{{the}} wedding day**

First, I would like to say, "Wow! I really fell off the bandwagon with this blog!"

I just noticed that I have not updated for over 3 months. My apologies! I really wanted to, I swear.... I became very busy & this {obviously} fell to the back burner.

On to a better note, our wedding was quite ::fantastic::!

To refrain from a {ridiculously} long blog, I will just discuss a very brief "summary" of the day & then the highlights of the day/night.
--note: The day before our wedding, my radio was stolen out of my car. :( had to explain to my 9 year old niece.... how some people that do not have much money, sometimes make different choices in order to earn money. One being selling stolen radios.--

Nina's Day / Morning --
Woke up, took a shower & started to get ready to host. Made coffee & tea, set out the plates & silverware, cloth napkins, then breakfast {Panera bagels & muffins} when my mom brought them.

Hair stylist came out at 11 am & make-up at 11:30 am. While others were getting ready, I kept busy by asking what they wanted to drink & cutting up veggies.

Purchased lunch {Jimmy John's... sadly, no slurpees} for everyone at 2:30. The girls put on their dresses as I cleaned the apartment a bit more. Then we were off to the farm. When we arrived, the guys were behind the farmhouse. I saw Chris in his tux & that is when it hit me. i.am.getting.married.TODAY!

Chris' Day / Morning--
Woke up, went to Bob Evan's with the Mum & Dad and had some delicious blueberry crepes. Then headed home to relax and get ready. Brian came over prior to take off and rode with us out to Rochester. Getting ready for us guys is much easier than for the ladies.

After getting to Rochester, we hung out in the toasty weather for awhile and did pictures with Robin while we waited for the festivities to begin. Everything looked perfect, was coordinated perfectly, and was just downright perfect. Couldn't have been happier as my bride was getting what she wanted!

Highlights of the day & night--
--Of course.. I loved the flowers, dinner, dancing & celebrating with our friends and family!! --

• ::Lemonade Stand @ Ceremony::
  

I am so happy my aunt Nancy & uncle Thumper set this up for me.
This is one thing I really wanted for the wedding &
I am so happy that they made it happen
...I think the guests liked it too :)

• ::1920's Model T Car::
  

Dad Brown's friend, Tony, was willing to help out the day of our wedding
by allowing us utilize his classic car as part of the "setting,"
for pictures & a ride to the reception!

• ::Ceremony Musician::
  

Our DJ not only was willing to travel to [two] locations for the wedding,
but also learned how to play the song I walked down the aisle to
{You Belong To Me by Patsy Cline/Jason Wade}
on acoustic guitar in less than a week.

• ::Photo Booth::
  

Not surprisingly, many guests took a liking to the photo booth.
Can't wait to look at our guestbook after the honeymoon
{with all photo booth pictures}!

• ::Personal Serenade::

My cousin, Jason,
who has had his own band for a number of years & is
traveling abroad to play guitar with Rod Stewart's guitarist
borrowed the DJ's guitar & performed
"Something" by the Beatles as Chris & I danced.
This was songs & songs after our first dance.

• ::Love Songs::

Matt, soon-to-be-brother-in-law,
explained to the guests that two or
more from each table must stand & sing a love song instead of clinging silverware on glasses
in order for Chris & me to kiss.
Several tables did this &
it was {quite} hilarious.

• ::Piano Man::
  

As a special request from Chris & me,
the DJ played Billy Joel's "Piano Man."

To our surprise......
a circle of swaying friends & family
was formed as we sang the tune.

It was truly...

wonderful,
maginificent,
amazing,
brilliant,
great, {& every other "happy" adjective!}

I cannot wait to see all the pictures from our photographer, Robin. She teased me with these two! I {love} 'em!

Wedding Band... or No?

I recently came across on {{theknot.com}} a post about buying a wedding band or not.

I found it interesting

for Chris & I have been discussing rather or not buying a wedding band for me. ::note:: he will get a wedding band! :)

While reading through the posts, I found {many} good points made....

• Some girls [[do not want]] a wedding band due to money constraints.
• Some girls [[do not want]] a wedding band because it would restrain from the unique engagement ring setting.
• Some girls [[want]] a wedding band because the meaning is important to them.
• Some girls are going to wear the band on the left hand & the engagement ring on the right hand.

I feel that all of these are valid points. To each their own.

let me explain my own...

I ::absolutely:: love my engagement ring! I love that it is vintage & definitely love that it is earth-friendly {no new materials were used to make the ring}.

That being said, do I really want a wedding band too!?

IF we buy a wedding band, it would have be vintage again {b/c I love vintage design &... yes, the earth-friendly aspect...}

I don't want a wedding band for # of reasons..
--my ring {as any other engagement ring} is gorgeous alone
--a wedding band will only take away from the setting & overall look of the engagement ring
-- most importantly, I rather the money go towards the honeymoon! hahaha

However, I am worry about the delicacy my engagement ring. Therefore, wearing a band would be more practical & safe {[especially while teaching preschoolers!]}

Most likely what will happen is that we will get a band that I wear on my left hand & then I will wear my engagement ring on the right.

I feel that the wedding band does hold sentimental value & showcases our love for each other. but so does

the engagement ring,

our first home {or apartment}

& most importantly

< 3 our commitment to God & each other that we will love one another forever < 3

What do you think?

Wishpot

**A link to the wishpot registry**

View my list on Wishpot »

One {small} problemo with this...

if guests purchase gifts online utilizing the links off the wishpot.com, they can reserve the gifts so they are shown as "purchased".

HOWEVER... if gifts are purchased at the store, the store has no idea that we have this "registry". I can only imagine someone going to IKEA & saying, "This is for Chris Brown & Christina Marti's wedding registry". The IKEA worker may just think they're crazy! haha

So note....to my lovely shower guests...if you're reading this

if you are going to purchase from this list, please PLEASE PLEASE ::with a cherry on top!:: go back to the list & marked as purchased. OR purchase something else. haha.

XoXo :)

Our Registry / Wishlist

{FINALLY}

We are done with our registry(ies)!!! :)

First,
I would like to say that I treated our registries
more of a ::wishlist::
.......than a registry

**Note**
I am not {by any means} expecting to receive all these lovely gifts at the bridal shower. OR even half!

It is mostly a way to organize everything & anything I want for our small apartment. Any gifts we do not receive will be added to birthday, christmas, and shopping lists for the years to come.

So you may look at our list and think, "Wow, they really went crazy!" Yes, we did.

.....well... I did

Chris said, "Sure" most of the time. I could of registered for a relative of Free Willy & he would not have cared.

And, I must add, shoes should be viewed as an okay item to add to a registry. hahaha >

We are & will be grateful for any gift someone showers us with, as the mr & mrs to be.

With that being said, we are registered at:
[FYE, I have included a picture of one of my {favorite} items from each registry]

Macy*s
((Kitchenaid mixer--- AHHH love))


Crate & Barrel
((Okay, I love like everything on this list, but LOVE these glass cafe mugs!))

Target
((Same as Crate & Barrel, there are many favs @ Target, but LOVE these recycled paper bottle vases))

Wishpot.com
::an awesome online registry, you can add to from any websites. Hello {homemade} IKEA registry!::
((The combo of these two lovely IKEA pieces will make up our desk in the bedroom))

PS-- We currently have a desk/shelf combo in the living room that has been "beaten up" while building. Want the desk in the bedroom to make space in the living room... possibly for my piano [i miss it so!] ????

& that's that :)

Review, comment, laugh & enjoy our registries. As we enjoy each of you

Save the Dates & {Other} Updates

Have not updated in a while so here it goes...

First, Save the Dates

When sending out Save the Dates,
you have to think about a few things.
These include, but are not limited to:

• If most people call you by ___ (insert nickname here). Will they know who I am with my formal name?-- Some of Chris' family did not know that my real name is Christina. Not Nina.
• Will people (mostly parent's friends & extended family) know who we are without last names?
• Should we include a parent's address that people are more familiar with-- many people may not know that you move 40 miles away from Downriver.

We have learned all of these from...
well, I'll just say it {our mistakes}. haha.
But you learn from mistakes & you move on.
It made a good story wehaveheardmanytimes to discuss
of how you realized that it was us
Chris Brown & Christina/Nina Marti
that sent the Save the Date cards.
Then the compliments & congratulatory wishes soon followed.

Does that mean you must include last names & formal names & nicknames & parent's addresses on your Save the Dates?

Absolutely not!

But just think about your audience.
A lot of people still knew who we were. haha-- to be honest, it kind of made it more funny.
& we are funny quirky people, so it kind of fit "us".

I must add, our guests definitely now
will remember now that there's a wedding in July!!

Second, registering...

This picture depicts what happened during our
14 hour
or so
{long}
not really
registration
@ Macys--

Chris being goofy. Me seriously thinking
about which plates we should register for
& Rae [our maid of honor]
photographing the memories.

Chris also included a birthday card on the registry.
Which I believe has been {magically} deleted.
Hmm.. I wonder how ; ) (not me, I promise!)

We have also registered @ Crate & Barrel. Just Chris & I that time. I {lOvE} that store! Chris & I walked up to the cashier, stated politely **of course** that we would like to register. The {very helpful & kind} saleslady said, "I could tell! You two had that glow!"

Hmm.. "that glow!"
I wonder what that means?

Tonight, Chris & I register @ Target with our bridesmaid Erin. Should be lots of fun! Plan to register for some surprises too ; )

Third, cake & favors...
**No pictures SORRY!!**

cupcakes vs. traditional wedding cake

We have met with a couple bakers
(beyond wedding shows) for the
traditional wedding cake route.

1st was {very delicious} &
the bakers were {very kind}.
However the price was just
a little out of liken budget.

2nd was {delicious} &
the owner seemed a {little too pushy for my liking}.
However the price was just
in our liken budget.

So...
do we go with the {kind} people & pay more?
or go with the {pushy} guy & pay less?

My decision was to try a cupcake place (I mean, come on, I love cupcakes. I bake them all the time!) to help us in our decision.

We went to Just Baked in Twelve Oaks Mall. Met with the owner & tasted some molto delizioso cupcakes. One bite of this {baby}

& I was smitten.Completely smitten.
::Grumpy Cake Cupcake:: courtesy of justbaked.com

Needless to say...
We went this route.
Cupcake tower instead.

They include a complimentary 6 inch round cake for the top of the cupcake tower. We can use this to "cut the cake" or keep for the 1 year anniversary cake. Decided to do about 5 different flavors for variety, with ::Grumpy Cake:: definitely being one of them!

Favors. We met a {lovely lady} at the Plymouth Green Fair last summer that had a booth promoting her company The Biscotti Bar. We finally decided to meet with her. We now have wonderful favors of organic YaY! biscotti in two different flavors.

& At Last, tuxedos

I have researched
& researched
& researched
some more
about what I want
the men to wear
on our BIG day.

We made a trip to Downtown Rochester.
Met with a very nice guy
@ President Tuxedos.
Discussed choices
& finalize choices.

We have the tuxedos picked out!!

All men will be in black suits with
black vest & shoes * & socks too!*

Chris will be wearing a black tie.

Paul (BM) & Brian (GM)
& Matt and Jimmy (ushers)
& other ushers not officially
asked yet
will be wearing red striped ties.

My dad & Chris' Dad
& Grandpa
will be in...

WAIT FOR IT...

black
BOW TIES!
I <3 it!

I am VERY happy with our choices :)

& then there was RaNdoMNess...

I think that's it for updates.

Still finalizing some stationary items. We have to finalize an idea for our "place cards". Or whatever they are called. Escort card. Place cards. I never know which is which!

Only real big thing left to do is choose flowers & centerpieces.

I am very pleased that every vendor we are working with is so
kind &
caring &
supportive.

I think that's important to me. I want a wedding to be complied of good memories to come & kindness & happiness. It starts with the planning of the wedding. Which vendors definitely encompass the planning of the wedding!

Favors

I been mulling this over for quite a while.. .almost since we have been engaged.

Favors

No favors? Eco-friendly favor? Homemade favor? Homemade & eco-friendly favor? Donating instead of favor? Donating WITH a favor?

AhH! I don't know!!!

I {{absolutely}} want to donate. There is no way I am not giving up on the idea. I may just do it without letting the guests know!?

A few other ideas that have passed through my head (sometimes over & over again):

• an Italian & English treat (in honor of our heritages)-- i.e. tea & biscotti
• homemade jam-- organic or not..
  
• homemade cookies (from a hometown bakery OR my Nona's famous delicious chocolate chip cookies)
  
• organic biscotti (that we discovered at Plymouth's Green Fair last summer)
• traditional Italian favor (jordan almonds-- which Big Nona {my great grandmother} used to throw at the bride & groom instead of rice. hahaha)
• muffin mix
  
• Photobooth be the favor (guests will be taking home photo strips)
  
• a good ole HUG & KISS from the bride and groom (just kidding!)

HELP!! Right now, my idea is to do the donation with a small favor in addition to the photo booth (I mean it's already paid for!)

If I do a favor... which one above is the best choice.. .THOUGHTS!?! :)

FYE

In honor of our new idea for the guestbook... MadLibs

We have been conducting MadLibs of our own.

::This is one of them::

**Sing to the tune "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles**

Ah, look at all the Happy Hot Dogs!

Ah, look at all the Happy Hot Dogs!

Elsa Poopastink picks up the Chicken in a London where a

Film Festival has been. Dance in a Lightbulb.

Hopping at the Guitar, wearing the Flip flop that

she keeps in a TV by the Kleenex. Who is it for?

All the Happy Hot Dogs, where do they all come from?

All the Happy Hot Dogs, where do they all Blow?

Guest Book- Revamped

The guestbook. Guest sign their names. Include their addresses. You barely ever read it. I know I wouldn't. Sorry : / That's the norm.

Hmm... the norm.

Needless to say, I have been trying to find a different approach to the guest book. A few that I found that I like:

• a book with pockets (kind of like those in the back of a library book) with note cards where guest can write personal messages.

• paper note pads labeled, "In 5 years", "In 10 years", "In 25 years.", etc, and guests include their predictions.

• Polaroid pictures of each guest that they take themselves and include a message under their pictures or on the polaroid itself.

• Sign aprons with fabric markers. I do like to cook & I {really} want an apron. Keeping hinting that I want one! haha.

• Sign pieces of scrap fabric that later can be sewn together to a quilt, or wall hanging. ((one of my favs!-- just wish I could sew with a machine better than by hand. haha.))

Lots & Lots of ideas!!!

All easy DIY projects.

Recently, found this fun & entertaining idea:

courtesy of theknot.com:)

Mad Lib guest book. I imagine on the backside, they fill just the words. Ya know, list "adjective. verb. noun. noun. plural noun. adjective..." Then, also include the name & may be even the address on the bottom.

Showed it to Chris. He liked it. I think this is one way to include our quirkiness & humor into the wedding. And what a way for guest to pass the time during the cocktail hour waiting for us to arrive fashionably late!

I think this might be the one. Oh yay!! :)

Now, where can we put this so guests can fill these out without holding up a line. Now, that is a GOOD question!! Havn't figured that part out yet ; )

The Calm Before the Storm... or ::After:: the Storm

I figured after that {long} blog yesterday, I think we all need closure.

Long story short...

There was drama.
Yelling. A lot of yelling.
Tears.
Apologies.
& now it's over :)

To be honest, I have never yelled so much in my life! I feel like a horrible person for doing so!!
Okay I lied... I have yelled at someone before. It was at a Dashboard Confessional (( LOVE THEM!! )) and I told a guy that was about 2 feet taller than me, "Back the F*** off!" Quite a scene....

Everybody & everything is much better now.

I'm off to wedding research. Stay tuned...

Wedding Planning VS Vacation

Vacation. It is something that I love. Something that I love to talk about. Something I have to look forward to (including thousands of pictures to look through). Besides teaching, vacation/traveling is one of my passions.

Wedding Planning. It is something that I should love. Something that I should love to talk about. Something I should look forward to (including tons of pictures to look through-- no pressure Robin! haha). I'm not loving wedding planning & loving to talk about wedding plans & looking forward to my wedding. Well, okay, I lied, I am looking forward to the wedding.. TO BE OVER!

Unfortunately, I {absolutely} am regretting this whole wedding thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love Chris with all of my heart. I am excited to spend the rest of our lives together. Take his last name. Have babies (especially this one!). I'm excited to make the commitment to ourselves & God that we would be true, faithful & loving to each other forever and always. And all the other ::wonderful:: things that come with marriage.

However, wedding planning is nothing like planning a vacation. Vacation planning is exciting. Finding all of these cool places to go sight see. Indulging yourself in a new culture. Meeting new people. Hoping that you could live there. May be for a month or two. Please!?

So, why, you may ask... do I feel this horrible about my own wedding. WHY!?

May be it's because every one of my "creative" ideas get crap from people. Mind you, I don't pull these ideas from my bum. I see them on theknot.com (multiple times) & wedding blogs. Real people have ALSO utilized these ideas! May be it's because I am told constantly, "It's not me. But, whatever, it's your wedding." with a rolling of the eyes. May be it's because I am told I should revise almost all of my ideas so guest aren't confused. Ever thought guests might like to see something DIFFERENT than the typical, cookie-cutter wedding. Ever thought that I am not the TYPICAL bride. Ever thought about that it is MY wedding. Ever thought that may be I ask for opinions & tell you my ideas not so you can "mock me" but because I love you so much I want you to be involved & so you will listen to & support me.

When you read this, you may think some of the following:

• "Wow! Christina is crazy."
• "Gosh! That really stinks."
• "Why would she say that!?"
• "Fine. I won't help."

Think what you will.
I love my family.
I love Chris' family.
I want everyone to be a part of this wedding because everyone means so much to me. Not that this blog reflects that so much : /

Originally, I wanted everyone that was involved with this wedding to be only close friends & family (including many vendors). I wanted a simple wedding with a big guest list (haha, I know, quite impossible. I wanted to make it work!). I wanted a wedding where guests went home and said "Wow! That was SO Chris & Christina. It was so meaningful and full of love & happiness." I wanted this experience to be some of the happiest moments of my life.

It has grown to be the most stressful moments of my life. More stressful than Calculus. And let me tell you, Calculus is... bad! I have cried more than in the last few months that I ever have my entire life. Quite frankly, THIS SUCKS!

So, what do I do now? Post this blog. Hope others will read it. Hope they will not take offense to it. Hope I don't get crap once more. Hope others will realize that I love them and this is not meant to hurt them. Continue to suck up my feelings and just let others plan the wedding without elements of my own wedding be reflective of the couple Chris & I are and have become.

I just don't know.

I may have to lock myself in the apartment until things cool over. I might not have to. Let's hope I don't.

All I know, is that Chris means everything to me. I can't wait to be husband & wife. I'll leave with a quote that pretty much sums up my life right now:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Hair**

Lately.....
I've been deciding on my hair.

Up?
Down?
Curly?
Retro??


One thing I know for sure. I want... no I need a large flower in my hair.
I have a veil for the ceremony that has a flower (or two), but I will not be able to wear it for the reception. [[Obviously. Who wears their veil at the reception?!?!]]

Sooooooo I've looked on etsy.com to help me solve this "problem".

& I found these lovelies..
**all images courtesy of etsy.com**

The bottom two are my favorites. Which end up the being the most & least expensive (($42 & $20)).

Now with the hair styles...

:::Some I found that I like:::

both from: short bridal hairstyles



from: theknot.com

Not sure which is my favorite. My hair is kind of short, and yes I do have more time to grow it, but many bobby pins will be needed for an updo. Most likely, I'll bring these samples to a hair salon (which I still have to find-- HELP!!) & let them work their {magic}.

**Other News: E-mailed JustBaked to schedule a consultation for a cupcake tower. STILL deciding on a bakery. Haven't found one I'm in love with.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

So I have been researching what I love best...

{{shoes}}

What do I want to wear on my {big} day!?
Heels?
Flats?
Peep-toes?
Red shoes?
Cream shoes?
........Too many choices!

There I just looked at.. them all!**

Here are some of my faves. So far.


Why not start at Kate Spade? I mean, why save $ on shoes, right? haha


Kate Spade.com- Nicolina $298


Anthropologie.com- Hedy Platforms $162--a little more affordable**


Anne Klein- Catherine Pumps- $79


Kate Spade- $265


Diane Lynn- $101 (can be in red too)

There are [a lot] out there. Can't wait to find {[the]} pair!

Bridesmaid Dresses

Bridesmaid dresses have been chosen!**

We went to David's Bridal. Looked around at the dresses & catalog. Talked to the sales lady. Rae & Erin tried some dresses & made a final choice.

I didn't take a picture of the one that looked very cute on the rack, but.. not so much on. It was the type of material that just ::clinged:: to the buttox. Rae & Erin have nice butts and all, but didn't think it was fair to show off their goodies at [my] wedding. haha.

The sizes available in our favorite dress just {happened} to be in Michigan colors. Rae did not seem to mind ;)

Then the decision had to be made, RED or BLACK dress.

Red dress with [black] shoes?

Black dress with [red] shoes?

We all agreed that buying red shoes would be {much more} fun to buy. The decision was made. Black dress it was with red shoes it is!

Now what about the hair!?!?

1st Christmas as a {family}

This is a [be-lated] picture time line of our month of December.

Our month began with a parade in Downtown Rochester. We bundled up, bought hot cocoa, and froze our bottoms for a few hours as we watched the parade.


My favorite part of the parade!! {DOGS!!}} We really should have brought Mozie with us!


Next was graduation. I completed college {{finally}}!! Afterward the ceremony, my mom & dad, Linda & Dave (MIL & FIL) & Chris went out to eat at Mongolian Barbeque. It was a new experience for our parents, but they LOVED it.


Then, the ::baking:: began. Not one or two days, but for four days I baked, baked, and baked some more. Mozie occasionally joined me in the kitchen to try to get any fallen goodies.


**Our Christmas Tree** We wrapped all of our gifts in newspaper- to be more earth friendly :)



First, we made hot cocoa (one of newly started traditions).


Then we opened our stockings! Mozie got chewnolas-- YUM!*


Our other tradition, is funny ornaments in each other stockings. Chris' was birds with "2009". Mine was "Bacon. Food of the Gods"

Then, there was Christmas day celebration between both families, presents, and **love**


AND THIS [WONDERFUL] PICTURE DEPICTS a *typical* night at our home. Chris tries to see me. Mozie intercepts. haha.