livin' on a prayer

I've devoted the last couple of days to wedding planning- specifically, the budget, or as I like to call it, the black devil looming over us all. I'm okay with being young, broke, and in love, I really am. But love doesn't pay the bills, and weddings- no matter how simple- are never cheap.

Michael and I are lucky enough to be getting help from our families, which is the only thing that makes our wedding even possible. Without their help, we'd be heading to the courthouse...which, at this point, kinda sounds like a good idea. But I'm not getting married without my beautiful dream dress and that fabulous cake...so we might as well go through with the rest of it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still excited about all the little details...like the gorgeous dresses that are being made for my bridesmaids. (We're getting them in Corona Blue, Peacock Blue, and Plum) And the one I've designed with a friend of mine, who's been making wedding dresses for 25 years. I would post pictures here, but I want my groom to be wholly surprised come wedding day. But I can say that this dress is gonna turn some heads, for sure. And it's me. It's SO me. :)

At the end of the day, this budget stuff really doesn't matter. All that matters is that we finally get to be married, have a party, and celebrate with the people who love us the most. And all of that makes all of this worth it.

sweet things

It amazes me how much of this wedding is coming together so easily. Thanks to my brother, who works for a professional photographer up in Portland, all of our photography (including engagement photos) is going to cost us nothing. My dress is being made by a costume designer who is making it for me just for the cost of the fabric. So I get to design my own wedding dress! Our families are helping us out with even more, and we could not be more grateful. The past year has been particularly difficult because I haven't been able to work, and I can't tell you how frustrating it is to want to be able to work and save for my own wedding and not even have the option. But God has been so good to us!

This Wednesday, we're going to Sweet Life to taste wedding cake. Isn't this so stinking cute?! Ours will be in our colors (peacock blue, purple, and turquoise) and with little feathers coming out the top. I'm clearly obsessed with peacocks right now, but I have been for awhile, so I think it will represent this time in our lives pretty well. After cake tasting, we're heading up to Portland for our engagement photos with Rosemary Ragusa

I bought my adorable wedding shoes, the peacock feathers for our centerpieces, and some other fun wedding stuff this week. I also met with Judy the florist and talked feathers and flowers- so fun! And thanks to my gorgeous Maid of Honor, Lisa Georgiades, I have this fabulous headpiece...I'm so excited :)