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We took two videos.  Piper was upset at the end of the first because she didn’t get to blow out the candles.  After she calmed down we took another for fun.  Enjoy!!!

Love you guys – Happy Anniversary !!!

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Javon kept us busy.  We gave him an idea of what we were interested in and he followed us around while we had fun traipsing through wheat fields, looking in windows, avoiding bees, swinging on porches and playing in the barnyards – what I can only call being Intimately Playful – these were after-all, the photos that should show our undying affection and love for one another, so we had to do our best to ensure we got the message across appropriately….

I will be certain to put some of the photos on here once we get some of the proofs back in a few weeks.

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With our wedding just around the corner, as weddings go anyway, our first and foremost task was to select invitations.  WOW – Invitations are extraordinarily expensive – and on that note we decided to make our own.  A long and tedious process but financially worth it – (keep in mind that every penny we save goes toward more alcohol for all of you ) The only thing Carol could compare it to was working on an assembly line.  I did the computer work and she did the assembly.  They are now complete and will be in the mail shortly – just in case you were anxiously checking your mailbox.

Selecting a cake maker turned out to be pretty easy.  Carol researched various places online, looking over photographs and reading reviews.  We settled on a family owned business here in Norcross, Celso’s Cakes.  They are going to make both our wedding cake and a custom grooms cake.  We had a lot of fun tasting cake.  I inhaled my slices and Carol picked at hers tasting each bite while searching for the perfect texture and flavor.  We decided that one flavor wasn’t enough – who likes plain white wedding cake….boring.  I’m not going to say what we chose but boring white wedding cake it is not.

Just like the cake, selecting a DJ was more about finding and reviewing than anything else.  After a short time searching we were introduced to a local DJ, based out of Buford, that fit perfect.  He had plenty of great reviews and came recommended by Carol’s mom Bonnie who has seen him perform many times over the past few years.

Photographers are not a dime a dozen.  There are some many types, so many techniques, so many personalities that each one is almost uniquely different than the rest – each adding (or not) their own special touch.  We aren’t interested in traditional photos where everyone stands together and says cheese.  We wanted someone that would be around for our whole wedding.  Someone that had a great personality and would treat our special day for what it is – Our Day.  We wanted someone that could use photos to tell our story, picture by picture.  We wanted a photojournalist.  Carol spent an immense amount of time going through archives of photos, reviewing websites, reading magazines, and talking to family and friends, looking for recommendations.  After weeks of this we narrowed it down to two.  We loved both of their portfolios, the phone screens went well, the personalities seemed to fit, everything was just right.  It seemed that deciding between the two would be impossible – well we didn’t have to make the decision.  It was made for us, by one of the photographers.  One of the specific things we wanted was a copy of the pictures taken during our event – not every single one but most of them – and certainly more than just a small book of proofs worth.  One photographers refusal to provide these without paying an additional $1500.00 over and above, narrowed our choice to one.  With the decision made we took the opportunity to meet in person.  Our personalities meshed quite well and we got the impression that he understood what we were looking for.  Ultimately we are very happy with our choice, Javon Longieliere.

Selecting the caterer was an interesting process.  There really isn’t much different between one or another except for menu, pricing and their level of Fru-Fru-ness.  Certainly there are things that one might do that another won’t but for the most part they are all similar.  We had received a recommendation from Pat at Bullock Springs Manor toward a local Vila Rica restaurant, Phat Phils.  We had dinner there and fell in love with the food but decided to do more research.  We narrowed our choice to one specific caterer and setup a food tasting and potentially sign a contract at the Manor.  On our way to the manor we decided to call Phat Phils and see what they could do.  Turns out Dee and Phil were more than happy, and more than capable to cater our wedding.  We sat down with Phil and worked out the details of our menu and pricing over coffee then sealed the deal with a handshake.  We felt only felt bad for a minute but it was awkward to tell the caterer we had originally planned to meet that we no longer needed their services – oh well…business is business.  Since then we have made a point to head back to Phat Phils every time we are in Vila Rica.

There is certainly plenty more to do but we are starting to put the big decisions behind us.  The next big decision coming is the florist.

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Watching on the sidelines while my friends were tortured trying on dress after dress after dress, some beautiful and flattering and some not worthy as Halloween costumes.  The comment, “it’s your day, whatever you want”, was uttered more than once along with a pleading look begging me to not chose this dress or that.  Ultimately the girls chose their own dresses so long as the material was close, length and color were the same.

While the Girls were trying on dresses, Violet and Kylie entertained their selves by covering me with post-it notes.  As a reward for being fantastic for such a long day, we let them try on the dresses that we had chosen.  Both of them refused to take them off and cried when they finally had to.  Shortly after Israel came to the rescue and whisked the little ones off to the house to play.

While waiting on my appointment to try on various wedding gowns we got to take a break for lunch.  Chili’s was the chosen place.  Margaritas and chips were the chose entrées - our reward for surviving the day so far and our medicine to endure the rest.

I never imaged trying on a wedding dress would be like stepping into a volcano.  The dresses were very heavy and would stand on their own, you would literally have to leap into them – LOL.  I had a good idea of what I was looking for in my wedding gown.  I tried on eight dresses but knew almost immediately from the start which one I would choose.  My Mom and Friends were oohhing and aahhing over several of the dresses I tried on but I had that feeling – that feeling you feel when “You Know” something – when you feel it deep down inside – that was the feeling I had and I chose the dress that gave it to me.  The only thing I am going to say about my dress is that it is a soft white, strapless bridal gown – straps coming soon.

The day turned into night and we finished it off once again at Chili’s, this time with a pitcher of Margaritas.

Thank you Girls – You are all wonderful and the dresses you chose were beautiful.  I promise to keep the more embarrassing photos off of Facebook :o) – at least for a while.

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