Grew up in McHenry, IL

 Live in Schaumburg, IL with my fiance John.  We really enjoy planning this wedding together and making sure it is about us as a couple. 

We have decided on a Navy blue, Ivory, and Lavender theme--with possible hints of silver.  Blue is both our favorite color, so it just sticks :)  Our venue is set and it is insanely perfect for the occasion, it is literally our dream place!  It is private country club in Lake In The Hills called Boulder Ridge Country Club.  It will be a Friday night ceremony and reception, both at the club, then Saturday my parents will be hosting a BBQ for friends and family that want to continue the celebration.

We were at a friends house for New Years Eve (one of my favorite holidays) and John was distant a good chunk of the night.  I didn't think anything about it, just figured he was busy socializing and telling everyone about our trip to Mexico that we just got back from.

Well, we all gathered in the living room to count down and during "10...9... 8" John was telling me how much he loved me and how much I mean to him.  Once again, I didn't think anything of it, just figured he was being sweet.  Then, at 1 he got down on one knee and simply asked "Will You Marry Me?"  I was REALLY shocked and the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "Are you serious?"  I had to put my drink down, said "yes, of course I would."  I kiss him and look up and EVERYONE is either videotaping it or taking pictures... all of our friends knew since Halloween!!  And when he wasn't around me during the night, it was because everyone wanted to see the ring!

Once I said yes and wiped the tears from my face, my parents then came over and were able to celebrate with us.  It was such a great night and something I will never forget.

When we both walked into Boulder Ridge we both got the chills.  It is a very classy, yet comfortable venue that has a gorgeous ceremony space both outside and inside.  We will be having the ceremony outside, followed by cocktail hour, and then dinner.  I love it that we both fell in love with this place cause it was such an easy decision to make (and lets not forget the amazing bar package!! hehe).  Here are some pics!

My two sisters, my two MOHs, tried on many many dresses and this one I chose just on a fluke at the same store we got my Bridal Gown from.  And they LOVED it!!  All of my girls are very happy with this, they all say its comfortable and its very flattering!!I just LOVE the color and how much it compliments my dress.  I plan on getting my sisters a brooch to add to the dress so they can stand out a little!!

I just got their jewelry!!! Found them at a Jewelry show for GREAT prices!!!  So excited :)  Only my MOH's will be wearing the bracelets :)

I really want all of my flowers to either be Lavender or Ivory... there is soo much navy already in the color scheme, so I gotta get my flowers to be delicate and pretty :)  I think one of these is from PW, so thank you to whoever uploaded it!!

Top Bridal Bouquet Pics

And I am pretty sure this is exactly what I want for my Bridesmaids (the darker colored would be ivory or a lighter purple)

MOB and MIL corsages

**thanks to DansMrs!!**

Some boutinerre ideas

So for a long time I thought I wanted to do a lot of projects... and I am not saying they aren't beautiful, but I helped a fellow Bride before and I got really frustrated cause it took so much time, (I know, not the best BM aspect to have).  I helped her though and was happy to do it.  But I think for my own wedding, I am going to keep it down to a minimum.  Our venue takes care of a lot of things (i.e., centerpiece, table number, cake stand) and I am just going to do some little things.

1. Card Box   -- My mom and her friend are doing this for me :)
2. Invitations (most likely ordering from a company and printing them out myself) Just ended up ordering them from Davids Bridal for a FANTASTIC price for the quality!!  I didn't add anything just because of timing and $$
3. HighBoy Table centerpieces  -- Just using what our venue provides
4. Menu -- have the wording finalized, going to print it out on shimmer paper :)
5. Signature Drink Frame
6. In Memory Of candle and frame
7. Seating Chart Poster
8. Photo Booth Sign  used a free template -- not doing this anymore, really don't need it
9. Monogram for Hotel Guest Bags -- used a free template again

Wish me luck ladies!! :)

I was soo happy when my FI wanted me to help him with the Groomsmen attire!  As much as I love him, his style can be a little boring sometimes.  He totally doesn't understand contrasting colors and keeps things very basic.  Now the guys tuxes aren't crazy or anything... but him doing Ivory on white and also having pin stripes?  I was blown away. hehe.  Sorry its the same dude in every pic, lol, kinda creepy...

Groom's Attire

Groomsmen's Attire

Dad's Attire

Ok so my venue already has hurricane candle holders that we can use.. so I am thinking of using those and obviously adding some flowers and votives.  I really want things to be simple because our venue is already so pretty, I don't want anything huge.  I know I want two different centerpieces, every other table will be different.  Also, I am going to do my own centerpiece for the Highboy Tables.  Here is what I have so far.. I think I want a mix of ivory and light purple rose petals sprinkled across the tables as well.

Ok, so since the heavily beaded dresses were a bust on me, I vowed to myself to add bling to my attire for the day.  I got these brooches off Ebay for incredible prices!!

Seller's Page

The first is for my bouquet, the second is for my dress (see below), and the third is for my hair

I added the second brooch to our guest book :)

So first of all, its pretty great that our venue provides a cake for us, we literally just pick out flavors and the design, no worrying about finding a baker!!  I know we both want simple and have an E monogram cake topper.  Here are our current faves. (Obviously, the orange one would match our Navy color scheme)

And this is what we ended up going with.  The swirls will be in a very faint lavender and the ribbon will be navy.

Ok... so let me tell all of you that I think I have the most involved FI ever!  LoL.  I have been sending him invite ideas here and there really thinking he wouldn't care, but oh wow, he does!!  It is completely fine with me cause I do know he is inviting Partners from his Firm, so I know he doesn't want them to look cheap or anything.  So I have been hunting through sites trying to find some reasonable deals on gorgeous invites.  I am pretty sure I am going to order a Shimmer Navy Pocket or a Silver Pocket to glam it up... Here is what I have so far...

One of the most important details of the wedding, for me, is my veil.  I was named after my Mom's best friend, Donna Jean, and she passed away from Cancer in 1983, they were only 23 years old.  I was born in August of 84 and even though I never met her, my Mom always says we are so much alike.  Donna's brother, Bobby, is my Godfather and has always been there for me in every huge stage of my life.  When John and I got engaged, the first thing I wanted to do was ask Bobby and the rest of the siblings if I could use her veil.  Without any hesitation Bobby and the others agreed.  I really love that she will be a part of me on my big day.

It is, however, very dated and I am just going to make some minor changes.  It just needs to be cleaned up and I am going to cut it since we will be walking around Golf grounds for pics and I would not want it to get ripped up.  Thankfully, my veil lady is going to save every piece and we might do something else with the rest of the fabric.

I plan on having Bobby put on my veil so we can share that moment.

The first pics are the first stage of the veil (it used to have a cap on it and it was very long)

In lieu of a Sand or Candle ceremony, the FI and I decided to do a Unity Wine Ceremony.  We both love wine and figured it would just be appropirate, especially cause we are not having a traditional ceremony.  There are traditional elements to it, but we are def having different passages and wordings used.  I will be pouring the white and he will be pouring the red, both of which are our favorite.

This is what our Minister is saying and I just cannot wait!

"We shall now perform a Unity Wine ceremony. The wine sharing ceremony is a delightful ceremony embracing traditions that began well before the medieval period. Then, a bride and groom would celebrate their pledge to each other by drinking wine from a single cup — one blood, one family and one kin. The wine ceremony we will perform today was written for John and Donna and is a visual representation of the joining of these two very special people.

John and Donna these two glasses of wine represent your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become. This (glass/goblet/challis) in the center is your marriage. The place where you are forever blending your lives together. It represents the joining of 2 spirits, 2 lives, 2 souls. Now you will each take your glass and pour into the center goblet. (Bride and Groom each pour about ½ of your individual glasses into the center one) As you do so, keep in mind the pledge you made to each other today. It is the pledge of the truth and purity of your every breath, the constant friendship of your hearts. The passion of your spirits and the deepest love your souls have to give. It is the pledge of all that is within you, the only true pledge that one heart can offer to another. You are now as Husband and Wife offering yourselves, and all that has come to pass unto each other, towards the creation of your future, and to all that is yet to come. Now your two individual lives are combined, like the two wines.  You are choosing to blend your lives together and yet, you are still individuals, you remain yourselves. (couple drinks wine)."