We are going to be STARS on our wedding day!

Yep, you read it right. We are going to be STARS on our wedding day. You ask, How? and I say...

Because Jasmine* is going to be our wedding photographer!!! Can I get a hollaa? Holllaaa!!!

You might be thinking "how did that happen?" because a couple of posts ago, I mentioned that she was booked for our date. Well, Chris and I searched and searched and searched for photographers that we both really liked.

Outcome: not so good.

He either liked them and I didn't. Or I liked them, and he didn't. So we went to lunch and had "a talk."

Everyone and their mom knows that those talks never end with a happily ever after. Fortunately for us, it did.

Outcome: Changing our date so Jasmine could be our photographer.

So now, our official date: November 19, 2010

Location: Viansa Winery and Marketplace in Sonoma

Our photographer is the one and only: Jasmine Star

Who I'm marrying: Christopher James Allen

Are we cool? Coolest people evvaaa!

Happy Friday!

To Her:

Against the wall sits a comfortable bear.
One that I gave you as a token of simplistic love.
Beyond the simplicity, there's so much more to share.
I want to give you all that's below and above;
In the heavens and earth, in the seas and skies.
In moments of laughter and frowns
My love -- solely yours -- with wings flies
High as the loneliness of the past drowns
And together we emerge hand in hand
Upside down, right side up
To be joined as one by a single sparkling band
To which overflows my cup
With all the love in the world -- my world -- for you...

The beauty of love

To You:

The second our toes hit the sand, the faster the sun seemed to set. Straight ahead, the sky was filled with hues of purples, pinks, and oranges. The waves were crashing, yet the further we looked the safer it seemed.

For a moment, I tried to take it all in. I sat in silence next to you and snapped a couple of photographs with an intention of preserving the moment. Because in that moment, I felt safe and untouched by the world all around me. At that moment, it was just us with the endless ocean, and the colors that reflected our love.

It was perfection in it's simplest form. A moment that I want to always have for the rest of our lives.

Love,

G

Willing to make my dreams come true...

I don't think I say it enough, but I absolutely adore my fiance.

After writing a post about J* being my dream wedding photographer, I asked Chris for the 500th time if he'd consider having J* as our photographer. He then responds with, "But what if she's booked?" So I said, "Well, we won't find out until we contact her. Could you please send her an email right now?" Then he looks at me and says, "I already have."

Unbeknownst to me, Chris contacted Jasmine to let her know we were interested in having her photograph our wedding. Unfortunately, she is already booked for November 5th, 2010 for a wedding up here in San Francisco. How ironic right? Not going to lie, I was sad. I refused to show my emotions to Chris, but I'm sure he knew. He told me later that emailed her back and asked her if she was available the end of October, or the second week of November. (He is willing to do anything for me. I am so lucky!) She emailed him this morning and said she was available November 14th, 2010 which is a Sunday. As much as I would love Jasmine to shoot our wedding, Chris and I are set for a Friday wedding.

But he isn't giving up. This morning, he replied back to J* and inquired about doing just an engagement session with her. If we had the chance to have our engagement photos done by J*, I would be just as happy.

But the coolest thing happened this morning. When I checked our blog, it said I had a comment notification. It came from the last person I ever expected to comment on my blog. The one and only, J*. (Chris gave her the link to the post) She had this to say:

"Ooooh, Gladys, this is the NICEST post ever!! Thanks for being so awesome and I know your wedding will be nothing short of fabulous!! :)" -j*

It definitely made my week. But really, I feel so blessed to have such a loving fiance. He wants to make all of my dreams come true. I hope he knows that I will do the same for him.

Happy Monday!

We're Engaged!

Chris: I had been planning on asking my girlfriend to marry me on our 1 yr anniversary -- July 25th. Unfortunately, as with all the best laid plans, something went wrong. The ring wasn't done yet. I had this wonderful elaborate plan to take her to all our favorite and sentimental places around the City. However, the logistics didn't come together as I had intended. Chief among them, the ring I was having designed in Texas was not done and the ring designer was MIA.

So, I'm not the best at keeping surprises a secret. I just love the celebration so much! You can imagine, how hard it was for me to keep my big surprise a secret for almost an entire week until the ring arrived. Once I had the ring, I brought Gladys to "our spot" overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. I had been watching/hoping the fog would dissipate all day. The last thing I wanted was to propose to her in thick, cold, wet fog. There was thick fog as we drove on to the bridge and I was rapidly thinking of alternative sites to take my soon-to-be-fiance. Then we broke free of the fog and "our spot" up on the hill was basked in brilliant sunlight.

From the over-look, Gladys was reading my note facing the bridge. I was standing behind her waiting for the moment to get on one knee. She was nearing the end of the note and I took the ring out and knelt on the ground. Gladys turned around and within the second she knew exactly what was going on. I told her she has "made me more happy than I have ever been and that I want to continue these wonderful moments with you until the end of time." However, she didn't hear any of that as she was laughing, cry, and all-around ecstatic. Still though, through all the rush of emotion she managed to say, "Yes!" and I slipped the ring on her finger and now the beginning of our life together is underway...