Happy Bundt Day!

My sweet coordinators mentioned me on their blog today! I am very excited to have a variety of different delicious bundts at our wedding and it seems this is an inspirational idea! Hehe... how fun. :)

Autumnal Glory

I have to admit... I have a thing for fall weddings. Not that I am not incredibly excited about my April wedding (it's going to be amazing). But had life dealt a different hand and I was planning for an autumn wedding I would imagine it something like this...






Ahh... wellies, wool blankets, fall leaves... little pumpkins... lots of love. So so sweet. Doesn't it all look so cozy??

Darlington House!

After two months of looking Brad and I finally have a venue! We have booked the Darlington House! It is so completely adorable. Not only is it a 1920's mansion with beautiful gardens and courtyards (that would be wonderful enough as it is) but is is run my the sweetest little old ladies in the whole wide world! Even the money that you pay to rent the home goes towards helping the elderly! How much more lovely could it be?


Our tour guide was Rebecca, she was spit fire! At first I was a little concerned that it might takes us three years to complete the tour (her pace was a little more...protracted than ours)... but in the end slow and steady wins the race. Besides, it was fun to spend time with Rebecca. She's a kick. Though I fear she likes Bradley more than she likes me, "Ooo! You're a lefty!! We lefties are the smart ones. I trust you."



We are both so excited and blessed to be able to have our wedding here, it is going to be beautiful. Thanks for praying!!

Scott and Heidi are Married!!

I am so amazed that I've arrived at this stage in my life... my little brother is off on his honeymoon, my little sister will soon be away at college, and Brad and I are planning our wedding! Somehow we all grew up when I wasn't really paying attention. I always imagined this stage in our lives, everyone going off, falling in love, starting our own families, yet it never really seemed like it would ever get here, that it could be now! Time flies.


The wedding was lovely. Heidi looked radiant. Scott looked handsome and adorable. The ceremony was meaningful, sweet, and emotional. Everyone had fun at the reception. And Heidi made scarves for everyone - it was insane! But very much appreciated by the guests - it really made everyone feel very loved... and warm. Hehe. Overall an amazing day. And now Scotty is on a cruise ship with his WIFE!! So weird. In a good way. :)


I think I'm really going to enjoy having Heidi as a sister. She is really good for Scott and very sympatico with our little family. Brad and Scott have gotten really close too which is such an incredible blessing. His toast to Scott at the wedding had most of us in tears. I love them both so much and it's the best gift ever to have them be close like that.


Sigh... Life is really good. God is really good.

Picnic on the Plateau

In honor of the fall and our love of the outdoors - and my fascination with anything vintage - Brad and I decided to have an old-fashioned picnic for our engagement pictures. We are so happy with how they turned out!










Steffany and Carson, the adorable husband and wife team of Nothing But Miracles Photography, were kind enough to take the pictures for us. They did such and incredible job and were so much fun to work with. Love them.




Now, we are not showing anyone our favorites because we want to save those for the save the date postcards but enjoy the rest!

Carter & Cook

I am so excited right now! I wanted to wait to tell everyone until it was official but it looks like Brad and I will be working with the incredible Carter & Cook Event Company! Brad, Kirstie and I met with Ashlyn and Heather tonight and they are the sweetest, most talented girls! They will be helping me to keep everything organized and within our budget and beautiful. I feel completely confident that they know what they're doing... look at some of their work!

Peaches!


Buttons and pretty paper!


Big oak trees and wicker baskets! Sigh... they get me.

Oh, and p.s. I found my dress!! Yippee!!

Crazy Times!

Well, life has been super hectic lately.

Brad and I have been visiting venue options (we've narrowed it down to three!). Mom and Kirstie and I have been dress shopping (so confusing!). I've been planning parties (Amy's send off was sooo fun!) and going to parties (thanks Dan!). Getting Spud Muffin orders ready. Not to mention work! So I apologize for not updating the blog in a little while. I will try to keep up with it! I do love blogging... :)


Having gone to a few different dress shops now and I think I have a better idea of what I am looking for but it is hard to find just the right one - you know? I saw this beauty on Ritzy Bee today and, well, it's perfect. Really, really, perfect. Argh! If only I knew who made it!


Look at the back!! ::swoon::

In other news... Brad and I getting some engagement pictures done this weekend by the lovely Steffany of Nothing But Miracles Photography and my head is positively spinning with ideas for the shoot...





I think a picnic at the plateau is in order... :)

The Lord Provides

Sometimes it seems like God has to keep teaching me the same lessons over and over again. Lately He has been reminding me that when I put my trust in Him and do things His way and honor Him with my time, talent, and treasure (as Miles would say) that everything else will fall into place. No need to fret. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matt. 6:33-34

So, what, Julie, has brought about this revelation once again to you today? Well, I really wanted to channel these darling vintage postcard inspired save the dates...


I knew, however, that we would have to have some engagement pictures taken and I wanted them to be quality but I also knew that our budget may not allow for a professional shoot so I prayed about it (I know, I know I pray about silly things but God tells us to pray continuously, right?) and tried not to think about it too much.
Well, yesterday, whilst perusing facebook, I noticed that one of my friends had made a page for her new photography business. I have always admired her pictures of her darling kids... Well, lo and behold she and her husband are trying to build their portfolio and announced that the first five friends to ask would get a free photoshoot! No way! So ...I asked! (obviously) And she said yes! Woo hoo! Oh, and their business is called Nothing but Miracles Photography - how appropriate. Look at her amazing pictures (and babies!)...





Gah... maybe she won't notice if I steal baby Tyler... :)

Venue Updates...

On Thursday Brad and I checked out the schoolhouse and I guess we're going to keep looking... The actual schoolhouse was very cute and Stephanie was helpful and sweet but neither of us are fans of gazebos and/or painted concrete. I don't know, it just didn't feel right.


I think we'll know it when we see it. We both still really like the Thursday Club (not available on Saturday the 17th - only Sunday) and when we talked to Pastor Miles he said he might be willing to tape the first service and possibly just to a video cast for the remaining 4 services that Sunday! So sweet.


I wish we could use an old church (I have a thing for pews) but it would seem that they all require you to use their clergy for the ceremony and some even require you to be baptized into their church! (Reminds me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Brad thinks maybe he could pull some strings though so I'll keep my chin up!


We are also going to check out a couple of places in Temecula (as a last resort if nothing in San Diego works). One is an estate and it looks very pretty... and the other is an outdoorsy, park scenario with lots of trees. Which I love the idea of - I imagine it looking something like this:


Which is my problem. get all excited imagining what it could look like then I get there and it's not nearly as cute as my head made it out to be. :(

Oh well, I can't worry about it... as the Lord has told me, "...I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) He has it all figured out - I just have to have faith.