional thing, and most bridal stores are limited.

Only 79.80 at Express!

I just couldn't pass this up! Can also be used as a party dress after the wedding should we decide to go out somewhere to continue the party :) I even thought about wanting it for my going away dress. Theres just so much you can do with it. I will also have a tourquoise sash in many different ways.

Around the waist with tie in front, around the waist with tie in back, tie on side, double sashed, as a shaw like sash, and around both shoulders. Kind of hard to picture. I will be uploading these soon!

I will also add a black flower to each dress for 5.95 at The Icing, with the feathers to hold the sash together. They will also have the option to wear it in their hair. Depending on the way the sash is tied.

Sash was $ 3 at Sam Moon. I am going to provide this for them.

I plan to get black simple shoes at a store, but have not decided.

So as I kind of said, kinda wanted something different. My cake vendor Tim at timtations.com is going to incorporate my poka dot theme and colors into a cake similar to this one:

I think it's adorable. Not sure about the grooms cake yet.

I love my cake topper! Made by Woodland Manufacturing for $64.97!!!!!! It is a 6 inch tall Monogram letter, with clear and blue crystals (partially covered). I ordered it and received it about 2 weeks later. What even cooler is its the same font as my SAVE THE DATES! this will be the theme font for the wedding and also the swirls go along with our poka dot theme. It's very light, but good quality, just as good as the $300 ones I have seen. Again im on a budget and finding things for a lower price, same quality makes me smile :)

I really wanted something different. I was inspired by a few ideas. I am getting it made on Etsy.com. Only $20!

Not sure how my lady will put this together. I love the first one. The second one is what is on my dress at the bottom. Organza. Just some ideas. Can't wait to see what she puts together for me! I will also have a feather clip and flower to use as my hair piece at the reception.

I really wanted to do single flowers for bridesmaids and just a few in my bouquet. To cut price I am not doing flower centerpieces.

This is a really sloppy wrap...hence why im not a florist. but you get the idea.

My MOH came up with this idea and putting the rhine stones...i thought it was a little crazy, but i did a practice one and i love it! This long stem single flower will be for each BM. It's different. I have never seen it done.

I will wrap the end of my bouquet in our color with jewels on it.

I am ordering approximately 3000 silk rose petals from petalgarden.com for about $17.99! and I will be using these for lots of things such as covering the tables and the isle! it's going to be fabulous.

I am using our engagement pictures to the best of my ability. I am a picture fanatic so this is perfect.

I will have 5 photo frames on each table with different pics of our engagement in them. They are at all dollar stores for $1, black, nice, elegant believe it or not. One each one I will put a tourquoise bow at one edge and poka dot one at the other end. They will surround a mirror piece in the center for $2.50. I will also scatter rose petals (silk) around the table in my color.

That brings my cost to:

5 pictures: 10 cents = 50 cents

5 frames= $5

rose petals= getting bags of 1000's in different colors for 17.99- so approximately 50 cents a table.

mirror= $2.50

Total= $7.50 a table. no joke.

I wasn't into the flowers because I can't stand to waste stuff. The picture frames will then be given as party favors for those who want them. So everyone will have a picture of us at no cost to them! so everything gets used and everything goes home with somebody :)

This is just an example of the different ones I will use. There are so many more!

This is my garter i got from a seller on Etsy.com. It is amazing. Fits my personality. Our names are on there along with the date of the wedding. There is also a camo band of fabric which is perfect because that is just us! The rhine stones just top it off. The bow is the color of my wedding. She did a fabulous job:)

I bought one of those photo boxes at Hobby Lobby for $3 and will place a tourquoise bow on the top to add that little extra!

The aisle is about 50 feet long. It will be a white runner, but I will fill the aisle with my thousands of $17 silk petals. My flower girl will then come down with some tourqoise petals and sprinkle them on the aisle. I can't wait. I plan to put all of the petals I use on the tables and stuff in a tall jar that is $20 at Hobby Lobby with the word love on it and place it as some type of something later! lol

Since I was not sure what this was all about, I had to do some research. I decided no candles.....that's all i knew. NO CANDLES PLEASE! i would probably burn the place down. So...I am doing a water ceremony...to put out the fire. lol

I am not sure what to do yet. Some pictures I have seen are helping.

This was not my plan, but I think it will go right along with my funkyness:) I might just wear it at the reception. Depending on if I like it. My lady on Etsy.com that is making it will make it onto the veil but will be removable for this reason!

I love makeup! I really am into the eyes standing out. I hope it comes out great!

This first one is my absolute fav!

So, I am not really sure how to do this, but i tried. and im kinda excited that i figured it out!