china.

we are going to finalize the registries this weekend!! what is a must-have for newlyweds??

still lovin' the china pattern.

a few pictures from my sister's big day.

the brothers-in-law (in-law?? how DOES that work??)

and yes, chad's hand is on ryan's knee.

rehearsal fun!

sisters getting married.

10 minutes before the wedding...

MOH: I feel like I am going to throw up.

Bride-to-be: *YOU'RE* going to throw up??

end of one of the best nights. ever.

blah.

i suck at updating this thing...

more shoes for the big day.

well, I drug my feet and the j. crew shoes are sold out. so now I want these.

love them. do not love the price tag.

{image courtesy katespade.com}

sisters and MOHs.

my sister (and MOH) thought I should update the blog (again...yes, I am a slacker bride, Cals!) and she thought I should make this particular blog entry about her. she said I should "introduce her to the world" (of toryandryan.blogspot.com, I guess??) so here goes...

10 things about my little sister you may not know...

1. she has a scar on her lip from when she was a baby. she cracked it open on a shopping cart when my mom reached for me...I was standing in the cart. (a big no-no!!)

2. for her graduation gift, we went to nyc trip for a long weekend, and it is one of our fondest 'adult sister' memories to date (...the upcoming weddings might outdo nyc just a bit!)

3. she spent 3 of her 4 IU spring breaks on our couch in Orlando, getting to know her (future, although not at the time) brother-in-law, watching Star Trek and playing with the puppies

4. speaking of puppies, she really doesn't like dogs...but has taken a liking to my two...

5. she is slightly taller than me, and she will let you know it.

6. our mother will try to deny it...but we were NERDS to the 10th degree when we were little.

7. we babysat ourselves (??) in order to save up spending money for our disney world trip and then bought pencils and suckers

8. our mother made her play with me so she would get the chicken pox

9. you may not think it by looking at her, but she threw the shot put in high school

10. SHE IS THE BEST SISTER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!

the puppies.

even though the dogs WILL NOT be in the wedding. (can you imagine the little one walking down the aisle?? right.) anyway, IF they were in the wedding, and IF they liked wearing doggie clothes...how cute are these??

{images courtesy of inkbox design boutique}

a picture is worth 1,000 words.

favors.

if we were doing favors, this one (which is a knot pick!!) is such a cute idea.

Alison & Joe: A Formal Wedding in Atlanta, GA
Since most of their guests were from out of town, Alison and Joe gave out sterling silver luggage tags with a personalized thank-you note from the couple.

and another knot pick...

LUCKY IN LOVE!!

Kate & Tim: A Modern Wedding in Denver, CO
Just for fun, Kate and Tim gave each guest a mini vellum envelope with a “Kate & Tim, Lucky in Love” sticker on the front. Inside? A one-dollar lottery ticket and a penny!

the little things.

I came across these napkins the stationery studio over the weekend. and I love them. I think they would add a nice accent...personal touch. maybe even just during the cocktail hour?? and they aren't outrageously priced.

so we will see...you may see these in May 2009!!

oh my goodness.

W-O-W!!

{image courtesy of plungee.com}

MOH and bride-to-be.

it's exhausting! little sister called me a SLACKER BLOGGER though, so I will update you on some recent happenings. for her wedding.

little sister's wedding is gettin' closer and closer. earlier this month, it was time to make a decision on dresses for all the maids. we found these lovelies from nordstrom.

the issue with many "formal" dresses, we found...you can *only* purchase them online. I attempted to try on a similar style from the same brand at an actual brick-and-mortar store. but that didn't help much since they didn't have a strapless dress in stock. but I figured I would be either a size 6 or a size 8, per usual.

so I come home and order the dresses through one of cally's friends (a nordstrom employee, obviously) and I purchase two dresses, sizes 6 and 8. I have them shipped to my apartment here in DC. even though the callbox outside our building IS NOT hooked up and I have had to chase the Fed Ex/UPS/DHL man down on more than one occasion. but I figured...I'll get it.

so I check nordstrom.com daily to see when the dress is shipped. then I religiously check DHL.com and track the package. I see that it is on the delivery truck on a lovely monday morning. I proceed to place a HUGE note on the front door of our apartment building...

DHL, I am home today!! Apt. XXX

no package.

tuesday: package on truck for delivery.

I leave *another* note on the front door. at 2:30 p.m. I check the tracking and it says something to the effect of "delivery attempted, not home" and now I am #*%^#&^ but I figure I need to get this package before it heads back to the warehouse in IA. so I call DHL and they tell me it's at the distribution center in VA, behind a costco (I am thinking the worst...) and that if I can make it there by 6:00 p.m. that night, it won't get shipped back.

ok, so I pick up the package and trek back home, call my sister and let her know that I have the dresses in my possession and will try them both on after dinner so that we can relay "the fit" of the dress to the other three maids. I try on the size 6 first, figuring if it doesn't fit then I know the size 8 will be my dress.

words cannot describe the fit of the dress...

so I call my sister, and we figure it's one of those stupid dress companies that adjusts all the sizes so that you are a much, much, much smaller size. (who are they fooling, honestly??) so the next day, I call our nordstrom friend again and tell her I now need a size 2 and a size 4. this time around though, I have them shipped to ry's office so I don't have to metro it back to VA and the lovely DHL headquarters.

the size 2 is back-ordered. probably because these dresses are oddly sized and no one knows what to order.

but the size 4 arrives right on time, and ry brings it home. I try it on, and ask for some help with the hook-and-eye so I can get it zipped up. his exact words, "tory, there is like a whole hand's worth of space..." yea, this puppy wasn't fitting.

WHAT?!?!

so I take out the size 6 that is nicely packed in it's box, ready to go back to nordstrom. turns out, the tag on the outside says "6" but the tag INSIDE the dress (the one that really matters) says "16" - plain. as. day. so I try on the size 8 and guess what?! IT FITS!!

so I call little sister, tell her the drama. she (and ry) ask why I didn't initially look at the tag inside the dress. I explain that I did...but because I thought it was a size 6 and in my defense, there was a "6" on the tag (with a "1" in front of it!) I didn't even think that it was 10 SIZES TOO BIG!! and then I never tried on the size 8 because I figured if the size 6 was like a potato sack, the 8 would have just been comical.

all in all, the dress debacle has been sorted out. and all the maids have ordered the correct sizes, which hopefully should be arriving any day now. and I have since returned the size 16 dress to a nordstrom here, where the saleslady apologized profusely for the warehouse's mistake.

and my mother says we will look back on this as one of the memories of this whole "wedding planning" process, and laugh. these are the important moments. these are the times we will treasure for years and years to come.

what ryan wants.

upon asking me to marry him, ryan had two items he wanted on the registry.

1. a nintendo wii
2. season tickets to the Washington Nationals

his reasoning behind these two suggestions? he could care less about a "$300 gravy boat" (not sure he has ever even looked at a gravy boat, so I don't know how he came up with this price! ha) and these are things we would actually use more than once or twice a year. and I do agree...the season tickets would be a gift we could enjoy throughout the year. well, for 9 months of the year, anyway.

and after this weekend, after trying wii fit at the BBQ Battle downtown, I wouldn't mind skiing or bowling in my living room. but I digress.

it seems the folks over at TheManRegistry.com didn't like the idea of a 'traditional' registry either.

from their website: TheManRegistry.com is the world’s first wedding gift registry for grooms. we offer hundreds of products geared specifically toward men. with the man registry, grooms and brides everywhere can pick out the barbeque grills, tools, bar glasses, and electronics they’ll need to start their new marriage.

not such a bad idea...

i want that.

while I do not really want towels, sheets, linens of any sort really on my registry...I do think it's necessary to register for 'home decor' items.

like this mirror. yes, please.

{image courtesy of potterybarn.com}

shoes for the big day.

I want a splash of color peeking out under my dress. I want hot pink shoes. over on tying the knot, jessica also thinks colored shoes are a great idea!! :)

yesterday I found some black bridesmaid dresses that I really liked, so now I am thinking all the bridesmaids could wear the same shoes I wear...tie us all together.

so I did a search for hot pink shoes, and here are the ones I am most fond of. enjoy!!

{images courtesy of j. crew, nine west, piperlime}

poofy dresses.

so I don't really like the big, cinderella-like, poofy dresses, as a rule. and as you can see, my sister had one heckuva time trying one on in chicago. however, a picture in the most recent issue of martha stewart weddings may have changed my mind...

there's just something about the fabric, and the "big-ness" of the bust that I like. not sure something like this will be what I choose, but I may have to at least try a "poofy dress" on while dress shopping.

{bottom image courtesy of marthastewart.com}

shoes.

I am in the market for a new bag...I found the perfect bag two weekends ago when we went to the outlet mall, but I am not in the market to spend $400.

so today I checked out piperlime...they recently launched a handbag section on their website.

anyway, they had a guest column from celebrity wedding and events planner, mindy weiss. she says..."every girl needs two pairs of shoes for her big day - one for the ceremony, one for the reception." she calls them "fantasy and reality shoes" and I think she's onto something.

I always thought I wanted to wear "whatever" since I really don't think anyone will care about my shoes...but maybe flip-flops aren't the best option under my gown??

also included were four tips which I wouldn't necessarily have thought of...

tip #1: skip the stones. one thing to watch out for: rhinestones and jewels. "you don't want them to snag your dress," says mindy.

tip #2: stretch them out. "walk in your shoes for two weeks before the wedding," advises mindy. "this will break them in."

tip #3: scuff it up. mindy says to use sandpaper to rough up the soles. that way you won't slip when you're headed down the aisle.

tip #4: strap in. "slingbacks can be hard to keep on the foot," says mindy. "so pick a pump or something that goes around the ankle."

(my mother must've written #4 and sent it in!)

{image courtesy of piperlime}

save the date.

365 days.
8,766 hours.
525,949 minutes.
31,556,926 seconds.

UNTIL WE ARE MARRIED!!

(translation: save the date. may 2, 2009.)

i want that.

is it too early to be looking for things for the registry? and does that make me sound greedy??

oh well, I like this china pattern. let it be known...we are unsure about the whole china thing. we think it's slightly silly. we don't think we would ever use it. at this point we have ZERO space to display it, unless we hang it on the walls, and even then, we would run out of space quickly. but it's something we would never buy ourselves, so if we are going to "do" china, we better do it now.

kate spade library lane platinum

suggestions/thoughts welcome.

(photo courtesy of macys.com)

happy may day!

it's rainy and dreary out today. more importantly, it's may day!! that means spring, and that means flowers, and that means I can start shopping around for ideas for flowers for the big day.



(photos courtesy of pro flowers, beecroft flower place, martha stewart, bellissima floral creations, beneva flowers & gifts)

thank you, daily candy dc.

today's daily candy dc arrived in my inbox, and it was all about wedding stuff in the district. and I am all about free advice. ps - I would really like to go to the solarus salon & spa...this weekend, and next weekend...why wait until the big day?? (which we are still waiting to determine...)

love you do
spring 2008 wedding guide
you’re a total individual, so why should your wedding be like every other? make your special day one that speaks volumes about you.

you love chocolate
who needs a boring cake when you can have a chocolate centerpiece from Krishon? from a simple heart covered in real gold to a towering rodin imitation using likenesses of the bride and groom, chocolatier eric johnson can make your chocolate ideas come to life. he can even spice up the bachelorette party with edibles in naughty shapes.

you look good in green
ecominded does not have to mean ugly. adele wechsler’s new ecocouture wedding gowns, arriving at Rizik’s next month, are made from organic silk and hemp with recycled lace detailing (1100 connecticut avenue NW; 202-223-4050).

you go old school
surround yourself with the people who mean the most to you at a tiny, old-fashioned ceremony behind georgetown’s historic old stone house. You can host up to 50 people in the grassy, flower-filled garden (3051 m street NW; 202-895-6000).

you like sparkle
local jeweler Zsuzsi Wolf hand fabricates and sets custom rings to order in her torpedo factory art center studio. she pairs traditional metals like platinum and gold with atypical stones like raw, industrial, or rose-cut diamonds. a last-minute bauble? she can make it in as little as two hours (105 north union street, alexandria; 703-548-3319).

you feel good
gather the ladies together for a day of pampering at Solarus Salon & Spa. they will customize a package to pamper your feet, remove unsightly stubble, and work out prewedding kinks from your neck and shoulders. their professionals can also handle hair and makeup (1920 clarendon boulevard, arlington; 703-243-7283).

you’re photogenic
the sky’s the limit for photographer Stacey Vaeth. in prewedding consultations, she’ll discern the vibe and images you want her to capture. from old-fashioned black-and-whites to futuristic mobiles of the bride and groom hanging from the reception hall ceiling, she’ll make sure that the event is picture perfect.

you’re bookish
a picture is worth a thousand words, and you can get a library’s worth of photos together in Chrome’s new bound albums. the shop’s pros will help customize the size, cover, and color, offering suggestions and printing proofs until you’re happy (3247 q street NW; 202-333-3270).

six rules for wedding dress shopping.

rule #1:
finding your style
when choosing a style of wedding dress, start with the type of place you're having your wedding. let the style of the dress reflect the venue for an appropriate look on the big day.

rule #2:
accessories
if you are wearing a dress to the floor with lots of volume, go with larger accessories to keep things in proportion.

rule #3:
jewelry
when choosing a necklace for your wedding dress, make sure the necklace works with the neckline. for example, if you're wedding dress has a deep V choose a necklace that has a drop and fills the space. proportion in jewelry is very important.

rule #4:
shoes
if a wedding dress is not stark white, a softer metallic shoe compliments the dress more.

rule #5:
beach weddings
if you're having a beach wedding, keep the accessories light and fresh.

rule #6:
look at the details
a lace appliqué or two different fabrics in a dress create a more visual interest in the dress.

(photos courtesy tlc)

brides against breast cancer.

best. non-profit. ever.

my sister got her dress from this organization (no pictures, in case chad wanders over here!!) and the lady who founded this organization is the most thoughtful, caring person in the world. it's a great opportunity to get a new (donated) or slightly used dress at a great price, all while helping a wonderful cause.

here is some information from the website about the trunk shows...

"brides against breast cancer - nationwide tour of gowns"
this unique opportunity allows brides-to-be a chance to find the gown of their dreams at a remarkable price, while helping to make wishes and memory-making events come true. most gown prices range from $99 to $799, including hundreds of beautiful new name brand and designer gowns valued up to $8,000.

the next stop on the tour of gowns is near DC, so I will be going to check it out next weekend.

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Timonium, MD

** VIP Night Thursday, April 24, 6 pm - 10 pm (Brides: $50, Guests: $25 each)

** Friday, April 25, 10 am - 8 pm (Free Admission)

** Saturday, April 26, 9 am - 2 pm (Free Admission)

i have the best sister in the world.

my sister had flowers sent to me on monday!! they are gorgeous, are they not??

(cally, bailey thought they smelled good...)

how it happened. (part 2)

so we left the gardens, and carly and mitch (ryan's cousin and her husband) had a room reserved for us at the latham hotel in georgetown. turns out ryan and mitch had discussed the engagement a day earlier, when we met mitch and their boys for the parade (it was the end of the cherry blossom festival here in DC...big parade...but back to more important things) we ended up getting stuck in 9awful) traffic, and I got out of the car with the boys so we could go to a bakery. ryan told mitch about his plans for the next day, and mitch asked him what the plans were after he popped the question. ryan didn't have any...

so as an engagement gift, carly and mitch arranged for the room at the hotel. ironically, this is the hotel my parents stayed at last week when they were out here visiting. never would have known it was even there...

so we got to the room, and a chilled bottle of wine was waiting for us. (thanks carly and mitch!!) ryan still had to call his dad, so he made that call, and then we decided it was time to get some food. so we walked about georgetown for a bit...nothing was really jumping out at us. we walked past a place advertising FRIED PB&J AND BANANA SANDWICHES!!! I was all for it, but ryan said that wasn't very romantic! ha

we settled on papa.razzi, an italian restaurant. we walk in and the maître d' says something along the lines of "I hope you are having a great day" and I of course blurt out, "we are, we just got engaged!!" (I was still wanting to shout it from the rooftop!!) the maître d' was so excited, and told the hostess to sit us at a "special table" because we were celebrating. we sit, our waitress comes over, we order drinks, she brings them to the table. at which point, the maître d' comes over and tells our waitress (marisa, by the way...we became friends) we are celebrating. she asks what, exactly, we are celebrating...and you know I couldn't resist telling someone else!! :)

she squealed (girls get much more excited than boys about this kind of thing) and said she wanted to hug us. turns out, she was having a crappy sunday, so she was glad we were sitting in her section. we chatted in between her serving her (much less exciting) tables, and she ended up bringing us tiramisu, and the maître d' brought us some champagne. (I could get used to this!!)

all in all, it was a great night...and we are so happy!!

let the planning begin!!!

how it happened. (part 1)

so yesterday ryan wanted to go to dumbarton oaks (http://www.doaks.org/gardens/) in the afternoon. usually I am the one dragging us from monument to event to tourist trap on the weekends, so when he suggested going for the afternoon, I was all for it.

we went to target and trader joe's in the morning for groceries, then we came back and ate lunch. I had to run to macy's to return something, and ryan said he would take the dogs out while I was gone. when I got home, though, he still hadn't taken them. (I was a little annoyed, since it was starting to drizzle and I didn't want to go to a garden in the rain.) so I took the dogs on a walk. when I got back, I went to brush my teeth before we left (ryan will tell you this is weird...I didn't think it was weird.) and I couldn't find my toothbrush. I asked where it was, and he said he didn't know. (right.)

so we get in the car, and head over to georgetown. the gardens are beautiful, and you take a self-guided tour through the various parts of the (massive) estate. we walked past a bench, and ryan said we should sit down for a minute. so we were just sitting there, looking out over the expanse of land, and ryan kind of shifted his weight. the next thing I knew, he was down on one knee...the rest is kind of a blur...I know the words "will you marry me" came out of this mouth at some point, but I don't really remember what else he said. I said yes, and put the (gorgeous, perfectly-sized) ring on my finger. I was in total shock...

so we started onto the next portion of the tour, and then I started crying. I was so happy, and so in shock...I didn't know what to do with myself. as we continued walking, there were a coupld of guys walking up the hill behind us. the one guy said something to the effect of "your hair is beautiful...it made my day" to which I turned around and blurted out "thanks...I just got engaged. that made my day" to which he started crying. they took a few pictures of us and we stood and talked to them for a few minutes. I was obviously willing to tell anyone and everyone that I was engaged! ;)

I called my dad, who knew this was going to be happening because ryan listened to my hints and asked my dad before he asked me. thank goodness my dad can keep a secret! with cally's wedding in november, it's not looking like he will get his corvette for a few more years...

then I called my mom, who was on her way back from a bridal shower. she was freaking out, and had to pull over the car to avoid an accident. she wanted details, and I think she is still in shock...

I finally got in touch with my sister after that. we can now plan together!! :)

ryan asked me to marry him yesterday.

and I said yes...

everyone wants to see a picture of the ring, so here it is. also included, a picture of me on the bench where mr. patrick proposed.

one of my 2008 "resolutions" was to start a blog. I know, I know...it's april already. but now I actually have things to blog about!! :)