I am in total shock that my wedding is just about a month away - where did the time go? September was a total blur - starting with a last minute trip to Paris (I know, pretty amazing), followed closely by my bachelorette and Homecoming at Davidson. Then I had two fabulous showers in Brian’s hometown, and then a work trip to Chicago! And do you think I managed to get any wedding planning in during that time? No. I got back to my real life and had a melt down because of everything there is still left to do…

Well, fortunately I have amazing friends (one who drove down from Columbus, OH!) who helped me regain my sanity and excitement for all that is coming up.  We spent this past weekend getting the invitations ready to go out (they are amazing, even if they are a tidbit late going out…) and making plans for getting all the things left to do done.  I can’t believe it’s so close!

I have lots of upcoming projects and planning to tell you about, but before I dive into that I thought I would share some pictures from my adventures this past month. Enjoy!

First a few Paris ones…

{Read the rest of this entry…}

I have never regretted our decision to not do an engagement session.  I didn’t think it was necessary for us, and I never saw a photo shoot I felt like I couldn’t live without.

Until now…

As you know, we were engaged in Paris.  So when I came across this photo shoot on this blog that was found on this blog taken by this photographer.

–I fell in love–

These are so incredibly romantic!  I just can’t stand it-and we must go back to Paris ASAP to recreate this session!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

So we’re in Paris.  It’s amazing and romantic.  We were so cold, but I remember telling Vince that I didn’t mind because it just meant we had to cuddle the whole time we walked around.  When it was dark on our first night in Paris, Vince suggested we take a walk around the park where the Louvre is.  We rounded a corner- and there I saw the most beautiful lit up ferris wheel I had ever seen!  As soon as I saw it I knew why we were in Paris.

A few Christmases ago-we had gone to do a Christmas light drive through Lake Lanier.  At the end of the drive, there was a carnival with a ferris wheel.  While we were on it I mentioned to him that it would be so romantic to get engaged here.  With the lights and the time of year it just felt so romantic.  I had completely forgotten about this-until I saw the ferris wheel in Paris and it all came flooding back.

We got on the wheel (Vince had to do a little begging with the attendant because each booth held 8 people!) the guy allowed us to get on alone once Vince showed him the ring and told him his plan.  We got on, and while we were at the very top-he got down on his knee (rocking the booth enough to scare us both a little).

excuse my man hands-it’s a weird angle!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Here is how it happened…

Vince and I were packing to go to his dad’s house in Alabama to see his wife and him for Christmas.  I had had a few suspicions leading up to it, but my parents and Vince did such a great job convincing me, that I really thought we were going to his dad’s!  I was totally grumpy when we got in the car and I realized we were not taking the highway to the airport, but we were in fact taking the route to his dads.  About 30 minutes into our trip Vince told me to look around in the back seat for something he meant to bring to his Dad.  I was totally oblivious (and figured out later) that he was trying to keep me from looking at the road signs to see that we were almost to the airport!  When I finally realized we were pulling in to the airport, I was freaking out, and asking him what the heck was going on.  He told me the airline had lost his bag on his last flight and we had to pick it up.  At this point, obviously I didn’t believe him, but he wouldn’t tell me where we were going.  We checked our bags and throughout the entire process, he told everyone in the airport who had to check our boarding passes that I didn’t know where we were going, so please don’t say anything about our destination.  I was going CRAZY because I wanted to know so badly!

Finally we got to our gate and he told me I could guess where I thought we were going.  I had already seen our passports when he showed them at check-in, so I guessed the first two romantic places I could think of: Paris and Italy.  He just smiled and said, “we’re going to Paris!”

Here we are on the plane…I could hardly contain myself!

After an 8 hour flight, we arrived in Paris.  It was December so it was COLD - but I swear to you I didn’t feel it.  I couldn’t believe we were actually there!  The whole thing felt surreal.

As soon as we checked in to our hotel-we went straight to the spa to have massages that Vince had arranged for us.  It was lovely to relax after a long flight…especially since I was so nervous and excited!

We had a little nap and then walked around the city.

It was gorgeous.  The city was decorated for Christmas which was just beautiful.

Up next….the proposal…and you won’t BELIEVE where he did it!
(and no, it has nothing to do with the Eiffel tower!)