Spooky Spooky!

What's that? You wanted to see a throwback Halloween picture of the SE's? Here you have it. Ron Burgundy and the skanky ref circa Halloween 2006. Loves it.

I hope you all have a safe and fun weekend!

Last Day

Hello readers! Today's going to be a little busy and I don't really have time for a post, but I will leave you with a gorgeous picture of the War Memorial Courtyard. It's my last day at work. I took a temporary job with my company for the past three months, and today is the end of my placement. Next week I'll begin applying for "permanent" jobs within the department. There are some openings in admin positions, so it's looking positive!

Please lift up many thoughts and prayers for Mr. SE and I during these next couple weeks. It's a little bit stressful, and having a paycheck is kind of important right now.

Color Inspiration

I'm obsessed with our color palette. I can't get enough of every linen or paper that falls within our colors. We're planning on going the DIY route for our invitations, with a little professional help in the design department. More on that later, though. I've been experimenting with different ideas for envelopes, cardstock, etc. The Envelopments line has really caught my eye. No, we're not going the Pocketfold route- but I am in love with their envelopes. I love their rich hues, and huge selection of colors! Envelopments doesn't sell directly from their website, but there are several online retailers that do. Text Style Designs is a great resource for the envelopes, and while they may not have the best prices, I'm incredibly entertained by their color palette tool. You can mix and match different paper colors & textures to get a visual conception of your invite suite. Here's what I came up with.
There will be some white (for the invite itself). But these colors are so much more fun to play with!

Pretty as a Peacock

Love this place setting- it's great inspiration for our reception tables. Granted, the table linens will be royal (pintuck obviously) instead of teal, and the charger gold instead of green. But you get the idea. I'm planning on folding our napkins around menu cards, and tucking a little peacock feather in each. I think it'll lend a totally glamorous look to the table, and definitely play off the peacock toned linens w/white and ivory floral arrangements.

*Side note: I lost a follower. Please stay! I promise to be more interesting*

Oh My Gawd- No She Did Not.

Mr. SE and I were in a wedding this weekend. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that a female guest literally wore this dress. Except the top half was hot pink. I can't even think of anything else to say.
*I forgot to say this earlier, but I think it's important to point out that this wedding was held in a church*

My Starting Lineup: Part II

In my last post I wrote about how I met each bridesmaid, and how special they all are to me. Today I'll show you how I asked them to be a part of our very special day.

Being a bridesmaid is an important (and expensive!) undertaking. I wanted to ask these girls in a way that was special, and indicative of the wedding that they'll be participating in. Originally, I had lots of crafty and cute ideas- thanks to sites like Weddingbee. Turns out I still suck at arts & crafts, just like when I was kicked out of art class at Michael's in elementary school. It's still a sensitive topic. Nonetheless, I wanted to do something to show these ladies how much I cared about them- and how honored we'd be if they would accept to being in our wedding party.

All pictures are credited to Mr. SE. As you can see, I like to have my crafty supplies spread out so I can see them all in their beautiful glory of craftiness.

The outside of each card displayed each bridesmaid's name in my favorite font of all time- Monterey (or Feel Script if you want to pay $99). I used scrapbooking paper in shades of blue and green to make envelope liners to spruce up the plain white envelopes. Upon opening the card, the message is plain and clear. It read "Will you be my maid of honor/matron of honor/bridesmaid?". Below the main question, I gave each girl some facts about the big day. I listed the date and location, and hinted to the required attire. I use the word required loosely because the girls are pretty much choosing their own look. The attire blurb reads "Blue cocktail dresses in a style that makes you feel pretty (designer not yet chosen). And yes, you can pick your own gold shoes!" Having been a bridesmaid twice before, I appreciate being able to choose my shoes, accessories, or dress style.Here they are, ready to be mailed!
You can see the different envelope liners better in this picture. All girls graciously accepted, and I couldn't be happier with how the "bridesmaid proposals" worked out. How did you ask your bridesmaids? Did you get ideas from other blogs, or did you make something up on your own?

Next time I'll share the look that my beautiful bridesmaids will be sporting on August 14th!

Way To Go Elon

My Starting Lineup: Part I

I'd like to tell you about my side of the bridal party. I'm honored to have 6 beautiful ladies who will be standing with me on our wedding day. They're from different parts of my life, with the majority being from Elon, but I think they're going to get along like best friends.

While I'm on this topic, I just want to point out how truly lucky I feel to have these women accept being a part of our wedding. There was a point in my life where I literally felt like I had no female friends. My sophomore year at Elon, I quit my sorority and spent the majority of my sophomore and junior year dealing with the repercussions of such a move. After saying so many times "how could it be any worse on the outside?", I soon realized that by being at a school of 5,000 things definitely were worse on the outside.

So I'm not someone who takes friendships lightly. I'm incredibly loyal, and would stand up for my friends until the end. I've always preferred to have 3 super close girlfriends, versus tons of acquaintances that'll just talk behind your back when you walk away. Some prefer the later, different strokes for different folks. All of this to say, I spent the greater part of college wondering if I would ever have any close friends, and if I could possibly let anyone get close to me again.

These girls stepped in and made me realize that true, honest friendships do exist. I'm forever thankful for them being a part of our life, and I can't imagine getting married without all of them being there. Without further rambling from me, here's the ladies...

Matron of Honor: Kate
We met at Elon. She's actually my big in our business fraternity (yeah, I know we're cool). Kate got married earlier this summer in Baltimore. She's an amazing MOH and she loves weddings just as much as I do! I'm lucky that she's just a car ride away.

Maid of Honor: Dani
Dani and I met while studying abroad in Paris. We were roommates last year, and it was my best year in college. She's such an honest, loyal friend. She's super organized and I can trust her to keep all the bridesmaids on track. She's finishing up her senior year, before applying to dental school. And just because A) Dani hates red-eye, B) these pictures were too indicative of our relationship to pick one, and C) she reads my blog...I had to post these. I know you heart the top one, Dani! Good times :)

Bridesmaid: Shannon
My future sister-in-law! Being an only child, I'm super duper excited to finally have a sister. Shanon is pretty much the best SIL I could ask for. She's honest, up front, and incredibly caring. She married Mr. SE's brother in 2007, and I'm sure she'll be able to let me know if I'm focusing too much on unimportant wedding deliciousness. Chivari chairs anyone?

Bridesmaid: Nicole
We were assigned dorms on the same hall freshman year. Nicole has been there from the very beginning. We have so much in common (left-handed only children), and she was a really important part of my time at Elon. She's studying graphic design, so I can't wait to get her input on our design elements. Being a former pageant queen, I know she'll make sure all the bridesmaids have perfect hair and makeup for the big day!
Bridesmaid: Michelle
I've known Michelle the longest out of any of the bridesmaids. We met our freshman year in high school, while trying out for cheerleading. She gave me a pair of shorts when mine split down the butt. I knew she'd be in my wedding from the day we became friends, and I'm so happy that we've kept our friendship alive after almost 9 years! Shelly is the one that coined the phrase "starting lineup", and I've referred to our bridal party ever since.
Bridesmaid: Ashley
We met at Elon too! Ashley's in AKPsi with Kate, Dani, and myself. Ashley and I didn't really meet until junior year- but I'm so glad that we did. I have so much fun with her! We're planning a visit back to Elon this fall, and I cannot wait for the madness. Is someone making reservations at Monterey?

Coming up in Part II, I'll reveal how I asked them to be in our wedding...

A Vision for Our Tables

We're trying to get a idea of our tablescapes, and I need some input from you all. As you know, we've chosen the royal blue pintuck linens. {be still my heart}

So here's the new information:

Our chairs will be dark brown fruitwood, like the one below Gold chargers at each place settingSo here's my question: what color cloth napkins? I've heard so many different opinions from family members, friends, and my beloved Weddingbee forums. Allow me to refresh your mind of our color palette: royal blue(cobalt), gold, teal, with accents of apple green. Basically, a peacock feather. Aah, lovely. Here's some of our ideas for napkins: apple green, white/ivory, mocha, or teal. Please give me any, and all, of your input.

A Little Gift for My Mr.

Mr. SE bought me a fabulous engagement gift (hello? it's sitting on my ring finger), so I figured it was only right to get him a little gift in return. Last weekend we were shopping for some fall goodies (new doormat, etc) at Target, and Mr. SE fell in lust. With the Dyson handvac. I saw the way he was looking at that little beauty, and I knew I had to make it his. I ordered the vacuum on Amazon (free shipping thankyouverymuch), and it arrived in TWO DAYS! Mr. SE was super excite and he (we) can't wait to play with this new toy! Electronics for him, cleaning for me- it's the perfect match!

Perhaps he would like to return the Dyson favor and gift me with the stand-up version that I've been wanting so bad. Just a hint...

Did you get an 'engagement' gift for your new fiance? If so, what was it? I'll also take suggestions for wedding gifts.

Testing, Testing 1 2 3

I'd like to interrupt the scheduled blog break for two important announcements...

Numero Uno: I cleared out the Bath & Body Works sale last weekend. I literally robbed the Mt. Juliet store. If you wanted any black amethyst or black raspberry vanilla, sorry it's gone. And currently living in my bathroom. I cannot put into words how much I love their buy 3 get 3 free sales. My bathroom is like a WWII bunker, only the Bath & Body Works version. Their new triple moisture body cream is currently my favorite thing. It will change your life. And if not your life, it'll definitely liven up that nasty fall/winter skin.

{hello lover}

Numero Dos: I got to wear jeans to work today, since we'll be moving around a lot in preparation for reunion. And guess what? Someone fit into their old jeans today!!! And that someone was me. Success!

Worky Work, Busy Bee

Sorry for the lack of posts. This week is the busiest week of the year for my department. I have some posts planned for the weekend. Come back for some juicy stuff!

Omigoodness

This clutch literally took my breath away. Holy wedding palette transformed into the most beautiful silk bag ever. Get one for yourself (or me) at Etsy.

*Afterthought: I wish the clasp was gold. Other than that, perfection.

Columbus Day Sale @ Bath & Body Works

Oh boy! You know where I'll be this weekend. Now if I could just get this storm front to quit messing w/my head and causing me migraines. Happy wedding weekend to the Thirty-Something Bride! I'll be at the reception, and I promise to take pictures.

One more thing. I'm having an aggressive love affair with this bouquet. I die.

Dear Sephora, I love You

Yesterday after work I stopped in at Greens Hills mall to exchange my coat (more on that below) and pick up some new makeup. It's been FOREVER since I tried something new, and I was ready for a change. Here's what I grabbed: Peach eyeshadow for every day, navy blue eyeliner (must have for baby blues), and some new rose blush. I've been having tons of problems with what I assume is rosacea creeping up on me. I've got an appointment with the dermatologist in a couple weeks, but until then I thought I'd give this Clinique solution a try. It got great reviews- we'll see if it can keep my freakout-inducing hive-looking hot flashes under control.

Now onto the trench. Said trench purchased online (XS) fit perfectly, but the sleeves/shoulders were a little snug. I tried it on just wearing a fitted tee, so I'm concerned about the fit with a sweater or layering. Tried on the small (regular) at Green Hills BR, and it was enormous. Why such a huge difference between one size? Lame. So the incredibly nice manager at BR (shout out to her- she was seriously great!) called Cool Springs BR to see if they carried my lovely coat in a Small Petite. They had it! I'll be stopping by the Cool Springs store this weekend, before I babysit for the lovely Thirty-Something Bride's wedding reception! Hopefully the small petite will be the answer to my prayers. I want this coat to fit SO badly....

On another note, I am LOVING my brown heeled boots that Mr. SE bought me from Off Broadway. The brand is Michael Shannon and they are TO. DIE. FOR. Unfortunately, MS doesn't have a website so I can't upload a picture. If you're lucky enough to see them in person (I'm sure they'll be making lots of appearances), you can admire them for yourself!

THE Trench

You know I love mail. Like LOVE receiving real letters, cards, and especially packages. So imagine my delight when this little beauty showed up yesterday. Honestly, most gorgeous trench I have ever seen! Nina Garcia said all women must have a trench, so obviously I had to find the perfect one. I searched around and decided that BR had the best option (as usual). What's better? A 40% coupon landed in my inbox last week. I was able to get the jacket for 40% off and free shipping since I'm a BR cardmember. Cannot wait to wear this little beauty around town! I was thinking she'd make her debut tomorrow for work, but with a 80 degree forecast she might have to wait a couple days...

Planning Sarah Elizabeth Gets A Planner

I get lots of questions regarding the web address of my blog. No, I'm not a wedding planner and I'm 80% sure that's not in my future. However, I love planning ahead and I've been researching/planning this wedding for a solid 2 years BEFORE we got engaged. Hence the name Planning Sarah Elizabeth. I feel as though "Sarah Elizabeth" is pretty self explanatory, but since we're on the topic I'll clear up some confusion on that as well. I grew up in the DC area, not SEC country. That being said, my name is simply Sarah, not Sarah Elizabeth. I responded to the later while being scolded in my youth, and it does in fact sound more professional. However, I am not a user of the ever common southern "double name".

Onto the topic of this post...I referenced earlier the amount of planning that's already been put into this wedding. After I nailed down the big players (dress, photographer, church, venue, etc), I knew I needed to leave the details up to a professional. There's only so much my little type-A brain can handle, before I start going into a state of nighttime tooth grinding wedding planning meltdown. As Mr. SE and I started choosing the big aspects of our wedding, be both decided that having a "day-of plus a little more" would be well worth the financial commitment. It's important for me (and my mom, aunts, & bridesmaids) to enjoy our wedding day and not stress over the little details. We met with our planner last Saturday, and I can honestly say I felt a weight lifted already!

She's pretty much fantastic. Not only does she have some great weddings under her belt, but she just planned her own Nashville wedding (don't worry- she hired a planner for the big day too). Please meet Kristin of Simply Stunning Events. She's all that and a bag of Garden Salsa Sun Chips. Yeah, I said it. Mr. SE was even excited. Hello? Mr. SE doesn't normally get excited about wedding-related issues.

What was one thing that really lifted your wedding stress? Perhaps a cocktail, girls' night, etc? I could use both of those...

{as we begin booking our big players, I'll be sure to give each of them a shout-out. Also- I'll be providing links to their sites on the left sidebar of my blog}

Let's Hear It For the Boys

Who doesn't love Footloose? I mean, really... Thanks to my incredibly lovely (and newly married!) friend Cat, I came across The Tie Bar. This website has jillions upon jillions of fantastic ties. They're all reasonably priced ($15) and there are so many colors and styles to choose from.

Mr. SE is quite a fashionista, and I want to make sure all of our guys are looking super fly on the big day. Here's what we're thinking: black tuxes, white shirts, and a colored tie. Vets? I don't know. We'll have to try them on at the store. As for ties, I'm totally in love with paisley patterns! They successfully incorporate the formal, but fun vision for our wedding. Here's some of my favorites! What are your thoughts? As usual- I love hearing your opinions!

Engagement Pictures: Getting Ideas

{i forgot where i found this. if you know, tell me. i'd like to give credit where it's due}

Mr. SE and I are excited to do our engagement shoot! We have about a jillion pictures of us on my laptop, but their mostly extremely skilled one-armed self portraits. You know the ones- someone's face is half cut off (normally his). When given the opportunity, we jumped at the chance to get engagement pictures. What a great time to do it- we're recently engaged, still basking in the glow of love (barf), and the leaves are about to get really pretty! I'm not sure where I originally found this picture- but I love it! We'll definitely have to try something like this. Did you use any inspiration when preparing for your engagement or bridal shoots? I'd love to hear from past/current brides on this one!

An Update of Sorts...

I've been a bad blogger. Sorry for the lack of posts lately- perhaps it's due to lack of inspiration. After "planning" our wedding for over 2 years now, I am finally able to pull the trigger and make permanent decisions. The problem is that I think I overdid it over the past years- I'm experiencing a bit a wedding overload. I've read every. single. post on Style Me Pretty, Snippet and Ink, and Weddingbee. The Knot is old news too. I'm looking for inspiration in new places and trying to find fun and interesting things to share with my readers.

Up next:

Ceremony Ideas (met with the Cathedral music coordinator yesterday)
DIY Overview of the Bridesmaid cards (all girls accepted!)
Tux Ideas for the Boys
Fun Details for our OOT Guests

In other news- Miss Kriss and I are babysitting for The Thirty-Something Bride's Wedding later this month. We're super happy to help a sister out. Not to mention I can't wait to see T30SB's plans come to life. I'm meeting the lovely ladies for happy hour tomorrow night. Excited? Definitely!