The Wedding:

My wedding day has come and gone and some days I still can't believe it. Spent two years planning and it feels like it was done in a flash. It was the most wonderful day ever!!

Chad and I kept with tradition and did not see eachother until I walked down the aisle. He'll tell you that was easier for me than it was for him, lol. It didn't help that one of our groomsmen didn't show up until 3 minutes before the wedding was set to start...Chad was having minor anxiety, lol.

GETTING READY

DH helping DSS with his hair. He looked JUST like a mini-me of Chad!! Too cute.

Nick was the "master tie-er" and tied everyone's tie! Here he's helping one of the ushers.

And then they took a break.  (get it? Break? lol)

Don't work too hard there, fellas!

Pre-makeup with my ladies. These girls are the greatest friends someone could ask for! They were so helpful and so willing to be there for me! I love them so much and this day made me realize just how much.

Bridesmaid Britany making me pretty!!

My hair was simple but elegant and I loved it! My hairstylist joked that now it "looks like you have hair!" During the hair trial she was at a loss of what to do because it's so thin. But she worked her magic!! This is us standing around a little waiting.

aaaaaand the dress!! Yes...it did take 4 people to get me in this dress, haha.

Felt soooo pretty!!

So I forgot my garter and my wonderful sister-in-law ran into the house to find it.  Then the problem was I couldn't bend over to put it on. Enter Danielle to save the day!

THE GENTS

The boys :). Apparently, Chad was having an issue with the color order. Originally, I hadn't paid attention to the color of the ties and the order of the groomsman and I didn't have it in alternating colors. This apparently very much bothered Chad. Seth (groomsman) came in while I was getting make up done to ask if they could switch the order. Lia (bridesmaid) ended up fixing everything for me!

Gotta love family! Chad with our ushers (nephews) JJ and Jordan and dear step-son, Lance.

Get him!!!

Poor Lance got just a little bit trampled :(  But daddy saved the day!

THE LADIES

My wonderful ladies!!!

A little sass ;)

THE REVEAL

Chad's mom and dad.

My mommy with our ushers!!  What strapping young lads, huh?

Mike and Kristin

Ryan (my little brother) and Lia

Seth and Andrea

Nick and Britany

James and Heather

Best Man Jason (Chad's brother) and MOH Hayley (my sister)

Ring bearer (step son) Lance and flower girl (neice) Faith. I had fairy wings for her to wear because that was the look I was going for, however, she gave it a good college-try, but decided she felt a little silly.  See, when I asked her if she would do it it was 2 years ago and she was 7.  She's now almost 10 and felt a little too old for it.  Can't blame her.  She did try them on though!

That silly man is my daddy.

I have to explain this face.  See those stone steps? Yeah, not so great in heels when you are 7 months pregnant. So as my dad is helping me down he is saying, "so...what if I just let you fall?  that would be okay right?"  He's lucky I love him...lol!

First time he saw me. Apparently, he had been crying for a while before this. He was also pacing in the driveway before the wedding trying not to throw up. When Nick and Seth got to him on the aisle they both grabbed his butt to make him laugh. What great guys!

CEREMONY

very artsy picture of the ceremony set up. Those circle stones were where the bridesmaids were standing so their heels wouldn't dig into the grass. That was my mom's idea. Sometimes, she's a pretty smart cookie :)

That bracelet was borrowed from the sweet and wonderful abjevents85! i got sooooo many complements on it!!!

Hehe. He's telling me i'm pretty :)

PHANCY PHOTOS

Our photographer, Rachel Meyers of Mirror Image Photography, was absolutely amazing!! We nick-named her the Photo-Ninja. The entire day I swear I never knew where she was until i saw a flash! She does amazing work!! If you're in the Wisconsin area hit her up! She's willing to travel and is incredibly affordable and fast. We received our wedding photos within about 3-4 weeks!

So this face is because the entire time she's taking these pictures Nick is saying, "Chad, check my hands! Chad I'm not touching her! Chad, don't get mad!" because it looks like he's holding my butt.  He's not...but it was udderly hilarious!

Awwww, he gets all the girls, lol :)

Our wedding shoes! lol!!

WITH THIS RING

Chad and I

Chad and I met online.  He and I had both just gotten out of really REALLY Bad relationships with those who we both thought were "the one".  When those train wrecks ended, we both had no interest in finding someone else.  Chad sent me a message when he saw my profile just telling me he'd like to get to know me.  We talked online for a few weeks before I finally let him call me (I don't call guys).  We talked online and on the phone for months before I finally got the guts to go see him.  I went to Tomah, WI, to go rock climbing with him with the only thought being "I'll have a new friend because I'm not ready to open my heart up again".  Chad's thoughts were "damn, this girl is cute.  Wonder if I can take her home with me?" Yes, unfortunately Chad was "that kind of guy" at that time.  You know the type: with an agenda only wanting girls for one thing?  Well fortunately for me...I saw RIGHT THROUGH him.  He tried about 3 or 4 times to get me to go home with him and I continually said no.  Chad told me (later) that at that point I became a "challenge" to him.

Well we went another month or so with just talking.  Finally I stopped in Tomah on the way home from breaking up with someone in the Twin Cities (ok...to know the whole story i sound a lot less like a tramp.  I only "broke up" with him..meaning we weren't actually dating...i wasn't doing anything official at that time with anyone.) I stopped to see Chad and we talked and shared a kiss that literally made me step back.  I had never seen or felt fireworks like that before.  Chad said this was the point I was no longer a challenge.  He realized that he actually liked me now and wanted to be with me.  And let me tell you, he's a persistent bugger! lol. This made me see Chad in a whole new light.  A month or so later I finally decided we could date.  We started dating October 2, 2008.

The Proposal

Chad and I had been talking about getting engaged for months.  In fact, in March of 2009 Chad had put a deposit down on a ring at KAY'S and started making payments.  Well, a few months later I lost my job and we couldn't afford it anymore so he took it off layaway.  A few months later he talked to my mom and got my grandmother's wedding ring.  He was going to ask me with that.  The problem was that he is a HORRIBLE secret keeper when it comes to surprises and I figured it out.  I paniked because I realized (As selfish as it sounds) that in that moment I wanted my own ring.  Plus, my grandma's ring is saudered together and I thought that'd be weird.  So a few months after that, Chad went to his home town for a visit and told me he had stopped at a pawn shop, but wouldn't tell me why. For a whole week it bugged be and I didn't understand what he'd go to a pawn shop for (he only told me because he had to use his debit card for part of it and knew I'd see it on the statement).

On September 4, 2009, My best friend Britany "kidnapped me" for a while and we got ice cream.  She refused to tell me what was going on but kept checking text messages on her phone.  About half an hour later she was like "ok, time to go!"  So we left, with me still thouroughly confused, and she dropped me off at the apartment.  Chad was waiting outside.  Britany said, "Ok, I'll just stay out here" and pushed me in the door.  The apartment was pitch black except for a few candles and one that Chad gave to me.  He said, "you'll need this to read."  I looked on the wall and saw a trail of post-it notes and arrows that had sayings and quotes about love and words describing how much I mean to him.  I followed these things ALL OVER the walls of the apartment.  The problem was that Chad is a lot taller than me and had placed the post-its just high enough that I had to stand on my tip toes.  He giggled as I almost fell over numerous times (with a candle in my hand i might add...dangerous! lol).  Anyways, I get to the last one that's on the computer screen and it says "turn around".  I did and he was on one knee and he asked me to marry him.

The trail.

 The last thing I read before I became engaged!!!

The Ring!!!

The "theme" is: A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I put theme in quotes because I"m really just using it more as a guideline than following a strict theme.  The colors and alot of the background follow my theme, but the food isn't themed or anything.

MY decorations will consist mostly of ivy, violets, lillies and other "Woodsy" flowers, simple trees, silk butterflies and dragonflies, twinkly lights, candles, etc.

Colors i'm using for dresses are dark purple, royal blue, and jade green.  There is red in my dress so im going to put a little red into the bouquets.  The men will be wearing black dress shirts, black dress pants and shoes.  Their ties will match the color dress of the girl they're walking down with.  Also, my flower girl will wear a dress encompassing all the bridesmaid's colors with fairy wings and a flower crown. 

IF you have any ideas that might help, feel free to post them!  I'll take all the creative advice i can get!

The green actually comes from the IVY, not necessarily a specific color.

colors from www.dessy.com

INSPIRATIONS

Really, they're only "kind of inspirations" as in I like pieces of everything.  Nothing I found is EXACTLY what I'm looking for...but some of these things are fun! Tho, apparently NOBODY else has ever done inspirations with the same dark colors I'm using...so some of these are based on just one of the colors.

from: http://weddingnouveau.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/French-Fantasy-Wedding-Inspiration-Board-Wedding-Nouveau-copy.jpg

from:http://lh4.ggpht.com/_cwUPxwTrv08/SmFN3FXeLNI/AAAAAAAABK4/PoRhp3YSqnc/s800/lilac_lavender_violet_purple_wedding_inspiration_board_motif_560.gif.jpg

 I made this one! lol

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2609856063_8a9d5241b7_o.jpg

The Dress

Here it is!!  The dress!  My wonderful, amazing sister (and MOH) bought it for me when we found it at David's Bridal and found out it was one of their $99 dresses!!!  It was the first one I tried on and I fell in LOVE WITH IT.

 This is NOT the viel I am using, however.  I got one from www.victoriasveils.com that has thicker ribbon and rhinestones.  The ribbon has to be fixed, however because the color doesn't match.

 In DESPERATE need of a press, I know.  Plus for some reason I'm pushing it forward a little bit.  It's not quite THIS belled out.

 The back.  This is was sold me.  I LOVE THIS LOOK!

The Shoes

 The wedding shoes

That's right, my reception shoes are my Air Force Ones!!

Hair

I want to do a half-up half-down look.  My hair in naturally wavy (that's right..not straight, not curly...WAVY...soo obnoxious).  When I straighten my hair, it looks really thin...but it's hard for me to keep curls in because it's so fine.  Thus, half up, half down and the down part will prolly be curly/wavy/schrunchy (something to that effect).  Anyways, here is some of the inspirations I've found:

http://www.geldik.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ponytail_w_braids2.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/wedding%20hair%20half%20braided/fashionable_chic/wedding.jpg

ihearttim's wedding hair

Headpiece

Just a simple WalMart headpiece, but I felt it fit my theme fairly well.  I didn't want a traditional "tiara" and I really like the simplicity and sophistication of it.

Veil

 ordered from www.victoriasweddingveils.com but i have to have the ribbon changed because the red doesn't match the red in my dress :( <--sadface.

Bridesmaids

Here are the ideas for my bridesmaids dresses.  All three of these colors will be used, but the styles will depend on some things.  The thing is, i have 6 girls and want to use 3 colors.  Orginially when my color was just midnight blue, I was going to let them do whatever style they want.  But with 3 different colors now, I'm afraid with everyone in different styles AND colors it'll look like prom, lol.  So, LUCKILY all 6 of my girls fit 2 different body types so if we had to, we could get two different styles each in all three colors, or I might be able to luck out and everyone fits in one style.

Here she is! I ended up getting away with one dress for all 6 girls! So excited!

It's by Morilee! The model here is my sister and MOH Hayley. The dress is barely too small for her, but she still looks good in it.

So I made one of my itty-bitties try it on as well:

These are the colors we're using (minus the Teal...i decided I didn't like it as much as i originally thought):

IM SO EXCITED!!

Groomsmen

We are not doing tuxes as it's an outside wedding in September and my FI and his Best Man are the BIGGEST sweat-ers ever! lol.  We decided to go with Black dress shirts, black pants and black shoes.  They will were ties of the color dress of the bridesmaid they are walking with.

Flower Girl

To go with the theme, i'm dressing my flower girl like a fairy. Luckily, the mother of one of my BM's is a seamstress and owns a dress shop and agreed to make a fairy dress for the flower girl (who's also her granddaughter) because I couldn't find one I liked.  I gave her these pictures as inspiration:


For this one it was more the hangy-decorations I liked, lol

I liked the sleeves on this one.  i would NEVER have my 9 year old neice wear and entire "outfit" like this!!!

Ring Bearer

He'll look just like his daddy: black button up shirt, black pants, black shoes and a red tie.

With a Red tie and black matching pants.

The ceremony will be in Northern Wisconsin in the backyard of my parent's house (also, the house I grew up in).  My parents just had it re-done and now it's beautiful!

The altar will be back here, to the right of that giant pine tree

Some of the seating will be in this area

this is from the hallway-thing between the house and garage where the wedding party will walk in from.

 The view of the back of the house from where the alter will most likely be.

Special Touches
Here's my unity candle!! I ordered it from scrapsoflovebyjen from etsy.com.  OMG. So unbelievably amazing and affordable. She did my candle and two tapers for $18 plus about $11 or $12 for shipping. She was so open to personalized changes and was very quick to respond to questions.

"It's you. The one I want standing next to me when all my dreams come true. It's you."

Location

Our reception hall is The Taj in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  It's not much to look at from the outside but the inside is MASSIVE: very spacious with a huge dance floor.

 This is from the "bar" entrance which will be closed off the night of the reception so we don't get boozing party crashers, lol.  The tables, however, will not be these round ones, they will be rectangular.

The bar.  The door on to the left of the bar is the enterance guest will be using.

 To give you an idea of the massive-ness that is the dance floor

Centerpieces

I'll be putting two smaller additional vases with colored water and floaty candles. These are the main Vases. There will also be Ivy around all three vases.


 

Table Numbers

Our tables will not be listed by numbers, but by characters from A Midsummer Night's Dream.  In the entrance way we'll have a poster with everyone's name on it and which table they will be at.  Here are the name's of the tables:


Puck     Peasblossom     Oberon     Titania     Lysander     Demetrius     Hermia     Helena     Cobwebb     Mote     Mustardseed    Egeus     Theseus     Hippolyta     Nick Bottom     Quince     Francis Flute     Starveling    Tom Snout     Snug     Philostrate
and of course the HEADTABLE

BRIDESMAIDS

Hayley --> My Maid of Honor.  My amazing, wonderful "sister-in-spirit"  We've been best friends since we were 11.  We went to college together and lived together for years.  God made us best friends, because he knew our moms would never be able to handle us as sisters.

Britany --> One of my best friends from college.  We used to work together and she's amazing and wonderful and has the most beautiful soul of anyone i've ever known.  She truly gets me and has always made my life a little brighter.

Lia --> Pronounced like Leah and is a very wonderful friend from High School.  We actually started out hating eachother because she was dating my best friend.  He told me he wasn't allowed to hang out with me anymore because Lia didn't like it.  That turned out to not be true.  Now she's the greatest partner in chaos ever.

Andi --> I've known Andi off and on since we were like 9.  We kept running into eachother in sports and clubs.  She's one of my best friends and has moved far away :(  She's such a strong, independent woman.  i love that about her.  She is hilarious and wacky, and the best band-aid for a broken heart.

Kristin --> The newest member of our crew.  She's the "youngin" and she's the one we've missed our whole lives.  She's the most sophisicately immature woman I've ever known...And I'm so blessed to have met her.

GROOMSMEN

Jason --> Chad's brother.  He lives in Florida because he's smarter than those of us in the freezing tundra of Wisconsin.  He's hilarious and sweet...despite his slightly intimidating appearence.  Well, maybe no so much in this picture, haha.

James --> Chad's "brother in spirit".  They've known eachother for longer than any of us know or care to know, haha.  James' family became Chad's second family almost instantly.

Seth --> Chad's best friend from his howetown.  Chad and Seth together are so unbelieveable ridiculous my side has almost split from laughing at least a dozen times.  Seth is Chad's heterosexual lifemate and they are so similiar it hurts...literally.

Mike --> This is my friend turned boyfriend, turned jackass, turned ex-boyfriend, turned enemy, turned roommate, turned best friend again.  I love this kid.  He's the only person who I've totally kicked out of my life and he's clawed his way back in.

Ryan --> This is my little brother.  He's the coolest little brother ever...tho if you asked me that like 7 years ago...I would have said the exact opposite.

Nick-->Chad's "whore brother" from his home town.  During the "whore" part of Chad's life, lol, Nick was his partner in crime. He's a great guy with a big heart. Such a sweetheart!

FLOWER GIRL

Faith --> Andrea's daughter.  My "neice".  She's already agreed to wear the fairy wings! So excited!

RING BEARER

Lance --> Chad's son, my pride and joy.  He'll be five by the time he brings the rings down the aisle.  Hopefully he doesn't lose it or decide to play with it halfway through the ceremony, lol.

USHERS

Jordan aka: "Buddah" --> Chad's nephew.  Jason and Danielle's youngest son.

Jason aka: JJ -->Chad's nephew.  Jason and Danielle's oldest son.

BRIDE'S ATTENDENT

Danielle --> Jason's wife.  She's my soon to be sister-in-law.  She said I wasn't allowed to put her anywhere in the wedding where she had to have attention on her.  So i made her my Bride's attendent.  She didn't know what that was so i told her she was my "bitch for the day."  She was all for it. :)

SOUND TECH

Sarah --> Chad's niece, Jason's daughter.  She's wonderful and fun and awesome.  She's in charge of starting the music during the ceremony.  This may be interesting...don't let the hair fool ya, sometimes this girl is sooo blond...lol.

Alright.  Here's all the things that need to be done in the next year and 4 months.  I doubt they are in any kind of order other than the order in which they came to my head, lol.

Stuff for Bride/Groom

-Pick and purchase wedding dress

-Do a trial run of hair and makeup with hair dresser

-Something old, new, borrowed, blue

-Buy shoes and veil and reception shoes

-Decide on wedding look

-Purchase shirt, pants and tie for groom

-Have garter made

-Purchase throwing garter

-Have wedding scrapbook made

-Get wedding night lingerie

-Order wedding shoes

-Order wedding bra

-Buy fake nails

Wedding Party

-Pick and ask wedding party for their participation

-Pick bridesmaids dresses

-Buy bridesmaids gifts

-Buy groomsmen gifts

-Get flower girl costume

-Purchase items for RB, FG and usher gifts

-Put together RB, FG and usher gifts

-Make flower girl basket

-Buy ties for groomsmen

-Buy Ring bearers suit and tie

-Corsages and boutonnieres for Mothers and Fathers

-Make bridesmaids bouquets

-Make my bouquet

-Order bridesmaid's dresses

Pre-Wedding Stuff

-Get and make invitations

-Complete invites

-Address invites

-Send Invites, get postage

-Create and update website

-Have Engagement pics done

-Book photographer

-Make picture guest book

-Gift registry sign up

-Book rooms at the hotel

Ceremony

-Pick ceremony venue

-Get Marriage License 

-Get champagne (and/or OJ...still undecided, lol)

-Book officiant

-Get aisle runner 

-Have aisle made for ceremony

-Design monogram and place on runner

-Rent chairs for ceremony

-Have ringbarer pillow made

-Put together an altar for unity candle and tapers

-Buy decorations for ceremony (ivy chains, toole)

-Make reserved signs

-Buy unity candle, tapers and stand

-Buy wedding rings

Reception

-Set food with venue

-Purchase Beer for reception

-Pick reception venue

-Put down deposit on reception venue

-Purchase reception decorations (Ivy chains, tulle, lights, butterflies)

-Purchase and make center pieces

-Book DJ

-Set music with DJ

-Make bathroom baskets

-Cake chosen and designed

-Pick reception menu

-Purchase cake cutlery, bride/groom champagne glasses My FSIL bought me them as a wedding gift!

-Design guestbook and gift table

-Design cake table

-Buy and make letters for cake table

-Make card box

-Make table numbers

-Make seating chart poster

-Make picture collage

-Write vows

-Frame Vows

-Figure out grand march

I'm sure there's lots I'm missing, but this'll do for now! haha.  I'll add more as I think of them

Ceremony;;

Pre Ceremony Music: "I Just Can't Help Falling in Love with You" by UB40, "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, "More Than Anyone" by Gavin DeGraw, "Faithfully" by Journey

Processional of Wedding party and Bride: "Where Do I Begin" by Idinia Menzel

Exiting processional: "Ever After" by Carrie Underwood

Reception;;

Entrance of Wedding Party: "Follow Through" by Gavin DeGraw

First Dance: "God Blessed the Broken Road" by Rascall Flats

Father/Daughter Dance: "I Loved Her First" by Heartland

Dollar Dance Songs: "I Can Love You Like That" by all-4-One, "My Everything" by Brad Paisley, "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, "Little Things" by Brad Paisley, "God Must Have Spent" by NSYNC

Fun song with dance: "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

90's Throwback: "3am" by Matchbox 20, "Zuit Suit Riot" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies, "Stay" by Lisa Loeb, "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks, "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind, "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden, "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies

Cake Cutting: "How Sweet it is to be Loved by You" by James Taylor

Bouquet Throwing: ??

Garter Throwing: ??

They are here!!! And it only took the photographer about 2 weeks to edit them and get them out to me!  Here are the first 4 I was given and the rest are on their way as we speak!  Sooo excited! i think they turned out really fun, which was what I was going for!

Bridesmaids Gifts

I've made each of the girls (including my "bride's attendant" Danielle) a wine glass to use for the reception:

Each girl's name is on it

and the wedding date on the back

And their nicknames on the bottom :)

I also ordered each of them a bracelet with their names engraved on the charm

Groomsmen Gifts

I ordered each of them this mug with their name engraved on it and also we'll be getting the ties they will be wearing for the ceremony

Favors

We're doing simple candy boxes. We'll be filling them with after-dinner mints which are a definite favorite of FI and I.

Cake Topper
Nothing super extravegant...but I like it.  It's from Michaels...and it was on sale (God, I'm soo cheap, lol!)

Here are the inspirations I have for my pro pics. They will be taken along a wooded area with a white fence, on a dirt road and in a field.

From plumcrush01 and her amazing photographer Traci & Nic Turchin of Real Photography! www.realphotography.com

From nickisansonetti

From kaylynaclark