The Official Engagement Ring!!

Hello everyone!!

So sorry that we have been MIA! Our computer screen broke and it was being fixed. Life here in Chicago has been great. The weather has been amazing and Shannon and I have really started exploring the city! We are searching new neighborhoods because we want something a little more quiet and with some greenery. Also, we will be getting a puppy when our lease is up and we want something with parks nearby as well! I am working on getting my subbing license for the fall and just gearing up for autumn and teaching! Fingers crossed but I definitely have a position at FXW next year and I could not be happier, I just love it there! Finishing up there for this year was so hard! But, it is great to love where you work … it’s been a while since I have felt like that.

We have also had visitors!!Our wonderful friends Daniel and Danielle have graced us with their presence. We had an amazing time catching up! Next week, Danielle is back for 4^th of July and then Doug & Marj are coming for the weekend! It will be great to eat, drink and be merry!

Shannon and I are going to try fly to Williamsburg so we can do some wedding planning in Virginia! Mom is going to look at venues this weekend with the bridal party hehehe … how lucky are we?! Other than that I think we have done the majority of wedding planning we can at this point. It feels so good!

On the note of the wedding … WE GOT THE OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT RING! We are over the moon at how beautiful and perfect it is! Our jeweler, Donna Liu (and her family) did the most exquisite job! Shannon got the ring Monday night. He made sure I didn’t know when it was ready because I would be on pins and needles until I got the ring. So, he came home and I hear a knock at the door. I went to the door and peeked through the peep hole and saw the top of his head. I truly had no idea what he was doing and when I opened the door he was on bended knee. He asked me again if I would marry him and of course I said yes hehe. He was so cute and all I could do was jump up and down wanting to see the ring! He kissed me, open the box and I was literally speechless (yes, speechless, believe it or not haha) as he slipped it onto my finger. I told Shannon it was just perfect … better than anything I ever dreamed of. It was the perfect ring the way we are perfect for each other! I just want to say thank you, a thousand times thank you Shannon!

One last thing before we go, CONGRATS to David Garrett!! He played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and we could not be any prouder of him!! We wish we could have been there but we heard how amazing you and the entire cast were! CONGRATS!!!!!! We love you!

Best,

Kate

Oh, and this is the ring!!!!! :)

Wedding Bells, #2

Hello All!

Well, life here at the Czajka/Crawford residence has a definite underlying theme of wedding! Tiffany & Jake sent us the cutest planning binder/American groom guide ... so cute! Even for Father's Day we got dad a survival guide for the Father of the Bride! My nights are filled with pinterest and bridal sites, trying to figure all this out! Mom and I email throughout the day with ideas and then I shoot emails to Sue, it has been so fun! Shannon and I have made a promise, we talk about everything regarding the wedding so I can get a sense of what he does and doesn't like. From there, I narrow it down to three or so options and we choose together. So far, it has been a great success.

Shannon and I spent this past weekend finalizing the official engagement ring. We got to see the center diamond which arrived and it is stunning. I almost cried and Shannon had spots in his eyes for quit a while after our jeweler showed us it in the sun! It will take a couple weeks to get the wax mold then we will take a final look and then have the ring! Shannon said it is going to be a surprise when I get it! I am going to be like a kid leading up to Christmas hahaha!

We have made an important decision. We are planning on 2 weddings!! The first will definitely be in America, most likely next July. (We are figuring out dates and locations right now.) And we are also planning to have a ceremony in Australia, some time after that for our family and friends in Oz that may not be able to make the American one! But for now, we are simply focusing on the first wedding ... one step at a time, right?

Updates, at this moment:

Bridal Party: David Garrett & Tiffany Rudy!!!

(Thank you both, it means the world to me to have you by my side!)

Colors: We think we know, but not telling yet

Our Song: Think we decided Saturday night

Dress: Narrowing down styles and fits

Up next:

Engagement photos

Solidifying a venue

Solidifying a date

All I can say is, so far so good. No stressing and enjoying the planning process. I am falling a little more in love with Shannon each day! Today is my last day of teaching for the year so let fulltime wedding planning begin, NOW! Everyone have a great week!

Best,

Kate

Our jeweler took this pic while we were finalizing ring details!

First Wedding Update!!

Hello everyone!

Well, it may only be a week since we got engaged but the wheels are already in motion! I have obviously been thinking about my wedding since ... oh ... FOREVER lol! But, now it is real and I just can't believe it! Mom and David already had a meeting and Tiffany has made a pinterest board devoted to the future Mrs. Crawford. I don't know what we did to get such amazing family and friends! With that said, thank you for all the calls, emails and facebook messages! It has truly meant the world to us.

Shannon and I were talking and this blog is a great way to keep our family and friends (near and far) abreast of all things wedding. It is also wonderful for posterity sake. Hopefully, one day our children can read this and see where their parents once were and how our family all started!

At this moment, we are thinking:

Inspiration: Vintage/Art Deco

Date: Summer 2013

Location: Virginia

Size: 50-75 people

Up next:

Looking at/choosing a venue

Choosing the bridal party

Setting an official date

Dress Shopping

The one thing that Shannon and I know for sure is that we are keeping this wedding simple. We are having a wedding so we can finally call each other husband and wife and share the love we have for each other and share it with everyone. We are not going to get bogged down with the small stuff. Life is full of such craziness that this is not going to be one of them. To have our friends and family in one place to celebrate our love and devotion to each other is all that matters!

This week also marked better eating/more exercise. The one thing we have especially loved about Chicago is the amazing food! Unfortunately, my metabolism is not as accepting of it hahaha. So, off to the gym I go!

We hope everyone has a great week. It is my second to last week at work and I am so sad that it is coming to an end. I just love the school, the kids and the teachers! I am going to be working on transferring my certifications and getting my sub license for the fall because it will be here before we know it!

Best Always,

Kate