Save the Dates

I finally finished and addressed the Save the Date cards! Here are some photos of them in their envelopes ready to be mailed. We chose to use both brown and gold envelopes because Mom and I couldn't decide which we liked better! So we just went with both. ; )

Hollinger House

Bridesmaids, get excited! This is the bed and breakfast that I made reservations for you to stay! The Hollinger House. It's just a stone's throw from my house and it's such a charming old building! I always dreamt of having a wedding on their lawn. They used to have weddings and receptions and we could hear the music rolling up the hill on Saturday evenings. It was delightful! Sadly, a neighbor eventually complained and they were no longer allowed to have receptions there. : (

This is the bedroom, the Magnolia room. Complete with fireplace and private bath. I'm thinking I might change for the wedding here on Saturday? It's nice and big.

And your private balcony!

Spring House and Rock Ford

Spring House at Rock Ford by Richard Slaugh

Vince's great grandfather was a local painter who painted several scenes at Rock Ford. Vince's family owns a number of his paintings. This painting recently went up on ebay and Vince was able to purchase it to hang in our home! How exciting to have a family painting of the location where we will hold our reception. This is a view of the house from the spring house, which was later demolished by a flood.

Visiting Rock Ford

Historic Rock Ford Plantation

Yesterday we made a visit to Rock Ford to tour the barn and see the tent set up in front of the barn. It gave us a lot better idea of the decorations we would need for the Reception. The barn is very beautiful inside - I think it will look lovely decorated in fall colors. : )

Rock Ford was the home of Revolutionary War General Edward Hand. It sits near the wooded banks of the Conestoga River in the Lancaster County Park. The house is circa 1794. The property was a tenant farm with fields, livestock, and orchards.

Today the house is a museum and location for many stunning outdoor weddings and receptions.

Gown Shopping

The past two days have been a WHIRLWIND! Mother and I went Bridal gown shopping yesterday in York for the perfect dress for the big day. We had an appointment at Renaissance Bridals, a rather exclusive gown shop in downtown York. One room of the huge antique building is pictured above where my mother stands in the main salon. There was another very stunning room where I tried on the gowns. It was such an amazing experience!

Yesterday I tried on tons of gowns but never settled on the perfect dress. Prior to visiting Renaissance, mom and I stopped at Lilla's Bridal Boutique, also in York. There I found many stunning dresses and one that seemed to really speak to me. Last night I slept rather fretfully, tossing and turning and wondering which gown was the right one. So this morning after mom's Bible study was over we returned to York to retry some of the gowns. We stopped first at Lilla's and I immediately felt drawn to the same stunning gown on their racks. But, at Renaissance there were several other equally stunning gowns. We sat and debated and tried to picture each at the wedding in our minds. And finally returned to Lilla's to look at the first dress. I tried it on. Nearly cried...but did very well at holding it in. And knew deep down that this was the dress. The sweet little older lady who helped us said that the perfect dress would sing to my soul, and I think this one was singing just my tune. I felt so beautiful in it, it was the most elegant dress, and absolutely perfect for me. I know now that I have the perfect wedding dress for my wedding day!

Naturally, I insisted on trying on only silk dresses because it's my favorite fabric. So there were really some absolutely gorgeous gowns that I was able to try. Usually I shop for silk gowns on sale racks or at thrift stores...my favorite places to haunt, but for this special day we could finally see that the perfect gown was worth whatever it cost.

And, we figured, we could always cut out the favors at the reception. ; )

Table Arrangements

Candles for Reception Table. A small floral arrangment - unlike the color and style of the pictured arrangement - will be placed at the center of the table. I found the gold and silver votive candles on sale after Christmas at Target.

Votives for the Head Table.

Invitation Kit from Michael's.

Save the Date

This is an example of the Save the Date cards that I'm working on designing. I really love the leaf punch that I happened to stumble on in the Martha Stewart section of Michael's. That Martha Stewart is so smart! I love her wedding and party planning ideas! The Martha Stewart Weddings book has definitely inspired me in this whole wedding planning process.

I was planning to make the invitations, too, but while we were out shopping for supplies I found some really adorable invitations in a kit at Michael's that are just my style. And buying the kit was way cheaper than purchasing all of the supplies seperately. Invitation Kit.

I found a bunch of fun votive candle holders for the head table at the reception at Michael's, too, as well as flower vases. I'm starting to love that store more than A.C. Moore - which in our town is right across the shopping center from Michael's. The votive candle holders are rounded glass holders that have a 'crackle' or broken appearance with gold rims around the top. I think they'll really make the table look special. I've been working a lot on the table designs for the reception. I'll post some pictures of the table decoration layout soon. : )

Dress Search

The search for the perfect dress is on. I already have a silk wedding gown, but I really don't feel like it's the right one - or at least I'm not sure. So, I'm searching for another dream dress...if it's to be found.

I really love the designs by Justina McCaffrey and Judd Waddell. They're so romantic and classic looking with lots of yards of rustling silk and very long trains. I adore the full skirts.

Tomorrow mom and I are going to a local bridal shop to look for the dress. We've already checked a few places but it was disappointing because so many shops don't carry silk dresses...which I can't understand, of course. Who wouldn't want a silk wedding gown? Silk is, afterall, my very favorite fabric. ; )

Today I attended Laura Wells' bridal shower at the home of her Fiance. It was a lot of fun! Laura is a close high school friend who is getting married in May in New York, where her Fiance is going to school.

Our Photographer

This photograph was taken by Lauren Fisher of Elle Photography. Lauren is fairly young, about my age, and very talented at capturing memories. I fell in love with her photography style and work when I saw some of her images displayed in a coffee shop downtown while out with Vince one fall day. I was determined to have her as the photographer for my wedding. She seems very proficient and I think that she'll be a lot of fun to work with.

Check out her website here: Elle Photography

Sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church.

This is the sanctuary of the church in which we will be married in October. Vince and his family have attended this church for generations. It was built sometime during the 1700s.

I hope to decorate the isle with flowers on each pew door, and the front of the sanctuary will have flowers at the altar.