SURPRISE Engagement party

Yes- I said SURPRISE!! I still can't believe that everyone was able to be in on this surprise and I have no idea that it was happening! My best friend and matron of honor called me early in the week to see if the future hubby and I wanted to have dinner on Saturday night. This was not out of the ordinary because her and her husband and me and my soon to be husband have very different work schedules so if we want to hang out- we have to plan ahead. We had plans to eat at Chilis and then go to the golfing range to see who had better golf skills (its def. not me!!) Our plan was to meet around 6pm, but Nick and I were out on the boat that day, and were running late getting home. I texted her around 5 to let her know that we would be runnng late (I had no idea that she and the rest of our family and friends were at my parents house already waiting on the surprise). Right before we were leaving the house to go eat, my dad calls frantic about a problem with his computer (this again was not out of the ordinary, because my dad is not the most computer savy person and that thing always seems to not work at the worst times) When we pulled up to my parents house (still having no idea what was about to happen) I ran to the door so I could hurry up and fix the computer and then leave (so i thought) Nick was actually cleaning all of the trash out of my car when he heard everyone scream surprise!! I let myself in the front door and there was so many people there to celebrate with us!! My 2 BEST FRIENDS had been helping my mom all week plan a fabulous party and my brother and sister in law even came in from Gainesville for the surprise. It was the best moment so far in the planning process!! I was in such shock that they were able to surprise us and that we have such great family and friends!! Here are a few photos from the party....

The HOSTEST With the MOSTEST!!- my wonderful MOM




Right when I walked in the door- I think I was looking back for Nick. I thought for sure he was in on this- but he had no idea either!!




Looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together!!

My brother and sister-in-law who came down from Gainesville to join in on the surprise!! I absolutely love them!!

What a great party this was!! It will go down in history as the First (and LAST) time anyone will be able to pull over a surprise on me!! I swore I knew everything that everyone was doing- especially in my family- I guess I was wrong!!
Thank you mom and dad for a great party! Thank you Adam and Kara for coming to town for our party! Thank you to my wonderful maid and matron of honor- you gals are fantastic and really helped my mom throw a great party! Thank you to Mrs. B for helping my mom plan and organize this party- and for your generous gift to us!! We love you all with all our hearts and can't wait for you to share this special day with us!!

Engagement Pictures

Finding a photographer was something that I thought was going to be really difficult, mainly because there is just so many to choose from. Actually though-this was one of the easiest decisions we have made so far! Thank you to the wonderful world of FACEBOOK for reconnecting me with an old friend. I had been looking at photography that Jennifer had been posting on her facebook page and was loving everything I saw. When Nick Finally proposed I contacted her to see if she would be interested in photographing our wedding. (Mind you- we hadn't even found a venue at this point) but I knew that I wanted Jennifer to photograph our wedding. I remembered her wonderful personality, her love for others, and her passion for anything she did, and knew that she was the one who would capture our wedding!! I talked to her several times before we actually met for engagement pictures and everytime I talked to her I got more and more excited to work with her. We met in St. Augustine and were able to bring our dog (she LOVES photographing Dogs, and while we are at it- She loves to photograph children and families and couples too) I could not be any more pleased with the way our e-pics turned out and would recommend her to anybody who was looking for a resonably priced photographer who presents EXCELLENT work!! Here is a sampling of our engagement pictures.

Here is a link to Jennifer's blog

http://jennhopkinsphoto.blogspot.com/2009/08/nick-and-meredith-engaged.html

and a link to her website:

http://jennhopkinsphotography.com/

Thank you Jenn for the great photos!! You are an awesome photographer and I look forward to having you at our wedding! and of course I can't wait to see the photos from our wedding day- I know they will be fabulous!!

wedding shows

My mom and I spent the following 3 weekends going to wedding shows! I love going to wedding shows because you can register to win free stuff, get free stuff there, and get great ideas for planning your own wedding! My mom enjoyed the wedding shows too- but mainly for the cake samples! Her and I both loved tasting the different kinds of cakes! Because of this bad habit we have created- I now have to lose a lot of weight before the big day! But here is a picture of my mom and I at one of the wedding shows. I love her!!

The Proposal

We got engaged on June 18th, 2009 (my SIL's birthday). I don't think he planned to propose on my SIL's birthday, I think it just happened that way. Honestly- I don't think he planned the proposal- I think that just happened too!! Here's the story-

I had a really bad day at work. Nothing tramatic happened, but just one of those days. I came right home from work, took a shower and put my PJ's on. I was really in a bad mood- even posted on Facebook "What a day- What a day!! Had someone pray to me in tounges, and another lady with a bad check! I think the bad weather brings all the freaks to the bank!!"

Well I guess the prayers in tounges worked, because Nick says he had been planning to propose all day! He was cooking dinner (which he always does) and I was laying on the couch being a grouch! When dinner was ready he asked me to come make my plate. Any other day this would have been ok, but I just wanted him to put it on the plate and bring it to me (See- I was being a grouch) When I went to the kitchen to make my plate he told me that he had something for me. He handed me a box of chocolate covered cherries- a candy that I loved- 8 years ago!! I wasn't real happy with him, because I thought he knew that I didn't really like those anymore, but I tried to accept it as him just being nice. I guess he saw the frustration in my eyes, and he told me he had one more surprise. He told me I had to turn around for this one, and when I looked back at him he was down on one knee, saying BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH (I wish I could remember what he said, but of course I can't) I was sooo shocked! I think at some point I eventually said yes!!

and the picture above is us taking a picture of ourselves, and remember early in this story, I told you that I had already taken a shower and put my PJ's on- so please ignore the "No-makeup look."

The Background...

Nick and I met in High School. I was a freshman and he was a Sophomore. Although it wasn't love at first sight, we got along great and he asked me to be his girlfriend the same day we met. (disclaimer- this picture was NOT from the day we met, but it was the oldest picture I could find on my computer.) Nick and I became boyfriend- girlfriend on March 14th, 2000, and on March 27th, 2010- we will become HUSBAND AND WIFE!!I am soo excited!