in the air.

I started to mentally compile a list of the little things I think I am going to want and/or need come wedding time. Since I want to spread out costs as much as possible so we aren't bombarded at the end, I wanted to at least start thinking about these things and write down a concrete list within the next week or so.

With many retailers fighting a sluggish economy, discounts are around every corner. Including the fragrance counter. Which leads me to the thing that has been most on my mind. Renee (my beloved Matron of Honor) was actually the first bride to bring this tradition to my attention. Because our wedding day is going to be one of the most magical days in my life, I want to remember everything about it. That's why wearing a special fragrance on that day that you've never wore before is such a unique idea. The first time you wear the fragrance is the day of the wedding...after that point, you can wear the perfume for special occasions, other weddings you attend or on any random day. Every time you spray that perfume, all the memories of that day will wash over you and take you back to that magical place.

I've been "sniffing" around the fragrance counter and haven't found anything that has truly stood out to me thus far. I have done a little research and although I haven't actually smelled this scent yet, I am mighty curious to try it out. It's called Sheer Veil by Vera Wang (see photo below). Other than this scent, I'm not sure where to look or what to look for. I would love some suggestions on places to check out or fragrances that might of interest. I'm ready to "sniff" out any leads!

obsessive? compulsive.

By definition, the word plan (according to one of my favorites, Merriam-Webster) means:

1: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as a: a top or horizontal view of an object b: a large-scale map of a small area

2 a: a method for achieving an end b: an often customary method of doing something c: a detailed formulation of a program of action d: goal , aim

3: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective

4: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)

A four letter word with truly four different ways to define it. Coincidence? Not a bit. You see, you would expect a four letter word to have a simple definition. Although the definition is .easily comprehended, understandable and what some may consider common sense, it is by no means simple. Actually, it is really complex. It's like each letter has a different meaning...each letter represents another way the word can be used. And that, dear friends, is not simple.


Okay, kind of a random introduction but it leads me into the statement of a fact. According to a magazine article I read (or a website I visited...or a consultant at a store once told me...let's just stick with the fact that I heard or read it somewhere and now it is in my head for me to share with you), the average bride spends the same amount of hours planning her wedding as she does working full-time for five months. Without amazing you with my quick math skills, that is A LOT of hours to plan (averaging 40 hrs. a week, with a standardization of 4 weeks a month, that comes out to 800 hours - I know, you're impressed, right?)

This leads me to my next point. Although that statistic is quite the staggering number, I think it might be accurate. Actually, after the past week or so, I find it to be very accurate. Why, you might ask, do I believe the statistic after the past week? Simply put: Etsy. After discovering a couple friends had started blogs way before I had even thought of it (ahem, Karley...Mary...thank you for proving I am totally unoriginal), I also discovered a link to a website that I have been absolutely fascinated with and have actually scheduled into my daily routine for the past week. No really, I found myself searching through the jewelry, the clothing, the paintings...and do you know what is so great about this site? Every last item is made by hand. Handmade. Really. Cool. Stuff.


So, as I was saying, this site had me hooked immediately - of course always looking for a unique find, a really good deal to brag about...or a section of the site completely dedicated to weddings. Sigh. Why do you have to do this to me? From invitations, to jewelry, to hair accessories to garters, this website has all the little intimate details to make your special day even more special. And everything is handmade. How can you not look? I dare you to even try it. You will continuously hit the arrow to take you to the next page and you won't be able to stop. I can almost guarantee it. Scattered throughout this entry are little pictures I have compiled of some of my favorite things (thus far, my friends, thus far) that I have found and truly wanted to keep in the back of my mind for future use.

...the talent and beauty that so many different individuals from around the world have created simply leaves me breathless. It truly is an amazing world. And this website allows people to sell a piece of them...a piece of them that they've created that somehow fit and match your very own personality so well it almost seems unimaginable. But when you see that item...that simply takes your breath away because you know it was made for you...that's when the beauty of the world truly makes me smile. And on that highly poetic note, I have picked the one piece that literally sang to me when I saw it. My favorite Etsy find (I'll let you decide which of the four items it is):


And with this many ideas multiplied by about 6,876,919, floating around on the internet, in magazines and basically around every corner you turn, the real question is, how can a bride not spend the equivalent of five straight months of full-time work planning her wedding? I can guarantee you, when it's all said and done, I will have thought about more projects in this 10-month time frame than I ever dreamed I could think of. Compulsive. Obsessive. Plan. But what can I say...there's nothing I'd rather be spending my spare time on. I love it!

wish.

I've been doing it since I was a child. I'm sure you have too. An eyelash on my fingertip. A shooting star in the sky. The candles on my birthday cake. A four leaf clover that I diligently spent hours lying in the grass trying to find just so I could make a wish. And of course, the very special time of 11:11. Somewhere along the way, "wish" turned into much more than just a word. More than a want. It became much more than that. It turned into hope.

Recently, I stumbled upon a book called The Wish Trees. As a child who found herself wishing more often than not, it struck a special chord inside me. The book is based upon the idea that every child can help to make the world a better place. Each page brings a child planting a new tree and making a wish as they plant that tree. Along the way, they discover the wonder of trees and learn that a wish is really more than just a want, but truly stands for hope.

That being said, Dave and I have set to work on a special "wish project" for the wedding. It's been in the works for a few weeks and we are close to putting the finishing touches on it and calling it good (I love being able to cross things off the list!). I have a small preview below but I refuse to give away all the details here. You'll just have to come see it in person. At least I can hope.

inspire.

As some of you know (ahem, Tig), I subscribe to a daily email type thing called Daily Candy. If you live in a larger city (Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, etc.) you should definitely sign up and even if you don't, it's fun to see the daily updates. There is information about health and beauty, fashion, weather, weekend guides for what to do and of course fashion. Call it the inner "fashion major" in me, but I love getting updates on new designers, retail strategies, etc. Okay, okay, all this does have some kind of tie to the wedding. Believe it or not.

A few days ago, I opened my Daily Candy and read an introduction about the founder of Nettleton Hollow...

"The name Nettleton Hollow comes from a valley in Litchfield County, Connecticut, through which the founder's family drove their cows home from the summer pastures to one of the last dairy farms in the area. "

Seeing as how I am from Litchfield, Minnesota, I of course took upon this as a sign and clicked to the website. Lo and behold my inspiration! Branches and grasses and foliage, oh my! This creator has managed to capture the true essence of nature in an artificial product. After browsing through craft store after craft store, allowing my thoughts to wander and collectively put together a collage of images and ideas for the wedding, I realized how true his words were about not finding true natural items like this in a store.

Pure. Beautiful. Natural. Everything I want our wedding to be.

passion. photography.

One of the most challenging aspects of the entire wedding was finding the perfect photographer to capture all the incredible moments we will have on that special day. Dave and I both said from the very beginning that we knew a good photographer was going to come with a fairly significant price tag but that it was worth it to us. After all, after all the music ends, the cake has been cut and the food has been served, what do we have to look back upon? Pictures.

I started hunting for photographers within a matter of days after Dave proposed. At that point we didn't even know where we were getting married but it didn't matter! I knew I wanted to get in touch with Dana Widman, a phenomenal talent who did my dear friend Sarah's engagement and wedding photos (http://picasaweb.google.com/DanaWidmanDesigns). After much praying and numerous facebook messages, I came to find out she had already been booked.

Not sure where to turn, I googled photographers in the Fargo-Moorhead region for the next month! (Quick Note: I definitely underestimated the amount of talent in this area! SO many amazing people) So, one night, I was just really bummed and browsing through Dana's photos again online and somehow got taken to Eden Photography. I looked. I loved. I contacted.

I am so incredibly drawn to a photographer that is able to catch a personality on camera - I think it is so difficult to do that and do it well and Elisabeth has nailed it on the head! Every time I browse through her photographs I get more and more excited about what she will do for our big day. Although she is a VERY busy woman and I have yet to meet with her, we have her booked and can't wait to discuss her vision as we get closer to the day!

**Note: I have included just a few pictures that I adore and invite you to check out her website for a glimpse of our fabulous photographer!

it's a go!

This shouldn't be a difficult thing for me - to type out my numerous thoughts and ideas as I used to regularly do in my journal, but for no apparent reason I put more thought into it than I used to. Perhaps I am just not used to divulging personal thoughts "out loud" to share with others, but regardless, I am ready for this new adventure I have begun!

When I moved to Fargo, I moved away from the majority of my family and after graduating college, it seems most of my dear friends have made their lives outside the parameters of the Fargo-Moorhead walls. With that in mind, the computer has been my primary form of communication with many of them and wonder how on Earth I would have stayed in touch without the use of technology? Okay, I'm rambling. Back to the main point. I thought this would be a great way to not only keep myself on track over the next 6 and a half months (whoa!) but also a fun way to let all of you know what we are working on and what we have left to do.

So without further ado, welcome to our wedding blog (I know, I know, that was totally corny but like a great movie once said, "I'm looking for a little corny in my life")!