Dresses, Veils, and Flowers.

Of course after the engagement came the whirlwind of wedding plans. It started almost immediately and didn't end until over a year later when the last thank-you note was signed and mailed.

Wedding planning can be one of the most stressful times of you life, but if you have great friends and support with you through the ride then it can also be one of the most fun times. I was fortunate to have my best friends with me (some in spirit due to long distances!) every step of the way.

Roman and i changed the date at least 3 or 4 times. The venue was changed twice. We eventually settled on Friday, August 15th, 2008. A sunset wedding, at Brasstown Valley Resort, in a garden. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL, and the reception that followed was everything we hoped for. We were fortunate to not only have the wedding with my family and friends in North Carolina, but to have a separate reception a week later in Chicago for all of Romans relative that were unable to travel. Both parties were stunning nights to remember...



My "Updated" ring. We got a diamond wrap to go around the original solitaire.



My Tiara.



The Wedding Invite. Hand made, hand stamped, hand tied. Lots of work!




My Wedding Dress. My Best friend Cheryl was right there beside me while i tried on over 100 dresses over a couple month timespan. We were so happy to find "the one".



Rehearsal



Rehearsal Dinner. Our families meeting for the first time.



Hair and Makeup for the big day.



Teresa (my hairstylist) is always there for me!



Our rings.



Roman and Donald (My Pastor)



The Ceremony.






























John, Our great friend and wedding photographer! He came all the way from Canada for our big day.



First dance.



One of my lovely Maids of honor (yep, i had two!) and i dancing to "our" song.





It was an absolutely beautiful day. One week later, we were ready for round two of wedding celebrations.

Our Journey from the beginning.

Let's get caught up from the beginning of our "family" until now!

Roman and i met online in the fall of 2004. However we didn't meet how you would think two people would meet online. There were no dating sites or chat rooms, for us it was a simple blogging site that brought us together. We had bother been members of a blogging community for a while, and knew some of the same people. Those people eventually led us to each other and we became quick friends.

At the time, I lived in a small town in North Carolina, and Roman in Chicago. We didn't expect much to come out of our friendship online but as the months passed we grew closer and eventually fell in love. Around 6 months after "meeting" online we finally met in person when i flew to Chicago...we haven't really be apart since!

In the summer of 2007, after almost 3 years of dating, we started talking about marriage. One day Roman took me to look at engagement rings...yep he took me along. My fault! I am a picky girl when it comes to jewelry and i really couldn't stomach the idea of him spending more than he should on something that i might not even like. I wasn't trying to be a brat, just practical! We went to over 10 stores and i found nothing. Prices were so high for so little! We decided to make one last stop before heading home, at a new engagement ring store. I practically had to be dragged in because at this point, i was done with the whole process. I was so tired and disappointed that i was ready to just put a cracker jack prize ring on and be done with it all! The store had some amazing rings of course, and the price tags to go along with them, some even more than i can imagine spending for a house! We finally found **THE** ring, it wasn't even what i was looking for, it was so simple yet exactly what i wanted. Roman agreed and went on with the purchase. Little did i know that he was planning a surprise proposal right there in the store! The associates took our picture when we were leaving and right then Roman got down on one knee and proposed! After picking out the ring, i didn't think i could be surprised by the proposal but i was. It was magic in a jewelry store!

This is the first picture of Roman and I together. Taken in early March, 2005, at the end of our first week together. This was right before we left for the airport.

Roman's first ever trip to my parents house. June 2005.

Our first New years eve together. New years 2006.

Our absolutely AMAZING trip to Los Cabos, Mexico. August 2006.

The day we got engaged in 2007!

At the store right before the proposal!

Ready to go out and celebrate after a long emotional day.

The ring!

Our engagement photos. February 2008.

Next up...the wedding!