8.25.2012

Hello, again! It's been a couple weeks now since we officially booked our venue for our wedding, and I have not done any other planning since then! We did get our wedding website up though, so if you haven't checked it out, you should: Our Wedding WebsiteI HAVE to get started doing more planning, and will probably start working more diligently when we get back from Missouri. Which brings me to my first point:
Caleb is taking me on my first out-of-state vacation. I guess I was pretty sheltered as a kid, but I've never been on an airplane! Even when my father owned one as a child, I still never have been on one. I'm excited! But, we leave next Wednesday to Missouri. I'll come home four days later, and Caleb will stay for an extra 8 days. I'm looking forward to seeing St. Louis, and all the sight seeing, but I'm more excited to meet the future in-laws and Caleb's family. I hope they like me! We'll take ton's of pictures and I'll tell everyone all about it.
Last Saturday we did our Engagement pictures with a WONDERFUL young woman who I've been fortunate enough to know of for several years. I've watched her truly develop into the wonderful photographer that she is now, and I've always "ooh-ed and ahh-ed" when she would post her work online. She approached me about doing engagement photos and I couldn't turn down the oppertunity and would recommend her for ANY occasion: Maternity photos, engagement, weddings, homecomings, family portaits...anything! Please, please, please, check her out if you are looking for a photographer for anything. Tiffany McNutt Photography
Anyways, now that I gloated about how great she is... Another girlfriend of mine did her engagement photos at Mission Trails, and I thought they came out gorgeous. A couple days before our shoot, I met up with my friend Cait and she showed me around the area. I took a few pictures with my cell and sent them to Tiffany. She was super excited, and couldn't wait to shoot. When we met up last week, everything was perfect. It was a clear day, and we took one set of photos on a bridge with Caleb in his dress blues, and then moved to a field. On our way to field, we couldn't help by take a few other pictures. By the time we got to the field, the sun was absolutely perfect. I can't wait to see how they come out! Tiffany and I had discussed another idea for our "Save the Date" pictures (I'm keeping these a surprise!) but we didn't have enough time to do them that day. We met up yesterday and took this set. The ones she showed me on her camera were INCREDIBLE. I can't wait to see them on a camera.
I'm sure everyone has seen these on facebook, but here are some samples of what she has given me so far. Everytime I get a text saying "I posted another teaser", I can't seem to get on facebook fast enough!

I can't wait to see how they all came out. The amount of love we have for each other is undeniable. I'm over the moon excited.
Well, that's about it for now. Wish us me luck as we travel to Missouri. I'm sure we'll take a ton of pictures there, and I'll definitely post them!

Let the planning, begin!

So, by now, everyone knows that Caleb and I are an engaged couple! ...well, hopefully you should know, if not- get up with the times! :) He proposed on June 2nd, 2012- to which my answer was of course, "Yes!" ...I think it came sometime after I said, "are you for real?", "are you serious?", and some other sentences I managed to stammer out. I was shocked to say the least. Heck, we had just spent part of the evening at Robins Brothers LOOKING at engagement rings, so I had NO idea where he had gotten this one from- Turns out he had it for a while.

Fast Forward two months: I was ready to start planning my dream wedding almost right away. I started googling wedding venues, talking to friends, mentally planning things I knew I wanted, and I definitely couldn't stay off of Pinterest and finding ideas! Reality started to sink in when I/We realized these wedding things are NOT inexpensive. We looked at about four venues: Green Gables | San Marcos

I loved this Venue and everything it had to offer in its inclusive package, but when push came to shove it was just too much money and they didn't have an ideal date for us. We then looked at Green Gable's sister location: Twin Oaks | San Marcos

They too, were a beautiful location, and I witnessed a ceremony and reception here, so I knew it was gorgeous. They too, only had a date available that we didn't care for, and the price ran the same as Green Gables, so we kept both on our minds but kept looking. Up Next: Mt. Woodson Castle | Ramona

This location was also gorgeous, but small. They quoted me a price based on a sunday day, and I didn't like the idea of that. I wanted a night wedding. They also were trying to help me save money by pushing me towards a weekday event, which again, I didn't want. I have a lot of things to consider- but importantly is Caleb's family and friends flying in, and I didn't want them to have to come in the middle of a week. When I listened to my gut instinct, this location wasn't right for us at all.

I felt absolutely defeated in our search for a place to get married and was considering the idea of eloping, even though I knew I didn't want that at all. I hated when friends and family would ask me about wedding plans, because I had gotten no where in two months. Randomly, I heard back from a venue that I had e-mailed a month prior, asking if I was interested in their location still. I asked for a quote based on what I was looking for...about 100 people, a night event, a particular day (hang tight, it's coming up..I'll tell you!), and within our budget. She came back with a package that sounded great, and so we set up a time to view it. As soon as we walked through it, Caleb and I went back out to the car, and I knew I didn't want to leave without putting down a deposit. I asked him how he felt about it, and he thought it was great, so we put the car back in park, and found the coordinator to sign our contract.
Sycuan Resort | El Cajon, CA

The Date: May 26, 2013 The venue and package was perfect. We have the venue from 5pm-10pm. There is a hotel onsite for all of the guests that will be coming from out of town. There is a free shuttle too and from the casino if anyone wants to keep the night going after 10pm. We booked it for a Sunday because the price was remarkably cheaper- but it's a holiday weekend, so most everyone should have the following monday off of work. The dinner includes five main entrees that sound fantastic, The bride (eek! that's me!) and groom get a free night stay the night of, and we can arrange a round of golf for a very discounted price or for free if it's only 4 players. Now, the rest of the planning can really begin since we finally have a date and place locked in. Caleb and I are scheduled to take our engagement pictures this weekend through a FANTASTIC photographer I know, Tiffany McNutt. Please keep checking back for more updates about what is going on and where we are at in the process to becoming Mrs. Bourne!