Tessa and Steve's DTW and WDWH PJ

[Alarose]

Ummm DWT- Disney Touches Wedding??? I don't know. I am not having a Walt Disney World wedding, but my wedding will have some Disney Touches in Iowa? Also, WDWH- Walt Disney World Honeymoon...mabye you figured that already. :3dglasses

Well…ok, here it goes! I’ve loved reading through other peoples’ trip reports so much that I’ve decided to try one of my own. Now, I KNOW it is not going to be as exciting or grand as others…first of all, I am not getting married at Disneyworld, but I am honeymooning in Disneyworld (woot woot…still excited lol). I AM going to have a Disney themed wedding though. :cool1:

The reason that I decided to post this today is because I BOOKED MY PLANE AND ROOM-ONLY RESERVATIONS LAST WEEK. Woot woot! :banana: Sorry had to get that out. Yup, we are officially going to Disneyworld for our honeymoon from January 8th-15th. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to financially afford it, but decided we needed to try anyway. LOL, doesn’t that sound grand? That is part of the reason why we are waiting until January to go instead of October. Also, my Fiancé doesn’t get his week of vacation until January (it will be a year from when he first started working).

General Information:
My Fiancé’s name is Steve. We have been together for over a year. We are both 24 years old. He is an auto mechanic and I’m an elementary/special education teacher (substituting at the moment). We are getting married in Iowa on October 25th, 2008 in my hometown church. My colors are eggplant (dark purple) and wheat (the color and the plant). The wedding is going to have ‘Disney touches.’

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/100_1143.jpg

About Us:
How we met:
Well, Steve was at an all boy birthday party, and I crashed it with a friend of mine. We ended up staying for quite a few hours (they wouldn‘t let us leave!). During the next couple of weeks I went on a couple of double dates…but not with Steve. My friend and Steve actually simi-hooked up for a little bit. I was simi-dating another guy…ummm I’ll call him Mr. X. Neither relationship worked out. Well, my friend (the one who kind of dated Steve…just didn’t work out for the two of them. He was too much of a ‘good church boy’ for her) and another friend really worked at getting Steve and I together. Up until this point, I had really tried not to get involved in a friend dating another friend’s friend. Even though it didn’t get very serious. They finally they set-up a triple date (and I must say I didn’t know it was a triple date until the night or two before) on April 12, 2007. After that date though, there have been very few weeks sense April 12th that we haven’t seen each other.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0230.jpg


Rough Stuff:
I just had to mention this. Steve is really an amazing guy. He is probably one of the most patient and understanding guys I have ever and will ever meet. Here is the deal. Years ago, something pretty terrible happened to me that makes romantic ‘male relationships’ really hard. Steve is actually the first and only real relationship I’ve ever been in. I had kind of tried before, but it was just too hard. The first sign of affection from a guy that was even a little more than a look made me run. Steve is one of the most patient guys that I have ever known. This guy waited two months, until I was completely comfortable, to touch me more than holding my hand (even around the shoulder, head on my lap), three and a half months until I was comfortable enough for him to kiss me (third time was the charm…lol), 5 months for me to say I love you back to him (he had said it month 4), and there have been a couple other firsts… There were quite a few times this year when I became overwhelmed, and I’ve ashamed to admit I wanted to run, but he sensed it and moved back for me (does that makes sense…would go back to the hand holding stage). I am crying right now writing this. I just wanted to let you guys a taste of why I love this guy so much. I know every woman loves her man for different reasons, but I really think I found a unique one.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0239.jpg
The engagement:
It was a beautiful day…one of the first we have had for awhile. Steve took me on a motorcycle ride. He took me out to a park, and we just stood around there for awhile talking. It didn't seem like we were going or doing anything. I asked him, "So, what are we doing?" He said, "I don't know." I then asked, "Where are we going." His reply was, "Well, I guess right here is ok, " and he got down on one knee. He told me he loved me, got out this BEAUTIFUL ring, and asked me to marry him. I can’t remember if I said yes before or after I tackled him. I do remember him telling me to get up because I was making this hard. It was PERFECT! Everything was perfect.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0390.jpg





(More coming) (dress, bridesmaid...)

[lov2b@disney]

:welcome: and we would love to here your plans!

[Alarose]

Ok...now

The wedding:

Ok, I am not exactly how to describe some of these things…so I am going to just post some pictures.

The Wedding dress:

This is my wedding dress. Like many other women have said, it was one of the first ones I tried on…and even though I tried on many others, I knew it was ‘the dress.’

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/of503324426.jpg


http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0373.jpg

The tiara is mine too!

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/11.jpg

This is one idea I have for my hair. I really like it!
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/hair.jpg

Bridesmaid dresses:
These are my bridesmaid dresses except they will not be red but Eggplant (a very deep purple). This is my Matron of Honor, my sister Lesa.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0398.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0399.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0400.jpg


Here is the color of my bridesmaid dresses (not the dress)...at least pretty close

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/F6245B.jpg

Here are some flowers I like. I actually really like a different picture, but it is from a magazine. I'll try to scan it later. I also want to work some wheat in the flowers somehow too.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/flowers.jpg

Bridesmaids/groomsmen:

I don’t have pictures of the groomsmen (a few…but not many), but I am going to post pictures of all my bridesmaid. We are each going to have 6.

My Matron of honor: my sister Lesa (the modeler of the bridemaid dress earlier) :)


My Maid of honor: my best childhood friend Tiffany

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n59203866_30705134_8092.jpg

Bridesmaid: My sister-in-law (my brother’s wife…). We are pretty good friends too.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n559857340_150691_2878-1.jpg

Bridesmaid: My sister-in-law and friend Jill (gotten to know her very well this past year). Groomsmen: her husband’s name is Louie, and he is also one of Steve’s groomsmen.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n1225006946_6423.jpg

Bridesmaid: My good friend and roommate in Iowa City, Kymberly (and she is holding my cat Meeko)
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n123600240_30075021_4854.jpg

Bridesmaid: A good college friend, Brenda (and me!)
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n123600412_30162262_1769.jpg

Bestman: Steve’s brother-in-law Louie (in earlier picture with my bridesmaid Jill). He has been staying with Jill and Louie the past couple of years, so he has gotten very close to them.

Groomsmen: Steve’s brother Dave. Also in the picture is my future mother-in-law Luann
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/P1171418_FS.jpg

Groomsmen: Simon, Steve’s cousin and good friend.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n184802614_30366831_1618.jpg

Groomsmen: Mark, also Steve’s brother. No picture.

Groomsmen: Jeffery, also Steve’s brother (lots of brothers). No picture.

Groomsmen: James, a good friend of Steve’s from college. Also no picture.


The Invitations

I do not have these bought yet, but here are some invitations that we are thinking about (within our price range too).

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/WV149.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/WV183.jpg

The Church:

This is going to be a fairly elegant and simple Christian Wedding ceremony. My brother, who is an ELCA pastor, is going to marry us. Steve’s pastor is going to do the message. We are also having my home pastor do the announcements and Gospel reading (yes, three pastors).

My brother Steve (yes, my brother's name is Steve and so is my husband to be lol) and my sister-in-law Lisa (pictured above also)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/n559857340_410273_5621.jpg

My soloist:
A good friend of mine is going to sing a couple of songs for me. Right now we are planning on ’The Rose” by Bette Midler and ’Bless the Broken Road’ by Rascal Flatts. She is a beautiful singer! She is an musician (stage name is Michelle Lynn…) and is known more around Southeastern Minnesota / Northeastern Iowa / Southwestern Wisconsin tri-state area. If you go to her myspace page you can hear some of her songs. http://www.myspace.com/michellelynnsongs

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/1271884155_l.jpg

We are expecting somewhere between 300 and 400 people to show for the wedding/reception. We are both from small areas (it seems like in smaller towns more people know each other and are expected invites to weddings…I may be wrong) and have large families.

I do not have my vows or readings picked out yet. I am hoping my brother can help me with that.

At the wedding, I would like to put bundles of wheat like this tied to the center aisles throughout the middle of the church.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/ProFlow_Wheat.jpg

[Alarose]

The Reception:

We are going to have the reception at one of the most beautiful places around this part of the area. The Barn Restaurant. I have spent the last hour or so looking for more pictures, but I can’t seem to find any more. The Barn is a restaurant (excellent food) and wedding reception hall. It is very rustic and romantic. I will continue looking for more pictures.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/TheBarn.jpg

Music:
Ok, I don’t think I mentioned one of the things that I am most excited about…we are having Karaoke at the reception! I know that might sound really cheesy and hokey to some of you, but if you knew my family and friend you would agree that it is so perfect. I am SOOO excited!

We are also going to have a DJ. We are going to do a half hour/hour of music and then a half hour/hour of Karaoke…switching back and forth.

I’ve already got some of our dance songs picked out
- Cake cutting song: Be Our Guest- Beauty and the Beast
- Father/daughter and mother/son dance (doing it together): You’ll Be in my Heart- Phil
Collins (from Tarzan)
- Last Dance: Hit the Road Jack- Buster Poindextor or Ray Charles

To start off the Karaoke…the bridesmaids and I are going to give a show by singing ‘I Won’t Say I’m in Love,’ from Hercules (I’m singing lead and they are the backup). I love singing Karaoke…not very shy lol.

Disney touches
Ok, this is where the Disney Touches will be worked in. I am really trying not to make this wedding scream DISNEY. I love disney, and I love fairy tale weddings...but I still want to keep it elegant and fun. These ideas are still a work in progress. Any ideas or suggestions would be great appreciated!

The Cake: Ok…I will need some help. I know I got this picture off disboards somewhere, but no I can’t find where or who to credit. I love this cake though! We will make some changes though. First of all, no Mickey and Minnie on the top. I am thinking either our initials or a princess tiara (will need to discuss this with my Fiancé). Also, The cake colors will be white with off white Mickeys. Also some dark purple trimming. Maybe some wheat on the side.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/cake.jpg

Decorations

Now, I don’t have these in my collection yet, but I am going to eBay a Cinderella glass slipper and Alladin oil lamp for the cake table. They will just be worked right into the decorations. So, something like this.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/2dda_1.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/e6ab_1_b.jpg

These are the decorations that we are planning on getting for the reception tables. I love the carriage! I do not have these bought yet, but we have it figured into our budget. We aren’t sure if we are going to decorate the carriage a little with wheat or ribbon or not. I am thinking they will look elegant enough untouched…we’ll see though.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/20010-1-w.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/of50588443.jpg

I picture a wheat vase like this on the head table. Maybe with some more purples worked into it.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/WheatCenterpiece.jpg

[IndyBride]

Your plans look great! Your dress is beautiful! I'm exciting to see how you work Disney into your wedding.

[jennifaerie]

I'm not getting married at Disney World either (we're honeymooning just like you), but you'll find that every person's wedding here is just as special, no matter where it is.

Your dress is beautiful, and I (despite knowing I should not, having five cats of my own) want to hug Meeko repeatedly! :lmao:

[Alarose]

Your plans look great! Your dress is beautiful! I'm exciting to see how you work Disney into your wedding.

Thank you! I am still working on how to work 'Disney' into my wedding, but I feel I have a pretty good start. :)


I'm not getting married at Disney World either (we're honeymooning just like you), but you'll find that every person's wedding here is just as special, no matter where it is.

Your dress is beautiful, and I (despite knowing I should not, having five cats of my own) want to hug Meeko repeatedly! :lmao:

LOL...thank you! She is a very hugable kitty! Lots of charactor...but don't they all lol

[AeriellDawn]

Yay! I found your PJ! (As if it's an accomplishment, it's in your siggy...but here I am!) And already everything sounds *gorgeous*!!! I love the colors and I especially love that you're using wheat as decorations- it's beautiful and terribly underappreciated! (I'm a baker, okay? Wheat is a big deal to me.)

Anyway! Seeing that you were using wheat for your decorations/centerpieces and stuff, it made me think of something I saw. We have a place here in WV that sells crafts made by WV artisans and one that I had seen was woven wheat. There are all sorts of really beautiful designs like little hearts and things- really darling stuff!

Keep up the great planning and I can't wait to see more!

[Eyesparkle]

That centerpiece is just - Wow! I love it.

[Ticky Toria 78]

Hi, welcome to the board! I love your dress!:goodvibes

[Alarose]

Yay! I found your PJ! (As if it's an accomplishment, it's in your siggy...but here I am!) And already everything sounds *gorgeous*!!! I love the colors and I especially love that you're using wheat as decorations- it's beautiful and terribly underappreciated! (I'm a baker, okay? Wheat is a big deal to me.)

Anyway! Seeing that you were using wheat for your decorations/centerpieces and stuff, it made me think of something I saw. We have a place here in WV that sells crafts made by WV artisans and one that I had seen was woven wheat. There are all sorts of really beautiful designs like little hearts and things- really darling stuff!

Keep up the great planning and I can't wait to see more!


Lol...Congrats on finding my PJ! No...I really had some trouble with it at first. I created this about a week ago, but didn't have too much on because I was having SOOO much trouble with the pictures. I FINALLY have photobucket figured out and my camera software fixed.

I love wheat too...it is beautiful and simple and screams fall! lol...right now I am not in much of a 'falley' mood, but I will be again. As a baker you might know this? How would bundles of wheat be prices compared to flowers? I bet I could just talk to my florist.

That artisans crafts sounds beautiful. I should look around here to see if they have anything. hmmm?

That centerpiece is just - Wow! I love it.

Thank you! I do love them! I think they will look beautiful together too. For awhile we were trying to make Cinderella carriages out of little pumpkins, but this is much easier lol .

Hi, welcome to the board! I love your dress!:goodvibes


Thank you very much. I love it too. :banana:

[Keira1387]

Great start to the PJ! Can't wait to hear all your details!

[alissa2008]

:hyper: popcorn::

Love your bouquet!!!:goodvibes

[DisneyFairy19]

everything is so beautiful....:cutie:

[shezfrombermuda]

Everything looks great! Your dress is beautiful and so is the bouquet. Looking forward to hearing the rest of your plans.

[AeriellDawn]

As a baker you might know this? How would bundles of wheat be prices compared to flowers? I bet I could just talk to my florist.

Sorry, but I usually just deal with the stuff that's already ground up! :rotfl: I do have to say though that prices of wheat products (i.e. flour) have gone up a little. (I think it's due to the fact that farmers were planting more corn than wheat in order to get into the boom for ethanol production) I don't know for sure yet how planting is going to go this year, but I'm pretty sure wheat is still cheaper than fresh flowers!

Congrats again and I forgot to mention before that that dress is gorgeous on you! Good luck! :thumbsup2

[Alarose]

Great start to the PJ! Can't wait to hear all your details!

Thank you! Working on it! :surfweb: :cool1:

:hyper: popcorn::

Love your bouquet!!!:goodvibes

I really like it too. Thanks! Not exactly sure what exactly the end result will be, but I like the craziness of that one. Pretty colors too!


everything is so beautiful....:cutie:

Thank you! It is really coming together now! :banana:

Everything looks great! Your dress is beautiful and so is the bouquet. Looking forward to hearing the rest of your plans.

Thanks! I'm happy so far with everything! :)

Sorry, but I usually just deal with the stuff that's already ground up! :rotfl: I do have to say though that prices of wheat products (i.e. flour) have gone up a little. (I think it's due to the fact that farmers were planting more corn than wheat in order to get into the boom for ethanol production) I don't know for sure yet how planting is going to go this year, but I'm pretty sure wheat is still cheaper than fresh flowers!

Congrats again and I forgot to mention before that that dress is gorgeous on you! Good luck! :thumbsup2

Thanks so much Aeriel! It would make sense that you would work only with the end product. :cool1: Thanks for the compliment about the dress! I love it too!





So, three more days of school left here! Woot woot! I've got three days of school left (subbing). Then I'm workig at moving :banana:

[Alarose]

Ahhh sigh, friends, it is only June 2nd and I have almost an entire month until I can move closer to be with my fiancé! This seems to just be getting harder and harder!

Is it ridiculous that the closest we have lived to each other is over an hour away? We still see each other once or twice a week. When we see each other, it is 24/7 too (we stay at each other places). I think we end up making up for hours, but living so far away is just unnatural. The weeks are just so rough. I had SUCH a rough time getting to sleep last night! :faint:

When we first started dating, from like April until August, we lived an hour and twenty minutes away. Before we started dating, I signed a lease for a place with a friend here in Iowa City. So, I was stuck! I really didn’t expect any relationship to last longer than the summer. It did. I moved in August and we still continued to see each other. He is now and has been two hours away. :worried:

To make matters even worse, in February one of the guys at the mechanic shop quit (just horrible hours there…great people, but they are open 7 days a week), and the guys started having to do 6 day weeks…THAT WAS 5 MONTHS AGO!!!! :badpc: They don’t have anyone hired yet! Ok, at first the extra overtime money was great, but we have usually only been seeing each other once a week. Every once in awhile Steve gets antsy and drives down to Iowa City to see me mid-week (when he gets off work at 3:00 and doesn’t have to work until 11:00). :goodvibes Also, every once in awhile his day off falls around the weekend, so I come up and hang out while he is at work for a day.

By the way, right now Steve has been staying with his Sister and brother-in-law (for the past year), so even though they say I am welcomed anytime for no matter how long, I really don’t want to overstay my welcome.

I am just so sick of this. I miss him! :( I’ve got this ring on my finger and I haven’t seen my Fiance’ sense LAST Sunday (not even this Sunday…his day off feel on a Sunday and then the next Saturday).

[Keira1387]

:hug: My DF is a mechanic too! He used to have horrible hours (7:30-6) but now he only works until 4. So I can relate to you about the hours. A month will go by fast! And, the next thing you know, you'll be married!!

[jennifaerie]

I've done long distance, and I don't envy you. I know how difficult it can be.

I can tell you that I'm the most impatient person in the world, and when I got engaged, the wedding was over nine months away. I didn't think the time would pass, especially because the weather up here this winter was so bad (it was more about the weather than the wedding!).

Now it's three and a half months away! It's got to be the weather that makes it go by quickly.

It's so difficult, I know. But try to immerse yourself in wedding plans, and hopefully, you'll wake up to seeing the calendar is a month later!

[jessesgirl-080708]

Just wanted to let you know Alalrose.. that I found those glass slippers that you had pictured on page one. Don't know if you have Ross Stores where you live, but my mom and I found them for 4 dollars! If you can check it out.. it was the cheapest we found anything...Good Luck.. everything is looking great!

[Alarose]

THANK YOU Jesse! I am was looking for these for $20 with shipping on ebay! I will check that out. I hope we have one around here!

Jenni, thank you :) I am just no good at waiting lol. You're 3 and a half months away! WHOHOO! I bet your excited! :hyper:


Keira, yeah, Steve just started working there so he gets crappy hours. I know within a few years that should change. Being home by 4:00 sounds amazing! :banana:

[jennifaerie]

I never got the waiting or patience genes. And I missed those days in school!

I'm excited now that the invites went out, and people are receiving them. I've had several people come up to me and talk about them, and that has made it real for me. I try not to think about it.

People have told me that brides have a tendency to want to rush the time prior to the wedding, but this is supposed to be the best time of your life. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be enjoying exactly... :lmao: It's not as if planning (though it can be fun) is the best way I could be spending my time. There are rarely perks to being engaged when you're at home. Maybe I'm missing out on something.

But I do want it now now now! :rotfl:

[Alarose]

LOL, I must have missed those days of school too lol

I've got to say I love being the engaged part...espcially at first. I LOVED calling people and telling them. :yay: I am also really enjoying the planning and dreaming. Time is moving sooo slow though! I think I do rush stuff a bit. I booked my reception hall within 5 hours of being engaged (we went out to dinner with my parents at that place though lol).

[jennifaerie]

Ha ha! We did something very similar. We had so many things booked within days of the engagement. People kept saying to me, Boy, you've had all this planned long before! I didn't... it's just there's very little to choose from in New Hampshire, so it was easy! :rotfl:

You'll find a lot of time will pass just reading these posts! ;)

[Alarose]

OT:

I wanted to share some pictures with you. I have mentioned a few times that I lost 70 pounds so far. I wanted to post some pictures of the before and after.

The first picture is of me in highschool when I weighed 220lbs.

This first one is of me when I was in late highschool. I think I had already lost some weight already (maybe 7 or 8 pounds). The second picture is of me at my sister's wedding and I was down maybe 50lbs. The third one is of me...in my wedding dress. Yeah, I know I posted this picture already, but I love it and it is the most updated :) I am actually now about 10 lbs lighter than the picture. Looking at these pictures make me feel so good :)

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/6-4-2008103133AM.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/6-4-2008103618AM.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/11.jpg

[jennifaerie]

What a transformation! On a woman, even ten pounds is a lot, so seventy is just amazing!

I'm a yo-yo, so I go up and down. I was up to 200lbs at one point, until I got my tonsils out (now that's a diet). You never really notice all that weight gone until you see the pictures.

You look great at any weight, though. Congratulations on all the hard work!! :hug:

[Gillian]

Congratulations on finding your perfect man! Your wedding reception sounds like it will be so much fun and the colors look great. You really do look beautiful at any weight, but I hope that you reach your goal.

I clicked on this because it says Tessa, which is my daughter's name. :)

[Alarose]

Invitations
Guess what? Guess what?

I bought INVITATIONS! Yup! LOL, I don't even think this invitation was one of my previous options, but it was close. I loved it and the price was right... :cool1:

Here it is!
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/WKF10781_301lr.jpg

Funny story about buying the invitations...almost a disaster! So, I was pretty nervous and a bit nutty while getting the information written up and organized online. I was driving my mom and my Fiancé' a little nuts. We finally got it right now, I had Steve look through it one more time, and we hit 'Submit Payment!'

Right after that we went uptown to go visit a friend...I apologized for getting a bit worked up during the invitation process. "Sorry babe, but this just seems like such a huge and official thing, and I've heard so many horror stories about something being wrong on the invitation like places or parents' names." Here I laughed. "Now, your mom's name is spelled capital 'L u a n n,' right?' Steve was like "Yup, but the 'A' is also a capital." :scared1: OMG, I almost drove off the road. I think this was the first time I have semi-yelled at him and swore (not necessary swearing at him…) :furious: but crap, WE just spent $400 on invitations and my future mother-in-law's name is spelled wrong! LUCKILY though, we turned around and drove back home and called the company. They fixed it! WHEW! :eek:

So, the wedding is still on... lol. No really, that is WHY I had him look through the invitation before we hit submit. I just couldn't believe he missed that. Ug, men! It is all ok now though.

Wedding dress accessories
So, I had some successful shopping this past weekend. I am going to post another picture of my dress so you get the entire picture.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/11.jpg

Shoes
This weekend I also bought one potential pair of shoes for the wedding. Yeah, these will be the shoes for the ceremony AND reception…I am NOT wearing anything with heals at any time! LOL. I am horrible in heals. They aren’t going to be seeing much of my feet anyway.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/IMG_0545.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/img_0543.jpg

Jewelry

Ok…now I know I am kind of cheating, but this is a set that I bought about a year ago for a wedding (very impulsive buy...was kind of talked into it by the store lady). I HAVE only worn it once though. I have been looking for jewelry, and wasn’t sure how I was going to afford something much more than $40. This set was at least $60. It just kind of jumped up at me when I was thinking wedding, and I am now thinking I really want to wear this on my wedding day. What do you gals think? I know it doesn’t have any of my colors, but the colors are muted enough. It is so beautiful though. I don’t know when I am ever going to be able to wear it again anyway.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/img_0535.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/img_0536.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/TessaZ2002/img_0539.jpg

[Alarose]

What a transformation! On a woman, even ten pounds is a lot, so seventy is just amazing!

I'm a yo-yo, so I go up and down. I was up to 200lbs at one point, until I got my tonsils out (now that's a diet). You never really notice all that weight gone until you see the pictures.

You look great at any weight, though. Congratulations on all the hard work!! :hug:

Thank you very much! So, the Getting your Tonsils Out diet? Wow...I don't feel like trying that...yuck! I hope you start feeling better soon! It is so true...pictures is where you can really tell how much of a difference those 5 or 10 pounds minus or plus make.

Congratulations on finding your perfect man! Your wedding reception sounds like it will be so much fun and the colors look great. You really do look beautiful at any weight, but I hope that you reach your goal.

I clicked on this because it says Tessa, which is my daughter's name. :)

LOL, well there are a few Tessa's out there now. Not too many when I was little, but I've noticed quite a few little Tessas when I'm around the Elementary schools (substitute teacher). Thanks. I did find my perfect man. :)

[Gillian]

I love that necklace!

[jennifaerie]

Oh, that jewelry set is beautiful! I love the flowers.

[Tink rules]

Looks like you have found your prince charming!!!! :love: :love: :love:

So.. how's the planning going???