Gifts for the girls

I didn't want to share these until after the wedding because some of my bridesmaids get on here and read my blog....no spoiling surprises here!

For my girls, I had a small-ish budget, but in the end I decided to only get one gift per girl rather than a whole packet of gifts.

I waited until slightly last minute, made a decision about what I wanted to buy, and then started searching online for jewelry rolls.

I searched through some retailers, before scouring etsy....and then I came across this:

An adorable jewelry roll from Etsy seller, jsj121. I fell in love with it, and messaged her quickly wondering if 4 weeks was enough time to have a custom order made of 6 jewelry rolls (5 for bridesmaids and 1 for my personal attendant). I created a custom alchemy request, and she go to work!

I selected custom colors and material for the outside and a matching pattern for the inside, to fit each girl's personality. Then I had her embroider their first initials on the front. (I have 4 K's in my bridal posse!)

While I was browing Jen's shop, I noticed an adorable custom clutch she had made for another Etsian, ,and decided to gift my self.

Meet my wedding day clutch!

Jen was super easy to work with and the jewelry rolls and the clutch turned out great! I hope my girls love them as much as I do!

Some drool-worthy wedding photos

As you are reading this, Eric and I are en route to Milan, Italy and having the time of our lives.

While I'm gone, I didn't want to leave you all with nothing to read...so I have another wedding to share!

Maria, the daughter of one of my family's long-time friends, got married four weeks ago, and I wanted to share some of her gorgeous pictures with you, taken by her good friend/bridesmaid, and up and coming portait photographer, Elisabeth Sarah.

This was a beautiful wedding...and I loved being so close to all the festivities.  I made a ton of notes for lessons learned for my wedding, as well as things about their day that I loved.  

Besides that fact...they are just an attractive couple!

so enjoy these three and half minutes of wedding portrait delciousness while I sip some Italian wine and eat lots of gelato!

Married!!

Yesterday was the most fun day of my life.

I've scheduled a couple posts to go up while I'm off in Italy, but couldn't leave you without a few teaser pics put up on our photographer's website!

http://www.littlehandsphotography.typepad.com

Enjoy!

This is it!

We met today with the photographers for a rain plan. I am hoping for just an hour or two with no rain to get a few pictures outside.


I ran around all day like a chicken with my head cut off and am ending the night perfectly, sipping champagne while watching Father of the Bride featuring Steve Martin with my family while a exfoliating mask sits on zit-covered forehead.

but I'm getting married in 40 hours, and I'm thrilled. E is the most amazing man, and he's the one God has made for me. I can't wait to start this journey together with him. Rain or shine, whatever else may come...I'm getting married!

See you on the other side!

whoa!

Life iz much crazier here than I imagined. The last two weeks have been roller coasters of emotions--from finding out our venue booked an event the night before the wedding (so I won't be able to get in to decorate), to key people not being able to make it to the rehearsal. I have a hard time saying all my goodbyes, so I've been avoiding it and feeling bad.

But we've tackled each hurdle as it comes and it feels good to be working through it all. My to do list for the next four days seems endless.

E got in last night and all I want to do is cuddle and dream about the future when the craziness is over. But we're so looking forward to a big party with our family and best friends before it's all over!

I've already got some posts scheduled for when I'm gone in Italy on the honeymoon, and I'm not sure you'll hear from me again until the big day. Until then, I'll leave you with this picture taken this afternoon at the courthouse (on my blackberry)



It's all happening so fast...it hardly seems real!

For your comfort: bathroom baskets

I bought these baskets for $5 from Michaels about five months ago when my wedding planning was all inspiration and DIY project ideas piling up. I love the liner!

I didn't want to leave this by the wayside, so last week at Aunt Jet's we put our heads together to make a list of goodies for the bathroom baskets.

Do you notice anything wrong with these pictures?

Girls'

Boys'

Anyone have any more ideas for the boys? Hair product? (and what to get?)

or do the boys just need fewer things in the bathroom?

In case you wondered, here's my list for the girls basket:

hairspray

air freshener

tampons

bandaids

drinking cups

flossers

body spray

lotion

hand sanitizer

advil

tissues

[Inspiration] Fridays

Hey bloggers!

What are you up to this weekend?

First, a shoutout to Jenn @ With This Ring..., and LA @ June Fifth, (which is now a private blog) who are getting married this weekend.

Congratulations to you both! I hope your days are fantastic!

My bachelorette party is Saturday...starting in the early afternoon. Everything is a surprise, so I hope to have stories to tell next week!

source (not my invitation....I just thought it was SO cute!)

Other than that, I hope to get lots of sleep and get over this sickness, design our escort cards and lots of signs, and schedule some posts before all the craziness begins.

Here's some photo inspiration for your weekend...

Photo by Leigh Miller, via OnceWed

I want a wedding sign so bad! Another weekend project?

By Elizabeth Messina, via Ritzy Bee blog

Mrs. Cookie's wedding sign, via Weddingbee

photo by Lindsey Hamilton events, via Style Me Pretty

how pretty is this! White may be boring in some cases, but isn't this lovely?

100th post.

I had blog again, because I am just so excited!!

in 15 days I get to marry the man of my dreams, spend 10 glorious days in northern Italy with him and then move to Southern California to start our life together.

Ponte Vecchio

Florence, Italy

source

my future hometown, CA

source

Last night I got a phone call that I got the job I interviewed for last week!

My work just threw me a surprise shower/going away party--Italy themed.  It was so much fun!

So life is falling into place and the wedding is happening, if not perfectly.  I am one happy girl.

On our new house, being sick, and 2.5 weeks to go

Hi guys!

It's been longer than I anticipated. I have been sick for a week.

I no sooner walked off the plane in San Diego than my throat started to hurt. Everything snowballed and I spent half of my trip in bed. I made to my interview but I was shaking with a fever and have no idea how it turned out.

I took vitamins, benadryl, mucinex and advil just to get through the week with all the things we needed to get done...and I'm still not feeling much better. It scared me how weak my immune system is right now! I've felt too busy and too stressed to worry about health and now I'm suffering the consequences. So learn this lesson: get plenty of sleep and take your vitamins

But outside of sickness, the trip went great! Our house is just so cute--I can't wait to begin setting it all up! I know this is a wedding planning blog and I don't typically share too much of life outside of wedding planning, but I couldn't resist sharing a couple pictures of the place with you!

Living room (comes with that furniture...which will be great since we're starting with nothing.) and SO MUCH bookshelf space!

Dining room (also comes with the table...which I don't love...but it works!)

My adorable kitchen! I'm so excited about it. There is a desk built nito the wall to the left across from the window, and so many cabinets I don't know what to do with them all!

The very 50's bathroom that is still in great condition. Goodbye to my green, yellow and brown egyptian themed bathroom! What color should I exchange the towels for?

the master bedroom with three closets, a built in desk and 4 cabinets of storage.

the backyard! Stone fire pit, gorgeous tree (not pictured) and a corner for a garden (top right behind that little tree). Our landlords gave us permission to plant anything we want, anywhere we want and I'm SO excited to start a vegetable garden and pretty flowers in front of the house!

As far as the wedding:

• We are almost done with our semi-custom vows
  
• The ceremony program is complete
  
• California reception invitations are finished
  
• Got almost all our RSVPs (and are confident the rest aren't coming)
• Seating chart is done (whew! it was not fun)
  

this week:

• meeting with the florist making our bouts
  
• order flowers
  
• final meeting to go over venue
  
• meet with Dj and coordinator to final reception schedule and playlists
• make Escort cards
• work on wedding weekend schedule
• make OOT bags
• GET SOME SLEEP!