Engagement Session Inspiration

We've been having so much fun planning our wedding so far, and I truly hope the process keeps on going smoothly! Lately, my personal top priority has been to find the perfect location for our engagement pictures coming up in a couple months. I know we have some time, but I guess it's just part of my planning nature. :)

Anywho, I remember our photographer mentioned awhile back that we should consider taking our engagement pictures at one of our venue locations that didn't pan out...because we certainly must have loved it for a reason. So Roehl and I went to one of the nixed venues last weekend, and I'm pretty sure it's "the one" in terms of our engagement sesh! 

It's a gorgeous old estate hidden in the hills of San Jose, and a wonderful setting for what we have in mind. We want to incorporate our beach cruisers by biking down an old dirt road, and we also want to have a picnic (trite, but we'll try to add our own special twist to it!), and last but not least...a lace top "fort". I saw something similar a couple years ago and it always stuck out in my mind. So I recreated the fort with a lace tablecloth that I'm pretty sure my grandma crocheted. 

I'd of course add more dreamy accessories, but I think it's a lovely take on a childhood memory, that just seems to evoke an idea of playfulness in our relationship. 

What do you think?

Engagement Party Weekend Snapshots

Holy Jeebus...it's been FOREVER since I've posted and I really need to start documenting life better...I wasn't joking when I said my job was taking over my life! Things have calmed down, thankfully. Plus now when I get overwhelmed with my to-do list, I try to live by the silly but true words of a colleague of mine: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." It's so weird but I live by this motto now, and try to keep it to one priority per day. 

Our engagement has been amazing so far, and we've been fortunate enough to secure a few of our vendors early on. This past week was a super fun wedding-related whirlwind, and I loved every second of it. On Thursday, I finally met our photographer Emily of Emily Takes Photos, at a book launch party for Meg Keene (author of A Practical Wedding.) It was an awesome little party in San Francisco, and I love, love, LOVE Emily! :)

On Friday, I picked up my bestie from the airport. Funny thing is...I drove from San Jose to San Francisco (about 1 hour) and circled 3 times while I was on the phone with her, not seeing her at all. She finally asked jokingly, "You're at Oakland Airport, right?" Ummm...no. After a brief rage, I drove in bumper-to-bumper traffic across the bridge for another hour to Oakland. I finally picked her up 2 hours after she landed, and we tried to figure out where to eat. We finally decided on my favorite restaurant, which is in Palo Alto...all the way back across the bay. We ended the night by my work, which is where I started. Needless to say, one full tank gone in one day. Boo.

The rest of the weekend was a dream. We had our engagement party at my house, after I slaved redecorating and literally pulled Extreme Home Makeover in my living room! It was awesome and everyone had the time of their lives! (Don't you love how I speak for them?) 

Sunday was a day dedicated to dress shopping, with my beloved bridesmaids and mama. We started off with brunch and mimosas at Evergreen Inn, and went to 3 shops, where I tried on about 30 dresses. Yes, I am loco. But I had a blast and am so thankful I had my girls there with me. I think I might have even found a winner. ;)

Here are some snapshots of our weekend:

Me with the photo banner I made

*Photo Credit: my bridesmaid Ali via Instagram

Cupcakes made by my amazing cousin Karla

*Photo Credit: my bridesmaid Ali via Instagram

Our loved ones (Zoe & Dobie being a little shy)

*Photo Credit: My super talented bestie boo, Francesca. Check out her work here.

Me & my BM's, before I tried on a shizz load of dresses

*Photo Credit: my bridesmaid Amanda via Instagram

Me & my mama bear at the bridal salon

*Photo Credit: my bridesmaid Amanda via Instagram

So many awesome memories with the people I love most. Cheers to a new year, and more wedding posts! :)

A Southern Engagement, Part 2

On our last full day in Austin, we ventured to the city's highest point, Mt. Bonnell. Though tiny and low compared to our Californian standards, it still gave us a glorious view of the surrounding lake and hill country. 

I miss Austin already. I kept telling Ro on the morning we left that it felt like the morning after a sleepover with all my friends when I was a kid. That empty, sad feeling of spending Sunday alone after the wild elation of a night with all my friends. Sorry guys, I try not to let the emo out, but it finds its way to the surface every now and then. =/

Peekaboo! 

We engaged, y'all! We just want to shout it from a mountain top! Luckily, we had one :)

So so happy

Christmas card, perhaps? 

A Southern Engagement

So on our vacay, Ro took me on a romantical boat ride on Lady Bird Lake in Austin. We picked up picnic supplies and ammo (as Ro proclaimed, "but babe...everything's so cheap here!") at a local Walmart (classy move of the day #1.) And we had a boat all to ourselves, taking in the view of the Austin skyline, which was pure magic. 

I had no idea what was coming...

Hello from the co-captains!

Classy  move of the day #2: champagne in red cups ;)

We're not cheesy. We're in lurrrrvvve!

Blowing my last kiss as a girlfriend before Ro got down on one knee and got me all misty-eyed :)

Moments after I said YES!

...the most perfect and unforgettable day of my life. I still get butterflies thinking about it!