Wedding Centerpiece

Last year, while traveling in Del Mar, California (a suburb of San Diego), my co-worker/friend and I visited the shops in the art district. While in a particular shop, I got inspired. Dan and I weren't close to being engaged, but that doesn't stop a girl from dreaming a little does it? First, I was inspired by all the crowns and fleur de lises...and then - I saw IT - THE wedding centerpieces of my dreams! What could it be you ask?
I don't want to spoil the surprise for you...but here are some of the required ingredients:

• approximately 60+ wine bottles (requiring a pre-requisite of friends and family that enjoy wine!)
• one wine bottle cutter from Delphi Glass in Lansing, Michigan
• one "mouse" sander from Black & Decker (handheld)
• multiple sheets of sandpaper with different levels of coarseness
• one bottle of polishing compound
• two aluminum pie plates
• hot water
• cold water
• a torch, if necessary
• ear plugs
• 2 very patient parents and one somewhat crazy bride
• 2 free afternoons
• 48 candles

Here are some pictures to further pique your curiousity:

Curious to see the final product? Well, attend our wedding and reception and you'll get to SEE the rest of the story!  (Can you tell that we are a 4-H family? We still document step-by-step the phases of our product. Hopefully, y'all will award us with a purple ribbon for our creative excellence!)

Engagement pictures

Dan traveled to Ames on March 5-7. We took advantage of his time here by visiting the reception hall, meeting with the caterer, hanging out with family, getting initiated into the Catholic church, ordering tuxes, planning the ceremony, taking a couple's compatability quiz (we're still waiting to hear if we passed) AND taking engagement pictures!
 
*Whew!* You're exhausted just after reading that list? Imagine how we felt! We can't wait for the wedding weekend! (Yes, we are very excited for the weekend. However, after weekends like that, I *hope* that the wedding weekend isn't quite so exhausting. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but let a girl live in her dream world awhile, all right?)

Without further ado, here are pictures for your viewing pleasure!

I really like this picture...especially the guy in the BLUE coat and RED hat. Any photoshop experts out there that know how to erase this guy?

So, there's a little sample of our engagement pictures. My mother took all the photographs. If you're interested in having her capture your precious memories on film, please talk to her at the wedding. (end shameless plug)

Did you notice Dan's tie and sports coat? He requested formal engagement pictures where he would be in a coat and tie and I would be clad in a nice dress. That afternoon, he wanted to wear jeans - so I thought it was only fair that I wear jeans, too - and not walk around in the snow in a dress! It also worked well for our informal pictures because we didn't have to waste time on a major wardrobe change. This worked in our favor since we were on a bit of a time crunch. (see description of weekend above)
It also just so happened to start snowing quite hard when we went outside for pictures at the campanile. Now, we'll have some lovely "winter" shots to hang in our home and remind us what snow is like when next winter is spent in the desert!

Bridal Showers Bring May Flowers!

For my our faithful blog readers (which I think is limited to my Aunt Mary!) who keep checking for "wedding of the decade" updates (if you thought that was Prince William and Kate, you were wrong!), here are some pictures from bridal showers thrown in the last few weeks by our families.

On February 26, my Kremer aunts threw me a shower in Jesup. It was such a nice gathering of family. We had delicious appetizers and excellent cake. In true Kremer form, we drank a lot of coffee that afternoon!

My mom and I

Family!



Center-cake, center-flowers, center-frame



Trinity (my cousin's daughter) helped me open presents; my aunt Barbara recorded gifts; my grandma Ellen watched (and held babies)

On March 12, Dan's family held a shower for us in Michigan. His sister, Karen, and sister-in-law, Kim, hosted. It was a great time to re-connect with the Rileys, meet baby Lucy, and meet some of Dan's neighbors. I love meeting the people who've watched Dan grow up because they always tell me what a catch I'm getting! Too bad Dan is missing out on all of the showers thrown by my family & friends, so that they can tell him how lucky he is! ;-)

Opening the "only" gift for Dan! (Sure every gift is for "us" - but we all know that means me! ha!)

BOW-quet!



                  

Kathy (my mom), Karen (Dan's sister), Brenna (niece), Kim (Dan's sister-in-law), me, and Linda (Dan's mom)



Brenna, our flower girl, and me; she is VERY excited for her new dress!

On March 15, my Gramma Faye (Rohrig) and cousin Heather hosted a "wedding tea" for my parents and me. It was such a great time. I love tea parties, especially when they involve antique, mis-matched teacups and saucers. I felt like such a proper lady! We had a great luncheon and enjoyed each other's company very much.

Dad enjoying the wedding tea. "Quite right, Gov'nah!" (now you know where I get my flair for the dramatic!)

Gramma Faye, Heather and me

The dessert plate held a tiny sample of each dessert on their menu! Even for this dessert-lover, it was overwhelming!