Wedding Sweepstakes

Here are some awesome wedding sweepstakes I found online (I am in no way a sponsor or representing these companies, but as far as I can tell they are not scams):

http://www.bestweddingsites.com/Contest/

http://www.bridalguide.com/sweeps/

http://weddingfestivals.com/sweepstakes.html

Win a destination wedding:
http://www.gimmesweeps.com/2008/12/23/win-a-destination-wedding-sweepstakes-11509/

Free wedding photo package:
http://wedding.weddingchannel.com/promo/robertevans_splash.asp

Free wedding photography:
http://www.bellapictures.com/sweeps.php?m=101365&cj=1

$3,000 wedding upgrade:
http://global.weddingchannel.com/sweepstakes/Tampax/

Honeymoon sweepstakes:
http://bride.com/sweepstakes.html

Wedding dress:
http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/blog/category/news/

$100 and wedding book:
http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/sweeps/win-100-signed-copy-book-wedding-chic

Free Wedding Stuff!

Join this wonderful thing called Freecycle to meet some of your wedding needs for free!

Earlier this week I sent out an email on the freecycle networking mailing list that I was getting married in September and was looking for anything wedding-related.

I was so happy to receive a bunch of emails from past brides that just had their wedding stuff (that they would never use again) around, and were happy to give it away for free! Most of the stuff was only used that one time and still looked great.

The Reception: Book Early!

I had imagined my wedding since I was about 5. Therefore, I figured that when Taylor did propose I would already have it mostly figured out leaving us plenty of time to figure out the very little things, because the big things were thought of about 21 years ago.

Oh was I wrong.

My co-worker, Denise, got engaged in January 2007 and by the time she went to book her reception (not long after the engagement) all the reception places were gone. Luckily, she was able to still book the local country club (and it was a gorgeous reception)...but I kept that in mind this past week.

My mom came up to Illinois on the Monday after Christmas (which was planned even before the proposal) and we started looking at reception places right away. Little did I know how booked they would be! We were looking for a fall wedding (Taylor melts in the summer, I hate the cold) and almost every Saturday was already booked!

Luckily, they still had Sunday, September 6th open (the Sunday during Labor Day weekend), which worked out really well for us since there will be many out-of-town guests.

So brides - word to the wise, start looking early. I never dreamed I would have to book the reception less than a week after the ring was on...but I'm sure glad I did.

A Very Christmas Proposal

While wishing on a star. While looking up at a ceiling that spelled out "will you marry me" in glow-in-the-dark stars. After opening a secretly already carved pumpkin. On top of a roller coaster. After a bath. During a walk surrounded by the most perfect scenery.

These are all amazing proposals that some of my friends (or friends of friends) have experienced throughout the past few years - and they were all incredibly sweet and personal to each couple.

I imagined my proposal since pretty much I know what the word engagement meant. I once imagined a moonlit stroll on the beach. Then there was the exaggerated dream of going out on a boat with candles everywhere. Oh - and of course about a million more that would pop into my head after watching "A Wedding Story" on TLC.

However, I never could have imagined something so sweet as what my new fiance, Taylor thought up.

He made a DVD of photographs we had taken throughout the past two years, and set it all to one of our favorite songs. At the end of the very sweet video, it said "turn around"...and when I did there was Taylor on one knee in front of my Christmas tree, telling me the sweetest things I'll always remember. I was in the moment - until he said those four words: Will you marry me. I had heard those words about a million times between all my chick flick favorites and reality tv shows...but when they were said to me it was just surreal.

It wasn't until he told me he asked my father for his blessing, and my dad instantly said yes, that I started to get a bit emotional. It was just so wonderful and sweet.

So this is the day that started it all...everytime we schedule a trip to check out reception places, or different websites for tuxes and dresses, we remind Taylor, "it's all your fault," and he just smiles and says, "I know."