Dan and I met when we were sophmore/juniors in high school. Dan was in band with a girl named Suzy and Suzy was my sister Sarah's best friend at the time. We were introduced in the hallway in front of my locker by Suzy. We went on one date that summer and then for silly reasons I decided I didn't really like Dan so I avoided his calls for the rest of the summer and then he eventually stopped calling. Almost an entire year later we ran into each other at Suzy's house one day on lunch break. We decided to go out again and the here we are almost 12 years later.

In August 2006, Dan and I were attending his Uncle Paul's wedding at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe. After dinner, Dan said he wanted to go "geocaching" and asked me to come with him. At first I said no because hello I was wearing heels and a dress and the idea of climbing all over the side of a ski slope didn't really entice me. But after much pressuring on Dan's part I eventually gave in and went with him. Dan said the clue for the geocach was "you can't miss this rock". We climbed on top of some rocks that overlooked lake tahoe just as the sun was setting, dan got down on his knee saying that he thought he saw something and then turned around with a ring in his hand. My first (and second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh...) response was "are you f-ing serious"? Not a lady like response I guess much I was surprised. After convincing me he was serious I said yes and slipped the gorgeous ring on my finger.

Since we were at someone else's wedding and didn't want to steal the show, we couldn't tell anyone we were engaged....but I did call my mom right away who started crying!

**photo courtesy of www.thewoodranch.com**

The wedding and reception location is The Wood Ranch in Clayton
A beautiful house at the base of Mt. Diablo that we have rented Friday thru Sunday.
We'll hold the rehersal dinner there onsite on Friday, ceremony and reception on Saturday, and possibly some sort of brunch there on Sunday morning.
www.thewoodranch.com

After much deliberating and constantly changing my opinion, the color scheme for the wedding is....Yellow, Brown, White

Maid of Honor: Sarah Gislason, sister
Maid of Honor: Rheanna Gislason, sister
Bridesmaid: Sarah Bates, friend
Junior Bridesmaid: Tea Gislason, niece
Flower Girl: Kyley Gislason, niece


Groom's Party
Best Man: Matt McDowell, groom's brother
Groomsmen: Chris McDowell, groom's brother
Groomsmen: Joel Bates, friend

Our photographer is an awesome girl by the name of Sonya Yruel
Check out her website at www.sonyafoto.com

Here are some pictures I've found on various bride's sites at www.theknot.com of similar pictures I'd like to take at my wedding



photo taken from www.community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/defualt.aspx?username=AvaLikeLava

I finally purchased my dress and now just am doing the final alterations. Not posting up any pics of the dress though. Gotta have a little mystery. The maids all have their dresses picked out too....all different styles but in the same canary yellow color.

Since our wedding is outside and less formal, I think we are skipping the tux's and going for a little more casual with suits.
Here is a look I love...

I haven't decided yet if I'm wearing a veil or not. And I haven't decided if I want my hair up or down but I think i'm leaning towards up.

Here are some styles I really like....

Bride's Flowers...



Bridemaid's Possibilities....

I like the idea of not doing actual "numbers" on the tables.
There are so many cute ideas I found on www.theknot.com showing creative ways people let their guests know how to find their tables.

Some of my favorites and top contenders include...
1. A google map image of places that are significant to Dan and Me


2. Landmarks of the city we live


3. Having the guest take a polaroid of themselves and switching it out for their name card before finding their seat

I think I want the centerpieces to be rather simple...definitely candles of some sort and possibly flowers.

Our site is so beautiful as it is that I don't think I need much as far as decoration goes.

I definitely want lots of candles and here are some ideas that I really like the look of....

I know for sure I'm having a dessert table filled with all sorts of homemade desserts.
Haven't decided yet if we are going an actual wedding cake yet or not