Alissa

End of a blog and wedding pictures

I know I know… everyone has been saying the same thing… we’re really glad your’re back from Jamaica… but where are the wedding pictures? Well we did get them back and are now sorting though the 1076 photos. That is the actual number. No exaggeration. And no matter how much you may think you love us and want to look at our pictures, no one wants to see that many. (not even my mother). On top of which they are all about 6MB a piece  (which is great so that we can print out high resolution copies, but bad for emailing). That being said the pictures are wonderful. We LOVED our photographer and I highly recommend Chris to anyone in the area who gets married. (In fact if you have the money I recommend flying him to wherever you wedding is). I will be uploading a bunch to snapfish and I will email that link around. (I’m also today or tomorrow going to send out a small slideshow that Eikon Photography put together for us.) So if you don’t get this in the next couple of days email me. Below is one picture of us.

Which brings me to the second part of this post. Since this was a wedding blog and the wedding is technically over I think this blog is has come to it’s natural end. It sees kind of sad in a way, but I guess all good things come to an end. For those of you who read, commented, inspired and encouraged this blog – thank you. I will of course still be in touch via email.

Honeymoon part 2….

So after relaxing in beautiful Ocho Rios, we went to Negril (on the western side) to begin the adventure part of our honeymoon.  We went to Y.S. Falls where we climbed up waterfalls (and jumped in using a rope swing). Aaron also got to zip cord over the waterfalls J. We went on a Black River Safari to see Alligators (yes they were alive) and Aaron got to drive the boat, and then we went rafting down one of the longest rivers in Jamaica where I got a natural pedicure with limestone J ….

 

We're back....

It was so hard to leave Jamaica and come back to “the real world” of work and responsibilities, but our honeymoon has ended and we are now back state side. (Well the Jamaica part of the honeymoon ended… I still get to keep the man which is the best part J).  Before I write about our honeymoon I just want to say a couple of words about the wedding. First, a HUGE thank you to all of our friends and families who participated in/and helped make the wedding happen (including some of our close friends who were far away and unable to attend, but were definitely there in spirit) we love you and can’t thank you enough for make the day perfect. I don’t have the pictures back yet, but when I do I will definitely post them and send out some links. In the meantime if you have some pictures from that day please feel free to email them to Aaron and/or me.

Ahhh Jamaica... So we arrived on Tuesday, exhausted but happy and was immediately shuttled to the Sunset Jamaica Grand Resort in Ocho Rios, where we spent 2 days at this all inclusive resort lying out in the sun, swimming, eating a ton, jumping on water trampolines, kyaking, sailing, and going down water slides. (Well actually Aaron went down the water slide, I just took the picture). So here are some of the pictures from those two days.

10...9...8...

And so the countdown begins. 10 days left until I get married. 10 days. How did that happen? I’m excited and happy, but 10 days? Really, is that it? In 10 days I will become an Mrs. In 10 days I will become an Emmel. In 10 days I’m going to be living with a boy. (Well actually with a man J). It’s amazing how  quickly this time has gone by.

In other news Aaron’s parents are coming into town this Friday, and we are both looking forward to seeing them.  Unfortunately we will both be working next week (or at least for most of the week ~ I’m feeling the need to take a day off) but we’ll be able to spend time in the evenings and it’s nice that Aaron will get to spend some time with his mom and dad alone before we get married.

Feeling sheepish

So on Friday I was exhausted. Aaron and I had been re-arranging the new apartment all week and then I’d go “home” to Falls Church while he finished up (at like 12:00 every night). I almost called in sick that day because all I wanted to do was just lie in bed and sleep, but I came into work anyhow. And what was waiting for me, but a meeting request to talk about this major meeting that was happening on Monday. We had already had 2 other meetings to “prepare” for this meeting and I was beyond annoyed. I complained all morning to anyone who would listen about how this is why people make fun of government workers (meeting to discuss meetings) and how this was such a waste to time and how to add insult to injury this was during lunch time (12:30) since apparently there was no other time that matched everyone’s schedule…

And then I went to the meeting, opened the door and found Aaron and all of my co-workers as they had thrown a surprise wedding shower for me. J They had completely decorated the conference room with pink hearts and flowers, had a huge neon pink boa (with silver sparkles) for me to wear, had tons of very yummy homemade food as well as had prepared games and went though all the trouble of getting Aaron into the building. They completely surprised me and it was a perfect work shower.

Moving…

So it’s official.  I live with Aaron. Well at least my stuff lives with Aaron J Last week I moved all of my items into our new apartment (who knew I had collected so many things???). Our apartment. It still feels so strange to say that. I sent Aaron a text message yesterday saying that I would “meet him at home” and he was commenting that it was nice to hear “home” and not “your home” or “my home.”  Somehow all the boxes made it into the apartment, now it’s just a matter of unpacking. Until the wedding I am staying with friends in Falls Church, but all mail should be sent to our new address. If you need our new address please send Aaron or me an email, or leave us a voicemail.

In other wedding news this past week I got our rings, did the dress fitting, got the earrings that I needed (thanks Nancy and Stephanie), ordered the table gifts.  This week I get to finalize the catering, select and order flowers, finalize the program and meet with the photographers.  Yep, another long week.  But it's good to know that on September 23rd what ever does or does not happen - i get to marry the man of my dreams, and so it will be a perfect day!

Bridal Shower part 2

The previous entry was to highlight the fun we had, but also to provide an idea of what the day was like to all of my friends and family that couldn’t attend… But I also wanted to post some of my favorite pictures and say a HUGE thank you to Olya, Nancy, Tressa, Ciara, Alyssa and Kamal for putting together the best bridal shower ever! I was actually speechless for the rest of the afternoon (and Aaron can attest to how rare that is). It was perfect and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate all the love and work that you put into it. Below is the group picture (Michelle and Kate left before we took it L) Me with the planning party (other than Olya), the recipe cards (everyone brought their favorite recipe with them ~ I was so touched and am really excited to try out all of these new recipes) and then some candid photos.

Bridal Shower

On August 19th my wonderful friends put together the most amazing bridal shower. I arrived to be surrounded by my closest friends, and of course a multitude of tiaras and shoes J. After crowning me in a fabulous tiara/veil (pictures 1, 2 & 3) (complete with a huge feather, a poofy flower, shoe stickers and a big diamond) we got to share an amazing brunch.. so yummy… and major props to Kamal who turned the watermelon into a tiara. (pictures 4 & 5) We played a game where Ciara had called Aaron and asked him a whole bunch of questions and then I had to guess how he answered them, (picture 6) and then it was on to opening gifts ( Pictures 7, 8, 9) ~ yes I decided not to post pictures of the more *scandalous* ones J . After we got to sit around and socialize, enjoy cake and shoe cookies and people got tiara cookies to take home. (How very fitting) pictures 10,11,12.

The Bachelorette

Since Aaron went to New Mexico to celebrate with “the boys” I went to Cleveland, Ohio to celebrate with “the girls” specifically my fabulous cousin Jessica and Aunt Wendy. It was perfect: I woke up to chocolate chip oatmeal pancakes, had yummy pasta dishes for dinner, went shopping, lounged around in leopard print shoes (of course), and just got to have a perfectly relaxing weekend. My uncle Daniel and cousin Jonathan joined us for an outdoor Jazz fusion event where we saw six-time Grammy winning Bela Fleck and the Flecktones perform their mixture of bluegrass, jazz, folk and funk. One of the most special highlights was a celebration dinner planned for me by Mrs. Weisman (my Aunt’s mother). In addition to the exquisite food (if I could be ½ the cook she is I’d be happy), it was so sweet of her to plan this dinner and it was really wonderful to be surrounded by family…

The bachelor

So this past weekend Aaron was in New Mexico for his “bachelor party” with all of his friends. Basically he got to hang out with friends, go hiking and see art galleries and eat lots of chile. For those of you who don’t know New Mexican green chile is hard to get outside of New Mexico and in New Mexico it goes on everything… so Aaron really misses it. Below are a couple of pictures of the trip. Of course for more details you’ll have to email him J