Introducing... the bridemaids!

Today I've decided to introduce my bridesmaids and tell a little bit about why I picked them.

First is my cousin Cheryl. She lives in NY but I still love her times a million. Years can pass between us but somehow we're still close when we see each other. I love my family so much and wish we lived closer! Love and miss you!

Next is Sarah. I've known her my entire life. We were really close growing up and we've grown apart throughout the years but I love her dearly. I'm happy to have her as part of my wedding.

Kristen is my next bridesmaid. I've known her my entire life and I KNOW she'll be really helpful in wedding planning. She's very opinionated and I'm extra grateful for her help thus far and what's to come.

Lauren!!! I've known her for years now. We played basketball together in high school and went to college together. She is the odd ball of the group. She is different and unique and makes me laugh. She's going to be great as part of my wedding. Apart from my wedding we will also be celebrating her 21st birthday on May 28, 2010!! YAY!

Then... JoMarie. I met her my freshman year of college and we've become great friends since then. Jo is going to add a totally different perspective to our wedding. Bless her, she's pretty much the only conservative member of my wedding party.. Oh well! We're going to break her out of her shell! She's super sweet and an awesome friend!


So those are the bridesmaids. Notice. I'm not having a maid/matron of honor.. I want everyone to take part in my wedding just as much as the other and I think it will work out for the best like this.

Jason's best man is his twin brother, Justin.
Groomsmen are his dad, a childhood friend-Anthony, my cousin-Bradley, and another friend-Jason!

I feel like I'm running out of topics for now.. but we are planning! This Saturday we are going to the bridal store to pick out colors for the bridesmaid dresses so we can start ordering linens, flowers, and decorations!

Enjoy!
Jen

Vote for your favorite dresses!!

So I figured this would be a fun way for everyone to vote on the dress they like. Note: these are not necessarily the dresses we will choose but these are some options. Also, these are two different shades of blue so let me know which ones you like too!!

ONE

TWO

How to vote: Go to add a comment. Type in your vote and color with any other suggestions. Add name or anonymous and we'll tally up.. if no one participates then too bad so sad!!

I've been pondering my next blog and I think i'll introduce my bridal party to you and why I picked them. (If y'all, as in my bridal party, read it let me know!!)

Enjoy!

Jen

hodge-podge

My life consists of nursing school/ nursing school work or studies and going to work. THAT'S IT!! The point i'm getting at is that, that is all I do and I'm stressed to the max. The past few days I've been thinking about how on earth I'm going to manage nursing school, working, and being a wife. Because, lately i've been a "kate gosselin." i've been a rude, bosy, stressed out, pessimistic person.. and it's just not me. I can honestly say that one thing I could say about myself previously was that I could find something good out of everything. But now everything looks terrible. I HATE IT!!

So my goal is to turn that around.. I'm going to find something (i'll start with one thing) positive about everything I experience each day. I'm going to love Jason as he deserves... well try atleast. I'm going to stay true to what I believe and try to live that out daily.. which i've failed in miserably. And last but not least I refuse to have one negative thought about marriage. Because this is our time. This is the right time for us and we know this. It's going to be hard and difficult but we're going to have each other.. so I might as well stop worrying about it and thinking negatively about it because that's how it's going to be. It's all taken care of... and I truly belive that.

Let me ask you if God wasn't in control of my life there is no way I would have met Jason. We live 25 miles apart. If he wasn't in control of my life.. who knows where I'd be today. If God wasn't in control.. how in the heck would I be passing nursing school?? Seriously?! If he wasn't in control how on earth would I have gotten a guy who treats me so well? It may sound like rubbish but He's got it.. and I've got to understand that because I surely haven't fully grasped all that yet. It's amazing. I couldn't tell you how many other experiences I've had that prove to me he's totally got it... but there's been dozens.

So basically how does all this relate? It kinda does.. kinda doesn't. I've got to drop all the bad attitude, worry wart, nervous nelly stuff and remember he's got it under control. This way I can be loving, OPTIMISTIC!!, and outrageously happy about this fantastic wedding that will take place on 5-28-2010!

Enjoy!
Jen

Pepper Plantation is BOOKED!

We've booked our date!!! May 28, 2010 and I'm so so so excited. We officially have 439 days until we are married!

I debated if I wanted to post pictures or keep it a secret but I can't keep a secret especially my own and it's such a big secret so that does not help. I've posted pictures of our wedding venue... i know I'm terrible..

No.. it's not a hoe-down..we're having a southern wedding and what better than a barn to do that? It's gorgeous and these pictures do not do justice! We love love love it. We're going to use lots of candles and southern themed items to pull it all together.


Enjoy and tell us what you think...

these chairs are around the fire pit and along the outside of the barn. i don't know if you can tell but they have a palm tree and crescent moon on them!! LOVE IT!

this is going to be where the tables, cake, and dance floor will be. we are going to use lighting, candles, and flowers to pull it all together.

This is where we are getting married!! we are going to stand outside and our guests will sit on opposite sides of the fire pit.

This is the view from the dock!

This GORGEOUS southern location is called Pepper Plantation. It is in Awendaw, SC just passed Isle of Palms! I'm super stocked about this place because it is brand new and there has not been a wedding here yet... they've had a reception. Not to say there couldn't be one between now and then but it'll be one of the few I'm sure.

And if anyone knows me I like to be unique and have the one thing everyone else doesn't. (i know I'm seriously terrible but what girl doesn't want her wedding venue to be "hers".. and I'd be lying if i said i wasn't like that)..

hope to make a chart on the side to see which colors people like... even those of you who don't have blogs can vote!! so I'll get on that soon.

enjoy!! we're so so excited.. and hope you are as well!

Wedding Planning Here I Come!!

We are officially on Spring Break! Oh, how we needed this break so so so badly. I have been the biggest jerk the last few weeks. I've been so overwhelmed, over stimulated, over exhausted... the list goes on and on. Sadly I must admit that my grades have reflected these things. So as we are now on spring break here' what the plans are. Jason is now in Florida watching the Atlanta Braves at spring training and I am working a few days and WEDDING PLANNING the other days..

I am seriously so excited about planning this wedding! Did I mention that we went to check out a place for our wedding/reception venue and LOVED IT?! So now that we've kinda set the tone for our wedding we've got a lot to do in the next 14 months and something odd days!

My mom and I are going to look at table linens and decorations, floral arrangements, invitations, and possibly another venue just to make sure "i'm keeping my options open." She says that thought she knows my heart and mind are already made up and secretly so is hers. Oh and the fact that Jason loves it doesn't hurt either!

We were going for the beach theme but it's totally NOT a beach theme anymore and I LOVE IT! Simply said it's just plain southern!

Oh oh oh... also some exciting news is that I found a dress I L-O-V-EEEEE.. but I'm definately going to look around because I don't want to settle for just any ole' dress. My mom, one of my bridesmaid, and a friend have all seen it in person and some others have seen it in pictures. It's unique and everyone seems to like it so far.

Those are your updates folks! Enjoy :0)
Jen

* Ps- Jas I know you are going to read this so I just wanted to let you know I love you and am thankful that in 14 months and something odd days I'll be married to you as Jennifer Lynn Chinnis (the first from Iowa!!)

what a day!

Well hello everyone.... (this is Jason). 

well i'm not going to write like Jen did i'm a guy and don't talk that much (lol no offence ladies). Well today Jen and I went and look at our first place to get married at. I had a great time with her, her mom and my mom. While we where there all i could think about was holy cow im about to get married to the best person ever. I was just imaging what that day was going to be like and i cant explain the excitement i was feeling it was awesome. 

I also want to thank everyone who is praying for us and our feature. I know God is going to provide for his children. I know its going to be hard and challenging but with God and support form our friends and family i know we will make it. 

With love and thanks, 

Jason 

wedding planning thus far and a little life mixed in

I really couldn't think of another time in my life where we've spent so much time making decisions and not getting anywhere. Today is roughly 460-something odd days away from our wedding day and we've got nothing. So really there are no new updates and nothing exciting to tell you but I just felt like blogging today. So I'm going to blog about something else that has been on my mind lately... how much I can't wait for that day, how special it will be, and seriously how I have the greatest guy around.

I cannot wait.. I keep thinking to myself hmm next year around this time I'll be counting down the days and i will be so so close. Then I start to think about the week of the wedding and get crazy excited.. but the fact is there is no words or thoughts that can sum up the feelings i'll be feeling those days. For those of you that will be around me at that time I'm sorry ahead of time. I know I'll probably be a little(ha I'm laughing to myself because I don't think a little is the right word to be used there... more like MORE THAN EVER BEFORE) crazy and moody but please I beg you.. do not let me turn into a Bridezilla.

Jason and I have had an amazing relationship and not once have I thought to myself why him? Because though we are TOTAL opposites he is everything and more than enough for me. I couldn't thank God enough for him. He has been so good to me.. I'm not even going to start listing the ways he has been because no one else wants to read about that. So I'll just leave it at that. I can't wait to marry him and there is no other guy on this earth I ever want by my side, NEVER! We were talking the other day about if we could would we change anything about our past.. and I said no because I LOVE where I am in life. But if we could change a few things and still end up where we are today we both agree we would never date other people.. but even though we did we are so so happy because we realize there is nothing in this world like TRUE love. Now, I'm getting all mushy gushy so I'll stop. But really it is amazing and I pray that everyone will find that one person in life.

I really have tons of other things to do.. like get showered, go to work, do hw.. so I should probably go. Maybe I'll finish this another day!