Could this be it?

Wedding dress shopping can be summed up in one word ... Agonizing.

I was beginning to hate trying on beautiful and expensive dresses ... which is something that should be fun.

However, this past weekend I went shopping yet again with my mom, maid of honor Adrienne and Aunt Ruth. Aunt Ruth said that no matter what, we were going to find the dress. I didn't believe her.

However, there must be something about aunts because I think I DID find the dress!



It's by a designer called Pattis Bridal. First of all, I love the skirt. It has pick-ups with a little bit of toule sticking out of the bottom. The mid section has a bit of rouching and beading. The top part has a wonderful and princessy sweetheart neckline. However, that part does have some embroidery that I'm not fond of. The flowers look cartoony.


The good thing is the embroidery is attached to English netting, which can be removed. So, my thought is this ... I'll have the seamstress remove that part and replace the netting with some colored toule ... like green maybe. Then, I'll repeat that color (with some other colors maybe?) in the toule that sticks out from the bottom of the skirt.

I will definitely follow with more photos.

Living in a Handmade World

I've always loved handmade things. There's something so organic and simple about an item forged by two warm hands. It just can't be duplicated.

That's why I love Etsy.
www.etsy.com

It's an online market for artists who create wonderful handmade items. You can find just about anything on there ... jewelry, photography, ceramics, clothing ... the list goes on and on!

I'm drawing a lot of wedding inspiration from sellers on Etsy. I'm mostly looking at jewelry for me and my ladies, but there are some other fun thing to be found as well. Here are a few examples...

Indie Crafting Madness!

You all know that Jake and I are all about making our wedding very unique, handmade and completely cool. However, where do we go to get inspired?

I'll be doing a few posts to give some insight into the behind-the-scenes action of Amy + Jake: The Wedding.

This is the first of those posts.

Indie Fixx
www.indiefixx.com



Indie Fixx is my go-to place for fun and indie craft ideas. They promote everything handmade and anti-commercialism. I first found this site when I started researching for our wedding and fell in love instantly with their kitschy cool projects and commentary.

They also have a very handy wedding section chock full of DIY wedding ideas and crafts.

And not only do they post DIY project instructions, they also highlight indie crafters. Plus, they have awesome giveaways. They're currently running this contest:

What better way to celebrate autumn than with an indie giveaway?

From Indie Fixx - "Autumn is officially here (at least for us folks in the Northern Hemisphere) and that means it’s time for changing leaves, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treaters, butternut squash soup, my black kitty to sit in the window and look spooky, giving thanks and cornucopias of indie goodies to give away!"

I'm particularly into the notebooks from crafter Ex Libris Anonymous

Head on over to Indie Fixx and get inspired!

Engagement photos are here!

That's right ... our engagement photos came in the mail Friday :-) I'm very pleased with how they turned out. I think Oliver captured Jake and I so well. We'll also be doing a photo shoot with our friend Adrienne sometime this winter ... just because photos are fun :-)

Engagement Photo Teaser!

Our photographer, Oliver, is amazing. He just emailed me an engagement photo teaser. And .... it's perfect!! This is totally Jake and I in photographic form. I knew we chose Oliver for a reason :-)

Upcycled centerpieces, birthdays and aunties' lunch (long post, but totally worth it!)

The new buzz word among crafty and earth-friendly twentysomethings is "upcycling."

"Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. This process allows for the reduction of waste and use of virgin materials." (Wikipedia)

Thinking back, I realize I've been upcycling for years without even knowing it. It all began in middle school when my dear friend Aimee Tetreault and I use to make rockin' art collages out of old magazines and pieces of material. We also use to make pillows out of old clothes.

My mom upcycles all the time. She cleverly takes pieces of what most people would think is junk and turns them into beautiful planters in her flower garden and in the house for her house plants. I must have inherited the gene.

These days I make most of my cards for birthdays, weddings and whatnot out of old magazine scraps. Not only do I save money, but I also get to create a unique piece of art and use up something that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Jake and I came up with some awesome ideas for upcycled reception centerpieces for our wedding. I told him I wanted to somehow incorporate vinyl records into our wedding since we both enjoy collecting them. Here's what we came up with...

Jake's idea

He suggest buying some old junk 45s from Goodwill and turning them into photos. We plan to buy some of those sticky cd labels you can print on your home computer and printing photos of us on them. Then, we'll stick them to the 45s where the original record label is, creating our own personalized record labels.

Amy's idea

I admit, I stole this idea from a former college roommate, Erin Surginer. Jake and I will pick up some old 78s from thrift stores and turn them into candy bowls for the reception tables. It's pretty easy actually - you just put them in the oven and melt them over a bowl, let them cool, and you have a bowl.

---------------------------

In other news, Jake and I just finished a whirlwind week. Monday and Tuesday started off the week slowly, but once Wednesday hit we were in a dead sprint until Sunday.

Jake celebrated his 21st birthday Wednesday. His mom fixed wings and nachos and cheese and bought an ice cream cake for the affair. I bought him a T-shirt with a picture of Ernest Hemingway on it to help him embrace his nerdy english teacher side (as if he needs any help).

Thursday evening we went out Benedict's Steak House in Coldwater for a party with Jake's friends from work. I bought him a cake from this totally cool new bakery in Coldwater called Melanie's. It's all vintage and artsy on the inside. Rock out for coffee mug-shaped cakes!

Friday and Saturday were hella crazy with Jake's cousin Angela getting married. Angela and Daniel were married at the Union City Weslyan Church Saturday and Adrienne and I took photos, and I also sang a solo. Friday evening was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Afterwards, Jake, Adrienne and I stayed after to help decorate the fellowship hall for the reception.

Saturday went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful day, Angela was beautiful and people were happy relatively stress-free. Adrienne and I had a blast taking photos and, I must say, we did a pretty decent job for two girls who don't own a camera between the two of them. I'm excited to start editing photos and really turning them into pieces of art.

--------------------

Saturday, November 9, I'm hosting a lunch for the women from mine and Jake's families. I know, it sounds girly and foofy and not me at all ... but I think it's important that everyone meet each other. Hopefully all of Jake's aunts will be able to attend. My amazing aunt Ruth is having it at her house and she, my mom and me will make the food. I'm looking forward to discussing wedding and wedding shower plans with everyone. Again .... it's all totally girly and so far from what I normally find entertaining. However, I really want our families to bond as one group so I'm willing to pour all my energy into the otherwise fluffy affair.

Stay Local, Go Green

Jake and I always try to do our part for our local economy and the environment. We both work for small, locally- and independently-owned companies. His family also owns and operates Hensley's Variety Store in Union Store. We understand the need to support local business people.

In addition to supporting the local people, we also try very hard to keep our environment clean. It's hard to do when you live in a small midwestern town where you have to drive almost 20 miles to get to the nearest recycling station. You also have to drive quite a ways to find organic produce, as there are no food co-ops in the area either. The pressing need for cleaner living is catching on here in rural Michigan, but it's a slow progression.


For us, I think it goes beyond just being supportive and "green." I think we align our efforts at maintaining local and green lifestyles with our beliefs. God made this earth so we need to do what we can to keep it clean. It was His gift to us. As far as shopping locally, that just makes sense. First of all, you save gas and thereby cut down on your carbon emissions. But, you also pump money back into the town where you live, rather then sending it to some other city or country. These business people pay the same taxes as we do, shop at the same places, know the same people and love the same community. We're strong believers in the "trickle up" effect rather than the "trickle down." Put the money in the hands of the little guy and it will eventually benefit everyone.

A few weeks ago I realized that Jake and I have the potential to do a lot of good with our wedding. We've set a budget of $5,000 for this shindig (okay, we might go over by a little bit...). It occured to me the other day that, hey, that's a lot of money! Think of the people we could benefit with that! So, we've decided that on a day that is traditionally suppose to be about us, we're going to make it about our community as well.

We haven't worked out all the details yet, but here's what we've got so far:

• I'm buying my dress from a locally owned bridal boutique in Coldwater. The owner is a frequent customer of Jake's at the coffee shop.

• I plan on using lots of ribbon, fabric and pillar candles as decorations, most of which will be purchased through Hensley's.

• Our florist is local. I'm going to work with her to see if we can buy flowers that have been grown in Michigan, maybe even grown organically (although this will most likely be difficult to find at a price we can afford).

• Though our reception isn't going to be a full sit-down meal, we do want to provide yummies for our guests. Scott Ladd, owner of Broadway Grille in downtown Union City, will be catering the affair. We're talking about having Scott and his crew create gourmet pizzas. We're also going to have fruit and veggies, another side dish, and .....

• ... Locally grown and made jams and apple butter. Our friend Adrienne came up with the idea. Jake and I were planning on having a table full of different breads, crackers cheeses and spreads. Adrienne took the idea one step further and said we should offer jams and apple butter from local Amish farm stands in the area. Not only is it socially and environmentally responsible, it's about the most yummy thing I can think of!

• I plan to print all of our Save-The-Dates, invitations and ceremony programs printed on 100% recycled paper.

• We're offering bottled water to guests at our hot August wedding. However, the idea of about 200 plastic bottles makes me cringe. Short of buying everyone a reusable Nalgene bottle, there isn't a good solution. I've come up with two things to help remedy that problem:

• Getting Ethos water. They give a portion of their proceeds to get clean water for people in under-developed countries.

• Setting up recycling bins at the ceremony and reception. We'll have one for plastic bottles and another for paper products (i.e. the ceremony program ... who keeps those anyway??)

So, that's the start of Local/Green wedding. More updates to follow!

Location problems are solved!

God works in amazing and totally surprising ways sometimes, eh?

As I posted before, Jake and I have been having some problems our wedding/reception venue. We had originally planned to have it at our church, but they added a Saturday evening service which means no Saturday weddings. This threw everything into a spin because, without a venue, we couldn't make any plans.

Of course, like any good bride, I had a bit of a freak out about it. But Jake and Adrienne both assured me that everything would be fine.

"God will totally work it out," said Adrienne.

So, I began praying about it and just continually putting it in God's hands, having faith that He would work something out.

Monday I was at work and walked down the street to the Broadway Grille for lunch .... something I very rarely do. I'm brown-bag-it kinda girl. I walk into the Broadway and see Patricia Polacco, a famed children's book author who lives here in Union City. There she was, sitting all by herself waiting for her posse ... which hardly ever happens. She always has people with her at lunch.

I've interviewed Patricia on the phone before, but have never actually met her in person. She is, however, a big fan of Jake's family. Jake's grandpa, John Soncrant, owns Hensley's Variety Store here in town. Patricia wrote a book about John and the store called "Something About Hensley's."

So, there's Patricia sitting by herself, and she says hi to me. So, I say hi back and realize that I should probably introduce myself. I walk over to her table and introduce myself as the editor for the Union City Clarion and we start chatting. She asked me where I was from and I said Tekonsha, but that I'm engaged to John's grandson. So she starts going on about how much she loves his family.

Then, she asked me when and where Jake and I are getting married. I told her we were having problems figuring out a place
and she says "Why don't you just get married in my yard?"


I was absolutley astounded! Here's this famous children's book author inviting me to get married in her unbelievable beautiful lawn! THEN, she offered her Gaw Centre for the Arts as a reception venue! I couldn't believe it!! And, she's doing it all for free!!!



So, needless to say, Jake and I will be getting married Saturday, 1 August, 2009, at Meteor Ridge Farm, the home of Patricia Polacco.





Adrienne was right :-)

To learn more about Patricia Polacco, please visit her website.

Say cheese!: Wedding photographer search a success

As most of you know, I dabble in photography in addition to my job at the newspaper. My passion with photography began in third grade when my parents bought me a little Ninja Turtles camera that used 110 film. My love for the art bloomed and has been a part of my life ever since.

I scored an internship in college with Jeff Bennett in the marketing department at Rochester College. He also began inviting me along to shoot weddings with him on the weekends, and even recommended me to other wedding photographer friends. He taught me pretty much everything I know.

Jeff was my first (and only) pick for a wedding photography. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Jeff is unable to shoot my wedding. The day I found I definitely cried. I'm such a nerdy girl.

So, Jake and I set out on the search for a wedding photographer and came across this guy:

Oliver Howell

You don't realize how many over-priced photographic hacks there are out there until you start searching. Having photographed a few weddings myself, I know how much work goes into the job and what a fair price is for the product and services. Oliver was the only photographer who really interested me and fit all my criteria.

This is the photo that first caught my eye on his website

Oliver is a student at Michigan State University and a talented photographer. He shoots with Nikon equipment (which I've forgiven him for as I am a Canon girl) and really produces some great art. I appreciate his approach to photography: Not only does he take nice photos, he documents moments that will never happen again ... and all with an artistic eye.

Jake and I are not fans of most traditional wedding things. Photography is no exception. Most people these days have their wedding portraits taken outside in a nice garden or by a fountain or something else like that. Jake and I want to break out of the box. We thought it would be interesting to have wedding photos taken in a few of these places (photos taken by Amy Napier):

When we described our desire for "out of the box" wedding photos, Oliver said he was excited for the chance to flex his artistic muscle, as most couples want to stick with simple outdoor-sie venues. Granted, Jake and I will still take a few posed photos in a nice outdoor location with our families. But, we're definitely going to take the wedding party and have some fun creating awesome one-of-a-kind photographic art.

We think the classy look of wedding attire juxtaposed with the hard lines and dinginess of the city will create eye-catching wedding photos unique to us and our relationship.




We're planning on taking Oliver and our wedding party to downtown Battle Creek for the photos. There are so many hidden gems as far as photographic opportunities are concerned. I didn't realize how great the architecture and accidental art was until I did Caleb Sunnock's senior pictures there this past August.

I'm excited to see what Oliver can do given the chance to create without boundaries.





To learn more about Oliver and his art, please visit:
Oliver's photography website
Oliver's blog

When and Where

I've had quite a few of you ask me about the date and place for our wedding.

The truth is .... we're not sure yet.

We originally planned to have it on Saturday, 1 August 2009 at our church, Victory Life Church, in Battle Creek. However, our church added a Saturday evening service which means no Saturday weddings. :-(

So now, we're in the midst of figuring out what we're going to do. We have a few ideas up our sleeve. I'll keep you posted on what develops.

Date Night no. 4

About a month ago, Jake and I decided our lives were becoming so busy we needed to initiate "Date Night," so we're sure to make time for each other. It was one of the best decisions we've made :-)

The first date night, Jake gave me my engagement ring and officially asked me to marry him. We try not to measure everything against that. :-)

Anywho ... Friday night was our fourth date night and I took lots of photos. Just thought I'd post a few for those of you who haven't seen us in a while.



We picked up some chinese food and had a picnic at the fountain in Marshall. Doesn't he look so classy smoking his pipe?







We finished off the evening by getting some yummy hand-dipped ice cream - Jake chose mint chocolate chip and I indulged in pumpkin pie flavored, both in waffle cones - and walked around downtown Marshall.

I love date night, and I love Jake for suggesting it. There are a million things I love about him. So many of you haven't had a chance to meet him yet and I look forward to the day when you do. You'll love him. Aside from being just the darn cutest fiancé ever (as is evident in the photos) he's one of the most noble, trustworthy, well-rounded and intelligent men I've ever know.

I am so completely blessed to be his future wife.

A Work in Progress

Hey guys ... I'm working on getting this blog to look rockin'. Bear with me as I have no idea what I'm doing.

If anyone is really great at html stuff and putting new skins on blogs, I would totally love your help.

Thanks,

The Bride

P.S. I'm sitting in my office and there's a stop light just outside my window. A big Dodge Ram truck just pulled up to the light and on its Ram hood ornament was a Barbie strapped to the Ram like she was riding it.

Can anyone say phallic inferiority complex??

Let them eat cake!

Attending a Christian college, I witnessed (and was involved in) quite a few weddings. And, being a girl who loves to plan events, I started making a mental list of do's and don'ts for my own wedding.

One thing I new I wanted was a tower of cupcakes rather than a traditional tiered wedding cake. Cupcakes ad a youthful and playful aspect to a wedding. Plus, it's less clean-up.

Luckily for Jake and I, cupcakes also turned out to be the cheaper route.

Meet our cake artist ....

Courtney Clark
owner and chef of Cake Nouveau in Ann Arbor, Michigan



Jake and I first stumbled into Cake Nouveau back in March completely by accident. Adrienne Johnston was up visiting and we decided to show her around one or our favorite Michigan spots, Ann Arbor. After a lovely cuppa coffee at Cafe Verdé, we walked to our vegetarian dinner destination, Seva.



On the way, we passed a funky little bakery that was selling St. Patrick's Day cupcakes, featuring Guiness flavored icing. We walked in the shop and I immediately fell in love with the place! It was colorful and fun and totally artsy. Then I noticed photos of the chef, Courtney, with Mark Summers from Food Network. Upon inquiry, we learned Courtney had competed in a few Food Network cake challenges. Rock out!

Jake and I didn't even think about having our cupcakes made by Courtney, assuming it would be way out of our budget. However, lucky for us, Cake Nouveau offers mini cupcakes! Score!



We will be serving mini cupcakes at the reception in up to six different flavors. We haven't decided on the final flavor palatte yet, but it may include:

• Key lime
• Brazilian espresso
• Chai
• Mango lemonade
• Chocolate mimosa

We love Courtney and her crew because they're creative and cool and very down-to-earth. When we met with Courtney to taste her work, she talked to us like we were old friends and our conversation ranged from music to movies to food. And one of the best things: Courtney and her husband served mini cupcakes at their wedding as well.

For more Cake Nouveau greatness, visit www.cakenouveau.com

Location, location, location

Just when we thought we had things well underway, the first glitch came in our plans.

We had originally planned to have the ceremony and reception at our church. However, they added a Saturday service.

Saturday church = no Saturday weddings :-(

So ... the search is on for the perfect spot.

A few ideas we've tossed around:

Tibbets Opera House in Coldwater, Michigan
Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center in Augusta, Michigan
my parents' backyard
Leila Arboretum

just to name a few....

Does anyone have a stroke of genius for us?

Amy and Jake: The Wedding

We have the ring. We have the date. We even have the photographer and cake artist.

That's right, everything is falling into place for the event of the year ... Jake and Amy's wedding :-)

Thanks for visiting our wedding blog! This is your one-stop-shop for up-to-date wedding plans and ideas. Stay tuned for more info.

The Bride :-)