Slow this train down, buddy!

Last Wednesday, Jamie and I went out to see Ziggy Marley and 311, thanks to my lucky win last week from CD101. What a hoot! Both acts were amazing. It was my fourth time seeing 311 live. I will always have a giant crush on Nick Hexum. Hawt.

Ziggy Marley!!!
Helloooooo Nick. Mreowr...

Friday morning I headed down to Cincinnati with Mom, Jamie, Aunt Dianna, and Christine. Our mission was to hit the Reading Bridal District in search for "the dress". I think I probably tried on 10 at Cincinnati Bride, then went next door to European Bridal and tried about 7 more on, and then finally walked over to Bridal and Formal and tried about 10 more there. In between we hit a pub for lunch, and Christine had us all crying with laughter at a story about "talking dirty". I will keep that one under wraps. ;-)

Long story short, I didn't come home with anything. In fact, I slept the whole way back to Columbus, picked up my car at Christine's, and when I finally arrived at my apartment, I was just emotionally drained. Jonathan asked me what was wrong and I tried to tell him that I was just having a hard time deciding on a dress. However, I wasn't able to keep my composure and started tearing up. He jumped off the couch and wrapped me in a hug, saying that no matter what I wear on our wedding day I'd be beautiful. I said I understood, but that for me it's more about wanting to absolutely knock him dead when I walk down that aisle. In my head, and in my heart, that's supposed to be the most beautiful I am ever on any day in my whole existence. So yeah, of course I want it to be "the dress"! And I haven't had that epiphany yet - that overwhelming understanding of "Oh yeah - this is the one!". And I've probably tried on 60 dresses in the last month or so.

I remember going with Jamie to try on gowns. We hit several stores. One in Austin, a few in town here in Columbus, and then when we got to the store in Cincinnati, she tried one on - and I remember seeing her face and the look of contentment and absolution that washed over her face. She teared up and that was it. When Mom and I went with Christine to try on gowns, we both burst into tears of joy when she found "the dress". Amanda tells me that when she found hers, she also "just knew". So why is this so hard for me? Bollocks. I keep hoping I'll have some eye-opening dream and wake up with my decision. *pffffftht!*

Saturday was a really great day though. Jonathan and I hit the farmer's market and came home with lots of yummy goodies. I cleaned a bit, and then Des arrived around 2. We made a quick trip to Target for toilet paper and some other goodies, and then went for a nice cool swim in our pool for about an hour or so. It was super refreshing! Around 5 I started getting ready. Jamie and Matt arrived around 6:30 to pick us up. Jonathan and I didn't know where we were going, but we were happy to follow them up a few blocks in the Short North. We arrived at Lemongrass! We walked in and met my Dad and Cheri, and Jonathan's Dad and Trish (his stepmom) right at the bar. Dustin, a long time friend of ours from high school, mixed up a yummy little "engagement" shot for us on the house. We sat down, ordered, and then people started to trickle in.


It was a wonderful little party, with a highlight being Aunt Dianna's delicious dessert!!! She made us a fantastic cake for the occasion and it was sooooo yummy! Oh lord I cannot wait for my wedding cake...

Post dinner, a bunch of us went down the street to Mac's pub and had a few more drinks. Some highlights include me dropping the f-bomb in front of my dad, and him dropping it right back; jonathan eluding to "playing ring-toss"; dad buying everyone a rose from the street vendor; my hilarious aunt on a mission to kiss a cop (and kissing a fireman, a couple gay dudes, and some 20-year olds instead); running into Andy, Michelle, Tony, Cori and a mess of other awesome people as a bonus; and just all around having a blast. We owe this fantastic night to Christine and Jamie, who put it all together for us. There aren't enough ways for me to say THANK YOU and show our gratitude.

I'm loving this picture of Jamie and Des - they look so ethereal!
A shot of Christine and Joe that I'm loving:
And one of my favorites from the night:


Sunday we celebrated Father's Day in Bellefontaine with the Seymours, and then Monday we went over to Mom's to celebrate Father's Day with the Somerlots.

The days are just PACKED. Yowza (as Jamie would say)!

I'll leave you with this lovely shot of another one of my inspirations for the wedding:
Photo credit: Leah McCormick, from the blog Snippet and Ink.