Countdown: 136 Days - Wedding Jewels

I've been obsessed with Pinterest for months, and if you aren't already a member, you should DEFINITELY check it out. It's basically like an online notebook where you can keep all the cool things you find while you're "surfing the web" instead of trying to remember where you once saw that one recipe that would be perfect for your holiday party this weekend!

I like to use Pinterest to save recipes, decorating ideas for our future home and travel destination. But mostly I'm using it to gather ideas for the wedding. Lately, my searches have focused on wedding jewelry. I have a few options with my dress, but can't really decide which way to go.

A big, chunky necklace?

kate spade

Long, dangling earrings?

Nadri

Adriana Orsini

Diamond bracelet or cuffs?

Nadri

Tejani

With so many options, I may have to have a couple different "looks" for the big day!



Countdown: 148 – Family Meet-and-Greet

In October my parents hosted a family meet-and-greet for all the Acosta’s, Eagan’s, Carter’s, Carmichael’s - and everyone in between - to get together before the wedding. Since our families are spread out all over the country, this was the first time that my extended family was meeting matt’s – and it was a blast!

We are so grateful for the amount of people that made the trip for the weekend. We had people there from Missouri (obviously), Indiana, Virginian, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and Seattle!!

We can’t wait for the next time we’re all together – The Wedding!!!

A special thanks to my Aunt Alice for taking all these photos from the party:

Countdown: 152 Days - Save The Date!

Five months from TODAY I will be a married woman!! I can't believe how fast time is flying. There's so much to do! And now it's really starting to get real, especially since the Save The Dates have gone out!

I knew when designing the Save The Dates, I wanted it to be a postcard, and have something to do with St. Louis since most of our guests will be traveling there from out of town. And since we don't have engagement pictures yet (oops), we had to be a little more creative. 

I've been working with Courtney Callahan on all of our paper designs and she totally got what we were going for. Definitely check her out if you're a Chicago or St. Louis bride-to-be!

Here's the final product:

 See you in St. Louis!!

Countdown: 177 - Sneak Peek

Less than SIX MONTHS to go!!!

We are in full planning mode and are finally able to start focusing on all the details people tell you you're not allowed to focus on until at least six months out. Woo hoo!

Since we're planning from Chicago, upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas trips home to St. Louis mean vendor meetings, linen & decor decisions, tastings, hair & make-up trials...and probably a few secret visits to check on my dress that is already IN!

First up, our save-the-dates which are going out this weekend. Here's a sneak peek at the design...

Countdown: 213 - Seven Months!

Today is the SEVEN MONTH mark 'til the WEDDING!!!

I know I've been a horrible blogger. And I apologize to my followers...all 14 of you.

There's been a lot going on - vendor meetings, birthdays, parties, etc. - so I promise to be better and provide more updates soon and maybe even on a regular basis!

Countdown: 239 - How Working in PR Helps Plan a Wedding

I can’t believe we’ve already been engaged for eight months! If these past few months are any indication, the rest of our engagement is going to FLY by – which makes me extremely excited and full of anxiety at the same time.

When I was back in St. Louis a couple weekends ago for my friend Maggie’s wedding, I stayed an extra day and was able to squeeze in some time to meet with our florist and wedding coordinator.

I LOVE the florist we’re working with, Bloomin’ Buckets. For one, I grew up with the owner’s daughter so we’ve known the family for years. Plus, I absolutely love all of their work that I’ve see and I really got the feeling that she was on the same wave length as me when we sat down to talk about flowers. If you’re in the St. Louis area and are looking for a florist, I definitely recommend checking them out!

The meeting with the wedding planner was a lot of fun too. My anxiety about only having nine months left was eased when I had most of the six month items already checked off my list: Color Scheme? Check. Dress? Check. Band? Check. Photographer? Check. Save -the-dates designed and printed? Check & check! I think she was surprised I already had so much confirmed. I thank/blame my job in PR.

You usually only have a few months (if you’re lucky) to plan an event in the PR world. And each one has to be better than the last. So it’s not surprising when brides-to-be from the PR world get started on their plans, it is full steam ahead.

When we finally settled on our wedding date, I started reading up on wedding timelines and to-do lists. Since we were still more than a year out, many of the lists just told me to “relax and enjoy this time just being engaged.” Yeah right.

As someone who is regularly planning some kind of client event, I already had checklists of vendor agreements, budget trackers, venue site checks, décor and shot lists rushing through my head. I had my church, venue, band and photographer booked within a month of choosing the date.

Working with a group that’s probably 70% women ages 20 – 40, it’s guaranteed that someone is announcing an engagement or in the midst of planning a wedding every day. So, to the dismay of our male colleagues, there’s always someone to swap wedding planning stories and tips with. I’ve even heard a rumor that an official wedding binder is floating around from bride-to-bride in the office!

Countdown: 255 - Maggie & Collin's Wedding!

Two weekends ago I traveled back to St. Louis to celebrate the marriage of one of my oldest friends and bridesmaid, Maggie. She married a wonderful Texas boy, Collin, and their wedding was absolutely beautiful. Not one detail was missed and everyone had such a blast.

Here are some photos from Maggie’s big day. How gorgeous is she?!

At the rehearsal dinner the wedding party all took turns to say something about the bride and groom. I wasn’t sure what I would say – there were almost 20 years to cover! But I just focused on our friendship through the years and how happy I am that we still remain friends.

I’m so happy for you Maggie! Being a part of your special day meant so much and I’m so happy you will do the same for me in May!

Countdown: 277 - Guest Post by Julie Ravensberg, MOH

Hi everyone!

I'm Julie, Lauren's incredibly pretty, smart and funny MOH. Some of you may also know me as Zoof. For that nickname, I thank Matt.

Lauren was a bridesmaid in our friends’ wedding this past weekend. During the wedding ceremony as I watched Lauren walk down the aisle, I got very excited and emotional.  Maybe it was the music, or the church or the general wedding atmosphere. Or maybe it was because I realized that in 9 short months (277 days) my BFF will be a MRS.

Little did I know 9 years ago when we were moving into the dorms at IU as freshman roommates that we’d end up best friends, sorority sisters and MOH’s in each other’s weddings. Who would have thought that my boyfriend’s confirmation sponsor would later be our daughter’s god-mother?! If the past 9 years have gone by this fast, then I know that the next 9 months will fly by!

I’m honored to be a part of Matt and Lauren’s big day and cannot wait until May 5 - It will be here before we know it!

- Julie

Countdown: 285 - Flowers!

I'm having the first meeting with our florist in a couple of weeks so I'm starting to pull together some examples of what I like. (OK, yes I've had most of these pictures for months now and, yes, some from before we were even engaged. I can't help it, I'm a planner.)

Here are some of my faves:

Photo Credits: l photographie;  mywedding.com; perfect-wedding.info;  mywedding.com; john koch; l photographie; jpsotila; unknown

Countdown: 290 Days – El Paso Trip & Our First Shower!

Matt and I spent the 4^th of July holiday with my family in El Paso, TX. I was so excited to FINALLY take Matt there to show him where my Dad grew up and where I spent the best summers of my childhood. It was HOT, but we managed to get in all the necessary stops - including Chico’s Tacos, Good Luck and the Acosta Center - and spend some quality time with the family.



Matt's first Chico's experience!



GG and the newest addition, Matthew



Yum!

The Acosta Center



Me and Pop :)

My Aunts (Dad’s sisters) and a couple of my cousins threw a wedding shower for me and Matt over the weekend too. It was so much fun and the first “official” celebration of our upcoming nuptials. It was clear how much time and love the party planners put into the fiesta, from the delicious food to the beautiful – and handmade – decorations.

We had such a great turnout, and it was so fun to be able to see and catch up with some family members I hadn’t seen in years. Plus, I was able to introduce Matt to some family he hadn’t met yet.





 

 



Matt and me with GG

 

Me & Dad

Thank you to GG, Aunt Alice, Aunt Bertha, Aunt Sylvia, Aunt Shelly, Missy and Shanan for putting the special evening together. And thank you to all of our family who came out to celebrate with us. We are so lucky to have families that are just as excited for our big day as we are!

Countdown: 304 Days – I’m a New (God)Mom!

I was recently asked by my best friend (and MOH) Julie and her husband Billy to be the Godmother to their baby girl Anna. I was THRILLED when they asked me, seriously, what an honor!

At first, I was nervous when Billy plopped a screaming Anna into my arms when I was at their house one evening preparing for my first babysitting gig with her. Then I saw this:



Lolo's Goddaughter!

How cute is that? What a creative idea!

I told Julie I felt like we were on the episode of Bethenny Ever After when she asked Julie to be Bryn’s Godmother. HA! I like to say I’m their spiritual guide since I’m also Billy’s Confirmation Sponsor. Yes, really. But that’s a whole separate post.

I officially became Anna’s Godmother at her Baptism last month. Here are some pictures (thanks Chelsea!) from the big day.

Thank you Julie and Billy for bestowing this great honor on me! I promise to always be there for her with whatever she may need! Love you all J

p.s. I also have to throw in a photo of my Godson Luke. I have the cutest Godchildren, right? Right.