Hello ladies and gents! I am back. It has been sooooo crazy around here I can hardly tell you. So, we had our engagement party on October 15th (364 days before our wedding) and I found my dress the following day! It was a whirlwind weekend. Lots of fun but let me tell you, lots of emotion and lots of craziness.
The party went great, mom and I made decorations and set up with dad, Brian, and three of my beautiful bridesmaids. What a great group. I just adore them.

Everything went well with the exception of an old (male) friend getting absolutely wasted and confessing his love for me. This did not please Brian, nor did it make me too happy b/c, well, you just don't do that kind of thing at an engagement party.

But it all worked and Brian didn't have to beat anyone up, he's a bigger man than that.

And so, the rest of the weekend went well. The next afternoon myself, three of my bridesmaids, my mom, my future mom-in-law, and my dad all went to watch me try on dresses. I had picked out numerous Casablanca dresses beforehand and they only had one in stock so I put that in the dressing room to try on. I don't remember which number it was but probably around the 7th, or so, and I knew it was "the one". It is true, once you find it you just know. EVERYONE cried when I walked out, and it was hilarious! It was emotional and fun and heartwarming. Trying that dress on made me even more excited. I cannot wait for my love to see me in the dress.
We signed our agreement on October 21st, one day before my birthday (what a great birthday present) and we have an engagement photo session set for November 19th, not much planning going on other than that as of now. I'll keep ya'll posted.
This is the board me, Brian, and my mom made before the party. It has friends and family and events through the years on it:
Here's a picture of me and my mom; we are making engagement party decorations. They came out so cute!