when one of your oldest friends is getting married

you get dressed up in toilet paper and don't care :)

Amanda and I have been friends since Kindergarten...we used to roller skate in her basement, and we stayed friends through middle and high school...in college we would always drive between Virginia and South Carolina to visit and during every break we'd meet back up in New Jersey to have Sex & the City marathons, dinners drinks...days in the city...and after all of that, we ended up living about an hour apart. 

so of course I was thrilled to learn her and Bob were getting married after 10 years together...and was obviously honored to don a fabulous toilet paper wedding dress at her shower today.

 great friends are hard to find...so keep the ones that are important!!  love you Pan!!  Can't wait for the wedding in June!

North Carolina X3

so this is apparently the year where I go to North Carolina.  a LOT.


for the third time in 4 months I drove down to North Carolina- this time to Charlotte- for my college room mate Kate's wedding...


I guess as you get older driving in the car for multiple hours gets less and less fun...well this drive felt like an eternity...but I was really excited to see everyone, so that counteracted it a bit

 

Friday night we got to see everyone after the rehearsal dinner at a fun restaurant in downtown Charlotte...which was actually in a movie theater!  and as I usually do...I traded shoes with the bride...gave her my flats and took her heels...seriously, am I a great friend, or what?  ;)

Saturday morning I ventured out around my hotel- which was really nice by the way- and found a Target to get some snacks, and picked up lunch at Zaxby's, which is one of B's favorite "in the south only" restaurants...and got ready for the wedding

the reception was at the Mint Museum, also downtown...with an amazing view of the city!

and check out the adorable cake bites!  I had a few of the flavors...okay, I had all of them...maybe more then once...but they were so cute and tiny!  I love this idea so much more then a big cake!  less waste!

thank goodness for my GPS on my phone...I used it more this weekend then anything else!


the only thing I did not enjoy, was my 3am alarm I set to get up on the road and home before the Raven's game on Sunday...and then I got to have lunch with my brother :D


another weekend, flew by...hope it was a good one kiddoes!

Showers of Happiness

 it is always a little strange when someone you've known almost your whole life has a big milestone, and this weekend was no different...my little Dana, my across the street neighbor, had her bridal shower...she is getting married in less than one month!  I can not believe how fast it has gotten here, and even though I was still very under the weather, I could not contain my excitement for how happy she looks...she has a lot to look forward to over the next four weeks and I can not wait to celebrate the big day with her on May 19th! 

 

here I am with my other mom :)  and my little sis...I love my brother tons, but having a surrogate sister across the street was definitely a plus!

What I'm Working on - Alison's Bridal Party

One of my good friends from Virginia Tech, Alison, asked me to design some jewelry for her bridesmaids, and as always I was honored to be a part of another one of my Hokie girls special days!  She liked the idea of all her girls having a personal touch to their necklace that matched their personalities, so we did a trio of pretty blue Swarovski crystal stones and a sterling silver charm that would be different for each of her bridesmaids.

I love the dresses she chose- they are so colorful, and even though it's such a cliche saying...you can definitely re-wear these!!

I can't wait to see how everything turns out for her beautiful outdoor wedding!

What I'm Working on - Jen's Bridal Party

more friends, more weddings, and more bridal party jewelry!!

Jen and Steve are getting married in October, and she's asked me to design the jewelry her girls will wear that day!  we had a brainstorming session last week, and the decision is crystals and pearls- something neutral that can easily be worn again!  smart girl!!  so I'm in the process of putting together earrings and bracelets for her five bridesmaids and one flower girl :)

Mr & Mrs Russell :)

this weekend I attended the fabulous wedding of Adam & Krystal...many happy years for these two!!

Wedding Marathon 4 of 4...Brandyce & Pete in NJ

we made it! the last of four weekends in a row of wedding fun! My second run as Maid of Honor this year for Brandyce & Pete's wedding

Wedding Marathon 3 of 4...Tysons Corner

the weekend of October 10th we stayed semi-local for one of my favorite Hokie's weddings! Artemis and Seth had a beautiful wedding at Maggiano's in Tysons Corner, VA

Wedding Marathon 2 of 4...Dallas here we come!

let the month-long wedding extravaganza continue! we headed to Dallas next for Brett's best man debut at Paul and Rachel's wedding!





























Congratulations Mr & Mrs Thienprayoon!

oh wait..I actually make jewelry still...

yes, I know, this blog has definitely veered away from the jewelry and design that it was meant for...but with the busy year that I've had, I have had less time to make things let alone photograph, edit and post them. But I'm determined to get back to that very soon...with the holidays approaching, my Etsy shop needs some TLC!

I did finish two orders for wedding parties...for Rachel and Artemis!


gold circles and birds for Rachel's wedding!














crystals and stardust beads for Artemis' bridesmaids! (picture coming soon!)

a wedding...Boston style

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Simonini :) Kristin and Jon got married this weekend in Boston at the Museum of Science...one of the nicest views I've ever seen!



























We also met the newest addition to this side of the family...little Caden...so another congrats goes out to Laurel & Michael!

Bachlorette Party...80's style!

the last official event for my Maid of Honor year...Brandyce's bachlorette party!

fishbowls and 80's music at the Breakfast Club was the perfect way to celebrate the end of single-dom!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Feerst!!

Got to share in another special occasion this weekend, when Rob & Andrea tied the knot!











Congratulations to the newlyweds!! And they are off to San Antonio, so visit lots!!

SURPRISE!!

another shower has come and gone...the last one I have to plan this year! It was a lot of fun, and Brandyce was pretty surprised...good food, fun games, and a TON of presents! And I finally got to meet the other girls in the bridal party...it's going to be another fun group :)
















getting ready to play the newlywed game!















the mountain of presents















the bride and her bridal party :)

bestest friends get married :)

probably one of the most anticipated weddings of the year for me...and my first stint as Maid of Honor...Bonnie and Andy got married on Saturday :)


















it really was a beautiful day, we got pictures on the beach, the newlyweds arrived on a boat, and we were up till 3am celebrating...to two of my very best friends...congratulations :)

Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Holmgren :)

Friday night we celebrated Kait & Wes' wedding...it was a ton of fun, the bride looked beautiful, and I got to see the old VT roomies and some of my other favorite Hokies :)

practice makes perfect

Thursday was the day...that marks the start of one of the busiest weekends of my life...but also one of the most memorable :) we had Bonnie & Andy's rehearsal dinner, first at the church, and then dinner back at my parents house...Alfonso's catering, funny stories, a few happy tears and lovely gifts from the bride and groom...now we just need it to be Saturday!