Church requirements

Mark and I are getting married at Faith Lutheran Church in Oakville, MO.  My church has a long list of things you need to do in order to get married there.  First if one of you isn't a member of the church you have to attend the starting point class, which basically just informs you of the practicies and beliefs of the church.  It's 4 hours long our head pastor leads it and you get a free meal.  I was not looking forward to this class but it actually was much more interesting than I thought it would be.

The next requirement was to attend a marriage conference, it was a 2 day long event at the church where we watched a video and then had discussion time afterwards on what was introduced in the video. It was all based on the book of the bible "The Song of Solomon" I was shocked by how much there really is to learn about love from the song of solomon book.  I would recommend this study to anyone.  It really teaches you a lot about conflict resolution, intamacy between you and your spouse, how to communicate, and even courtship.  There were many things in this study I wish I would have known when I was younger and dating. If you ever get the chance to attend this conference I highly highly recommend it!

The last thing we have to do is meet with our mentor couple 4-5 times.  This is a couple who has been married for a while and want to help young couples in the church have a long, healthy, lasting relationship.  We will meet them at their house and make dinner together, relax and just talk.  The main marriage care director assigns you with a mentor couple based on your needs and their background.  We met our mentor couple at the conference and they are wonderful, fun, and I think we are going to get along really well!

We also have to attend at least 75% of services in the year leading up to your wedding.  Basically I am very pleased with the way church is handeling this and trying to make sure the marriages they perform there last.  I wasn't looking forward to any of this before but now I wouldn't give it up. I would recommend any of this to anyone looking to get married.

If any of you have questions about any of this let me know!

more planning

I am sure by the time September 24, 2011 comes around all 3 of my readers will be so sick of hearing about my wedding. I am going to apologize now for that because I am not going to stop posting about it!

In my last post I had a request to post the picture of the bridesmaids shirts. Here is a picture of one of my bridesmaids with her shirt and me wearing my "bride" shirt.
Tomorrow 3 of my bridesmaids and I are going to look at bridesmaids dresses, I think I know which one it is going to be but I am not positive yet so I am going to hole of on posting a picture of it until we are sure!

The reception hall is booked, and I am so exited about it! They have amazing food and the best car of all the reception halls around. The DJ is also hilarious and fun so I am excited to be working with him also!

I have my limo company narrowed down to a few, and I am meeting with a photgrapher/videographer next week. It's all coming together and I am excited. I was really stressing earlier this week about all of this because I had no clue what to be looking for and asking these people. I eventually just sat down and went through every known limo company and photographer in St. Louis and looked at their websites. I picked a few I liked based on their website, pictures, customer reviews, and not going to lie prices. Showed them to my mom she narrowed it down to a few and we are meeting with all of them. This is not an easy happy go lucky process it takes time and patience. So if you are going through this too don't let it get you down it can be done!

I'm working on another post about stuff we need to do in order to be married at my church. Be waiting for that!

bridesmaids

To ask my matron of honor and bridesmaids to be in my wedding I bought pink t-shirts and then got black with white polka dot iron on letters and made each a shirt with either matron of honor or bridesmaid on them. I then made homemade cards and wrote a special note to each inside and asking them to be in my wedding. Then I mailed them off. The last girl got hers today and they all said yes! I am so excited that's another thing done and now we can start looking at bridesmaids dresses! it's going to be so much fun!

In other wedding planning news, we have the church booked, we know which hall we want just need to sign the contract and such. I have my dress, and my appointment for alterations. Marks
mom is making the save the dates and they look amazing! She is also making our invites and I can't wait to get started on that. I haven't looked at florists or photographers yet, that'll happen. It's finally happening!!!

another giveaway

The lovely ladies at Go Grahm Go and Miche bags are giving away a Miche bag to one lucky reader! You need to go over to her website and check it out! These bags are freaking awesome and you will love it!

dresses

I'm going to try on wedding dresses on Saturday!! I am so freaking excited!! My mom, Marks mom, my brothers girlfriend, other brothers wife, and a bunch of my friends are going. I'm seriously counting down the hours now!!! EEEEEEEKKKKKK

Any advice on anything to do or try while there? What should I wear there? Any advice at all?

Date

We have a date set!!! September 24, 2011!! We have the church booked and thats it, but where we have a date and it is finally happening! I can't wait to start sharing all the planning info with you guys! It's going to be so much fun!! EHHHHHHHHH

Puppy

We saved this little sweetie from a group that wanted to use her to train fight Pitts! She is so loving and loves to cuddle! If we didn't have so many animals already we would keep her but we can't. We don't know how old she is or anything just that she deserves better! I don't know how to upload a picture to blogger from my phone so when I get home I will upload one. Please help us find this sweetheart a home!