my dress

My dress is exactly what I wanted. It's simple, but not boring. Exciting, but not over the top. And, I wanted something that will look pretty going down the stairs, and it does it.

When i started looking, I wanted something soft, A-line, not a lot of bling, and a sweatheart neck line. First of all, wedding gowns look nothing like what they look like in the magazines. After my first appointment I kind of changed my view of what would look good; I found I liked the fit-and-flare look.

here are a few pictures I took to show what I liked

The day after my last final for the spring semester my mom came over to Iowa City so we could visit a couple bridal salons in the area. The next week we had a jam packed schedule before we went to the Florida Keys. Here was our schedule:

Friday, May 13th: XOXO Bridal, Tiffin 2:30pm
Saturday, May 14th: Heart to Heart, North Liberty 9:00am
Wednesday, May 18th: Christiani's (caterer), Des Moines 11:00am
            Saley's Floral, West Des Moines 1:00pm
            Schaffer's, West Des Moines 2:00pm
Thursday, May 19th: Caleb Jamin (photographer), Ames 1:00pm
            Storybook, Boone 2:00pm
Friday, May 20th: Bridal Connection, Ankeny 11:00am
            Bridal Boutique, Des Moines 1:00pm

We visited 6 bridal salons in a little over a week, and we estimated about 50 gowns. I was very ready to say yes to a dress. I found ok dresses at the first 3 places, but not the one. After we visited with Caleb Jamin (our photographer) it was kind of a spur of the moment idea to head up to Boone for the bridal shop there. Sean's mom, Katie, met us at the salon.

First, we looked on the floor and found a few to try on. Then the lady at the store brought down a gown from the upstairs. She said they didn't have it on the floor because the manufacturer was having difficulty making it. I could tell I reeeally liked it as she was walking down the stairs.

I tried on a couple gowns and they were really nice. But, then I tried on the one...i feel like i should name the dress instead of calling it the one, but I can't think of one. So for now it's the one. They didn't know for sure if they could order another dress in. Luckily, the dress fit me really well and it would only need minor alterations. I really wanted my sister to see the dress before we made any decisions so we left the salon that day empty handed.

The next day, my mom and I visited the Ankeny Bridal Connection and found a gown there that I really liked also. After Ashley got into town, my dad, my mom, Ashley, and Abby went to the Bridal Connection so they could see that dress that I picked out there. Ashley and Abby didn't love it and they had seen pictures online of the gown in Boone. On our way back home, I said yes to my dress (the one in Boone). Right away, my mom called up to Storybook just a few minutes before they closed to purchase it.

We still have to go pick up my dress...hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Thank you mom for taking me and watching me try on numerous dresses :) Also, I'm so happy that Katie was there to share in the enjoyment when I was trying on that dress. Thanks for coming Katie!

Here is a sneak peak of the one

My binder

So right after we got engaged, my soon-to-be sister in law, Abby, called and said she had something for me. I'm pretty sure it the week we got back from Mexico I came back from class one day and I had a package. It's always so exciting to get mail :) Inside was a wedding planning binder. It is awesome!

Last weekend I made sure I got a picture of Abby, the book, and I.

Inside, sections are split up into categories such as: Attire, Ceremony, Music, Flowers, Photos, etc. Each section has a title page like this one:

There are also plenty of extra page protectors that I put magazine cut-outs, notes, ugly free drawn pictures, maps of the place, and anything else I wanna throw in there.

Here is a calandar that I write in all of our appointments, when we book venues or people, or basically anything I want. I just want to make sure I know what I was doing when. The plan was to kind of have it color coordinated, but it didn't happen.

The binder also includes tons of checklists, pages to fill out about details, planners, budget worksheets, and lots of others. Pretty much there is everything and anything I could possibly need. When I first got the binder I was overwhelmed that I would have to do everything in here. But I have come to find it incredibly helpful and great to have everything in one place. Here is the at-a-glance planning calendar. (excuse the sideways pictures while I still try to figure this thing out)

As you can see, our wedding is still over 13 months away and we have already checked off things in the 6-9 month category. go us! 

I thought I also might include a picture of my back of the binder. This may be a continuation from my color post a few days ago, but anyways this is a collage of our wedding colors made with paint chips. I am obsessed with paint chips. Both my sister, Ashley, and Sean would call me a hoarder in the paint chip category. But I thought I could use my collection and put it to good use by making this. And me likey!!

the weekend and my wedding shoes

On Saturday, Sean and I went to Waterloo to watch Sean's niece, Avery, for a few hours while Abby worked. We had so much fun! We tried to go to the Waterloo farmer's market and ended up running into a parade. Avery enjoyed watching the balloons, animals, trucks, and tractors.

After Avery's nap, we went to the mall and got a little bit of shopping done...I even got my shoes for the wedding! We had already made a purchase in Dillard's and as we were walking by the shoes I thought I'd give it a quick look around...and then I saw them! They were EXACTLY what I had wanted. I couldn't picture anything better.

Here is just a sneak peak of part of the shoe.....this is probably going to be the most "bling-ed" out thing at our wedding. Even though I normally don't like things with a lot of rhinestones and such, these I reeeally like.

Abby ended up buying them for me (the Hagan's are very stubborn when it comes to these situations). I am so very happy that Abby was there to help me pick out an important part of my outfit for the day. Thank you again Abby!

After the some merry-go-round riding and some other purchases we went out to eat at a local dive in Waterloo. It was called Hickory House. I got the fried chicken dinner. SO GOOD. Sean and Abby both got the ribs and chicken dinner. Everything looked and tasted delicious! It was like a 5 course meal. They first came out with a relish tray. Then your soup. Then salad. Then bread. Then you got your meal and your potato. We were all so full after that meal, but I would definitely go again. Thanks to Abby again for dinner :)

Today, we have just been kinda lazy. We went to the mall to return something, and ended up buying more. Then went to Olive Garden for lunch (we used Sean's gift card from my parents for Easter). Then we walked downtown where the Iowa Arts festival was going on. We first walked through some photography and craft booths and then we found the food carts!! I love going to places where there is fair food, carnival food, or just food in carts. I truely don't know what it is about it. I just love it!

We got some overpriced fresh-squeezed lemonade and a funnel cake. They also had fried rice, our favorite dipped ice cream popsicles, corn dogs, etc.

Yummy!!

Color

As you can tell by the background of the blog, our color scheme is shades of corals, pinks, oranges, and little bits of yellow. Of course with our wedding still many months away, this could always change slightly as I get inspired by other things. When I decided on these colors, I couldn't have just 2 or 3 colors....Mostly because I'm indecisive. But also, I love the "ombre" effect and the different shades of colors put together. I think it adds a lot of softness. Overall, I think the colors will be perfect for a summer wedding! We are going to have a lot of greenery from plants and shrubs in the reception and the ceremony so hopefully Sean won't get overwhelmed by too much pink :)

Here are some pictures I found for some inspiration from pinterest (I love this website by the way-thanks to Jenni for introducing me)

I have seen so much of the color coral out there in magazines, clothing stores, and online. I'm afraid that the color will be too popular this summer, and by next summer it will be old news. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll still be "new" next summer!

Hello!

Hello! Welcome! This is my first time blogging :) i love looking at blogs, but i've never had my own. Since Sean and I need a website, i thought why not have a blog now, haha. Anyways... the date is set. It's July 14th, 2012. I can't wait! We already have so much planned and it's over a year away! There is more to come, I just wanted to get something posted. yay!

I thought we should maybe get a picture of us out there, too