&nbs p;  

 

Cliff and I grew up in beautiful Silverton, CO (a small town of about 400 people). Our parents still live only one block away from each other. Cliff and I were not childhood sweethearts (although he says he's been in love with me since he was 14 - how sweet is that!) and we went separate ways after high school. We reconnected in 2006 during Hardrockers (an annual hard-rock mining competition), and we just can't get enough of each other!

October 26, 2007:

It was a full moon on Halloween weekend and we were both in costume on our way with his sister to a dance at the Bent Elbow saloon. I was dressed as "JLo" and Cliff was dressed as my gangsta "Vato Lover".  Silly!

I was all wound up because Halloween is my favorite holiday; but Cliff was acting very strange...

We parked the car, got out, and Cliff told his sister that we would just meet her inside - she didn't know what was going on but she reluctantly went inside by herself.

So there we were standing under the full moon and hugging because it was freezing out! I kept laughing and asking him what was wrong, and he kept saying nothing. I thought maybe he didn't like his costume or something...

Then he nervously said, "I love you so much, and it's your favorite holiday, and it's a full moon..." He got down on one knee and said, "Babe, will you marry me?" I laughed and said, "Are you for real? Of course I will!" I wanted to cry because he was so sweet and nervous, but all I could do was laugh because we looked so ridiculous in our costumes!

We went inside after a couple of minutes, the place was filled with family and friends. I tried to play it cool and see if anyone noticed the rock on my finger (this lasted about 10 seconds) and then I jumped up and down and yelled over the music "We're Getting Married!". It was a surprise for everyone, and we partied all night long. It was like an instant engagement party!

We took these with our tripod LOL - it was raining and so cold, but the fall colors were so pretty!

                                        &nbs p;  

 

The ceremony and reception will be held at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area in Silverton, CO. This place is perfect because it is also where Hardrockers is hosted, and it is just across the river from both of our parents' houses. The views are not too bad either... :)

The ceremony will be outside and will be the most "formal" event of the day, followed by a HUGE casual bbq that will be partially catered by one of the local restaurants (we have over 350 people on our guest list already - we literally are inviting half the town!). The reception tables will be inside and outside, the inside tables being the most "decorated".

So it's kind of a strange mix of formal and casual, but the important part is that all of our friends, family and people we care about will be there to share in a celebration of our love, so no matter what it's bound to be a good time!

This is our venue!  In the winter it serves as a small ski area, but in the summer all the equipment inside the building is cleared out.

This is the main room in the building.  This is where the tables will all be set up and the DJ.  After we eat we will move some tables out to make room for more dancing!  I'm going to strand lights all along the open rafters.

This is the smaller room in the building, I'm going to set up the guestbook, photowall, and memorial table in this room!

The upstairs area, this is where I will get ready!

View from one of the decks toward the building, this is where we will set up the buffet line and drinks:

Looking off one of the decks towards the ceremony area. 

It will be a grass meadow filled with wildflowers in June!

Black, charcoal, deep red, firery red, white, black/white damask  :)

I'm planning on buying my roses in bulk and then DIY for hand-tied bouquets, pomandors, centerpieces, etc.  I L-O-V-E the look of the bouquet tied with bear grass!  I'm also crazy for the shepherd hooks down the aisle, with alternating pomodores and lanterns (the kitschy mason jars are a must!).  It's going to be a lot of work to DIY, but one of the groomsmen's sisters is a floral designer - so I'll have a pro on my side!

I was going to DIY for our save the date postcards with cardstock and rubberstamps... but then I discovered www.printsmadeeasy.com and designed these!  I got 300 postcards, printed front and back, with a glossy front for $45.  It ended up being way easier and cheaper to go through them!

(ignore the weird dotted lines - it's a screenshot while I was in design mode!)

Front:

Back:

My dad's girlfriend is a graphic designer and has generously offered to make our invitations!

Here is a rough draft of the one I chose!

The end result will have a red satin ribbon tied around it (and will be much higher resolution LOL), and a red envelope!

RSVP card:

wedding website insert (business card to fit into wallet)

Actual Invites:

this is our topper:

I'm going to get the stencils for this design from www.designerstencils.com (LOL excuse the cartoony mockup!): 

So I'm lucky enough to have a friend that makes cakes as a hobby - she's so talented I don't know why she doesn't do it for a living!  The brass kissing bunnies as a cake topper are a must (FI and I have 2 pet bunnies named "Kooky" and "Crazy"), the brass ones are ~2.5" tall.  I love these beautiful cakes, I'd like something in black and white damask to match the rest of my deco.

This is our cake serving set (from Hobby Lobby)

For the groom's cake we are going to do a vanilla cake that is colored "blaze orange" and covered in a Realtree camo fondant.  It will have this "happy hunting couple" topper on it too, it came with interchangable flags so we will use the one that says 'Just Married'!  Cheezy :)

FINISHED:

My letters for the cake table:

My votive covers for part of the centerpiece:

Find DIY instructions here!!!: http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/diy-wedding-challenge-damask-votive-holder-covers

 these were blogged! (see below)  shown on  http://theeventessentials.net/ under "crafts"

My DIY red/black pomanders! (THESE ARE FOR SALE $60 for 4 pomanders)

My DIY red rose pomanders:

My FlowerGirl Pomaders:

 My Card Box:

• Damask Ring Bearer Pillow (inspiration below - but with a different button)

Inspiration:

Actual DIY:

• Damask Flower Girl Baskets (inspiration below from etsy - but different buttons and no pink obviously)

Inspiration:

Actual DIY:

•  Damask Guestbook (inspiration below from etsy - but different button and ribbon setup)

inspiration: 

actual DIY:  

• Memorial vase and frame (thanks kohler44 for the words!!!):

In Loving Memory

Today, candles are lit to remember those who left us too soon, but not before gracing us with special memories only they could create. They have helped shape our character, mold our spirits and touch our hearts. We know that they are with us in thought and in spirit today and always. We love them and miss them very much.

I'm going to get a wooden dowel or a piece of quarter trim and either staple or glue the ribbon to it, then wrap the ribbon around to drape.  Then I'm going to print out pics of FI and I when we were kids and glue them to cardstock and then to the ribbon.  I'll put myself on one side and FI on the other, then in the middle I'm going to do pics of the both of us now.

Here is one of FI when he was little, isn't he so cute?!?  :)

Here is one of me LOL:

This is a mock-up of what our favors will look like.

The mini hot sauce bottles will have either a red or black cap with an opposite colored ribbon

The pouches have 3 Werther's Originals in them - they shine like little gold nuggets when you open them :)

I also made some matchboxes

and bubbles!!  :)

Red roses with lily grass

packed very tightly

and this damask wrap

Black tablecovers, square damask charger (like in 2nd pic below but with black on white), 4" square glass vase filled with red roses, red petals and clear glass gems scattered, 4 votive candles covered with the damask print.

                                            .

This is my plan for the centerpiece - but the roses and petals will be real so they'll be a bit darker than the silk ones shown here  :)  Oh and the charger will be white on black (opposite of this one)

my trial with real flowers (12 roses in a 4"x4" square vase)

with water gel beads:

with water gel beads and a glowstick:

I have been growing my hair out and would like to do something like this:

photo on left borrowed from http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/

but with a double row headband and one of these on the side!

I decided on this lovely set from www.1928.com, it looks great with the detailing on my dress!

I'm going with a very dark and bold bracelet, also from 1928

Here are some other great jewelry sites:

• www.hautebride.com
• www.glamforless.com
• www.czfantasy.com 
• www.glitzs.com/
• www.whiteaisle.com
• www.emitations.com
• www.annabellagio.com

I'm using this beautiful flower brooch made of enamel and gold, with a little blue crystal in the center.  My great-aunt bought it for her mother (my great-grandmother) with the first money she ever made when she came to the US from France.  My gramma had kept it after their deaths and passed it on to me with a little note explaining it.  She was very good about putting notes with our family heirlooms.

So, it's probably close to 100 years old if not more!  :)

You have to be a friend to see the one I chose!  :)

So I finally decided on a dress by Alfred Angelo.  Mine will be white with black trim.

I chose my dress for a number of reasons:

• I like the way it fits my body
• The train is not too long
• It won't pick up every leaf and grass blade when I walk
• It has optional straps if I need them when I am dancing like a madwoman
• It is well within my budget
• I can get the color combination that I want  :)
• It isn't overly embellished or scratchy
• Plus the first time I saw this dress was last year when a friend of mine tried it on.  I secretly thought to myself, "I hope she doesn't order it because I really like that!" (and she didn't - woohoo!).

UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IT'S ALREADY HEEEEEEEEEEERE!!! 

(looks a bit weird b/c it's pinned for alterations - and the light sucks, and I need an upper-body workout, and I need a tan LOL!)

I think my jewelry will be perfect! (ignore my incredibly unphotogenic self please)

Shoe whore!!! LOL

I LOVE these (I have them in burgandy too)

So I'm thinking: black shoes, dazzling red pedicure ,

and cherry red crinoline...   

I ordered this pre-colored one from www.bridalpetticoat.com for $50

My dress already has a crinoline built in, so an extra red one would probably look similar to this photo that dirty found and just peek out.

I put our initials in blue on the bottom of my heels  :)

I ordered my garter set off of www.etsy.com more specifically from PetereneDesign at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5110952

I HIGHLY recommend this seller - she was very accommodating to my special request, she shipped quickly and in sturdy packaging.

I also found the same pearl and silver buttons at a craft store, so I'm going to use them as accents on my DIY ring bearer pillow, flower girl baskets, and guest book!  :)

I designed this Kleenex box at www.mykleenextissue.com it's really easy and fun to do, and they cost like $5 a piece - so I ordered two of them!  I'm not doing bathroom baskets (venue restrooms don't really lend themselves to it) but this would be a perfect addition to one.

I'm playing around with these

I had some business cards made up from www.vistaprint.com (250 for freeeee!) to set out at the reception so people can upload their digi pics to one place. 

(these are screenshots in design mode, so they look a little weird with dashed lines 'n' stuff)

Front:

Back:  

and a pashmina (black for the bridesmaids, and red for the maid of honor)

I bought some of these cards (the BM ones look the same but obviously different wording) from www.greetingcarduniverse.com

and I'm printing this poem on vellum and then glueing it to the inside:

The day, the dress
The bride, the groom
The joy, the tears
Will all come so soon

Professing true love
To my husband-to-be
With family and friends
All watching me

I hope the sun will
Be shining down,
Keep your fingers crossed
That I'll fit in my gown…

But there's just one more thing
that there needs to be…
and that's to have you
Standing with me!
(Name), Will you be my Maid of Honor?

We are renting from Men's Warehouse the "Tuscany" vest and euro tie, we aren't doing full tuxes

My dad, my brother, and the 8 groomsmen will all be in Black

The 2 "Best Men" will be in Apple Red

and FI will be in White!  :)

Our Ringbearer is FI's nephew (best man's son) "Marek"

he will have a little black suit, with a custom damask tie (from www.etsy.com seller "MeandMatilda" - totally awesome seller!!!)  and little Converse sneakers

Our first Flowergirl is my BFF/MOH's niece "Little Selene"

 here she is last year at our friends' wedding 

Our second flowergirl is FI's niece (bridesmaid's daughter) "Rylan"

The flowergirls will both be wearing the same dress

Please face each other and hold hands, so you may feel the gift that you are to one another.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are hands that will work alongside your as together you build your future.

These are hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are hands that will hold you when fear or grief wracks your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And, lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Rain, rain, go away! Don't come on my wedding day!

... but just in case you do - I will be ready!  Ha!

our ceremony is outside whether it's rain or shine, so I picked up these little dandys to help with my "plan B"

a Boston pocket umbrella:                and some damask print galoshes!

and my cardigan with DIY blinged out buttons!!

I don't have a pic of it yet but it is similar to this one:

white gold with princess cut in channel inlay with round pave in the sides

 and FI finally decided on this tungsten band, he wanted something 'cool'  :)

our ceremony programs are cootie catchers!

cruddy cell phone pic; I'll post a better pic later  :)

• aspirin
• antacid
• bandaids
• safety pins
• needle/thread
• breath mints
• gum
• nail file
• clear polish
• tide pen/fabric wipes
• dryer sheets/anti static spray
• hairspray
• bobby pins
• face blotter sheets
• q-tips
• cotton balls
• deoderant
• eye drops
• white chalk
• tampons
• contact info list
• earring backs
• superglue
• lint roller

other things to have when getting ready

• water
• snacks
• music mix

I am using these thank you cards

and inserting a photo of us with my diy Thank You parasol: similar to this photo

 (inspired by HMM of course!)

WINE BOTTLE LABELS:

courtesy of jamichael (thank you!!!)

WINE GLASS CHARMS:

I used Shrinky Dink paper to create my own custom wine glass charms :)  They were fairly easy to do, the hardest part was having the patience to cut out 22 of them (for entire wedding party) and punch holes in them.

on a standard 1" wine charm ring (the other beads are black but they are hard to see)

here is a before/after shot of another one:

  bought them leftover from alisonandjake!

"My Future's So Bright - I Gotta Wear Shades"

lol

these are going to go with my dress perfectly!  from www.endless.com Sunbelt Optic, style "Halo"

these are 3/8" wooden dowels that I drilled (with a Dremmel tool) a hole through the tip and then threaded a skinny ribbon and a little bell and tied into a bow!  The kids are gonna love them!

I got the snake chains and the charms at Hobby Lobby.  Each necklace cost about $5 to make (with all the supplies on sale).  The charms made it so easy to personalize for each of my friends!

They are also getting a pashmina, a brooch, a makeup bag, a DIY personalized mason jar beer mug, a DIY personalized wine glass charm, and a DIY mix CD.

We got each of the groomsmen a spring-loaded money clip from www.theknot.com , I had them engraved with their full first names at a local shop (gotta spread the $ love).  They are also getting a DIY personalized mason jar beer mug, a DIY personalized wine glass charm, and a DIY mix CD.

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/soon2bmrsjaramillo-ceremony-pics

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/soon2bmrsjaramillo-cake-pics

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/aw-more-non-pro-pics-pic-heavy

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/soon2bmrsjaramillo-gettin-jiggy-wit-it

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/vote-thank-you-photo

http://weddingsfresh.blogspot.com/
http://weddingbycolor.com/
http://weddingbee.com/
http://vintageglamblog.com/
http://flowerallie.blogspot.com/
http://theeventessentials.net/
http://stylemepretty.com/
http://www.polkadotbride.com/wp/
http://peoniesandpolaroids.blogspot.com/
http://offbeatbride.com/
http://glamourthis.wordpress.com/
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/
http://cakelava.blogspot.com/
http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/
http://alwaysabridesmaid.typepad.com/
http://throwtherice.blogspot.com/
http://bklynbrideonline.com/
http://www.kissthegroom.com/
http://www.blackandwhitedelight.com/
http://www.artoflove.com/blog/
http://www.oncewed.com/
http://www.i-do-it-yourself.com/
http://stupidweddingcrap.com
http://www.curbly.com/
http://www.banquetevent.com/wedding/misc/bande/lucky_in_love.asp

http://www.weddingchicks.com/

http://www.tinywaterblog.com/

http://www.mydiyweddingday.com/

http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/

http://bakerella.blogspot.com/

http://socialweddingandevents.blogspot.com/