Well today was the day, engagement pictures. Jeff and I had decided to go to Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston to take our pictures. With the photographers help, we also decided to wear black and denim. We arrived at 7:30am and started taking pictures right away.
We walked all around the park and took pictures for about an hour to hour and half. It was starting to get very hot, Houston in July. I loved the old homes, the water, and the gazebo they have there. She made sure she captured us many different ways, poses, and facial expressions. I hope there are some in the group that are great. Jeff isn't much for having his picture taken but I thought today he looked very handsome in his black and with his cowboy hat on too.
I really do like our photographer, she is very sweet and very good. Her company is named Big Oak Photography out of Montgomery. The link is in my favorite links secion on the side. She has an eye for the pictures and tried to get lots of different angles and things in the background. We have about two weeks until they are done, I can't wait!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Engagement Pictures
Posted by erinharper99 at 12:24 PM 1 comments
Dresses, Furniture, and Jewerly!
Jeff is off this weekend and poor thing, I am seem to run him ragged every time he is off. The sweet guy that he is, he very seldom ever says anything about not wanting to go somewhere or do something. He is a real trouper...
This Saturday started off with us picking up Mimi and going to David's Bridal to bridesmaids dresses. We met my cousin, Karen, Paige and Aunt Anne there. Karen was picking out and getting her dress and shoes for the wedding. She seemed to like the dress I had picked and we were able to get it ordered and shoes ready to be dyed so they will all be ready to pickup later in August. I really enjoyed having them there with us, always fun to have the family experience all the fun that comes along with planning a wedding. Mimi also volunteered to buy my veil for me. That was a huge surprise and a wonderful gift from her. Aunt Anne was a big help in getting my veiled picked out and making sure it was the right color. THANKS!
From there, Jeff and I went to Gallery Furniture. We had intended on buying a bookshelf and some kind of entertainment center. Well, that isn't exactly what we came out with. Instead, we walked out of there having purchased a new couch, love seat and over sized chair and ottoman. It is a chocolate, suede color fabric. We both really liked it and I know it will be great in the new living room. The furniture is being delivered on Friday, so I can't wait to see it in our new house.
Finally, our last stop of the day was at Zales. Jeff had wanted me to get something for my birthday there. Of course, me and jewelry...what a difficult thing. I found a cross that I just loved. It is a perfect combination of yellow and white gold, just like the bracelet he gave me on our first date. It also has some very beautiful diamonds in it, can you tell I LOVE IT!!!
We rounded off the night by going to dinner with Pam and Brandon...it was great to meet them and just unwind. I know Jeff was tired but he did great and we survived another day of running around and taking the steps towards starting our life together.
Posted by erinharper99 at 12:08 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Our Wonderful Gifts
As we have gone through the planning of the wedding, Jeff and I have gotten some wonderful gifts already. My dad and Cindi for an engagement present gave us a margarita machine, okay do they know me or what. I can't wait to open that thing up and get it going, I have been so tempted already but trying to wait. Also, Mom and Barney bought our honeymoon for us, a cruise. For my birthday I got gift cards to Kirkland's (thanks Terra and Casey), Target card and memory keepsake book (thanks Mom), candle holder and wall plaque for our new house (thanks Bill, Genevieve, and Nedra), to lots of other thoughtful things. All the gifts have been so sweet. This past week, Jeff and I received a wonderful wedding present as well. His aunt Nedra, had already bought our gift and could not wait to give it to us. We were so surprised and excited when his dad opened the garage up and showed us the brand new grill we had registered for. WE LOVE IT! She just thought it was something we could use right away and "why wait till November" she said. I can't wait to try it out myself, seems easy enough. Jeff LOVES to grill and he was happy to have gotten it, I know he can't wait to use it. We both were very touched by the gift and her generosity, it means a lot both of us. We are both so blessed to have a family that loves us, supports us, and is so happy for us. That in itself is the really blessing of our marriage...
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
House Changes Part 2
After
Posted by erinharper99 at 10:46 PM 1 comments
Dresses
Sunday, July 13th saw Jennifer, Mom and I going shopping for bridesmaids dresses. I had picked out several styles, with Debra's help, and then showed them to Jennifer. We all thought that this one certain style was great. It can be called a Roman style dress, it will be brown and this all the detail I am giving...have to wait and see. I think that once all the girls try it on, see themselves in it, they will love it too. We have decided to add another bridesmaid and groomsman to the wedding as well. That brings our total to 7 each! Jeff was really torn over not having a certain friend in the wedding, so we made that decision. His friend will be in the wedding, I added Macy (his niece) as a Jr. bridesmaid and we made his nephew Ross, a third usher. We needed another usher and I think Ross will be really good. It is hard sometimes to know where to stop or what to have people to do. We don't want to hurt any one's feelings but at the same time, we can't 20 people up there for each of us. SO I think who we have will be great....Jennifer, Shannon, Karen, Pam, Debra, Sarah, Macy and Grace (flower girl, we hope) for me. I have two great friends in my house party, Brandy and Dee. It is now getting down to planning the little details, this is the fun part. All and all I am having a blast, it is great to be planning a wedding to your prince charming.
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Saturday, July 12, 2008
Seeing Love
Posted by erinharper99 at 5:42 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Church...The Church
Today, Mom, Mimi and I ventured to the first of several meetings (I am sure of) with the church wedding coordinators. They are both very sweet, easy to work with, and they know their stuff. They gave us some great suggestions, told us what we could and could not do and helped us to establish a time for the rehearsal to start. I had been trying to decide on a good time and what I should tell the bridal party, so with their help I now know. The rehearsal will start at 5:30pm, a little bit early but that does give us time if people are running late and gives us plenty of time for the rehearsal. We have a large wedding party, of 7 attendants each and two ushers, so making sure everyone is there on time and knows what they are doing the next day is going to be a funny thing to watch. We counted off the number of pew decorations we will need, discussed candle options, and guest book table placement. We also decided who was going to sit where, saw where Jeff and I will be "kept" the day of the wedding and the staging room for our parents. Overall it was a great big hello to First Methodist as far as a wedding is concerned.
My mom has gone to that church for years, they have been so good to her. I can tell when she walks in the doors it feels like she is coming home. That is what I think a church really should be, a place where you feel welcome as soon as you are there. I so glad to be getting married there, it has a many happy memories for my family.
The more and more planning I do, the more anxious I am becoming. I can almost see it in my head and I am dying for it to all come together. Jeff and I also want the wedding to have a very personal, family touch. Our families are a huge part of our lives and I think throughout the wedding that will be felt. That is a goal of ours and I think we are doing a great job of seeing that come true.
Posted by erinharper99 at 4:43 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Bridesmaids on the Loose!
Posted by erinharper99 at 10:18 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Flowers and Music
Also, today we booked a DJ! After looking for about two weeks, everyone being booked, we have finally gotten a DJ and I think he will be just great. He is going to play a variety of music and asked if there will be any problem getting people up to dance. I had to laugh...my family...hahaha. Getting some of them to sit down will be a problem. It is really beginning to come together. That was the last major hurtle to overcome and I am so relieved!
I am getting more and more anxious to see the final product. It is like trying to piece a puzzle together and wishing you could see the whole thing. One thing that I know or have relearned through all of this, it is the importance of family. Today, I will admit the cost of things started to really get to me, I wonder why does everything have to cost so much? My mom, the amazing pillar of my life, told me today and it does not matter, she wants me to have the wedding of my dreams. That is what I mean, family, they are with you in the worst of times and in the best of times. I have been very blessed to have one that has been with me every step of the way.....
Posted by erinharper99 at 4:56 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Let Them Eat Cake!
Today started off with Jeff, Mom, Jennifer and I going to a cake tasting. We had decided to go to Bakery and Cakes here in Conroe. Through the years my family has gotten several cakes there for different occasions and always been very happy. We sampled the different cakes, discussed various shapes and designs. We finally settled on something that is just perfect for the wedding cake. I love it and think it will be just beautiful. Jeff, had his own idea about the groom's cake. He described his "vision" to the bakers and they came up with a great design that I think everyone will love. From there we ran more errands and Jeff and I went to Al's Formal Wear to decide on the tuxedo's for the guys. Who knew there were so many choices on vests, jackets, ties, shoes, shirts, and color patterns. But I think what we picked out will be just beautiful...all the guys will look great.
We are really starting to close in on the big things as far as planning goes. That is what I wanted to do, try and get as much of it done this summer before school starts. Now, if we could just find a DJ and get the bridesmaids something to wear we would be in great shape. I am on the trail of a DJ and have a dress style in mind so that is part of the battle...just need to find the time to go and look. But so far, I will say this has been a great wedding to plan. I am so blessed to have so many people who are such a great help. I couldn't do it with them!
Posted by erinharper99 at 9:35 PM 0 comments