tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67093606469528140722024-02-21T06:39:09.033-05:00Wedding Blogaksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-82983484286328704292009-05-25T19:42:00.003-04:002009-05-25T20:00:21.056-04:00I'm Alive!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It has been a very long time since my last update. The firm where I work had another round of layoffs and the good news is I made it through another round. The bad news is that I got transferred to a different group where I am insanely busy every second of every day. I am exhausted by the time I come home from work - hence, why the updates have been few and very far in between. The plus side is I feel like I have a lot more job security - which is great!<br /><br />Now on to wedding related news...<br /><br />The bridesmaid dresses have come in. The flower girl dresses are in. The paper for our DIY invitations have come in so we can start printing those bad-boys up soon. We bought the gifts for our bridal party (well, most of them anyway).<br /><br />My dress has finally come in and I am going for my first fitting in about three weeks. I have scheduled my hair trial for earlier that day.<br /><br />That is all for now! I just wanted to briefly update anyone who follows. No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth (at least not yet)! :)</span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-76587769139968113012009-03-19T15:17:00.004-04:002009-03-31T12:56:11.406-04:00Third Time is a Charm!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Or in our case - third choice is a charm. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Brian and I haven't been indecisive about too many things relating to the wedding. Much of what we have chosen thus far was relatively easy. We both have essentially the same vision for the day and everything else has fallen into place smoothly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My facebook status a few weeks back said something to the effect that picking a first dance song has been the hardest part of wedding planning. My sentiments are still the same. Our initial choice for our first dance song was changed when we realized that there was no way that we could comfortably dance to it. We then settled on a different song that was beautiful but not really "us". So now - our third (and FINAL) choice is "Pistol" by Dustin Kensrue. It isn't a cookie-cutter first dance song or a popular Top 40 artist but it is a bit funny and contains a whole lot of truth and sentimentality. Brian played it for me a year or two back and it has stuck with us and we're finally content with our first dance song.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Thankfully, the Amish Outlaws are a bunch of the nicest guys one would ever meet and have been overly patient with us as we changed our minds again and again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are the lyrcis:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I love how you curse when I wake you up</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And sweetly demand that I fill your cup.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Your smile or your cool gun powder glare</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Honey, you lay me bare.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You're the girl of my dreams</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And a pistol it seems, </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but you shoot me straight and true</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Time to lay down my bets,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, I put all my money on you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When I'm in the dark, girl, you bring me to light.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It seems like you're almost always right.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So keep boxing my ears when I sew them shut.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Baby, you sure are tough.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You're the girl of my dreams</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And a pistol it seems, </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but you shoot me straight and true</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Time to lay down my fears,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Honey, I feel so safe around you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If the tiller man taught me anything,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's that a hard-headed woman is what I need.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To help me to always do my best.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Baby, my life is blessed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You're the girl of my dreams</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Darling, please wear this ring.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You're an angel through and through.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Time to lay down my life,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Honey, I'd do it gladly for you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Time to lay down my life,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Honey, I'd do it gladly for you. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the video (though ours will be performed by the Amish Outlaws):</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/72D49j0RcPs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/72D49j0RcPs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-54234350329484693002009-03-04T15:40:00.013-05:002009-03-04T16:06:56.094-05:00Ever the Same<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">FINALLY! </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have <em>finally</em> picked our first dance song. We really came down to the wire on this one as our band is learning the song so they can perform it for us and they needed to know well in advance. Our first choice (Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hard to Concentrate) didn't quite work out because really, how the heck were we supposed to dance to that? So, this was a song we had in mind in the beginning and stuck with us throughout the tedious song selection process.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The notable thing about this song is that Rob Thomas wrote it for his wife who was suffering from an illness at the time. She has since recovered but the expression of love within the song itself is really remarkable. It isn't all mushy gushy (let's face it - that just isn't "us") but it is romantic in its own right. I'm pretty excited about it. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here are the lyrics to Ever the Same, by Rob Thomas:<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></div></span><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>We were drawn from the weeds<br />We were brave like soldiers<br />Falling down under the pale moonlight<br />You were holding to me<br />Like a someone broken<br />And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now<br /><br />Just let me hold you while you're falling apart<br />Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down<br /><br />Fall on me<br />Tell me everything you want me to be<br />Forever with you forever in me<br />Ever the same<br /><br />We would stand in the wind<br />We were free like water<br />Flowing down<br />Under the warmth of the sun<br />Now it's cold and we're scared<br />And we've both been shaken<br />Hey, look at us<br />Man, this doesn't need to be the end<br /><br />Just let me hold you while you're falling apart<br />Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down<br /><br />Fall on me<br />Tell me everything you want me to be<br />Forever with you<br />Forever in me<br />Ever the same<br /><br />Call on me<br />I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me<br />Forever it's you<br />Forever in me<br />Ever the same<br /><br />You may need me there<br />To carry all your weight<br />But you're no burden I assure<br />You tide me over<br />With a warmth I'll not forget<br />But I can only give you love<br /><br />Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be<br />Forever with you<br />Forever in me<br />Ever the same<br />Call on me<br />I'll be there for you and you'll be there for me<br />Forever it's you<br />Forever in me<br />Ever the same<br /><br />Forever with you<br />Forever in me<br />Ever the same (Ever the same)</em></span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-48383915998979380162009-02-15T16:29:00.006-05:002009-02-17T09:20:33.286-05:00Wedding Day Jewelry<div id="ms__id32"><div id="ms__id31"><div id="ms__id11" align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was very excited to mark another check off of my list for the wedding (ok, maybe a partial check because I still need to get a headpiece whether it be a veil or comb). As a combination Valentine's Day, birthday and wedding gift - Brian gave me the most beautiful pearl necklace and matching earrings. It will match my dress perfectly which is funny given that he has yet to see it. So, my wedding day jewelry will be the following (the necklace, earrings and my engagement ring and wedding band):</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303145758750837394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLyAP8WUKQtGeAC0PiBaiVOgt3LYib9dTgoSz23I8vMIDlS5N43V2VSnzzK-_PU8iM5Ox0PGvSbl37e9alEBOqWUbRhep_SHUoHUhrCpXGhSxvYNTtFpMCnm2Qd5DiLMeN0w07evf2ss/s320/Wedding+Jewelry+040.jpg" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303146546540600242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsKRHDCNhYO2K0OHehLBR2rxwtOYvUEHvzrP-OQ8Ti4kZry6NPgC11H1ZRhRqwvcDHAt_nSYfAqtGk0HGVhNcyXrRMQIUU-zLt3wisYWVVCxax8Ppm2wp4lfcC6de8ZYlZvC_2fnH724/s320/Wedding+Jewelry+043.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">We were also able to pick up Brian's wedding band this weekend (although I couldn't take a decent picture of it - this is my best shot):</span><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303153332337298594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDweCht6Q-Vltgh8hVmrI7VGTk9NRyk5kbBiI_OkOHUHmHaqCFKN-63N9zSnf98W5bC45nFhfB6n5lT7WI5eM9BkfFfBzQGffhaTBLc9iSdoPa-oFkB9KAEd-w3FKIfuNM0S8lt3mP2hQ/s320/Wedding+Jewelry+030.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-24634568249060900042009-02-04T16:29:00.011-05:002009-02-10T12:53:48.007-05:00Almost a Year's Worth of Wedding Planning Experience!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">At the end of this month, Brian and I will be engaged for a year and have about seven months to go </span><span style="font-family:arial;">before the wedding. The last few weeks have been productive as far as wedding planning goes and we're thankful to have a few less things to worry about.</span> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Brian picked out his wedding band from Omega Fine Jewelry in Ramsey, New Jersey. We will be picking it up this weekend so I can post pictures next week.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We reserved a block of rooms at the <a href="http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-nanuet-new_york-NY188">Comfort Inn & Suites</a> in Nanuet, New York for our out-of-town guests and friends.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have booked bridal party transportation and a hotel shuttle for guests of the hotel to and from Patriot Hills with <a href="http://royalcrownlimo.com/">Royal Crown Limousine</a>.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We designed the save-the-dates ourselves and are having them printed through VistaPrint. We did standard postcards with travel information on the back. Hopefully we will get them back soon so they will be in our guests' hands by the end of February. Here is a picture of the front of the postcard: </span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301226296785059154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA3IXqkBdjLTRbiwC7ZT2ntDsO-RYeTEvvQPGcviP4Jz8hVMfNDrp2krtKuI1Xddl3MEggIzEi6JmlpW_k32mlFA-nZ0S3NxZoWOX0tayCZFq04_s9Ca92YXmI9Sl0bBivGJOS5FK7LM/s320/STD(Internetready).JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></p></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">I had my makeup trial with Christine of <a href="http://www.colormakeupstudio.com/">Color Makeup Studio</a> and booked her on the spot. She did a wonderful job and when she was done, I still felt and looked like "me" - just a slightly more upscale version. Apparently I wasn't in the picture taking mood that day as all but one picture taken that day came out pretty terrible! Here is a picture taken a few hours (ok, seven hours) after the trial:<br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301188834875884498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5Zy0BZyGfQTLSoHlnxQnvgUMU2hA9fZAHs4kZMTlq2fBLgaDt1z09nuNDlU30R0bbJyc6n8FIGJwLzHDh4Yzp5G1XqMeb33o8w1X0wVpAIPW1MxNkl0VuqgelVc4BEOXowKzqcArLbQ/s320/DSC_0093.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Unfortunately you can't really catch the details from this far away but she did focus a lot on my eyes and it showed.</span><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The moms have picked out and ordered their dresses. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">My mom is going with a Daymour Couture (Style Number 3001) in aubergine. Here is a photo of the dress in champagne:<br /></div><p></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301221004645869730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccYyJwKyevT1Lk9dQ50yFTFnIgV9Gs4orAsMCAZR1_2LrSySOlcZHH_sYiwpDCDczMMOSJ_YOXzmIUfV5uHEN11kY8oWjFLWqTsAw5Rjizz_1CHs6bbfYnBm28vdxiUKd3TUDIYkM2ZY/s320/MOB+Gown_Daymour+Couture+3001+(Aubergine).jpg" border="0" />Brian's mom is going with a David's Bridal (Style Number 34382) in brown. Here is a picture of the dress in eggplant:</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301222376925908914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjW4NEE72rMnKmF5xAIv6n1CjFlxgxkjSKNcwSp79-YWsNAmS05qOFitsdqjuG6XFx1Yi9U3AABcbm7ZSm1klKn0ckK0cqjwuuO5UmP9X3tzCfIITpWbo8Qxi60egr63rEcpK5MZMFko/s320/MOG_Davids+Bridal+34382+(Brown).jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We made our first appointment with a florist (Dykstra Florist) for Saturday, February 21st. I finally know what colors I would like for the flowers and hope that someone, somewhere is within our budget!</span></p>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-6422834226728274012009-01-26T16:45:00.006-05:002009-01-30T09:24:59.545-05:00Charcoal, Champagne, Ivory and Blush<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">A big concern in planning the wedding so far has been my color scheme. When I found my dress - I fell in love with it in the light gold color thinking that it gave the dress an antique and elegant feel. Add that to the fact that I was pretty set on having charcoal grey bridesmaid dresses and it all threw me for a loop when it came time to narrow down a color theme. </span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I tend to be attracted to muted and subtle color combinations and I have finally found one that I am happy with. Our colors will be charcoal grey, champagne, ivory/white and blush pink. The pink will be used very sparingly in our bouquets and on the paper products. I don't think I could have gotten Brian to agree otherwise. Here are the colors side by side (our grey is a tad bit darker than what is shown here):</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297091575728904498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfd8p4gkiV-kdKPH_UZ1FpygpD7URKoepqz-Zlfc9m04LFCCIdGgeAzi2FSYRu6D7c82rPgMHwROtRx17AyKId7QV_eQKOlEPJBil6we2SwJCNMP8FNOrjjoDW_Z5x9OKbEp3w4CXXpw/s400/Presentation1.jpg" border="0" /> </div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-50570064378806135562009-01-15T09:30:00.007-05:002009-01-15T13:33:48.981-05:00Our Honeymoon Location is Picked!<span style="font-family:arial;">Initially we were just going to do a mini-moon for a few days after the wedding. However, Brian and I do short trips (long weekends) all the time and we wanted our trip after the wedding to be different. We sat down and talked about where we would want to go if money were no object (which it certainly is but it can't hurt to dream, right?) We both really wanted to go to Hawaii and were concerned that with our limited budget, we wouldn't be able to. We reached out to Rhonda at </span><a href="http://www.travelbyvip.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Travel by VIP</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (recommended highly on the Knot's honeymoon board) and she put together a package for us that far exceeded our expectations.</span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Before I get into any details on the trip, I just want to insert a plug here for Rhonda. I was a bit hesitant at first to work with a travel agent, let alone one that predominantly does her business on-line and not face-to-face. We gave it a shot anyway and am so glad that we did. Within hours of my initial email inquiry, she responded back with some very helpful information, collecting details of exactly what we wanted and got started putting together packages right away. She's very friendly, attentive and has kept us updated every step of the way. We have no hesitations going forward and feel as though we are in good hands. If anyone is in search of a travel agent, I would suggest at the very least dropping Rhonda a note and seeing what she can do for you. Her email address is </span><a href="mailto:Rhonda@travelbyvip.com"><span style="font-family:arial;">Rhonda@travelbyvip.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. Travel by VIP does not charge you for helping put together your honeymoon package - they get paid directly by the resorts. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Now on to the really good stuff...</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We are getting married on a Saturday and have allowed ourselves a day to recover. We leave on an early flight Monday morning, have a brief layover in Phoenix and arrive in Maui at 2:23PM in the afternoon (which is really 7:23PM EST). We will be staying at the </span><a href="http://www.2maui.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Royal Lahaina Resort</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> on Kaanapali Beach for five days.</span></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291554436667777042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0GLQbtLsyXuO4CI7yXQeZ2wpseM2DZS_yOPujoNROWgfxi4CX-AhPB5Qd_BtO3HuheeThzFVuVfLNwraiVGcBKXCfrNStIasB_OknlszYoYqh9xRDNtFRmi4fw3mEfh2YLGMoX6XyOY/s320/Exterior_F_1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291554489128818578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAIj5x0eHpvD2KdyFuLdXKOUj6eELRCtSHhQSwOmffZOA7a4AUeZ0R363utO5aWPazYw8_NxL1pvgnmj97YvFMKafufojCuRWwSb-fZe_Iqk8T3xaVikyLsY23uDZiOQ8uDJSp21mlQY/s320/Exterior_F_3.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291554430467006722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MwjgygE711B_s7cY63oB9nR19SphSXZmrI8Oz76GK3sUtsXNV98J2FEfiS1kwo8jPv0BODv55OVLz6zsGNrmaEyb2OTw8vwg8adi_KgM6wrzx2uNXdj5e48tW9Id4YflGMi7rP7tdrs/s320/Guest_room_F_1.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span> <div align="justify"></div><span style="font-family:arial;">We will then be staying for five days on Hawaii's Big Island at the </span><a href="http://www.outrigger.com/hotels-resorts/hawaiian-islands/hawaii-big-island/keauhou-beach-resort"><span style="font-family:arial;">Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> on the Kona Coast.</span></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291589464130134482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y-M_bO4D4MEXDanaHm8gAZkrhEay-XMKLRcAfT29EP7jt4TM1yaum4cgLWwXn46T6BZoWAkTXlrSFQWd7XW_sSWrQEBhuZkM46DZZ11YxuTmosTL6poG3V-s3EE9AvJBxNJMRqxXlLQ/s320/ph370kbr_hhi_aerial_kic.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291589467879949634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznhd5zSP7UJktGveyY0KPcQuxD-vROSGEYHrRBlBNB4BeCskDiRcSa_dDRtJ-jP8A25HycB6flhocwlFocUU33YILg-1hBy1w0Bjj4vpT_e30EdTLISiuLS7TwKkqcS5aRw_I-jXkAvs/s320/ph370kbr_hhi_turtle_exterior.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291589469017436322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA01pk0vYPbCYaE-NqM3n_Q1cJT1KVVQ9g10btVJyqrw5dcbMaVfwAIKon4L71W3cmPPcNIv-geVzYlqidSXoW_XI57ff3HWoYV6tWeA-stfHh0J-Hyb3keHIKaPw8794Lm2fy3CO5MgA/s320/ph370kbr_hhi_walking_tour.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291589467570739298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cUvCp9w7MvHMbjimQmansD4lWcCpLJfGDuYlG_C-hnhj2yynOkZn7MNbqvyoOqsk7SLKGazDccPiadNFnT2djDAoYSFNQIA_BrBdOPf-OM5y1YChTYYKcpmT_IXoXx8iBqSD1JaSqXk/s320/ph370kbr_hhi_lobby_view.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291589468170631154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSIw3xRzib7ZcZ6LH-nhNJ9ZDTumyoZauvfWY-XVgZsk06Cqy3fju7nr6e1voYttEKnPRZGwy0R9-1j3CctBZROOKz3vyBUS3Zf9JzaMVgUVNdKSQarVax2CdTtIK_c0h8sFXR44HBE0/s320/ph370kbr_hhi_ov_king_4.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In 8 months and 13 days, we'll be on our way!</span></p><p> </p>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-86069038531829975812009-01-03T15:21:00.004-05:002009-01-03T16:03:13.951-05:00Bridesmaid Dresses Picked Out!<p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">After much consideration, we have narrowed down the choices for the bridesmaids dresses. The girls had their choice of floor-length gowns from Bill Levkoff in european satin material and the color European Grey. These are the current front runners for each of the girls:</span></p><div id="ms__id16"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_bM3SDxM3Zq01PDjYQIEg35_ZQqzJqiVJ7pP4m8ctqdl0Fdc1cVEXKoP6PX_apJ4J1UWPeNvsVEqP7SQJghzfwoBcOKaBFsR-HvsNZ0cZy8dRc-ssHsKUIAN7OOCwnp6_FX46mqX_WI/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287170638564639458" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_bM3SDxM3Zq01PDjYQIEg35_ZQqzJqiVJ7pP4m8ctqdl0Fdc1cVEXKoP6PX_apJ4J1UWPeNvsVEqP7SQJghzfwoBcOKaBFsR-HvsNZ0cZy8dRc-ssHsKUIAN7OOCwnp6_FX46mqX_WI/s400/Slide1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div id="ms__id21"><span style="font-family:arial;">We will be ordering the dresses from Helen Bohn as well. I got my gown there and was able to get a discount for the girls.</span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-28409317897644263062008-10-23T23:09:00.007-04:002008-10-24T07:54:15.213-04:00Engagement Pictures!<p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">Brian and I had our engagement pictures taken in Cold Spring, New York on October 14, 2008. Our photographer, <a href="http://www.rickhelmanphoto.com/">Rick Helman </a>was great! Our photos were uploaded to his website by that evening and we are extremely happy with the results. Here are a handful of our favorites:</span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55QmroOugpmdBPE_H_5KlLy3aYWQXiBjNkoYyI2L5xHPDigZ59go2sb_dByyWfyPbHeCMON5Hvqa4qsRpURIiooPIqh-n5mZ1tiYonYKgtqiAlQE3j8UESto-fPiit3cRQsPL7yTIDEE/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260553064776561218" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55QmroOugpmdBPE_H_5KlLy3aYWQXiBjNkoYyI2L5xHPDigZ59go2sb_dByyWfyPbHeCMON5Hvqa4qsRpURIiooPIqh-n5mZ1tiYonYKgtqiAlQE3j8UESto-fPiit3cRQsPL7yTIDEE/s320/Engagement+Pictures+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf508xkY2qeXMau7Ah_zD-fo_bPRR8RypktPYR0Stt3oQ4ij1Bpkhd9WJZBGJRWoMynZFov56Tt0sv2Bpt7eOfcl2I7V-G7eNihFtqmJl_Acx8zs6Q0gtdnV55WdHrPiqMyVWyDYwIjk/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260684976542351506" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf508xkY2qeXMau7Ah_zD-fo_bPRR8RypktPYR0Stt3oQ4ij1Bpkhd9WJZBGJRWoMynZFov56Tt0sv2Bpt7eOfcl2I7V-G7eNihFtqmJl_Acx8zs6Q0gtdnV55WdHrPiqMyVWyDYwIjk/s320/Engagement+Pictures+141.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjF9oF-ZO9V_eDEeQhcyYMwqQsnr33GQ2DtDqrtXD7DD2W3ZvY7fg9zzDJrU7bZ-jHFUsoxbzvKAC51Xa26k55IVM1QzP2m16QWOAv-p6Xx08WycdxZ4RlmQfMU3OQwo0twaHx1bfHq0/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260684974129372642" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjF9oF-ZO9V_eDEeQhcyYMwqQsnr33GQ2DtDqrtXD7DD2W3ZvY7fg9zzDJrU7bZ-jHFUsoxbzvKAC51Xa26k55IVM1QzP2m16QWOAv-p6Xx08WycdxZ4RlmQfMU3OQwo0twaHx1bfHq0/s320/Engagement+Pictures+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQIZHAD4228rSxOWlC-cdjat0mAnOoDmQFjpXcGumEER46qNTWbFutnEQnhhWzH0n2CJCngR00eIDDRKeDEYZnm7lumF5kJqCV3scNllxKeY0SqylrdNjk6EFQ_SupgyVI2aracEXHho/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260684961739991138" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQIZHAD4228rSxOWlC-cdjat0mAnOoDmQFjpXcGumEER46qNTWbFutnEQnhhWzH0n2CJCngR00eIDDRKeDEYZnm7lumF5kJqCV3scNllxKeY0SqylrdNjk6EFQ_SupgyVI2aracEXHho/s320/Engagement+Pictures+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdWxJczAv_sI5EhliDPuUkxReTHvZ4Pdvg29uLdePoKhXdRsGr8IEXA2akFwOgtWdynK7dBiIzrCWCo9ENLGTWdmijY38rPQZ_ivTQCi4dz7iReAhTHSL87d_axb0-6SSRzzjNKJXvvg/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260553099503899346" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdWxJczAv_sI5EhliDPuUkxReTHvZ4Pdvg29uLdePoKhXdRsGr8IEXA2akFwOgtWdynK7dBiIzrCWCo9ENLGTWdmijY38rPQZ_ivTQCi4dz7iReAhTHSL87d_axb0-6SSRzzjNKJXvvg/s320/Engagement+Pictures+060.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70JSO24PPHrfluA6Owm2HE_jm-HkuOxmFmHCzGt6pyvZ6regOqxWy7ZJYPkBnFC0U0DUodvOkaQhe9Aae_3-J66-tRvbSA3T0qmqbrjwlvLtLjLBqKB8d3OKrG5rgncPMDJiWpGmjyHQ/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260554069943789842" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70JSO24PPHrfluA6Owm2HE_jm-HkuOxmFmHCzGt6pyvZ6regOqxWy7ZJYPkBnFC0U0DUodvOkaQhe9Aae_3-J66-tRvbSA3T0qmqbrjwlvLtLjLBqKB8d3OKrG5rgncPMDJiWpGmjyHQ/s320/Engagement+Pictures+189.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmtx_T3QdOth-UlkXuF-aazH0SEZ14PwE05GmG2ogjZmAIWcdHX-h9gG6Sso-jVFYTxjuzOQiCN7JDyJe7pPo1jbuFPb40q1tI8NoQobXt3wgPMu7L4hQdr-e9K1lzo14WRTN9nVxsw4/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+124.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260554052418811986" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmtx_T3QdOth-UlkXuF-aazH0SEZ14PwE05GmG2ogjZmAIWcdHX-h9gG6Sso-jVFYTxjuzOQiCN7JDyJe7pPo1jbuFPb40q1tI8NoQobXt3wgPMu7L4hQdr-e9K1lzo14WRTN9nVxsw4/s320/Engagement+Pictures+124.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B9iTlpEmrO5YkC5e0fSz5MdBIAhZTMYwCfAlUoXIzmc7iqPvdzz3wuIqGGlksNktyEwgYVVU5HLxnezLGlyGmgmYydq92wsSoWbKWexe_3r_EcjZcuMw9HQegRhMYyRINU94spSM_rk/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260554015513198642" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B9iTlpEmrO5YkC5e0fSz5MdBIAhZTMYwCfAlUoXIzmc7iqPvdzz3wuIqGGlksNktyEwgYVVU5HLxnezLGlyGmgmYydq92wsSoWbKWexe_3r_EcjZcuMw9HQegRhMYyRINU94spSM_rk/s320/Engagement+Pictures+114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwHcaJySpmPeSgFOefn1Vo2FVnepx7WO7gYqxzPo3HZuZnhZGwFBUtBFXhYdzITZufqucxAo_3-JkwwdTbayEztm_GOUamJMe-htD-AAc1J1oB8dWLKVeD105vcokfSeexl5nU4K00Dk/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260554013071253906" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwHcaJySpmPeSgFOefn1Vo2FVnepx7WO7gYqxzPo3HZuZnhZGwFBUtBFXhYdzITZufqucxAo_3-JkwwdTbayEztm_GOUamJMe-htD-AAc1J1oB8dWLKVeD105vcokfSeexl5nU4K00Dk/s320/Engagement+Pictures+094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd7YqHL-uq16AVYKDMOK6CqlL6aM4dVp4TUWydX1t3nq_kVStPGqLP9xuqOgMaaDGQttiUDha35j0XmMp5hGFg_FccOeDA-tqBtCV7K1Pyld5a4ZIfmeRrkthm06d6HpaZI7glaSVhsM/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+219.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260554099551447346" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd7YqHL-uq16AVYKDMOK6CqlL6aM4dVp4TUWydX1t3nq_kVStPGqLP9xuqOgMaaDGQttiUDha35j0XmMp5hGFg_FccOeDA-tqBtCV7K1Pyld5a4ZIfmeRrkthm06d6HpaZI7glaSVhsM/s320/Engagement+Pictures+219.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DI2LBVTYYWdKPLnQZkPFoz9ThLr-ardD3pMqlYT6Dsud8OYuIvYncFoTtvSvJY539nlqCzIZAA7JmXxfx9ztpo2066pK5BvDv7CshHqy6Lq908rjaz8aA1E5jHy6Y3QemVjRWuHe7cc/s1600-h/Engagement+Pictures+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260555461627481122" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DI2LBVTYYWdKPLnQZkPFoz9ThLr-ardD3pMqlYT6Dsud8OYuIvYncFoTtvSvJY539nlqCzIZAA7JmXxfx9ztpo2066pK5BvDv7CshHqy6Lq908rjaz8aA1E5jHy6Y3QemVjRWuHe7cc/s320/Engagement+Pictures+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-26933420995692949462008-09-26T09:45:00.004-04:002008-09-26T14:57:16.299-04:00We Are Officially at the One Year 'til Our Wedding Mark!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On this day next year we will be getting married. Anyone who ever told me that the time flies sure wasn't kidding. As a re-cap, this is all that we have done in the first six months of our engagement:</span></div><ol><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have booked our reception and ceremony sites (which includes catering and the bakery for our wedding cake).</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have booked our band.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have booked our photographer and videographer.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have ordered my dress.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have chosen the wedding party.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have decided on our centerpieces and purchased the majority of the supplies (minus the flowers and mirrors).</span></div></li></ol><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is still some ridiculous number of tasks that need to be completed but all in all, I say we're in pretty good shape for the most part. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the last few weeks, we have accomplished or at least started several other tasks as well. Here are the most recent updates on what we are currently working on:</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Engagement Pictures:</em> We have scheduled our engagement pictures for Wednesday, October 15th with Rick Helman. They will be shot in Cold Springs, NY in the late afternoon. We are hoping for some good light as the sun starts to set.</span></p><p align="justify"><em>Officiant: </em><span style="font-family:Arial;">We would really love to have Judge William Franks officiate the wedding ceremony. Judge Franks not only knows my Uncle but also used to be the Chief of Police for Stony Point before being appointed judge so he and Brian's father knew each other pretty well back in the day. The connection to both of our families makes us feel a bit more comfortable than going with someone who has no ties what-so-ever to either one of us. (Thanks to my Uncle Bill for help arranging this!)</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Ceremony: </em>We were able to visit Patriot Hills last week as they were tearing down their afternoon wedding set-up. We wanted to go as close to the one year mark of our wedding date as possible to get an idea as to what it looked like in the fall. The last time we visited, it was at the tail-end of winter so the landscape was a bit dreary. I LOVE how it looks in the fall. We were hoping the leaves would have started to change but it's a bit too early for that. Nevertheless, the grounds are beautiful. They have mums in these large urn-like pots and ficus trees surrounding the patio. I'm almost thinking that minimal decorations for the ceremony would be best - a less is more mentality. It really is beautiful all on its own. Once I get the chance, I will upload the photos.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Ceremony Music:</em> We really don't want to spend money on ceremony musicians given that (1) they aren't cheap, and (2) it doesn't seem worth it for the short amount of time that they would play. Luckily, Patriot Hills has speakers set up on their patio where the DJ (that comes along with the Outlaws) can play the music off a CD for us.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Centerpiece Supplies:</em> We got GREAT deals on our centerpiece supplies and I'm pretty proud of myself for being so thrify. As mentioned below, our vases came from Linens 'n Things at 50% off. The river rock was more than 50% off (got each bag for less than $1.00) and the votives were on sale in twelve packs for 50% off as well (worked out to be roughly $0.33 per votive and holder). Both were bought at Michael's. The newest excitement came when I found the floating candles for dirt cheap at <a href="http://www.quickcandles.com/">Quick Candles</a>. Even with shipment, they came to less than $1.00 per candle. So the only thing left for the centerpieces are to find cheap 12" round mirrors and pick which stems we want to submerge. I'm really excited about these.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">That is all for now! We will be looking for hotel blocks, florists and limo companies next. Before the end of this year, we hope to have created and mailed our save-the-dates.</span></p>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-81535862034673191162008-09-14T15:44:00.005-04:002008-09-14T16:58:43.414-04:00Second Centerpiece Mock-Up<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Over the weekend, I decided to test out another option for our centerpieces. I stuck with the candle theme and ended up really liking the end result. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I always thought that flowers submersed in water in cylinder vases with floating candles look very elegant. After finding an incredible deal on cylinder vases (each set of three was only $10.00 at Linens 'n Things) - I decided to give it a go. We stopped at a local florist and picked half a dozen or so random stems to see how they would work out. We used a handful of the river rock from the first centerpiece mock-up to line the bottoms of the vases. Then, we added the stems and water and topped it off with the floating candles. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the result:</span><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqStjyJvXTJ0xgT1e4IPERqRzN5jq-HGA5IwSoDTCmCT_EmsyKAatghm8wMu446EXcrqns2lYAJx4I6hRUlYTyJS3-Sw_BXjXoPdLCh6QpOU_F-r2UqJrT3Xr2nYCp7HmAUkmwn5E8kiU/s1600-h/Centerpiece+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245968673255735922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqStjyJvXTJ0xgT1e4IPERqRzN5jq-HGA5IwSoDTCmCT_EmsyKAatghm8wMu446EXcrqns2lYAJx4I6hRUlYTyJS3-Sw_BXjXoPdLCh6QpOU_F-r2UqJrT3Xr2nYCp7HmAUkmwn5E8kiU/s320/Centerpiece+003.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EhxRXt-GpOlPUq4iWCGz7YcdwZMMG3lPqOFB7u0FqusNPu5Q1YzLZKdD5ruBZe3gcXrwQP19O06nGT77ilieIMkAnGVvbaw1ACOr6UG6BMKMQPZ1GgMzGQHCQY-SQScJVedwhtf66TM/s1600-h/Centerpiece+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245968681196505522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EhxRXt-GpOlPUq4iWCGz7YcdwZMMG3lPqOFB7u0FqusNPu5Q1YzLZKdD5ruBZe3gcXrwQP19O06nGT77ilieIMkAnGVvbaw1ACOr6UG6BMKMQPZ1GgMzGQHCQY-SQScJVedwhtf66TM/s320/Centerpiece+004.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7DFwJ4zcCs0Jdm-UyCWHfLem87a5bJlDkHWTSQJmPMiQIodv1VyLJjrf1ifadec1uwi8flhq5sazM8Xh3u47_74_hv5skztj9eshiyj2Hwey_u4ZYNC-0AmIAnicgPOZxACFQ1GrIi0/s1600-h/Centerpiece+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245968684500026930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7DFwJ4zcCs0Jdm-UyCWHfLem87a5bJlDkHWTSQJmPMiQIodv1VyLJjrf1ifadec1uwi8flhq5sazM8Xh3u47_74_hv5skztj9eshiyj2Hwey_u4ZYNC-0AmIAnicgPOZxACFQ1GrIi0/s320/Centerpiece+011.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">I think this centerpiece affords us more options price-wise as we can forgo flowers all together, choose silk stems or real stems. Luckily, we have a connection with a wholesale flower distributor so we can try to price out what the most affordable option will be.</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">After a few hours driving throughout New Jersey, countless issues with Mapquest, an almost dead cell-phone and visiting 4 Linens 'n Things stores, I was finally able to stock up on the amount we needed by clearing out their Totowa and Butler store shelves. It was a productive, wedding-related Saturday.</span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-53358826093316262082008-09-11T09:59:00.009-04:002008-09-11T10:36:55.568-04:00Memorial Candle Mock-Up<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">As a tribute to those of our close relatives who passed before us, we will be setting up memorial candles at the reception. It is our way of reflecting upon the great impact they had in our lives on account of their love and unwavering support. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">The actual candles will be placed in large cylinder vases. I will be creating a wrap to go around the cylinder vase in translucent (or vellum) paper. The front part of the wrap will be the same layout for all relatives. It will contain a picture and the name of our loved ones, along with various other sentiments. On the back part of the wrap will be a saying or poem, personalized to the individual. The translucent paper works nicely as it is heavy enough to hide the candle in the vase but is light enough to allow the glow of the candle to shine through to the outside.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br>Here is a mock-up of the first wrap that I did. I have blurred out my grandfather's last name for privacy purposes. There is still some minor tweaking to be done (maybe some font changes) but this is the basic format for the candles:</span></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-zHlLzgkrYzbdl4YWToEZ67xYH3C_ET3xF_f28g7WjOMyvms_56XNie8aIPOKNnKKbudwSHYAgiISCoMW0rk720grZLkpcRKAg-aMbeiAAaZNYhpcbUxNOMQJmG9gTfEvCB9y6gmQp8/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244770359762360050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-zHlLzgkrYzbdl4YWToEZ67xYH3C_ET3xF_f28g7WjOMyvms_56XNie8aIPOKNnKKbudwSHYAgiISCoMW0rk720grZLkpcRKAg-aMbeiAAaZNYhpcbUxNOMQJmG9gTfEvCB9y6gmQp8/s400/Slide1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-19478453585413413612008-09-06T20:13:00.003-04:002008-09-06T20:16:58.080-04:00I Ordered My Gown!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">One big item was checked off of my wedding checklist today - I ordered my dress! The most I will say about it is that it is a Maggie Sottero. The turnaround time on getting Maggie Sottero dresses in-store is roughly 10-12 months so I'm not ridiculously crazy in ordering this early. I'm very excited to get this out of the way! In the interest of being discrete (i.e. keeping it from Brian), I will not post pictures but if you want to see a picture I took at the bridal salon, let me know! </span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-14974605222001373542008-08-17T09:14:00.009-04:002008-08-17T16:28:03.390-04:00Dress Shopping<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Let me start by saying that I can be a very indecisive person at times and not because I don't know what I want but because I have the tendency to overanalyze just about everything in my head. I take into account all possible scenarios before making a final decision that I am 100% confident in. If I have to make a quick decision, I will. If I don't have to make a quick decision (i.e. not in a time crunch to order my bridal gown right this moment), then I won't. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Straight off the bat, I knew I wasn't going to be one of those brides that just "knew" when they found <em>the dress </em>(for all the reasons stated above). With that said, I didn't have this earth-striking moment where the stars aligned and I realized I had found the perfect dress. In my world, what I felt, was enough to know that I found one that made me very happy and any other dresses I tried on afterwards (and before) just did not compare.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Without getting into too much detail about the gown that is the current front-runner, I will say that it is more elegant than princess-y and more simple than extravagent. I didn't feel like someone I wasn't when I tried it on - maybe just a slightly upscale version of myself. I would have ordered the dress right then and there but my friend Gary would have killed me if he didn't get to see it first. My plan is to go back within the next two weeks and put my deposit down. I'll feel much more relaxed once that is done. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The only issue is the dress throws me a curveball for my color scheme. Back to the drawing board for colors! Luckily, time (until the wedding) is something I have plenty of. </span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-8433307502066377202008-08-10T15:16:00.000-04:002008-08-10T20:11:27.071-04:00Mock Centerpieces<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On Saturday, while Brian was out on the bike, I took advantage of the time and made craft store runs with my mom to try and get inspired for wedding related things. We were walking around Michael's and came upon a display of candles that did just that. I've had a really hard time swallowing the costs associated with floral centerpieces given that flowers only last for a few days so the fact that this particular arrangement was both cheaper and longer-lasting than a floral centerpiece, made me very eager to try and make it work. With a little tweeking, we developed a front-runner in our quest for centerpieces. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The supplies needed for this particular centerpiece (per table) would be three pillar candles, three glass pedestal pillar candle holders, three votive candles, three glass votive candle holders, river rock and a large glass plate. What is under consideration (due to cost) is mini-gerbera daisies which we would need three stems per table. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is a picture of the mock-up:</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233006193361392594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtazkoS55bSNJdZqzLQ2hyt8f2NQFeLziiGauNYgC9zWXDcEMYrYvbb_qCZbFWiAFmxrVp5i-aW3DxlLidIiRBaKlBcxuiG8ySgKqEggOCv_cHjXAoNhJttdDmItevcgTvbd5cr-FDcyo/s320/10July2008+013.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-22725647752206243102008-08-07T09:47:00.001-04:002008-08-07T11:24:28.579-04:00Photography Locations for Pre-Ceremony<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We are in the midst of collecting location ideas for our formal photographs before the ceremony. The following suggestions have been made and are currently in consideration:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Haverstraw Bay Park. </em>Our photographer recommended this location as he has shot there before and it is in close proximity to Patriot Hills. Brian and I visited a few weeks ago but were not overly impressed. While Rick's photos look phenomenal, its more of an environmental issue as we will be taking photos mid-afternoon on a Saturday and the park is very, very crowded on the weekends. Plus, I've heard you need a permit so thats an added expense. (See some photographs <a href="http://www.myparkphotos.com/Browse/?object=park&function=photos&id=6947">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Matterhorn Nursery</em>. While I have yet to see this location in person, I fell in love with the photographs on Matterhorn's website. It has many gardens, wooden bridges and fountains. The drawback is that there are fees associated with reserving the gardens for pictures. You can pay a cheaper amount and have a partial-garden photoshoot or pay a higher amount for a full-garden photoshoot.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">It may be a last resort if we really can't find any (free) locations to our liking. (See website <a href="http://matterhornnursery.com/">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>New Jersey Botanical Gardens</em>. I took photographs here last year and love this location as well. My only concern is that weddings take place at Skyland Manor on the garden grounds so I don't know if we would be restricted in any way as to the time our photoshoot can occur or the location in which it can occur. While I do not believe there are fees associated with the use of the gardens for pictures, there are definitely other issues to look into. (See website <a href="http://www.njbg.org/gardens.shtml">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Stony Point Lighthouse</em>. This is a historical landmark and as such, may have stricter rules against photographing here. Not to mention, we have never actually <em>seen</em> the place (it didn't come recommended by anyone) and the on-line pictures seem a bit outdated but we do know its on the water (obviously). Nevertheless, its an option we're willing to explore. (See lighthouse <a href="http://www.hudsonlights.com/Stonypoint.htm">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>DeWint House</em>. This property is located in Tappan (Exit 5S off the Palisades). The person making this recommendation indicated that the on-line pictures don't do the property any justice and it is beautifully landscraped. It made me curious so we will have to check it out (plus its free). (See website <a href="http://www.dewinthouse.com/">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Dutch Gardens</em>. This is located behind the courthouse in New City. Its small but supposedly well-maintained. I believe there is a dog run in the same general area. The plus side is that parking is actually in the parking lot for the town buildings so on a Saturday, there will be more than ample parking. (See website <a href="http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/environ/county/dutch.htm">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park</em>. There is likely a fee associated with photographing here. Not to mention that (1) we don't have a specific location within the park in mind, and (2) if the leaves begin to change, the roads are full of tourists checking out the fall foliage. The draw to the park is that it is close to Brian's house and we do daily trips through the park often (on the motorcycle) so the spot is very "us". For that reason alone, it is worth looking into. (See pictures <a href="http://www.worldfromtheweb.com/Parks/BearMtn/BearMtn.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.worldfromtheweb.com/Parks/Harriman/Harriman.html">here</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Check back to this post often as we are planning on doing tours of each of the above. I will post photographs from each location.</span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-63790011138190272502008-08-07T09:08:00.000-04:002008-08-07T11:24:45.810-04:00General Decisions Relating to Wedding<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">We will be parting from <em>some </em>traditions for our wedding while maintaining others. Here are a few decisions that have been made thus far:</span></p><ol><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Brian and I will be seeing each other prior to the ceremony to take pictures. We did this for a number of reasons. We want to get pictures taken at a location other than Patriot Hills which would be difficult to accomplish any other way given that the ceremony and reception are both at the same location. We want our wedding party (and ourselves) to be able to attend the cocktail hour and spend time with their (our) families.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There will not be a Head Table for the same reasons mentioned above. Everyone will be seated with their family, spouse or significant other. Brian and I will be seated at a smaller table together.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We will not be doing a bouquet or garter toss. We are looking into possible alternatives but are not sure there will even be a substitute. </span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There will be a Memory table set up with candles or flowers for loved ones we wish would have been able to attend but can not.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The bridesmaids (and flower girls) will be able to pick out the styles of their dresses. I will choose a color, fabric and designer (to ensure the colors actually match) and the bridesmaids will be able to pick the style that they feel most comfortable wearing. </span></div></li></ol><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">That is all for now!</span></p>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-12541609165114365722008-08-06T22:31:00.001-04:002008-08-07T14:24:24.276-04:00Our Wedding Website<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInWltksAROws1M-JXY1wTV8eE6HT7XhCNpBvl2ptkr7SLkaY1ljIyrJtFRuy5HAznwdjmJ-3XSQWbc7awJVDRiz3jYuvjvxFXQ30j9vRsOlqJN82g5OKFhpp8pOQuA-7zB5dpV4fQlBg/s1600-h/Website+Picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231597905421343922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInWltksAROws1M-JXY1wTV8eE6HT7XhCNpBvl2ptkr7SLkaY1ljIyrJtFRuy5HAznwdjmJ-3XSQWbc7awJVDRiz3jYuvjvxFXQ30j9vRsOlqJN82g5OKFhpp8pOQuA-7zB5dpV4fQlBg/s320/Website+Picture.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">As most of you (if not all of you) know, one of our first wedding related tasks was to launch a website relating to the details of our wedding. It has great features and we’re excited to keep updating it with information as it becomes relevant. It started shortly after we got engaged to help spread the news of our engagement and will continue on until after the wedding to contain our wedding pictures. Currently, the site has information about us (individually and as a couple), events, and brief introductions to our wedding party. Later on, it will contain photo albums, travel information for out-of-town guests, our registry details and a RSVP option. The RSVP option allows guests to visit our website to RSVP in lieu of the traditional response cards typically used with wedding invitations (we will still be sending the traditional response cards anyway given that not everyone will have access to a computer to respond). We also have the option to poll visitors to the site with a multiple-choice answer question (i.e. where should we go on our honeymoon, what appetizer should we choose, etc.). Lastly, we have a guest book for visitors to leave messages for us. We appreciate all the well-wishes we have received thus far. We hope you enjoy!</span></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-50858475573624670042008-08-06T22:02:00.000-04:002008-08-07T09:07:31.169-04:00Rick Helman Photography & Video<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFAdksib7CMR_rDV90R1a8L7jKz47xm0_l-s6rkaSDaVNUKVH7yJWEh7hLAMFmNHxdZ73X4ps57DGlome2CzzgFTQ_-jTlnDPnEBcKudNi1OEP_ss2xonms2HXGt8WmqWJ7wdI7i-iTo/s1600-h/TN_RH_PH.jpg"></a><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was Brian who made the valid point that after all is said and done and our wedding day has passed, there are few things that we are going to have left to remind us of that day. Photography was it. We only had to meet with one photographer to find what we were looking for. Rick Helman Photography and Video is based out of Pearl River and has been awarded TheKnot.com’s Best of Weddings for 2007 and 2008. He has also received international awards for his work.<br /><br />Rick has a photojournalistic style of shooting. Most of his pictures tell a story. He will be shooting engagement photos for us in the fall of this year (which is a bit early but we can hopefully use them for some do-it-yourself projects for the wedding) and our wedding photos. While we are using an extremely basic videography package, it will nevertheless capture all that we would wish to see in a wedding video.<br /><br />We have no doubt that he will deliver amazing work. I have received some requests for must-have photos but need to inquire with others as to their preferences.<br /><br />For more information or to view his gallery, please visit </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.rickhelmanphoto.com"><span style="font-family:arial;">Rick Helman Photography & Video</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr-K9GACBhyphenhyphenqcVDiGaS3bvqc0AKrQJYxiyIdxagPgwvAFdLcevKqf-KEsAg009LQ1EmkABBkpN8cA8dW3YPV5f2ZTJOCxVLOVgdq68YSToQyvM1uUHw_S7Yu9Rm7aHihQvCR4u9gyNUg/s1600-h/TN_RH_Ex1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231591425135926498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr-K9GACBhyphenhyphenqcVDiGaS3bvqc0AKrQJYxiyIdxagPgwvAFdLcevKqf-KEsAg009LQ1EmkABBkpN8cA8dW3YPV5f2ZTJOCxVLOVgdq68YSToQyvM1uUHw_S7Yu9Rm7aHihQvCR4u9gyNUg/s320/TN_RH_Ex1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZIUK6oflGzsm1qk332jkk0FWkAfUobZto-BzVo3UYA4psNUjf_V2E_zVGO9KyCTKl9I9elQHXmRddiIoeWxtvhQl3PLSm0Obd38cHY7SdD-ZyadA344p3tih5KOzw-qEcLorezaxm8/s1600-h/TN_RH_Ex2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231591423546402498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZIUK6oflGzsm1qk332jkk0FWkAfUobZto-BzVo3UYA4psNUjf_V2E_zVGO9KyCTKl9I9elQHXmRddiIoeWxtvhQl3PLSm0Obd38cHY7SdD-ZyadA344p3tih5KOzw-qEcLorezaxm8/s320/TN_RH_Ex2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9L4mNDJy5BtgO6l86Va-LVQ_35vVJQL1JPARfEpdscTqGMMQmLdxnpnlWIXXuarnadKxivWTCscmlW9-WSLZPqepBsLVxO8-lrt6vD8UJtqNbCLw3GAX20LrOL50prDOUtJBWOGTYfQ/s1600-h/TN_RH_Ex3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231591430048379938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9L4mNDJy5BtgO6l86Va-LVQ_35vVJQL1JPARfEpdscTqGMMQmLdxnpnlWIXXuarnadKxivWTCscmlW9-WSLZPqepBsLVxO8-lrt6vD8UJtqNbCLw3GAX20LrOL50prDOUtJBWOGTYfQ/s320/TN_RH_Ex3.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-75334389390855361522008-08-06T20:09:00.000-04:002008-08-06T21:36:35.541-04:00The Amish Outlaws<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Before Brian and I even began discussing marriage seriously, we both agreed how great it would be to have the Amish Outlaws, a local cover band, perform at our wedding. We can’t even begin to express how excited we are that they have agreed to be our band for our wedding. Not only are they amazingly talented but they are some of the nicest guys you could ever meet. They will surely be entertainment in every sense of the word.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are some excerpts from their website:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>"It is a little-known fact that most Amish practice a tradition, similar to the Christian "Confirmation" and Jewish "Bar Mitzvah," called "Rumspringa" (literal translation: "running around") in which Amish children at the age of 16 have an opportunity to live free of the strict Amish code of conduct before deciding if they want to come back and be baptized into the Amish church. Surprisingly, virtually all of the youths return. </em></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>But sometimes they don't.</em></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Four out of the original six of the members of The Amish Outlaws were born and raised in Lancaster, PA and had a strict Amish upbringing. No electricity from land lines, no alcohol, no musical instruments, but their spirits were too wild for the Amish lifestyle. Once they trampled in the Devil's Playground (the Amish term for the American way of life), there was no turning back. In the years since Rumspringa, the members of the Amish Outlaws have become very well acclimated to the pleasures and vices of the modern world... music, most of all. </em></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>It was this mutual love of music that brought the Outlaws together in a chance meeting at the 2002 Pocono Vacation Park "Rock and Roll Hootenanny." Needless to say, the Brothers were soon like brothers, sharing not only the bond of having left the Amish life behind, but also the deep mutual love of music, and together they delved deeply into the 16 years of American culture they missed, watching endless hours of classic MTV, listening to the radio, CDs, records, tapes... anything they could get their hands on. But just listening and watching was not enough... the Brothers soon decided to form a band that combined their love of the modern world and their traditional upbringing.</em></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>There is no "typical" Amish Outlaws show, but the average crowd can expect to see men in </em><a href="http://amishoutlaws.fotki.com/"><em>full Amish garb</em></a><em> releasing all of their pent up energy with an infectious joy. With a set that is always evolving as the Brothers discover more and more music and culture, The Amish Outlaws constantly surprise the audience and keep them guessing as to what they could possibly play next, from Judas Priest to Jay Z, Neil Diamond to Snopp Dogg and Dr. Dre, Queen and Twisted Sister, to theme songs from the TV shows they have come to know. Throughout, The Outlaws spin yarns about the Brothers' upbringing and adventures since Rumpsringa. Amish Outlaw gigs are less performances than they are initiations into the life of an Amish Outlaw and parties celebrating the Brothers’ newfound freedom."</em></span></p><p align="justify"><em></em></p><p align="justify"><em></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></p><p align="justify"><br /></p></blockquote><p align="left">Here are some Sneak Peeks: </p><p align="center"><br />Styx - Come Sail Away<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKUvWVpYLK0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MKUvWVpYLK0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div align="center">Sir Mix A Lot - Baby Got Back<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1Vj4TmesuBg&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1Vj4TmesuBg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive </div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPCYtK_ANR7jhy1Z7iYrEAUz6YJCTByutYt1MXUIHOEJxuyUFwBdX6Sjt7p8veHmpsjMkzjmC1bhns-Y0qGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">It is likely to be a wedding band that many have never seen. For more information on the band, visit the <a href="http://www.amishoutlaws.com/">Amish Outlaws</a></span><span style="font-family:arial;">. For their set list, please click <a href="http://www.amishoutlaws.com/setlist.html">here</a></span>.<br /><br /><br /></div></span></span></span>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-58522121051465244962008-08-06T19:12:00.000-04:002008-08-07T09:05:59.303-04:00The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills<div align="justify"><span><span style="font-family:arial;">Brian and I looked at two different venues to hold our ceremony and reception – The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills in Stony Point and the New York Country Club in New Hempstead. Right off the bat, we got a better “feeling” from Patriot Hills. It ultimately came down to:<br /><br />The Staff. The staff at Patriot Hills seemed to genuinely care about our event. They were beyond helpful and not in the least bit pushy. Plus, they threw in a free fajita station for Brian straight off the bat.<br /><br />The Interior. The interior, where we will be the majority of the event, is spectacular. The bar areas are huge and the ballroom has phenomenal windows overlooking the golf course. It has a plain elegance that will match virtually anything we plan out.<br /><br />The Price. We got more for our money at Patriot Hills. Enough said.<br /><br />As mentioned, our ceremony will be held on-site. Weather permitting, it will take place on the outdoor patio. Cocktail hour tables will be set up both indoors and outdoors (all food will be indoors).<br /><br />For more information on the caterers and venue, visit the websites for <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.inncrediblecaterers.com">Inncredible Caterers</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.patriothillsgolfclub.com">Patriot Hills Golf Course</a>. We hope our guests love the location as much as we did!</span> </span></div><div align="justify"><span></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9x8N5ysGLdKu4-aaOekbOEk-Q1wByBYFHT4-NbxuXp2Pu90RAZjHsmoWFuCFaD-cAYr7oSNPViv4anubWUMwIfW9ouhRYMgpsCQrIZ6wIccEThi2nmXjMYf3DDuVl5IwkNyB5lEtg48/s1600-h/PH_entrancelounge.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231557940270291266" style="WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px" height="240" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9x8N5ysGLdKu4-aaOekbOEk-Q1wByBYFHT4-NbxuXp2Pu90RAZjHsmoWFuCFaD-cAYr7oSNPViv4anubWUMwIfW9ouhRYMgpsCQrIZ6wIccEThi2nmXjMYf3DDuVl5IwkNyB5lEtg48/s320/PH_entrancelounge.jpg" width="419" border="0" /></span></a></p><div align="justify"></div><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0OLN72Y6HDXrFNOrzcJ0_RVk0FArgVkFw5Vb0D7VRSfyRaar_xHRPgxauxGFpJmndZOqyqGSq4RN21NTbU1NaBUXOtrOCWxsSTXkpEkfpaRPGWfWTb__rdDX9X66plbzuj8vlRj96BA/s1600-h/PH_patio.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231558141747587282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0OLN72Y6HDXrFNOrzcJ0_RVk0FArgVkFw5Vb0D7VRSfyRaar_xHRPgxauxGFpJmndZOqyqGSq4RN21NTbU1NaBUXOtrOCWxsSTXkpEkfpaRPGWfWTb__rdDX9X66plbzuj8vlRj96BA/s320/PH_patio.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy5JEKRp-mf6nTEEP9WtQAaJF9j9qVAXdsOr7cEBFwtEM_aBxnxnoVu2nJA3Rr8ffTAPst_WREF13zetaka3GV4nwZFEh5-iKsexkJibo0uoQW45NSxPQ_1nzyQF31Bv04WNtvZPxOHA/s1600-h/PH_ballroom.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231558525723837074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy5JEKRp-mf6nTEEP9WtQAaJF9j9qVAXdsOr7cEBFwtEM_aBxnxnoVu2nJA3Rr8ffTAPst_WREF13zetaka3GV4nwZFEh5-iKsexkJibo0uoQW45NSxPQ_1nzyQF31Bv04WNtvZPxOHA/s320/PH_ballroom.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxRVjbSpjJld9-Y1h5dzj-tFRI_Iy0NYzvEnQYhUCCqXQF2NjzAXrjNTo1HBm-cRtqiAylk8xGrniV4VVUNfF86MLX__sYycVh79q4knSzlUyFtXPSFx9NLP4demP85SAIhbW1qeszlk/s1600-h/Patriot_map.jpg"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231558529869627826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxRVjbSpjJld9-Y1h5dzj-tFRI_Iy0NYzvEnQYhUCCqXQF2NjzAXrjNTo1HBm-cRtqiAylk8xGrniV4VVUNfF86MLX__sYycVh79q4knSzlUyFtXPSFx9NLP4demP85SAIhbW1qeszlk/s320/Patriot_map.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>About Patriot Hills</em>. Upon reaching the entrance to Patriot Hills, one finds it hard not to notice the beautiful stone buildings along the site's perimeter. The grounds on which Patriot Hills is located is the former site of Letchworth Village. The facility, named after wealthy Quaker businessman William Pryor Letchworth, opened on July 11, 1911 and was phased out in the 1990s.<br /><br />The buildings were constructed from fieldstone gathered from nearby fields. Every resident had some hand in the operation of the institution which was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. The schools set up at Letchworth Village focused on academics and industrial classes that supported the facility's operation. There was a large and profitable farm operation, as well as an industrial arts program that provided rugs, furniture and other crafts for sale to local residents. (Information obtained from the Hudson Valley Golf website) </span><br /></p></span>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6709360646952814072.post-85467834115493764922008-08-06T14:16:00.011-04:002009-07-23T11:41:24.091-04:00Wedding Checklist<div id="ms__id18"><span style="font-family:arial;">In an attempt to stay organized for the wedding, I've developed a checklist (with help from TheKnot.com) for what needs to be done.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Things to Book:</strong></span> </p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Caterer <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Ceremony & Reception Site <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Band or DJ <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Photographer & Videographer <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Officiant <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Tentatively booked - to confirm in the Spring)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Florist <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Baker for Wedding Cake <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Ceremony/Cocktail Hour Musicians <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(In progress)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Limos <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Shuttle Services or Area Cab Companies <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Make-Up Artist <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Hairstylist <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Manicure & Pedicure Appointment for Day Before Wedding</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Hotel Room for Wedding Night (if applicable) <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Honeymoon <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete - can't wait!)</span></em></span></li></ol><p><strong>Things to Decide:</strong></span></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Budget <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Date <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Guest List <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Bridal Party <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Color Scheme <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wedding Cake Design</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Floral Scheme<br />Bouquets <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em><br />Centerpieces <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em><br />Reception Decorations <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em><br />Ceremony Decorations</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Readers (if applicable) <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Not applicable)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Ceremony Readings and Script</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Ceremony Music (if applicable)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Formal Dances Music (First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Groom) <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wedding Day Timeline</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (if applicable)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Photography location <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete - NJ Botanical Gardens)</span></em></span></li></ol><p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Things to Do:</span></strong></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Register for Gifts <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Pick a Hairstyle</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Block Hotel Rooms <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Plan Rehearsal Dinner <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Not applicable)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Finalize Menu and Service Details</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Get Engagement Photos Taken <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Schedule and Attend Dress Fittings <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete - final try-on 9/12; pick-up 9/25)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Confirm Reservations for Out-of-Town Guests</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Apply for Marriage License</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Schedule Hair & Make-Up Trial <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Make-Up Trial Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Write Thank-You Notes for (possible) Shower <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Make List of Must-Play (and Must-Not Play) for DJ or Band</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Make List of Must-Take Pictures for Photographer</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Confirm Wedding Night and Honeymoon Reservations</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Seating Plan</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wrap Bridal Party Gifts</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Change of Name Paperwork</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Prepare Toasts or Thanks to Guests</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Fax Transportation Providers a Schedule and Addresses for Pick-Ups on Wedding Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Give Wedding-Day Directions, Schedule and Contact List to Parents, Bridal Party and Vendors</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Give Final Head-Count to Caterer</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Give Seating Chart to Caterer</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Confirm Final Payment Amounts with Vendors</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Confirm Delivery Locations, Times and Final Arrangement with Florist (if applicable)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Confirm Location, Date and Time with Photographer/Videographer</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Confirm Date, Location, Time and Playlist with Band or DJ</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Confirm Date, Location, Time and Playlist with Ceremony Musicians (if applicable)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pack Bags for Wedding Night and Honeymoon (if applicable)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Leave Honeymoon Itinerary with Parents</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Put Final Payments and Cash Tips in Marked Envelopes and Give to Designated Family Member to Distribute on Wedding Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Rehearse Ceremony</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Confirm Honeymoon Travel Plans</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Drop Off Required Materials to Venue</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Write Thank-You Notes for Wedding</span></li></ol><p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Things to Order:</span></strong></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">My Gown <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">My Accessories <span style="color:#ff0000;">(<em>Complete)</em></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Bridesmaid Dresses <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Tuxedos <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Brian's Wedding Band <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Favors <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Bridal Party Gifts <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(In progress - one GM left to buy for and RB)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Parents Gifts <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(In progress - groom's parents left to buy for)</span></em></span></li></ol><p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Things to Make:</span></strong></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Save-the-dates <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Invites <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Cardbox</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Out-of-Town Boxes</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Ceremony Program</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Guest Book</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Information Sheet with Contact Numbers</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wedding Day Timeline</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Wedding Day Emergency Bag</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Placecards</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Kids Packets for Reception</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Memory Candles</span></li></ol><p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Things to Send:</span></strong></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Save-the-dates <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Invites <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Thank-You Notes for (possible) Shower <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">(Complete)</span></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Thank-You Notes for Wedding</span></li></span></ol></div>aksallehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03752372548037414506noreply@blogger.com0