It's Begun

Its official, the wedding preparations have started. Today I have been gallivanting across the coast with Kitty and Brad looking at all kinds of places that Dave and I could possibly use as a reception venue. Some of the highlights of today’s expedition:

1. Brad’s Driving

2. Kitty’s commitment to the cause – despite the fact that because of my poor memory she had to take her own car

3. Picnic point and its hidden gem – the Sandringham Yacht Club

4. Brad’s voice memos

Tracy

So if you remeber back a little while ago now, I told you all about my audtion for the role of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray... well what I didn't tell you was this... there were some really annoying girls there that day, and while I knew I wasn't as talented as most of them, I really could bare the thought of having one of them be then next Tracy... simply because they were soooooooo annoying.  However, the good news is this... remember back even further... well actually before you do that head other to my Project365 blog and then remember all the way back to april when I went and saw the musical Fame.  Well that night at fame, I saw something amazing, the lady playing the role of Mabel blew my mine.  Despite not reallying being one of the main characters, this girl stole the show when she sang her song "Mabel's Prayer".  Seriously the crowd was amazed and for me she was hands down the best part of the night.  Anyway, she (her real name is Jaz Flowers) is going to be the new Tracy I just found out and I am very very very please with their choice.  If I was going to 'lose', so to speak, to anyone it would happily be her. 

Oh and on a side note... I think that the chorus of Mabel's Prayer will soon become my mantra as I start looking at wedding dresses etc as the lyrics say:

Oh Lord give me a sign
Give me a call on your heavenly line
Tell me, oh Lord, what it is that you want of me
Keep me from eatin' whatever's in front of me

appropriate much?

Bridal Expo

Today Dave and I have been out at the Melbourne Bridal Expo.  Yes, Dave came with me and just for the record, he was not dragged, forced of even bribed, he came on his own free will.

Anyway, I wasn't really sure what to expect, in my mind I pictured this bridezilla fest with people and salespeople going everywhere.  But it turns out it was all a bit civilised.  There was only one lady that looked a little bridezilla, but we managed to avoid her for most of the morning.  I think it was a good chance for Dave and I just to work out what we needed to start thinking about when it comes to our turn once we get back from Sweden.  So I don't really have that much exciting news to tell you... I was hoping that our morning here would bring great stories by the handful, but no nothing really, it was all a bit normal.  So sorry its all a bit of a let down.

Cutting My Bridal Magazines

I have had an idea... I know surprising... it doesn't happen often so strap yourselves in.  The thing is though, my idea has been met with very mixed and even quite polarised responses and so now I am a little torn.

So... I am putting it out into the blogosphere... So in a second I am going to share this idea and then below in the comment section, or alternatively, if you are at my actual blog rather than just the facebook version, in the poll on the sidebar... I would like you to vote, it doesn't take long just a yea or a nay and that's it. Of course you can elaborate and say more if you want, however all that's actually required is a response.

So here it is:

I want to cut up my bridal magazines to scrapbook my ideas.

Is it really that bad to cut them up? Is it magazine massacre? Or is it a really good idea? Let me know what you think....

Oh and of course I will let you know what I decide!

Engagement Party

So this afternoon Dave and I had our engagement party.  Leading up to it I have been a bit stressed... Had I done everything? was it going to go ok? would everyone come? Would everyone get along? Had I forgotten anyone? Was I ready for this? All these questions were going over and over, but now it's been and gone and it was all good! In fact I can't believe how well it went, or how spoilt Dave and I were... Seriously two car loads of awesome pressies is crazy!

Anyway what I really want to say is that I feel like this party gas made everything so much more official.  I mean I know Dave and I were officially getting married as soon as I said yes back in April after the most extravagant proposal ever, but something about having everyone there today made it even more real. So guess what??? I am getting married! Seriously... Married, it's all official it's happening!

So thanks everyone for helping Dave and I celebrate, oh and thanks so much for all our beautiful presents.  And coz I couldn't decide which pictures to put in the blog, I have decided to make a slide show of some of the good ones... Enjoy! 

I'M GETTING MARRIED!

Ok so here is probably the most exciting blog of the whole year... maybe even my whole life I am not sure... but I AM ENGAGED!  Yep that's right, Dave and I are getting married! WOO HOO!  But not only did I get engaged, I think I received the most extravagant proposal of all time... but because I don't know any other way to explain it and give Dave all the credit he deserves, I need to explain it story book style... coz its pretty much a fairytale... so here we go!

Once upon a time, there was a princess named Emma.  Emma wasn't a real princess, as she was not born into any kind of royalty, she just liked to be treated like one.  Luckily for her she was in Love with a very very handsome prince, and they had been in love for almost 6 years.  Both the Prince and the Princess loved each other very much and often thought of getting married and living happily ever after, however despite Emma's pushing and hinting, her left ring finger remained naked.  That was until one special day in April.

The day was always going to be special, as it was a 'date day' for Emma and her prince.  A day set aside so that they could just hang out together, because life was so busy, as Emma lived far away in the country and Dave lived in the city.  As the prince had made little effort for the past two date days, he had already had promised that this date day would be extra special.  Being very smug and little nasty, Emma decided that this was fair enough and prepared herself to lap up the extravagant day without much thought.  However, little did she know the plans her prince had made started taking place the Thursday before when Emma's prince rang her with some bad news. 

He had called to tell her that he was desperately needed to play saxophone in Jersey Boys on Saturday Night and that unfortunately Date day would just have to be cut short.  However, he told Emma that as this was ruining their plans he had only accepted the gig because he had managed to get her a free ticket to make up for the fact that she would spend the evening of Date Day alone.  More than Happy to go and see Jersey Boys for the fourth time, Emma was quick to accept the predicament and thought nothing more of it.

Date Day started with photos, a fund raiser for the Kids Church, and as to make the pictures nice, Emma and Dave had both taken the time to scrub up for the event.  Both were looking dashing, but even in this small step of getting dressed, the prince had begun to leave clues for his princess as the shirt he had chosen for the day was very special.  It was the shirt that he had worn to Emma's year 12 formal almost 6years ago.  After a hot photo shoot they went out for some breakfast at a little cafe in Doncaster called Cafe 250 Black, which they had wanted to try for a little while.  As there was a some time left before Dave's next plan, the two headed to Eastland in search for a little milk jug for Emma's little country cottage.  At Eastland they got more than they bargained for, leaving with the milk jug as well as two types of perfume.  But this is really not super relevant to the story and therefore we must press on. 

From the the little shopping detour they headed to Jells Park, an old family favourite of Emma's, for a picnic.  On the way to the picnic, Dave received a call from the Musical Director of Jersey Boys, Luke ,who asked if Dave could come into the show earlier as there was a technical rehearsal that he needed to attend.  After confirming with his princess he agreed and completed another piece of his extravagant puzzle.  For lunch, Dave had prepared a delicious array of sandwiches, strawberries, grapes, hundreds and thousands biscuits and crispy creams.  After sampling all on display Dave and Emma were a little full and had a little nap in the park.  And while they lay there, just before she fell asleep in the beautiful sunshine, Emma thought to herself that 'today would be a great day to get engaged', however not wanting to ruin any surprises she said nothing, although she did have a quick look in the picnic bag while Dave was in the toilet.  

The afternoon rolled on and soon they were off to the movies, but not just the normal movies, as part of the prince's extravagant plans Gold Class was the only option.  So despite the fact that they were seeing a short chick flick, off to gold class they went and it was lovely.  At the end of the movie, when her prince had not asked, Emma considered the day done.  She was thankful for such a beautiful day and was a little excited about seeing Jersey Boys and any thoughts of proposals and engagement left her mind as they raced to the prince's castle to get his instruments for the show.

Once all the instruments had been carried to the theatre, Luke greeted Emma and Dave in the pit and invited Emma to stay and watch the rehearsal.  Overwhelmed by this exciting invitation Emma eagerly accepted, although before the rehearsal she did check with Dave that it was ok, as she didn't want to be one of those annoying girlfriends that constantly follow their boyfriends around, but Dave said it was fine and that she would really like it so she should stay and watch.  Not long after that, Luke asked Emma to follow him into the main auditorium where they sat down in the second front row.  While they made small talk Emma observed everyone on the stage, she watched as the actors interacted with each other and the producers told people what to do.  She felt really lucky to be in the theatre with just her, Luke, the producers and some of the artists.  The producers asked Luke if he would need stair access to the stage during the rehearsal to which he said he would and the stairs were brought to the side of the stage, but not suspecting anything Emma just continued to enjoy the moment.  

Soon the rehearsal began, and the first thing Emma noticed was that "Frankie Valli" began to sing 'Can't take my eyes off you', this made her very very happy as this was her favourite song in the musical, as it was her and Dave's "song" and had always been listed in her iPod as "I love you Davie" because she could never remember it by any other name.  She made a mental notes about how far out into the Audience Frankie sang, she then shifted he gaze to "Bob Gaudio" who she couldn't help but notice was extremely good looking.  But then, she was distracted by Dave as the horn section entered the stage for their part of the song.  Suddenly Emma's attention was back on Frankie as she thought she noticed a mistake with his words.  Listening all the more intently she was surprised to discover that Frankie was actually singing her name... In fact he was now looking right at her and singing Dave and Emma in place of the "I" and "baby" in the chorus, so that instead the song went a little like this:

"Dave Loves you Emma, and if it's quite alright,
Dave needs you Emma, to warm his lonely nights,
Dave loves you Emma trust in him when he says,
Oh pretty Emma don't bring him down he prays,
Oh pretty Emma now that he's found you stay
and let him love you Emma,
let him love you!

Feeling very overwhelmed and suddenly realising this wasn't a technically rehearsal at all, Emma was over come with emotion.  She was shocked, surprised, excited, amazed and a little embarrassed.  She turned to Luke to check that she hadn't started dreaming, but he just sat there beaming at her.  She then looked back at the stage and watched as Dave unhooked himself from his Bari Sax and started walking down from the bridge he was playing on, to the stage.  Once on the stage he motioned for her to join him, where he held her hands and told her just how much he loved her.  Emma's prince then got down on one knee and pulled out the most amazing diamond ring Emma could ever imagine and asked "Emma Jayne Lewis, Will you marry me"  With tears in her eyes she said yes and they kissed.  With that, applause broke out in the auditorium and Emma turned around to see who else was here to see this, she discovered that the rest of the cast and crew were standing the dress circle of the theatre watching and cheering her and her new fiancé.  

And they lived happily ever after... 

So there you go, that's the story... he is pretty impressive ey?  I was impressed!  Oh and I really really really love Dave!