Made With Love {country engagement party, country engagement party decor ideas, registries}

We, and I believe I speak for our entire family, had a blast at the "I do" BBQ on Saturday evening!  My dad and step-mom hosted the big blended family engagement party for Matt and me at a huge barn in the the country.  It was so neat to be out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by pretty decorations and the people that I love most.  Since google maps couldn't get you to the barn (!), dad and Shawna (my step-mom) made the cutest signs to make it easier for our family to find the party.  

After following the signs, we finally pulled up to a huge trailer of hay with a huge greeting:

We drove up to the barn and were welcomed with smiles and big hugs from our family [that had already found the place].  I couldn't wait to get inside the barn to see all the decorations.  Shawna explained, "It's a little country for Matt and a little pretty for you," which was the perfect way to describe it all!  Matt and I walked around looking at all the "country pretty" details and you could tell that everything was made with love.  Take a look yourself:

It was absolutely amazing having our families under one [barn] roof getting to know each other better, or in some cases, meeting for the first time!  Among all the food, decorations and country music, there was so much love in that barn; and Matt and I are so blessed to have such a caring, big blended family.  I can't wait to start on my DIY projects using all the pictures mom and Kim, Shawna's sister, took.  Thank you so much, dad and Shawna, for putting so much time, love and creativity into the party!  And thank you to everyone who had a part, big or small, in putting it all together.  We appreciate every single little detail and are forever grateful that our big blended families blended even more that evening.

Thank you for a GREAT party!

    

__________________

I wanted to show Matt a few items I had seen at Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn for our registry.  So after lunch on Sunday afternoon, I showed him the plates and casual silverware I liked from Crate & Barrel.  He quickly agreed to the set.  [That was easy!]  We walked around as I pointed out some things we need/I want.  I could tell he was getting...bored...so I suggested we go next door to Pottery Barn.  I was shocked to find that that was definitely not where he wanted to go next.  But I really wanted to show him the fancier silverware from Potter Barn, and was only able to talk him into going in with me because of a parking spot right in front of the door.  I promised to only spend ten minutes browsing the store so I went directly to the silverware; and again, he quickly approved.  I was true to my word and after HE was done looking at a possible Christmas gift for someone, we were out of there in no time!  ;)  While we were in the car, I reminded Matt that he had said he wanted to help with the registries.  His response:  "Seemed more fun to think about it than when you actually get in there."  So with that, mom is coming down this week to help me with our registries.  (Lol.)  I've already started our registry at Restoration Hardware and mom and I will need to get it started at Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and possibly a department store.

Distinction {bridesmaid dress, Dallas hotels}

Saturday morning I met three of my girls at Stardust Celebrations for their first dress fitting.  Devan was our bridesmaid consultant and she was super nice and very helpful - definitely what you want from your consultant.  My girls took turns getting their measurements taken and placing their dress orders.  The appointment was a breeze, well for some of us [that didn't have to nurse a hungry baby ;)].  After our appointment we met for lunch to celebrate my birthday and to just celebrate the day!

Original dress I chose for the girls.

After their dress fittings, I had this uneasy feeling, cause unknown.  Monday afternoon I figured it out - I wasn't quite satisfied with the dresses I chose for my girls, not because I didn't like them, but because I just desired something distinct for my girls.  After a long phone conversation with my mom, I decided to call Stardust Celebrations to cancel the dress orders.  I am 100% happy with the decision I made and it brings me joy envisioning my girls in their new dresses, a joy I was missing with the original dress.  Although the ladies in the wedding and bridesmaid departments at Stardust Celebrations were wonderful to work with, I know that this resolution will be so much better for my sweet girls.  They were all understanding with my unforeseen change of heart and were completely on board with the new route to find their perfect dress.  I am so blessed with such amazing girls!

Madison, me, Lindsay & Kayla.
Not pictured:  Baby Cooper.

Hehe, too cute...

The "I Do" BBQ is Saturday!  Matt and I, along with our families, are so excited to spend an evening with family, BBQ and country music.  Shawna, my step-mom, texted me last week explaining that I shouldn't get too dressed up since the party will be super casual.  Matt was thrilled to learn the attire.  I'm going to try to dress it down, but I mean, I am the bride to be... ;)  Matt and I want to thank you, dad and Shawna, ahead of time for taking the time to plan and put this BBQ together to celebrate us!  We are forever grateful and love you so much!

Like I said I would, I've called to compare several hotels in search of the perfect place for my girls and I to get ready the day of the wedding and for Matt and I on the honeymoon night.  Among my list was the Westin Galleria, Legacy Marriott and Hotel ZaZa.  After each conversation with reservation specialists, I couldn't help but still think about The Crescent and how beautiful and perfect it was when mom and I visited a couple weeks prior.  So Tuesday afternoon I called The Crescent to touch base and see if prices have decreased at all.  I spoke with their reservations manager, Mara, who was absolutely wonderful not only because she was so friendly, but because she offered me a really good deal that I couldn't pass up!  Without any hesitation I booked our wedding day (and night) suite!

Cyperus Papyrus {Dallas wedding invitations, Dallas wedding portraits}

As you probably know, or at least you should know, Tuesday was my birthday!  And what better way than to celebrate with some wedding planning.  Mom came down to spend my birthday with me and to help me pick out save-the-date cards and browse wedding invitations.  For the past couple of weeks, I've been looking online at a million save-the-date card ideas.  You'd think I'd find a design that I liked among the millions I previewed, but that's just not the case.  My goal/theme is to be different, unique and eclectic.  However, being different and finding something unique is challenging, so that's why I decided to just design our own save-the-date cards!

Our first stop to look at save-the-date cards was at Paper and Chocolate.  Mom and I walked in and were greeted by the sales associate.  She asked what I was looking for and I told her a couple of my eclectic ideas and she responds, "Well, I don't know if that will work."  Really...?  So I tell her, "Um, I can make it work."  I was immediately turned off (good customer service is so important, especially with a bride to be!), but looked through one of their sample books anyway.  Blah!  The cards were very out dated and uninspiring.  So we left.

Our second stop was at Swoozies, one of my favorite stores!  Mom and I headed to the back to find their sample books.  A sales associate joined us and answered all our questions and said that since I will be sending our save-the-date cards in January, this was the perfect time to begin the process.  She also introduced me to their creative designer and together they explained how I could change anything and everything on a card.  Hallelujah!  So mom and I looked through several sample books, taking notes from the save-the-date cards I liked.  Then we switched gears and looked through the formal invitation sample books - again, great ideas, but with every invitation there was something I would change....until I found the one!  (I lied, there are still some changes I'd make to it.)  This invitation was so cool and so different!  We priced it for 175 invitations and because of the total cost, we decided to continue our search.  I took pictures of the invitation just for reference and mom and I were off to go to our next stop.

Our final stop was at Papyrus.  I was still on a high from Swoozies and my imagination was in overdrive, which was overwhelming me a bit.  The associate at Papyrus set several sample books in front of mom and me and we started thumbing through the save-the-date card ideas.  I found a shape that I loved and was the perfect "precursor" to the formal invitation I loved at Swoozies.  So I pulled it and discussed options/my ideas with the associate and by the end of our discussion, I had changed the whole card up.  And I loved it!  Mom looked over at me and asked if I wanted to look through their invitation books.  I hesitated, but agreed to scan them.  The first page I opened to was the sample of the same formal invitation I fell in love with at Swoozies!  Meant to be?  I was thrilled to see it again and showed the associate the card and described the changes I would like to make to it if possible.  She responded to my requests:  "Yes, yes and yes."  She then explained that if I purchase my save-the-date cards this month, I would receive 20% off the order.  And then later when I order our formal invitations, I'll receive another 20% off that order (glad we continued our search)!  I said, "Yes, yes and yes!"

  

Pages and pages of fonts to choose from!

Thanks, mom, for the birthday lunch & for helping me design our save-the-date cards!

To top off a very fun and successful day, I received an email from Allison, my photographer, that our engagement pictures were posted on her blog!  What a fabulous birthday gift!  Mom and I quickly wrapped up our day and headed to the apartment in a flash so we could view the pictures we'd been so anxiously and [not very] patiently waiting for!  The photos were AMAZING!  I am so thrilled to have Allison as my photographer and to have these amazing photos for years and years to come!

If you could help us out by going to Allison's blog HERE and commenting under our photos as the more comments we get, the higher print credit we will receive!

Please enjoy this slideshow Allison made:  

Loren & Matt's Engagement Portraits 

Thank you, Allison, for AMAZING pictures and memories!  And thank you, Courtney, for doing my AMAZING makeup!

Photo Shoot Me {Dallas makeup artist, Dallas engagement}

Matt and I had our first meeting with our officiant, Roy, and his wife, Casey, on Sunday afternoon.  This was sort of a "meet and greet" session before we get into the nitty gritty part of marriage counseling.  We told them a little about ourselves and then went into detail on how we first met, which was almost seven years ago(!).  It was fun sitting in the "hot seat" with my fiancé telling the story of how we met and what we loved about each other.

O.M.G!  Our engagement photo shoot on Wednesday with Allison and her husband was an absolute blast!  Even Matt had fun!  I cannot wait to see her pictures, which should be posted on her blog within a week.  I had an early morning appointment at the Dry Bar with Quinc (he was so great!).  Then I headed up to Courtney's Salon, Chi Ro, to get my makeup done.  Mom joined me for my makeup appointment and took some action shots of Courtney applying my makeup (in another life, mom would be a photographer...).  Courtney used three different lip colors to make the best lip color ever, which is a combo she's only used on me.  She should seriously considering tubing the lip color and selling it - I already named the color for her:  Photo Shoot Me.

Courtney's color palette.

I walk into the apartment, all done up, to find a flustered Matt in a rush to get ready.  Even though I went over his outfits multiple times before, he still didn't know what shoes to wear with one outfit and didn't know what jeans he was suppose to wear for the other outfit...  Men.  When we [finally] pulled out of the apartment, we picked up Allison and her husband and headed downtown to begin the shoot!  I have been looking forward to our engagement pictures and couldn't wait to wear my new red dress!  Matt and I really had the best time being photographed together.  I loved how in every picture we were wrapped up in each other physically and emotionally.

Mom took a few photos with her iPhone.  Here's a sneaky peeky:

I cannot wait to see the photos Allison and her husband took!  She showed me a few on her camera screen and they were breathtaking!  She is so good!

Me and my favorite photographer!

Breaking news!

My cousin, Libby, that I asked to be a bridesmaid just found out that her senior prom is the same night as the wedding.  I completely understand her not wanting to miss her prom, but it's sad to say that she is no longer a bridesmaid.  BUT I am thrilled and beyond excited that I got to ask my cousin, Christa, to be my bridesmaid!  She had no idea I was calling to ask her to be my bridesmaid - I asked her a few things regarding wedding day hair, makeup, eyelashes, hair pieces, etc.; and then I explained the prom situation and asked her!  We are both so excited and I'm honored to have her not only do my makeup on my big day, but to have her be an even more special part of this time for Matt and me!

XP {Dallas hotels, Dallas makeup artist, Dallas wedding venue}

Last week, mom and I went to the The Ritz and The Crescent to view their suites.  If we could find a suite suitable for my girls and I to get ready the day of the wedding, we could also use it as a honeymoon suite the night of!  We ruled out The Ritz, not only because the prices were ridiculous, but also because the suites weren't even that pretty.  The decor was almost depressing.  I'm searching for a place that's pretty and romantic.  The Crescent was exactly that.  Mom and I were very impressed with their suites and the prices were much better than The Ritz.  Right now, The Crescent is the top location for the day of and night of festivities.  However, I will still be comparing three other places:  Hotel ZaZa, Legacy Marriott and Castle Hill Country Club.  I'm slightly freaking out that I don't already have this figured out and booked; and I just realized this is the first time during my planning I've felt stressed/overwhelmed/anxious/etc...

I had a trial run appointment with Courtney at Chi Ro Makeup last Friday afternoon.  I was so excited for another appointment of pampering and was ready to critique her work as I did with Anita's of Elan Makeup.  We started with the hair trial run.  Even though I made a few changes, I loved it!  Then Courtney started my makeup (this was the makeup trial run for the engagement pictures).  She did airbrush, which is a service I've never had but was super excited to try; and she did a smokey natural eye.  And again, with only a couple color changes, I loved it!  It was so easy for me to go with Chi Ro (XP)!  Courtney's work seems so much more professional and modern.  I'm excited for my next appointment with her, which will be next week when she does my makeup for our engagement pictures!  Speaking of, I cannot wait for that session!

Sunday afternoon Matt and I met his dad, step-mom, granddad and grandmother at our wedding venue.  We've been describing this place to them for months now and we were so thrilled to finally let them see it in person.  Matt and I wanted them to fall in love with it as we did.  And.....they loved it!  They approved!  Matt's dad said that it was "just perfect" and his grandmother had the biggest smile on her face as she noticed every detail.  Before we left, she congratulated me on a "very good job" and I couldn't be more happy that she approved.  What a special afternoon with Matt's family!    

Matt's grandmother anxiously waiting to begin the tour.

October wedding to do list:

- Engagement pictures on Oct. 10
- Make sure bridesmaids get measured for their dress and place their order
- Discuss groomsmen attire
- Select house party attire
- Browse save-the-dates
- Meet with our officiant for our first premarital session, which is scheduled for Oct. 7
- Determine order of ceremony events
- Choose invitation wording and design
- Select where my girls and I will get ready the day of the wedding
- Family "I Do" BBQ on Oct. 27!

7 months to go!  Wow!