These are the things I can so far check off my list of things to do for the month of January and part of February, 2009:
1.  Our formal engagement was announced on September 13th, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2.  Our Wedding Date is set for February 13th, 2010 at 6:00 PM, and the reception will follow starting at 8:00 PM
3.  As FH and I are both of Baptist faith, our ceremony will be performed in a very typical full Haitian Baptist ceremony.
4.  Our guest list is still a work in progress as I’ve completed mine, FH hasn’t given me all his names and FH’s mom still wants to add people that FH and I don’t even know or have ever heard of, but we’ve spoken to her and she promised to review her list.  Don’t know when I’ll have that.  We’re hoping to send out 165 – 175 invites, but are really expecting a maximum of 150 guests.
5.  We've previously asked special people in our lives to be our honor attendants and have mailed out our "Will You" cards, however, with my sister’s illness; we had to contact everyone with a change of date.  Since our wedding is Ultra-Formal, we’re hoping to reissue “Will You” cards in a few months depicting the changes to our wedding, but for you my vibride
 family, here’s what it will look like. 
The wordings are as follow:  A picture-perfect wedding isn't caught on film, it's captured in the heart. Like a garden in the spring, life is full of wonderful things. Our eyes met and from the start, love was planted in our hearts. Yet, our happiness would be incomplete without you there to share it with. Will you do us the honor of celebrating our love by being my bridesmaid?  
February 13th, 2010
Adelphi , MD
 With much love,
Fortune M.  G.  Calixte 
Kindly reply by August 30th , 2009
 

6.  We're still going to New Orleans for our Honeymoon and spend our time at the French Quarters.  We’ve booked our honeymoon at the “Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast Inn in New Orleans. It’s a 5 star B&B, and it’s within walking distance to the French Quarters, extremely affordable. Our room in within the main mansion.  Looks like this.

This is the room we’ve booked

Isn't that just wonderful!!!

7.  Our Wedding Theme is still "Classic Elegance" and our Style is "Old Hollywood Silver Screen era of the 1930s and 1940s".  [/size]Everyone said that our theme and style are ultra-chic.
8.  Our Colors are still Champagne, Gold, Merlot and Dusty Rose[/size]
9.  We've decided to write our own Wedding Vows, instead of going with the traditional vows.  [/size]We’re also incorporating “The Blessing Of The Hands” into our wedding.  I’ll explain what it is later for those who are not sure.
10.  Our Budget have been definitely dropped and set at a maximum of $10,000

11.  I narrowed down my wedding gown to 2 choices

12.  My Bridesmaids gowns have already been decided upon by the bridal party as shown above.  [/size]I have no restriction on hairstyles for my bridal party as long as it’s soft and romantic.  The only restriction on their shoes is that it needs to be “Sandals” of which the style matches the gowns’ colors and style.  That’s all.
13.  We’ve booked our Photographer. His name is Barak and he was also the Photog for Diva T. and Mrs KeepUP as well. Thanks to Mrs Nikol Whittingham, known to all of us affectionately as Diva Turiya!!! You rock Diva T!!!
14.  Our DJ is paid in full
15.  As far as our Reception Hall, our church has a great hall and has offered it to us for free, but we’re still looking to rent our own space so that those who wants to dance can because our church has a strict “No Secular” music reception when using the hall at our church.  we're currently looking into the "Oak Room" in Sandy Spring, MD.  
 16.  Our church has been confirmed and we’re officially on the books.  YEAH!!!
17.  Florist – I've previously stated, I have a very talented young lady who works with me and I will be entrusting her with my floral bouquets and I’ll be doing the table centerpieces
18.  We’ve decided to go with “Phenomenal Affairs”, business owned by our very own Monique, also known here as “Phenomenique” with our “Day Of Coordination”.   
19.  DIY Project for the Month ~ Monograms ~ are completed
20.  Have materials for our "Save-The-Date" cards, which is our next DIY Project
21.  I've completed the design for our Save-The-Date cards

I've purchased 100 of these bags in order to place my favors in.
 

Niquey posted a centerpiece a while ago, that I absolutely adore and I was planning on alternating those two centerpieces.

the other one is previously posted with the Apothecary jars.  Here's a picture of it!!

The bridesmaids' bouquet

Flower Girls dress

Ring Bearer's dress

Well, that's about all we've done during the month of January, I will update some more at the end of February with the task accomplished during that month.

The flower girl and ring bearer dresses are really cute Ginoue, I can't wait to see what you do next.

Thank you so much my sister and would you believe that my Flower Girls dresses and the Ring Bearer's dress was under $50 each?  I love that company. 
I'll keep on updating as things happen

Wow Diva G...you are REALLY on the ball now... GREAT JOB!!!!!!

Thank you so very much msj!!! 

You ladies knew that I decided to do Photo Table Numbers for our reception.  We plan on having the picture Centered on a picture frame and the table number underneath.  As soon as I have a sample, I will post it for you guys to see.  However, FH and I finalized the pictures that we intend to use, keeping with our theme and style.
Table 1 ~ Audrey Hepburn

Table 2 ~ Barbara Stanwyck

Table 3~ Billie Holliday

Table 4 ~ Cary Grant

Table 5 ~ Charlton Heston

Table 6 ~ Deborah Kerr

Table 7 ~ Dorothy Dandridge

Table 8 ~ Ertha Kitt

Table 9 ~ Dame Elizabeth Taylor

Table 10 ~ Fred Astaire

Table 11 ~ Gary Cooper

Table 12 ~ HRH Grace Kelly

Table 13 ~ Greta Garbo

Table 14 ~ Hattie McDaniel

Table 15 ~ Ingrid Bergman

Table 16 ~ James Stewart

Table 17 ~ Josephine Baker

Table 18 ~ Katherine Dunham

Table 19 ~ Sir Lawrence Olivier

Table 20 ~ Lena Horne

Table 21 ~ Marilyn Monroe

Table 22 ~ Maureen O'Hara

Table 23 ~ Olivia De Haviland

Table 24 ~ Rita Hayworth

Table 25 ~ President & Mrs. Obama

Table 26 ~ Vivian Leigh

That's all for today Divas!!!

G, I'm praying for your sister. I think that it is a nice idea that you Pastor had to make a directory. It's so much talent within these churches. I just wanted to tell you that I love your theme and all of your ideas.

Thank you so much sister.

Hey Gin. Love the picture table number idea. My only suggestion would be to try and find another pic of Hattie McDaniel, Charlseton Heston and Vivian Leigh. Something with more glam. I just think the particular pics you posted are to casual compared to the others. I really like the pic of Katherine Dunham but be careful it's not too busy next to your favor bags & centerpieces. Overrall, good job though.
The French Quaters for the honeymoon sounds really nice.

Nice looking out Pamcrow.  I know you wouldn't let me down.  Looking for other pictures as we speak.

Hello Divas,
I know that it's been a while since my last update, but I've been pretty busy and will try to keep you as updated as I am currently.  By the way, whomever said that a Wedding Planner would have a much better time at planning his/her own wedding lied because as a Wedding Planner all eyes will be on you to see just how perfect every detail of your own wedding is.  The public is unforgiving of anything less than perfection for your own.  That being said, I'm at home exhausted, but FH went to church.  I just couldn't take the step to make it today, but I've prayed right here in my bed and hope that the Lord will forgive me.
Okay now, let's see what I've done during this past month:
1.  Finalized theme, style and colors
2.  Met with several Haitian caterers ~ narrowed choices down to 2
3.  Continuing to create and track our guest list
4.  All honor attendants have received updated "Will You" cards and have replied positively.
5.  Pastor has spoken with us regarding schedule for spiritual counseling prior to wedding
6.  Set up appointments with remaining vendors
7.  Interviewed and booked 5 servers for wedding day reception
8.  We've decided to go with our church's reception hall for our wedding reception (It was donated to us for free ~ how much did we save? $1,600).  So the reception will now be following the wedding ceremony at Eglise Baptiste Du Calvaire.
9.  Made musical selections for ceremony
10.  Don't have to secure parking as my church has humondo parking space!!!
11.  Save-The-Date card design is done, now if only we could just decide on a picture for it.
12.  Couldn't find a store that carried my wedding gown, although, they all carry gowns by Mary's Bridal.  So, I decided to just bite the bullet and order it as it would take about 5 to 6 months to get it.  For those of you who couldn't quite remember it, it looks like this!!!

13.  I was able to save $350 on my wedding gown, which I decided to apply towards dress for my rehearsal and rehearsal dinner as that is also very formal as well.  This is what it looks like

14.  Started working on my next DIY Project ~ Our Ring Bearer's Pillow 

I was able to find a better picture of Charleton Heston

However, I've decided to keep the pictures that I have of Hattie McDaniel and Vivian Leigh as I couldn't find better pictures that I liked.  So if you, my sisters, were able to come up with better pictures, please share it with a Diva.  Thanks.

Ceremony
Prelude:  I will make 2 CDs of mixed romantic music myself that will be played starting promptly at 5:00 PM
Processional:
Mothers’/Grandmothers entrance ~ “Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler                                             4.52
Groom/Best Man’s entrance ~ “God Made You For Me” Aaron Neville                                               2.43
Ladies-in-Waiting/Ushers entrance ~ “When you love someone” by Brian Adams                                          3.34
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen entrance ~ “All My Life” Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt                                       3.31
“Give me You” Mary J. Blige                     5.05  
“When I Say I Do” Clint Black & Lisa Hartman-Black 4.30
“I Don’t Know Much But I Know I Love You” Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville       3.32
Ring Bearer’s/Page entrance ~ “It’s your Love” Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
Ladies of Honor’s entrance ~ “Forever Love” Reba McEntire                                3.52
“The Best Of Me” David Foster & Olivia Newton-John      4.10
Flower Girls entrance ~ “The Day I Fall In Love” Dolly Parton & James Ingram                                                             4.08
Bride’s entrance ~ “I found my everything” Mary J. Blige 5.25
First Song by Youth Group Choir ~ “Never would’ve made it” by Marvin Sapp
Second Song by Youth Group Choir ~ (Suggestions Please)
Ceremony of the Hands ~ (Suggestions Please)
Signing of the Wedding Certificate ~ “The Prayer” Josh Grobin, Celine Dion, Charlotte Church & Andrea Boccelli
Unity Candle lighting ~ “The Prayer” Josh Grobin, Celine Dion, Charlotte Church & Andrea Boccelli
Recessional ~ Underneath it all by No Doubt
 
Oh, I was just updating my "To Do" list and forgot to share something with my sisters.  FH and I ordered our Toasting glasses and our server set.  Here's what it looks like.  They're currently being engraved by Things Remembered.
http://images.thingsremembered.com/s7ondemand/zoom/dhtml_zoom.jsp...450
http://images.thingsremembered.com/s7ondemand/zoom/dhtml_zoom.jsp...450

Okay Divas, that's all that FH and I have so far, will keep on updating blog monthly as usual.  Stay blessed always.

G, everything looks beautiful, and congrats on your progress, but I am so confused. I thought you wrote that you tried on the Mary's Bridal gown and something about it didn't look right. Is it going to be altered to suit you?

I love your rehearsal dinner dress. Wowza! ...and beautiful music choices. Good choice on the champagne flutes and server set.  We purchased the same server set. At first I didn't like them when I saw them in the magazine, but when I saw them in person, I had to have them! However, we didn't purchase the champagne flutes as Waterford crystal flutes were give to us as a gift when hubby purchased my engagement ring. It's so funny that we have similar tastes.

Girl, funny thing about that dress.  As you know, it was my dream wedding dress, my "IT" dress and when I went to try it on, I thought it was ok, one of my MOHs didn't.  So, I wasn't even interested in taking pictures.  However, I remembered an advice that Diva T. gave me a while back to go to a bigger salon during one of my travels.  Last week, I was fortunate to find myself in the city of San Antonio and was referred to this wonderful bridal salon.  It was huge as it was one of Mary's Bridal's locations.  They were having a trunk sale too and their designers were present for questions, if the bride have any!!!  I went there with a client and really wasn't looking for a gown for myself as I didn't quite make up my mind yet.  Then my client said why not try on some gowns as well in order to find another "IT" dress.  And I did but I just was not satisfied, but everyone thought that my choices were divine, but it just wasn't "IT", so someone came over and introduced me to the designer of my gown and she wanted to introduce me to the designers for the gowns that I tried on.  I explained to them that it wasn't the gowns and that it was me.  I told them that I found my my "It" dress and I explained to them what happened when I did try it on and the designer asked me to try it on again, so that she may see, if there's some type of defect in the design.  I didn't want to, but I did as time is running out and I haven't ordered my wedding dress yet.  She had me remeasured and sent a lady to find the dress and accessories.  I had misgivings still about trying on the dress, but I did it anyway.  When I came out, the designer asked if I saw myself in the dress last time I tried it on.  I told her that I was in a dressing booth with one of my MOHs and the expression on her face was not flattering plus.  Then she asked me to face the mirror.  I really didn't want to, but I did and she said that there's nothing that a few tweeks won't fix.  She said that she would make some alterations for my gown.  As she said that I have an hour glass shape and not everyone could alter a Mary's gown to suit perfectly.  My breasts were a bit too exposed, but she said that she'll take care of that.  The dress that was suppose to be my size was big at the waist, so she said that she'll take care of that too and there was this petticoat that she had me wear with the gown that wasn't given to me at the other salon and wow, it was such a magical experience.  I didn't bring my camera because I wasn't there to shop for myself.  I was there on business to accompany a bride to find her dream dress and wind up having my dream dress as well.  In addition to that, I was able to save $350 off the price of the dress as well because it was a trunk sale and the fact that I wasn't satisfied with my other dress.  So I got a $950 dress for $600 including alterations and free shipping).  That's how I was able to purchase that other dress for my Rehearsal/and rehearsal dinner.  GOD IS SSSOOOOOO  GGGGGGGOOOOOOD!!!  Huge check on my list!!! 

Woooowwwww! That's great news, G! I'm so happy for you. So a few alterations will do the job. Fantastic! I don't know why the other salon people didn't tell you that.  Yeah, you would definitely need a petticoat to showcase the pickup details on the back of the gown. Some of these salon people are so much better than others. LOL!..and can't believe you didn't look at yourself in the mirror. What??!! How could you resist? Hee Hee. Well, that's wonderful..and what a savings! Trunk shows are really the best! Hey, are you still getting the faux fur bolero jacket?

God is good- Ginoue thats why they say that sometimes its not good to go with your girls!!! You should have looked at it in the mirror- but you had a negative block placed on you by your friends face. I am SOOOO glad you did a u-turn and had a good look at your beautiful self!! I cant wait to see you in it!! Its going to be stunning!!

Congrats Diva G...another MAJOR accomplishment!!

I was going to get the bolero jacket as well, oh how I wish I brought my camera with me, so you could've just seen, but I should have my dress in about 5 months and then I'll share pictures.  Anywhoo, back to the bolero jacket, as I said, I was going to buy it, but the designer said that it wasn't necessary as the gown comes with its own shawl and the way that she wrapped it for me, you would think that it was a part of the gown.  I would have to duplicate it somehow.  My interest in the bolero jacket was because one can never be to sure of the weather in MD in January and I told her this, but as she said, I would be inside a limo and will not feel the cold air except to come in and out.  So, I followed her advice and didn't buy it. 

Oh, thank you so much dreamgurl.  I didn't want to look because my MOHs are my sisters, and I trust them, so that's why when my younger sister made a face and made that comment.  I didn't even want to look in the mirror.  So, I just undressed immediately.
 
I'm so very glad I took my client's advice and took advantage of the Trunk sale.  We both saved, but she made out like a bandit and her gown is so very beautiful.  It was not a wasted trip at all and to think that I nearly didn't go.  I'm glad my client convinced me.  Now FH is itching to have a look at what I finally decided, but like I told him, you would just have to wait until our wedding day like everyone else (hahaha!!!)

O.K. That's good. I know you were concerned about your arms being exposed in church too and you had mentioned that not even a fur stole would do only something resembling a jacket. I'm glad you received some special attention and service. That really seemed to help a lot! Congrats!  These men are really nosy aren't they?  I didn't realize how nosy my hubby was until these last few months, I tell you!

I'm so very excited though!!!  I have my dress ya'll!!!  Finally, I feel like a bride!!!  Before purchasing my dress, I was just a Wedding Planner, but now, I'm screaming and FH is giving me that look.  I swear this man looked all over our apartment.  As if I would be stupid enough to have it there.  He's called both Honor Attendants (MOHs) to find out if the dress is with them and they told him that the dress won't be there for another 5 months and he thought they were just covering for me.  These guys are a riot!!!

Thank you so much MsJ!!!

Hi,
I love your blog and your sister is in my prayers.  Could you tell me how to insert the photos directly into my comments and a ticker I've tried cutting and pasting but it didn't work.  I have some ideas I would like to share.

Wow, thank you so much Htown for your kind words and prayers.  Wow, it sure has been a while since I've been here.  I have some updates.
There's a bit of great and not so good news ~ According to the doctors, my sister's Chemo is going very well, however, her recup time would be a lot longer than previously enticipated, so, FH decided to have our wedding during the summer instead, which would be plenty of time according to the doctors and my sister is happy with it because her hair would've started to grow back as well.  God blessed me with an incredible man.  He knows that I would not get married without my sisters by my side.  He knows that.  I was just getting ready to postpone the wedding altogether, but he said that we're family and we will handle my sister's cancer as a family.  So he is taking it upon himself to handle all the updates, but everyone affiliated with the wedding knows that my youngest sister has been battling cancer and are very sympathetic.  The vendors are very flexible as they're people that I've worked with before on other weddings and events, so they were just like "don't sweat it".  God has surely blessed me.  I don't know what I've done to deserve such wonderful groups of people around me, but I know that in my Future Husband, I found a rock, so solid, wow, I don't want to get mushy but I love that man so much.  My sister is doing a lot better.  She's looking great and the Lord sure is good.  She is not going to need a masectomy and we're so very grateful to the Lord for answering all our prayers.  I was on pins and needles for a long time.  THANK YOU LORD!!!
Anywhoo, with the approval of the doctors and the Lord, our wedding date is now July 17th, 2010.  All the other details remains the same as I'm pretty set on what I want by now.
Thank you sisters so much for all the love and prayers you sent my way and my family.  I believe in the power of prayers and I know that your collective prayers helped in the fact that my sister is responding to medication and no surgery (masectomy) would be necessary.  How do I say thank you to a group of Divas such as you all?  I don't even think I know how to begin, but I will pray for each and everyone of you, because it's a debt that I can never repay.  Thank you sisters.

Ok, so we have some family members over right.  No, rewind, since my sister has been diagnosed with Cancer, a lot of the older members of the family have been coming to the United States for visit.  Usually they're content in Europe, but I have my Great Aunt with me since last week and she's leaving in a few days.  She wanted to do some shoping so, I took her to the mall.  We made "Macy's" our final stop and she turned to me and said "So, let's see what you've got on your wish list and how much damage we could do".  We went over to the bridal registry and I printed my registry list to her and she asked for a chair.  The lady there gave my Great-Aunt her chair and her desk and she sat down and took out her glasses.  Ok so now, I was worried.  I know that she's very generous as she'd always given plenty to my other family members when they got married, but here I thought I was walking away with a few trinkets.  She bought out Lenox!!!  Well, not really, but she might as well have done so.
 
Here I am, very tired from our all day excursion and this is what my Great-Aunt bought Gaby and I as wedding presents (remember I told you that the older member of my family is very old-fashioned and believe in ladies having fine china, as much as possible).  So, she bought me 12 pc serving set of Lenox Bellina Gold.  I mean everything thing that goes with the pattern, she bought.  I know have 12 (5pc place setting)
 12 soup bowls, 2 large platters, 2 creamers, 2 sugar bowls, 2 large vegetable bowls, 12 (5pc) Opal Innocence stainless ware, 8 Opal Innocence 8x10 picture frames
2 Opal Innocence Picture Album
 
Everyone always played around and said that I was always her favorite and I always dismiss it, but when the bill came and she didn't even blink and handed her card!!!  She kissed me on both cheeks and told me that she loves me and is very proud of me and she said that she's looing forward to my wedding.  I was shocked I really was.  All that stuff and the enormity of price didn't even phase her.  Wow!!!, I am cleaning house with the older generation.  I am nearly done with all the choice I listed for my Fine chinas.  They nearly bought all of them for me!!!  Woohoo!!!

Wow! That's beautiful, G. What a blessing that she did that for the two of you. My thoughts and prayers are with your sister as well for a speedy recovery. God takes care of all his children.

I know VIPrincessbride.  About the only fine china left on my registry is this Mikasa pattern I forget the name but it's red and white and the rest is just a few odds and ends.  My Great-Aunt is 83 years old, but you wouldn't know it.  She is a bundle of energy.  She lives in Ireland, been there for the past 37 years.  I was the one tired yesterday, she could've just keep going.  I'm sure about that.
 
The older generation of my family are truly the ones with the money and they are very generous to all of us.  When my sister got married, she made out like a bandit.  They bought out everything in her registry and she received a combined monitary gift of over two hundred thousand on top of that. 
 
I'm extremely grateful for my wedding gifts, but I truly hope that I'll receive cash from them all as well (family that is).  I'm hoping to buy our home within a few years after our wedding.

Hi, G. I thought you might like to see some photos of a real bride in your gown.  Is rare that you come across such pics.
http://weddings.bellapictures.com/gallery/do/wed/cat/bella/lg...644

cute. I cannot wait to register. I want Macy's also.

Wow, thank you so much for thinking of me VIPrincessbride.  I've been so very busy and haven't had the time to stop by and chat with anyone.
Thank you so much for sharing the pictures.  How gorgeous is that!!!