A&N: We're getting married today!

I know it has been a while since I posted last.  After my final bridal shower,  I don't know what happened.  Time seemed to not exist for me, and now, here we are!  I am getting married!  Yay!  I read in a book that if your engagement ring was hidden in something during your proposal, you can can look forward to a life together full of excitement and happy surprises in the years to come.  Anthony hid my ring in a dish of sea salt with a cover.  I believe it.  I have known Anthony for 7 years, and he has never ceased to surprise me.  I always say that when I first met him, I would have never thought in a million years that we would be getting married today and here we are....SURPRISE!  

A few photos from the wedding week:

    

A&N: Bridal Shower

I made my first movie with footage from my bridal shower for my mother-in-law-to-be. She couldn't make it, so I thought it would be fun for her to watch the highlights. Ciao. Natalie

A&N: Vintage Wedding Dress

Originally uploaded by natalieannholloway

Because I don't want to post any pictures of me in my wedding dress until after, well, my wedding, I thought I would post this dress instead. It is a vintage wedding or debutant dress. Someday, sixty plus years ago, a very young bride - this dress was made for very petite woman - or blushing teen wore this dress. The ruffles evoke my wedding dress, and I fell in love with it. I imagine what it must of been like to be a girl dressing for her wedding day, marrying her war hero, or her dreamy John Kennedy.

A&N: Bridal Shower 6.13.10

 Tomorrow is my first bridal shower!  I am very excited to see my family and friends.  I also cannot wait to capture all the beautiful details my hostesses pulled together.  My Aunt Sherry, my cousin Stephanie and Kelli, and my Matron of Honor and sister, Megann are throwing my shower.  I thought I would share some photos from our planning dinner, where they planned and I drank wine.  Stephanie and Megann handmade the invitations. The crafting/handmade gene runs in our family.  I just finished stamping 600 pieces for my invitation suite.  We received our first gift in the mail from family friends of Anthony's, and my mother in-law to be surprised me with the sewing machine from my registry on myregistry.com.  Sewing classes at Fancy Tiger Crafts here I come.  I will be sure to share photos from the shower.  Off to buy hostess gifts.  Ciao, ciao.  Natalie.

Amy and Corey - Joshua Tree, California Wedding

Congratulations and best wishes to Corey and Amy.  They were married on June 5th, 2010 at the Sacred Sands Bed & Breakfast in Joshua Tree, California.  Amy is my soon to be sister in-law and I could not be more happy for her.  She threw a small, very intimate affair for 23 people.   The tables were styled by Amy down to the mismatched chairs and plates.  Amy loves everything retro and vintage, and everything from her vintage dress and 70s inspired plates contrasted wonderfully with the modern, adobe asthetic of the b&b and the beauty of the desert.  She even topped her 3 layered pink cake with the cake topper from her parents wedding 30 years ago.  I fell in love with Parisian macaroons at her wedding.  She gave them as favors in a sweet, small paper bag for guests to take.  So many lovely details came together to create her unique vision, and her mother, father, brother and aunt graciously toasted the very cool couple for making the epic event happen.            

Where in the world are Anthony and Natalie?

We are in Joshua Tree, California for Anthony's sister's wedding.  I have been doing a lot wedding planning while on the road.  In the past three weekends, we have traveled to Aspen, Montana, and California.  Planning a wedding from different locales makes the process much more interesting and fun.  By the way, the desert air is very exotic.  This wedding is going to be beautiful.  Ciao, ciao Natalie.

Avi & Curtis' Aspen Wedding

This past weekend Anthony and I attended our friends Avi and Curtis' Aspen nuptials.  They had a sweet ceremony at the base of the gondola, and their puppies, Oni and Mila were in the wedding party.  Avi looked stunning in a lace, strapless gown, and Curtis was dashing in his black suit and red tie.  Anthony and I have been discussing the merits of black suits vs. tuxes for his groomsmen.  I have been trying to sell him on having his guys wear black suits with coordinating ties and he has said he thinks it will look terrible; until....he saw Curtis' groomsmen in black suits - all different.  It looked great and to the untrained eye, you could not tell that they were two button vs. three unless you were really looking.  So, I believe Anthony is going to tell his friends to wear their best black suits and to get the same shirt and tie.  Finally, one more thing to check off of our decision making list.  Attire aside, the wedding was beautiful.  The reception was at the Little Nell Hotel and the food was amazing.  I had the braised beef short ribs and Anthony had the ravioli.  The dinner was finished with coffee and delightful cupcakes.  I was also thrilled because I got to see for the first time, in person, the Jewish Hora dance.  I thought it was so fun and want to do it at our wedding; however, both of us being raised Catholic, our families might find it strange.

Our next wedding is Anthony's sister's wedding in Joshua Tree, California the first weekend in June.  I hope I can at least fit in nine holes in Palm Springs.  

Congratulations to Avi and Curtis!  We wish you the best.