Blogging Brides!

We met Ashley last week, and now more on Ashley P, and her bridal party, this is a struggle for so many brides, I am so blessed that Ashley shared it with you!



As Holly, the previous Blogging Bride, said "One of the first steps in planning a wedding is picking the wedding date." When we got engaged in January of 2007 we knew our wedding had to be on July 25th. This date has a very special meaning to us in so many ways, we knew no matter what year it was, we had to get married on this date. After checking the calander to see what year this date fell on a Saturday we found that we were going to be getting married in 2009!





This year I started planning for the wedding. After figuring out where we were going to have the ceremony and reception and booking a photographer it was time to decide on the bridal party. It wasn't hard choosing who to include because we knew we only wanted a couple of close friends on each side. I chose my best friend from highschool, my best friend from college and my fiance's sister. He chose two of his friends from highschool and my brother. This was PERFECT; three people on each side and they were all super close to us, which is exactly how I wanted it to be. After I had responses from all of them that they would love to be a part of our day I thought we were set.



Then I got a text the last week of October that said "I have some bad news..I just talked to my advisor and study abroad in New Zealand starts in July, so I may not be able to be in your wedding." It was from my best friend from college, Emily. I immediately got that feeling, you know where your super disapointed so much where you want to cry. We met our freshman year in Biology class and have been friends ever since. I was devastated when I found this out, but I immediately began wondering who I could replace her with. I'm not a fan of the uneven sides of the bridal party so I knew I had to do something. Unfortunately, when thinking of who else I could ask I became stumped. There was not one other person I could ask to stand beside me. I didn't want to just ask any one, I wanted it to be someone I talked to often and who would always be a part of my life. Sure I have other friends from highschool and even a few from college that I'm still close with, but not REALLY close like I want the person that stands by me to be.



After realizing that I would only be asking someone else to be in my wedding so they could fill the spot, I decided against asking anyone. Although I HATE uneven bridal parties, I would hate it more if I had someone up there just to make it even. After this I decided there was only one thing that could be done if I wanted Emily to be a party of the wedding, I had to change the wedding date. The one thing I have been sure about since our engagement was the date of our wedding, it has very special meanings to me us. The thought of changing it never crossed my mind but knowing that if I kept this date and didn't share it with her it wouldn't be the same. I soon realized what I had to do, pretty soon I will be a June bride!



Remember this day is about celebrating the union of you and your partner with everyone you care about. Don't worry if things don't go quite your way. Be sure to relax and have fun, its your day!



{thanks Ashley! If you have a story you'd like to share, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net}

Blogging Brides!

We met Ashley last week, and now more on Ashley P, and her bridal party, this is a struggle for so many brides, I am so blessed that Ashley shared it with you!



As Holly, the previous Blogging Bride, said "One of the first steps in planning a wedding is picking the wedding date." When we got engaged in January of 2007 we knew our wedding had to be on July 25th. This date has a very special meaning to us in so many ways, we knew no matter what year it was, we had to get married on this date. After checking the calander to see what year this date fell on a Saturday we found that we were going to be getting married in 2009!





This year I started planning for the wedding. After figuring out where we were going to have the ceremony and reception and booking a photographer it was time to decide on the bridal party. It wasn't hard choosing who to include because we knew we only wanted a couple of close friends on each side. I chose my best friend from highschool, my best friend from college and my fiance's sister. He chose two of his friends from highschool and my brother. This was PERFECT; three people on each side and they were all super close to us, which is exactly how I wanted it to be. After I had responses from all of them that they would love to be a part of our day I thought we were set.



Then I got a text the last week of October that said "I have some bad news..I just talked to my advisor and study abroad in New Zealand starts in July, so I may not be able to be in your wedding." It was from my best friend from college, Emily. I immediately got that feeling, you know where your super disapointed so much where you want to cry. We met our freshman year in Biology class and have been friends ever since. I was devastated when I found this out, but I immediately began wondering who I could replace her with. I'm not a fan of the uneven sides of the bridal party so I knew I had to do something. Unfortunately, when thinking of who else I could ask I became stumped. There was not one other person I could ask to stand beside me. I didn't want to just ask any one, I wanted it to be someone I talked to often and who would always be a part of my life. Sure I have other friends from highschool and even a few from college that I'm still close with, but not REALLY close like I want the person that stands by me to be.



After realizing that I would only be asking someone else to be in my wedding so they could fill the spot, I decided against asking anyone. Although I HATE uneven bridal parties, I would hate it more if I had someone up there just to make it even. After this I decided there was only one thing that could be done if I wanted Emily to be a party of the wedding, I had to change the wedding date. The one thing I have been sure about since our engagement was the date of our wedding, it has very special meanings to me us. The thought of changing it never crossed my mind but knowing that if I kept this date and didn't share it with her it wouldn't be the same. I soon realized what I had to do, pretty soon I will be a June bride!



Remember this day is about celebrating the union of you and your partner with everyone you care about. Don't worry if things don't go quite your way. Be sure to relax and have fun, its your day!



{thanks Ashley! If you have a story you'd like to share, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net}

Blogging Brides!

Name:: Ashley





Location:: Now we're living in Colorado but we're getting married right outside our hometown back in Pennsylvania.



Blog:: Lost in the Moment



Wedding Date:: July 25th, 2009



What do you do in real life?

Currently I am a full time student at Colorado State, majoring in Computer Science. I also work part time as a customer service rep for Bare Escentuals (mineral make up company).





Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

All of the DIY stuff! I have had such a blast making some of these projects with my bridesmaids and even my FI! I feel like they show just a little more of who we are too, because they're designed to represent us, not some template that can be found on the internet.



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

Planning an out of state wedding. We only go home once a year, at Christmas time, and last Christmas we hadn't even started planning. In March I then had to go back home by myself to find a venue for the ceremony and reception as well as the photographer/dj. I feel like I'm missing out on the experiance of planning my wedding with my FI.



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?

In the end no one is going to care as much about your wedding as YOU do. I read a post on theknot about this and its been the best stress reliever when trying to make decisions. You just need to relax and continue on because your the only one thats going to notice if the napkins are a shade darker then the programs, or the ribbon on your Save the Dates is a little crinkled :) Don't worry about the little things, just remember the meaning of the day!





{Look for some more great stories from our Blogging Brides!}

Blogging Brides!

Name:: Ashley





Location:: Now we're living in Colorado but we're getting married right outside our hometown back in Pennsylvania.



Blog:: Lost in the Moment



Wedding Date:: July 25th, 2009



What do you do in real life?

Currently I am a full time student at Colorado State, majoring in Computer Science. I also work part time as a customer service rep for Bare Escentuals (mineral make up company).





Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

All of the DIY stuff! I have had such a blast making some of these projects with my bridesmaids and even my FI! I feel like they show just a little more of who we are too, because they're designed to represent us, not some template that can be found on the internet.



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

Planning an out of state wedding. We only go home once a year, at Christmas time, and last Christmas we hadn't even started planning. In March I then had to go back home by myself to find a venue for the ceremony and reception as well as the photographer/dj. I feel like I'm missing out on the experiance of planning my wedding with my FI.



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?

In the end no one is going to care as much about your wedding as YOU do. I read a post on theknot about this and its been the best stress reliever when trying to make decisions. You just need to relax and continue on because your the only one thats going to notice if the napkins are a shade darker then the programs, or the ribbon on your Save the Dates is a little crinkled :) Don't worry about the little things, just remember the meaning of the day!





{Look for some more great stories from our Blogging Brides!}

Blogging Brides!

More on Amy F. from with the pixie grin... {she had our most hysterical post about "the girls"}



Cutting it out...





Hi there! It's been awhile, I know. Things are crazy..work, holidays..and other fun stuff...And of course with all that's going on, there is always a little wrench thrown in to keep it exciting..



So, I'll just cut right to it...My future MIL booked THE perfect spot for our rehearsal dinner. It's a fab little place I used to work at back in my serving days..actually, it's probably my most favorite workplace...ever. Not only were the people amazing to work with and for, but the food would literally melt in your mouth..I remember specifically the beeftataki , the salmon served with coconut rice, the pecan pie with the homemade molasses ice cream. sigh. I miss it y'all. For real. So...they have this gorgeous covered patio that is going to be perfect for what we thought was going to be around 30 people...



Ok, this is a problem. My future MIL says that we invite the bridal party, parents, and out of town guests. But..uh..that's over 60 people. I. am. not. kidding. So who gets the axe? And what if they are all catching up at the reception? I can just see it:



"Oh wasn't that dinner just wonderful last night?" (says Maw-maw from Florida)



"What dinner?" (Aunt So-and-so from somewhere across the Mississippi River)



"The rehearsal dinner, of course...didn't you go?" (Maw-Maw again)



"Oh. I wasn't invited." (poor Aunt So-and-so from across the Mississippi River)



Sigh. What do you think? There isn't enough room, let alone enough money to pay for 60 dinners. How do we decide? What would you do?



So ladies, what do you think, what would you do?

Blogging Brides!

More on Amy F. from with the pixie grin... {she had our most hysterical post about "the girls"}



Cutting it out...





Hi there! It's been awhile, I know. Things are crazy..work, holidays..and other fun stuff...And of course with all that's going on, there is always a little wrench thrown in to keep it exciting..



So, I'll just cut right to it...My future MIL booked THE perfect spot for our rehearsal dinner. It's a fab little place I used to work at back in my serving days..actually, it's probably my most favorite workplace...ever. Not only were the people amazing to work with and for, but the food would literally melt in your mouth..I remember specifically the beeftataki , the salmon served with coconut rice, the pecan pie with the homemade molasses ice cream. sigh. I miss it y'all. For real. So...they have this gorgeous covered patio that is going to be perfect for what we thought was going to be around 30 people...



Ok, this is a problem. My future MIL says that we invite the bridal party, parents, and out of town guests. But..uh..that's over 60 people. I. am. not. kidding. So who gets the axe? And what if they are all catching up at the reception? I can just see it:



"Oh wasn't that dinner just wonderful last night?" (says Maw-maw from Florida)



"What dinner?" (Aunt So-and-so from somewhere across the Mississippi River)



"The rehearsal dinner, of course...didn't you go?" (Maw-Maw again)



"Oh. I wasn't invited." (poor Aunt So-and-so from across the Mississippi River)



Sigh. What do you think? There isn't enough room, let alone enough money to pay for 60 dinners. How do we decide? What would you do?



So ladies, what do you think, what would you do?

Blogging Brides!

This week, more on Holly R. about planning a wedding in a small town. Some people who live in larger areas think it's hard becasue they have so many choices, think about it if the opposite were true!



One of the first steps in planning a wedding is picking the wedding date. After my fiance and I got engaged, we put a lot of thought into choosing a date that is special to us. With so many guests from out of town, and after having to travel to a ton of weddings these past few years, we thought it was important to choose a date that would accomodate the majority of our guests. The date we decided on was Sept. 5, 2009, which falls on Labor Day weekend next year. Being a 3-day weekend, we thought that this date would be convenient for our guests because they would have an extra day after the wedding to relax before they had to travel back home. We always hate waking up the day after a fun wedding and having to drive the 5, 6, or 7 hour trip back home from Michigan. It makes for a long Sunday. Having our wedding on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend would allow people to stay an extra day and let them enjoy the gorgeous scenery that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has to offer.





As soon as we had chosen our date, we went to work on booking things. Getting married in a small town is difficult and easy at the same time, because there isn't much to choose from in terms of vendors. I knew I wanted to get married in the same church that I had grown up attending, so the first order of business was booking the church. Sounds simple, but Catholic churches (at least this one) won't guarantee your date until you complete the requirements for marriage. My mother called the church to get the process started, and they penciled in our date with the caveat that it would not be set in stone until we completed our compatibility test, met with the priest, etc.



Next on the list was reception sites. Again, there were very few places to choose from. We set up an appointment at the ballroom a few towns away and the country club that my fiance's parents are members of. We would not be traveling to Michigan for a few more weeks, so they penciled in the date for us and told us if anyone else called regarding that date, they would call us.



A few weeks later, I got a call from my mother saying that another girl who recently got engaged had put a deposit down at the country club that had penciled us in. And she happened to be reserving it for the same date as our wedding! And we had not received any sort of heads up from the country club! Of course, I was in a panic, because there are seriously only like two options for receptions in the town we're getting married in. And the country club was the only one that didn't require a lot of work in terms of decorations. Then my mom told me that she had seen the other bride's mom at a school event and the woman had asked her where we were having our ceremony. My mom told her we were getting married at our church and her mom said that the girl was converting to Catholic and they were going to get married in a Catholic church as well. The next day, I get a call from the priest of our church saying that someone else was looking to get married on the same day as us. I was in a panic again because as the church had made clear to me, our date was not set in stone yet. But to my surprise, the priest said he wanted to make sure I was positive about our wedding date, and if I was, he would tell the other person that the church was already booked. I was shocked that this girl's mother had called my church to see if they could get the church on that day, even after she knew we were getting married there. And I was grateful that our priest respected the fact that the church was our main priority, and we had made the call to him as soon as we had picked our date.



For the rest of the day, I questioned whether or not we should switch the date. There is only one hair salon, one florist, one DJ, one of everything in our town. Did I really want to compete with another bride for every vendor? I am not a huge fan of competition. I wanted to spend time negotiating prices, etc. before I went and booked all of these vendors. If we kept the Sept. 5th date, I would have to book everything as soon as possible just so I would have them all covered. Plus, I felt guilty that this girl would not get the church she wanted to get married in if we kept the date. I went home and talked with my fiance, and he told me that we should stick with our original plan. Would this girl change the date for us? Definitely not, and we wouldn't expect her to. So why should we feel obligated to change our date? We put a lot of thought into the date we chose. In the end, we decided to stick with the original date, although I still felt bad that this girl wouldn't get the church she wanted.



A few weeks ago we saw this girl at the wedding of a mutual friend. My fiance went up to her to say congratulations, and her mom came up to him and said "Why couldn't you just change the date?". Of course being the gentleman that he is, he just laughed and walked away. When he told me about it, I couldn't believe that this lady had the audacity to say something like that to him. How can you feel so entitled that you think everyone around you should change their plans for you? We are getting married too. It is our day too. And a long time coming. We have been together for seven years, it is about time we get married! The moral of the story, when it comes to weddings, do what you think is right for you, the person you love, and the loved ones that surround you. Don't worry about satisfying the rest of the world. Don't change your date just because someone else wants to get married on the same day as you. They would never do it for you. Another moral of the story, everyone getting married has priorities. Figure out what's most important to you, whether it be the church, the caterer, the music. Then book those vendors immediately so you don't have to worry about losing them. Once you have the things that matter to you in place, the rest of the wedding will come together easily!



If you are interested in being a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

This week, more on Holly R. about planning a wedding in a small town. Some people who live in larger areas think it's hard becasue they have so many choices, think about it if the opposite were true!



One of the first steps in planning a wedding is picking the wedding date. After my fiance and I got engaged, we put a lot of thought into choosing a date that is special to us. With so many guests from out of town, and after having to travel to a ton of weddings these past few years, we thought it was important to choose a date that would accomodate the majority of our guests. The date we decided on was Sept. 5, 2009, which falls on Labor Day weekend next year. Being a 3-day weekend, we thought that this date would be convenient for our guests because they would have an extra day after the wedding to relax before they had to travel back home. We always hate waking up the day after a fun wedding and having to drive the 5, 6, or 7 hour trip back home from Michigan. It makes for a long Sunday. Having our wedding on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend would allow people to stay an extra day and let them enjoy the gorgeous scenery that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has to offer.





As soon as we had chosen our date, we went to work on booking things. Getting married in a small town is difficult and easy at the same time, because there isn't much to choose from in terms of vendors. I knew I wanted to get married in the same church that I had grown up attending, so the first order of business was booking the church. Sounds simple, but Catholic churches (at least this one) won't guarantee your date until you complete the requirements for marriage. My mother called the church to get the process started, and they penciled in our date with the caveat that it would not be set in stone until we completed our compatibility test, met with the priest, etc.



Next on the list was reception sites. Again, there were very few places to choose from. We set up an appointment at the ballroom a few towns away and the country club that my fiance's parents are members of. We would not be traveling to Michigan for a few more weeks, so they penciled in the date for us and told us if anyone else called regarding that date, they would call us.



A few weeks later, I got a call from my mother saying that another girl who recently got engaged had put a deposit down at the country club that had penciled us in. And she happened to be reserving it for the same date as our wedding! And we had not received any sort of heads up from the country club! Of course, I was in a panic, because there are seriously only like two options for receptions in the town we're getting married in. And the country club was the only one that didn't require a lot of work in terms of decorations. Then my mom told me that she had seen the other bride's mom at a school event and the woman had asked her where we were having our ceremony. My mom told her we were getting married at our church and her mom said that the girl was converting to Catholic and they were going to get married in a Catholic church as well. The next day, I get a call from the priest of our church saying that someone else was looking to get married on the same day as us. I was in a panic again because as the church had made clear to me, our date was not set in stone yet. But to my surprise, the priest said he wanted to make sure I was positive about our wedding date, and if I was, he would tell the other person that the church was already booked. I was shocked that this girl's mother had called my church to see if they could get the church on that day, even after she knew we were getting married there. And I was grateful that our priest respected the fact that the church was our main priority, and we had made the call to him as soon as we had picked our date.



For the rest of the day, I questioned whether or not we should switch the date. There is only one hair salon, one florist, one DJ, one of everything in our town. Did I really want to compete with another bride for every vendor? I am not a huge fan of competition. I wanted to spend time negotiating prices, etc. before I went and booked all of these vendors. If we kept the Sept. 5th date, I would have to book everything as soon as possible just so I would have them all covered. Plus, I felt guilty that this girl would not get the church she wanted to get married in if we kept the date. I went home and talked with my fiance, and he told me that we should stick with our original plan. Would this girl change the date for us? Definitely not, and we wouldn't expect her to. So why should we feel obligated to change our date? We put a lot of thought into the date we chose. In the end, we decided to stick with the original date, although I still felt bad that this girl wouldn't get the church she wanted.



A few weeks ago we saw this girl at the wedding of a mutual friend. My fiance went up to her to say congratulations, and her mom came up to him and said "Why couldn't you just change the date?". Of course being the gentleman that he is, he just laughed and walked away. When he told me about it, I couldn't believe that this lady had the audacity to say something like that to him. How can you feel so entitled that you think everyone around you should change their plans for you? We are getting married too. It is our day too. And a long time coming. We have been together for seven years, it is about time we get married! The moral of the story, when it comes to weddings, do what you think is right for you, the person you love, and the loved ones that surround you. Don't worry about satisfying the rest of the world. Don't change your date just because someone else wants to get married on the same day as you. They would never do it for you. Another moral of the story, everyone getting married has priorities. Figure out what's most important to you, whether it be the church, the caterer, the music. Then book those vendors immediately so you don't have to worry about losing them. Once you have the things that matter to you in place, the rest of the wedding will come together easily!



If you are interested in being a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

Name: Holly



Location: Living in Lake Zurich, IL (a northwest suburb of Chicago) and getting married in my hometown of Iron Mountain, MI (located in the Upper Peninsula)

Blog: a small town bride

Wedding Date: Sept. 5, 2009 -- Labor Day weekend!



What do you do in real life?

I am a biomedical engineer working on a next-generation patient monitor/defibrillator. My title is "Requirements Analyst" but I basically try to narrow the gap between marketing and engineering, researching what our customers want and translating it into engineering terms.



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

Having an excuse to do the things I love. Crafty DIY details will be in abundance on our wedding day. And I'll be honest, planning my wedding is starting to make me reevaluate my career choices!



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

The lack of options while planning a wedding in a small town. My vision for the wedding and reality are not always in agreement. It's difficult to choose a reception location when there aren't any to pick from!



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?

First I'd like to give the worst wedding advice I've ever received, and it seems to be the only advice I've been hearing recently: "It will all work out in the end." It will only work out because we do something to make it work out, things typically don't just fall into place themselves! But I received the best piece of wedding advice from my fiance's sister Angela, who said "Remember the meaning of the day and not all of the details...it's so much more enjoyable!"



More from Holly next Tuesday....



If you'd like to be a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

Name: Holly



Location: Living in Lake Zurich, IL (a northwest suburb of Chicago) and getting married in my hometown of Iron Mountain, MI (located in the Upper Peninsula)

Blog: a small town bride

Wedding Date: Sept. 5, 2009 -- Labor Day weekend!



What do you do in real life?

I am a biomedical engineer working on a next-generation patient monitor/defibrillator. My title is "Requirements Analyst" but I basically try to narrow the gap between marketing and engineering, researching what our customers want and translating it into engineering terms.



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

Having an excuse to do the things I love. Crafty DIY details will be in abundance on our wedding day. And I'll be honest, planning my wedding is starting to make me reevaluate my career choices!



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?

The lack of options while planning a wedding in a small town. My vision for the wedding and reality are not always in agreement. It's difficult to choose a reception location when there aren't any to pick from!



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?

First I'd like to give the worst wedding advice I've ever received, and it seems to be the only advice I've been hearing recently: "It will all work out in the end." It will only work out because we do something to make it work out, things typically don't just fall into place themselves! But I received the best piece of wedding advice from my fiance's sister Angela, who said "Remember the meaning of the day and not all of the details...it's so much more enjoyable!"



More from Holly next Tuesday....



If you'd like to be a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

More on Amy L.!

I am a pretty easy-going bride-to-be. I don't get stressed out too easily. I love every part of planning a wedding. I didn't think one second of the year engagement would be stressful for me.

But...a few weeks into my engagement, I discovered that I had no clue what to do as far as bridesmaids! As long as I've been planning my wedding in my head (since I was about 9), I imagined I would have somewhere between 4 and 6 bridesmaids. Isn't that perfect? Isn't that how many everyone has? Isn't that how it is in the movies?

Well, when I got engaged, and started realistically thinking about it, there was no way I could have between 4 and 6 bridesmaids. My fiancé was very comfortable with 6 groomsmen without leaving anyone out, so it was perfect if we could both have 6. However, I had 9 girls and I needed them ALL in my wedding. I lost sleep over it, and waited a few months before asking, thinking, "maybe I can just have 1 maid of honor and find other roles for the rest of them!" I couldn't imagine having 9 girls standing next to me. Isn't that crazy and overwhelming? My fiancé had 6. I hated to think that our sides would be uneven.



But when I realized what a big role all of these girls had played in my life, how sad I would feel to leave any of them out, and how important it was to me to have them in my wedding, I had no choice but to ask all of them! And I'm just so happy that I did. I'm the luckiest girl to have such close friends!



It makes the planning process all the more exciting. And guess what? It's the new trend to not have the numbers match between bridesmaids and groomsmen. So although the bridesmaid decision was definitely the most stressful, I am so thankful with the outcome!



If you'd like to join our Blogging Bride's Series, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

More on Amy L.!

I am a pretty easy-going bride-to-be. I don't get stressed out too easily. I love every part of planning a wedding. I didn't think one second of the year engagement would be stressful for me.

But...a few weeks into my engagement, I discovered that I had no clue what to do as far as bridesmaids! As long as I've been planning my wedding in my head (since I was about 9), I imagined I would have somewhere between 4 and 6 bridesmaids. Isn't that perfect? Isn't that how many everyone has? Isn't that how it is in the movies?

Well, when I got engaged, and started realistically thinking about it, there was no way I could have between 4 and 6 bridesmaids. My fiancé was very comfortable with 6 groomsmen without leaving anyone out, so it was perfect if we could both have 6. However, I had 9 girls and I needed them ALL in my wedding. I lost sleep over it, and waited a few months before asking, thinking, "maybe I can just have 1 maid of honor and find other roles for the rest of them!" I couldn't imagine having 9 girls standing next to me. Isn't that crazy and overwhelming? My fiancé had 6. I hated to think that our sides would be uneven.



But when I realized what a big role all of these girls had played in my life, how sad I would feel to leave any of them out, and how important it was to me to have them in my wedding, I had no choice but to ask all of them! And I'm just so happy that I did. I'm the luckiest girl to have such close friends!



It makes the planning process all the more exciting. And guess what? It's the new trend to not have the numbers match between bridesmaids and groomsmen. So although the bridesmaid decision was definitely the most stressful, I am so thankful with the outcome!



If you'd like to join our Blogging Bride's Series, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

Name: Amy L.

Location: Southern California

Blog: Amy K Lynch

Wedding Date: June 27th, 2009



What do you do in real life? I am a student in a intensive Dental Hygiene Program!



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



One of my favorite parts about planning my wedding is that it is for me! Every decision is made based on my specific taste. I get to pick my favorite colors, my favorite flowers, my favorite ideas, my favorite looks, etc. But my absolute favorite part about planning my wedding is knowing that in less than 10 months, I get to marry my best friend. I am looking forward to being married to Danny, more than I am looking forward to the wedding day itself. And that's saying a lot for someone who loves weddings so much!



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



I think my least favorite part/the hardest part about planning my wedding is having so many opinions. Everyone has different takes on every little thing and it is truly impossible to make the wedding ideal for everyone. But it is also really hard to be selfish and just try to make the wedding ideal for Danny and me. It would be a lot easier if everyone had my same opinion on everything! ;)



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?



At this point, the best advice I've received is to make our wedding a reflection of who we are as a couple. I think it is important that our wedding day really does reflect us. I loved this advice because it actually made it easier to relax and not focus on making the wedding perfect or over-the-top!



More on Amy L. next Tuesday!!!

Blogging Brides!

Name: Amy L.

Location: Southern California

Blog: Amy K Lynch

Wedding Date: June 27th, 2009



What do you do in real life? I am a student in a intensive Dental Hygiene Program!



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



One of my favorite parts about planning my wedding is that it is for me! Every decision is made based on my specific taste. I get to pick my favorite colors, my favorite flowers, my favorite ideas, my favorite looks, etc. But my absolute favorite part about planning my wedding is knowing that in less than 10 months, I get to marry my best friend. I am looking forward to being married to Danny, more than I am looking forward to the wedding day itself. And that's saying a lot for someone who loves weddings so much!



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



I think my least favorite part/the hardest part about planning my wedding is having so many opinions. Everyone has different takes on every little thing and it is truly impossible to make the wedding ideal for everyone. But it is also really hard to be selfish and just try to make the wedding ideal for Danny and me. It would be a lot easier if everyone had my same opinion on everything! ;)



What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?



At this point, the best advice I've received is to make our wedding a reflection of who we are as a couple. I think it is important that our wedding day really does reflect us. I loved this advice because it actually made it easier to relax and not focus on making the wedding perfect or over-the-top!



More on Amy L. next Tuesday!!!

Blogging Brides!

So far in Blogging Brides, this has to be my favorite story! I think some of the best stories are always the ones that you can fully relate to, and are true... so with out further ado, Amy F. and her story of the bewbies!

first of all, i am so excited to be a part of the blogger brides series for melissa at "adventures in wedding planning." thank you for having me and creating a social network for all of us overzealous brides!

{keeping the girls happy}



soon after i bought my strapless wedding dress, i knew i needed a bewbie-lifter and a tummy tucker. i hoped to accomplish this by purchasing a corset. so, i saw one posted online and bought it! i know. so stupid. but my girls have been the same for a long time..and i've been wearing the same size over-the-shoulder..well, you get the idea. needless to say, it did not do what i wanted it to do. it did not lift. it did not tuck. back to the drawing board...



last weekend i ran out of the house to do some errands. i had planned only to go to the local drug store to grab some shampoo and conditioner and a few other quick buys, so of course, i did not shower. instead, i threw on a hat, slapped on a little deodorant to cover the sleepy sweat smell, and made a bee line for the store.



on the way home, i passed by a beautiful little lingerie store. i had always drooled over the lacy things posed so elegantly in the window. i thought, "i'll just peep my little head in and ask if they carry corsets, or something similar for my big day."



holy cow, these women were crazy. two of them who were eating lunch behind a big velvet curtain, dropped their forks and came to the front of the store to whisk me in...the third one was showing me this control top panty-shorts thing and was telling me how great it was. she promised it would suck in my 30-year-old tummy, and lift my saggy bottom without flattening it down like other brands do.



"but what about the girls?" i asked.



it didn't take them 30 seconds to have me in a dressing room. one girl was removing my tank top, while the other unleashed my bra. i thought for a second i had wandered into some secret underground "love shop" if you know what i mean, and was ready to break out the mace. fortunately i was too distracted by my mortification of un-showered bewbies and semi-stubbly armpits to make a move for my purse..



as i stood there, bewbs in hands, one of the girls approached me with what looked like shoulder pads. she motioned that she wanted to put them on me...



"you want to see my ..?" i asked.



she explained that she'd seen it all before...and i reluctantly let them free. she complimented me on my girls.. (smile)..and placed stuck the "shoulder pads" on them...clasped them together...and spun me around to face the mirror.



my jaw dropped. it was perfect! lift, cleavage, no straps. "i'll take it!"



walking home, i thought back on the whole situation. i cringed at the thought that i might have just been taken for a ride.



i tried on the ensemble as soon as i got home...the bra, the shorts...and of course, my dress. ladies..i can not tell you enough how happy i am that i stopped in that lingerie store on the way home. it all works together like a blissful, bridal dream.



curious about the bra and shorts?



bra: nubra

control top shorts: falke shaping shorts



If you are interested in being a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

So far in Blogging Brides, this has to be my favorite story! I think some of the best stories are always the ones that you can fully relate to, and are true... so with out further ado, Amy F. and her story of the bewbies!

first of all, i am so excited to be a part of the blogger brides series for melissa at "adventures in wedding planning." thank you for having me and creating a social network for all of us overzealous brides!

{keeping the girls happy}



soon after i bought my strapless wedding dress, i knew i needed a bewbie-lifter and a tummy tucker. i hoped to accomplish this by purchasing a corset. so, i saw one posted online and bought it! i know. so stupid. but my girls have been the same for a long time..and i've been wearing the same size over-the-shoulder..well, you get the idea. needless to say, it did not do what i wanted it to do. it did not lift. it did not tuck. back to the drawing board...



last weekend i ran out of the house to do some errands. i had planned only to go to the local drug store to grab some shampoo and conditioner and a few other quick buys, so of course, i did not shower. instead, i threw on a hat, slapped on a little deodorant to cover the sleepy sweat smell, and made a bee line for the store.



on the way home, i passed by a beautiful little lingerie store. i had always drooled over the lacy things posed so elegantly in the window. i thought, "i'll just peep my little head in and ask if they carry corsets, or something similar for my big day."



holy cow, these women were crazy. two of them who were eating lunch behind a big velvet curtain, dropped their forks and came to the front of the store to whisk me in...the third one was showing me this control top panty-shorts thing and was telling me how great it was. she promised it would suck in my 30-year-old tummy, and lift my saggy bottom without flattening it down like other brands do.



"but what about the girls?" i asked.



it didn't take them 30 seconds to have me in a dressing room. one girl was removing my tank top, while the other unleashed my bra. i thought for a second i had wandered into some secret underground "love shop" if you know what i mean, and was ready to break out the mace. fortunately i was too distracted by my mortification of un-showered bewbies and semi-stubbly armpits to make a move for my purse..



as i stood there, bewbs in hands, one of the girls approached me with what looked like shoulder pads. she motioned that she wanted to put them on me...



"you want to see my ..?" i asked.



she explained that she'd seen it all before...and i reluctantly let them free. she complimented me on my girls.. (smile)..and placed stuck the "shoulder pads" on them...clasped them together...and spun me around to face the mirror.



my jaw dropped. it was perfect! lift, cleavage, no straps. "i'll take it!"



walking home, i thought back on the whole situation. i cringed at the thought that i might have just been taken for a ride.



i tried on the ensemble as soon as i got home...the bra, the shorts...and of course, my dress. ladies..i can not tell you enough how happy i am that i stopped in that lingerie store on the way home. it all works together like a blissful, bridal dream.



curious about the bra and shorts?



bra: nubra

control top shorts: falke shaping shorts



If you are interested in being a Blogging Bride, please email me at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net

Blogging Brides!

Name: Amy F.



Location: Live/Work: San Francisco, CA - Wedding Location: Nashville, TN



Blog: with the pixie grin



Wedding Date: May 30, 2009



What do you do in real life?



I am a Webmaster for a popular search engine. But what I really want to be is a Registered Nurse...shhh!



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



My personal style has always been a private thing for me...planning our wedding has allowed me to share concepts & ideas with friends and family without feeling self-conscious about it. It has helped me to embrace this woman I have become. I really like that.



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



With everything I do, I really try to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable. I've found that to be true in planning our wedding while weighing in the idea that this is "our day." The struggle with finding a balance between the two has definitely added a few gray hairs.





What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?



To enjoy every minute of the planning process and the engagement phase. They say it's over before you know it...



 

We'll have some more on Amy F. next week, on Blogging Brides!

Blogging Brides!

Name: Amy F.



Location: Live/Work: San Francisco, CA - Wedding Location: Nashville, TN



Blog: with the pixie grin



Wedding Date: May 30, 2009



What do you do in real life?



I am a Webmaster for a popular search engine. But what I really want to be is a Registered Nurse...shhh!



Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



My personal style has always been a private thing for me...planning our wedding has allowed me to share concepts & ideas with friends and family without feeling self-conscious about it. It has helped me to embrace this woman I have become. I really like that.



Least Favorite Part about Planning your Wedding?



With everything I do, I really try to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable. I've found that to be true in planning our wedding while weighing in the idea that this is "our day." The struggle with finding a balance between the two has definitely added a few gray hairs.





What is the best piece of wedding advice you've ever received?



To enjoy every minute of the planning process and the engagement phase. They say it's over before you know it...



 

We'll have some more on Amy F. next week, on Blogging Brides!

Blogging Brides!

MasterPiece Weddings, Blogging Brides, is so excited to have Michelle back! Michelle and I have been chatting back and forth about her wedding, and she was telling me about her Water Ceremony - I was really interested, I love new takes on different traditions. So without further ado, let's welcome Michelle back to Blogging Brides!

I think a unity candle is a beautiful symbol. I used to think that this must be a tradition from way back when bridesmaids dressed like the bride to confuse evil spirits. At my tirade at a church not allowing candles and denying the age old tradition, my mother (my fulmination audience of 1) looked very confused and set me straight that its actually just from the 1970s... not the 1790s. Talk about letting the air out of the argument! Since then, while still a beautiful concept and symbol, its been a little tainted in my little world. (And by my little world, I mean in my head.) Well, now I am planning my wedding. I still love the symbol of the unity candle, but it now comes with the risk of me crack up laughing at a serious point in the ceremony. Oh yeah - I am that person who falls out laughing while everyone else is having a serene moment. Oops. The other issue, is that we will be on a beach for our ceremony. Candle + wind = another opportunity for me to fall out laughing! WAIT! Before you start suggesting the Unity Sand ceremony... let me say that in my head there is a VERY large tourist factor I associate with it (I grew up in touristy Panama City). There is also a logistics problem; I am marrying a Coast Guard officer and we will be moving every 4 years. Ever seen one of those sand things once its been shaken up? Let's just say it looses something.

So by now, I have discovered the wonderful world o' bridal blog stalking! Mrs. Penguin from Weddingbee had a Water Ceremony that I thought beautiful, elegant, and romantic... but we aren't Thai so that seemed a little odd to include. Mrs. Gingerbread included a Ring Blessing that was heartwarming... but we will have many guests so this could take a really long time. So my mental cuisinart popped out a new idea! (And by new, I mean that I have never heard of it. If you have, please correct me.) We will do a water blending ring blessing ceremony! Oh dear world o' bridal blog I need a better name for that!!! We will take water from places of significance to us as individuals, and pour them together, then drop the rings in and bless them in it. Beautiful right? (If you disagree, be nice, this is my first blog away from my blog home!) Hard part will be writing the ceremony right? HA!

As I said before, I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico, so there is my first water. My second being something unique to me in my adult life, is from the Big Island of Hawaii. I moved there on my own, having never even been there, and knowing no one there. It was a very "I can do this on my own" few years for me where I really grew into the woman I am today, and hope to be for the rest of my life. I know people in Hawaii, so getting that water is simple. Adam grew up in Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, so there's his first water. His second gets a bit trickier. Its Antarctica. Oh yeah, you read that right. His first Coast Guard station was on a polar ice breaker that spent 6 months our of the year in Antarctica!!! And, it was on the way back from Antarctica that he stopped in Hawaii and came to visit me for a week...bu that's a whole other story!

Enter the wonderful world of community bridal boards.

I had no idea how I was to find Antarctic water! I thought I remembered someone posting they were going on an Antarctic cruise for their honeymoon. I started posting on any board I could find asking if anyone happened to know who could bottle up some water! Many brought up the fact that water is circulated around the globe so really, any water could technically be Antarctic. I just really didn't want to start off our marriage with a fib or technicality! And then, someone chimed in with the knowledge that many researchers who go to Antarctica are based out of Colorado. So I started searching and found someone selling Polar sunglasses because they were upgrading for their next trip to Antarctica! So I emailed him and lo and behold, a colleague of his was headed down there in just a few months. So now I am patiently (read: anxiously awaiting to pounce on the UPS guy) for my Antarctic water!! I couldn't be more thankful for this wonderful world of brides and wedding professionals.

Now to the "hard" part; writing a ceremony to go with it.... Any ideas? How about a name for the ceremony? So, far, I've got "Water Blending Ring Blessing Ceremony"... doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Melissa's Note: Does anyone have any ideas?



Photos of Adam and I courtesy of us! Water ceremony courtesy of Mrs. Penguin of Weddingbee.

Blogging Brides!

MasterPiece Weddings, Blogging Brides, is so excited to have Michelle back! Michelle and I have been chatting back and forth about her wedding, and she was telling me about her Water Ceremony - I was really interested, I love new takes on different traditions. So without further ado, let's welcome Michelle back to Blogging Brides!

I think a unity candle is a beautiful symbol. I used to think that this must be a tradition from way back when bridesmaids dressed like the bride to confuse evil spirits. At my tirade at a church not allowing candles and denying the age old tradition, my mother (my fulmination audience of 1) looked very confused and set me straight that its actually just from the 1970s... not the 1790s. Talk about letting the air out of the argument! Since then, while still a beautiful concept and symbol, its been a little tainted in my little world. (And by my little world, I mean in my head.) Well, now I am planning my wedding. I still love the symbol of the unity candle, but it now comes with the risk of me crack up laughing at a serious point in the ceremony. Oh yeah - I am that person who falls out laughing while everyone else is having a serene moment. Oops. The other issue, is that we will be on a beach for our ceremony. Candle + wind = another opportunity for me to fall out laughing! WAIT! Before you start suggesting the Unity Sand ceremony... let me say that in my head there is a VERY large tourist factor I associate with it (I grew up in touristy Panama City). There is also a logistics problem; I am marrying a Coast Guard officer and we will be moving every 4 years. Ever seen one of those sand things once its been shaken up? Let's just say it looses something.

So by now, I have discovered the wonderful world o' bridal blog stalking! Mrs. Penguin from Weddingbee had a Water Ceremony that I thought beautiful, elegant, and romantic... but we aren't Thai so that seemed a little odd to include. Mrs. Gingerbread included a Ring Blessing that was heartwarming... but we will have many guests so this could take a really long time. So my mental cuisinart popped out a new idea! (And by new, I mean that I have never heard of it. If you have, please correct me.) We will do a water blending ring blessing ceremony! Oh dear world o' bridal blog I need a better name for that!!! We will take water from places of significance to us as individuals, and pour them together, then drop the rings in and bless them in it. Beautiful right? (If you disagree, be nice, this is my first blog away from my blog home!) Hard part will be writing the ceremony right? HA!

As I said before, I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico, so there is my first water. My second being something unique to me in my adult life, is from the Big Island of Hawaii. I moved there on my own, having never even been there, and knowing no one there. It was a very "I can do this on my own" few years for me where I really grew into the woman I am today, and hope to be for the rest of my life. I know people in Hawaii, so getting that water is simple. Adam grew up in Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, so there's his first water. His second gets a bit trickier. Its Antarctica. Oh yeah, you read that right. His first Coast Guard station was on a polar ice breaker that spent 6 months our of the year in Antarctica!!! And, it was on the way back from Antarctica that he stopped in Hawaii and came to visit me for a week...bu that's a whole other story!

Enter the wonderful world of community bridal boards.

I had no idea how I was to find Antarctic water! I thought I remembered someone posting they were going on an Antarctic cruise for their honeymoon. I started posting on any board I could find asking if anyone happened to know who could bottle up some water! Many brought up the fact that water is circulated around the globe so really, any water could technically be Antarctic. I just really didn't want to start off our marriage with a fib or technicality! And then, someone chimed in with the knowledge that many researchers who go to Antarctica are based out of Colorado. So I started searching and found someone selling Polar sunglasses because they were upgrading for their next trip to Antarctica! So I emailed him and lo and behold, a colleague of his was headed down there in just a few months. So now I am patiently (read: anxiously awaiting to pounce on the UPS guy) for my Antarctic water!! I couldn't be more thankful for this wonderful world of brides and wedding professionals.

Now to the "hard" part; writing a ceremony to go with it.... Any ideas? How about a name for the ceremony? So, far, I've got "Water Blending Ring Blessing Ceremony"... doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Melissa's Note: Does anyone have any ideas?



Photos of Adam and I courtesy of us! Water ceremony courtesy of Mrs. Penguin of Weddingbee.