Here is some background information: we are both in the military he is a crew chief in the marine corps, I am an air traffic controller in the air force.

Ryan and I met while waiting at line at subway. I was sent on the infamous chow run (it's where one person goes and gets everyones food during lunch). Now I'm not gonna lie, this line was pretty long, he was already complaining to one of his buddies about they've been waiting in line for almost their whole lunch break "that we so rarely get". When it was my turn to order, i had like 8 different sandwiches, he started to become rude (i.e. tapping his foot, sighing really loudly, things of that nature). I just shrugged it off because I have gotten this reaction from other people while on doing these dreadful chow runs. But then when I got to the register to pay, I had to use a different card for each sandwich...that's when he had enough. He very rudely called me out in front of everyone waiting in line at subway that day. Needless to say...we did not start off on the right foot...

When I got back to the tower, he was there! Our chief controller invited some of the marines on base to come up to the cab and take a tour. As I was giving everyone there food and change I heard them talking and mentioning that he's the crew chief for devildog20. A few hours later I was called to the cab to work ground control, and when the pilot for devildog20 called up for taxi, i just left them in their parking spot for a while, my way of getting back at him for embarassing me at subway. They sat there for a while and I could tell they were getting impatient so I ended up taxiing them so I wouldn't get in any hot water with my Watch Supervisor.

A few months later...we met back up again at a Combat Dining Out being held on base...he recognized me and apologized for how he acted at subway that one day. We started talking and by the end of the night he asked for my number...I didn't know til later once he called me, that my friend ended up giving it to him...her reason "dude he's a marine and he's hott" :b I wanted to kill her at that time...little did I know that that might've been the greatest thing she has ever done for me :)

For our first date we ended up going go kart racing and played miniture golf (he totally kicked my butt at that :b) after that we ended up stopping by this hot dog stand for...what else...hot dogs and ice cream. We ended up talking for over a hour...that's when it all started...

Ryan and I have been dating for a little over two years now. Like any relationship we have had our ups and downs, but I have enjoyed every minute we've shared together. While dating we've had to endure deployments (he deployed 3 months after we started dating and left again 3 days after we celebrated our 1 year anniversary)

During his last deployment he kinda hinted about us getting married. We talked about it a few times, I kinda shrugged it off, thinking maybe he was just feeling lonely and needed to talk about something like this to help through his deployment. Boy was I wrong! When he finally got home from his 14 month deployment in May he popped the question! It happened at their welcome home cermony that troops have when returning from deployment. I went with his family, and we were waiting in the hangar for about 45 minutes for everyone form up and march in. I don't how his mom (or mine for that matter) kept this secret from me, I didn't have the slightest clue! Anyways...the hangar doors opened up and his whole unit marched in, families are cheering, they sing the marine corps song, the chaplain gives his innvocation, the commander gave his speech, yada yada yada. And then after everything, all the formalities, the commander announces that you may go find your marine. After the mad rush of wives find their husbands, and children finding their parents, Ryan and I finally meet up, after his dad finds us both :b He hugs and kisses his mom, then me, then out of no where, gets down on one knee! Not knowing what was happening, I got on my knees to see if he was okay, and he told me to stand up lol, that's when I knew it was happening! Tears starting falling down my face!

Ryan: "These past two years have been so amazing, and I know that they haven't been easy either. But deep down in my heart I know that we are made for each other. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?"

Me: "Oh my gosh YES!!! Of course!!!!"

His Dad: "Well it's about time"

LOL 

Ryan picked out this gorgous Tacori diamond ring. I later found out that he enlisted the help of my little sister to help narrow down his selections through skype while he was deployed.

The Bridal Party :D

Jennie (left) has been such a great friend to                        Chelsea is my little sister and has been planning our

me. We met while in basic training and ended                     weddings ever since I can remember! So who better to my

up going to tech school together, then later                         Maid of Honor? :b

met back up when we got stationed together

in Cali :] we've been inseperable since. She's

going to be my bridesmaid.

Jack (the marine :b) is going to be Ryan's best man.                 Michael (right) is going to be a groom's man (which

They met while in basic training and are practically                  Jennie will love ;b) he works with Ryan and is his

brothers (Ryan is an only child). They don't see each                "brother from another mother".

other often because of deployments, etc, but when

they have "guy's night" or whatever they call it...

they are sure to be hell raisers! :b

Chloe and Jason (the only boy in our entire family LOL) are my cousins and will be our flower girl and ring bearer. Aren't they adorable??

Well we finally found our venue where we will be saying our "I DOs"! Our ceremony and reception will be held at Paradise Cove Orlando, we just put down our down payment and I am so excited!

This is my first post since I've been back. Where were you? you maybe wondering. I was deployed to Baghdad for the past 6 months, and Ryan will be leaving soon for a 8 month tour to a location that he cannot tell me :'( So needless to say this will have a HUGE effect on our wedding day plans. We are pushing back our wedding date for about another year to give us time to make sure we will have plenty of time and not feel rushed, for the wedding of our dreams. This was a very difficult decision for the two of us. Before I left we struggled with deciding whether or not to elope and then have the ceremony with our friends and family when I got back, and now that Ryan is leaving, this as been on our thoughts more than ever. I'm just curious, and wondering, what would you ladies do? Would you run off to Vegas to finally be Mrs. (insert name here) or wait to have the wedding of your dreams with your prince charming?

So after countless hours of searching for wedding dresses, I have stumbled upon this on Etsy.com. For those who know me, they know that I am one of a kind, kind of vintage bohemian, and always feminine, so why should my dress be anything but?

UPDATE: This will be my dress for the reception, I found THE dress last week :D

This dress is a customer order so it will be a while until I get to try it on...I'm so excited, this dress is perfect! I'm thinking about paring this dress with a pair of Louboutin nude pumps like the ones pictured below.

MY DRESS! Isn't stunning! And yes, I'm getting it in the color rose :)

After much deliberation, Ryan and I decided to elope in Vegas before his deployment. It was such an awesome experience, we did the drive through wedding...too much fun! <3

                                                                                  This couple was getting married in Vegas

                                                                          &nb sp;                          just like me and Ryan. They were so sweet

                                                                          &nb sp;                          I just had to take their picture :)

LMAO this is too funny :)

Our friends couldn't resist taking a picture next to this                     Ryan's parents in front of the "Welcome To Vegas"

sign...such goof balls but I love them :)                                           sign.

Although Ryan and I aren't going to be doing E-pics, I couldn't help but fall in love with these, maybe inspire some of you awesome PW ladies :)

NOTE: If I used one of your photos please message me so I can credit you, thanks :)

      I love how they incorporated their dog in this                                       This one makes me miss Ryan :( LOL

       pic...too cute!                                                                   ;                                       [m.h.1.23]

I love how much fun this one is :)

[SwissMiss]

So sweet, I love this idea

[giulianamd]

So I'm starting to rethink my color scheme, I'm really into the peacock theme (I just mainly love the colors) and have always loved the colors in the movie Aladdin... So after countless hours of reading blogs, looking at pictures for information, and tearing out pages from magazines, I think I have found my perfect color scheme. Rose, charcoal grey, and plum :)

Also I want to change my wedding venue, I think it would be awesome to get married at the zoo in my home town.

The girls will be wearing grey strapless dresses and carrying a purple bouquet. I want them to wear their own jewelry and shoes so their unique personalities shine through. The boys will be wearing grey pants with a grey vest, white long sleeve button down shirt with purple argyle socks and a purple tie.

Inspiration for their attire

Bouquet inspiration for the bridesmaids

Inspiration for the groomsmen

[sabbysara]

Wedding Ceremony Music

Prelude: Aladdin "A Whole New World"

Processional: Bruno Mars "Marry You"

Bridal Entrance: Blake Shelton "Honey Bee"

Wedding Recessional: Counting Crows "Accidently in Love"

Postlude: Jason Michael Carroll "Living Our Love Song"

Wedding Reception Music:

First Dance: Big & Rich "Lost in This Moment"

Father/Daughter Dance: Frank Sinatra "The Way You Look Tonight"

Mother/Son Dance:

Cake Cutting: Marvyn Gaye "How Sweet it Is (To be Loved by You)"

Garter Toss:

Bouquet Toss: Beyonce "Single Ladies"

Last Dance: Lifehouse "You and Me"

For the Ladies:

My beautiful bridesmaids will be getting these tote bags from Etsy

And inside there will be a waffle weave embrodieried cosmetic bag filled with sample sizes of the makeup they will be wearing the day of the wedding, a grey satin robe from Victoria's Secret that they will wear when getting ready, a bridesmaid's survival kit, photo of a favorite memory of the two of us and a thank you card

For the gentlemen:

The guys will be getting these cigar boxes also from Etsy

Inside will be a pair of customized cufflinks, hip flask, the tie and socks they will be wearing on the wedding day and a thank you card.

For the little ones:

Still haven't figured out what to get for the flower girl and ring bearer :/

Any ideas??