I do have some pages set to private in fear of some people finding me on here and looking at things they shouldn't be!  So if you want to see these pages just add me as a friend!

Keith and I met while we both were working at the same place (Jewel, the grocery store.  How romantic, right?) in the Spring of 2004.  We weren't in the same department, he was an assistant manager and I was in the front end, but we would run into each other most of the time.  It started off as innocent flirting, seeing as both of us were in relationships at the time, but as both of our relationships were coming to an end, we started talking and flirting more.  Then one night while we were at work, Keith had asked me when I was getting off and it just so happened we both were working till 10 that night.  He told me that if I met him up front that he would walk me out and give me a goodnight hug and kiss.  I was so excited for the rest of my shift, 10 couldn’t come fast enough.  It was finally here and we were walking outside, we somehow parked close to each other, we got to our cars and kinda just shuffled for a bit and he finally leaned in to hug me, and left.  I was so confused, did I not hear him right?  Was I not suppose to get a kiss too?  The next day I confronted him about this, and he told me sorry and that he would make it up tonight instead.  Again, I waited for my shift to be over and we walked out to our cars once again and this time it happened.  He leaned in and kiss me and it was MAGIC!  After a magical kiss and a very long hug we went our separate ways for the night.  I was in so much shock, that when I got into my car, I accidentally hit the horn and I jumped 3 feet in my car! Ever since that day, we’ve been together and the kisses are still magical!

The Proposal

The day started out like any other Sunday. Jillian and I spent the day at my parent's and we arrived home later in the evening. Keith got us all ready to go out to get his 67 Rivera and hit the park for a little bit before dinner. I found it odd that Keith was taking so long coming out of the house and I was kind of surprised he brought the camera. My brain thought for a second that he might be proposing, but then I remembered we were getting the Rivera and that he probably was going to take more updated pictures. We got his car and we were off to the park that was about 15 minutes away. Jillian was really excited, this little girl loves to run around with the wind in her hair. She loves her freedom since she is now fully mobile. Keith kept going to his car, I though that he was just being paranoid with it, like he is with his other baby (MR2). I took Jillian around the park, went down the slides with her and helped her climb up the steps. Keith came out with the camera, was taking pictures of Jillian, or at least attempting to. He went back to the car as I was chasing after Jillian and brought out this plastic bag. I came out and sat down at the picnic table. He took out some portable speakers and a cd player, he told us that he was going to play some music to dance to. Instead he started serenading me with a special song and I thought "OMG, he's going to propose!" After a few lines, he started telling me all these sweet things, that I wish to keep private. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. After asking him if he was really sure and a few tears I said, "YES!"

I know almost every girl has this dream image of their engagement ring.  I guess I'm not like every other girl, I had no clue what I wanted my ring to look like. I had a fantasy image, but I knew I would never get my 3 carat emerald cut platinum diamond engagement ring, that ring starts out at 10K alone.  Keith and I had gone to several different stores and browed the web to see what I liked and what I didn't like.  After that point he was on his own.  He's bought me jewelry in the past, and all of it has been beautiful, so I trusted his judgment on this important piece.  When he open that little black box, I was stunned.  My engagement ring is perfect for me, its not too small and not too big.  It's a little over a carat total, with the center piece being slightly over a half carat.  My center stone is a princess cut, with 5 solitaire diamonds on each side.  I love how it catches the sunlight!  Keith did an AMAZING job picking out my engagement ring! I love him!

I love love shoes!  When I started thinking about my big day shoes I knew I needed something with a huge heel (I'm 5" 1 and FI is 6" 4) to attempt to make us look somewhat less awkward and that I wanted some bling!  I was going through fellow brides bios and I saw this pair and I knew that I had to have them.  FI caught me drooling over them and was shocked by the price.  They were 100 bucks!  He thought it would be outrageous to spend that much on a single pair that I would probably only wear one day.  I researched and researched until I found a site that had them 10 dollars cheaper and then I found an online coupon for 20% off plus free shipping!  I got them for 70 which is much more reasonable!

The online's description:

Liz Rene by Benjamin Walk Women's TATIANA

Whether you're out to catch the bouquet or catch serious attention, the Tatiana platform sandals from Liz Rene are all you need. Dyeable satin upper in a slip on dress sandal style with a square open toe. Pleated symmetrical vamp features center-tied rhinestone embellished straps. Smooth lining and cushioned insole. Platform midsole, leather outsole, 3 1/2 inch heel.

They arrived today!!!! I am in love with them!!!

My old manager had mentioned that she had gotten married at the barn and I looked into early on, but then we decided that we were going to get married in Vegas, so I didn't give it anymore thoughts.  Then we looked at the budget and we decided to move it in state.  So I was drawn back to the barn again, this time they didn't have our orginal date open, but we decided to check on it anyways.  Once we stepped inside, I was in love.  I love how its so natural and open, it's a blank canvas.  They don't charge you to set up or clean up.  They only charge you when you're having fun!  You can bring in your own alcohol, which was a plus for us, and you can decide what caterer you like.  The silo acts as the bar, which is super cool.  We'll host our cocktail hour in the market square, which is outside in the back.  I loved that they have a gazebo that you can have your ceremony in, that's where we'll have our ceremony.  I'm so glad that I looked here!  The pictures were taken here on our scouting trip with my parents, another party was setting up for a wedding that was taking place later.

I work in a floral shop and my flowers are very important, but at the same time I don't want to invest so much money into them.  So finding something that I can compromise with has been extremely hard.  This is what I've been thinking right now, but may change....

My bouquet

I will be doing cream roses, yellow mini cala lillies and white alstromeria.

The Bout.

Yellow mini cala lillies  (I love the wrapped bear grass!)

The Bridesmaid's Bouquet

I haven't decided which one I like more.  The flowers will be yellow.

FI's only request when it came to my hair on our wedding day was for it not to be all up.  For me that is kinda hard, but when I started looking at all the hair inspiration pictures, there were so many down and half up dos that I love.  I knew that I wanted to have a hair flower of some sort and that I wanted to wear a cathedral veil for the ceremony. 

The hair flower that I bought from fellow PWer Sparkle

I am in love with this hair flower, it was everything I hoped it to be.  It matches my dress perfectly.  I will wear this with my hair side swept on the right side and all my hair will be soft, loose curls.

This is my veil inspiration

Kohler44

I've never seen a bride with her hair all down and a veil.  I love this look!

I knew I would do our invites instead of ordering them.  I used 2 50% off coupons at Michael's to get the Brides damask invites.  When I opened the box I wasn't impressed.  There was just too much white for my liking, I wanted more color.  So I took on this huge task of lining them with yellow and black cardstock.  I had to hand trim all of them =(  I wanted to add another splash of color with the ribbon instead of the black that is included.  Again another trip to Michael's and FI found this perfect yellow damask ribbon and it was only $1!  I grabbed everyone that they had.  FI wanted to bling out the invitation slightly, I wanted it make it really sparkly, but he won.  I looked on line and saw these gorgeous square jewels, but they were $4 a piece and that wasn't in the budget.  I was looking aroudn Joanne's one morning and found a bag of 52 square jems for $3, they were perfect!  I used my cricut machine to make the  "M" and the swirl on the bottom.  And then I ordered return address labels from vistaprint saying "The soon to be Mrs. Lastname".  So here they are! I am so proud of them and I can't wait for my guests to see them!

BEFORE

AFTER