starfish kate

Thanks- I sound like a spoiled brat, but I'm really not, I promise. I'm very lucky to have parents that want to do this for us. Now if I can just find a job, I won't need as much $$ from my parents.

I hate looking at photos of myself, nevermind a video but I can't tell you how many friends I have who have a wedding video and their kids watch it ALL THE TIME!! I will probably do a video just so my kids will have it.

OK Jen, you asked for it, you get the ENTIRE story! I guess I'll start here: For months Mike and I were discussing a DW in the Caribbean, St. John, USVI to be exact. Long story short, we have now decided against that, for a bunch of reasons. One of them being budget. For the past 4-5 months or so we have been planning on paying for our wedding entirely ourselves. My sister got married in October and had a beautiful (and expensive) wedding- that my parents mostly paid for. My dad's business is not doing well so my parents don't have the cash flow that they were counting on to help. So, they would not be able to help pay for our wedding. We were fine with this. I was a little disappointed because I'm one of "those" girls who's been planning my wedding my whole life and my parents have always said they would give me whatever I want. I have been very emotional about all of this because I couldn't seem to figure out what would work for us. I had dinner with my mom on Thursday (my dad conveniently decided he had something else to do) and she tells me that she has "emergency" money available to us for our wedding. I refused it and refused it, but she insisted and insisted so.... Bottom line is my parents want to give us a huge chunk of $$ toward the wedding and how could we ever thing that they wouldn't?? Mike is not happy with this because he is so practical and thinking about my parents' livelihood and my dad's business but they won't listen. I'm stuck in the middle because I want "my wedding" but I agree with Mike's rationality. If you know my parents though, they win. As Mike says, he has to put on his big boy pants and get over it, and accept my parent's gift. (ETA: I still don't have a job so $$ for the wedding will ease some stresses a bit.) At this point we have June 27th, 2009 held at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard on Cape Cod. We are going to visit (hopefully) next weekend. Here's a link: Harbor View Hotel & Resort Edgartown Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod I'm hoping to DIY my STD's and get them out before the end of the summer since it will be critical to book lodging way in advance. The Harbor View is not exactly affordable so we'll have to block rooms at other nearby inns. I have a feeling this will get tricky. Luckily I booked Robin DePaula months ago and she is free that weekend so there's one "check" off my list. I'm going to have to go look at dresses soon and I am totally not looking forward to that, but I've gotta do it, right? Our wedding party will be small- my 2 sisters as my maid and matron of honor, and Mike's best friend will be his best man. Mike's nephew will be the ring bearer and maybe his niece (she'll be 2) as the flower girl, but we're not sure. I've got tons of ideas collected to I'm sure I'll be looking for opinions over the next few months. Is this enough for now, NYJen?

I know, I know.... We finally made some decisions on Sunday so I'll post the current info today. Just give me a few!

Quote: Originally Posted by Sarah Nugget has arrived, and is a Nuggette! Gwendolyn Ann arrived at 1:53 am today, weighing in at 5 lbs. She is doing VERY well, especially for her gestational age. I haven't talked to Ann yet in person, but got an email from Paul stating that mom & baby are both doing well. Once I get an update again from Ann we'll know a little more about where they stand in terms of what they need and will keep you up to date. Thanks so much to everyone for your help during this time. It never ceases to amaze me the bond we all have on this forum... it's just the coolest thing... YAY!!! I'm so happy that everyone is doing well. Congrats Ann and Paul!

Christine- I just sent a donation but I forgot to put my name- lazz218 at yahoo.

Try eBay for the tools. I've gotten some great deals.

Is that a lobster on the ribbon? Where did you get it?? I love them!!

This is really weird- my name is Kate too and I've been considering a St. John wedding for months..... I was the only one! WELCOME!!!

Thanks Christine. It says her location is Charleston- not sure if that's too far for her to go, but I'll see! Thanks again.

Mike and I are headed to the Outer Banks, NC for a family vacation in August and I was thinking it might be a good time to have some engagement photos taken. Does any know or can you recommend a photographer there? Maybe some of you photogs have some amigos in the area?? Thanks!!

Thanks everyone!!

I'm not done yet, but I had to tell you what a MORON I am. I thought Robin's logo thingy on the second photo was a big tattoo on your back. I'm such an idiot.

Shelley- this sounds a bit fishy.... Is this really just a vacation, or is there something you want to tell us?? Have an awesome time- you deserve it!

Stephanie- everything looks great! I am so excited for you! AND you look just like your dad.

Quote: Originally Posted by roo66 congratulations kate your engagement story is so lovely.I am just as clumsy.where are you planning to get married? No idea..... It changes every 10 minutes. We hope to have a decision in the next couple of weeks.

Aw Heidi, they are BEAUTIFUL!!! Robin did an awesome job capturing your emotions.

I finally get to post mine!

Here are some pics- don't mind the fly-away hair and my FAT face! My ring! I'm in love!

Um, I missed this entire thread but Alyssa I'm so glad things are working out for you! Let me know if you need any help.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sherry Oh yeah, and the silly moment during the proposal, sadly that seems to be pretty normal. Apparently I just sat there with my mouth hanging open, and then I put the ring on before I even said 'yes'. At least, that's how my FI tells the story! I made sure that I said yes because I've heard so many stories about girls who get caught up and forget to answer the question. He got a firm, "of course, yes!!!!"

Quote: Originally Posted by NYJen Oh Kate, I LOVE your story. And I LOVE that he planned the proposal for the afternoon so you could go see your families afterwards and spend the rest of the day with them and you could all be in AWE together over what just happened. So sweet!!!! So has it all settled in yet? Have you started your STD's yet? Ha ha.... We have to actually decide on a location before I can start STD's, but I have been thinking about them. Now we're reconsidering having a destination wedding so I'm pretty much starting from scratch (surprise, surprise).

I was right!!!! All of my suspicions were correct! I'm engaged- wooo hooo!! It was on the beach down the Cape at around 11:00 this morning. We went from there to my parents' house, who were in on it, of course. I can't believe that he managed to surprise me even though I suspected all week. I even knocked the ring right out of his hand! A very typical "Kate" thing to do, I may add.... Anyway, it is a long story and I'll update this thread tomorrow with the whole story for anyone who's interested. I just wanted to make sure that I told you ASAP! Thanks for all of the support and BDW vibes!!!! Here's the update with the whole story (it's a long one): Added pics on page 8 My suspicions first started about a week ago when Mike mentioned that we don't have a calendar. I have a planner and he uses his Outlook calendar at work, but we don't have one for us at home. So I got one and hung it on the fridge with all of the upcoming important items, etc. When he looked at it he said, "let's go to the Cape next Sunday for pizza." We never plan that far ahead for day trips like this... The next thing was that I said I was going to go to my Dad's to get my oil changed. He owns a gas station/repair shop about 40 minutes away. Now that I'm not working, I have the time to go see him and I thought I would do that on Thursday. Mike sort of talked me out of it because he said that it wasn't worth the gas to drive all the way there. The same day, he had a dentist appt. and then a work function. I thought that the work thing was in the afternoon but it was in the evening. He was all weird about what he was going to do in between the dentist and the event, but I let it go and didn't ask questions. Turns out, he went from the dentist to Boston to the Jeweler's Building to pick up the ring, then to see my Dad (why he didn't want me going there to get my oil changed) and then he met my Mom at home after school- my sister was there too. I had dinner with my family on Friday night (Mike wasn't there) and my parents and my sister somehow managed to not let on. Saturday night was my Grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary party and my ENTIRE family was there and everyone who knew still managed to not let on. I even tried to trick Mike a couple of times and he was not falling for it! So Sunday morning Mike said that he was going to go get gas, get the car washed and get breakfast at Dunkin's while I was in the shower. This was a little weird because we usually just do this on the way, but whatever. He did all of this but what he really needed to do was get a cooler with champagne and glasses into the car without me knowing. We head to the Cape and it is a beautiful day. It's about an hour and a half ride to Falmouth from where we live in Worcester. Mike loves the Christmas Tree Shop so I thought for sure that would be our first stop, but he said, "let's go drive by the beach first." This should have been my first clue, but I didn't catch on. We drove by one of the places we are considering for our reception and stopped at the beach at the end of the road (Surf Drive beach, Jackie). It isn't the most beautiful beach on the Cape, but it was a beautiful day and there actually weren't that many people. We got out of the car and sat down on a small wall and just chit-chatted for a few minutes. Then Mike says, "so where are we gonna get married?" I said, "I don't know, I still have a lot of work to do on that." So he says, "when are we going to get married?" I said, "I don't know, that's not up to me!" And then he says, "yes, it is now" and gets down on one knee and I'm like "ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod" and THEN I try to put my hand up to his face to move his sunglasses and I knocked the ring right out of his hand onto the ground! It had a couple of scratches on the band but the diamonds are ok. He said lots of other nice things and that was it! I can't believe that I didn't catch on since I was so suspicious all week. We found someone to take our picture (coming soon) and then called our families. We didn't end up getting pizza or staying the rest of the day. We headed to my parents' house back home and had a cookout with both sets of my grandparents and my sisters and brother. That's my story! I hope it makes sense. I don't have a good picture of the ring yet, but it looks just like the one in my avatar. It was custom made and EXACTLY what I wanted!!

I'm back..... and I'm posting a new thread!!!!

For the record, he has no idea that I suspect anything so I'm not ruining it for him. I know better than to let him know if I have any sort of suspicion. I'm going into today not expecting anything, but it's hard since he's been doing weird things. I'll let you all know either way tonight or tomorrow morning.