Weddingbee bios

...and also loved (in no particular order) Cooking, NASCAR, Football and GOOD beer. She was 29, her mom lived with her, she was a knitter and she had two cats (one more cat would've sealed her single-ness for good!).  Things were not looking good for this lass.  It was 2007, Miss Knit had just started a new job at  *HUGE* company and she also had a strict no dating people at work policy. It was pretty uneventful the first time Miss Knit met Mr Knit.  She was being introduced to some of her customers on her second day of work. The conversation went like this.

Coworker: This is Mr Knit, he's a boilermaker too.

Miss Knit: Awesome what years?

Mr Knit: 1999-2004

Miss Knit: I was there then too. funny.

Did you see the magic? Neither did Mr or Miss Knit.  Fast-forward almost a whole year.  Ms Knit turned 30, she had gotten over her no dating people at work policy and she started to hang out with some folks from work for a beer or two- and sometimes Mr Knit would join them.  One particular Leap Day during Lent (Miss Knit is Catholic) she joined the "boys" for a beer.  The table was littered with meat filled appetizers so Miss Knit ordered a veggie pizza.  Someone passed one such appetizer her way and she politely declined saying "No thanks, I don't eat meat on Fridays during lent".  Feeling she should explain more (she is normally quite the carnivore) she looked at the person sitting across from her, Mr Knit, and said "You know, I'm Catholic".  He smiled and said, "I know, I've seen you at church with some old woman".  Miss Knit was surprised, she had never noticed Mr Knit at church.  With some discussion she learned he was a member at the Church her mother attended.  (yes, the "old" woman was Mamma Knit- in Mamma Knit's defense she is not a "old" woman and in Mr Knit's defense he thought it was her Mom but chickened out at the last minute and said "old woman" instead.)

Sparks did fly that night, Mr Knit said "I saw my stock increase instantly when you found out I was Catholic".  Miss Knit admits finding out that they shared the same faith did open her mind to dating this co-worker.  That week Miss Knit and Mr Knit started to converse on the phone via text and phone calls.  She invited him to a Lenten event at her church and they hung out at the local watering hole and drank lots of good beer.  Soon they were meeting on Sundays for church and dinner after.  The relationship blossomed from there.

Part 1 the Proposal

So, Mr Knit and I have had a trip to New England planned since this spring.  I grew up in NH and most of my mom's family is in Maine or Massachusetts, so this was our "meet the rest of the family trip".  My mom made the trip with us- making it even more special.  My heart was set on being engaged for this trip so we could celebrate our engagement with my family.  As the days ticked by and our trip got closer- I got more and more stressed out.  Had he bought the ring? Was he going to propose?

Mr Knit is very very good at keeping secrets and it drove me crazy! I was almost certain that he had bought the ring, but yesterday, as we arrived at the airport Mr. Knit said some things that made me doubt that he had bought the ring. I almost frisked him (ok I did frisk him) right there in the southwest check in line.  I tried really hard not to be too upset, but my emotions got the best of me.  In Chicago when I confided and told Mr Knit that I was upset and a little mad at him, he couldn't keep smiling- (which with an emotional woman isn't the best reaction!) and finally he told me that if I knew what he knew I would smile too.

We had a great dinner with my Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and Mom.  They were giving me a hard time, trying to find out the wedding date (Mr Knit and I agreed not to tell anyone until he had proposed).  Knowing that I was super emotional, Mr Knit decided to be nice and he took a "Tiffany Blue" pouch out of his shoe.  Yes- in order to hide it from me he put in the ipod compartment in his Nike running shoes- I thought it was strange that he was wearing these shoes which he usually only wears to the gym.  I bet the scanner guy at the airport smiled when he say my ring go through x-ray! Back to the story- so he holds up a Tiffany pouch and my hands flew up to my face! "Oh my God!"  I grabbed his face and pulled him towards me for a kiss- before he even got the words out.  "Miss Knit, will you marry me!"   YES! Yes!  Please note- I had not even looked at the ring yet.  I couldn't take my eyes off of his face.  I kissed him again and finally took a peak at the ring!  It is perfect.  The classic Tiffany setting.  Just under a half caret- I made him promise to keep it under a half caret because anything bigger would look ridiculous on my size four (now three and a half) finger!

My family felt so honored to be here for this momentous occasion.  I was thankful too- especially because as soon as the ring came out my Aunt said to my Uncle- get the camera!  We are so lucky to have these wonderful photos of the whole event.  Enjoy!  I am off to enjoy my fiance's company!  Fiance! Yay!  PS I'll also post some more background around the whole crying in the bathroom thing!

Part 2: Crying in the bathroom- some background

It seems to be a trend.  I didn't elaborate in my proposal announcement- but the one thread that runs through Mr Knit and my engagement journey is I will hide in the bathroom if I need to cry.  Funny I know.  But I want to elaborate on it- because LOVE is not all fairy tales and perfect- and my perfect imperfection is that when my eyes start to water I retreat to the bathroom to have a good cry.

So here it is from the beginning.  PS... sorry that it's long!

Copyright 20th Century Fox

Before starting to date Mr Knit, I turned 30- not so much a big deal, but Mr Knit is 4 years my junior.  Being 30 and him still in his twenties I felt like the "older woman" and I definitely didn't want to be the "pushy older woman."  You know, Marisa Tomei in my Cousin Vinny with the foot stomping and clock ticking?

In our courtship I got to places before Mr Knit- I knew he was exactly what I was looking for and what I needed early on, I said I love you first, I new he was the man I was going to marry first (or at least I thought so).  He always got to that same place right behind me, but it stuck in my head that I got there first and it made me a little self conscious *read I was really worried I was "that older woman"*.

It was that last one (realizing that he was the man I wanted to marry) that lead to my first bathroom crying incident.   After a vacation with his family I knew he was the one whose hand I held in a nursing home but I didn't dare say anything about it or bring it up.  I wanted to be patient and wait for him to get to the same place before I brought the subject up.  Plus I really thought we should be together a full year before talking about marriage.  So I didn't say anything and neither did he- I assumed the thought of marriage had never crossed his brain (I greatly underestimated him).  Fast forward to Valentines day, I was getting a little antsy to talk with him about this and while we were shopping (I think at Target) he got a phone call from his baby brother.  FBIL Knit had just bought a ring for his then girlfriend and couldn't wait to share the info with his brother.  I was so happy for them but at the same time my heart felt heavy.  I so desperately wanted him to bring the subject up. I wanted to talk with him about our future.  I felt distant the rest of our shopping trip and fought back tears.  When we got back to his apt I went into the bathroom and let myself cry.  Silly I know.

I came out, tears streaming down my face and Mr Knit held me tight and asked what was wrong. I told him I was happy for his brother but I was frustrated that he hadn't even thought about our future (I assumed) and I wanted to talk about it but I didn't want to be the pushy older woman.  He tilted my chin towards him and said "you greatly underestimate me"  This started our conversations about our future.  He found it funny that I was trying so hard not to talk about it that I bottled it all up until it exploded in tears... in the bathroom.  We laugh about it now, but coming out of the bathroom with tears streaming down my face was a big turning point in our relationship.

Fast forward to last Wednesday, the day he proposed.  My heart was set on being engaged while visiting my family in New England.  I don't see them often anymore and I wanted to celebrate with them.  Mr Knit and I had already started the wedding planning- we had a date set, the venue, the photographer... it wasn't a matter if "if" but "when".  I thought I knew when he went to buy the ring- an unaccounted for Saturday where we didn't see each other all day- and when he picked it up- another unaccounted for Saturday right before our trip.  I was certain that he was going to propose at the airport, or on the trip.  But Mr Knit really wanted to surprise me and thus he had to throw me off his trail.  He knew I knew.

He started dropping hints to let me believe he didn't have the ring.  He started to indicate that I shouldn't go into the trip expecting to get engaged - because I might be disappointed.  He was so convincing that when he dropped one last hint at the airport on Wednesday I was convinced- and crushed.  I did a quick pat down of his person and then I knew- or I thought I did- that he had not gotten the ring.  I got mad and sad all at the same time.  I was mad that he had "wasted" those Saturdays- the perfect opportunity to pick up the ring.  I was sad that we wouldn't be able to announce our engagement and celebrate with my family.  I seriously could not look at him without being overwhelmed by those emotions.  We went through security, sat down at the gate, Mr Knit went to sleep and I went to the ladies room to have a self indulgent cry (a short one).  I straightened myself up and went back to the gate in time to collect Mr Knit and board the plane- where he promptly fell asleep again.

Bathroom site of cry #2 on our trip- Midway airport

I tried to talk myself into getting over it- I didn't want to land in NH and still be mad/sad.  The self talk worked a little, but a few tears streamed down my face as we flew- and Mr Knit slept.  In Chicago we got off the plane, Mr Knit started to wake up and he started to notice that I was upset.  I scurried off to the bathroom- trying to get a grip on my emotions.  After a short cry I tried to clean myself up but my eyes were oh so red and puffy.  I walked out of the bathroom into Mr Knit's arms.  I told him I was disappointed, upset and a little mad.  He hugged me and smiled.

"I'm upset! Why are you smiling?" I asked.

He said, "If you knew what I knew you would be smiling" and squeezed me a little tighter.

My heart lifted a little- but I didn't want to let myself even get my hopes up.  It worked though, I was calmer and ready to have a great vacation- even if we didn't get engaged.  So his plan had worked, although he didn't foresee that I would get so upset and cry, he had disarmed my suspicions and primed me to be surprised.  Later that evening as he was down on his knee looking up at my face asking me to marry him, I was so happy that he had thrown me off his trail.  Bathroom tears- well they are just my thing.

Not of our photographer (we’re pretty darn confident we’re going to love him!) ,  but of an Etsy dress maker (who I hope to use for my wedding dress), my DIY skills for a hair flower (see Quick fascinator trial in the DIY section), and our skills (or lack of)  in front of the camera.

an illustration of the dress

E photos gave me the opportunity to order a custom 1950s party dress from the Etsy dress maker who is at the top of my list for a custom wedding dress.

Back in the beginning of August, I started chatting with a dressmaker (more on her later) on Etsy about a wedding dress and possible E-photo/rehearsal dinner dress.  I was 90% sure that I wanted a tea length 1950’s wedding dress but wanted to try the style on before committing.  Also it sounded like a great idea for a cool engagement photo dress and a rehearsal dinner dress (can you say double duty!)  We designed a grey tea length dress with a yellow and white cummerbund. The dress has a yellow double petticoat to make it poof- fun!  I walked away with this fabulous dress and petticoat for just over $200 including shipping- before you choke- let me remind you that this dress will also double as my rehearsal dinner dress. (plus I got a steal on the shoes!)

Femia of porshesplace out did herself! The dress is gorgeous.  I’ll save photos if it until after or E photos are done, but I can give you a sneak peak of the petticoat.

There is something about a petticoat that makes you feel girly

Lovey love love the star stitching on the hem...

So, what does a gal wear with such a kick butt dress? Some killer heels of course.  I figured that since I wasn’t going to wear these heels that much (e-photos, rehearsal dinner, maybe a time or two after that) I didn’t need to sink much money into them.  I discovered Urban Original (www.urbanog.com) where there was a wide selection of yellow pumps.  I bought two pair both for under $20- not knowing which color yellow would match the dress better.

Wild Diva Erin: $17.99 ended up being too dark, but shoot- I am going to rock these to work next week! Source: www.UrbanOg.com

Wild Diva Agnes: $15.99 perfect match for my dress! Source www.UrbanOg.com

Mr Knit is going to wear jeans with an off white button down casual shirt and a light grey vest similar to this:

Source: Polyvore

We’ll change into some more casual clothes (and some Chuck Taylor’s of course) for a little variety.  Most of all I think we are looking forward to getting some coaching on how to take photos.  We  are truly awkward in this department.  We’ve been practicing, and we’re doing better.  Just taking more photos together really helps.  We’ve realized that Mr Knit squishes himself down to be my height (5′2 to his 5′11) and thus gives himself 3 chins and that in fully body shots I like to turn my widest parts square to the camera.  Hopefully only 1 chin shows up on Sunday for photos and I keep my widest parts looking thin. lol…

I can’t wait to share some of the locations in Seattle that we use as well as some super cool props… yes I said props.

SNEAK PEEK!

Melody and Bryan, the awesome husband and wife duo of Amore Studios, totally made my weekend by sending over these sneak peek pictures from our engagement photo shoot.

I’m not going to say much… just let you enjoy the photos.   *Squeal*

Photo Credit: Amore Studios Location: Old Shell Station Issaquah WA

Photo credit: Amore Studios

Photo credit: Amore Studios

Photo Credit: Amore Studios

Photo Credit: Amore Studios

Photo Credit: Amore Studios Location: Pike Place Market

Photo Credit: Amore Studios Location: Pike Place Market

Photo Credit: Amore Studios Location: Pike Place Market

Photo Credit: Amore Studios Location: Seattle Center

 

To ask my girls i handed them a hankie… a perfect little silk hankie that says “Will you be my bridesmaid?”

My maids are all over the country- Denver, Seattle, Indiana, Illinois…(wait, that's mountain time, pacific time, eastern time and central time... oh my) there aren’t 2 maids in the same city out of the five of them and only one I actually see day to day.  I wish I could have asked each of them in person, but I did the next best thing- sent them a personalized invitation to stand up with me at my wedding.

I love www.Etsy.com- been loving it for a lonnnng time.  If you haven’t been,  is a website where you can buy and sell handmade goods… oh but it is oh-soooo much more. Call it inspiration central!

• Need ideas for unique gift for Mr Knit? Done!
• Need to find a handblown glass sink at a killer deal? Done!
• Need hard to find crafting supplies like pearlized flower stamen? Done!
• Need a tutorial for a particular craft? Done!

In my case it was “Need ideas for bridesmaids invitations?” Done!

Bridesmaid invites from ArtfulBeginnings on www.etsy.com

I search on “Bridesmaid Invitation”. POOF! There appeared the puuuuurfect gift for my girls.  ArtfulBeginnings posted a set of 4 custom  silk hankerchiefs for $27… what, what? $27  I quickly bookmarked this page. Once I had the BM line up settled I ordered 5 hankies in our wedding colors (the extra one cost like $6 and some change). Each girl got an invitation in the color she would be wearing in our wedding.

As a side note: I’m a Catholic grrrl- so it’s confession time- I ordered these bad boys before Mr Knit even proposed- I was that excited!  I was so convinced that he was going to propose on our New England trip (which he did) that I wanted to bring the invitations with us so I could pop them in the mail as soon as we were engaged.  Mr Knit put his foot down and said I could wait until we got home. Booo!

How perfect are these?   The hankies fold up into a little square and slide nicely into a card personalized with the recipient’s name.  My MOH’s hankie asks “Will you be my Matron of Honor?” and the other ones ask “Will you be my Bridesmaid?”  The envelope wraps are freebies from A Very Chocolate Wedding.  Love it!

All in a row....

Details on H's invite

Envelope wraps!

Sadly, the post office lost one of my invites.  But I gave the gal a call and asked her over the phone. I am mailing a new one.  Oh and the wedding party just grew again, but more on that later.

Cupcake toppers; Birdcage Veil; Pew Lanterns; Dress; Lights; Amore Studios; Dahlias; Paris Hilton Spelled; Converse All-Stars

Mama Knit says I was born in the wrong era.  Perhaps she is right. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the music of the 1980’s and the 1990’s, but I have a deep love for the music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70′.  Simon and Gar, CCR, the Beatles, and Janis Joplin played in the Knit car all the time growing up.  My favorite song, Kodachrome/Maybelline from the Simon and Garfunkel Concert in Central Park.  I soon discovered that Mr Knit shares my love of this song. We’ll cue it up on the Ipod and sing like idiots.  To us, the song made embodies fun, vivid color.

When we started to select our color pallet, I had a hard time eliminating colors.  My favorite color is Turquoise/Aqua.  But I also am partial to green, bright pink, and orange.  With the exception of orange (it makes me look ill) I wear the other four colors a lot.  As I struggled to pick one or two colors- Mr Knit solved my problem. Use them all!  Duhhh  why didn’t I think of that?  The vision of my Kodachrome wedding started to come together.