To My Fellow PW'ers: I'm sorry that now I'm going to have to make a large part of my bio private! I'm hearing and seeing my ideas pop up into my friends' weddings and I know it's because they've seen my bio. I'm sorry to all of those who haven't seen it, just add me as a friend and I will be more than happy (if you are an active member of PW) to add you!

 How I Met My FI

Jay and I met at work, although people say that interoffice romances aren't good and can be extremely unprofessional our relationship was the exact opposite. So here I go... I was in a relationship with another co-worker and everything was going well or so I thought then suddenly I got dumped (the only time that's ever happened... lol) and my world was destroyed. I didn't know how to cope to I started dating (just dating I promise) and I had the worst dates ever. This one guy even took me to a swingers club, THAT WAS NOT WERE IT WAS AT! So I decided that I was not going to create fate I was going to let it happen. I was planning my 21st Birthday and threw myself into that. I heard through the grapevine that a guy at work had a crush on me. I paid no attention and continued with my I'mNotDatingAnyoneBecauseThisGuyRuinedItForEveryone kick. I decided to invite co-workers to my birthday party and thought it would be cool to invite the guy that I heard liked me.

I gave him his invitation in the hall and he asked to take me for drinks ahead of time. I said sure as a obligatory way but I was unsure because I had so many other things to do ahead of time. Well needless to say Jay and I didn't meet up for drinks because I had to much to do and he didn't show up to my birthday party either (jerk!). The following week is my best friend Johnie's birthday so I threw him a party too. Well all of the supervisors that we work with including Jay decided to crash our birthday celebration. So to sum it all up in a nice short little story I got wasted and so did Johnie because the drinks did not stop flowing. Johnie threw up in the club which got us kicked out, I was unable to drive home to Jay drove me home. He picked up the very next day to take me to get my car that we had to leave in midtown and the rest is history.

We've been together ever since! I love him with my whole heart and soul and wouldn't trade him for the world. I can't wait for the day that we all (he has a daughter) become a family. Oh! I can't leave out my furboo... Bella she's my sweet puppy!

If you haven't gotten your dose of thenewmrs.elepano you can totally check me out by following me on my blog Southern and Smothered! It's really fun and enlightening... I'm not plugging just saying! ;D

FI and I have had so much difficulty with losing the first e-ring that I got. I liked the first one but I didn't love it as much as I love my new one. She's a beauty and I'm so glad that I got the opportunity to have the ring of my dreams. And without further ado here's my gorgeous pink stunner:

I just love the fact that she's an asscher cut diamond with a halo, that's what I've always wanted and I couldn't be happier.

Everyone loves ring shots and I'm no exception. The first set of pictures that I took of my e-ring were pretty pitiful so I thought that I would take some new ones. I added my late FFIL's watch just as a bit of nostalgia and as an accessory:

FI really loves his father's watch and since he is no longer with us I thought it would be cool to include in my bio. This is he watch that he'll most likely wear on our wedding day!

I'm totally excited that my wedding has been moved to Las Vegas, I feel as though I'm taking control of my wedding again. I am now having the small and intimate wedding with retro styling that I've always wanted. I'm completely inspired by the wedding images below, the photographer really captured every ounce of my imagination:

There have been so different invitations that have tickled my fancy but there was something about the invitation below that really made me fall head over heels in love. There are going to be some changes before the final product but here is a mockup of what I'm looking for.

The Invitation:

Sarah Goff better known as GoingtobeGoff here at Project Wedding designs some of the most fantastic programs, invites, and miscellaneous wedding goodies. I came to Sarah graveling because I attempted to DIY my own STDs and it needless to say I needed professional assistance. Working with Sarah is like working with yourself, I mean honestly I felt like she was reading my mind majority of the time. Whatever questions I asked she answered and went above and beyond her duties to help me! I cannot wait to write her Vendor Review because she is so much more than a vendor to me.

I am so thrilled to see the final product:

The STD:

I looooove big hair! For me size does matter, the bigger the better. I guess that's because I'm a southern girl and would tease my hair daily! I know.... so stereotypical! I found some pictures of some of my hair idols or pictures of hair that I like ... a lot!

First are pictures of soul singer Duffy! I love how she wears thick dark eyeliner with falsies not to mention her enormous bump!

Below of pictures of classic beauty Brigitte Bardot. Can you say really big hair? It's sky high and I can't wait to get my hair that high!

Gosh I miss this Lindsay Lohan (tear):

I love Nicole Richie! Everything about her is awesome to me... I have to have a hair back up in case my hair isn't long enough!

For as long as I can remember I always dreamt of having a bouquet full of roses but then suddenly like a lightening strike I discovered peonies. I'm loving the feeling that peonies give on... that romantic and dreamy feeling; however I'm still a sucker for roses and will most likely sticking with tradition.

I really want a pop of color in my bouquet, it's not that I don't like traditional white bouquets but I really want a punch of color there to break with tradition. These bouquets are definitely want I would like to see on my big day.

I love FI very much but I know that he does have his limitations, mostly when it comes to dressing up. He loves his jeans and tees but I refuse to allow him to wear those on our wedding day so below are some pictures of what I want him to look like. Of course everything is inspired by one of my all time favorite gentlemen Mr. James Bond:

FI says that he's not wearing a skinny tie but I love how this tie compliments this particular tux. IMO I think that this model looks much hotter with the skinny tie.

When I picked this tux out FI immediately began to hem and haw about how much he liked this one. Of course he likes it because there's no tie ... but he will be wearing a tie for our wedding... no if's, and's, or but's about it!

Mmmmm is all that I can say about this tie is I love it!

This gorgeous Burberry tie is from Bloomingdale's... it's simply divine and I would love to see FI in it!

So while hunting for inspiration for my retro wedding I stumbled across this gorgeous cake:

The Retro Bakery in Las Vegas is the wonderful creator of this cake and I can't wait to book them to do our cake! :D

These are pix from the second PW G2G.. the first was with just me and lcornish1 (I love her)! The second G2G was at the Cafe Adobe on Westheimer in Houston this past March! I had such a blast with all the girls. I can't wait until we get together this Friday (05.14.10) but until then enjoy!

(from left to right): thenewmrs.elepano, jennypaul87, ms_elbony, and bridezilla101610

Notice my hand was the only one without my bling... booo... my new e-ring hadn't arrived yet but she's here now and dying to get a PW ring pic!

My original thought process has been the same through out all of this but because I look at so much inspiration I always want alter or adjust my vision. However, when I found these inspiration boards I just knew that they are just what I'm looking for!

Thanks to the girls at Sweet and Sassy we now have FSD's wedding hair. Her hair is always in a ponytail partially because she can't control it any other way but the girls at Sweet and Sassy put it in the cutest bun I've seen in a long time and I'm so thrilled. This style is mature without being too mature, although I would like to see it cleaned up a little and possibly a braid instead of a flat twist.