Our Engagement Pictures

Over the course of our five-year relationship, Brandon and I have taken very few pictures that I absolutely adore. I knew that I wanted to take some great engagement pictures, but I also knew that it was out of our budget. In comes Mr. Daniel Yu, who is not only clever with words, but is also extremely talented behind the camera.

We headed to the beautiful Huntington Library yesterday afternoon and pretended that we actually knew what we were doing as models. Daniel did a wonderful job making us feel comfortable and gave us direction. Here are just a few of his great shots:

We found this gorgeous fountain and did our best looking serious.

I love the moments right before a sweet kiss.

I probably flashed a few people behind me when I jumped onto Brandon's back. This one is Brandon's favorite picture.

Here we are K-I-S-S-I-N-G. This was such a difficult picture to take because I don't do well with nature and was straining every muscle to stay on the tree, but it was worth it.

I love this shot, especially since you can't tell that we were being blinded by the bright sun.

Our acting skills came into play here as we're coming out of the children's tunnel.

We love each other. Can you see it?

Thanks a bunch to Daniel for these wonderful pictures that we can treasure forever.

Pieces of the Puzzle

Brandon and I have been running around these past few weeks putting together our wedding. Each week we have had at least one appointment to meet with someone in hopes of hiring them for our wedding.

I must admit that we are really lacking in the "shopping around" department. Perhaps we are just very lazy, but I like to think that we are great at doing research because we have been booking almost the first people that we see in each category.

We booked the first and last place that we saw, The Nixon Library, because we fell in love immediately.

We hired Allison from Flower Allie the day after meeting with her. I found her through a photographer's blog entry dedicated to a wedding at the Nixon Library during the winter time. The couple also had a dark red color scheme, and upon viewing their centerpieces I knew that that was what I wanted. Allison worked with us on our budget and told us what we could cut out (like the beautiful arch to the left that costs $400) or do ourselves in order to save money. In the end, Allison only went over our initial budget by $45.

Jason's Catering is most likely going to be our caterers for the evening, and we've only had one tasting. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything we put into our mouths tasted incredible, and we just know that people wil rave about the food at the reception. Their pricing per person was incredibly reasonable as our guests will all be treated to a three course dinner complete with passed hor dourves, a tasty salad, and a scrumptious stuffed roasted chicken entree complete with sides. They are also throwing in a free candy buffet along with chocolate truffles and strawberries for dessert. Last, but definitely not least, an open wine and beer bar for the first hour for only $6 per guest.

What can I say? We know what we like and we know what we want.

What's done: venue, florist, caterer, final invitation mock up (a post on that after they're sent out in October), wedding dress, photographer, cake topper, wedding cupcakes

What's in the works: entertainment, officiant, bridesmaid dresses, bridal party gifts, engagement shoot with Daniel Yu, rehearsal dinner, wedding website

What's left: hotels, honeymoon, hair and makeup, gifts for parents, day-of-wedding coordinator, all the little details, guest book, photo booth (if Groomzilla agrees to it)

Thanks, Team Min

I apologize for being a bad blogger. My friends have been telling me that as a blogger, I have a responsibility to blog often for my faithful followers. So, my faithful followers, here I am, begging for your forgiveness with pictures of more wedding dress shopping.

A week and a half ago, "Team Min" (as my sister lovingly named us) went to David's Bridal in Costa Mesa to try on some more dresses. This was supposed to be a good day. It was not a good day. I probably would have been driven to tears if not for my wonderful team.

I was treated horribly by my bridal consultant, Josephina. To the left is a picture of Josephina doing what she does best: checking herself out in the mirror.

When I made an appointment over the phone, I was told to go through their website and write down a list of all the dresses I wanted to try on. Out of about twelve dresses, Josephina only wanted me to try on three.

We asked her to pull up a dress that I tried on last time and was thinking about purchasing. The style number was written on my records, but she tried to convince us that it was discontinued. After asking her three times to look it up, Debbie ordered Team Min to search the racks on their own. After less than five minutes, Debbie came back victorious, running back to my small box of a dressing room at full speed in her heels.

And then Josephina came back and told me to keep the Team under control.

A bridal consultant is supposed to ask you what you are looking for in a dress at the beginning of the appointment. She asked me at the end when I was going back and forth between two dresses. I would love the top of one dress, and the bottom of another.

Despite all this, I was able to find a dress that I could see myself walking down the aisle in. I wanted to hold off on purchasing it until my mother came home from China, but Josephina refused to look up whether or not the dress was going to be discontinued or still available for another month. She pushed me to buy it now or lose it forever.

I ended up putting a non-refundable down payment on the dress. Thankfully, after seeing the pictures of me in that dress I am liking it more and more. Also, I came way under my budget since the dress was about $600. It also has a lace-up corset so it adjusts with any future weight changes.

Going shopping for the dress you are going to get married in is supposed to be a special time. Whether you are in an expensive boutique or at David's Bridal, try to make the best of your experience. You should be allowed to stand in a single dress in front of a mirror for as long as you want. Be vain. Check out your hair. Turn side to side, and side to side again. Order someone to pick up your dress. Push up your boobs so that they look their best. Do whatever it is that you want.

But most imporantly, bring the ones you love beccause they make all the difference.

Thanks to Bridesman Tony for taking these pictures!