Elijah and I met while serving in the Army National Guard. I guess there's something about a woman in uniform as well! We've been together for about a year. He moved to the east coast after his twin brother died or cancer. He joined the military for something to focus on in his life. We plan on moving to Oregon to be with his family in the next 5 years.
On Christmas Eve,Elijah turned all the lights off, turned on the tree and lit all my candles. He read this very sweet poem and asked me to marry him. My favorite part was the box had a light in it! When he opened the box the ring just sparkled!
We had planned on getting married in the spring of 2009, but due to an upcoming deployment to Iraq we have to move the wedding up. If we are married we will get to live together while we're overseas, which is huge!
We decided on December 27 of 2008. We're looking forward to having a very sweet holiday themed wedding!

www.nluv.com/aprilandelijah

My FI bought me a 1 carat center stone and let me pick out any setting I want. I am totally in love with it!

I had told my ladies to pick out whatever dress they wanted as long as it was the same color I didn't care! One BM is 5'11 and another is 5'2. I thought there was no way we'd find one style to fit all, so why bother. Turns out all 3 of them ended up liking the same dress. Turns out it worked out well since Elijah secretly wanted them in the same dress, to keep it traditional, but didn't want to say anything!

We'll be getting married in a Protestant Church in the north end of Manchester. It'll be in the chapel that seats 100, so with 75 guests it won't be cramped. We like the small size of the room. My one request for a church was stained glass windows. The entire right side of the room is lined with them. There's a nice burgundy carpet that will match our colors. Instead of having pew bows we're going to hang stockings.

Thanks to d1rtymart1n1 and abattyref we'll be having our sisters read the following pieces:

Navajo Marriage Blessing:

Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the
journey ahead and through all the years.
May happiness be your companion and your days
together be good and long upon the earth.

and

"Blessing of the Hands"

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

As for the type of ceremony, well, we haven't quite figured that out yet. Suggestions are welcome!!

As a favor, since we're both enlisted, and quite a few of our guests are as well, we're donating phone cards to soldiers serving overseas. We'll print these out and attach them to an ornament people will get to take home. We'll also have a table set up with blank holiday cards people can sign that we'll send overseas as well. We're really excited about this.

We'll be going on a western carribean cruise through carnival. We'll be on the Carnival Triumph. We'll be stopping in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamacia. I'm a huge traveler, I've been all over the place. Elijah has never been out of the country. I thought a cruise would be best for him where there is very little planning that needs to be done. We can sit back and relax and not stress about where to go for breakfast or dinner. We're excited because we'll actually be in Jamacia for our new year's eve.

We plan on making our own jewelery to wear on the big day. We figure it'll be a memorable time together, cheaper, and a lot of fun! As for my viel, I got one just to please my mother on ebay for $8. I'll wear it for the ceremony, then take it out and replace it with a really neat hair clip I am yet to find! I bought some kick ass red heels I have yet to find a picture of!

Being a big fan of ebay, we ordered our invites off of ebay. We got to pick the setup and the image. We got 60 invites, 60 response cards, 60 envelopes, 60 table cards, 60 direction cards 60 thank you cards and envelops, and 60 return address labels. All printed with the image of our choice. All of this only cost us $63. We couldn't believe the deal! Ebay seller: raeal6271 Very nice to work with!

FI is a huge fan of cheesecake, and I make a killer cheesecake. I made this one for thanksgiving last year, and will be making one for us! We'll have it at the wedding for the head table. :) It also happens to match our patriotic theme which is nice!

Even though we're having a holiday wedding, our colors will be red white and blue to honor the military since we're not wearing any uniforms. The BM dresses are navy blue, and the GM will have a red vest under a black tux. The BMs will carry red roses and white hydrangea. I decided to have them carry white, where they have blue dresses. I thought blue hydrangea would look odd next to a navy dress. I'll have Red roses, blue hydrangea, and white freesia. I'll have the red white and blue! It's also a way to make my flowers different.

Bridessmaids bouquets:

 My bouquet plus red roses:

 Grooms boutonniere:

The vest doesn't have the design on it, but you get the idea. FI wants to wear a bow tie, and the grooms men will have long ties.

Red shoes were a must with our red-white-and blue theme!

I'm afraid because Ive never really worn heels, but I've been trying to break them in. They've been doing a number on the ball of my foot. Any suggestions?

So cute. thanks to all the PW ladies I decided to dye my petticoat blue. It was sooo easy. A $12 petticoat from ebay plus $1.50 of dye.

With my white dress, my red shoes, and blue petticoat I've got the theme down pat!

Finished photo:

Inspiration for day of:

pinkdesignevents.com had contest giving away a free monogram. We entered and won a complimentary monogram, we love it!

Done:

DJ (Paid off, Yay!)

Flowers (http://www.chalifours.com/Wedding-Flowers.html) (Paid off, Yay!)

Bought Dress (PIB)

Had b-pics and e-pics

booked photographer (www.maryannmcfarland.com) (2/3 paid for)

Invites done

Booked reception (http://www.theyardrestaurant.com/) (90% paid off, pending final RSVP's)

Booked ceremony site (http://www.brooksidecc.org/) Paid off, yay!!

Bought and sized bands

Centerpieces done

Booked cake man and bought cake topper (Chocolate peanutbutter cake yum!)

Booked jacuzzi room for wedding night

Set aside rooms for guests at hotel for wedding night

Favors done, pending final RSVP's, may need a few extra

BM's all have dresses already (PIB)

Picked out Tuxes, FI debating on changing colors, but style is done

Bought frame for guestbook

Booked salon for hair and make-up

Bought garter/wedding night 'outfit'

Booked Honeymoon and flights

Bought shoes and dyed petticoat

BM gifts

Passports are all set

Have toasting flutes

Ordered Thank You cards (came with invites)

NEED TO DO:

Dress fitting (Scheduled for 10-2-08)Done! 10-2-08

Decorate cake cutting set

Decide on key songs

Dance Lessons Booked, every Wednesday @ 5:30, from now until Wedding.

Make Card Box

Send out invites Done 10-11-08

Buy coat for wedding day, it's going to be cold! Done! 10-2-08

Food tasting

Hair and makeup trial

Determine type of ceremony

Break in shoes!!

Make Accessories for myself and girls (Doing morning of batchelorette party)

Ceremony decor

GM gifts

Signs (Card box, Mrs. & Mr.... etc)

Table Numbers

Book Manicures for BM's as gift

Book facial

Plan rehersal dinner

marriage license (ha, thanks d1rty!)

Hmm, input on what I am missing ladies???

Ceremony processional: Here Comes the Bride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CGDmgVchi4)

Ceremony recessional: TBD

Bridal party announcement: TBD

Bride and Groom announcement: TDB

Bride/Groom first dance: Michael Buble, Everything (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUJIbXN0WY)

Bride/father & Groom/mother dance: Letting FMIL pick that song.

Cake Cutting: Sugar Sugar by the Archies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BORbFsNjGAk)

Garter Toss: TBD

Bouquet toss: TBD

Last Dance: Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18TLHhhHZCA)