EXTRAVAGANZA

In a word... overwhelming!

Me and my mom went to the June 8th Austin Bridal Extravaganza... IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

IT WAS ALSO A LOT OF INFORMATION AT ONCE! :)

I loved it and I'm so glad I got to go with my mom... but now I am feeling the stress of how much needs to be done. But in reality, I will be REALLY ok when and once we book a reception site.

We visited a lot of reception sites and this was the norm:

"how many people does your site accomodate?"
"well how many were you thinking to invite"
"well 250-300 or more, we're not sure"
"oh WOW, well, there aren't that many places that hold that many in Austin except at hotel ballrooms... let me refer you to ___ and ___"
"ok thanks!"

that was a couple of conversations... here's another:

"how many people does your site accomodate?"
"well, first let me ask you when your wedding date is..."
"May 23, 2009"
"oh - we're already booked for May... every saturday there's a wedding already - would you like to have yours on Friday/Sunday?"
"oh, no thank you..."
(sadly walk to the next booth)

YA'LL!
I'm getting stressed that there's not going to be any places available and that EVERYTHING will be booked.

I made an appointment with Forest Creek Golf Club at 11am on Saturday... so pray that if we like it, it will be available... Also, if it's not available - that we please would find something, and quick!

I also made an appointment with Alfred Angelo Bridal to start getting dress ideas. So, I can't WAIT for Saturday! I'm so excited!

The Bride,

Brittney *Melton*

Today is my Friday

Well, I'm so excited that I get a "day off" tomorrow. So today is my Friday!

Really and truly it's going to be a KVUE team-building activity for our department - what we like to call the CSPPI - Creative Services Pitch and Putt Invitational. That's right, I'm going to golf tomorrow - and I'm getting paid for it. Well, if you call it golf. It's really like a midget golf course with the longest hole probably being 100 yards.

This is the 3rd annual invitational and the legend goes if you win 1st place... you leave the next year. Which is true for both 1st and 2nd annual winners. They both left within a year of the CSPPI's.

Last year I got 2nd place and everyone seems to think I'll be the one to beat. I don't know about that. Yea, I played, but like in middle school and only for a few years. haha! Well, hey, if I do win... I have an excuse to leave ;) - "it's the legend of the CSPPI winner!"

Also, Derik and I met with Bro. Steve on Wednesday and we were able to talk to him. Bro. Steve seems to think we'll be the FIRST wedding in the new church! how cool is that!

We've been building this church for the past couple years, or has it only been a year...? It was scheduled to be completed this August... but with all the rain ATX got this past spring, it is now pushed back to Nov/Dec. Bro. Steve thinks it'll be the 1st of next year or February before it's complete. So, maybe we WILL be the first to be married. :)

We had a great visit and got our form to fill out to then bring back to the church. Although, it does have a spot for where/when our rehearsal dinner will be, and where/when our reception will be - which we have no clue about either one.

Hopefully we can find a place big enough for everyone. My mom seems to think we'll have close to 400!!! AHHHHH!

Please pray for my sanity! :)

Really and truly I am super pumped about ALL OF IT! :)

Love you all!

Brittney *Melton*

Wedding Underway :)

Well everyone...

I'm so excited to get planning this wedding. Like I told Janeane (Derik's sister) when she asked me... "hey, let's look at bridesmaids dresses." I said "oh my gosh, yea, I get to do that now!" haha!

We set a date for May 23, 2009 and we could not be more thrilled. It's memorial day weekend. Not only do out of state guests get a little longer weekend to plan trips, but that is the weekend that Derik and I met 3 years ago... and it is the weekend he proposed. So, it only seems fitting to be married that weekend! I'm getting so excited!

I called the church today thinking, "they'll just write it on their calendar... or something, right?" Well, lovely Miss Connie (our Pastor's Secretary) told me that Bro. Steve would meet with us as a couple. We'd then fill out a form that would have all our information and desired wedding date. The form would be presented to the "Board" which includes our churches deacons, then it would be approved. She said I am the first bride to request a wedding in our NEW CHURCH - which should be completed before the start of the year (hopefully)! HOW FUN! Connie also said that she thinks I could be the first bride to have her wedding in the new church. I don't know about that. But that would be fun! I think maybe someone would have it before May, but you never know. :)

So, my idea of writing it on the "church calendar" is not the case. I'm glad our pastor puts so much time into pre-marital counseling and meeting with Derik and I. I couldn't be more thrilled to have him as our Pastor. But, I guess I didn't know there were so many steps in requesting the church to be used on May 23rd.

So, Derik and I will have to take off a little bit of work and go visit Bro. Steve sometime SOON! That way, we'll be on our way to finding a place for the reception.

Would you pray that we could work it out and be able to meet with Bro. Steve when it's convenient for all of us.

Love you all!

Brittney *Melton*

after I said yes!

after I said yes!
Originally uploaded by designsbybrittney

I love this pictures for so many reasons!

This was right after I said yes - we kissed and then I could not let go of him!

It was the most precious moment ever!

Brittney *Melton*

5-24-08!!!

I'M ENGAGED!!!! It still seems so surreal...

I know I posted a lot on facebook, but I wanted to make a whole blog post about it too. I'm allowed to right ;)


Well, first off... Derik thinks that I just figure everything out all the time and can never be surprised. Which is partly true, BUT, I can't help it. I just do. I don't mean to.

Well Derik wanted it to be a SURPRISE for sure. Which I wanted to too, but he said I was so suspicious with everything. Well I didn't have a clue about this plan...

The Story:

Derik's sister Janeane is going to school for Photography and asked us if we wouldn't mind having a photo shoot with her for her to practice taking "couples" pictures. She's taken many senior portraits, but just wanted to practice posing couples.

We decided we were going to the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin, TX - which is beautiful by the way - and take pictures. It was HOT, and I mean HOT. We were dripping sweat. Janeane said she wasn't worried about posing us as much as she was anxious about what was coming - haha! But, we did take some nice photos.

We went through the park snapping shots here and there and then came to a barn and snapped some more. Then, Janeane said... "why don't we go up to this gazebo up here." I, sweating a lot, went on ahead so we could finish pictures. Derik fell behind a little and said to Janeane "this is when we're going to do it.... can you give me the ring" - which was in her camera bag. She said "you'll get it..." he was like - "HUH!?" haha!

We get to the gazebo and take a couple of pictures. Janeane says, "Derik, why don't you get down on one knee..." Derik says, "which one, like this one....... or this one....." (switching legs back and forth) - Just so I wouldn't suspect anything - WHICH I DIDN'T. I thought "(in my head) this is a cool idea for her to add to her portfolio for engaged couples." Little did I know it would be an actual ENGAGEMENT photo.

So, even with him down on his knee - I thought of nothing. Then she snaps a few, I STILL don't know. She says, "Derik, wait... (I thought she was gonna fix his shirt or something)... you might need this..." She brings over a box... and I thought "(in my head) oh wow, she went all out, brought props and all" - yea, I know... STILL didn't know! am I crazy or something :)

Then I looked down and saw the name of the jeweler on top that we went and visited and found the ring we both liked... and THEN I knew! I was blown away and so surprised! I loved it!

Derik said "Brittney Dickey, You know how much I love you, will you spend the rest of your life with me..." I said "mmm hmmm" with me half crying, half smiling and just muttered mmmm hmmm and shook my head up and down. I was a mess.

I actually had to ask him after the proposal was over "ok, so what did you actually say to me when you proposed, cause I don't remember" hahaha! We laughed!

I'm so glad Janeane was there... she documented it all.

We're really excited and I could have not loved this weekend more - it was PERFECT!!

Brittney *Melton*

I just had too :)

WEBSITE

YES! IT IS FINISHED!

I finished my website this week - check it out www.designsbybrittney.com

I will be posting new pictures there as I take them... and some here of course :)

brittney

So...

Well, it's been a while. Nothing much going on. Went downtown and took some photos. I'll post those when I get a chance. Meanwhile... I've been searching for something *new* - but, haven't received a call yet. Don't really want to mention a whole lot on here, never know who reads these things ;)

I am almost done with my website... I picked "Betsey" only because it had a lot more options if I wanted to use them later on (like proofing and a shopping cart). I'm hoping to have it done by the end of this week if not by the beginning of next week. YAY!

Derik started his new job downtown and I think he likes it a LOT. He said it's hard work. He learned a new program and the guy who taught it to him is leaving... today... he was from A&M and said it took him 2 months to learn this. Derik had to write notes and had to learn it in 1 DAY! Hopefully he just loves it. I know what it's like to not love what you do.

Well I miss you all... call me WHENEVER!

brittney