Jason and I dated for three and a half years before we got engaged. He ordered the ring from a shop two hours away from where we lived and a month later, drove to pick it up as soon as I left for work. Jason made a point to go to my parents’ house and asked my dad for his permission first.

It all happened on a random evening last November. Jason asked me to go out for dinner and I decided to invite some friends with us. I don’t think that was what he had planned for but I had no idea. Afterwards, we got home and I found our house full of flowers and turned around to see Jason on one knee proposing. I love how I was completely surprised.

We wanted something simple but elegant. Our wedding colours were black and white and the pattern was damask. Our invitations reflected both.

All of the flowers were white. My bouquet was a mix of hydrangeas and roses and the bridesmaids bouquets were a smaller version.

The guys wore rose boutonnieres. Mini cymbidium orchids were the centerpieces.

The most memorable moment was definitely when we saw each other down the aisle.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was not having to worry about details! Our wedding planner (Bliss Event Planning (Dylan List member)) and all other vendors worked well together to cover everything and more!

Our guest book was a wine bottle. On the bottle, people signed their best wishes to us with a silver pen.

We plan on having our first anniversary at the same hotel our wedding was at and open the bottle that day.

We were lucky enough to have a husband and wife duo (Tallevi Studios) as our photographers. One of them set up a photo booth with props for the guests to take candid pictures at.

It was nice to send out the pictures with the thank you cards. Our guests loved it.

Venue: Nita Lake Lodge
Photographers: Tallevi Studios
Wedding Coordination & Florist: Bliss Event Planning (Dylan List member)
Hair & Make-up: Brenda Bakker
Nails: Nita Lake Lodge Spa
DJ: Damon Valley

Its Cyber Monday and what better way to kick off the Holiday season then with a HUGE sale!

Right now we’re offering 50% off ALL our ads, including the Dylan List. Contact us for more information.

The deals don’t stop here. Many of our friends and sponsors are having Cyber Monday deals as well.

Waxing Poetic Sale
One of our favorite jewelry retailers, Waxing Poetic, has launched a new sale section called Epilogue right in time for the holiday season. Epilogue features a collection of Waxing Poetic’s finest retired pieces that are bound to become your newest treasures. These limited quantity handmade pieces are marked 25% off retail price and cannot be found at any other retailer. To kick off their post Thanksgiving sale, Waxing Poetic is also offering an additional 20% off Epilogue items this Monday November 29 with the code SALE20. Be sure to surprise that special someone with a piece of Waxing Poetic jewelry this holiday season!

Bellissima Jewelry
They are having their biggest sale of the season. On November 29th only, enjoy 30% savings on everything in stock. It’s the perfect time to get every woman on your holiday list a piece of Bellissima Jewelry and with these great savings, get yourself something nice too!

AmericanBridal.com
Its your last day to get totes for $8.00! Plus you don’t want to miss out on 15% off $120 with code bf2010a and 20% off $175 with code bf2010b!

Minted
Get 15% Off Holiday Cards. Using code CYBERAFF. Minted has also extended their Thanksgiving sale through 11/30 for 20% off all orders $150 or more.

The Knot Wedding Shop
For a limited time you can get 20% off ALL orders with NO minimum. Make sure you use code cyber20!

Wedding Paper Divas
They are having a site wide cyber week sale and you can get between 10-25% off your order. The sale ends on Dec. 6th.

Happy Monday & Shopping!

When I was a little girl I woke up early to watch Princess Diana marry Prince Charles. That’s when my love affair with weddings started. As the world buzzes about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement I can’t help but be inspired today by the woman who is set to become the most famous woman in the world.

From the very beginning I waited on pins and needles for Prince William to propose. Well, maybe it wasn’t pins and needles, but I really wanted to see them get married. Kate is full of style and grace, and she and Prince William look so great together. Everyday I watch the news to hear the latest details emerge about the wedding and I can’t help but get more excited about their spring nuptials.

April 29, 2011 they will marry at Westminster Abbey in front of billions of people and all I can think about is what will she be wearing? I would love to see an elegant, modern, and simple wedding. I would love to see her wear British designer Ben de Lisi and have a black and white color palette. I instantly fell in love with the couture gown Ben de Lisi designed with a twisted and torn silk tulle torso with ruched sleeves and a full skirt.

We won’t know until the wedding day what her gown will look like, but until then we can be inspired by all the small details that emerge.

Photos courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar, Ben de Lisi via People Magazine, Dankuna.com, Freya Rose via 5 Star Wedding Directory, Cake Boss via Dallas Wedding Planner, Courtney Dellafiora Weddings.

After six years of dating Paul finally decided to pop the big question! Paul called into work sick one day after I left and he went shopping. Paul picked out a ring, but no plan. He ended up going to talk to his mom and grandma and decided he would propose on Valentines Day, the same day his grandpa asked his grandma.

A week later on Valentines day Paul gave me a single rose, handed me a box, dropped to one knee, and asked me to be his wife! The next day wedding planning begun!

When Krista found her perfect dress her mom found inspiration for the flower girl dresses.

Pulling double duty for the wedding Krista’s mom not only made the flower girl dresses by hand, but she also made all of the bouquets and boutineer’s.

Krista and Paul decided to get married at her mom’s house in Idaho next to the river. When it came to the details Krista and Paul made sure they were simple. They both love being outdoors so they didn’t want to take away from the natural beauty of Rigby, Idaho.

Today’s wedding was sent via Two Bright Lights by Amanda K. Photography. Katie shoots weddings in Idaho, Portland and Seattle. To check out more of her work make sure you check out her website and blog!

Photography: Amanda K. Photography

Hair & Make-up: NV Salon

Cake: Audrey’s Cakes

Reception Venue: Red Lion Hotel

Band: South of Sculptor

Today’s beautiful wedding comes to us from Morgan Trinker Photography via Two Bright Lights. I fell in love with this wedding because it felt personal and intimate.

Morgan felt the exact same way. Here’s what she had to say about Lauren and Brian’s wedding:

The most perfect time to be in East Tennessee is October. The leaves are just beginning to change, the air is cool and crisp, the excitement surrounding Vols football is buzzing around, and the Great Smoky Mountains are absolutely breathtaking. Lauren and Brian made the perfect decision to get married during this time of year under an outdoor pavilion tucked away in the seclusion of the mountains.

From the buffet of fried chicken and homemade desserts to the stunning array of fall flowers in purple, red, and yellow to Lauren’s sweet and simple lace dress to the Southern swing-era jazz band, everything about this wedding reflected the couple’s roots and their love for the outdoors, personal touches, and celebrating local talent.

One of my favorite moments of the day was when the pastor read excerpts from both Lauren and Brian’s journals from the time period when they began dating. It was followed by their handwritten vows to each other… There wasn’t a dry eye under the pavilion.

Lauren, how did Brian propose? Brian took me to the mountains to hike the Chimney Tops, which is where we went on our first big “date.” On the drive we were reminiscing about our first trip there and how we had changed as a couple since then.

We climbed out onto the rocks at the top and he pulled out a bottle of wine to drink out of mason jars with our Indian food. After we ate he pulled me close to him so I could sit facing away from him, and we looked out over the mountains.

He pulled out a walnut-sized ball of yarn and his voice and hands started to shake. He unraveled the multi-colored yarn, and he told me how each color symbolized something about the relationship. The ring was in the middle, and I could hardly see it because I was already crying. He got on one knee and asked “Lauren Trotter, will you marry me?” And I finally got out a small yes, half laughing and half crying.

What was your favorite design element of the day? The flowers. Stacey with Blooming Earth Flowers did such an incredible job; the bouquets were perfect and she chose just the right elements, like the dried okra and the sweet gum balls to combine earth tones with the bright colors. The beans in mason jars looked perfect. The candles in the fireplace worked out very well, too.

I told Stacey at our first meeting to picture a cabin in a field in October at twilight with the fireplace going and a colorful, braided rug on the hardwood floor. It was amazing to me – she knew exactly what I meant, and the flowers conveyed that feeling so perfectly.

We had dahlias, goldenrod, soloecia, grapevine, sweet gum balls, thistles, and jars full of different-colored beans to stick the flowers in.

How did you personalize the ceremony? During the ceremony we had our bridesmaids, groomsmen and family stack flat stones to make a pillar like you find all over hiking trails and in the mountains. It symbolized how the foundation of our relationship is our amazing family and friends. We also wrote our own vows and had our pastors (my dad and Brian’s friend) tell various stories so the guests could share in our narrative.

We also used “What I Like About You” by the Romantics as the recessional, and the bridal party did the claps and the “heys” at the beginning.

Lauren said the glow of the Christmas lights felt cozy, friendly, and happy once it started to get dark outside.

Photography: Morgan Trinker Photography

Catering & Music: The Parlor

Florist: Blooming Earth Flowers

Band: The Old City Buskers

Beer: Woodruff’s Brewing Company

Rentals: Rentals Rentals

Brides Dress: David’s Bridal

Groom’s Tux: Men’s Warehouse

Jewelry: Markman’s Jewelers

This trend is popping up everywhere this year and I can’t get enough of it. Books are a great way to personalize your wedding with something you have in common with your fiance.

Find an old Bible or book on love and wrap it with a ribbon, this is a great option for a ring bearer pillow.

Find books both of you have read or have made a impression on you and use them as centerpieces. Don’t forgot to look into books about love or poems as centerpiece options as well.

The key to this trend make sure you use hardback books.

You can also use books for the table numbers. This is a great DIY project you can find on Once Wed.

There are so many ways so you can incorporate books into your wedding day decor. You can give it any kind of look you want so make sure you find the perfect fit for your personality and wedding.

Happy Planning!

Photos courtesy of 2000 Dollar Wedding, Erin McFarland Photography via Wedding Bee, Once Wed, Wedding Bee.