I am just so honoured to be selected to be a woman of the Pink Heart Society.  Think Red Hat Society.  Yep, that's me. 

I was so shocked to see an e-mail awaiting my return from Winter Vacation 2012!  Vacation 2011 brought an engagement and now this.  Could a girl get any luckier?! 

If there is anything I can do to make your time here more enjoyable, don't hesitate to send me a message. I will do what I can to help or find someone that can! 

To say that I didn't see this engagement coming would be an understatement.

Todd had always lead me to believe that he would never get married again.  As much as I believe in marriage and wanted to be married again, this was not a relationship deal breaker.  I was in a good place and I was content to carry on loving life with a fabulous incredible amazing man!

Unbeknownst to me, Todd had been carrying around a piece of paper with my ring size for about 2 years.  I had no idea and wasn't told of this until after he was on bended knee.

Our engagement took place in the Dominican Republic on the last day of our vacation, and as I said I didn't see this engagement coming.  Apparently, neither did he.  One minute we are sitting talking to each other and the couple we are away with and the next, he is in front of me, asking me to marry him!  I can remember my hands on his face, crying, saying, "Really?  Are you sure?  Really?  Really? Really?"  All the while, laughing and crying. He was laughing and crying.  The couple with us, were shocked and laughing, both of them were crying.  I can't even tell you the joy and excitement I felt.

There was no ring, (bought later) no flowers, no music and no over the top actions, but our engagement couldn't have been more perfect and I couldn't be happier.  Happy Heart Happy Me!

Bridesmaid #1 - FI's youngest daughter. 

This is FI's youngest daughter and will be the first one down the ailse to stand beside her father.  FI is not the most visibly emotional guy, but I know when he sees his gorgeous daughter approaching him, he will be blown away! 

As a teenager, Lauren is more interested in spending time with her friends and not so much time with myself and FI, although when she is around you're bound to be laughing at her.  She can be very funny and silly.  My only worry is, if someone is going to trip coming down the aisle, it may just be Lauren.  I pray it's not, but I'm telling you, that girl is a walking accident.  

I am hoping this is a bonding experience for myself and Lauren and look forward to sharing the fun of wedding day planning with her. 

xoxoxo 

This is BM #2.  My youngest daughter, Lily and her little prince and "Best Man", Tyshaun. 

The year between my daughter and myself has been a crazy one to say the least, but I've learned things work out how they will and you take one day at a time, one situation as it comes and move on. 

Lily is a princess in the grandest proportions, said not as disrespectful as it may sound.  She will add a sense of class and beauty to the day. 

I look forward to many more memories I will make with her and to share in this day that means so much to me is hard to put in to words.

xoxoxo

Bridesmaid #3 - FI's oldest daugther

As with FI's youngest daughter, his oldest, Lynnette, we don't see near enough. 

Watching Lynnette grow in to the wonderful young woman she is becoming is truly like watching a flower open its petals.  In my time, while in FI's life, I've watched Lynnette go through many changes, as you can well expect from a girl ranging in age from 14-19. 

Unlike FI's youngest daughter, Lynnette is not near as outgoing and more reserved.  I worry about her being nervous when her turn to walk approaches.  I am hopeful she is comforted by the fact that she's not the first one to walk! 

No matter the nerves.  This will be fun!

xoxoxo

Bridesmaid #4 - My oldest daughter

This is my wonderful, spontaneous, full-of-life daughter, Alyssa. She is my oldest, and my first confirmed BM.  She is a little firecracker and right now, my biggest supporter in this wedding.  

I look forward to sharing this wedding planning with her.  She is my BM dress model you've seen in previous pictures.

I find it incredible to be in the process of this planning and to be doing it with Alyssa.  We have had a roller coaster relationship, but all that has brought us very close and I wouldn't change much of that to be in a place of such a strong relationship that we share today.

She does my heart proud!

xoxoxo

I want our Junior Best Man/Ring Bearer to carry a teddy bear with him down the aisle.  My vision is him carrying this teddy bear and holding his Grandpa's hand.  The thought of it just makes my heart melt.

I knew Valentine's Day would be the best time to find the red bear I had in mind.  I was able to find this little sweetie at Walmart for less than $8.00.  I wanted the bear to have a silver bow to tie in with our colour scheme.  Off to YouTube I went in search of how to make a bow.  I found a really easy how-to video and I was off on my bow making adventure.

The end result

Imagine this little sweetie carrying that little bear, while holding his Grandpa's hand.  

This is one part of my wedding day that is going to be my undoing when it comes to tears. This little guy is the blessing and highlight of my life. 

THE DRESS -

Okay, this is THE dress!  I've become one of those brides! The bride that changes her mind when she thought she was set on what she was choosing! 

The journey to this dress has been long and not an easy one, but I'm so glad for it. This dress is simply stunning. It is so elegant and the look on the face of my daughter's, I knew there would be no more dress shopping after this one.  I cried a little when I saw it on them. 

So happy with the final choice.

These bouquets are the inspiration for my bouquet.  I have been thinking all along I was going to have a red roses or deep red calla lily bouquet.

It hit me out of the blue that I should have a carnation bouquet. 

My mother passed away when I was 19.  She didn't see my first wedding nor will she see this one.  I wanted for her to be a part of my day in some way.  Carnations were her favorite flower.  I figured what better way to honour my mother on my wedding day than to carry a bouquet of her favorite flowers. 

My plan is to have the bouquet of red carnations (red is my favorite colour) and wrap the bouquet with black ribbon.  I am going to ask my former mother-in-law for a brooch to pin on the bouquet stem, as well as ask my FI's sister is she has a piece of jewelry that belonged to their mother, since FI's mother has passed as well.  

I love how it is all coming together and to represent such important women in the shaping of who FI and I are as people and who we have become as adults.  This may fast become the most important and sentimental element of my wedding day, beyond the fact that I am marrying the man of my dreams.

I hadn't given much thought to the idea of what to do with my bouquet after the ceremony.  I came across a thread on the main forum and in there a bride, JackieG, mentioned hers was placed on her father's grave site and I love that idea.  I am going to take mine to my mother's grave site and leave it there for her to enjoy! 

Thank you so much, JackieG.  I really hope you don't mind that I'm stealing your idea.  It is done with the utmost respect and appreciation.   xoxo

I don't wear a lot of make-up and I'm trying to keep my wedding day look very simple.   I am going to do eyelash extensions long before the wedding to see how I like them, because it is one look that I think is so gorgeous.  Long dark eyelashes are gorgeous and if I have to buy them, buy them I will.

My youngest daughter is amazing at doing make up and I would like for her to give it a try.  It will be a challenge for her though because I know she is so picky she will be doing her own make up for the wedding and to ask for her to do mine too.  I'm just not sure yet.   I will get her to do a trial run one day soon and see how it looks. 

As much as I don't wear a lot of make up, it is an element that adds so much.  I really want to look like myself, but have that special make up, well done make glow about me. 

My wedding day shoe vision is red strappy, bowed or blinged. 

I have searched the internet high and low for THE shoe.  I haven't found it yet.  Don't you worry your pretty litte bridal heads.  I will be the victor in the battle of the red wedding shoe!!! I can and do wear 3" heels on a rather regular basis and don't want to go much higher than that on my wedding day. If I could get a sexy 2.5" that would be easy peasy.

These are my shoes!  They are not as sexy as the inspiration shoes I've listed, but I love the look when I see them on my foot.  

Shoes #2

I have decided on these chair coverings. 

Still thinking about whether or not I'm going to do chair adornments.    Stay tuned.

Napkin Rings

I think I'm in love. I bought these from another PW bride!

Table Numbers

Picture is a bit fuzzy.  The verse on the bottom reads:  "Love is the master key that opens the gate of happiness"  Each one of our table numbers will have a love verse on them.  A different verse for each table. 

Kudos to ridegrl1 for helping me bring my vision to light. I would be lost without her.  Lost or bald from pulling out my hair.   Don't judge her work by the quality of my picture or print quality.  This card is printed on the lowest quality on my printer just to get sizing information for the frame.   

Centerpiece Mock Up

Head Table Decorations

I bought 6 of these for the Head Table.  I thought a little extra bling would be a nice touch. 

Each place setting will include the following paper items: 

Key To Success Tags

 These are in lieu of a traditional guest book.

I've been all over the map with regards to what I was going to do with the centerpieces.  ALL. OVER. THE. MAP.  

I will not bore you with all the various ideas I had floating in my head.  All that really matters is that I've found the look I want.  I am so over the moon happy with it.  I know it's the way I was supposed to go.  

Inspiration Look

My Look In Progress 

I love this so much. This is the arrangement of the vases and candle holders I'm using.  I will be scattering red and silver beads on the glass to reflect the candle light.  The main vase (flared) will have a candle in it with red beads filling in between the candle and the glass.  All candles will be white. 

The major inspiration for my wedding day has centered around my FI and his love of hockey.   I love him.  He loves hockey! LOL 

This is the inspiration for our wedding cake.  I am doing everything I can to keep this a surpise from him.  Since the cake is a surprise, so must be the cake cutting set.  

This is one of my DIY projects.  The picture does not truly do it justice.  I love it! 

I made the garter myself to go alongside FI's surprise Stanley Cup cake.  He knows nothing of the cake and nothing of the garter. 

This was the easiest DIY project to date!  I love being sneaky when I know at the end of the day, FI gets a little surprise.  

I wanted something different in regards to a guest book.  After much thinking and Internet searching I came up with the idea, 

"Keys To Success" 

I searched and searched the Internet for keys.  I went to yard sales, flea markets, key supply stores.  You name I was there in my quest to find a key. I bought a key shape mold and I bought clay.  I thought I would make the keys I needed.  I tried 1 key and that was enough to kill that idea.  

One night at work, I was searching E-bay and I came upon a listing for little keys that would work. They were dirt cheap and sold in lots of 20 with free shipping.  I ordered 9 bags (now wishing for 10 or 11).  They arrived last week and I've already spray painted them.  I love how they turned out.  The original colour was a brassy colour and I wasn't completely sold on them or in love with them.  Nothing that a little spray paint wont fix.  

The keys will be attached to this tag made by Halsey.  

This is one of the elements of the wedding that I'm really excited about. I think it is going to look so sweet and be such a different idea.  

All credit for this beauty goes to ridegrl1.  This is one element of my day that I love the most.  I love the sentiment of the idea and the beauty of it is stunning.

I have to admit I will pull this document up numerous times throughout the day and just look at it.  I love it that much! 

I have been back and forth with what to do as far as escort cards go. 

I've considered tented cards - nope. 

I contemplated truffles with little flags.  Actually even made a batch - flop.  Too much too work! 

Investigated a picture board.  Decided against that in case people have to cancel at the last minute

And then, PW comes through AGAIN!  I saw this on the home page.  Little hearts attached to twine and I was instantly in love with the idea. 

My wedding is taking on a bit of an unintentional theme of 'Key To My Heart', so this is absolutely perfect.  It is economical enough to be worth the effort of cutting out 150+ hearts.  Easy peasy.... just what a DIY should be.  

This is one element of my wedding day that makes me so excited. 

I don't want to rush away the day of being coming a wife, but to know that our ceremony will be followed by riding in this lovely machine with the love of my life, makes me so very happy. 

This would be the first gift of 3 gifts for FI.  

I was looking around for cake cutting sets with some sparkle and shine to them.  They were insanely expensive. For something that was going to be used for about 5 minutes, I just couldn't convince myself to spend $50-$80. No way!  

I saw the coolest inspiration pic of a cake cutting set on Pinterest and I just knew I had to try it too.  So, I went shopping. Who doesn't love to go shopping? 

The knife set cost me 14.99.  I had a gift card from a returned gift, so out of pocket for me was $2.35.  I bought the flower arrangement wire $1.29 (don't know actual name) and beads that were on sale for 12.00.   Total out of pocket expense - $15.50.  

Less than 20 minutes and this is the finished product.  I am in love!!!!  

I have some fine tuning to do on the top of the one piece.  The wire is wonky looking.  The finished product isn't exactly like the inspiration, but the handles are also different.    

The picture doesn't do justice to how pretty this knife set looks in real life.  

I am so happy with how it turned out!   

Gorgeous Invitations

Key Tags

This is just a small glimpse of my wedding day paper products.   

All work done by Halsey 

Compiling all the candy needed for the sweet goodness that will be our candy table.

10lbs red foil hearts
3lbs  red peanut butter foil cups
4lbs nibs
7lbs cherry balls
3.5lbs chewy raspberry candy
4.5lbs marshmallow strawberries
4.6lbs sour cherry chews
2.5lbs hot tamales
4lbs big feet

43.1lbs Total

• Find shoes
• Make Attendant Request Cards
• Get FI working on his annulment - working on it!
• escort card table ideas  - decided
• mailing labels for rsvp cards
• figure out how to make my own bouquet or what I'm doing at least
• Make decision about day of transportation
• Get FI working on the next step of the annulment process
• bouquets for BM
• Corsage for Todd and Tyshaun
• Find silk robes
• Decide on hangers for the gowns for the girls 
• Find the proper clutch

Before starting the list I had half a million things running through my mind, now it's blank!  GRRRRR

DIY Tasks

• spray paint card box
• spray paint 'love' letters
• spray paint table number frames
• heart shape punch for the table escort
• find the silver clips for the escort table deal
• silver wire
• black fabric
• wooden frame for escort table

Paper Products

• Words for the 'Key To My Heart' shadowbox
• Programs
• 'Have a drink on us'
• Menu
• Donation cards
• Candy labels
  'Sweet' words and 'Love' word

• finalize ceremony
• boutinneirs in for Todd, Ty and Mike
• flowers for Brenda
• Aisle runner
• memory candle
• wash vases
• spray paint keys
• print key tags
• print drink ticket
• get layout of programs
• print donation cards
• get pictures of Todd and I as children
• finalize pictures for the escort cards
• make wine glasses/beads
• engrave Todd's watch
• talk to Ruth about photographs
• ask Michelle to hand out programs

I'm in the process of dealing with ridegrl1 for my wedding day paper products.

I am having a blast!  She is capturing my vision to perfection.  It is so exciting to see my wedding day ideas coming to life. 

• programs
• menu cards
• candy label tags
• 'key to success' tags - there will be a key attached to the end of the card and the cards are for a guest book where at this point the guests give us their thoughts for 'keys to a successful' marriage
• donation cards announcing that we are donating money to a charity on behalf of the guest
• I would like to have little tokens with our logo on it for the guests to drop in to jars for the charity of their choice (stolen from AJFisher)
• Charity signs
• Coupons for 'This drink is on us'
• Table numbers

 Source

Centerpeice Candle Collection

Glass Mirrors - 17
Tall Candles - 41 (2 per)
Short Candles - 23 (1 per)
Thin Candle - 25 (1 per)
Flared Vases - 
Tall Vases -
Short Vase -
Tea Lights - 400 (4 per)
Flared short cup -     (2 per)
Lower straight -        (2 per) 

Napkin Rings - 190
Tissue Paper packages - 20 (4 per package) - 80 count
Red Bead Bags - 6
Silver Rocks - 7

Seating Arrangement 
Paper Hearts - 178
Silver Clips - 197
Silver Keys - 180

Candy Table

Candy bags - 208
Candy Scoops - 6
Candy Containers -

Types of Candy 
10lbs red foil hearts
3lbs  red peanut butter foil cups
4lbs nibs
7lbs cherry balls
3.5lbs chewy raspberry candy
4.5lbs marshmallow strawberries 

Table Number frames - 25