ENGAGEMENT
Our photo that we sent to the newspapers. Yep, we're goofy.
My favorite engagement photo. We took these ourselves by setting up a digital camera with a timer on a stool in the living room.
This was our original idea for our engagement photos. We had won some free tokens for Chuck E. Cheese's and we spent most of them at a photo booth that draws your pic. We didn't go this way because the quality wasn't high enough to print in the newspapers. But they're a great keepsake and I love the one where he looks freaked out and I'm all calm. :)
My engagement ring!
LOCATIONS AND PROPS
We're getting married at the beautiful Heritage Hill chapel.
Inside the chapel. I really like how simple, white, and open it is on the inside.
The Ts (first letters of our first names) that we will hang on the railing outside the chapel.
Our reception site in the Carriage Room at the Riverside Ballroom.
Outdoors winter pic of Riverside Ballroom.
We created a card box out of bird cage.
Our two froggies that will either be on our cakes or near them. What's the best about this is that the girl is holding something close to a tiger lily and the boy is wearing a tails coat like my fiance will.
THE DRESS
My wedding dress by Symphony Bridal from Bridal Beginnings in Green Bay. Everyone there has been so nice! I'm wearing a huge crinoline in this pic, which I have decided against for the big day. It'll be hot enough in August.
The ever-popular mirror photo shot of the dress.
Detail of the skirt.
First fitting of dress. Please disregard my silly face. I'm not a morning person. :-P
Back of dress but I think I'm going to use a longer ribbon down to the train and then cut it later when we bustle. :-P
The underbustle I like. I think I got this from from Jess&Craig. Unfortunately I don't have any pix of this cuz the seamstress had to fix it and I didn't have a camera for my final fitting. She couldn't get it to look quite like this but it's close.
THE TUX
He chose a tails coat from DuBois. He will be wearing a black vest and bowtie.
HAIR & ACCESSORIES
Again, excuse my early-morning glare. Hair trial at JC Penney salon in Green Bay. She did a great job!
With the tiara I will wear for the reception..
After I bought the above tiara, my grandma offered her headpiece that she wore for her wedding day. It's not really my style but for some reason, I love it. I feel honored to wear such a keepsake. I reveiled it and I'm going to use it for my ceremony. Later, I'll change into the other with no veil.
My "lucky" garters, $16, Cathy's Concepts from Wedding by Taylor. Ruby, rhinestone, pearl drop earrings for $7, same place.
I fell in love with these red shoes at Younkers.
I was going to wear these for the reception but I don't think I'll be able to dance in them. So they'll just be on hand in case my feet start to hurt.
BRIDESMAIDS & PARENTS
My three beautiful sisters above will be my bridesmaids. Two friends, not pictured, will be my matrons of honor.
Bridesmaid dress by Roberta Bridal close-up but it will be cranberry.
Similar dress from Roberta in the cranberry color.
Bridesmaid gift.
Since we're doing pageant-style bouquets for the real deal and most people wonder how to carry the bouquet, I made these practice ones with my leftover silks flowers and licorice whips. They will be part of their gift.
I just love my mom's dress and had to share it. My sister is doing the holding honors.
Parents' gifts. I'm taking the frames to get engraved. The story behind the packages: I will be including a card that says "Your Journey Together has led to ours. Here are some sweet souvenirs ..." The bottom box has chocolates and candies from Beernstein's in Manitowoc, where we grew up. The next has Meltaways from Oak's in Oshkosh, where we went to college. The last has cookies and chocolate from Seroogy's in the Green Bay area, where we live now.
FLOWER GIRLS
My cousin Savannah, his cousin Kaelyn and the flowergirl dress.
The jewelry and makeup gifts for my flowergirls, age 8.
Flower-girl basket Take 2! This one turned out so much better.
First try on flowergirl basket. I didn't like it a few days later.
Their hair wreaths are all done! They are going to look so cute!
PAPER
The invites are finally done! I know I wasn't as nearly as crafty with these but I am happy with the way they turned out. They are very nontrad and fit us well.
Close-up of an earlier version of the froggie invite.
The program fans I made and the basket.
Detail of the program fans. The covers took me forever but with lots of generous help, the assembly took only a few hours.
We're doing CD favors with songs from independent bands including FI's.
We're using old records from St. Vincent's thrift store by bands that hold some significance for us. They'll go in a basket with some silver permanent markers. Later, we'll mount them for a cool keepsake. :) Hopefully 3 records will be enough for 100 people?
CENTERPIECES & FLOWERS
Two of my silk centerpieces. Camera angle makes them look taller than they are.