Honeymoon Booked!

So today was yet another big day in wedding planning! The honeymoon is booked! We are staying in a honeymoon rondoval (with private plunge pool) at Sandals in Grande Antigua. I found out there are actually ways to create a wedding registry for your honeymoon, so that is exactly what we are going to do in hopes that we will be able to pay at least some of it off that way! :-)

So in order to book the honeymoon we had to nail down the wedding date, and we did that too! October 8, 2011 is the big day! I couldn't be more happy! Things seem to be going pretty good and this weekend looks to be even better! We get to go look at our cousins house where we want to actually have the ceremony and wedding. Images are actually generating in my head now, along with ideas and things I need to do.

I've definitely enjoyed planning with Brian. It's been great the he wants everything that I want (so far). Hopefully this good streak will continue! Yay!

Honeymoon Blues

So I just spent about 2 hours digging through the Sandals website trying to find places and prices.

Ok, so let me just say my big thing since I was young was True Love Waits. If you are not familiar with it, check it out, but basically, I have been saving myself for marriage. I used to wear a ring that I started wearing on February 14 when I was 14 years old, but my engagement ring has replaced it. Ever since I started the program and knew I was saving myself for someone, I dreamed of my honeymoon. The picture I had/have in my head was of paradise. I beautiful secluded island with 1 small hut with open windows and an ocean breeze. Everything was private from the pool to the dinners. It would be me, my husband, and our newly wed love.

Well...now the time is here. Unfortunately, prices kind of slash down my dreams, but I have

found the closest thing to that dream and it is through the Sandals resorts. The pictures below show what I am still wishing for..

Don't get me wrong, I know this seems next to impossible, but somehow, someway, it has to work out. I know this is where I will end up with my husband, just not quite sure how we are going to get there..but we WILL get there! Soooo..if anyone has suggestions, or know of any special deals or agencies to go through and would like to share..I would LOVE to check it out!

The Photographer

So today was a big and very important day. It was time to meet with our first set of photographers. I have done my homework and searched all around Nashville and this particular couple happened to be the first we were able to meet with. Well...it went GREAT! After such an amazing day yesterday with the first dress I picked out being the one, I felt the same way about the photographer! We meshed so well and everything felt so natural. Let me tell you the best part...It's a husband/wife duo! They are too cute and seem just as excited as we are! The pictures were great and their personalities were so supportive of everything I was wanting and had in mind for the wedding. After our meeting (at Panera Bread), me and Brian decided to move forward with them. I had already looked around and had an idea of what I wanted in mind and the meeting was going to be the determining factor. Everything just went so easy! I can't stop raving! :-)

So after the session I met Jamie in Franklin for a bridal show! It was so good to hang out with her and so special for us to be going to the show together since we are both brides! :-) We checked out stuff (even though she already had everything), ate cupcakes, and signed up for door prizes. I was interested in the whole photo booth idea, so me and Jamie tried it out:

After getting lots of information we headed out. This night we finalized our decision on the photographer and I contacted them! All in all, a VERY successful day and an even MORE successful weekend!! :-)))

The Dress

So today I went to my wedding appointment at Sugar Drop Inc. in Brentwood, TN. As soon as I walked in a lady (who looked familiar but that I couldn't quite put my finger on who she was) said, "Are you Lizzy? I'm Jessica's.." and I realized it was Jessica's best friend, Lindsay! I have never met her, but have seen lots of pictures and heard many stories, so immediately I knew it was going to be a better day!

We spent time finding dresses to try on. I had no idea what I was doing. I knew the type of style I liked, but was completely open to trying on a variety. And the process began. The very first dress I tried on was a HUGE hit. Ema said, "It made my heart stop". So after getting over the initial shock I tried on a few more. We found another one that was a big hit, but Emily said, "THIS dress looks good on you, but YOU make that other dress look good". I liked that. We found a 3rd dress that almost took the cake, but really, it wasn't me. It was GORGEOUS, but princess-like and it just felt like too much for me. So after deciding to think about it, we left the bridal shop for lunch. We met my dad for lunch at McAlister's. We decided to take him and my finance's mom back to the bridal shop to get more opinions and decide if we should actually buy the dress. I tried on my top 3. My dad choose my 2nd fav and Susan chose the 1 I liked the best. After talking and realizing the shipping dates along with my October thoughts for a wedding, we settled on buying the dress!!! I REALLY want to put a picture on here, but I think it would be best if I didn't because you will have to wait, along with everyone else, for the wedding!

What an exciting day!! And about that appointment at the Factory? Well, we decided that our first choice was my cousin's place, and the dress dilema kinda took over, and I am happy we went along with it! :-)

Successful day!

Slight Change in Plans

So, I had been moving forward with the 11-26-11 idea (Saturday after Thanksgiving) until...well..TODAY! I had/have an appointment tomorrow to check out the factory, but I am moving in a slightly different direction. Lemme tell ya how my day rolled out..

My plan all week was to go to Ashton's this weekend..well..when I found out the only time I could go check out the Factory was this Saturday..so I cancelled. Today went on as planned. I went to practicum and met Brian for lunch. Before lunch I met his 2 office-mates and both were very sweet. We joked again that Brian's opinion didn't really matter, so I made a point to tell him at lunch that his opinion did in fact matter..and it mattered very much. Riding back to his office, we got to talking. The first thing he asked was if we could bump the date up to this summer...of which I laughed profusely because this is definitely NOT reality! He commented that he really wanted an outdoor wedding..DING (bell rang in my head)..That is exactly what I have always wanted, with a tent reception. Well, since we were planning for the end of November, I didn't think this was an option, so I blocked it out and looking back I see that is probably why I had so much trouble looking at all these other places, because they couldn't compare to my real dream. I am lucky enough to have found the perfect person to marry and it showed by us realizing that we want the same thing for our wedding. He then suggested having both the ceremony and reception at my cousins house (about an hour outside of Nashville and a place we both adore), so I kissed him good bye and said I would look into it. Wellllll..I did..I called my mom. Talked to her about an hour..Called my sister..same deal..all the little details started coming together on how this would just make things fall SO much easier and to our liking. After finally talking to my aunt/cousin, I got a green light! We are going there to check it out next Sunday and I couldn't be more thrilled. I am SO happy I can't explain it because I also always wanted to get married in October, but again, felt this just could not work..welllll..looks like we are just going to make it work! :-)

In other news, before our trip to The Factory (yes we are still going because I want to be able to compare prices), I booked an appointment at a little boutique to try on dresses! I know..its crazy! ME in a BRIDAL GOWN! Really...I can't imagine it. So I am quite nervous and since this is a very big deal, I am only taking my mom and sister. No worries.. I won't be buying a dress quite yet. In fact I am under strict rules that I am not allowed to get a dress until my BFF can come in town and go too...and of course my mom-in-law will have to join next time! :-)

Ok, off to review information before tomorrow's big day gets here!

Money sucks

So last night I slept the entire night without my ring on! Since the engagement I haven't been sleeping well. Partly due to the fact that my mind is going a million miles a minute at all times of the day between wedding, school and job search...but also because my ring is about a half size too big. I worry about it falling off, but don't trust to leave it anywhere..BUT I put it in the box and tried to sleep better last night. I did get some sleep, but it was still rough.

Money is annoying. If anyone knows of some wedding contests to enter, please let me know! I want this day to be the best it can be and have no regrets later, and well, that costs. The photographer is my biggest issue. The one I really want cost more than my entire wedding budget! Let me just get on my soap box real quick...Pictures mean the world to me. It's the most important thing I take from the wedding aside from Brian..even more important that the wedding bands themselves! I am quite picky with my pictures and have a feeling that finding the right photographer will be harder than finding the right dress. I do not want to take any of my own pictures this day. That is very hard for me to do unless I can fully trust someone to do an even better job than I can do and capture absolutely every great shot. So, with that being said, any suggestions?

Ok, so now back to reality. Gotta get back to school..blah..neeeed sleeeep!

I'm ENGAGED!

It has been a little over 24 hours since I was proposed to, and it's about time I get to writing! This is going to be a crazy process, and I want to record every part of the way!

So HOW did he propose..you may ask? First you have to know our history...back in 2004 my family (and his family + Josh) took separate spring breaks, BUT we were both on Sandestin property. I had just broken up with my former boyfriend and was confused about the feelings I was having for Brian...which then must go further back, we have known each other (and been good friends) since the 8th grade (2000). Anywayyy....one of the days in Sandestin we spent biking/walking over to where Bri and his family were staying (me and my sis, brian and josh).

It was a longggggggggggg walk. After hanging out all day we went back to where my family was staying (beachside) and went out on the beach. It also happened to be the boys last night, so me and Brian sat on the beach talking. He said, "I have to tell you something.." and then he kissed me. Once we were back in Tennesse, about a week later after talking nonstop to each other, we started our relationship (April 12, 2004). Ever since we have been together. We have been through different friends, enemies, great times, and broken times, and even seen a few of our close friends get married, but it wasn't time for us yet. Until now.

So March 16, 2011, Brian and I headed down to Destin for a long weekend. Brian made me think that he had been sick and tired of work and just needed a break, so I was all for it! March 17, 2011 we decided to spend the day in Sandestin. We rented bikes, rode around the Sandestin property and went to the beach. However, once we got to the beach it was PACKED with

snotty, skanky people and it just felt weird being there, so we rode back and returned the bikes. We were walking away and I suggested we sit and have our "snacks" since he insisted on bringing along his backpack (should've been a clue then!). We found a little gazebo with barely anyone around and talked about what we should do for St. Patty's night. We finally decided to head over to Baytowne Warf, another place we like to walk around at on Sandestin property, so we stood up. I was stretching, looking around and saying, "You've really gotta see how dead it is here", when I turned around to find Brian on one knee! He said, "7 years ago we found our love here, and I don't want to lose it. You are my other half, Will you Marry Me, Elizabeth Marie Allen?" I didn't know what was going on, but I said, "Yes, Of COURSE!" and I asked, "For real? Is this really happening? etc." After hugs and kisses and letting our hearts calm down we took some pictures:

So after being mushy and telling a random lady on a bench that we were engaged, Brian suggested we go eat at Ciao Bella's, one of our fav places to eat in Destin, and it was like he read my mind! We had a meal fit for a king! We told our waitress about our engagement and she was so sweet to us!

Now the planning starts. I was able to tell all the people close to me and make it "facebook official", so when, you may ask, are we thinking of tying the knot? This fall. It is definitely soon and will require some serious planning, but fall is my favorite season and has always been a special time for me and Brian. Our idea, for now, is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, that way all of our friends and family (including us) will be sure to get off of school/work.