My favourite wedding pic

Soo...since I have been busy, and it will take me a while till I've posted wedding pictures, I'm going to go ahead and show you my favourite wedding picture of just Everett and I!

Hi everyone!  I have been AWOL for quite some time, wedding prep, wedding, honeymoon, and now the craziness of trying to fit, and unpack/organize my mounds and loads of STUFF.  Man, I have WAAAAAY too much, so my goal is to sort through my "stuff" as I unpack and find new homes for things.

In the next few weeks I hope to share many posts of pre-wedding/wedding/honeymoon pictures and maybe even some how to's.  It may take me a while, but please stick around, cuz I've got lots that I can't wait to share!

Here is a little sneak peak to "tide" you over for now!  My bouquet!

How have all of you been doing?  What have you been up to for the last month?

Love :D
Mrs. Raban 

Flowery girls

We are being non-traditional and having 2 flower girls and no ring bearers.  I have 2 very special cute girls in my life, C who is 7 years old (we've been good buddies for about 5 years) and A is 2.5 years old (we've been buddies since she was 3 months old).  Both of the girls know each other really well, and it's been fun to plan and talk wedding stuff with them.  Actually the other day A was asking her mom where her husband was, because she had a pretty dress (her flower girl dress) and so now she just needed to know where her husband was!  TOO CUTE!  I'll have to share more stories yet about these two girls!

So anyways....since our wedding is during winter, and we live where it's COLD, I thought I would try to find some cute sweaters for the girls to wear over their adorable flower girl dresses.  Sunday afternoon after church I searched and searched!  What I had in mind was a shorter (shrug) style, long sleeves, white or dark purple, and pretty!  This is what I found.

First one at Old Navy (seen below, except in white) unfortunately they only had size 0-24 months.  It is longer then I wanted, but still cute, so I did buy one for A, in case I couldn't find 2 of the same design in sizes for both girls.

Then at The Children's Place I found these adorable crocheted shrugs! 

Perfect length, since it looks dressier, and suits their dresses more, with long sleeves, in white, and better yet, crocheted!  They couldn't be better! So then the search for the right sizes was on, the 7/8 which is what C usually wears looked too big, so I bought the 5/6 for her as well, and the smallest they had was a 3/4, so I bought it, hoping that it wouldn't be huge on C.  The 5/6 fit C better then the 7/8 so I was happy I bought both (I will return the 7/8) and the 3/4 fits A!  HOOORAY!!!  And, they both like them to boot!  :D

I can't wait to post some pics of the girls all dressed up!  hehe!

Sleeps and dreams

So, today is 18 sleeps till I become Mrs. Raban :D

This last night I had a wedding dream/nightmare!  I still remember bits of it, so I thought I'd share it with you!

We had gotten ready, and I was in my dress, my hair was done (except I had forgotten my hair extensions, but my hair was still super long, so I was ok with that) and so we went to the church to make sure that everything was in it's right place and everything.

I met Everett, my bridesmaids, the family, the groomsmen and everyone there.  I realized I had forgotten Ev's ring at my parents house, so I told someone to go pick it up.  It was around 11:00 Am, and the ceremony was only starting at 6:30 so we had time, but we did want to start taking pictures at 12, so they needed to hurry!  So then I walked into the sanctuary towards the back and went into an office area for a bit to make a phone call, and when I came out, there were about 50 guests coming in and sitting down already!  So I quickly tried to scoot around to the front and through the doors, but tons of ppl saw me!

So "back" stage I had a room that was designated for me, so I went there to find some quiet!  I closed the door and walked into the middle of the room (it was a really weird building we were getting married in, one that i don't recognize) and there's a "bathroom" that's like an airplane one, all cramped, and I'm about to use the facilities, with the door open of course, because wearing a dress it's difficult to fit in there, and in walks a family and their little boy needs to use the facilities as well!  At this point, I'm so tired of things going wrong that I tell them they have to use the other bathrooms!


Around 11:30 I peak through the window into the sanctuary and the place is PACKED!  7 hours before the ceremony starts and the place is bursting at the seams!  Some people brought their own picnic lunches and are pulling out Tupperware bowls of potato salad, and eating right where they are sitting!

I decide that we need to leave to take some pictures, so I tell the pastor and a friend to round up the families and wedding party to head out!  So we are climbing into the back of pick up trucks, with bales in them to ride around for picture taking, which is crazy!!!

I woke up, and I remember thinking, wow that was a great day, cuz I was already getting married, and then I started to remember all the craziness, and I am glad that we still have some time to prepare!

Yet at the same time, I can't wait for the day to come!  I'm so excited!

EDIT: I remember a small part of my dream after I posted this!

Just after ppl started eating in the sanctuary, (7 hrs before the ceremony starts) they were even sitting in the front row, and I had to personally make an announcement to tell them that my family needed to sit in the front row, if they could all shuffle back!  Outrageous! haha!  Oh dreams!

Wedding Dress

It fits me and I have it at my house :D  I went to pick it up last night :D :D :D  And of course, I put it on and wore it for a bit, mostly just staring at it, I LOVE my wedding dress!  hehe! :D

8 weeks

Baah!  Only 8 weeks till the wedding!  We've been so busy thinking about Christmas and our house renos that the wedding has totally taken the back seat!  I just realized it's only 8 weeks!  I knew it was only 2 months, but for some reason 8 weeks sounds like so much less time then 2 months! 

So I need to get back on the wedding planning train of thought!  So my goal for today is to make a list and prioritize so that I can be efficient with my time and allow people to help me with various things! 

I'm so excited :D

The story of the wedding dress hunt! Aka. The longest blog post ever!

So I thought I would share my story of hunting for my wedding dress!  You see, most people that I talk to about wedding dress shopping say that "their dress" was the first, fourth, seventh (aka. insert any number under 10) dress that they tried on, and my story is a bit unique in that way.

Ok we will start with a little preview as to give you a bit of a glimpse of the kind of day I was having!  This story is told in a bit of a dramatic fashion, but I tried to be accurate and not exaggerate. Sorry, it's super long, so I understand if you don't read it :P

Friday, right after lunch, I headed into the city with my Mom and my Maid of Honor, C.

I had decided that we were going to sew the bridesmaid dresses, and a few days prior I found some amazing fabric!   But...the store only had enough for 1.5 dresses, and I have 3 girls!  So, I tried calling a few of the stores in a near by city to see if they had some of the same fabric that I could snatch up!  After being hung up on once, then put on hold for over 15 min and then hung up on again, and then no answer, I gave up, very frustrated!  So, my amazing Mom called the next day and we thought we had it all sorted out!  She even got them to hold the fabric longer then they usually do, because we were from out of town.  She's my hero!

We decide to stop in at the fabric store first thing on Friday, seeing as they've been so wonderful to hold it for us!  We arrive and Mom gets in the line to talk to someone about getting the fabric.  So I decide to browse around to see if they have any other amazing fabric!  Well, I find the exact fabric that was supposed to be put on hold, out on the rack.  So, a bit frustrated that it wasn't on hold, but yet slightly relieved that they have some, we set out to measure it to see if there's enough!  Well, to make a long story short (or shorter) we were there for almost 1/2 an hr trying to get the lady to measure it, and they were talking and I was getting more and more agitated!  So it turns out there wasn't enough fabric :(  So at this point, I say "Scrap this, we're wasting good wedding dress shopping time on this and I'm getting sad!" 

So, trying to be happy about the exciting dress hunt, we started at a place that I have heard some good reports about.  When we arrived the sales lady was super friendly and helpful!  I showed her examples of dresses I liked and so she started pulling ones she thought I'd like and we started browsing and pulling ones too.  C was such a huge help and blessing.  I would pull one out and she would grab it from me and bring it to the fitting room!  She would hold my stuff when I needed my hands, she simply waited on my hand and foot!  I tried to say thanks a lot so that she didn't feel like she was being taken advantage of.  She's an amazing friend!  My mom was also super, she totally understood my style, or should I say "styles" because there were many!

I tried on about 30 at the first store.  I had 6 or 7 favourites that we put aside, and then once we went through them again there were 2 that I really liked.  One C picked out, it was gorgeous, but $1,500 :(  The other one I think my mom picked but I can't remember, and it was also around $1,500 :(  We got a real sense of the necklines that I liked, and ones that looked horrible.  Also an idea of the shade of dress I wanted.  The sales lady was also gave her honest opinion, which in this case was welcomed, and we confirmed the waistline that looked best on me, and it happened to be what I thought it would be before we even got to shopping.

So then we went to the 2nd bridal shop, where one of my best friends found her wedding dress, also a well known store.  I was pleased to find that the store had barely any customers in it, which was great!  The sales ladies were also very friendly and helpful.  So we pulled dresses, and C ran back and forth, forth and back.  So once I filled up a rack and a changing room I decided I should probably start trying some on!  So "the battle" began again.  In and out, in and out, in and out!  I am rather speedy in the changing room I'll have you know!  I tried on another 20 or 25 dresses there.  This sales lady told me I could only have 3 set aside as "favourites" though.  I got her up to 5 ;)  So then I narrowed them down to 1 dress, 1 dress that cost $2,200 (big shock face, sad face, frustrated face)!  So, the belief that my mom has and that I have come to embrace a few years ago still remains true, I HAVE EXPENSIVE TASTE!  Bahhh!  See, that wouldn't be a bad thing if it weren't for the fact that we are really really really trying to keep costs super low for this wedding, because we simply are kind of poor!  So, by this time, the stores were going to be closing in a matter of minutes so we decided it was time to check into our hotel and get some supper!

Oh, I forgot to mention, I managed to whack my baby toe against a step or door or something and that broke my baby toe nail right down the center and it was bleeding, quite a lot for a baby toe nail, and I noticed this while I was in the changing room with about 4 WHITE wedding dresses!  I don't think my blood made it onto any of them, although I will admit I was a bit scared to look!  I also managed to scrape myself with a needle, so there's a small "gash" about 9 inches long on my leg!  It's been a week and a half and it is still healing!  Boy oh boy, it was starting to get painful not only psychologically but also physically!

Ev and I had Bible study to go to in the evening, so we went to that, exhausted and discouraged, but we had a great time!  Then he brought me back to the hotel for the night where I had a horrible sleep.  I don't think I can even call it sleep, because it felt like I was lying awake the entire night. Now in actuality I know I did manage to acquire some sleep, but it was so minimal I'm wanting to call it a nap. Although when I do nap, it's usually for long periods of time, like 2 hrs, so maybe this wasn't even a nap, maybe it should have been called a cat nap!

Needless to say I was a bit of a grouch, but I was trying to keep a positive attitude.  Since most bridal salons only open at 10:00 am we decided to head to a fabric store in search of some bridesmaid dress fabric at 9:00am.  My older sister joined us, which was great!  She has a great eye for fashion and my style!  We browsed the massive store, probably my favourite fabric store!  It is one of my happy places, and I definitely don't spend enough time there!  So we found some amazing fabric!  And, it was even cheaper then the other fabric!  Hallelujah!  So, we bought the fabric, and zippers for all 3 girls and it came to $28.00!!!!  Gasp!  But we still needed to buy lining, thread and the patterns!  But still, I was stoked!!

So then we headed to the dress salons, determined to not try on 30, since we had a much better idea of what I liked etc and we didn't want to waste time!  So at the first store, I didn't even find one that I loved, but my sister found one she wanted to see me in, so I humoured her!  It was pretty, but definitely not my dress.  So then off to a store down the street that had a dress that I saw in a magazine and liked!  On the way, we saw another store, with a huge "Up to 75% off" sign in the window!  Well...let me tell you, we weren't going to walk by that!

We walked in the door and started looking!  I was told that I have very expensive taste, again, but the sales lady said she had a dress very similar, if not exactly the same as one that I liked!  So we started pulling, about 12 dresses or so!  In and out, in and out, in...oh this one is quite nice, and it's only $800, but I don't LOVE it, so put it on the maybe pile, in and out, in and out, in and out, ooooh this one has pockets and it's pretty, put it on the pile, in and out, in and out, in and out!  I was starting to think that I would have to just settle for the $800 dress, because it was pretty and I could afford it, even though I didn't love it, because I had given up on that "this is the one" feeling!  Then she put another dress in my room, and I thought to myself, this one looks promising.  So I put it on, and said out loud, "Ooh I really like this one!" while I was still in the changing room!  So I came out, and it was gorgeous and I loved it, and I didn't want to shop for any other dresses and risk this one being taken, since I had to buy off the rack!  But, it was still more money then I wanted to spend.  So I stood there in the dress, humming and hawing, and the sales lady eventually said she could give me 20% OFF!  So that made it more reasonable, and then my Mom said that she wanted to pay for part of the dress, so it made it down to a cost I felt OK with spending!  Praise the Lord!  I found my dress!!!  What I relief, and I LOVE IT!!!

After that we found the lining, patterns and thread for the bridesmaid dresses and we were able to use our 50% off coupons!  Then we went to Michaels to look at invitation paper, stamps, decorations, flowers etc!  We found invitations that I really liked so I took pictures with my phone and sent them to Ev!  He liked them too!  We had coupons for those too, so we got a bit of a discount on those!  Everything was coming together!  Thanks be to God!  He is always faithful!

So that, is my very long story of my wedding dress shopping experience! :)

The appointment at the florist went so well!  I was way beyond pleased with the way she took our flowers and starting putting different things together!  In a matter of minutes she had this great bouquet!  She also totally understood the look I was going for, so I'm super excited!  Now I need to go buy more supplies!  I totally forgot about corsages for parents, grandparents etc!  Here are some of my favourite ideas.

I wish I could have this chair too!!

 

~ Via Style Me Pretty ~

 

~ Via Style Me Pretty ~

Lots of cool texture in this one!

~ Via Style Me Pretty ~

Flowers

Off to the florist to see about pricing and different options!  We are doing fake flowers for our wedding, at least that's the plan!  I've found some at Dollarama, Walmart and Michaels so far!  But I'm looking for some more variety!  We may try to make some!  Does anyone know of any stores that sell really good fake flowers?

Cd here I come!

I'm headed to pick up our engagement picture CD!  Yipee!  I can't wait to look at all of them!

:D

Engagement Picture Preview

Sunday afternoon we spent some time with one of my friends Jenaya!  She's a super fun person to be around with and we've gotten along just peachy since the moment we met, summer of 2006, when I was her camp counsellor and she was the crazy fun camper!  We had such a great time wandering around, searching for good picture locations with her!  Such a blessing!  Here's are a few of our favourite ones that we've seen so far!!  I can't wait to see them all!

 

Flowers

These are the flowers that Everett bought for when he proposed to me!  We bunched them up, but they were originally lying on the porch, making a path to follow, and he was holding the bouquet of roses!

Engagement Photoshoot Time

Hopefully it goes good!  I'm really looking forward to it!  We are having one of my friends shoot our engagement pics!  She's really good at it seeing as she is still in high school!  I may post some later!  But first, it's off to Church! 

Today Is The Day...

That I will hopefully find my wedding dress :) 

Everything falling into place...

Well, I thought I'd update you on the crazy times of my life right now!

Thursday Oct 14

• Everett applies at a job in Morden
• Everett proposes and we get engaged :D

Friday Oct 15

• Call to book an appt to look at a house

Saturday Oct 16

• We go look at the house and love it!  Then we look at a few more and didn't really like them!
• Only problem is that someone has already put an offer in on the house that is subject to them selling their current house, so we have competition.
• Started the guest list

Sunday Oct 17

• Decided who we wanted as our attendants - 3 each!

Monday Oct 18

• Everett had a job interview that went quite well, but they were going to call him back.
• I met with 2 of my girls and asked them and they said yes!

Tuesday Oct 19

• Researched some photographers and did lots of other brainstorming, trying to figure out dates for wedding etc.

Wednesday Oct 20

• Book appt to look at the house again
• Ev gets the call - HE HAS THE JOB - starts in 2 weeks :)
• We meet both of our credit unions to talk about mortgages and pre-approval - we get pre-approved at both places
• Pick a photographer and contact her
• Go to look at the cute house again with my parents - they thought it was good, a small starter home
• We decide to put in an offer on the house that night, we go $5,000 less then the listing price, hoping that will work!  Subject to nothing.

Thursday Oct 21

• Offer gets accepted as is!  Yipee!  But now we have to wait 48 hrs from the time that the other couples realtor gets a hold of them! 
• 48 hr countdown begins at 11:15am
  

Friday Oct 22 - Our 2 year 2 month dating anniversary on the 22nd :) (yes I'm nerdy about those things)

• Confirm date - Feb 26
• Booked the ceremony and reception location
• Booked the Pastor
• Photographer is mostly in - just waiting for confirmation
• Talked to my other bridesmaid and she said yes

Saturday Oct 23

• We get the call at 11:15am - WE GOT THE HOUSE!   Possession Dec 6th.
• Did lots more brainstorming
• Looked/brainstormed different centrepiece options and flowers.
• Looked at tux ideas and our options, which in some ways were a bit disappointing

Sunday Oct 24

• Start trying to brainstorm where Everett will sleep/live until house possession since he starts his job Nov 8 :S  
•  Decided on bridesmaid dress style
• Decided we be having the dresses sewn

 Monday Oct 25

• Went to the fabric store, and after searching and searching, finally found "the perfect" fabric, on sale, the right colour, the right kind of fabric!!
• But...they didn't have enough for all 3 girls :(
• Met with all 3 girls and they are all for the dress style, fabric, and having them sewn :)
• Met with the caterer to discuss plans and that was really good!

Tuesday Oct 26 - 4 months exactly till the big day :D

• Called various other fabric stores to see if they had some more fabric, all I got was put on hold, hung up on or a busy signal :(
• Talked a bit about honeymoon destinations
• Booked my hair appt, trial, and a hair cut for next week :)

Wednesday Oct 27

• Finally my mom got a hold of the other fabric stores (bless her) and one has some fabric, hopefully it's the right stuff!
• Picked a lawyer and informed everyone that needed to know
• Booked appt with our bank
• Talked more with our engagement picture photographer and we are mostly set to go
• Brainstormed picture outfits!

So that's some of what's been going on!  God truly is amazing and this is all due to him!  Praise God!

Busy busy busy

The reason I haven't posted any blogs the last few days is:

ME AND EVERETT ARE ENGAGED!!!! 

More details to come, once I've had some time to arrange the details!  But, in the mean time, here's a picture of the gorgeous ring I'm wearing on my finger!  :D