Or So I thought! haha..

     Well, I decided to post my designs on The Knot!  I really wanted some feedback and I thought that would be the best place to get it.  Only a couple of things were mentioned that they thought I should change.  Things that I totally agreed with and just had not thought of first.  Everyone loves the monogram, which I am very happy with.  They liked the colors and the whole concept.. It definitely gave me the feedback I was looking for.  So, once I play around a bit, I will post them again! Trial and Error people! That's what wedding planning is all about! I want everything to be perfect. Less than 8 months away and I think I have plenty of time to play around with the designs! I'm sure I won't be saying that for too much longer! haha.. 

Design Time is Done.. Or so I think!

Here we are again.. This time with different invites, monograms and save the dates.. I had no problem really designing these things, because I love designing.. If it could pay the bills full time, it is all I would do! I am definitely open to designing things for people on the side... haha. ; ) . So, here I am, posting the Save the Date, Monogram, and Invitation.. 


-The Save the Date: The only thing I changed since I last posted was the font.. I wanted it to match.  Of course our picture goes in the blank spot! 
-Monogram: Pretty much the same, it's just that the R's are changed.
-Invite: It is alot different.. I am hoping that people think it is pretty.. it kind of goes with everything.. I am going to definitely need confirmation that the design is pretty.. 
-The font for the R&R is called Adorable.  I got it from a free font website..
-I am pretty sure that all the script is "Adorable." I really like the font.. Seems very simple...

Looks Like More Design Time...

Well, who woulda thunk it! I am changing pretty much everything! BUT not for the reason you might think... When I started designing my invites and things, I had the trial for Photoshop and Illustrator on my Mac.  Well, when I bought the Creative Suite, it was planned that I was going to share it with someone and they had a PC.  (It is easier to turn my Mac to a PC using a program called Boot Camp.) Unfortunately, little old me thought it was going to be as easy as 1,2,3... Or that's what the person chatting with me on Apple.com would of liked me to believe.. For a couple hundred of dollars, yes easy as 1,2,3.. Without a couple of hundred dollars it was going to be 5x^-2y^10 over 2x^-1(-3x^-3y^-1)^-2.... (Sorry, had to.. haha) So, I have now put the Creative Suite on my brothers computer.. Problem is.. All the Mac Fonts are not accessible to me. Zapfino=OUT.  My logo is ZAPFINOOO!!! What is a girl to do? Well, Re-Design Everything.. It means new Monogram, New Invites, New Everything.   Now, I have based everything off those dang swirls and it will be as close as I can get it! With some help from free fonts online, things should turn out nicely I am hoping.. Wish me luck!

Design Time...

     Well, I decided that for my Save The Dates I wanted to do Magnets.  Since the Save the Dates I created in my earlier posts were two sided, I had to redesign them.  I pretty much did the same concept, but I made it a little bigger.. I designed them, then I ordered 10 of them on Vista Print.  I paid for the 7 day shipping, but it actually got to me in about 3 days.  So, I definitely liked that.  The quality is very nice, but I just thought it was a bit plain looking. Well, I could change that since I designed the things! Lol.  I went back to the drawing board! I created them on Illustrator and finished them up with Photoshop.  I am very happy with how they came out.  I was going to order them on Vista Print again, but when I went to order they were more expensive.  So, I decided that I would wait until the large magnets went on sale again.  It really isn't the price of the magnets, but the shipping.. The first time I ordered them, they were 65 cents a piece.  I can hold out for that! I know I might get impatient though.. I used a random picture for the mock up.  I am going to put an engagement picture on there whenever we take them in February.  I think these will go out in March.  

(I am aware that the 4 is misplaced!)

    I was also feeling very crafty tonight and finished my Bridesmaids Project.  They came out so cute! I could not be happier with them.  I took pics through the process and will post them when I get the cards out.  I can not wait to share them with you! 

9 months to go.. : ) .

     Wow, I am in trouble once again in the blog world... It has been over 2 months since I have blogged and I'm a pretty sad with that.  But in my defense... I did pick up another job to help with wedding costs, so I pretty much work everyday. So, by the time I get off I barely have time to get things done before it's bed time! Or if I am off in the morning, I sleep in.  I am sure you all can find it in your blog loving hearts to forgive me. : ) . Keep reading if you do, because I have LOTS to catch you up on!

     The Dress: I have it in my possession! The emailed me in October and said that my dress came in early.  And that they could only store it for two weeks.  So, we paid it off and picked it up.  My mom thought they keep it till the wedding, but I don't think that would be the best idea for their back room.  I had to clean out my closet and I am proud that I haven't opened it up since I got it.  I hear that lots of brides forget how their dress looks, but I definitely remembered.  I put it on at the bridal shop to see how the veils looked and it was just as gorgeous as I remember.  That day was Bridal Day.  We had an appointment with the Bridal Shop and the.....

     Cake Vendor!!! : ) . So, we have another check! My dad was supposed to come to the bridal shop and the cake vendor, but work had him on the other side of town.  I was disappointed, but in the end I knew he wasn't meant to be at the Cake Shop.  Haha. The budget enforcer would have been having a tough job!! My mom and I were horrible together! Lol. We were saying yes to everything! We designed the most beautiful cake. It really is going to be a nice cake.  I incorporated the swirls on the invitations and the monogram.  Mr. Bloom mentioned to me once that he likes the "quilted" look, so I also incorporated that.  The cutest of all is the fact that every other layer is orange butter almond.  The cake will be ivory and tiffany on the outside, then when you cut it open it will be orange. One of the cute details! The second layer will have our monogram on it.  Our cake lady is making the monogram out of Swarovski Crystals, so that when all is said and done we can keep the monogram off of our cake! (She's giving that to us as a wedding present!) The cake tastes amazing, and it's going to look amazing.  So, we put the deposit down and there you go!! 

     Next, I am working on a craft for my Bridesmaids.  Just to let them know it is official.  I decided that I needed final decision on them by the end of December.  So, I used my smarts and changed some things and picked 5.  I hope that is not too many, most are practically family.  I hope that will cut back on the drama. haha. We shall see! I will def post pics of that process.. 

     Anyways, let me post this blog before it's less than 9 months to go! haha.  I apologize for my lack of blogging, but I definitely will try my best through this busy time to post as much as possible.  Thanks for forgiving me and reading. ; ) . 

CHECKS!

     I think every Bride to be loves Checks.. I feel so accomplished when there is something else I can cross of the list.  Let's See...

• Venue - Check
• Dress - Check
• Photographer - Check
• Boxes for Favors  - Check
• Cake - Almost Check (We know the Vendor, We just need to meet with her)

     Did I put a check next to the photographer?? YES! She came back into town, emailed me and still had 09.10.11 available.  I was so excited.  We met her a couple days later and put down the deposit! This is after on my last blog entry I decided I wanted to go with her, but my mom wanted my dad to pick out photographers he liked so he could feel more involved. lol. And who does he pick? The one we met with and wanted! Ha. I could of used that information in July when we met with her.. So, it was just a matter of her getting back into town and us putting a deposit down. : ) . I am beyond happy that we have her as our photographer.  The pictures are going to be great.  We don't do our engagement pictures until March.  So, I have to get to work and lose a few more pounds!! I don't have that many pounds to go till my goal weight.. We did choose an engagement location. Which is... The Zoo! Haha.  People might think thats weird I suppose, but who cares.. It really is us.  We went to the Zoo on our 5 year anniversary and the Dallas World Aquarium on our 6 year anniversary.  We both love animals and nature and our relationship is very playful, so what better place to take them? I am in love with the idea.  Our photographer will do wonders there.

     I think the Venue was the easiest check.  I had researched it a while ago, but thought that the price range was out of my budget.  Fortunately, my parents are making my wedding dreams come true.  I am so grateful to them for everything that they are doing/have done for me.  Plus, my moms excitement and me being the only daughter helps out too! haha.  The venue is gorgeous.  200 people isn't what I would call intimate, but the little chapel gives me just that feeling.  The tall open windows everywhere and the trees all around us is perfect.  With our love for the outdoors and nature it really couldn't be more perfect.  

     Ahh, the Dress.  All I wanted to do was go into the bridal shop and try on a dress I saw online.  I wasn't really looking to buy a dress considering that it was wayyy early in the planning stage.  I was really happy that everyone that I wanted to be there was there.  I went dress shopping before and I think there was too many people there.  Too many opinions to put into consideration.  So, secretly this time I just wanted it to be just the mom's and I also invited my cousin.  So, here I go into the bridal shop and they don't have the dress that I want.  Of course! But everything happens for a reason. So, I just tried on a dress that we pulled. My cousin thinks she pulled it, but I have no clue.  So, I am taking her word for it.    I slipped it on and went out.  I don't even remember much.  I don't remember if everyone else liked it or what they thought of it.  All I remember is that every dress I tried on after that wasn't the dress I loved.  It was just matter of fact. That was it, it was the dress.  I didn't have any doubts.  I had fell in love with a couple of other dresses before, which I think threw my mom off because I fell in love again.  I don't think she knew if it was for sure this time, because I had said I think this could be it a couple times before... and I definitely saw where she was coming from.  This was different.  On those other dresses I felt that I could do with out something. It wasn't perfect, but I thought I could make it work.  With this one, there was not a thing I would change about it.  I love the shape, the beading, the train and the elegance.  It's perfect.  So, Check! I had the dress! 

     So, next I have to figure out what to put in those favor boxes and how to design my cake! I am looking forward to many more checks to come. Can't wait.  Less than a year and counting. : ) .

Helllooooo...

     I think I am the worst blogger known to mankind!! It has been almost a month since my last post! I thought it was going to be easier to keep up with being that I am always online! Well.. its is officially less than a year till my wedding!! I can't believe it.  I feel like I want to have a nervous breakdown already. haha. Ok. maybe that is exaggerating a bit, but it is daunting to think of all the work we have ahead of us..
     This month my goal is to nail down a photographer.  When looking for a photographer, I look for pictures that I would call "Epic."  When you look at them you don't just see a photograph, but a piece of art.  Something you would see in a magazine or could make a huge print and have it hanging up like you bought it.. haha. Mr. Bloom and I love art.  We are both creative and have an eye for gorgeous art.  So, why shouldn't we be able to be art? Right?  I have gone through website after website of photographers. Mom, FMIL and I have been to two bridal extravaganzas.. The second time we were looking for mainly photographers.. There is so much information and we were overwhelmed.  So, I am sure that you are with me on the fact that I would like to make a decision and just get it out of the way.  I fell in love with a photographer a co-worker recommended to me.  After contacting them, I did not hear from her for WEEKS! Can you believe that? That is the last thing I need to be worrying about... An MIA photographer.  As much as I loved her work I had to let that dream go.  So, there I went going through flyer after flyer of photographers.. Nothing quite had the "epic-ness" that I was looking for.  That picture that made me say, "Wow."  Then, I got on the trusty knot.com.  Local vendors, my favorite section.  lol. I just scanned through all of their page photos.  And I had a photographer jump out on me.  I saw the "epic-ness" that I was looking for.  The gorgeous photojournalistic look.  The veil flowing in the air.  The composition of it all.  I knew that is what I wanted.  So, of course I emailed her and got a reply a few minutes later.. Is this how it is supposed to work? Does it not take weeks to send an e-mail?? Ha. She had meeting times available and we emailed back in forth multiple times and my date was available..   So, we set up a meeting.  My Dad, Mom, Mr. Bloom and I went to go meet with her and her husband.  (Hope it wasn't too intimidating) We loved their personality, their work and their professionalism.  My dad was the only one who had one issue... "I don't like the fact they met us at a Starbucks," he said. Haha.  What an oldie. ; ) .  I tried to explain that people do that these days.  Starbucks is a meeting place and I told him to get used to it.  Just like when he told me flip flops were the downfall of America.  Lol. Anyways, Dad (the budget enforcer as you will remember) thought that maybe it was a little pricey.  This frustrated me because it was definitely at the low end of our budget.  I had done all my research, and this was by far, for everything we wanted, the cheapest price.. So, we didn't commit to anything at the meeting.  Getting dad to agree really wouldn't be that big of an issue, but I of course procrastinated.  I finally get online to tell the photographer that I was hoping our day was still available and that we wanted to go with her.  And where is she?? In Asia!! Shooting a wedding.. until September 23 or so... I am going to go crazy with anticipation.. What if our day is booked now!!? Just pile on the stress... I personally believe that what is meant to be, will be.  So, hopefully 09.10.11 is still open... I will have my fingers crossed!!