March 29- 94 days!

Jes here, to bring the update... I found a gorgeous dress that makes me feel so beautiful that I actually forget those fat-girl memories that never seem completely gone in any other outfit. Mom, Aimee, and Penny went with me and our quartet of tears and exclamations of joy made it easy for me to charge a dress a mere 300 dollars over Kyle's suggested budget. We chose the reception site, ceremony cite, and rehearsal dinner site before we left for Ohio. I've traveled back a handful of times to do things like: food tasting, officiant, bridesmaid dresses, flowers..... (and go dancing with my "bridal bitch"/ day of coordinator) FOOD TASTING: accompanied by Hannah, who also tasted and chose the cake bakers, we enjoyed the buffet of choices provided by my caterer and narrowed down the menu choices. OFFICIANT: I asked my dear friend Toni to get ordained and be the officiant for our ceremony, she cried and called me "damn kid" which means yes. BM DRESSES: I called it that on purpose because this experience was kinda poopy. Apparently, multiple shops aren't kind to you if you've bought the big white one from somewhere else. Customer service was weak, but Eddy helped Aimee and Hannah find something they were confident in that she can work magic on, and Miss Noelle facebooked in her measurements all the way from Coasta Rica. FLOWERS: Opal and Sherri, met with me and looked over my designs and I have no doubt they will do a fantastic job bringing my concept to life. AND the biggest news is that the marvelous invitations - stationary from "The Envelope" assembly and calligraphy by yours truly, are finally done. Exhausiting. Worth it.

Bad Blogger

I know I'm failing at updating this. Grad school has been really busy.

Here's the short version.

- We live in Ohio. I'm so glad Jes came with me, but somedays I know she wishes she hadn't.
- We have about 260 days until the wedding.
- Our theme will be, Music(but in a classy, understated way) big shocker there right?
- We have a fantastic photographer who puts great stuff up on facebook check them out on there by searching for Seth Morris Photography.
- Our engagement session is next month, funny thing, we've been engaged for a year in November.

Tonight I'm typing and enjoying my new scores and baton that came in today.(It's like Christmas for me) Jes has her feets cuddled up under my leg reading Harry Potter.

Life is good.

A New Start in Ohio

Jes and I have now been in Ohio for around three weeks. It's been kind of crazy, lots of ups and downs. We have pretty much settled in(except my lack of motivation to organize my closet) it's tough to believe how quickly time is going. Here's what we've been up to since leaving IL!

We packed up on July 24th, after watching opening night of "Joseph". I will say I was proud of Cole, some parts of it were questionable, but from where it started. Anyway, we had been packing up for weeks and trying to sell off furniture. Spacebags were my favorite thing to pack, sucking the air out of all our clothes was quite satisfying.  We loaded up three cars and headed out. Don't worry it's only 305 miles back to home, well to Jeremy's front door, which feels the most like home to me.

Tricia, Joe, and Toni were a fantastic moving crew and we all had fun hanging out for a couple days. They seemed to enjoy the area just like we do. It really helped me feel like we'd made the right decision. Even though I feel like this place is a little out of our price range. I hate loans and credit...it all scares me, but here we go. At least school is paid for right? Wedding dreams seem quite expensive too...

Anyway Monday I took off for camp with Centerville where I'd stay down at Miami University. Jes got to work on making our place HGTV perfect. (Pictures to follow shortly) It was tough week, for her being alone here, for me at camp trying to fit in as the new guy on staff. Then I got a call about my mom threatening suicide. I called an ambulance from here and the drinking was out of control. They took her in, but I don't feel like anything was done. All the ups and downs are just too much.

I came home for the weekend to a great looking new home, perched on top of the The Green Town Center. I can't believe that we live here. We'd be glad to have visitors I promise. The area is quite fun. We hung out all weekend and then it was back to camp for me. It was again a tough week, my mom called and said some mean things(more drinking I think) and I was upset. It was during a drum corps show which kind of ruined my mood. To make it worse, the next day she was in a bad accident, now she's in the hospital and I can't bring myself to see her because of some of the things she's said. Does that make me a bad son? Sigh...

Jes started looking for jobs(and landed one this week) and keeps applying for teaching gigs. I'm really hoping she gets something because she's a great teacher and deserves to do that cool stuff out here too. I mean I'm so lucky getting to be a pep band director, conductor, and work with the nationally acclaimed CHS Jazz Band.

Now we're on a week off and I've spent my time up at Wright getting used to campus, meeting professors, and settling into my roles there. Jes came and explored the library with me. It was so fun, I hope she comes to visit when I spend a lot of time there...I assume that's what grad students do.

Then Hannah came to visit. We went to a cool thing called Taste of the Greene where we got to try to food from all different restaurants here. We got so much loot, we'll be eating cookies for weeks. We also learned to play spades, which is fun. Tonight it was a cookout for the residents here. I played some bags(which they call cornhole here) I don't really like the name, but the game is just as fun. Jes was a social butterfly, making friends, cheering for me, and looking beautiful. We left the party full and with a 45 dollar Kroger gift card that we won. I guess it's the perks for the high rent.

Oh yeah, this is the wedding blog right? Here's the wedding update. We've started the guest list and found a photographer. The photographer is the last one we met, but the first one I found online. Seth Morris Photography is a husband/wife team. We met with Mary and really hit it off. As for the guest list...out of control and we'll have to slash and burn a little since our venue maxes out at 180. We're over that, now I know why I haven't always been invited to weddings, yet it's not making it easier to trim the list...

I'll post up a picture tour of the new place soon. Until then let us know someone is out there. Enjoy the blog and come visit us in our new home!

T-Minus 365

We're getting married July 1st 2011. That's the day before her 25th birthday so on her birthday this year we made the drive to Peoria and enjoyed time in the park where our ceremony will take place.

It was a cool feeling, standing in the spot where we will become a forever couple. She ran around and visualized where chairs will be, how she'll walk in, and what the view will be. Good news? Liberty Park is lined with mature trees. Shade for the wonderful guests.

Photographers will be met with next week and selected hopefully by the day we move. So much is happening so fast, yet it's all so great. Here's a few shots of Liberty Park from her birthday/scouting trip! Can you picture it?

The Vendor Search Begins

So I have spent the last week or so making a big list of photographers in the Peoria area. It's been an absolute blast, looking through all the websites trying to get a feel for what we want. I'm a budget number cruncher and photography is an expensive business. The worst part is, this makes me want to go buy my own digital SLR camera, which not exactly in the budget right now. I digress, as I usually do...

After a string of emails to my inbox I have finally started scheduling some meetings with photographers. The first one is today and I'm a bit nervous. Developments in my life make question what I can afford I can't seem to muster the courage to really find out from parents what they're expecting to contribute and what they want from the event(which I think is important). plus there's a 1,000 questions to ask the photographer and I'll write them down here in a bit, but what will I forget? Will she seem cool? Will we feel comfortable with her? Will she be out of my price range?? Ahhhh!!

www.shelby-studios.com is the site for Cindy who we are meeting today in Washington. If anyone is out there, check the site and let me know what you think of the pictures.

I can't wait for Jes to get home from college for kids today so we can talk and experience the excitement around going to see our first vendor. I know she's tired and working some really long days right now, I hope this wedding can be everything she wants it to be.

Developments

I have to make this quick because I'm just having some lunch. I can't wait until I have some more time this summer to blog, both here and on my professional one!

Two huge developments!
1. change of date. Our wedding had to be moved because of my new graduate school plans. Wow I'm glad Je is cool.
2. Jes has a dress.

Life is good. I can't wait to marry this girl.

A post from Jes

So, it looks as though Kyle and I will have to move our wedding date because of conflicts with school calendars. But I don't even mind because... I'm going dress shopping this weekend. Yay Me!