Picture time!

Our Engagement Party Invitation

" Will you be my... Bridesmaid" Cards

This is Shannon's special Maid of Honor card!

Another card for my junior Bridesmaid Lauren!

A few more of the cards all together!

I had so much fun making the engagement party invitations. I loved that picture Kate had taken of me and derek a few days after he proposed! I can't wait til our next photo session with her! Making the "will you be my Bridesmaid" cards was super fun too. I love being creative & with the help of my cricut machine.. anything is possible! I'm so glad all the bridesmaids loved their cards!

P.S... We found a place... more details later!!!

Update!

So I've spent the last few days on my favorite 3 websites: theknot , herecomestheguide & google.. I must say they are a bride to be's best friend. I've found 2 more places that we will be looking at on Wednesday! Also, the "will you be my bridesmaid" cards have all be sent and received by my bridesmaids! They all loved the cute handmade cards that asked them to be a bridesmaid! All of them said "YES" which made me excited even more than I already was! Also the engagement party invites have been sent! We invited just the bridal party and close family, which is still almost 45 people! I took pics of the handmade cards and invitations & will be posting those tomorrow if ya wanna check them out! So far things are moving right along & I'm enjoying every second of it!

Check another one off the list

Today was fun looking at places but not much of a success! We went to a place in Benicia called The Arsenal. The bar area was awesome but besides that there was nothing special about the place. It was very historical since it was built in the 1800's but to me it was just old and not my style. Since we were in Benicia we figured we drive by a few other places on our list even though we didn't have appointments. We went to the Benicia Yatch Club which is too small. We went to the Camel Barn which also was super neat but again to small. We also stopped by the Jefferson St. Mansion in Benicia which I really liked. There was a large lawn area for a ceremony and another large space for the reception. Were gonna look at a few more places but the Jefferson St. mansion is a possibility.

I have a feeling that Im going to show up at a place and just know that it is the one. So far I have not got that feeling whatsoever ( and neither has Derek or my parents ). With each place Im realizing what I want and dont want and going from there. For now Im staying optimistic knowing that the perfect place is out there with the perfect price tag!!!

3 weeks today!

It's already been 3 weeks since Derek proposed & the wedding planning is coming along. I think we've done a lot in 3 weeks actually. We know our wedding party, decided on a month (no date yet), and began looking at venues. The first venue was beautiful but not for us. On Wednesday we're checking out another venue in Benicia that looks awesome.... maybe come Wednesday we'll know where the wedding will be (keep your fingers crossed). I'm excited about finding a place to have the wedding and reception. I think once that is figured out all the other plans will fall into place.

Being engaged is a great feeling. To know that someone else wants to spend the rest of their life with you makes you feel like a million bucks!! I can't believe that a year from now Derek and I will be husband and wife! Oh I can't wait!!!!! :)

Check back on Wednesday and I'll let ya know how the place was!

Bling! Bling!

isn't it pretty? I am so in love with it! A few minutes after Derek proposed to me he asked if it was the ring I wanted? Smiling from ear to ear I said "It's perfect". Honestly, I never knew what my perfect engagement ring looked like until it was given to me!!! Derek did an awesome job (with the help of his sister, mom and grandma)... he sure is a keeper!

& the wedding planning begins!!!

Two weeks ago my life changed forever! The man I loved asked me to marry him and of course I said yes. Suddenly I went from being a girlfriend to a fiancee, from being boyfriend and girlfriend to an engaged couple. I suddenly began to be living in the future I had always dreamed for myself. I went from being just a college senior ready to graduate in december to a soon to be bride and wife. So much is happening and I must say I'm enjoying the ride!!! I wanted to start this blog to record my thoughts and share my plans for the wedding and our life together! Hope you enjoy!