Mark another item off the list!

It's official!!!!!

Yes folks, we know the two best photographers in Indiana AND they are going to be photographing our wedding next September!  Dom and I are super pumped to have Stephanie and Wade Carignan, owners of Carignan Gallery in Noblesville, as our photographers.  They are amazing photographers and artists.  Please check out their website, and I highly suggest you use them for your photo needs. 

Luckily, the photo package that we picked also includes an engagement session, so stand by for those photos in the next few months.  Thanks to a special that Carignan Gallery had in the month of August, we will also have a photo booth at our wedding reception.  I cannot wait to see the fun, crazy, and special pictures that come from the photo booth.

Check out Carignan Gallery at http://www.cgindy.com/.  Their blog contains several of their amazing photos!


More to come later!

-Sara

Bridal Luncheon

Today was very important to me.  I have a lot of people that hold a very special place in my heart and in my life. They are all in my life for a reason and I don't feel like any friend is more important than another and that isn't something I expect everyone to understand or agree upon.  Some of you may already know that I have been struggling with the 'who will be my bridesmaids' aspect, and it honestly has resulted in a lot of serious thought and conversation between Dom and I.  We love our friends and family dearly and do everything in our power to never hurt anyone.

That being said, please meet my wonderful wedding party!

Back row, left to right:  Katie Baughn (wedding planner), Elizabeth Bennett (bridesmaid/sister), Jenny Spencer (bridesmaid), Jennifer McDonald (honor attendant), Laura Knox (bridesmaid), ME, Amanda Mason (bridesmaid/sister)

Front row, left to right:  Lyla Britton (matron of honor), Haylee Crosby (bridesmaid), Jessica Jacobs (honor attendant), Ashley Hughes (bridesmaid)

I had asked all of these girls to meet at the winery on Sunday, August 29 at 2:30pm.  I think some of them knew what was going on, but I attempted to keep everything a secret for the most part.  Despite the very warm temperature, I think everyone had an enjoyable time.

From the beginning of our engagement, I knew I wanted to come up with a unique way to ask the girls to be a part of our wedding.  So......over the past couple of months I have been working on a couple of craft products; paper dolls, special cards, and a charm cake.  I have posted some photos from Sunday.

ENJOY!

Our wonderful mothers

Haylee, Me, Jenny, Lyla

Amanda, Me, Mom, Elizabeth

Opening cards/paper dolls

Dom and his mom

Ashley and her paper doll chain

Please be my...

I have been working on a craft project....or 11...for the past two months.  As so of you may know, I am not good at keeping gift type secrets and love to give gifts early.  It is very typical of me to give Dom his gifts weeks before holidays or his birthday (yes, I'm week).  I searched the web and fellow brides/brides to be for a unique way to ask my friends to be a part of my wedding.  Yes, I could have just called and asked them, but that wasn't what I wanted to do.  Site after site, conversation after conversation, and BINGO...PAPER DOLLS!  I made one paper doll for each of my attendants.  If you care to know, that is a chain of 11 dolls, which also means I had to make 121 dolls, 121 dresses, and 121 different hairs styles.  Am I nuts you ask?  YES...clearly I was not thinking at the moment!  I think I went through 3 different kinds of scissors, multiple types of paper, but I finally finished them the morning of our luncheon at Oliver Winery.

So....here they are.....

Unfortunately, I forgot to take any photos of my charm cake, so below are a few examples I found online.  My cake was a cream cheese pound cake, with black and white ribbons tied to the charms, and yellow flowers in the center.

Adventures in Wedding Planning

We have just started planning our wedding....OH HEAVENS!

Things we have accomplished:
1.  Our date will be 9.10.11 (September 10, 2011)
2.  Main wedding color (bridesmaids) Black...No, I'm not a freak!
3.  We really, really want an outdoor venue.


Things to still tackle:
4.-975. EVERYTHING ELSE!

We have visited a few locations, ceremony and reception, but they either don't have something we really want or are too expensive.  Figures!  Currently we are strongly considering Coxhall Gardens and The Ritz Charles, both in Carmel.  Coxhall Gardens is quite possibly the most amazing, romantic, and stunning public park I have EVER visited.  The park is owned by Hamilton County, but Ritz Charles manages all events that are held at the venue.  I don't want to post all of the photos I have, b/c it will give away the surprise of the location since I'm sure most of you have never visited the park.

Coxhall Gardens Reception Tent

Coxhall Gardens Ceremony Area

I haven't personally been to The Ritz Charles, but my mom was nice enough to stop last week after a doctors appointment.  I guess I just needed a 'mom seal of approval' before we could even consider the venue.  To me, The Ritz has it's own unique style, and although we wouldn't get to have the outdoor ceremony, we also wouldn't have to be so worried about rain and other unforeseen weather issues.

The Ritz Charles Reception Tent

The Ritz Charles Chapel/Ceremony Location

So...Dom and I really need to get the venue locked down.  Once that is done I will feel a lot better about the wedding plans and I MIGHT be able to relax a little.

Attendants....We haven't named our Groomsmen or Bridesmaids yet, but we have already asked our Best Man and Matron of Honor if they would stand up with us on our wedding day.  So, please stand by for that announcement!  I am currently making a fun craft project for my 'soon to be announced' attendants.  We have so many dear friends and family, that is has really been hard for me to narrow down our attendants.  I'm VERY excited to share my craft project with everyone, but it will have to wait until after August 29.  :)

I am in LOVE with these flower girl dresses.  I'm sure our nieces will look perfect in either one, so I think I will see if they can agree on one they both like.  See what you think...

My first pick!

Second pick!

Stay tuned for more....

Love, 

Sara

Wedding Website

We recently started a wedding website, so please check it out.  www.domandsara.com or www.dominicandsara.com