I picked out our Invitations!

So I found my invitations today and oddly enough I'm going to be making them myself! I've always liked the idea of doing that but, honestly I don't have the time, now I'm going to make the time! I was standing in the aisle of "Michael's" and looked at the box of invitations I think for 10 mins before I said "yes, these are it". I walked around the store for 30 mins finding other items to include. I will have more posts as I make more progress. This is great for our budget! The box of 40 invites includes the invitation paper, response cards, envelopes, and the ribbon which cost $39.99 and I used a 40% and 50 % off coupon! I bought huge sheets of Martha Stewart paper to use as the lining in the envelopes which were on sale for $0.47 each. I bought a cute jar of, ivory shimmery flowers for $4.99 and sticky crystals in purple $3.99 and clear $1.99. Since the response cards are plain I bought a rubber stamp that has a similar swirl design as the invitations for $5.99 (that's with the 50% off coupon)! To add a special touch when we mail them out I bought a "M" embosser and silver wax at $4.99 each. I also bought a bone folder for $3.59 (used a 40% off coupon)! Once I figure out the cost per invite I will let you know. Best of all Drew loves them!


All I know is the invitations I have looked at online or in the catalogs weren't very impresive, and the ones I liked were way too expensive!

Losing the FALL

So, it's been really hard trying to plan this wedding for a few reasons. 1) Drew and I have been crazy busy with our new businesses and my other job 2) I feel like I'm by myself doing this and 3) I REALLY wanted a FALL wedding! I know the Spring will be beautiful, it's just when we made the decision to have the Spring wedding and not the Fall we thought someone would throw us a Fall Engagement party. We thought it would be silly if we throw ourselves one and since we're paying for the wedding we couldn't fit it in the budget. The autumn has just always been my favorite time of year and it's Drew's as well so it sticks losing it.

Drew and I even planted and grew our own pumpkin patch. It was our hobby and we were hoping to use what we grew for the wedding. Now, we just have a really nice autumn display at our apartment. I hope we can pick our location soon so I can hire a photographer. I figure maybe I can still have an engagement photo session sometime in October or November. If we are able to pull it off I want to do normal photos in a pumpkin patch and then go to a different location for a modern retro look. We'll see!

Wedding Planner

I talked with Drew and I think I really need a wedding planner! Where's J-lo when you need her! It's just been too much with both jobs. We've been going to bed almost every night anywhere from midnight - 3 am and it's starting to catch up to both of us. There really isn't enough time in a day! I was hoping to spend $1,000.00 - $1,500.00 for one but, when I started looking the other day only one person had her prices posted and for what I think I need for partial services was $3,100.00... ouch! So I have a lot of research to still do. Keep your fingers crossed.

I wish I could have David Tutera take over our wedding like in his show "My Fair Wedding". On his first episode he picked a Jim Hjelm bridesmaid dress that I have loved and I wish my girls could wear it but, they are too expensive! The first time I saw his work was on "Platinum Weddings" he did his friends fall wedding at "Holly Hedge Estate". Basically my dream wedding!

FYI - All the Planners I called or emailed never got back to me! I still can't believe it but, I'll make it work without one!

Some ideas I have

For a Fall Wedding
In case you can't read what the picture says:

Centerpieces I will try to make.
The plan is to spray paint the branches a caramel gold and rub gold flakes on different parts. I will cut the flowers off and adhere them in bunches of 1-4 flowers with stem wire which will be painted gold to blend in. The glass pebbles will help hold the branches down. The beads and crystals will hang scattered on the branches.
Materials
- Windy branches
- Glass vase
- Assortment of fake flowers
- Glass pebbles
- String of beads
- Plastic crystals
- Spray paint
- Gold flakes
- Stem wire and tape

Oxon Hill Manor

Drew and I went to see this Venue on 9/21. We both left work early so to avoid traffic, which we did. Oxon Hill is right outside of Washington, DC. We got a little lost but most importantly we were on time! Around the manor it looks a little sketchy but, when you pull up to the Manor house and drive through the big iron gates you step back into time. The house was gorgeous! You can't get much more grand than this! We had our tour and then we were able to walk around by ourselves. We both liked it a lot and could see ourselves getting married there. The pictures would be beautiful and you look right at the Potomac River. It doesn't get much better than that! They have so many flowers in the gardens and, the brick patio's were so nice. We would have wanted to get married on the side garden facing the Potomac and then have the reception on the large back patio next to the gardens. The rooms in the house are beautiful with all the crown molding details but, we love the outdoors.

After we went home to think about it we decided it was just a little too much for us. Both in price and size. Plus we only had a four day hold on the date and I want to look at a few more places til we make our decision.

The Proposal

Drew and I have been dating for 2 1/2 years and we have been talking about getting married since the beginning but, it became more serious last October. We looked at a few different venues and had some great ideas, so I knew it was only a matter of time before he popped the question. I just had no idea it was going to be when he did ask! I think the way he did it was very romantic! Drew and I went to look at a wedding venue on August 2, 2009 out in Walkersville. The place was called the Stone Manor and it was really beautiful and they had Oct. 24, 2009 available since someone else had to pull out last minute. Good for us bad for them! Drew later told me he was going to propose before we went in but he decided the pumpkin patch would be more special, and it was. He would have received a better reaction from me if he had of done it than because as you will read it was a little crazy when he asked. It now made sense why earlier Ang was so determined to see us that day. We both weren't feeling well and weren't going to go see the venue and we were all suppose to get together at Paw-Paw's to celebrate our birthdays but, she convinced us to get up and go!

So after looking at the venue and than a few model homes (something we like to do a lot) we went over to Paw-Paw's to check on our pumpkin patch. Drew headed straight for it, where I went straight for the cherry tomatoes. Drew kept telling me to come look at his giant pumpkin and how it got bigger! Mind you we were just there the day before so I didn't think it was any bigger and just kept eating the tomatoes. "Poor Drew" if only I knew. To make matters worse Chris, Dylan and Buddy come out. I didn't see Drew telling them to get away so I got upset when I tried to talk to them they ignored me and walked to the nursery. So when I went over to Drew I was annoyed and as he moved the pumpkin leaf to reveal the ring my Mom's dog Hannah comes running over and is jumping all over us and it was just a mess. It would have been nice if he had got down on his knee but, the ring BLEW me away! I think he didn't because with everything that was going on he looked a little disheveled. He said "Kisha will you be my wife and spend the rest of your life with me? Will you marry me?" I was so excited and blown away I was shaking! Of course I said "YES"! He designed me an amazing ring! He also planned it so my family could be there when he asked. He really is the BEST! "I love you Drew!"

We went up to show my family and Mom took these pictures for us. When Angie's family got there we all had a great celebration. A little later Drew and I went back down to the pumpkin patch and that's when it hit me and I started crying. What an amazing feeling it was! I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with him! Now comes the real wedding planning and I can't wait to be Mrs. M!

Oh, the night before we were at Andrea's 21st birthday party and that's when Drew pulled everyone aside to show them the ring and he asked Dad's permission. I had no clue. I thought he was going to ask when we went down to the beach two weeks later on a plane ride since he so persistent that we were going to have to do that.