{image courtesy ...]]>

I’ve mentioned this before, lovely readers, but I take a lot of science courses.  Boatloads, in fact.  In my Anatomy & Physiology course, we’ve recently been learning about the inner workings of the heart (I know, I know, but please bear with me for a moment) and this afternoon in lab, we were measuring heart rates with an electrocardiogram.

{image courtesy of UCSF School of Medicine}

So picture this, if you will: yours truly lying on a yoga mat on the floor of my A&P lab, breathing quietly, hooked up to 5 electrodes that are measuring the electrical impulses of my heart.  All of a sudden, I had a realization.  A big one.  One that was apparently evident on my ECG — causing my professor to make jokes about needing a defibrillator in class.

So my realization: we’re 190 days out. T-minus 190 days until marriage.  Until he’s a husband and I’m a wife and we smooch and then there are fireworks and rainbows and maybe even a unicorn or two.  But I digress…

{image courtesy of Ryan JW Lynch}

When Dave and I got engaged, we picked a date that was exactly 702 days away.  Yes, 702 days.  Longest engagement ever (or so it’s seemed until now) but we had our reasons for doing so.  We wanted a wedding in the summer, as this would be most convenient for many of our guests, and choosing a date in 2011 made much more sense financially.

And now it’s 2011 and I’m having a heart attack.** Or an arrhythmia, at least.

**May I say that I am incredibly, over the moon excited to get married, whether or not rainbows or unicorns show up.  How could I not be, knowing that my best friend on earth will be standing at the other end of the aisle? :)

{image courtesy of Author’s Personal Collection; please excuse the bartender in the background… but go Phils!}

I know that 190 days might not seem like a short amount of time to many people, but to us, it is.  Lying on the floor of my lab today and realizing that this incredible day is really going to happen (and soon!) — it was a moment I won’t ever forget.  Also, I should probably start that whole pre-wedding working out thing, especially since my amazing, beautiful wedding gown is a bit on the snug side (read: I might have to break a hip in order to get into it).  That’s a story for another day though.

Has anyone else experienced the “wow, this day that we’ve been planning is actually real” feeling?  Where/ when/ how far in advance did it hit you?Details, please. :)

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Along with The Sweetest Occasion, Elizabeth Anne Designs is proud to host the Inspired Creations ...]]> It’s time for round 2 of the Inspired Creations Contest!  If you’ve been around EAD for a while, you might remember all of the fabulousness of our last Inspired Creations Contest.  If you’re new, well, hold onto your hats because it’s a special kind of awesome.

Along with The Sweetest Occasion, Elizabeth Anne Designs is proud to host the Inspired Creations Contest #2: Glitter and Glam! As we did last time, we are challenging wedding vendors to team up to produce a unique wedding concept, with a budget under $500.   But this time, since glitz and glam is going to be all the rage this year, we’re asking you to include a bit of sparkle in your idea!  Sequins, glitter, tinsel, beads, metallics - we want to see how all of you talented event pros incorporate this trend in fresh and unique ways.  We’re positive these concepts will be nothing short of brilliant.

For complete contest rules and requirements, visit the Inspired Creations Contest homepage.   Glitter/sparkle does not have to steal center stage in your design, but must be incorporated in a fun and unique way, however large or small. Feel free to interpret the challenge however you’d like!  Remember, wedding vendors of all experience levels are invited to participate, so bust out your glitter and get cracking.  Deadline for submissions is April 1st.  We can’t wait to see what you dream up!

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Left to right: Jackie Weppner of Merci New York, Janie Medley of The Bride’s Café, Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride, Courtney Spencer of Merriment Events, Colin ...]]> I hope you guys have a fabulous weekend!  I’m spending the weekend in NYC after being lucky enough to attend a fabulous party for The B-List bloggers hosted by the one and only Colin Cowie.

Left to right: Jackie Weppner of Merci New York, Janie Medley of The Bride’s Café, Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride, Courtney Spencer of Merriment Events, Colin Cowie, Christy Weber of Junebug Weddings, myself, Anne Chertoff of From “I Will” to “I Do”, mixologist Yusef Austin and Amy Atlas of Amy Atlas Events

We enjoyed amazing appetizers and desserts, as well as fabulous cocktails by mixologist Yusef Austin (@eliteelixirs) while we mixed and mingled with Colin, his business partner and some of his favorite wedding service providers, including DJ Donna D’Cruz (@rasaliving).  And, Colin gave us some tidbits about upcoming projects and let us know about his new wedding newsletter (you can sign up right here!).

Colin, thank you so much for hosting us, and for giving us your insight into the industry!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, I will be doing some shopping and sightseeing in the city and enjoying the warm (yes, WARM – compared to Chicago at least!) weather as well as celebrating my 12th wedding anniversary (I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since our vow renewal.  Sheesh, time flies.).  See you on Monday!

xoxo,
Ami

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A quick reminder before I get into the weekly roundup: MONDAY is the postmark deadline for the holiday swap and DIY gift contest!

Speaking ...]]> Whew – it’s been a busy week around here ya’ll! I’m getting ready to unveil a fun new feature on EAD soon, I can’t wait to show you and I think you are going to LOVE it.

A quick reminder before I get into the weekly roundup: MONDAY is the postmark deadline for the holiday swap and DIY gift contest!

Speaking of new, fun things, the first Inspired Creations newsletter came out this week! Here is a little video of the shoot that Sara Gray put together for the newsletter. Check out the gorgeous tabletop she created!

To get awesome inspiration like this tabletop direct to your inbox, sign up for the Inspired Creations newsletter in the sidebar. :)

Now, on to some fabulousness from the blog world:

• A wedding full of color, right down to the chalkboard menu
• Love everything about this! Poppies and Orange
• Milk and cookies
• An elegant table runner involving crayons. Really.
• This bride rocks my world.

And some things you might have missed on EAD this week:

• Leah shows us how to create manzanita branch centerpieces
• Wedding holiday cards
• Jana’s future brother-in-law gets married!
• Erin hunts for videographers in DC
• A DIY honeymoon?
• A picture is worth a thousand words

Have a wonderful weekend!
Ami

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A few notes on the swap. Cyd and I have been ...]]> Hi everyone and happy Friday! I hope you had a lovely week and are looking forward to the weekend! Lots going on around here lately, I’m looking forward to having some time to rest and decompress, and to make my gift for the Inspired Creations holiday swap!

A few notes on the swap. Cyd and I have been getting lots of questions roll in, so we thought we’d answer them for everyone today, and extend the deadline for entry until next Monday, NOVEMBER 15th.

1) Who can enter?

Anyone can submit in a gift for the contest and gift exchange!  Everyone who mails in a gift will receive a gift in return, and the contest is open to readers, bloggers, and vendors – everyone is welcome!  The best gift, as voted on by everyone, will receive a drool-worthy list of prizes:

2) Tell me more about the process.  Do you need professional pictures?

When we receive your gift in the mail, we will be taking photos of your final project for the blog.  But we do need your personal images of the gift creation in process, so please email us all of the details of your submission, including photos that are at least 650 pixels in width.  All of the details on what you need to mail in and email in are right here.

3) Is this open to international entries?

Absolutely!

4) Does it have to be a “holiday” gift?  A “wedding” gift?

Nope!  Any kind of gift idea is welcome.  We can’t wait to share ALL of your amazing gift ideas on EAD Weddings, The Sweetest Occasion, and EAD Living.

Please comment or email {contest at elizabeth anne designs dot com} with any questions you have, and again, we are extending the deadline for postmarking your entry to Monday, November 15th.

Also coming up really soon is the Inspired Creations newsletter.  I have a little sneak peek for you of the loveliness that is in the debut issue – it’s so pretty, you will LOVE it!

{Sara Gray Photography}

Sign up for the newsletter (the form is in the right sidebar – hop on over here if you are in a reader!) and you will see the first newsletter come your way in less than week!

And speaking of the newsletter, congrats to Liz for winning the gorgeous earrings from The Beautiful Garden Boutique!

Last but not least, here’s what is going on in blog-land:

• Congrats to Juli and Nole for the launch of the new United with Love blog!  If you are planning a DC wedding, you’ll want to be sure to add this one to your reader.
• Having your wedding reception on the edge of the ocean’s waves may not be for everyone, but it sure is stunning!
• A James Bond birthday
• I’m totally in love with the milk glass and wood tables in Jordan and Nick’s wedding
• A wedding of threes

And what you might have missed this week on EAD:

• It was easy for Meredith to “say yes to the dress“
• You know I can’t resist a cute puppy
• And the winner is…
• An alternative to the traditional bouquet
• Jillian’s makeup trial turns into a day at the circus (and not in a good way)

Until Monday, ya’ll!  Have a lovely weekend!

*Sara Gray Photography and The Beautiful Garden Boutique are two of EAD’s fabulous sponsors.  For information on EAD’s editorial policies, click here.

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We have one more amazing prize coming your way for one lucky Inspired Creations newsletter subscriber, gorgeous earrings from The Beautiful Garden Boutique! For your chance to win, just subscribe to the upcoming Inspired Creations newsletter – you can ...]]> Congrats to Virginia for winning the 3rd Inspired Creations newsletter prize, a custom calligraphy address stamp from The Left Handed Calligrapher!

We have one more amazing prize coming your way for one lucky Inspired Creations newsletter subscriber, gorgeous earrings from The Beautiful Garden Boutique! For your chance to win, just subscribe to the upcoming Inspired Creations newsletter – you can subscribe using the form over in the sidebar. :)

And don’t forget you’ve got until November 8th to enter the Inspired Creations Contest and Holiday Gift Exchange!  All of the details are right here.  And here are a few other contests that you might be interested in:

• Foosie Design and Sara Gray Photography are teaming up to give one lucky couple a fun engagement session and a set of gorgeous earth-friendly save the dates featuring those photos.  You can find all of the info here.
• Laura Ivanova is giving away FREE wedding photography to one couple getting married in 2011.  Check out her blog for all of the details!
• An amazing group of wedding vendors in Central Florida has partnered up to give away a wedding to a couple who has been directly affected by cancer.  Visit this link for details.

And here’s what you might have missed this week on EAD:

• Teresa and Kim chose their wedding venues
• Erin is licensed to wed!
• A farmers market engagement session in Dallas
• “Aunt Teresa, we want to wear PINK!“
• Oregon vineyard wedding
• Airstream camper… check.

I hope you have an awesome weekend and that’s warmer where you are than it is here in Chicago!

xoxo,
Ami

*The Left Handed Calligrapher, Sara Gray Photography, and The Beautiful Garden Boutique are some of EAD’s fabulous sponsors.  For information on EAD’s editorial policy, click here.

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