Sara.Smiles.7's biography
To keep some things a surprise/secret for friends and family, I have made some of my bio page "friends only". Just request me and I'll add you if you're a PW member and not a sneaky family member posing as one. haha :)
Information for friends and family can also be found on our wedding webpage!! http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/SaraDolinski&DanielGilbert
My fiance grew up in Cincinnati and couldn't be more thrilled to come back home to be married. He graduated from Archbishop
Moeller High School in 2002, where he wrestled and played baseball. After graduation he moved to Heidelberg College to pursue a degree in Education. He graduated in 2007 and moved to Virginia to accept a physical education teaching position. He also
keeps busy with coaching three sports, football, wrestling and baseball at a middle and high school. He also loves to keep busy with playing softball and indoor flag-football with his twin brother, who he also pursuaded to move to Virginia.
I grew up in the very small town of Antwerp, Ohio. I graduated from Antwerp High School in 2003.After graduation, attended Heidelberg College. I love traveling, dancing, and living life to the fullest! After graduating the 'Berg in 2007, I moved
to Virginia and now work at a family law firm near Washington DC.
Sara worked in the Dean's office at Heidelberg College and was recruiting people to be Orientation Leaders for the incoming
freshman classes. She had a resume for a "Daniel", but couldn't figure out why he kept telling her that he didn't know anything about what she was saying. Here all along, the person she was chasing down all over campus was actually his twin brother,
Brandon! It was an honest mistake, especially given that both boys were stopping by her house frequently as they were planning to live there the following semester. Finally, when they connected, she had an initial attraction to him. They left for a
weekend training camp for the leaders, in which Sara had to plan and coordinate. People always joke that they couldn't leave each other's side the entire weekend...but they were both involved with other relationships at the time. By the end of
summer, word had gotten around that they each we're hooked on each other and coincidently, had both parted from their previous relationships. It only took one more night of talking and walking around the beautiful campus to realize that they should give
it a try, considering they spent the entire summer getting to know each other. And almost five years later, look at where it led them!!
I surprised Daniel with a trip to Florida to celebrate our four-year anniversary. Although I had hoped and prayed something
would happen on the trip, I also knew that financially, we just weren't there yet. So, without trying to expect anything, I expected EVERYTHING. :) We left for Florida on a Friday, and feared we would have terrible weather because of the tropical
storms that had been blowing through. Our fears were put to rest when we got there and the weather, water, and sun were absolutely perfect! We spent the entire week soaking up the sun, and soaking each other in with conversation and laughter. Of course
Daniel had planned some meals on the beach, and every time my hopes would get up. I would make sure I was ready for dinner on time, and I didn't dare interrupt his stories while we were eating. We listened to really good live bands, walked around
the shops, and watched wild sea life from the pier. But still, by the end of the trip, nothing had happened! Then, on the way to the airport, it started to rain. We laughed and thought how grateful we were to have such amazing weather the entire
week, but also prayed our flight wouldn't be delayed going home. On the way to the airport, driving in the awful rain, we started to bicker...about who knows what. :) In the heat of the argument Daniel blurted out "Well, what if I told you I have a ring
for you, but I was going to wait till we got on the plane to ask..." Before he could say another word, I stopped him and screamed, "NO! Don't do it like this!! It's raining, you're driving, we're arguing...NO!" Then, I regretted saying anything because it was the longest plane ride back to Washington. :)
The next day, I had to get back to work to catch up on some cases, but Daniel was still on summer break for a couple more days. He called me to ask if I was tired and if I had gotten anything to eat for lunch. I hadn't, but he still rubbed it in
that he just got himself some Chipotle. I was very confused that he would drive fifteen minutes to get lunch, and was a bit frustrated that he didn't get me any. He showed up a few hours later at work with flowers to apologize about lunch. I told
him that I loved the flowers, but knows the real reason he got them (we were having his co-workers over for dinner, and the flowers on the table had died while we were in Florida). He then got down on his knee and said, "Well, I also have
something else..." His speech made the whole office burst into tears and of course...I said YES! 
I have to post something about our wonderful parents. We love them all very much. His parents are wonderful!! They have raised my FH, his twin brother, and their older brother to be gentlemen.
And my parents are my rock. Just look at them...so wonderful and so in love!
We are getting married at the FI's hometown church, St. John's Catholic Church in West Chester (Cincinnati) Ohio.
The ceremony is at 7:00 in the evening.
It has taken me a long time to get used to the fact that we aren't getting married in the church I grew up in, or the church we so loved in college together. But, when we petitioned the Bishop to get married in the church we went to together through the four years in college, we were denied. :(
His church is beautiful though!! Just different from what I'm used to, and a lot more modern. Our church in college was amazing and we were both really disappointed.
This is the foyer of the church. Our ushers will be on either side of the middle doors to escort people in. The main doors will be used for my dad and I. <3
The bridal hospitality room where me and the girls will get ready right before the ceremony!! My FI is jealous he doesn't get a nice big room...pretty sure he's stuck in a preschool classroom! ;)
After the FI and I visited a tooooon of reception places in the area, we finally narrowed it down and booked one!! It was a difficult task since we live in Washinton DC, but after three trips back and forth to Cincinnati the winner is... King's Island Resort!! As soon as we told our family and friends, they were super pumped about the location!!
It's going to be a crazy ride from here, planning a wedding there. But we are determined to do it!
We did our SDTs at MagnetStreet.com. My future sister-in-law recommended the site. I am happy so far with the process, but shipping and processing is taking a lot longer than expected. We got a super good deal because they had a sale on the magnets, we had a coupon, and got a discount for shipping (yay!).
They came in and were mailed out around Christmas time!! Our families love them. :) Rave reviews!
Our e-pic session was scheduled to be when we were coming into Ohio for other wedding things. We were very nervous about the weather cooperating. It was very windy, chilly and storming on and off all day and we were scheduled to meet our photographer at a park at 6:30. We got to the park early to check it out and of course, my hair was blowing all over into my face, his face, etc etc. Our photographer even called to see if we wanted to reschedule for the following day, but since it was Easter we said that we were already at the park and should just "go for it". Almost instantly, the wind died down a little, the sun came out beautifully and it was warm enough to not shiver or turn pink in the nose.
We had such a wonderful time and our photographers Tammy and Tom were such a joy to work with. For all my Cincinnati PWers, look her up! Her name is Tammy Bryan (www.tammybryan.com) Here are just some of the pictures she sent:
I'm having two showers, one where I live now (Virginia) and a joint shower back home in Ohio. My first shower was so fun, and I cannot thank my hostesses enough!! Here are a few pictures to oooo and ahhh at. :)
Finally after months of searching and debating...I finally purchased my ceremony shoes! I knew I wanted something blue and beautiful, but my girls shoes are so distinguished that I couldn't stray too far off the trend. Found them on zappos.com for under $100 with free shipping!! So...drumroll....
These shoes I found at TJMAXX ($35...can't beat it!) for my bachelorette party, and probably double for the rehearsal dinner depending on the final choice for a dress. By far, Nine West pumps are the most comfortable I own...I have like ten pair. :) Mine are just like this, only silver not gold.
My bridesmaids are wearing these beauties from David's Bridal (Style: Bloom)
Since I have ten girls, I wanted some variety. The girls got to choose one of these dresses to wear with those gorgeous shoes. Oddly enough, I have three girls in two of the dresses and four in the other. It worked out perfectly!
These were a chore to make...but the outcome was incredibly worth it!! We only spent $189 total, including the $97.50 for postage. :) That's what I call a great deal!
I'll probably post an article with instructions on it soon, because all in all it was super easy to DIY, just took a lot of patience. I hand cut with an exacto knife 550 pieces of paper. Ridiculous!
Here are just a few pictures...
And the finished product!!
I spent my family vacation taking advantage of the sun, sand...and every minute I had with my four crazy sisters and mom to complete some DIY projects! I hand cut all of the papers I printed for the invitations...to the tune of 550. Such a taxing project, but so worth it in the end!! My MOH helped put the gemstones on the monograms for the pocketfold. Luckily, the condo was spacious, and the dining room table worked perfectly...here are some pictures of the madness!
The next night, all of my sisters helped in making the poms for the pews at the ceremony. Thanks to the PW tutorial articles and comments found here, it was pretty easy....just very very very time consuming. :) Here are some more pictures that my lovely groom took!
We completed all but a few extra I want to have just in case...to total 28 Poms! It was such a blast sitting around the table with the five women I love most...singing and talking all things wedding. :)
And....this is what my dad and FI did to stay out of our hair and avoid the girl giggles that lasted all night long..
I'm so happy to say that our Honeymoon is BOOKED!! We didn't think it was possible because of FI's teaching schedule possibly changing...but it didn't and we're going to Mexico!
We booked a week long stay, beginning the Monday after the wedding at the beautiful Solaris Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico. Thankfully, our timeshare took care of everything except the flight...so it's not breaking the bank! It's all inclusive including food (at six resturants), room service, drinks (horray for a swim-up bar!), and activities throughout the resort and city. We are so pumped!!
