"I Do" to Duley: 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

Mike and I spent our first Thanksgiving together at my Grandma's house in Baxter Springs, Kansas. It is a tradition every year to go to her house where my Dad's side of the family gets together for the holiday. My Grandma spends the week preparing the food and making sure everything is perfect for the occasion. And it aways is. Delicious food and great company. Mike was able to meet other family members that he hasn't met yet. We had a great time visiting and eating great food!

Monday, November 30, 2009

wedding dress

About a year or so ago my family and I were visiting my grandmother in Colorado. She pulled me aside and told me that it would mean a lot to her and my mother if I would consider wearing her wedding dress. At the time I was single, and had no thought really about marriage or a wedding... wow, what can happen in a year.

So, the day I was engaged, she still remembered telling me about her dress and that I could wear it if I so wished. The more I thought about it, the more I was so excited and honored to wear such an heirloom piece that not only my grandmother wore, but also my Godmother, and also a dress that would mean so much to the women who mean so much to me in my life!

My grandmother was able to ship it to my parents house, and my sister was coming home to visit for Thanksgiving, so we were about to have a dress "unveiling" with my mom, my sister, and my best friend, Hillary.

The dress was still kept in its original gold box which my grandmother has taken very good care of. I pull it out of this gold box and the dress is still in immaculate shape. Still pure white, and beautifully adorned in lace. It has a long, cathedral train, high neck and long lace sleeves. The bodice is a sweetheart shape and has a little bit of beading around the bust.

It really is quite stunning. We are really keeping most of the original dress, just going to remove the lace sleeves and high collar and leave the sweetheart bodice.

Going to have to wait until after the wedding to see the rest :-)

Can't wait to get it fitted and see what will become of my grandmother's dress!

photography

So as a photographer myself, I knew that photography was one of the things that I was going to be the most particular about. I have followed area wedding photographers for some time now and felt that I had a good idea of what I was looking for. Unfortunately, my favorites were well out of my price range. I know, I know... you can't put a price on good photography, believe me, I definitely know. But, I also didn't want to break the bank either... I just knew there was a photographer out there that offered the quality that I was looking for at an affordable price.

After much thought and deliberation, I finally decided to go with D Coleman Photography out of Springfield, Missouri

www.dcolemanphotography.com

If you are planning a wedding and want to know other area photographers check out:

www.benefieldphotography.net
www.jeremycavness.com
www.brookerobinson.com
www.hudsonphotos.com

Planning has begun!!

I have always dreamed of a wedding full of family, friends and the love of my life...
I have always dreamed of a an event filled with emotion, laughs and of course fun!
Back as far as I can remember I also dreamed of a wedding reception at my parent's home.

I just have had this image in my mind of a big tent full of people, a fun band with everyone dancing, and of course plenty of beverages and yummy food.

So, when Mike and I first were engaged, our first thought of where we would have a wedding reception was no doubt going to be at my parent's house. Well, my parents had a little reservation about a house full of people preparing for the event, weather nightmares, where to park, etc, etc...

So, the task of finding a different venue was at hand. Although I was a little disappointed at first, we soon found a few other venues that still fit our tastes. Basically bringing the idea of a tent-outdoor wedding to someplace else.

After weeks of thought and deliberation, we had (thought) decided on another venue.
So when we received the contract, my parents were still going back and forth on having the reception at their house.

We went out to dinner after church one night and we started discussing the option of having it at the house further. Well... it didn't take much though to decide that yes, we would love to have the reception at the house- PERFECT!

So, without further ado... the final date is Sunday, September 5, 2010 at Peace Lutheran Church, my hometown church, and reception following at the home of Mark and Tina Smith!

YAY! SO excited... now everything will start falling in place!

wishful thinking, I know...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Final Surprise!

As the excitement of my Aunt and family started wearing off, I started to panic because I needed to get ready for people coming over for pizza and cocktails. Mike, as I was starting to clean, told me that Hillary had called (my BFF) and said she would have people over at her house instead. I was RELIEVED! Thank goodness I thought. I was "poofed" as Mike and I say. So, I started asking if we needed to pick up pizza and call everyone and Mike said that he thought Hillary had it covered...hmm...now I was getting suspicious, but didn't care, I was ready to go party anywhere!

Well, yet another surprise it was. Hillary was in on an engagement party from the beginning with all of our friends and family. It was absolutely perfect! She did such a great job and even incorporated my favorite color- Purple... I wonder what our wedding color will be...

It was such a great evening getting to share in the excitement of the day with those the closest to us. It truly was the most special day and I have everyone to thank in making it so, especially keeping it a secret for this whole time. I'm truly honored to have the family and friends that I do and I know that the wedding planning will be even more fun and meaningful.

Mike, you are a wonderful man, and I cannot wait to marry you. You really made this day one of the best days of my life, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of mine with you! I love you so much!

Hillary, thank you so much for hosting such an amazing party. You have been a fundamental part of my life as well, and I am so blessed to have you and all my friends a part of my life. Thank you thank you thank you!!
MMUUAH!

More Surprises

The first person I had to call right after I got engaged, that I thought may not know, was my Aunt E. My Aunt E has always been so supportive and encouraging to me, and has always been more like an older sister or best friend than my Aunt. She is also an inspiration and she means the world to me. So, I felt that it was important that she get the first call (also, she wasn't at the actual event, so I thought she would be surprised too).

Well she was so surprised and excited, and we both teared up and then she expressed how disappointed that she didn't know ahead of time, or she would have definitely been there. Well, then that made me kind of upset because I just couldn't believe no one told her. So, I went along the rest of the day making some calls, finishing up the tour and then we finally made it back to the house.

My parents had mentioned that they were going to come over a little bit before I was going to have people over for pizza and beer-oh, did I mention that the whole time at TDC I invited everyone over to the house for an after party-even before I got engaged!

Anyways, they came over, and I was actually asking my mom why she didn't tell Aunt E when all of a sudden, I look up and THERE THEY ARE!! I couldn't believe it- I'm tearing up again as I right this. It was such a meaningful, amazing surprise, it meant so much to me that they would come all that way to give me hugs and kisses. My Aunt, her husband Dave, and my Godson Joseph all in tow. What a great day!

Friday, October 9, 2009

The BIG Surprise

Mike and I were the chairs of the American Diabetes Tour de Cure festival held on October 3, 2009. I have since found out that Mike was planning our engagement from this moment when we agreed to chair...

The week before TDC Mike and I had to go out of town for work. He went to Kansas City, and I went to New York and Connecticut. On my way back, it was the most hectic day ever which started with Andrea, Shannon and I missing our 7 am flight because we got lost- that is a story all in itself...

Needless to say, the rest of the day we were paranoid about how we were getting home- especially me since I had TDC. Well, I had no idea that both Shannon and Andrea were REALLY flipping out because they knew what my day was going to entail!

But, we all finally made it out of the Chicago airport (we did get to Chicago, but they kept cancelling all of the NWA flights) and I made it safely back home- exhausted, but home.

Mike's parents had also made it in the previous day, so it was really nice to catch up with them as well.

So, the next morning we all woke up at 4:30 and headed to TDC. Overall, the day was going as expected. I was really out of it, but having a great time. The weather was perfect and all my family and friends were there- which I thought were there to support the event- little did I know...

Even my friend Angelica surprised me from Kansas City and I STILL didn't figure it out. Did I mention I was really out of it?

Anyways, so before the fashion show, the director of ADA said she needed to see me and that she had a special thank you presentation for Mike and I. So, I waited with her until they had everything set up. So this really threw me off if anything.

We go back towards the stage and I see a crowd of people, and I'm still thinking, "what else is going on- this can't be for Mike and I"... Then she walks me toward the stage and I see Mike on one knee and a sign that says, "will you marry me" with both of our parents holding the ends of the sign. I say, "shut up, are you kidding me," and go up to him and give him a big kiss. He gets back down on one knee and says, "before our family and friends I want to tell you that you mean the world to me, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me." and I answered, "of course." Then he put the ring on my finger and everyone came up to us and gave us hugs, and kisses and it was the most wonderful moment of my life.

Pre-engagement at Marcy Hill's Photobooth

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Then the fun started

Let's just say it has already been such a busy year! This isn't even half the photos I have at all of the events and fun times! Where ever we are, Mike and I always have the best time and our favorite thing to do together is be together with the ones we love. We love socializing, fundraising, throwing parties, organizing events- you name it, we both love it! I'm so glad I found my perfect match that compliments me in every way!