.:.Reception Venue Booked.:.

It's almost midnight, now. I got home from work a bit earlier than I had expected, which was nice, because I have a lot to do. (Homework being a very important one...and folding laundry...) But as I try to get some homework done, I can't help but let my mind drift to what I accomplished today. 


Reception Venue: CHECK! Deposit's in the mail, and the date is set for "requested" until they receive it. It will then officially be "reserved!"
Ceremony Venue: Kind of check! (e-mail sent... specifics figured out. It's like halfway done at this point. haha)


THIS IS SUCH A RELIEF! 


I can now have my save-the-dates I designed printed. I can work on the wedding website. I can actually accomplish things now!

Also, my sisters loved the BM dress idea! Yay! It looked so good on them too!


Seriously though... having the reception venue set in stone and the ceremony venue in the works has lifted a huge burden. Now for all the fun stuff!


.:.464.:.

.:.The Giddiness Has Returned.:.

I had become stressed and bogged down with trying to find information for the ceremony/reception site. After weeks of not being able to get ahold of people, I was beginning to feel defeated.


However, today, I decided rather than waiting for them to return my voice mails, e-mails and phone calls, I'll e-mail someone I know and who is the chairperson of the organization. *DING* Got the information I needed. I've reserved the date in their online calender, and will begin to fill out/mail in the form and the deposit.


Although I haven't been able to contact the Park's Department, I'll do something about that really soon. A HUGE burden has been lifted!!


Also, got ahold of the specialty caterer, and e-mailed for more information. They sound perfect, and I can't wait to find more information.


I'm so relieved to have this information, finally. 


.:.467.:.

.:.My Dress Is In!.:.

My dress has come in!!! I'm sooo excited! It makes this whole thing feel more real knowing my dress is now only minutes away, and waiting for me to pick it up. Again, no, I won't post pictures!! ;)


Also, I should mention that Tuesday I'm taking my sisters to the brand new Alfred Angelo store in Castleton. Arielle might be joining us as well. We'll be seeing how they like a certain dress Arielle and I found. If they don't like it, then we'll most likely revert back to the original plan where they can choose a dress themselves. I don't really care. I just want everyone to feel comfortable in the dress they will be wearing!


Anyway, I must be off. I need to go get ready for work. I'll be talking to ring bearer parents tonight to ensure they can be my adorable little boys! I've already spoken to Sam, my flower girl's Daddy, so that's taken care of. If my mom is able to adopt by the time the wedding comes around, then my new little sister will be an additional flower girl. Sometimes I wish I could just fast forward to the wedding, other times I just want to enjoy the ride. 


.:.469 days.:.

.:.Center Piece Idea.:.

Keep in mind that this was done quickly... and while in class... lol Perspective is off and I know it. It is driving me crazy, but I'm not going to go through and make it look right.

Anyway, the middle is a mason jar filled with coffee beans and blue hydrangea on the top. The little blue and green dots are marbles, the candles are obviously tea lights. 

What do you guys think??

.:.Frustration.:.

I've been trying to get ahold of several different venues.


THEY WON'T ANSWER THEIR PHONES.


Ugh.


I'm about to just show up. lol


I have a couple weeks before I start inching on the "I really need to get this done" period, but these thing were on my list of "to-do's" for the winter break.




On a lighter note, I have a new idea for centerpieces. I'll be "sketching" some stuff up in Illustrator and I'll  upload asap! ;) I'm excited!

.:.Funny Engagement Video.:.

JibJab-type Video hehe

Right after we got engaged I made this video for fun. Haha


It still makes me giggle. Just thought I'd share it with everyone! ;)

.:.Playing Catch Up.:.

Ok, now for some quick updates.


Potential date: April 28, 2012. (only potential because we haven't booked venues yet.)
Colors: Light blue, clover green, espresso brown
We're going for a nice, yet laid back feel. A non-stuffy elegance, if you will. 


I HAVE MY DRESS!  No, I won't be posting pictures! ;)


I couldn't believe it. It was the first day we went to look, and the 5th dress I tried on. Only made possible by the best MOH ever, though. It is perfect. I couldn't have designed something better! The dress I'd fallen in love with on the internet looked AWFUL on me. It was made for tall sticks, not short curvy women! haha It was pretty, but mine is better! <3


Maid of Honor: Arielle Brown
Bridesmaids: Jennie Lawson, Rebecca Lawson and Amy Flesor


Best Man: Sam Miles
Groomsmen: Nick Heider, Zach Heider, and Collin Stroup


I'll be talking to potential flower girl and ring bearer parents this weekend. 


We plan to do much of the work ourselves. Roger's making the cake, we'll be making much of the food, and my mom will be doing flowers! 


We hope to have the ceremony at Lincoln Park in Zionsville. This is where we met and where he proposed, so it only seems right. ;) Hopefully the weather plays nice. *fingers crossed* We would like to have the reception at the Lion's Club Club House. Neither of these places would like to pick up their phones, though... So I'm having trouble contacting them. I'll try again in the morning.

As for now, I'm scouting out cheap pieces for my simple centerpiece idea. (Very fast sketch with Joe Mugg's scrap paper.)


That's all I have time for right now though. I'll add more later. I have to get to class!

.:.The Proposal Story.:.

Ben planned a "secret date" for us. This isn't uncommon, so I wasn't expecting anything. He drove us downtown and once he parked showed me the tickets we had for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I was stoked. After the 3 hour concert, we head back to the car and he says,  "Yeah... I'm going to need you to be blindfolded." Again, this wasn't uncommon for him.

After driving about 30 minutes he asks me if I know where we are and I said I had no clue. He allows me to take off my blindfold and we're in the parking lot of Steak'n'Shake, our #2 go-to restaurant. (It was too late for our other, Applebee's.) I was thinking, 'OK, he's being silly. Blindfold and WOOH! Steak'n'Shake.' After we're done eating, we leave and he says,  "Yeahhh... I'm going to need you to put that back on." At this point it is 12:30 and my thoughts are... to drive me home? Really? Silly boy. But I appease him and put the "blindfold" on. (For those who are curious he forgot it... and had me use his sweatshirt... lol)

After driving a couple of minutes, he puts the car in park and says, "OK, you can take the blindfold off but keep your eyes closed." He runs around the car and opens my door and leads me down a sidewalk. After walking a short distance he says, "OK! You can open your eyes!" We were standing in front of the Toy Museum in Zionsville off Main Street. "I wanted you to see the Toy Museum lit up in lights," he says. "This was where our first date was." My interpretation was he was trying to make me less of a Scrooge. Ya know, 3 hours of awesomely-played Christmas music and showing me downtown Zionsville lit up at midnight. (We won't tell him it worked.)

He takes my hand and we turn the corner and start walking toward Lincoln Park, where we met. (Also lit up in Christmas lights.) He begins to talk about how much he loves me and how much I mean to him.

As we walked into the park he asked me if I remembered what this park meant to us. I said that of course I did, and that it was where we met.He smiled his smile and asked if I remembered where we had been standing when he met me. (I had to admit that no, in fact I did not remember this haha!) He then said it was right where we were then standing. He then grabbed my hand and walked me down the brick pathway that led to the beautifully lit gazebo. He continues talking about what a difference I've made in his life and how much he appreciates having me be a part of it. 

Once we got into the gazebo, he finished his little speech and knelt saying, "Marcella Marie Lawson, will you marry me?"

After it clicked, I screamed, "YES YES YES YES!!!" 

I was completely shocked and had no idea it was coming. 

I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL MAN TO BE MY FUTURE-HUSBAND!!