Brian and Jessica met though their mutual friend Darryl (thanks Darryl!) in November 2003 at a friend‘s house near UCLA.  At the time, Brian was attending college at UC Santa Barbara and Jessica at Cal State Northridge.  They traveled between the Valley and Santa Barbara for almost a year and a half, until Brian moved to Orange County.  A couple of months later, Jessica moved to Orange County to finish her schooling (and to join Brian!). 

In February 2006, Jessica told Brian that she always wanted to join Peace Corps.  They applied and were accepted to a Peace Corps program for June of 2007.  Christmas that year, they became engaged (Brian surprised Jessica with a ring and the engagement!!).  Before a wedding could be planned they left for Peace Corps in July!

And here we are now, finishing up our Peace Corps service 2 and ½  years later and getting married 3 years later!

So that is all from our wedding website.  I am finally getting a real start on planning the wedding and getting everything together.  I originally thought that planning a wedding from abroad would be impossible (and it sort of is), but now that I am closer to coming home it is becoming easier.  I just wish I had more time to do all the wonderful DIY ideas all the brides on here have! 

Brian and I are planning on a wine themed wedding and finding invitations was a bit harder than I had anticipated.  I just received samples from weddingpaperdivas.com and I really love them.  We are going to go with the second invitation - they are beautiful in person and the perfect colors!  Plus, they are on recycled paper!!

Place Card Holders - Bri and I LOVE wine and I saw these on Beau-Coup.com and fell in love.  BUT instead of buying them we are going to make them ourselves.  My mom and future MIL are saving the wine corks from the bottles of wine they drink.  I may also make taller ones as in the second photo to hold our table names/numbers.

My mom made these ones!  We just need to cut a slit on the top for the card.  We are using the heart shaped brads.  I think there are really cute

Favors - Mini Wine Bottles and Sparkling Ciders with customized labels are our plan for favors.  Since we won't be able to set the wine out on the tables (Tivoli Terrace does not allow it) we will have to pass them out at the end of the wedding. 

Card Box - I love love love this card box by Its.NicKnack's (PW)

So we booked our venue quite a few months ago.  I originally chose Tivoli Terrace because they basically do everything for you.  I am kind of having second thoughts, but I can't change it so I will make the best of it!  It really is a beautiful place and talking to others that have married there they seemed to have had a great time.

I think these are sooo pretty!!  The color is a bit darker in person.  I am having four Bridesmaids and they all already have these dresses.  I think I will have them wear silver heels.

A couple of hair ideas:

OR

MakeUp

I am going to have all white.  I like the lilies the best, but I also think the mixed bouquets are beautiful. 

Bouqets Inspirations:

For my future hubby:

Centepiece and Table Numbers:

Some of the things I will be wearing on the BIG DAY!!

Have the shoes:

Jessica Simpson at Nordstrom

From Davids Bridal

Jewelry Inspiration from PW Brides and Etsy

We took these with Jason B from Harvard Photography at the Orange Circle in Old Town Orange, California.

From PuzzlePiece by Twigs and Honey

Angels Baseball Garters

One question - which one do we toss, which one do we keep, and do I wear both???