Invites are out!

This feels like the biggest accomplishment so far! With our designer brains combined, we were able to finish and happily agree on our invites!

Thanks to my printer, Gilson Graphics who endured my pain of putting them all together AND our very own Usherette, Jenn Maine, who ROCKED by helping me stuff and lick them...over a few glasses of wine of course :) So, if some of you are missing something...we may have your answer, folks.

Engagement Photos!

We are SO excited that our good friend, Paul Carlson, is our photographer for the wedding! We did a little road trip around Grand Rapids to some of our favorite spots. We captured some great shots in our new home, devouring some frozen yogurt, cruisin' with the top down and Reeds Lake, where we jumped the fence to the Marina to get some dock shots. One of the boat owners let us steal some shots in his vintage convertible! What a nice guy!

Haven't seen them? Check them out here! http://paulcarlsonstudio.com/blog/?p=938

My little treasures :)

So, what better does a crazy bride have to do on a Saturday night? Why, wash 120 jars and vases of course! We will be using these for the ceremony centerpieces, so if anyone has any little container with old vintage character they are willing to part ways with, please let us know! We are about half way to the amount we need.



Jars for the candy buffet. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the one that is temporarily holing our potatoes!

You are in for a treat :)

Brandon and I were able to drive to New Buffalo last night to taste test food for the wedding. Let me tell you...it was well worth the drive. Danielle is the owner of "Maison Cuisine" and proudly uses fresh organic vegetables and meats from local farmers. She even drives to Chicago the day of the wedding to pick up fresh baked breads from a local bakery! Two words: Pretzel Bun.

Some insider info: Danielle also makes everything fresh on site. Appetizers will include a cheese plate, fresh guacamole, a (to die for) mango salsa and homemade hummus.

This makes me SO hungry!

Will you be my bridesmaid?

To my beautiful ladies and a gent :)

My choice in bridesmaids (and one groomsmen) was simple. I often get the jaw-drop-dear-in-the-headlights look when asked how many bridesmaids I have. It quite entertaining, actually. The fact of the matter is, you have all been a huge part of my life and I can't imagine going through my wedding day without you.

Laura Bantle, Maid of Honor + Friend of the Bride

Abbie Crouse, Bridesmaid + Sister of the Bride


Alicia Crouse, Bridesmaid + Sister of the Bride

Amy Crouse, Bridesmaid + Sister of the Bride

Sarah McKay, Bridesmaid + Friend of the Bride

Dannelle Patterson, Bridesmaid + Friend of the Bride

Laura Sanders, Bridesmaid + Friend of the Bride

Sari Heinze, Bridesmaid + Friend of the Bride

Nate Labozetta, Maid of Awesome + Friend of the Bride

This and that.

When Brandon and I first started dating we started a blog. It's a little something him and I have that is a big part of our lives. Sometimes we send each other funny mesages, sometimes it's just a thought or a way to post pictures from things that we've done and ramble on about how much fun we had and even includes our first "fight". The name "Awesome and Bodacious" derived from that blog as we never wanted anyone to find it. The title is what our names would be if we were superheros, but it always makes me think of 80's barbie dolls for some reason:) That blog will always remain private, but as the wedding planning progresses, we have decided to share with you some posts on our details, thoughts, freak outs and fun times. It's a way for us to look back and remember every detail - the good and the bad - as long as we both shall live :)

So, we hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoy writing it. Cheers!