Creative Thank You Notes

Proper etiquette says that I have up to one year to send out Thank You Notes to our wedding guests. Its official because it was on The Nate Berkus show! I believe that is true because there is no way to have those thank you notes out right after the wedding. After our wedding we were so exhausted, cleaning our house after all the parties that happened here, and house guests we had. That we didn't get to opening our gifts until the following weekend. Making the list of who gave us what, and the ooohhs and aaahhs like Christmas just for the Hubby and me!



Bed Bath & Beyond Wrapping

Almost not, Lovely Wedding Dress

NICO Photograhers

I almost forgot to do this, but my husband reminded me that I had posted earlier about my beautiful dress, but yet never showed my actual wedding dress.

I was never the typical girl that is obsessed with marriage since they hit puberty. I didn't have a binder full of pictures of wedding gowns and wedding stuff. (I do now, lol).. I did know I wanted a different style and I thought I knew how I was going to get it custom made. Unfortunately part of that style was strapless, and like I said before EVERYONE does the strapless look, and I hate being like everyone.

Picking The Right Bridal Party

Photography by NICO Photo

One of the most important things to do when you start planning your wedding is picking your Bridal Party if you want one. Some times people get carried away wanting to pick everyone they know. You don’t have to have a big bridal party. Just make sure you hand pick the people that will share your joy on your wedding day. Ideally the bridal party should be people that will always be a part of your life. People often feel obligated to pick siblings, or people that have asked you to be in their wedding, or current significant others of friends or family, only do that if you are close to those people. You don't want people that are not true and sincere friends.

The way I picked was easy to me. Not saying that I was right, or that my bridal party will always be part of my life. But we do love them and hope they will be. I did not want to have any regrets of not having someone that I cared about in my wedding.

Photos by Rosalinda Chapa & Carla Chamut
My Beautiful Bridesmaids

Surprise Wedding Proposal

He did everything right, 
on one knee.

The closest people in our lives remember that a year ago today was full of love. It was a Thursday and everyone made the long drive to Galveston Island for the surprise engagement. That was so sweet. It was our five year anniversary and my sweet husband (boyfriend at the time) had been planning for months this special proposal. He had my family, (my sister from California was there too) closest friends and co workers all there to witness this special moment in our lives.

The reason why he decided to propose on the beach was because that is where he stole his first kiss, which of course led to a long and stable relationship. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going on the day of the engagement to keep me completely surprised, but his phone kept ringing so much, calls from the people that were already at the beach. (You guys almost ruined it!!)

Wedding Invitations = US

Front of our Invitation

I was originally going to tackle the job of doing my own wedding invitation, but decided not to after big headaches. I wanted them to be me, and unique. I didn't want the over the top fancy invitations that no one ever remembers or keeps. I wanted our invitations to include pictures, that way guests had a memory from the beginning of our wedding process. After pricing paper and realizing it was not at all cheap, we found our place, Basic Invite.



Unique Bridesmaids

(From left to right) My baby sister, soul sister,
 my sister, my life long friend, & my high school bestie
Thanks for the picture Rosalinda Chapa

This is something people have come to know as the Bride picking the UGLIEST dress for the bridesmaids dress. I don’t know if it’s a conscious decision or not. I have been in Quinceañeras and weddings and it’s always the same thing, a dress that I will never wear again. 

Why do that to the women that are supposed to be the closest to you? From what I understand it’s because that way the bridesmaids won’t outshine the bride. No matter what, the Bride will always stand out, and look radiant because she is in love and it’s HER day. I didn’t want my beautiful bridesmaids in yucky color or an ugly style. I did something completely different. Since everything in the wedding had the touch of US in it, why not let the bridesmaids be the same. I went with my Maid of Honor and picked a color and got free fabric swatches at a fabric store. Had a meeting with my bridesmaids and gave them their sample. Of course two bridesmaids were in California so theirs was mailed. They were given the instruction of finding a color similar to the one chosen, to stay in the family of the color.

Save The Date Video

I didn't want the traditional Save the Date to come in the mail to announce our wedding. I was even thinking I wasn't going to do it all together. I wanted to be hands on and I wanted to do it myself, but I was already thinking I was going to be doing our wedding invitations. So I didn't want to tackle something else and not have the time for it. Then we went to the Bridal Extravaganza, and I met our Photographers and Videographers, A&A Video Nico Photo. I have spoken about them on my Wedding Ideas page. They won me over on their video style, and then it didn't hurt that we WON a FREE Save the Date Video on their scratch off for the Bridal Extravaganza!! No joking, I'm serious we got so lucky we got that for FREE. (I think my mom in heaven wanted me to have the best wedding, that she helped me in so many ways.)

Enjoy our Save The Date Video
(Password is wedding date 3312)

Wedding Website

Leslie And George's Wedding Website

Photography by Carla Chamut 

For those of you who didn't get a chance to look at our Wedding Website or didn't get to sign the Guest Book.

A Wedding Memory

One of my husband's family members created a very nice video of the pictures and video that she took on our big day. Thank You so much Carolyn!


I wanted to share this because there were a lot of people that were not able to join us. Once I get more of the pictures I will do something similar for all my loved ones waiting to see the video that will not be ready for a few months.

Free digital slideshow made with Smilebox

We are now Mr. & Mrs!!!

Photography by NICO PHOTO

The last few days have been a blur. From the last two weeks before the wedding until now. Getting last minute things done, people getting into town for the wedding, and rehearsal. Make sure you take time to relax during the last weeks. The couple needs some alone time, more than anyone else the bride, if she is doing all the work. One of our dear friends was so wonderful and gave us our wedding gift early. He send us to the ballet to see Stanton Welch's Cinderella. It was a date night for my husband and me. We got dressed up and were able to spend a few hours not thinking of the wedding.

The Countdown Until Wedding

I've been so extremely busy these last few weeks. From picking up my sister from the airport, (grateful she is here to help me) projects for school, photo shoots, shoe searching, picking my jewelry and planning our Bridal and Bacholorete parties. I have had NO TIME to do my normal day activities. Thank God that there were plenty of left overs from the Bridal Shower because there was no time to grocery shop or even cook.

At the courthouse so READY

A Church Wedding

Photography by ©Leslie Guzman
A wedding of a dear friend

As you know by now I'm planning my wedding to my Punkin Hero. I'm a person that hates being tied down to labels and predictability. Though I don’t label myself to any religion I deeply believe in God and know that nothing happens without his will. My fiancée is very Catholic and I was raised Catholic. I would have chosen a non denominational church but why do that if he is Catholic. To me what is important is to have God's blessing in my union. Marriage is important to both of us. I never took marriage lightly this is why I didn't get married in my early 20's. I wanted to marry only once, and to the person I want to grow old with. Why do it over and over? That would only mean you are not marrying for the right reasons. This is not to insult anyone who has been married more than once. Its just me expressing MY opinion on what marriage is to me and what it should be.

Is there a perfect bridesmaid dress?

Movie Sex in the City

I just found this adorable convertible dress. I kind of wish I had picked this for my bridesmaids. It will let all of them to be different but still unified... Hmmmmmm maybe its not too late, for my very late bridesmaids. My Maid of Honors (my 2 sisters) are on top of their game, their dress has been picked and they are in love with it. Being that we are 45 days from the wedding and four bridesmaids haven't selected their dress this may be the best choice.

My Wedding Dress is Beautiful!!

Melina Christina Design

Whether you are an over the top Princess Bride, or a Simple Bride remember one thing, be ORIGINAL. You don't want to be like everyone else on your wedding day. It's YOUR day, let those pictures, video, and memories be of a one of a kind bride. I know our society dictates what is "IN" but do we have to follow? NO!!

I worked in a Bridal Boutique a long time ago, and I fell in love with different designers. I was so young and wasn't thinking that what I saw in magazines was what everyone else was wearing. I embrace being different, and unique. It's more interesting than being one of the many. So why would it be different for my wedding? Its not. What I wanted for my wedding dress was a bit unique except that it consisted of a strapless dress. What is the only dress that girls are picking now days? STRAPLESS! I went to the Bridal Extravaganza 2 months after getting engaged, and that is ALL I saw. In fact one boutique was shocked that I didn't want a strapless dress, she said "we can alter it" Does that mean that they only carry strapless dresses?! I was turned off from that style right then and there. If you want me to not like something show me that everyone is doing it and I will do the opposite.

A Photographer

This so far is my favorite engagement picture. One of my most important tips, in planning your wedding or in life period, always be yourself. It will always reflect if it’s fake. My Prince Charming is more of a country boy, and he was at ease posing for this shoot because he had his boots! I don’t have one particular style, it just depends what mood I’m in.

           Photography by Carla Chamut Our Outdoor Engagement Photoshoot

Always practice with your photographer ahead of time. If its not someone you feel comfortable with, then the pictures will be sadly to say horrible. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for a photo shoot to get amazing pictures. When I went to the Bridal Extravaganza, I was in shock at how much wedding photographers charge! I do photography so I do know the work that goes into it, but I wouldn't over charge just because I know a bride will pay. Be smart ladies shop around, make sure its a style you LOVE, because those pictures are your memories.


P.S. Tip is not just for your wedding, its for any kind of pictures. SHOP AROUND. Expensive doesnt mean better.

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog... and all my many obsessions. When I like something I really do get obsessed with it. But only in a good way.

My name is Leslie. You can read more about me on my About Page I'm a planning bride, with 65 days left to go. The real count down starts in 2 days... Eeeek!

Not scared, more nervous and hoping that everything works out the way I expect. Most brides I have spoken to or women that I know who planned their weddings were total basket cases!! I even know some one that shall remain nameless that were borderline "Bridezillas" (No joke)… I am not the most girliest of women, so I assumed that I would be horrible at this wedding planning. For years I said I would leave it to my best friend and sister who are beyond girlie and both claimed that they wanted to plan my wedding... Guess what? Neither of them helped throughout the process at ALL! Sister is now living in a different state and best friend well lets say he is threading on thin ice. No big deal, this allowed me to find a whole new way to express myself and I found the challenge of planning a wedding on a budget fun. 

I have been engaged since May 2011 and have not had a moment of stress. I’m a full time student and I had more stress from my finals than from the wedding planning. We are still within budget and our wedding is going to be GORGEOUS and unique. Most important I learned to save, in so many ways. Yes I’m a coupon chic now, no shame in it. I save us serious $$$ every month! I cant believe I was not doing this sooner. Its never too late!! Plus I have decided to embrace my love for art and continue to evolve as an artist. Lets see where that takes me.