Getting you up-to-date!

Matt and I have been dating for over 3 years now. He is my best friend, and I can not wait to marry him! He is the best thing that's happened to me, and really helped me change my life for the better. He is what completes me. Matt is always encouraging me spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I could not ask for a better person to spend the rest of my life with!

Matt and I got engaged on December 7, 2008. He took me to see the Christmas lights at Opryland Hotel, and on our way to leave he proposed to me! How exciting! I knew it was coming, but didn't realize I'd still have such a big reaction. It was so cold, I really didn't know what I'd do, but it was the best proposal ever! Matt loved it!

We're getting married Sunday June 7, 2009 on the front porch of Oakland's House Museum which is a historic mansion in Murfreesboro that was caught in the middle of crossfire during the Civil War. It will be an outside wedding at 4:30 p.m. The reception will be immediately following in Maney Hall of the same venue.

What I envision it to be will be great and exciting fun for everyone, but we'll see if my vision of the wedding and reception comes true through the decisions I have to make. I have really been bad at making decisions for the wedding. I didn't realize how hard it really was. I do intend on dancing, if that's all the turns out of it, so be prepared for that at least!! :)

What I have completed so far for the wedding is minimal. I'm nowhere where I wish I could be in the planning and decision-making. Our colors are black and hot pink! One of the very first things Matt and I accomplished was securing our photographer, Angie Gambill. I'm very excited to see her work and potential as she captures our big day. We had a time and a half trying to get our venue, and deciding if it was where we really wanted to get married. But we finally got it in the beginning of January. I asked my grandfather to walk me down the aisle since he is and has been such an important part of my life since I was born. My parent's got divorced when I was 2 years old, and my mom, sister, and I moved in with him and my grandma. We lived with them for 6 years until my mom re-married to my stepfather. My Pop, as we call him, helped raise me and gave me everything I ever needed. I love him so much, and can't imagine anyone to give me away!

A family member is going to be doing our floral arrangements in an attempt to save money. She does amazing work with artificial flowers, so I can't wait to see what she has in store for us! I love several types of flowers, but I think I have narrowed my choice down to a couple of them, and we'll see how well they look together when it gets a little warmer and we can put them together!

The next thing we marked off of our to-do list was the groom and groomsmen's tuxedo's. I was not thinking it would have been as easy as it really was. I didn't know what to expect when we walked into Street Tuxedo here in Murfreesboro. I saw a tie that had our colors on it, but wasn't all that enthralled with the actual tie. But, I decided to see what it looked like with everything together. I absolutely loved it, and so did Matt. I couldn't believe how easy it turned out being. The groomsmen will be wearing the same thing with the ties that I first picked out, Matt will be wearing the same tie just in the white form. My grandfather will also be wearing the same tux, but in the black form. I can't wait to see the wonderful men of my life in their dress up clothes! I'll be the one CRYING and in white! haha.

My mom and I have been in search for the perfect linens for the tables... needless to say, we haven't found them. YET! We found a perfect idea for them in an idea pamphlet at Hobby Lobby. You'd think that if they gave you the idea, they'd have the fabric. Wrong. But, we're not giving up! :)

So, the most stressful part of this whole wedding planning has been the search for the perfect dress! The bridal shops were no help in my stress, because I knew I was running way out of time to order a dress if I needed to, they kept reminding me that I needed to hurry up. I do not like to be rushed, so that tore me away from buying any dress from some of the places we went to. I absolutely DO NOT recommend ever going to David's Bridal in Murfreesboro. They are outrageous on prices, and are very pushy when it comes to making a sale. The whole experience is supposed to be a fun and exciting one, but they made me upset and mad. Their customer service is not what it should be, and so I completely crossed them off my list. Fortunately, I found my dress at one of the first places I went to to try on dresses, and went back to try it on and actually ordered it last Thursday! So, that made a major relief in my life! It's not going to be here until April 15th, so hopefully it comes in on time so that I can actually get it altered on time!

That's all I have done so far, it's a good START... but I only have 4 months to figure out the rest. Hopefully with the family and friends, and amazing bridal party I have, I can get it done in no time!