For Le Madeleine :)

Darick and I visited another venue option this weekend. It was GORG. The coordinator was soo helpful and he even gave me some bride magazines! LOVE!
I was flipping through the pages of one mag, and came across this picture and instantly thought of Madeleine!




If you haven't already been to her page...GO NOW- www.whatabigtodo.blogspot.com
She actually can make these Parisian macaroons herself and I am soo impressed by her efforts and success in creating the perfect macaroon! She has posting from her first failing attempt to her absolutely perfecting all steps to be successful in constructing these delectable little creations!
One of these days, I'll try to make them myself, but I'll wait until Mads has some free time to show me. Thought of you Mads! Happy Monday!!

Myrick, Suzy & Wii!

Our dear friends Myrick & Suzy invited us over for dinner to celebrate our engagement! They made the MOST delicious dinner! Penne rustica with a tomato, basil, and mozarella salad, and WINE of course! It was such a treat. As Myrick was making dinner, we all played Wii and as you can see in the following video, I get into it...LOL...I wasn't aware that I was being videotaped at the time! But it was soo funny to watch after wards!!




It was SUCH a good time! Thank you so much! We LOVE you!

A tree for Stephanie!

I love nature!
....the beauty of nature that is! I'm not the MOST outdoorsie kind of girl, although sometimes I like to pretend to be.
Regardless, I love the change in seasons, the different flowers that are blooming and I LLOOVVEE mature trees that almost tell a story of the years that it took for them to tower over us.

I ran across this picture, and I think its magnificent! It reminds me of Stephanie Walker...LOL... she appreciates the majesticness of trees and I thought of her when I stumbled upon this photo. So this one is for your Steph!! XOXO :)



stumbleupon.com/photoopcentral.netsipv

Only The Beginning!

This past weekend, my fantastic friends put together an engagement party for Darick & I. It was so precious. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped in the coordination and who drove from near and far to show your love and support! It means so much to us, you have NO idea!

We had such a blast and although we didn't get to talk to each and every person individually for as much time as I would have liked... I am so happy that you all came to celebrate with us!

We met at Joe’s Crab Shack almost 6 years ago, on the very same patio where we had our engagement celebration on! How cool is that? It was so wonderful to see how many people took time out of their busy weekend to come and hang out for a little, and the weather was PERFECT. I may have even gotten a few more freckles. :)Teehee


We met right here!!


Darick and are were sooo thrilled to see all of our amazing friends all together in one place and ALL getting along wonderfully!! It made us look forward to our wedding THAT much more. He wouldn’t stop talking about how excited he is! I thought that was just priceless!
For all of you who couldn’t make it, we missed you! And we hope to see you very soon! Again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU all for celebrating with us!! We had a BLAST!

Oh Dear!

HOLY MOLY!
I'm getting married! What the hell?!
This past weekend, Darick and I went to the first of many venues we will be visiting in the next 10,000 weeks. LOL
I need some SERIOUS opinions, because I usaully have NO PROBLEM making decisions, but this one has been harder than I expected...

OKay, so here's the deal...
I've always imagined and planned to have my wedding in surburban maryland in the fall at a rustic manison or historic manor. But guess what? Those rustic mansions and historic manors are SMALL. I have a guest list that is nearing 220+. I know, I know, I could cut down the guest list, but that wouldn't be any fun! We visited the Ceresville Mansion this past Saturday in Frederick, and it was beautiful, but their capacity is 200...and 200 people in their ballroom(and most mansion ballrooms) is pushing it!

The bottom line is that I'm waivering on changing my vision in order to be closer to an airport for the MANY traveling from out of state guests, and ALSO close to a NICE hotel for them, so they wouldn't have to worry about driving far that night.I don't want to sound like a snob, but the closest hotel was the comfort inn, and I cannot imagine putting that on my wedding invitation as the accomidations...

We have been looking into hotels that will have the service standard, but also can create a little wonderland in their ballrooms, and not some bare, impersonal space. I want guests to walk into our reception and forget that they are at a hotel, or where ever it may be. I know that my standards are high, and I know that I'm going to have to give up some things, but the most important thing for me is having a fabulous party with my family and friends...to have a once-in-a-lifetime memory of our wedding day. Isn't that every bride's dream?

I guess what I'm asking is....
Should I give up the suburban country feel for convenience? I'm sure I can turn a ballroom into a little purple wonderland...I'm just not sure if I want to. BUT I also want all my bridesmaids to stay with me the night before in a fabulous suit. Wouldn't it be convenient if my freakin wedding was in the same hotel? And wouldn't it be easier for everyone to get ready in the suite, instead of meeting there?
I also don't want my family to have to all rent cars to drive somewhere far from BWI or Regan. Since we are keeping our options open to hotels now... we're looking in D.C. and Arlington. Which is uber close to airports....and did I mention GORGEOUS HOTELS!

I'm just pondering all of the options. Let me know what you think! This will be the first of many times I consult my fellow bloggers!! THANK you!! xoxo


Modern & Chic......




OR

Rustic & Romantic....