Wedding Plans

I have A LOT on my mind.....

First off, I am working on finishing my Alabama History Unit on the Great Depression, the New Deal, and WWII....if you have any ideas (creative ones) please e-mail me, jpope1@jsu.edu. I am running out of ways to make it interesting and fun.

Next, I have been working on finishing up my guest list. MAN, it is quiet impossible and so hard to narrow the list down. We are striving towards 300; however, we have a tad bit more than that...the goal is maybe 350. I am hoping to get all the addresses finished up by this weekend. I had a very dear friend who is going to address them for me using her fabulous calligraphy on them.

Our house is looking great, I haven't been able to visit due to school, whom is keeping me so busy. Rhett has almost finished the vinyl and he installed the air unit this afternoon, yay! I am hoping to take pictures this weekend. Keep a watch out for them.

So far...

• All bridesmaids have their dresses, we went with the J.Crew silk taffeta, violet dust.

• The bridesmaids will be wear very neutral color shoes, I told them it will be up to them with the style. Heels or flats, just go neutral.
• The groomsmen are going to wear black tux but still unsure about their shirt color but Rhett's will be ivory to match ME!
• The flower girl dresses have been purchased, they went with the a long ivory dress, with a cap sleeve with silk outlining the dress. The girls are very slender and are absolutely beautiful. The will be barefoot and will keep the theme very simple and will let the beauty be the nature surrounding us.
• The ring bearer will be dressed in the same outfit as the groomsmen.

• I really want the flower girls to carry tin buckets or something different. Instead of the original ivory basket with flower pedals in them.
• All invitations are bought and they sit in two huge boxes in my bedroom with all the other wedding essentials.
• The wedding rehearsal dinner has been booked. Chatokee Lodge in Gaylesville, AL and this place is beautiful. If I had not already chosen where I would want to get married I would have chosen this place...check it out!

This will be where we eat our rehearsal dinner

• The wedding program will also be a fan, just in case the weather gets a bit warmer than expected the program will be very useful in that area.



Entrance, I will be brought in by Rhett's grandad, Pop. He will drive me in his 1931 A-Model car, its beautiful and he fixed up the whole car himself.

Mason jars for the centerpieces, check! A sweet lady from my church collects them and has a zillion and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She has so many, I couldn't believe it.

Favors.... Yes, we are doing a "candy" bar. However, it is going to be quite simple and unique. We are going with all the candy to coordinate with the wedding colors, blush pink, white, and black. The candy will be stored in a variety of glass containers and vases. They will sit on an old door which will be on two saw horses. I can't wait to see this. I know it will look great, and for a person to love candy as much as I do, will certainly enjoy it. Also, this is not the only favors, the other favors consits of a candle in a votive with a sweet round sticker on it, that says Jessica & Rhett and the date, 5-28-11. These will be placed on the tables for whomever to take home.

Food, we will have a PIG, and yes an actual pig sitting on a table, dead with an apple in its mouth. Rhett's cousin will be the slicer and will cut up BBQ for everyone, this will be on a separate table. Along with the BBQ will be baked potato and salad, and lots of yummy fruits and vegetables for those picky ones.

Cakes, check! Thank you God for Aunt Mary. We are so blessed to have Aunt Mary, Rhett's aunt, she bakes cake and they are absolutely amazing. I will have a 4 layer white on white cake with our initials on the third layer and flowers to decorate it the rest. Uncle Greg and Dale will take care of the decorating and the small minor details. Rhett is still unsure about this cake. For sure he wants yellow cake with chocolate icing. He can not make up his mind about the decor'...either Alabama or John Deere.

DJ, check! Dee Miller from Mix 102.9 will be there and I can not wait!!! He is great!

Leaving... we will "pretend" to leave after out first few dances. We will exit the tent with the guests lighting their sparklers and entering my Pawpaw's white 1957 Chevrolet and he will drive us up to Rhett's church (which is only 1 minute from his house) and we will change clothes and get into our dancing attire. I still haven't picked out this dress, but looking. We will come back and dance the night away!!!

Come out and have the time of your life with us! I can't wait!!!!

Be back soon to introduce the bridesmaids!

Any ideas where I can find sparklers in a huge quantity?





Preparation

First off, I have been BUSYwith internship and can not blog as much as I would like to. I decided  to take a little break today to tell you what kind of preparation I am doing to prepare myself for the wedding. You all, the wedding is only 4 months away. I can't believe it! I am trying to enjoy every moment of it.

I have went on a eat healthier diet. Instead of making myself just eat certain foods, I just decided to just eat smaller portion of much healthier foods. My lunch, at Cedar Bluff School, consists of:

Pita bread and cheese has been a great and easy way to eat healthy in a school lunch room.

I eat just one half and will have the other half the next day.I usually place it in the microwave for 10 seconds and the cheese is good and melted.

I have been doing Crest White Strips on my teeth every night for 30 minutes when I read my Bible. I sometimes forget about the white Strips, especially on a busy night doing lesson plans and other class stuff that I just long for bed. I want to strive to have pearly white teeth on the day of my wedding to give that extra glisten to my smile.

Also, Body by Bethenny has been my only source of a workout since internship has been consuming my life. It is only a 45 minute Yoga video and it is a GREAT workout. Check it out. She also has great recipes and I can't wait to cook them when we get married.

Well I better get back to writing this ten day unit on the Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II. Have a great week. God Bless.

So Far.....

Yesterday I got to take my grandparents to see my future house. Mom and Anna went with us, too. I was very impressed to see how much Rhett has done since the last visitation to the house. Rhett did not have a chance to work much this last week since we had the big snow storm and the frigid temperature was extreme.
Check it out:

Our front door (from the inside)

Rhett working hard to finish the front porch roof.

JHope's 22!

Today is Jena Hope's 22nd birthday and last night we celebrated her birthday. Her sister invited several of Jena's friends from her hometown, Crossville, Alabama and her college friends who live in Jacksonville. Jena thought that her and her sister, Ashley and roommate, Amanda were just going to dinner but when she arrived there was a crew of us. She was speechless, and her face was priceless. I get overly excited when it comes to surprises and birthdays. We all shouted "surprise" when she walked in. We ate, laughed, and chatted at dinner. Then we all went back to their place in Jacksonville to eat dessert, cookie cake!!! It was delicious, to say the least. Happy Birthday Jena Hope!!!!

Amanda and I reacting to Jena's birthday surprise

Jena and her cake

Jena and her sister, Ashley

Jena, I want you to know how special you are to me. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me and how you have been there for me. I am so blessed to have you as one of my best friends and to have known you for these past two years. I know our friendship is strong and I hope it remains strong. I can not wait to make many more memories with you. I love you. Happy 22nd Birthday JHope!!!!

The Walker House...in progress.

The walls are going up.... He started Monday and this is what it looks like now......

Now it has a roof and tar paper on it, ready for the tin. He is working very hard. I went up to the house yesterday and it has windows, tin in the roof, plug outlets, and light outlets. I was stoked to see what all he had done. I am blessed to have a man like Rhett who can do anything and everything.

Happy New Years!

Happy, Happy New Years!!! I am a little bit on the belated side about posting, but forgive me. I have been super busy...
I am looking forward to a wonderful and fabulous 2011. Rhett and I have a lot of things happening this year.

-Student Teaching at Cedar Bluff School in Cherokee County January 3, 2011 (I have already started and love it!!!)

-Monogram Shower February: I can't wait for this shower, it's the most exciting one for me!!! I get to see ALL my friends from high school and college, again.

-MY BIRTHDAY!!! February 16th.... I'll be 22. I can't wait, my birthday is definitely my favorite day out of the week and I usually celebrate the whole week.

-SPRING BREAK, March: I will be missing out on the wonderful beach trip with the girls this year due to getting married and decorating and moving into our new house. I think it's a well worth miss-out. haha!

-Bridal Tea, March: I will be receiving all the wonderful essentials for the house and get to see all the wonderful people who will be attending the wedding.

-GRADUATION, April 29: I cannot believe I am on the end of my journey in college. I thought this day would never be here this soon, but I am looking forward to getting the opportunity to awaken myself in the "real" world and start job searching and making my own money. I am praying and hoping God has a special plan for me after graduation. I am placing my hope and worries in his hands to take care of everything. I am willing to do whatsoever he has planned for me.

-Bachlorette Weekend, May: Girls Weekend! We have not planned this yet, but my Maid of Honor, Anna and Matron of Honor, Heather are thinking about the beach. Which I will be fully please with.

-Bridesmaids Luncheon, May: Traditionally the most elegant and Southern luncheon for the bridesmaids and I.  We are having it outside and using antique doors as out tables and so forth.....

-WEDDING DAY, May 29th: Ahhhhhhh.... I can't believe its only 4 months away. Holy cow, it will be here before we know it. We haven't made a for sure decision on our honeymoon spot yet. We have many, many, many ideas and thoughts in our heads. We for sure want to go "South" but we are waiting till we finish the house to see how much we have left to splurge for the amazing honeymoon we are wanting to have. We will be staying in our house the night of the wedding and going to leave out that Sunday morning for the airport. But it will be the FIRST time in our new house together! Sweet, right?

Honeymoon, June: Islands....somewhere out there, unsure. Here are the possibilities: St. Lucia, Antigua, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Turks and Cacios.

More exciting events to come!!!!

Rhett and I spent out New Years Eve, with my sister, Anna and her boyfriend, Nick. Rhett had worked all day on our house so I was thankful for him to even go out that night with me. I knew he was super tired but we all went to Sumo's, Japanese steak house in Rome, GA. Then went back to Rhett's and watched the ball drop on T.V.  and I went home and was in bed before 12.
New Year's Day, my family has a dinner and we eat all the New Year's food; collar greens (money) , black eye peas (change), ham, and cornbread. I am looking forward to seeing what this year, 2011, has in store for us.