Heading Into the 1 Month Countdown

I spent some time this morning doing the following:

• Reserving swanky white couches for our lounge area
• Responding to emails from my DOC
• Working out our day-of timeline
• Discussing shuttle information with Mr. Wonderful {guests will be picked up at their hotel and transported to the venue}
• Making reminders on a pink post-it to look into rental car discounts for out of town guests, and then add that info to our wedding website
• Thinking about the OOT gift boxes that I will begin putting together tomorrow
• And eventually I need to tend to solidify the contract for babysitting services that we are extending to guests who are bringing little ones

Since there isn't a 29th day in February, tomorrow marks the official one month countdown. It's not too much longer until I will be saying:

photo credit: La Dolce Vita

Our New Home

I never blogged about what happened on Valentines Day {which by the way, I oversee every year for Mr. Wonderful - a role reversal of sorts - it's my day to spoil him. He doesn't need to worry about a thing}, but I figured since we're still in the month of February {barely} that I would share one piece of exciting news that happened that weekend.

We closed on our house!!

I've been teeter tottering between making our house a home, and tending to the wedding checklist as there are still some things that need to be done. Not to worry, my head hasn't exploded. But...

In the midst of exerting a tremendous amount of energy, I caught a cold. A bad one. It celebrates its ten day anniversary today.

Better to get sick now than on March 29th, I know. But still. I'm tired of pumping my nose with nasal spray. I can't stand that stuff {no pun intended}.

Anyhow, our first purchase of new furniture was this pretty little piece, which goes by our front door {don't mind the tapped together pieces of cardboard covering up the hardwoods}.

ONTO PHOTOS OF THE HOUSE....

This is where we initially started. Just a lot.

And then, there is was...a frame!

Progress came together rather quickly...

Subcontractors even worked on Christmas Day...

Here is a picture of the house nearly completed...the garage door and the shutters still needed to be painted.

And here it is. Our New Home {while even though this shot doesn't show the house in it's entirety, and a builder sign is set up against the house, you still see our new home for the most part}.

We are beyond thrilled to begin our memories as a newly married couple in our new home.

Bouquet...At the Altar?

So, "technically", the bride is supposed to pass her bouquet to her Maid-of-Honor once she completes her walk down the aisle and reaches her dapper groom. But what happens if she places one hand lovingly inside of her future husband's hand, and uses her other hand to keep her bouquet of pretty blossoms close? The photographer captures a lovely picture like this one...

photo credit: DeDe Edwards

I don't blame the above bride. I won't want to part with my bouquet on my wedding day either.

We Admit It

We're vain. How vain, we don't know. But vain enough to get teeth whitening so that when it comes time for close up shots, we will be smile ready, like these two, on the big day...

photo credit: Natalie Moser

I had my session today; Mr. Wonderful goes for his next month.

When I shook hands with the dentist, I may have purposely dropped a line that I was getting married in a month - but hey, it got me a fourth twenty-minute round at no charge {who would have thought that even in the dentist charge, I could work my cost saving skills?}.

My teeth are now six shades lighter. I saw the results instantly. Mr. Wonderful will be jealous until he has a "bib" around his neck tending to his own pearly whites.

Yep, we're vain {but it will pass}.

Loving Sentiments Expressed

Last night, while snuggled up, Mr. Wonderful turned and asked me if I had started writing my vows. I responded with a lighthearted tease of just four words: "you better get staaarted".

There's actually a few places where loving words will be penned to my future husband.

photo credit: Abigail Seymour

Aside from the vows that I will write/have written {gotta keep him wondering}, there's a card that I bought for Mr. Wonderful {while in the airport, on my way to Canada}, the day after he proposed {yes, I got proposed to the night before I left to go out of the country. Romantic? You bet ya}. Walking between terminals, I spotted a card rack. I made my way to it {with love on the brain, of course}, and skimmed a few cards after giving the rack a twirl. And then I picked one up. And that one was the one. It beautifully expressed everything that I wish, I myself, could put into words about the amazing man that I will soon call my husband.

And that little card, with a whole lotta love, will be read by Mr. Wonderful on our wedding day.

- - -

Post wedding, I will share with you the words that were enclosed in that card.

Flowers That Sit Pretty

I took notice of these beautiful floral arrangements when seeing that they were in containers that really made them pop.

Check out how those grapes add a unique element to this arrangement...

And how limes do the same in this one.

I love how the pink and purple flowers pop against the white.

This arrangement is just gorgeous. Hues of pink, orange, yellow, and greenery inside of a tall black vase that takes this piece to another level.

These tulips are sitting perfectly pretty in these urns.
How divine is yellow combined with copper.

Everything about the below picture is pretty. The color choice {and grouping} of the flowers, which look perfect against the brown. The ribbon at the base of the two-toned callalilis, and the candle that glows along side of them.

This arrangement is perfect for an outdoor beachside affair.
I loved footed containers, like the one here.

The bold colors in these arrangements are simply gorgeous. I love that the same urn is used, in varying height.

Can there be a more perfect arrangement for a tropical affair?

I like so many things about this photo, I don't know where to start.

Could that be blue velvet cloth?
This container is perfect for an outdoor affair.

photo credit: The Knot

Just a Few More Adjustments

I returned just a bit ago from the bridal salon. Just a few more adjustments and I'll be able to take my beautiful dress home with me. My mother was beside herself with excitement seeing me in my dress. Just 10 more days, and we will be on the 1 month countdown. Can you believe it?

photo credit: Rodolfo Arpia

Isn't the above image just gorgeous?

What's Happening This Afternoon?

Gown fitting scheduled for 12:00 noon today.
Can't wait to see my dress again!

photo credit: Natalie Mosser

Where to Put The Vows

When I saw the below picture, it made me ask myself the following question:

"Where do I place my vows?"

{click photo to enlarge}

photo credit: Abigail Seymour

The bride above carried her vows down the aisle with her, tucking her paper of love behind her bouquet - perhaps some noticed, while others didn't. Maybe her hands perfectly clutched her vows completely and it blended with the stem wrapping. But I can't help but to think that once she passed her bouquet onto her Maid-of-Honor, what did she do with the paper? Did it too get passed to the MOH to hold until it was time for her vows to be said? And when that time did come, her pages had to be a bit wrinkled. Maybe she passed her vows onto the officiant once she reached her groom, and the officiant then passed them back to her when it was time for her to express her personal words of endearment?

Clearly I'm an over analyzer.

But nonetheless, it's a question I need to have answered. I know how to get myself to the altar, but what about my vows?

Why We're Having our Wedding on a Sunday

When I came across the below ring shot, I loved it. Mr. Wonderful and I will be getting married on a Sunday and this image seemed fitting for a post as to why we're having a non-Saturday wedding. So let me share...

photo credit: Jenna Walker

One of the best decisions we have made is to tie the knot on a non-Saturday. Let me tell you - the savings have been huge. Our calculations show that we have saved about $20,000:

• We shaved a significant cost off of our venue space alone, and avoided having to meet the beverage minimum and the $5 per car parking fee requirement.
• When we were scouting out our ceremony/reception location and researching vendors, none of them were already booked so we were able to secure all of our first choices.
• Vendors have extended significant discounts that they otherwise wouldn't have.
• There will be less traffic in midtown Atlanta on a Sunday {it's a much less hectic day all around}.
• Most of our guests are coming from afar and would have taken at least one day off of work to make the most of their trip to Atlanta for our wedding, so we used this scenario to our advantage. Besides, who likes Mondays?! They would much rather share in our after-the-wedding day brunch!
• We're able to celebrate our wedding over a nice long weekend with our family and friends, who traveled great distances to witness our union.
• The savings is allowing us to take an amazing honeymoon to Prague and Austria.

Would I recommend a Sunday wedding? Absolutely. We have zero regrets. Now we just need OUR Sunday to hurry up and get here. We're wanting to get married already!

The Days Events

Soon enough, this will be me...{hopefully relaxed}...in a set of "comfy's" {my term for comfortable attire}...and as evidenced in this photo, I won't be the only bride who takes on the task of applying her own make-up on her wedding day.

And after the lipstick has been applied, mom zips me into my dress, the veil is secured in place, and my bouquet is in hand, I will turn into one gleeful bride who can't wait to see her groom...

And just like that, the vows will be said, we will be husband and wife, and we will be looking out at all the people that came from near and far to share in a our treasured day.

photo credit: Becker

There's not too many more days left my friends!

Side By Side

Yesterday marked 45 days...as in, 45 days until we are married. My how fast the days decrease when the 90 day countdown happens.

I adore the shot below. The dual view of the bride and groom - gazing into each other's eyes. Soaking in the moment. They are probably standing on cloud 9 - we just can't see it.

photo credit: Abigail Seymour

Note to Self

Make sure that kleenex boxes are scattered {for guests during the ceremony} throughout the aisles of chairs. There's nothing like needing a tissue and there isn't one in site {not to worry Jenn, you'll have your very own box at the foot of your chair!!}.

photo credit: Becker

Change It Up

Proof that changing your attire throughout your engagement session is a fabulous idea...

photo credit: Tanja Lippert

Lots of Lip Lockin'

I love how this couple couldn't make it down the aisle without turning to one another, yet again, for another kiss on the lips...

And another one...
And another one...

And another one...

And another one.

photo credit: Becker

Talk about sealing your love with a kiss!

A Thoughtful Gift from a Reader

Truth be told, I spend a lot of time on the computer. A habit that I need to break. I blame it on the wedding. There's just always this need of wanting to be productive, and in order for progress to come about, I have to be one with my computer. I really do need to wean myself. And it will happen. Post wedding.

So while I was on my computer last night, I received an email from a lovely reader of my blog {M'Shonta}. She told me to head to her blog because she had a special surprise for me. Hmmm. I wondered what it was.

I typed in her blog address, and the page came up...

And there was the surprise! She had made these darling mailboxes for me and Mr. Wonderful! I mean, really, how cute are these {they say "An Atlanta Bride" and "Mr. Wonderful" on the outside}:

I especially love her idea behind making them:

"These can be used for Valentine's Day surprises or all through the year to write love notes to your new hubby. Some couples have written love notes to one another from Feb. 1-14 and then opened them on Valentines Day!! However you choose to you them, I am sure that it will keep love and excitement in the air. Just slip in a note or something special inside and raise the flag to let him know that "he has mail."

You can read her entire post here.

What a thoughtful surprise from a reader who has such a big heart!

Thank you so much M' Shonta!!