Grooms, Groomsmen, Ring Bearer Attire

The title here is pretty self explanatory. I have really been thinking lately what I want the wedding party to wear. I already have the bridesmaid's dresses picked out and I know a couple of them already have purchased theirs. So all that is really left is Nathan's tux, the groomsmen attire, and you can't forget the ring bearers. We have a total of 8 people in our wedding party, not including the flower girl and 2 ring bearers. So with our budget we are just not able to pay for every ones bridal wear. (Sorry guys!!)


But lets get down to planning. First off I have created a collage to show you what I plan for Nathan to wear. (After I made the first collage my collage maker decided it didn't want to make any more collages so this is the only one!)

All photos found on tuxedojunction.com

The photo in the upper left hand corner is what Nathans tux will look like all put together. I am very pleased with how it looks considering we will be the only ones wearing mostly white. I want both of us to really stand out as bride and groom.

The bridesmaids dresses are all black so we are going with the same theme for the groomsmen. We aren't making them go all out with a tux, they will just be wearing a simple black shirt, black pants, black tie, and black shoes.



boooooo... this uploaded blurry. But I don't feel like getting a different picture. You get the idea right???? Black dress pants. Okay!



All photos above were found on Kohls.com and were very reasonably priced. Groomsmen you can buy your attire anywhere you would like as long as it's black! I love the all black for both the groomsmen and bridesmaids, it is so simple, chic, clean, and put together. Which makes me happy!!

Last but not least the ring bearers. I have decided to have 2 ring bearers, I have two little boys in my family who are the most adorable boys ever and I know they will look adorable walking down the aisle together. One will be 3 and one will be 2, everyone will adore these little cuties. I have had a hard time deciding what I want them to wear and I am still not 100% sure but I did find a very cute and affordable option.

Found at Sears for only $17 for all 4 pieces!



ughhhh. another blurry picture. Sorry Guys!! These adorable black dress shoes are a $12 at Walmart. <3



I know we still have a little time till October so I think I will still shop around but these 2 things are steals and are adorable. I might be sold but with 2 growing little boys who would even know what size to get?!?

Once again sorry for the blurry pictures but you get the idea that I'm going with for all of this. Have a good night everyone!!

Love,

Merinda

5 months to go. Wedding checklist update.

Can you say slacker? Okay, I already know that's what I am, not giving you an update for nearly an entire month. And I will spare you all of my excuses because you know I have plenty. Just now in these first 2 sentences I have already had to stop and get a snack (a couple cookies), a drink (dr.pepper), get Harlow a bottle (so maybe she would take a nap but mommy lost that battle.) Now I will write a few more sentences until Harlow starts a) saying mamamama, which of course melts my heart and have to go give her kissies, or b) she starts crying because I am not giving her my full undivided attention and then I have to go and give her more kissies. Needless to say I have had my hands full with Miss Beautiful. :)


I had the opportunity to go back to my hometown in Kansas for a week to do a little more wedding planning last month. We knocked out a lot of our to do list, which is sooo helpful considering time is not slowing down. It still really hasn't hit me that we will be Mr. and Mrs in less then 5 months, we have been waiting for this since July of 2009 and it is finally almost here!


Here is an updated list of what we have completed:


Chosen a date.
Purchased wedding gown.
Chosen Caterer and finalized menu
Selected and spoken to officiant who will be marrying us.
Selected bridal party.
Booked the Ceremony site.
Chosen wedding colors.
Hired our florist.
Selected my hair and make up stylist.
Have and designed Save the Dates.
Booked photographer. (Shout out to you Stacia!!!)
Selected bridesmaids dresses.
Engagement photo selected and ready for the newspaper.
Purchased wedding bands.
Purchased wedding veil and shoes.
Purchased guest book
Booked wedding reception venue
Guest list completed (over 200 people)
Wedding hair piece is being custom made (Harlow will have the same one just miniature)
Finalized cake baker and had a cake tasting
Mailing out Save the Dates
Met with florist/decorators and discussed details (Feathers, flowers, Bling...Very excited about this!)


To do List:


Finalize DJ
Finish getting accessories: Bracelet and earrings
Finish getting bridesmaid gifts
Select honeymoon location (this depends on Nathan's job)
Design and mail wedding invitations
Plan rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Design programs and watermark
Buy/rent formal wear for Nathan
Plan groomsman and ring bearers attire
Buy Harlow's flower girl dress
Finalize ceremony song list
Find first dance song (this seems impossible)

My to do list keeps growing and growing but there are so many people helping with our wedding I am not stressed one bit!


If any of you, even if you don't follow me you can reply as anonymous, have any ideas or requests or just have questions and want me to blog about it leave me a message below. It can be about the wedding or anything. I think it will be fun to know what you guys would like to read about. Thanks Guys! :)


Love,
Merinda

Pinterest?? Yes..Please!

I am going to just get right down to the point with this one. Pinterest is my newest addiction these past 2 days and it has given me great inspiration for my blog, my wedding, Harlow's 1st Birthday, and everything in between. I heard about it on another blog YoungHouseLove, which is a huge inspiration all on its own.

A little about Pinterest, if you have never seen or heard about it you need to go right now and check it out! Basically, any piece of inspiration you see anywhere can be "pinned" (aka added to your board) and you can make notes about the picture as well. It's amazing and I have been pinning non stop since yesterday. If any of you fall in love it with like I did just leave a message and your email addy and I will send you an invite. Otherwise it takes up to 2 weeks to get an account, weird I know! It's just that popular. :)

Enjoy some photos I wanted to share with you that I have found from Pinterest.

Melissa.. This one is for you! Can we pleaaaaaaase get T a Hat like this?? I love it!

Beautiful picture. I would love to have one taken just like this.

This one speaks all on its own.

I would love to have a picture like this taken at our wedding.

Cotton candy at the wedding? Harlow's bday?

Adorbs!

This rocks! Tiffany cupcakes.



Ruffly seat covers. I would love to have these!



Awesome pink lemonade dispenser!

This makes my tummy hungry!

This is a save the date. Wish I would have thought of this idea!

This would be awesome for Harlow's bday.

And I'm going to need something like this hung above my couch. We need family pictures taken ASAP

I thought about this for Harlow's birthday decor.

This is so lovely.



xoxo,
Merinda

Blog Hop

To all my fellow bloggers and followers out there go check out Spearmint Baby's blog. She had the wonderful idea to host a blog hop. Just follow this link and it will take you straight to the blog hopping page.  A blog hop is a way for bloggers and blog followers to check out some other blogs that may peak there interest. It is a great way to drive traffic to your blog by just linking your web page to her site, which is the 2nd linky I made or the picture. There are already 94 people who have submitted there blog URLs and blog names, the next could be you! Or you may come out following more blogs on a daily bases. WOW! I have said BLOG quite a bit and I am positive you are tired of reading that word as I am typing it. So hop on over and check it out!!

xoxo,
Merinda

Piece of Cake

Cake, cake, cake..... What is a wedding without CAKE! So lately I have been trying to get back into the swing of things, planning and all, but I get really bored with things very easily. Oh and im a majorly big procrastinator. I hate talking on the phone with people it feels very awkward to me, so when it comes to planning a wedding when you live 6 hours away phone calls need to be made, and that's where my procastination kicks in. I need to work on this, I would hate to pass these traits onto my daughter.

Our wedding colors are going to be White, Black, and Ivory. The only things that will be white is my dress, Harlows dress, and Nathan's under shirt thing (I don't know what it's called???) and tie. I want this affair to be very simply, elegant, and sharp looking. Some of you may think it sounds boring but I think it is/will by lovely.

Here are some ideas for the cakes that I would love to have at my wedding.

Very elegant. Simple. LOVE!

The "Falling in Love" cake. So original. So me!

Im aiming to have a 2 tiered cake but with the way the guest list is looking I will probably need a 4 tier.
Picture courtesy of Stacia Meek. My wedding photographer! :)

I love the simpleness of this cake and the bow. I love bows!!

Leave me a comment and tell me which one is your favorite. If you have been married already tell me what flavor your wedding cake was, or if you haven't been married or didnt have a wedding cake for your wedding, tell me what your favorite flavor of cake is. Thanks girls!!

XOXO,
Merinda

Loves, Wants, Lusts... Oh My!

Wow. I don't even know where to start with this blog post. I have been MIA lately due to some mini vacations we had planned and I still haven't been doing to much wedding planning so I haven't really been inspired. I mean I don't want to just come on here and ramble because we all know my life is not that exciting.
My days consist of: laundry, scrubbing the apartment to get the disgusting smell of curry out of here (thank you neighbors! NOT!!!!), cleaning bottles, making bottles, and keeping Harlow and I clean, dry and happy! Who could ask for a better life? :)

Oh and exciting news we have less then 91 days till the end of June! Which we all know that means less then 91 days till moving day!! AHHH...EEEEKKK!! I am so excited, I want to start packing now! I have definitely been inspired lately in the home decorating area and can't wait to get into a house and make it feel like a home.

Without further a due lets get to the topic at hand. With mothers day, my birthday, and moving day all coming up there has been a few items I have been hinting around about that I would like to have, eventually. These things are not necessities just "wants", "likes", and "lusts".

Okay, the first thing I want to lust over is a thing called Mashed Potato Martini Bar. A couple of summers ago I went with my cousin Kristi to Las Vegas. She went for a business trip and I went to keep her company. It wasn't just a business trip though we got to go out on the town, enjoy some good food, watch a cirque de so lei show, and on the last night enjoyed a little cocktail party thrown by the company. At the cocktail party they had a Mashed Potato Martini Bar, one of the most unique and creative ideas I have ever seen. Who doesn't love potatoes with a ton of different options for toppings, all served in a martini glass? It was such a neat idea I decided right then and there we would use that at our wedding. It is one of the things that I am most excited about! :)

The 2nd thing I am lusting over is scentsy. I need more!! They smell so good and are so decorative and pretty. I can't wait to get into our house so I can see how many I need and which ones will look best with our decor. I even plan to get Nathan one for his office. Good thing I have a family member that sells it. :)

note: pictures are clicky.

 ^^The one I'm getting for Nathan^^

The third thing I can't wait to get or maybe I will attempt to make some is Fabric Cord Covers. I saw these for the first time this weekend and I am in love with this idea. They help disguise cords and make your house a little more decorative. I think it would also be a great way to distract Harlow from going after cords.

The fourth thing I am lusting over is throw blankets for the couch's in the living room. I love blankets that are so pretty they become part of your decor. I love big, cozy blankets to snuggle up with and this one is definitely one I have my eye on. It's from pottery barn and retails for $79.

What would that beautiful blanket look gorgeous on you ask? How about his couch? I saw it in Macy's and it is one of the first things I would love to get when we move. I am obsessed with these couches.

This next thing I have been lusting over for a while now. It is Bobbi Brown Blush in Peony. It has rave reviews and is beautiful on, not as bright pink as you think. I think it would be perfect for this summer.

What better way to display this lovely blush then with the perfect summer dress. I saw this dress in PacSun over the weekend. I am in love with it.

To top off the look I have been dieing to get this lovely ring from Yellow Pocket Boutique in Jet. I have the white and adore it. I have been wearing it everyday since I received it in the mail. I also have gotten tons of compliments on it, it is a keeper!

note: picture is clicky.



The last thing is Jessica Simpson leopard print luggage. I have been wanting this for over a year and I think it is the perfect set to take on our honeymoon.

Hopefully, I will continue to keep up with my blog and not abandon it like I have recently. Do you guys have any things that you have been "lusting" over lately? If so leave me a comment I love to hear from you guys. :)

xoxo,

Merinda

Yellow Pocket Boutique Giveaway

My friend Shanna over at Yellow Pocket Boutique is doing a giveaway in honor of St. Patty's Day. Shanna and I have known each other for literally ever and I am very excited for her starting her business of making handmade jewelry. I can't wait to purchase some stuff from her and show all of you. I have been hinting to my mom and Nathan about some possible Easter presents from her shop. :)

The winner of the giveaway will receive a birthstone necklace. The necklace is a silver plated ripple heart with 6mm round birthstone, your choice of color, on an 18 in. silver plated infinity link chain.

It is a very beautiful piece of jewelry and who ever wins is going to be very lucky!

The contest goes till Sunday, March 20,2011 at 3:00pm. So hurry up and go over to her page and enter for your chance to win!

All you have to do to enter is...

1. Like Yellow Pocket Boutique on Facebook.
2. Follow Yellow Pocket Boutiques blog @ ypboutique.blogspot.com
3. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway. 3 possible entries here!!
4. Donate to Japan. This entitles you to 5 additional entries. Just look back at her post from March 16th to receive a free tutorial on how to donate.

For each item above that you complete make a separate comment under her blog post that you completed it. She will randomly pick the winner on  Sunday after 3:00pm. Good Luck to you all, I can't wait till Sunday to see who wins!

xoxo,
Merinda