Today is THE Day

It's New Year's Eve 2010.

I am marrying my best friend.

I can't believe this day is all ready here.

Since I was little, I had longed for this day, and now that it's here, I'm wishing time had slowed down.

I didn't know it would be here so quickly!

For the first time all week, I don't have somewhere to rush off to in the morning.

I am lounging in bed at my parent's place before I tackle a few last minute errands.

I am hoping that this day will be relaxing and not stressful.

The church is decorated; the reception hall has been decorated since Wednesday morning; the rehearsal is complete.

Now, all that's left on my To Do List is to relax and enjoy this day.

I'm fairly certain that I can succeed in this task.

In less than 12 hours, I will be pronounced Mrs. GrapeJuice, and we will live in peace and harmony for the next seventy plus years!

What a way to ring in the new year.

2011, here we come!!!!!!!!

Please Reset Me

 I am most definitely in panic mode. 

With only two weeks left until the wedding date, I'm starting to freak out a little bit here. It hit me last night that we haven't even gone to get our marriage license! {oh dear...} Plus, I haven't finished Christmas shopping. AND, to top it all off, our house had a carbon monoxide leak that lead to our heat having to be turned off which means that we're obviously not living there right now which means that I'm not able to get some wedding things finished up...unless I decide to brave my house which is probably 40 degrees inside. Also, we're expecting Mr. GrapeJuice's family to stay with next week (if we have heat by then)! WHY NOW??! And because all this craziness if going on, I keep eating junk so now I might not even fit into my dress!!!!!!! Please pray for my sanity as I live with my parents, buy last minute Christmas gifts, finish up all the last minute details of my wedding, and hope that I fit into my gorgeous dress. Hopefully, I'll be back with better news tomorrow.

source :: inspirationfactor.com

I Can Do That!

I have a jam packed next few weeks before school starts, and I'm stoked about it!

Tomorrow

I'll be meeting with a DJ, going to see some chairs {and hopefully like them!}, and I hope to be signing the catering contract. And, somewhere in there, I'm supposed to be meeting up with my MOH for a coffee date!

Saturday

Mr. GrapeJuice and I will be attending a marriage workshop through the Catholic Diocese of Nashville. It is an Engaged Couples Retreat at Scarritt-Bennett. If you want to read about it, you can click here. We have to fill out a Myers Briggs personality questionnaire form. I hate filling them out because I always get nervous that people will judge me and that I'm answering the questions wrong! {so silly.}

Next Saturday

Mr. GrapeJuice and I will be heading over to Street Tuxedo to check out their suits and tuxedos. I'm hoping to convince him that a gray suit would be the way to go. They look so sleek and would fit into the style of our wedding so well! Hopefully, he'll go for it.

The Last Saturday in July

My ladies from NC are coming in, and we are hopefully going to find a bridesmaid dress! Sadly, my sister won't be joining us because she'll a little newborn to take care of. {I'm going to be an aunt soon!!}

Plus, during all this time, I'm supposed to be setting up my classroom and getting it ready for the next school year. I haven't been able to go in yet though since they're in the process of replacing all of the flooring due to the flood at the beginning of May.

photo :: lolcars

Wedding Progress

Over the weekend, my mother asked me if I had made any wedding progress. I looked at her and laughed. I just got back from a cruise and was not even ready to think about those things. She gave me the mom talk though. You know, the one that says you need to get on that sooner rather then later; the one that makes you feel like a disappointing child again. =]
Well, she got bored on Saturday and wanted to head over to Hobby Lobby because she had a coupon. She made a copy for me so that I could use one too. 25% goes a long way when you're on a budget and trying to buy a house. (more on the house later) While at Hobby Lobby, I had a planning break through. I picked a centerpiece style, which is perfect for our wedding, and I decided on flowers for the bridesmaids to carry. Later on this week, I will break it down and show you what I am thinking. Plus, I will attempt to show you the DIY step-by-steps that go along with the project. =]

Wishful Wednesday

I wish...

 

my wedding dress was here.

I want to put it on and have it fitted to my body!

May can't come soon enough.

:)

photo : the sunday telegraph

2 Years! (& a Giveaway)

I honestly cannot believe that Mr. GrapeJuice and I have hit the two year mark! It seems like we just met. I'll never forget that night.

It was January and nearly midnight, and it began to flurry outside {in NC}. My college BFF K-Bean {who is
from Savannah} and I got killer excited and started prancing around {and making fools of ourselves} in the snow! We were thoroughly enjoying it knowing full well that school would be closed the next day. However, Mr. GrapeJuice told us we were wrong and that we would have class the next day. K-Bean and I bust out in laughter. Everyone in the South knows that even a small dusting of snow means that school will be canceled.

 {K-Bean and I being silly. We were practicing our show choreography.}

{I'm the girl in the dark red jacket; he's the guy on the right side of the picture in the gray jacket.}

{This is when he's telling us that what's falling isn't enough to cancel school.}

For the next month, Mr. GrapeJuice and I started to hang out a lot. Apparently, during the fall semester, we had admired each other from afar without even realizing it. About two weeks after knowing each other, I told K-Bean that I thought I might have a crush on Mr. GrapeJuice. In February, Mr. GrapeJuice and I were jokingly lamenting our lack of Valentine's; so, we agreed to be each others. Easy fix! We didn't exactly get to Valentine's Day before he asked me to be his girlfriend. It was like 2 minutes until midnight though. =] He got me some adorable cute things though. A bear, which I still have to this day, a rose, and a sweet card for our first Valentine's Day.

 

I didn't have class for awhile that day so I relaxed in K-Bean's room and watched Love, Actually, which apparently a poor decision as Mr. GrapeJuice had planned to watch it with me later that night. However, that night he took me to Chili's for our first date. He kept it a complete secret from me the whole day; so sweet. I had to rush out of my class and all the way back to my dorm to get ready in time. We had to rush to eat because I had to be at rehearsal at 6:30 for the show I was choreographing. We still had a wonderful time eating dinner and getting to know each other!

Without a doubt, these past two years have flown by. I had no idea I would be here or doing this. I mean, getting married? Teaching at a school I used to attend? Buying a house? Planning a wedding? Phew! Best two years together. I can't wait for the rest of our lives. =]

In honor of being together for two years, I have decided to host my first giveaway. [I also happen to have 50+ followers now too.] I will be giving away a set of personalized note cards from Just Wright Designs, a personalized hanger from Lila Frances, and a gift card for MyWeddingFavors.com.

To enter my giveaway:

1. You must be a follower {and tell me that you are in a comment}

2. Tell me about how you and your honey met or tell me how you would like to meet your future honey {in a separate comment from the one above}

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway {in a separate comment}

4. Post about it on your blog {leave another comment with the url}

That's FOUR ways to enter!!

:)

I will announce the winner on February 22, 2010!

Ashley's Bride Guide

Most of you are aware that I work with Ashley at Ashley's Bride Guide. It has been a great experience. If you haven't checked out the website, then you really must do so. It's is the best local resource for Middle TN brides. And, even if you aren't from the area, there is a ton of inspiration on there. Recently, the site got a little face lift. So, if you haven't visited us recently, you really need to hightail your butt over there to check it out. It's completely revamped and ready to meet your needs. And, be sure to let us know what you think about it. Feedback is always welcome! :)

AHHHHHHH!

Ladies {and gentlemen?},
      I am so,so,so,so,so,so,so,soooooooooooo sorry that I have abandoned you, but you would not believe the past two weeks I've had. It's been one thing after another after another. This past week was Catholic Schools Week. If you're not familiar with it, basically I don't get to teacher at all. =] There's always something going on in the classroom, like Parent's Day when the parents come in and do different activities {not academic work}, Celebrity Reader where the Mayor came and read to my class, having the high school band come and perform at your school, etc. See, how there's no room to teach in there at all? That's why I was at my wit's end and unable to think of anything. So much stress. Blech. I only have one more week until my cruise, and then everything should calm down. So, please, just bear with me. =]
     In other news, Mr. GrapeJuice and I may have found a place to call home after searching for a little over a month. It's going to be a huge step in the right direction for us. I'm hoping that all the nitpicking will get ironed out too; we've been a little less than kind to each other with all the stress between us. =[ But, also, I've made it to 50+ followers, which means that I'll be having a give away in the very near future so look for it!!! Please don't leave me yet. I promise things are looking up! Wedding plans are being made. =]

Save the Date

Here's a little sneak peek at the Save the Date I designed. It's perfectly simple and gets the job done! =]

Wishful Wednesday

I got one of my many wedding wishes granted!

Mr. GrapeJuice and I are moving up our wedding date.

Oh, yes! We are.

Can you guess when it is?

Give up?

New Year's Eve!!

Of...

2010!

I can't believe my wedding is this year.

I'm so excited for the journey!

:)

photo : 1978 new york times via elicia buzz

Wishful Wednesday

I wish I could look like Ivanka Trump on my wedding day.

photos : star magazine

Not only does she look absolutely stunning, but she also looks incredibly happy and at peace.

I can only hope that I look as perfect on my wedding day.

I Simply MUST Have a Ring Bearer & a Flower Girl

I always knew that I wanted to have cute little kids in my wedding.

I love kids.

They are so cute and honest.

This is why I became a teacher.

Here are a few more reasons why I want little ones at my wedding!

photo : elizabeth anne designs

photo : jenifer sander via life & adventures of the jenkins revealed

photo : skywater images

photo : manolo brides

photo : theresa choi

Merry Christmas

photo : dryicons

I hope everyone has had a magical day so far. And, I also hope that you continue to have one. This is most definitely a day that it is important to celebrate the love and family that surrounds you all year round. I will be spending mine in TN with my family! :)

And, as a good wedding blog, I will now share some gorgeous winter wedding inspiration with you a la The Perfect Palette. {If you have not visited her site, then you are seriously missing out on some wonderfully unique color scheme ideas!}

Here are some of her inspiration boards.

{For image credits, please visit her site!}

Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening?

Please Have Snow and Mistletoe

Dashing Through the Snow

All I Want For Christmas is You

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Visions of Sugar Plums

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Possible Date Change...again

Originally, Mr. GrapeJuice and I had picked the all-typical Saturday night wedding.

photo : southwest airlines spirit

Our original plan was to have our wedding on a three day weekend so that all our OOT family and friends would be able to make it and have an extra day of travel. We are still highly considering this, and it will most likely be part of date picking. [See? Trying to be considerate of the guests! No bridezilla yet.]

 photo : gretchen b photography

The first weekend that was spat out was Memorial Day weekend. While I thought it would be a good idea and good timing, it won't be possible. I'm a teacher, and that's the end of the school year. Talk about stress!

 

photo : naomi win

The next 3-day weekend suggestion was 4th of July. I jumped on that bandwagon quickly. It was the perfect time because the 4th will fall on a Monday in 2011, which will give people an extra day to travel home.

photo : barrie downle photography

Now, here's where the possible date change comes in. Mr. GrapeJuice and I had originally chosen July 2, 2011 as our wedding date. It hadn't been set in stone because - obviously - we still have time to make that decision. But, we've seriously been struggling with where to hold our ceremony and reception. We're both Catholic so it's a no brainer that we'll be getting married in the church. But...which church? That's been our struggle all along. Don't get me wrong. I love the church that I'm a parishoner of, but, the new church is horribly designed. Hello! No center aisle = epic fail! [for me at least] Below are some pictures of the new church I found on our facebook group.

Picture One: A view of the whole church from the side

Picture Two: A view of the altar from the center aisle

Picture Three: A view of the baptismal font and door I would enter through

It's a beautiful church, but I always pictured my self walking down a long center aisle to my one true love. Could I suck it up and get married in this church? Absolutely! My grandmother is the wedding coordinator at the facility. My grandfather is a deacon at the church. Definitely some bonus points and freebies heading my way. But...the reception facility leaves a LOT to be desired as well...if you have your wedding on a Saturday that is.

On Friday, Mr. GrapeJuice, my parents, my grandparents, and myself all went to the church Christmas party. The party was held in the old church. And, let me tell you, it's gorgeous! It was originally a barn that was remodeled into a church. It has stunningly stained wood for the ceiling, and the lighting can be adjusted from bright, bright, bright to a sultry, romantic feel. Plus, it easily and comfortably fits 200+ people with a more than adequate dance floor, as we discovered on Friday.

photo : facebook

The only downside is that if we want to use this gorgeous space for our reception, we'd have to have the wedding on a Friday. There are pews and other knickknacks that have to be moved out and moved back in before Sunday mass. Totally doable though!

So...here's a recap:

1. we still don't have a for sure date

2. i could compromise and settle for my church even though i hate the logistics of the design and it cost millions of dollars to make it look like that

3. a friday night wedding gives us a prettier more spacious reception venue

4. i hate being indecisive

5. this would be VERY easy on our budget
6. but, now i'd have to rent tables, chairs, linens; find a caterer; etc.

p.s.

Merry Christmas Eve!