Words to live by...

Paid in Full {For the most part}

Our wedding is paid.

Pagado.

Paye.

支払われます.

Pagato.

You get the picture, right? The wedding is P-A-I-D off!

Yesterday we paid off our florist/coordinator

Today our venue

Last month our photographer

Our DJ

Our Bartender

Our Videographer

Our rehearsal dinner venue

Now...we still owe on elements of the wedding but NONE of them are vendors! :)

I'm so excited I can't sit still! To think we went from freaking out about costs to being UNDER $400 left

(in rentals) is beyond a blessing.

Just had to share!

*Cue the Happy Dancing*

CIAO

Ebonee Monique

1 Month Countdown...

Nope. It does NOT seems real that in 1 month exactly, I will be marrying my best-friend.

Yes. 1 {freaking} month.

Now I guess I should be following the sign above and freaking out but...honestly...I'm calm as all get-out. Why? I'm guessing it's because, well, I just don't feel like stressing out. I've done all the planning to the best of my ability and I think everything will fall in to place. Wait...don't think that I'm *done* planning or doing things, I'm just not AS on edge now. My mom & I have agreed that I need to get everything done by the end of February so I have nothing {at all} to do the week of the wedding; I like that.

So since I have 1 month until the big day here are my To-Do's left!

1. Work on seating chart

2. Finalize programs

3. Finish DIY sand ceremony frame

4. Clean up ceremony script

5. Prepare favor bags

6. Figure out grooms cake

7. Schedule Hair appointment

8. Order extensions (!)

9. Print seating signs (Mr. & Mrs.)

10. Order 5 Blue mason jars (!)

11. Re-string mason jars

12. Wrap bridal party/flower girls/hostess/parents gifts

13. Give music list to DJ/have final walk-thru with DJ

14. Order sparklers (maybe?)

15. Have 2nd dress fitting

16. Order get-away vehicle

17. Order 2nd b-pic book

18. Wrap Grooms gift

19. Type up vows

20. Do "I Do" vow cards

21. GET MARRIED!!!!

Time has flown like no body's business and while I try to stay calm, amidst all these minor {and not so minor} stresses, I'm remembering to breathe in & breathe out! :)

CIAO

Ebonee Monique

Bag Lady...

When I went home for lunch there was a {not so} mysterious package lurking on my door step (do you like how I set that up? Yeah, I've got skiiilllls. Lol!). I {not so} gently tore it open & was soooooo geeked when I saw it was my bridal party personalized bags.

First...let me rewind...I had planned on DIY the bags myself and had even completed them; but when I went to wash the bags (as another bride told me I should) the bags were ruined.

Yeah...seriously...ruined. I stared at the bags for about 30 minutes trying to figure how I could make the shredded, unread-able, smeared ink look work with my gals.

Nah, I knew that was a no-go.

Was I mad? Sure. Upset? You bet {I was on the brink of tears after working my butt off on the O.G. bags}. But the next day I realized I either needed to re-DIY the bags or find someone who could do {affordably} do them for me. Keeping in mind that I have 7 girls in my party and a teeeny-tiny budget (in comparison to most) I knew finding something decent and affordable would be a task. But...guess what? I found someone! {squeal}

Monogrammed Bags 'N More

is an eBay seller that lets you pick your own colors, font and style aaaannnnd she's inexpensive as all get out. I definitely recommend her if you're in the market for inexpensive {yet chic} bags for your girls.

Here is one bag {all of the girls' bags are different}:

And know what's cool? They're REALLY sturdy (something my cheap O.G. bags weren't) and very roomy. For all 7 bags I paid UNDER $50.00 (incl. shipping)!

After pouring my blood {not really}, sweat {eh...not so much} and tears {ding! That's true} into the gifts for the girls, I hope they like/appreciate them! :)

Visit Monogrammed Bags 'N More store to check out her awesome bags!

CIAO

Ebonee Monique

Everybody loves honeymoon shopping {HUH}!

Yeah...that {HUH} didn't really translate when I went to type it. Believe me...I was singing the song loudly and then {womp, womp} it didn't have the BAM! effect I wanted! :/

So with the wedding about a month out (on Friday it will officially be 28 days until the big day! Eek!) I've started getting all of my honeymoon attire together.

*SIGH* I love honeymoon shopping. Seriously, I do.

(*As a reminder...we will be spending 6 days in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in a Villa {with a Butler, at that} and I cannnnnoooot wait!)

Last week I purchased 4 summer maxi dresses, 1 baby doll short dress and 1 semi-dressy dress from Ross for a grand total of....{drum-roll} $70.00 Yeah, I rock.

Take a look (of course, mine are in different colors):

And I HAD to have some comfortable flat sandals.

(Ebay)

I will probably only take 2-3 pairs of flat sandals, 1 pair of tennis shoes and 1 all-purpose heel.

And I couldn't go on my honeymoon without some *banging* swimsuits, right? And even though I'm curvy-licious, I don't think I should be confined to swimsuits that were designed to HIDE and NOT flatter me.

So here are my swimsuits I purchased this week:

Avenue

Old Navy

Old Navy

And the swimsuit that stole my heart...and my breath...and will steal my $$ on Friday.

Monifc

I have so much lingerie from home & the bridal shower...that I may buy a few pieces but I'm not dropping big dough on anything. :)

I'm VERY pleased with my purchases and the deals I've found! I can't wait to wear all my outfits on the honeymoon! When {or If} I have a moment I'll take a picture of myself in everything!

CIAO

Ebonee Monique

Rehearsal Dress: PURCHASED!!!

After looking high & low...I've finally purchased my wedding rehearsal dress!

Yay me!

I wish the model would stand up straight but...nevermind...it's gorgeous & it was on clearance!

Can anyone say $40 miracle?

SCORE!

CIAO

Ebonee Monique

Drink {In Style}!

You know how excited I get when I *finally* purchase something I've had my eye on...yep! One of those days! :)

As you know I am having an outdoor wedding. In Florida. Yeah, bring on the thirst.

Because of this {among other reasons} I decided to serve our guests lemonade & iced tea during the pre-ceremony hoopla. I will set up a table where cups, the drink dispensers with the lemonade & iced tea and probably some plain napkins.

Up until a few weeks ago a former bride had promised me her Pottery Barn acrylic dispensers; however, that fell through and I quickly scrambled to find some replacement dispensers!

::Enter Bed Bath & Beyond::

Using a 20% coupon and gift cards, I was able to get a dispenser that's normally

$32 (w/tax) a piece down to a mere $10.00 a piece. Now that's what I call savings!

So in all...I spent $20.00 on TWO beautiful dispensers! I say when God removes someone/something out of the picture, he gives you something 10 times better! :)

Now, instead of borrowing someone else's dispenser, I have my OWN!

Here are pictures of the dispenser!

And in the store...

I will make a cute sign to go around each to let people know what type of drink it is {as if they couldn't tell by looking- but still....details, details, details}!

I *love* them dearly and can't wait to use them for the wedding & beyond!

CIAO

Ebonee Monique