Mr. Brain West has asked me to marry him. I just could not believe it ;) Of course I said absolutely!!!
Just to set the premise, I thought we were going out for our Love Day…the day we met (October 18th 2001)
On Saturday night (October 17th) Brian took me to Postino’s wine cafe…my new favorite place!!! The atmosphere was so intimate and romantic with candles everywhere! The electricity went out so the dim candles just made the ambiance that much better. We ate, drank, laughed, loved and enjoyed each other…something I think we do very well!
So I asked what we were doing next and he just said well I have a few ideas, usually Brian says “whatever you want to do Lo, you are the one with the social calendar” (haha)
He then pulled up to the Pointe Squaw Peak Resort and then I knew he was up to something. As I started walking to the front desk area he started walking up the stairs…I then started to really wonder what he was up to. We walked to the room and opened the door; he jazzed up the room big time…flowers, champagne…the whole nine! He then got down on his knee and asked me to marry him!!! So wonderful! We then enjoyed the rest of the evening together! ;)



The next day we laid out by the pool all day and my beautiful ring just sparkled in the sunlight and I just kept looking at it! Brian also mentioned that he liked to see it flaring around on my hand as I shared my excitement with others!
We have been together for eight years but every part of this is extremely exhilarating! When we start talking about it I am very giddy and it touches my heart when I see the same enthusiasm in Brian! This is such an exciting time and there are so many things that we must plan for. I can’t wait to keep everyone updated on everything…

I did ask some very special ladies to be a part of our wedding. If I could I would have up to eight important people in my bridal party but as I have come to find out you have to limit stuff and make choices, two things I am not good at! Yikes!

Calling the girls up and asking if they wanted to be a part of our wedding was not something I wanted to do; I wanted to do it in a fun and more creative way! I found these wonderful calendars (check out the website, very inspirational) http://www.intrinsiconline.com/
at a book store and they were my inspiration to ask… not only because of the cover but also because they can be used to keep track of all the upcoming important dates :)

So for each of my girls I wrote a message of the journey we have had together and told them… It would give us more joy and more pride to have you there walking by our side and I would love for you to continue to be apart of OUR new Journey together!

Adriane
My absolute beautiful, irreplaceable, exceptional, and amazing sister will be my Maid Of Honor! This Tomboy (in her younger years) wore wrinkled shirts down to her knees and did not give two sh*** about what anyone else thought. She continues to be the same confident, now extremely stylish woman today and I am honored that she will be my main woman as I marry my main man!!

And my Bridesmaids are:

Lindsey and I at her Graduation Party

Lindsey
I was in Lindsey’s Girl Scout troop as a kindergartner (1989) but we did not begin our infamous sleepovers until second grade (1991). Shortly after we began playing soccer together until our final soccer days at Chandler Gilbert! She was there the night I met the man I am going to marry, Mr. Brian West. Lindsey is a very dedicated person…not only to our friendship but to Austin, her family, and her work and she shows it passionately! She has a very kind heart and always has an open ear to listen to anything and everything. I am extremely excited for to be a part of our wedding.

Jessica was there for those infamous sleepover as well…we also went to junior high dances together, played badminton together in high school :) and she was always with me during our many Chandler Gilbert extravaganzas! Brian reminded me of this so I had to share…The next time I wanted to meet up with Brian (second date if you will…) I informed him I already had plans with Jessica, I never really broke plans with my ladies for a guy! However; this was the beginning of something and I told Brian to call Jessica and ask if it was ok to cancel plans of making cookies so I could hang out with him…Who would have ever guessed blowing off a friend date to make cookies would lead to me being with the love of my life!! Thanks for understanding Jessica! :) Jessica is an exceptional woman who has a heart of gold! Jessica will say something that will make you double take and then you will crack up! She has a way of brightening your day and can always get the party started! I cant wait for you to sing us a little something...Lets Get It On...Haha! :)

Lydia and I: The Dodge Ball Tournament at The Sand Bar

Lydia
I met Lydia in our 7th grade science class at Shepherd Junior High. You know me…loud and outgoing and Lydia was a bit more relaxed and hip! We were opposites if you will but I would call it more of a balance! There was not a day that went by that we did not spend together. I mean that literally…We went to school together, went home from school together, rented movies and spent the night at each others houses every weekend! As Lydia I have grown so has our friendship…she is a kind and sophisticated woman and I am grateful that she continues to be a part of my life and I am excited to have her by my side throughout the wedding adventure!

We have decided on the location of our wedding! The Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, is the spot! After all the research, checking places out, getting excited/disappointed, we found it! I think it is just right for us! Here are a few pictures to give you an idea…it will of course have a Lauren and Brian touch to it! Here is some history if you don’t check out the website: http://www.sanmarcosresort.com/

The Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort was the first golf resort in Arizona, and has been a landmark ever since its 1912 debut.

I would really like to do a vintage key theme and these are some of the ideas I have...

These will be are being used for our invites! Cant wait to share pics when they are complete!

Stamp found at Hobby Lobby   Keys found at joann.com

Here they are!!

Isreal

We are not sure if she will be walking (crossing my fingers) but this little Miss will be wearing a dress for sure!!! :)

Emma

Mylie

Dark Purple, Aubergine, Eggplant…so many purple varieties!

 

 Dark Charcoal

A neat green similar to this...just a few touches here and there to make it "pop"!

Style me Pretty had a giveaway... http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/11/23/giveaway-by-two-birds-bridesmaid/

Basically... Ariane Goldman is graciously giving away THREE of her short, aubergine gowns to one lucky bride. All you have to do is leave a comment below, letting us know which one of the gowns from twobird’s collection is your favorite. We’ll choose the lucky winner on the Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov 30th). So I did and if you have not guessed it yet...I won!!! I cant believe it! I won three bridesmaid dresses (the short ones are $270 each) just by telling them why I like them!!  

I just got them in the mail the other day! They truly are amazing...with just a little adjustment it is a different dress! So many options/styles! They are FUN!!! Definitely check out the site http://twobirdsbridesmaid.com/

My sister and I found these fabulous little things at Bakers! Love them!

I made our Save the Dates through Picnik.com...which is AMAZING!!!! It looks a little different when printed but I am very happy with them and they only cost $10 for 75...printed them through Walgreens!

Finally sealed and sent out...here is how the "outer" part looks.

She arrived two months earlier than I expected! I am very excited and extremely happy!! It is perfect and I love it! I tried her on right out of the box...excuse the wrinkles ;)

I graduated with my masters and look what I got!! This is Fiona Pearl...Isnt she something!

The box on the left (out of the three) will be my card box. This is what it will look like when open. I need to jazz up the cards a bit more. The top smaller box is a wine box I found it at a thrift store for $3 not sure what I will do with it yet. The last box on the bottom right  is going to be a wish type box. The cards below will be at each table and throughout the night our guests can write messages for us. On some of the cards we will have sayings like: The Key to Happiness, The Key to Love, The Key to a Man's Heart...and some will be blank. At the end of the night we will lock it up along with a bottle of wine, two wine glasses and a special letter that each of us will write to one another. We will then open it on our first year anniversary!  

YAY! Flags

I am not certain on how I will jazz them up yet but here are the flower girl baskets. My mom found the big one in Portland and I found the other two at a vintage thrift shop! I love the varying sizes, they will fit perfect for each of my flower girls (1 year old: baby basket, 2 year old: medium basket, and 6 year old: big basket)!! :)

This is our idea of a "slide show"...

Pictures of Bri (right) and (I (left) and Us throughout the years in the middle! We still have to evaluate/pick pictures (i just found a few) but think the final product will be super cute! It will be hang near the bar :)

P.S. I (mom spotted it) found the metal hanging thing for 78 cents at my favorite vintage/thrift shop!!!

http://laurenbriantime.blogspot.com/

I have seen many do the Tears of Joy so I thought why not! :)

I decided I wanted to do a candy buffet/bar! I am also doing a favor so I want the buffet/bar to be more of a taste! I always have nuts or candy in jars at my house so I thought it would be fun to fill a few glass jars (which I love and have purchased many over the years) with some tasty treats! I originally had bags but then thought people would assume they could take a bag home. This is more so to get a little something as you get a drink type thing! :)