Rehearsal dinner

We found a spot for the rehearsal dinner! :) We chose a place called Tradiciones. We knew we wanted Mexican because of Josh's heritage and this place is super adorable. We're having it the day before the wedding, and on the menu is fajitas, yummy dessert and a margarita hour! What could be better??! It will be out on the patio ,it's so cute - it looks like a little village, and is going to have some great photo ops! Can't wait!!!!

The tuxes and the menu

Yesterday, Josh and I had our dinner menu tasting for the wedding. It was so much fun! We brought our good friend Caleb along too, so he could give us an unbiased opinion, and it was really helpful. We are giving choices of beef and chicken, so before our tasting we thought our choices would be prime rib and asiago chicken. We weren't able to try the prime rib because they would have had to cook an entire prime rib for just the three of us ... dang it! So instead we tried stuffed salmon and the asiago chicken, along with salads and about five different types of sides. I'm not too keen on fish, but the salmon looked amazing and both Josh and Caleb said it was really tasty. The asiago chicken - was not. I'm really glad we got to try it beforehand and know that it's not as good as it sounds. Our final choices ended up being the prime rib (even though we couldn't try it, you can't really mess up something yummy like that) and chicken piccata. For the prime rib sides we chose garlic mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables and for the chicken piccata we chose rice pilaf and vegetables. So, dolls - when you get your response card that asks beef or chicken, you'll know more in detail what to expect. :)



We also went to Men's Warehouse and got the tuxedo order set up. The guys have good taste, I must say! We ended up choosing coral vests that are a little lighter than the dresses will be, which is good, because I think it will tie everything together as far as the variations of coral colors in the flowers, dresses and tuxes ... since I'm discovering everyone has a different idea of what that color really is! Josh is wearing ivory to match my dress, and we're putting the Dad's in black on black. It's going to look so sharp, I can't WAIT to see all the important men in my life all dressed up!



I'm sending out my invitations by the end of this week (that's the goal anyway :)) so expect to see them in the mail! And RSVP of course!

Very exciting! 76 days til the big day ... not that I'm counting. ;)

We're registered!

Josh and I just registered at Bed Bath and Beyond and Target. Click the links below to take you there! :)

Take me to Bed, Bath and Beyond!

I wanna go to Target!

RESERVATIONS!

I just recieved the link from Crowne Plaza for my guests to make reservations so please do it! If you're even considering staying where we are getting married, check out the link! Rooms are discounted for my guests about half price - only $69/night! They won't charge your credit card until you check in either. Please let me know if you have any questions! Also, one more secret - it only shows one option as a room with two double beds, however if you book that, you can CALL them and change it to one king. :)

https://resweb.passkey.com/go/SwiresFant2009

If you prefer to call, the phone number is 1-800-2CROWNE (1-800-227-6963. Just mention you are making reservations under the Swires/Fant wedding party.

I also just picked up my dress yesterday. This is all getting so real! I can't wait!<

It's been a while ...

OMG.

I can't even believe it's less than 4 months to the wedding. It blows my mind how fast this day is approaching, and how soon all these wedding plans and thoughts that are consuming my brain 24/7 will come to fruition. So needless to say, that's why it's been a while since my last post.

So, what's new? I've done a simple trial run on one piece of my candy buffet! See?



I will be going to be mom's within the next few weeks to do a trial run on ALL the candy/containers we have. Will be cute. :)

Also found these super adorable gerbera daisy flowers in my colors - deciding whether to put them on the guestbook table or candy table. They're about 3 feet tall!



Picking up my dress on Friday. FINALLY! Can't wait to try it on again!

Also, I just sent in a contract to my hotel to guarantee anyone who wants to stay for the wedding some GREAT rates! About 1/2 price! As soon as it's all processed, I'll give everyone a link to book reservations. You'll want to stay there and celebrate with us after all! :)

I've been told that some of my favorite SWIRES are going to try and make it out for the wedding. Yes, yes please. I am talking to you, Uncle Steve, Roxanne and Lauren. I love you all and can't wait to hopefully see you there. XOXO!

Peaches and cream

I decided that is the "theme" of the wedding. It's more or less the colors - variations of peachy oranges and corals, and cream being the accent colors and that same color of my WEDDING DRESS!

That's right, I picked it out! I am sooo excited. Everyone kept telling me "when you try on the right dress you will know". Cue eye roll because it sounds so cliche, but omg, it's so true. I went shopping today with my mom and I tried on a few arbitrarily because I thought we weren't choosing until next week, but when I put this one on, I just knew. So odd, because we weren't really searching today, and I also thought for sure I wanted WHITE over ivory and thought I wanted a lace up back - my dress is none of these, but I love it.








As you can see, it's a corset style top with buttons down the back. It's sort of antique looking, which I adore, because my wedding/engagement ring has that sort of look to it too. It has a pickup style skirt. It's simple, and feminine and elegant, all the things I wanted. I just adore it.

My mom and I were just on a roll today! We also found HER wedding dress (for those who don't know, she's marrying her beau Steve in HAWAII a month after my wedding! How cool is that?!) We also found the remaining glassware needed for my candy bar and the most amazing card box. It looks like a treasure chest, it's in my colors, and it says "live, laugh, love" at the top:



Now the only "big" detail we have left to plan is the honeymoon! Fun!

Alright bridesmaids, ball's in your court for the shower! ;)

Brittany baby!

So, I have added a bridesmaid to my wedding, and I'm so excited! My friend Brittany will be up there with me and I'm so happy. :) Ugh, it's disgusting, I have the BEST four girls as my bridesmaids, and they are all so special to me in different ways yet all in the same way - ALL of them have known Josh and I since the beginning. All of them have been so amazingly supportive and just "get" why we are so happy together. What can be better?

Yes, that means we also added a groomsman. So excited. Now we have 4 and 4. Who we added is surely going to upset some people. Well one person. It's not our intention, but it's bound to happen. I just keep having to tell myself that this is Josh and I's day, ALL that matters in the end is that WE are happy on this day, and we won't regret anything. I know we won't. And I also know that the people/person who may get upset by this decision will realize that similar decisions have been made by them. If this is making no sense to you, that's ok. :) But I guarantee that all four of my BM's know exactly what I'm referring to here. AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE THEM! :)

Okay, on to funner things! Now that all the big details are out of the way (venue, food, cake, DJ, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, photographer, centerpieces ... am I missing anything??!) are more or less covered, I get to focus on the smaller but sooo important details. Point at hand right now is the candy bar! I am so excited about this. Right now this is my vision:




More or less. Except with my colors and way better candy. Oh man. And I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve - but I can't give all my secrets away now can I??!

And my AMAZING cousin Carlie has been AWESOME! She's going to make these amazing pomanders for me to put on the chairs outside to bring some color to the ceremony. Something along these lines:



Do you love it?! Do you understand the amount of work that's going to have to be put in to these? I feel so honored that she would be not only willing but HAPPY to make these for me for my wedding. She's so crafty! I do not have that gene. Envious. Oh and she's doing alot more too! But again - I want to leave some surprises for the 3 of you that do read this blog. Heehee! <3 I love you all! Just over six months to go!