Meeting with the Minister

On Tuesday night David and I met with our minister Matthew and his dear family to discuss details of the ceremony.  We would like for the ceremony to last no more than 30 minutes, from the time the bridal party enters till they, David and I exit.  We asked Matthew to speak about the importance of marriage and the biblical references to it, along with incorporating some humor!  We will be saying traditional vows but will be researching the exact wording we want to use.

And the Dress Is...

After a week of much speculation, I've decided to post the dress I selected.  Scroll down to see!














The picture really does not do it justice.  It's by Casablanca and from The White Room in Lebanon.  When looking through magazines and online, I did not have this look in mind, but once I got it on, everything just fell into place.  It remained in my mind after trying on more dresses.  The jewelry my parents and David got me matches it perfectly, it is lightweight, and made me look more formal/elegant/glamorous than bridal.  One strap will be added to it, and it will be ivory.  The shoes will be dyed to match.  It should be in by April or May!  I'm very pleased with my choice!

Saying Yes to the Dress!

I said yes to the dress last Saturday!  It will be in in April or May.  The dress is pictured here on the blog!  Look at all the dresses I have posted since the beginning of this blog.  See if you can guess which one I picked!

Update-Found the Shoes!

Here's a look at the shoes!   I found them at Kathy's.  They're Touchups by Benjamin Walk.  Now it's on to the dress!

Music Man

Quick update:  We met with our DJ, Jason Gross, last Wednesday.  We will be picking out our favorite songs to be played at the reception!

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 7

Last Tuesday we all went to Chattanooga to do a little more dress shopping.  My dad went with us this time.   I've always said that he was welcome to come at any time, but I figured he it wouldn'be his cup of tea!  However, Mom insisted that he come at least once, so he did. 
We went to The Prado, where I tried on about six different dresses.  I tried on Sottero and Midgley's "Teagan" and "Starla," which have been previously posted.  Here's a couple more I tried on:







I've given myself a deadline-the end of this month.  I am close to making a decision!

Reception

We have begun the process of planning for the reception.  Some of the food items we are considering are:  chicken strips, vegetable trays, fruit display, cheese balls, spinach dip, chicken salad, tortilla pinwheels, stuffed cherry tomatoes, chocolate fondue fountain with pretzel sticks, rolls/bread, cheescake-filled strawberries, and fruit tea.  We also have ideas on the cakes.  We would welcome any additional suggestions!

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 6

Mom, Mileah, and I went to Lebanon today to The White Room.  They had a beautiful selection of dresses.  The consultant chose this dress for me to try on.  I'm glad she did!

The designer is Casablanca.  I was really surprised at how well I liked this.  If I choose this dress, I will add one strap to it.  But I'll leave the hairpiece off!

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 5

I went to Murfreesboro last Saturday with my mom and sister to do a little more wedding dress shopping.  I went to The White Room.  I was looking to see if they had these dresses:



Fantasia



Starla



Teagan

These are all by Sottero and Midgley.  They did not have these in stock.   I did try this one on that is by the same designer.



Adorae

    

Ceremony and Reception Decorations

I'm gathering ideas for ceremony and reception decorations.  Here's a few I've collected:



White tin baskets filled with hydrangeas



Mini-lantern candle holders

Small vases of gerbera daisies, tulips, and peonies set on and around books wrapped in wedding colors.

 

Bouquets

I found these two ideas for bouquets on The Knot:



Roses in different sizes and shades of pink



Calla lillies, roses, dahlias, and cymbidium orchids

Save the Date

Here's a look at some of the invitations we are considering:

 

These are all from the American Wedding.  We will be sending save the date cards, but I was unable to get most of the pictures to post.



 

 

 
 

 

 

Personalization Design Studioclose

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 4

Mom, Mileah, and I visited two bridal stores in Mufreesboro.  We went to Bridal and Formal Shoppe, where they carry the brands of other possible bridesmaids dresses.  While there, I found a dress to try on for myself.  This one is by Mori Lee:



It can be changed to a one-strap, with the strap running diagonally across the back.  It's prettier in the store and very reasonably priced.

Here are more possible bridesmaid dresses:

By Eden Bridesmaids



By Impression



I particularly like the middle dress and the one on the right.

We also visited A Special Touch, located across from Stones River Mall.

One of My Little Flower Girls

Also, here's another picture of a very important person in the wedding party-Collins, one of my two flower girls.



She will be close to two-years-old at the time of the wedding.  Isn't she a cutie!

My Junior Bridesmaid

In my last post I failed to post a picture of my junior bridesmaid.  Here's Shelby:

Things in Place

David and I have already made decisions on some things.  Our wedding will be at Central Church of Christ on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. 





Our officiant will be Matthew Balentine.  He is the former youth minister at Central, and he and his family are dear friends of ours.  His wife Blaire will be one of our servers, and their sweet daughter Collins will be one of the flower girls.



Members of our bridal party have all been asked and have all accepted.  My maid of honor is my sister Mileah.



Here are my bridesmaids:



My cousin Jacqueline.  Her son, Ethan, pictured here, will be distributing programs.




My good friend Gina; Her daughter, Anna, will be one of our flower girls, and her son, Aaron, will be our ringbearer.


My good friend and colleague Michelle

My special former student Shelby

David's groomsmen include Jeremiah Tatum, his former minister and friends John David Schwartz, Enoch Rinks, and Jeremy Gargis, who will be his best man.



Jacqueline's older son, Grant, will be David's junior groomsman.

My aunt Tina will be my registry attendant.



My cousin Alyssa will also hand out programs, and my uncle Kim will be an usher.




So will my cousin Drew.

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 3

My mom, sister and I went to Tullahoma last month to check out two wedding stores.  We went to Millie's Bridal & Formal.  I tried on several dresses, and found two there that I liked. 



This is by Allure Bridals.

I also tried this one on by Alfred Angelo.



They, too, were very helpful and sent me a thank you note as well.

I also visited Pearls & Pinstripes.  They carry Maggie Sottero, but did not have the two I like in stock.  So, they would have to be ordered.  Here they are:



This is called Hilary.



This one is Desirae.

They also carry a the brand Liz Fields in bridesmaid dresses.  Here's another possibility:

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Wedding Dress Shopping-Day 2

In July I went to Sugar Drop in Brentwood.  I really like the dress in the picture below.  It is Sophia Tolli, and they carry this brand.



They did not have this dress in the store, but it can be ordered.  I did try on two other dresses I liked.

They also carry Bari Jay, the brand of the bridesmaid dress in the picture below:

Wedding Dress Shopping-Day1

My mom, sister and I went shopping for the first time back at the end of June.  We went to Cookeville and explored four different stores.  Being completely new to this, I did not know what to ask when going.  So I asked Gina, my good friend and bridesmaid, what I would need to ask.  She used to work in a bridal store and was a bride herself.  I took her questions and created a sheet, attached it to a pink clipboard, and take with me to complete when I visit a store. 
Beauty Queens Boutique was the first store I visited. They were very nice and helpful. They even sent me a thank you note for coming in to the store.

I also visited The Country Bumpkin, Ready Set Grow, and Sarah's Gown Gallery.  Ready Set Grow and Sarah's Gown Gallery can order one of the bridesmaid dresses I am considering.  Here it is:

I will post all dress possibilities on here, but I will not reveal my final picks.  I want them to be surprises!



Getting Started

I am a very structured and organized person, so I had to find some guidelines to follow in planning the wedding.  I am currently following The Knot (www.theknot.com).  It has essentially everything you need to plan a wedding.  It provides you with a checklist, identifying the things you need to do, and gives you deadlines for completing them.  You can create your wedding budget and a list of your guests, updating as needed.  I can also save photos in an online notebook of things that I see on The Knot that I like. 
We have a website through The Knot.  Go to www.theknot.com/ourwedding/ErikaKnowles&DavidBurdine.
You can also go to our site at www.projectwedding.com/ourwedding/davidanderika.

I am also using a keepsake wedding planner that David got me to keep track of all information.

Flashback to the Engagement

I thought I would go back a year ago to tell about our engagement.  We celebrated our one-year dating anniversary on May 29, 2010, by going to The Cheesecake Factory in Nashville.  Upon returning to my house, we decided to exchange our anniversary gifts.  I wanted to give him my gift first, but David really wanted to go ahead and give his.  That kind of made me think something was up!  When he made me close my eyes and I hear him open the table drawer, I knew something was up!  When I opened my eyes, he was on one knee with a box in his hand.  I opened it up with trembling hands, and he asked me to marry him!  Of course, I said yes!

Introduction to My Blog!

Hi!  For those of you who do not know who I am, my name is Erika Knowles.  I am 31 years-old and live in McMinnville, Tennessee.  I will be marrying Mr. David Burdine next July 28, 2012.  I decided to create a blog to chronicle the steps we take in planning our wedding!