The Hunt Is On But...

We may have found the one! Nate and I had two appointments this past week with potential photographers, and I had had one myself previously in Columbia. I had talked with Kim in Columbia from SilverBox Photographers and she was really sweet, energetic, and we got along really well. However, she was much more than I would like to spend, so price is what ultimately ruled her out. She photographed Tim Allen's (2nd) wedding in Colorado...so if a celebrity can afford her I don't think we can! The second appointment was with a girl at ImageArtistic Photography here in St. Louis. She was very nice and a lot closer to my age, but she didn't do anything to "wow" us, and really didn't have a lot to share with us verbally, she was just mostly answering our questions. We looked through some photos and albums and they were nice, but a lot of the pictures were a little more posed than I would have liked, and we didn't see a whole lot of shots in black and white.

And then we met with Jon from Koch Photography...and let me tell you I think both of our eyes lit up right when we stepped foot into his studio. First of all, he had a really cool loft setup with a big, cozy room that had high-tech equipment and all his work. He had a flat screen TV continuously scrolling through wedding pictures on the wall and big, framed black and white wedding shots he had taken hanging around the room. When we got there, we actually just chatted for a little while before jumping into looking at sample albums and pictures. Jon is a really great guy, has a fun personality, and really encompasses the documentary type style Nate and I were looking for. This may very well end up being the most expensive piece of our wedding, so I'm feeling very happy right now that we've potentially found the perfect fit in this photographer! We have one more appointment setup for this week, so I'll let you all know when we make our final decison...should be by weeks' end!!!

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It's Official

October 4, 2008 is our date! We have clearance from the church and priest, so that's one hurdle out of the way. Nate and I had our final discussion last night with Deacon Ernie, finishing up our review of our evaluation results. The only good thing I can say is that it's over. We started with the religious values section, which Nate and I differ on immensely, and I think that just turned Ernie off right away. I was not comfortable with the way he was treating us - he seemed very narrow-minded in his thoughts and was almost belittling us. And technically, this was supposed to be our second to last session, however he seemed to give up on us about halfway through and told us he'd like to get it all done that evening. Honestly, I just about lost it a couple of times. This was not at all what I was expecting, and it's a shame really. I think we could have gotten a whole lot more out of it with someone else.

On a brighter note, this week I have been making a few appointments with photographers, and we will meet with each of them in a couple of weeks. Finding a great photographer is really important to me, so I want to make sure we find someone who we mesh with, whose work we love, and someone who offers all the package items we're looking for.

And in addition to the blog, I also started on a wedding webpage this weekend. More to come on that!

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The Latest

Since I've been a slacker the last couple of weeks with failing to post anything, I'm going to give you the quick 60 second update on the latest happenings. Nate and I had our second meeting with Deacon Ernie on the 28th. We found out our results from the FOCCUS evaluation, and it looks like we'll be meeting with Ernie twice more. We have to discuss each section of the eval in which we scored below 75% (a.k.a. NOT the same answers), which turned out to be several sections. And I have to say, we--well probably just I--was holding out hope that Ernie would become a little more fun or have some great real-life stories and examples for us, but I have to say I'm really not seeing it. Oh well, just a couple more sessions...

I also took advantage of my parents being here over Labor Day weekend, and my mom and I went out traipsing around to a few more bridal shops to look at dresses. This second trip helped clarify the dresses I really like, so now I have it narrowed down to three places I'd like to visit again and re-try on my favorites. But, I'm going to take a break for awhile...my brain needs a rest!

Finally, the last major development is that I received a call from the chancery in Jefferson City, and they have received our marriage form and everything is approved for us getting married in the Catholic church. What this means is that we now have the church reserved for October 4, 2008!! I have left a message with Fr. Medina, the priest we would like to marry us, to verify he is still available and willing to perform the ceremony on that date. Once he confirms, I think it's safe to say October 4 is official. I'll let you know!

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Loose Creek for Reception...

Nate and I both really want an October wedding, and because of that, it made the decision for a reception site easy. Due to lack of availability at the Capital Plaza Hotel next October, we will be having our reception at the Community Center in Loose Creek. I posted some pictures previously showing what the place looked like bare, so I wanted to post some pics that show what it looks like decorated. In the first photo, we like the look of the round tables...as well as the chairs with chair covers. The window backdrop at the head table is also nice. Just showing the second one for the different backdrop of the two columns--the flowers and candles are way overdone...











Here's a look at what square tables would look like--and what a big difference chair covers make! We also like the look of the sheer fabric draped from the ceiling. The colored square of fabric in the center of the tables breaks up the white tablecloth nicely...











Here are a few centerpiece ideas. The first is a tuscan theme...and I love the second photo of the tall vase with the calla lilies....and there's always floating candles.












This is a different idea for the head table...having it on a stage in the center of the room. Nate
and I didn't think too much of it. And also a different look with Chinese lanterns--and I like the clean look that the straight tablecloth provides.












I also like the idea of decorating the entrance--not necessarily in this way--but the mums are nice! And here's the buffet table with the colored fabrics squares--we could do a runner as well.



















And last but not least...Nate loves the idea of a bar with some cocktail tables...minus the huge glasses in the middle...

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Dress Shopping!

My mom and I started the fun process of wedding dress shopping this weekend! We went to a total of five bridal shops, three Saturday and two Sunday. I was hoping to put on a dress and just "know" that it was the one. However, that didn't happen...not yet, anyway. We totally struck out at two of the shops, but I did find several beautiful dresses at the other three that are all possibilities. By the end of the weekend, my mom and I were having a hard time recalling what it was we liked at the first place we visited. So, now that I have it narrowed down, I need to go back and try on all my favorites again...and I may stop in a couple of places that I haven't visited yet.

Since I have a little time, I don't want to make a decision too quickly - I want to enjoy the search to the fullest!

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St. Louis Bridal Show

A friend from work--Kara--who is also a bride-to-be, accompanied me to the St. Louis Bridal Show on Sunday. The St. Louis show was on a much larger scale than the one I attended in Jefferson City at the end of July. My main focus for the day was gathering information on photographers. Most photographers travel these days, so it's not out of the question to get a photographer from St. Louis for the wedding in Loose Creek. And I have to say, it was between the photographers and DJ's for greatest amount of booths at the show! I also gathered information on some DJ's for Nate; however, I think it would be more feasible to get a DJ from around the Jeff City or Columbia area for the reception. I'm still wading through the oodles of photography information I received...

The highlight of the afternoon was my experience at the Savvi Formalwear booth. They had a square glass phone booth setup and inside the booth was lots of money. A motor was flipped on and all the money flew around inside the phone booth--and the job for the bride was to catch as much money as possible in 20 seconds. However much money you caught would be the discount your groomsman receive off of their tuxes. I snagged $190, so if Nate chooses Savvi for the tuxes, he'll have a discount to apply...and if not, I just had some free entertainment!

Next up is wedding dress shopping--my parents will be in town this weekend to help me get started!

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Marriage Prep

Last night we had our first meeting with Deacon Ernie at Immaculate Conception Church in Dardenne. After some brief introductions where we told Deacon Ernie a little about our backgrounds, he began with a prayer and then asked us several questions. The first was "What does Catholic marriage mean to you?" After I answered, he went on to explain the theology of the church in regards to marriage, how it's a lifetime commitment, how our children should be raised with the faith, etc. The next question was "Are you living together?" to which we answered in the affirmative, and so he asked us why. Nate answered "For the rent money," which was obviously a joke, but this poor guy had no sense of humor! So I had to quickly recover that one and say that Nate was kidding...and we gave him a "serious" answer. And the final question was then "What made you decide to take the next step from living together to marriage?" I was looking at Nate expecting him to answer this one, since he ultimately made the decision, but there were no words forming, so I answered with my thoughts. And that was it, we survived the initial questioning!

The next order of business was filling out the paperwork that will be sent through the archdiocese. The form consisted of our names and address, our parents names, names of those who will be witnesses at the ceremony (best man & maid/matron of honor), religious background, baptism /confirmation dates, etc. I also had to consent to raising our children Catholic and making the church part of our family life by signing a special section of the form. The most ironic part of the form was it asked for our marriage date - and we can't get an official marriage date in the LC church until my hometown priest sees the form?! Interesting...

Our final task for the night was completing our FOCCUS evaluation. This was a test of approximately 150 questions, surrounding issues like our relationship, family, children, finances, habits and interests, etc. This isn't a computability test, but more an evaluation of the way we each feel about certain issues, and talking through our differences the evaluation points out. I felt like I was in grade school again, because we provided our answers on those sheets with the bubbles you have to fill in with #2 pencils. Everybody remember those? Our results will be scored today, and at our next meeting with Deacon Ernie we will begin communicating about those items where Nate and I answered differently. Nate and I had fun discussing our answers on the way home.

Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28th!

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