Party Pics

Our engagement party pictures are here! Click on the picture below to view them all. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We had such a fantastic time!

Girls In White Dresses

On Saturday, Mary and I shopped...and shopped, and shopped for a wedding dress! I had three appointments made at three different stores in the area and we got to check out quite a few dresses. From strapless to cap sleeves, A-line to ball gown, chapel length train to cathedral, and then some. The funny thing was, one of the top two dresses I liked was not one that I originally would look at and say, 'yeah, I'd like to try that on,' but it definitely looks good on. In the end, no purchases were made, but we had a really nice time and got to see some beautiful dresses!

Upon my return, Brian was home!! (Hooray!) He asked if he could see some of the pictures. I said sure, and had these to show him:

I know that's not what he meant, but that's what he got! We're sticking with the old fashioned, traditional ways and keeping the dress a surprise!

Imaginary Friends

Brian has been in Las Vegas since early Tuesday morning for 'business'. (Is it possible to be in Vegas for business?!) :) Nevertheless, I'm sure he is making many great contacts at the trade show he is attending, and once again proving that he is an invaluable asset to the company that he works for.

While he has been gone Bun and I have been holding down the fort. It's been pretty quiet. We've cleaned, and cooked, and cleaned some more, and looked at some wedding things, and cleaned, and watched a bit of the tele, and read part of my book, and cleaned, and have kept ourselves pretty occupied. (I'm usually not one that can sit very still.) The other night I was sitting on the chair in our living room and I literally turned to look at the couch to tell Brian something. Not only was Brian not there, but I actually started talking without 100% realizing I was alone. Once I did realize, I just laughed to myself (outloud), and told Bun what just happened (outloud). He had no comment. It started with me talking to my imaginary fiancé, now I'm having full blown conversations with Bun. I've officially lost it. (Come to think of it, I may have lost it a while ago...)

Brian returns tomorrow, and will be showered with lots of love. I have high hopes that he'll be able to set me straight!

Lynd's Fruit Farm

Last weekend we had a blast! On Saturday we went to a wedding, which is that much more exciting for us since we are in the midst of planning ours, and on Sunday we had our engagement photos taken. It was so much fun!! Our photographers, Kim and Eric, met us at Lynd's Fruit Farm in Pataskala, OH on Sunday afternoon. We went faux apple picking, we really picked out a pumpkin, and found lots of cool places within the orchard to take our photos. We laughed and joked around and just had a great time! We are 185% confident that we made the right choice in deciding to go with Kim and Eric. (We've never doubted this, but it really makes it that much more exciting when the time comes down to work with them, and we couldn't have asked for anything better.) We are extremely excited about working with them on our wedding day, too, and having them both there to share such a special moment in both of our lives.

This weekend is also pretty eventful, though not nearly as eventful as last. On Saturday, Mary and I will be headed out to do a bit of dress shopping. Hopefully, we will have made a purchase, but at the very least, it will be fun to spend some time together and really see if my budget and expectations of a dress go hand in hand. It's time for me to justify. (Can anything in the bridal industry realistically be justified?)

While we are out shopping, Brian will be photographing the Ohio State vs. Minnesota game which I know he is excited for.

Every time we decide on something that we are 100% sure of it makes us that much more excited for our day. Everything really is falling into place.

A Big Hit

Our engagement party last weekend was a huge success! It went off without a hitch! Everyone got along, and really enjoyed each others company. It ended up that my family - my Mom, Scott, Amy, and James - drove in from MD, and got in around 1:00 am on Saturday morning. (This was still Friday night for us...) We stayed up for a bit and chatted before hitting the hay.

My Grandpa Jon, Grandma Judy, and Aunt Jennifer then flew into Columbus on Saturday morning, so I went and picked them up from the airport (it was so nice to see them), and we all went to an awesome deli in German Village called Katzinger's. Brian and I also took everyone to Goodale Park (where our ceremony will be held), and The Smith Bros. Venue (where our reception is) for the final approval. (Actually, there's not a whole lot we could've done if 'our places' weren't approved, but we were pretty confident that they would be so we decided to show them off!) We then headed to the engagement party, and by saying that it was awesome would be a complete understatement. It couldn't have been more perfect! Mary and Tom had an awesome spread with tons of great food, and the big screen was set up in the garage to display the winning prowess of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

On top of it all, there was a Hokie bird and a Buckeye that adorned the table with their mascot spirits! (Pics will be posted soon!! Brian and I didn't bring our cam along so as soon as we gather up the lot we will post them!) Being a Virginia Tech graduate, I am extremely proud to be a Hokie. (We're ranked number 4, by the way!) And for all of you who've been wondering, I'll be decked out in maroon and orange come 2014 when OSU plays Virginia Tech!

So, on behalf of Brian, myself, (and Bun), we would just like to extend a humongous thanks to Mary and Tom for hosting an engagement party for us, and another humongous thanks to all of our families and friends who were able to celebrate the day with us! We really had a blast with everyone, and are, once again, so thankful to have you all in our lives!

Believe

"I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns slowly..."

-Owl City 'Fireflies'

But it's already October!! And tomorrow, Brian's Mom and stepdad, Tom, are hosting an engagement party for us! We, once again, are so excited! This will be the first time our extended families will meet, and we are definitely looking forward to it. We know everyone will get along really well, and we truly will be one big, happy family. We've got quite a few people coming in from out of town, and more than anything are just so lucky to have so many loved ones here to celebrate with us. That is what's most important.

I do have to admit, while it's only been one month since I last saw my Mom, Scott, Amy, James, and my grandparents, I am really looking forward to seeing them. Sometimes it feels a bit lonely in Ohio with my family so far away, but knowing that Brian's family is here makes it that much better. Still, it will be so nice to see them.

On top of it all, the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Indiana University Hoosiers on Saturday night, and we've got quite the set up to make sure we are all able to watch the nuts versus the natives. (As we all know, or should know, a buckeye is a nut. If that's not intimidating, I don't know what is. And according to Wikipedia, a 'hoosier' is a resident of Indiana. That's ... creative, Indiana.)

Anyway, so we are all set for lots of laughing, drinking, and having ourselves a jolly good time on Saturday night. I'm sure we will have some good pictures to post when all is said and done!

Go Bucks!