Engagement pictures!

We took our engagement pictures tonight, and our photographer already has  a preview up on her blog!  I love the pictures, and I’m so glad we decided to go with Blue Dandelion Photographer for our wedding!

http://bluedandelionphotography.blogspot.com/2009/08/dan-julie.html

I was just going to post my personal favorite, but it was way too hard to decide, so here are all 5!

From top to bottom:  My favorite, but barely (they are all so good!);  in the famous UW-Madison Memorial Union chairs on Lake Mendota; “serious” picture at the Union (I thought I would suck at these, because I can’t not smile when I’m told to not smile, but it worked!);  gotta love the shoe pics!;  on a dock on Lake Mendota right outside Memorial Union!

I’m Still Here….

Sorry for the lack of updates lately.  No major decisions have been made on the wedding-front lately, but once they are, I’ll be sure to post them!

And the Winners Are…

Congrats to Brittney and mismikado!

Please send me your contact information ASAP so that I can get you your copy of “The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Weddings!”

Last Call!

This is the last call for entries into my very first giveaway… enter now!

ModCloth Dresses

I just discovered this site, and I love love love their dresses!  ModCloth is a small company that sells unique clothes, and was opened 7 years ago when the founder, Susan, was only 17!

I had my bridesmaids pick out the dresses that they felt fit their personalities best, as long as it was knee-length and a shade of blue.  They loved not having to conform to the same dress, since they all have such different body types… that’s what they tell me at least, and I hope they aren’t just saying it to make me happy!

If you want to have your bridesmaids pick their own dresses, and you want to support a small company, check out ModCloth.  And they are completely affordable!  Seriously, aren’t these dresses great?

Dancing in Manhatten Dress

Picnic in Paris Dress

Gestural Dress

Daiquiri Dress

And finally, this one.  I want this dress.  I really really want this dress. Love it!

Floral Shop Dress in Peony

Bridesmaids’ Dresses… Check!

Two weekends ago, 3 of my 4 bridesmaids, our officiant and I went shopping for dresses.  Unfortunately, BM Kari couldn’t make it, since flights from LA to Minneapolis aren’t cheap.  But as you may recall, she already picked out her dress when she was home for the siblings’ graduation.

And if you are wondering why our officiant came with us…  Cordelia was going to be a bridesmaid, but then I would have had more bridesmaids than Dan has groomsmen, an idea he wasn’t big on.  So, since Cordelia is also a good friend of Dan’s, she is getting ordained so that she can perform our ceremony.  We’re very excited about this because neither Dan nor I are particularly religious, and it will be so much more personal this way.

I’m happy to report that Cordelia and all of the BM now have dresses for the wedding….

Maid-of-Honor and college friend, Kelley will be wearing this dress in cobalt blue.

Kelley

Bridesmaid and sister Marisa will be wearing this dress in a dark teal color:

Marisa

Bridesmaid and middle/high school friend Abby will be wearing this dress in cobalt blue:

Abby

BM and Girl Scouts/middle school/high school friend Kari will be wearing a navy dress.

And finally, officiant and college friend Cordelia will be wearing this dress in eggplant.  That way she can be distinguished as having a different role than that of the BM, but still kind of match them:

Cordelia

I’m so glad the wedding party (minus Kari… sad face) got to meet each other and bond a little over lunch… and got along splendidly!

Kari, we’ll have another get-together so you can meet Cordelia and Kelley!

Save-the-Dates Giveaway on The Thirty-Something Bride!

The Thirty-Something Bride is hosting a giveaway of Rachel Jasper Save-the-Dates!  Go here to find out more and enter!

My favorite:

My favorite

Sseko Designs Giveaway on Budget Savvy Bride!

One of my favorite wedding blogs is Budget Savvy Bride. And this week, BSB Jessica has a fantastic giveaway!

One lucky commenter on Jessica’s blog will win a pair of Sseko sandals with two different pairs of interchangeable straps.  Its kind of like winning two pairs of shoes!

As Jessica writes,

“Sseko Designs is a company that partners with a school in Kampala, Uganda to employ recent high school graduates to make beautiful sandals as a way to earn money to continue on to University. They employ bright young women who would otherwise not have the opportunity to continue their education. Sseko is passionate about educating and empowering women, specifically in developing countries.”

My favorites?  Starboard and red.

Inspiration Board for Sseko Red Sandals

GIVEAWAY EXTENDED- Enter Now!

Hey everyone!

I’ve decided to extend the deadline for my giveaway to Friday, August 14.  To win a copy of the fabulous “The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Weddings,” simply leave a comment with your best budget-saving idea.

Everything from “How to avoid an allergic reaction to flowers” to ” How to survive the first dance if you have two left feet” and even “How to survive if you forget your anniversary” is covered in this handy guide.

Solutions range from practical (“Smooth out rough edges with confectioners’ sugar or chopped coconut.  Reconstruct with icing or whipped cream” for minor cake shifting or smashed frosting) to silly (“For a more casual or beach wedding, make a kicky, terry-cloth towel dress” if the bride’s gown is lost).  The book is a fun shower gift or book to have on your big day.

So enter my giveaway now…you know you want to!

The Perfect Jewelry

Remember how I said my cousin was sending me her wedding jewelry to try on with my dress?

It. Is. Perfect.

Seriously.  It looks like it was made to go with my dress.

I’m so excited about this!

My New Wedding Jewelry!

Sorry guys, I cut out the picture of my dress because Dan occasionally looks at the blog.

I’m still up in the air about this veil; thoughts?