We are getting ready to leave for the Ranch - time has just flew by!  We leave for Vegas on Friday and for the Ranch on Monday. Everything is coming together great. Alexis got to try on her dress last night (i took pictures… see below).  The bridesmaids dresses look so beautiful. Alexis is the only one with sleeves and since that is the only picture i have i photoshop’d out her and the sleeves to see what the other ones will look like.

My dress is amazing - drop dead gorgeous and so unique… mom has done an amazing job. I tried it on today and got some things fitted and its just ‘wow’. Its perfect in every way. I think it almost made dad cry seeing it on!  I cant wait to wear it, i wonder if i could wear it every day

This weekend i made Daisie’s Dress - Its perfect for her and fits her well, and it has my touch (the bad sewing job!) but it looks cute and Chicago has his Tux all ready to go and has tried it on many times to show it off!

I have been working on making our ‘wish book’. We have decided instead of a guest book we are going to have a wish book where everyone not only signs their names but writes a wish or comment for us to read later in the book. I have made it from my dress material and added some fun things. It has turned out beautiful and i love it and cant wait for everyone to sign it.

The cake… all i can say is ‘WOW’ Mom has out-done her self on this. It is amazing!  For those of you that dont know we ended up with a very funky cake and the ingredients (i dont suggest that you eat it), as it is made of Styrofoam and ceramics.  Mom fired the middle corset piece and is starting to paint it today and it is just amazing. It is actually turning out very similar to the picture i have below on the blog (except even better!).  I cant wait to see it all come together, its really unique and perfect in every way too.

We have last minute things to do… like write our vows! Grady says we will take a night at the ranch and go to the beach by ourselves and sit and write them (i think that sounds romantic and perfect too!).

It sounds like most everyone is finalizing their travel plans and we are going to have a great turn out with a lot of fun and cant wait to see everyone and spend these amazing couple of weeks out on the ranch with Grammy and Papa.  A big day is ahead and we are getting excited.

Also i am sure i will post this again - but the ranch does not have any cell service!  Any questions or if you need anything call the house phone: 707-786-9078.

Hi Girls! I ordered your shoes today - kind of casual yet i found a heal with flat bottom for walking on the ranch. these should work great! We are getting so excited and the dresses are coming along. I of course got the shoes below in Chocolate.

Last week we bought Grady’s ring - it matches mine Below is a picture of it.

we have the flowers ordered - we are doing a lot of white lilies, blood red lilies and some orchids.  i took some pictures out of the book where we chose some of the arrangements, however mine are different but this is the basis of the concepts:

Similar to my bouquet - my wrap will be a latte color.	This is the bridesmaid flowers - except they will be blood red lilies instead of white
Men’s - the groomsmen will be blood red lily and Grady’s is white with red	Similar to the Hair Piece for Me - Mine will go all the way around.

Grady has chosen out the tuxes for himself and his groomsmen I went back to get some pictures and they are close to what he chose but some things are not right… the groomsmen ties are going to be a solid chocolate color and his napkin is going to match! But so you have an idea of for the most part below are the tux pictures.

Graydon’s Tux

Groomsmen Tux

Mom and I decided we are going to make our wedding cake - it should be fun! We are really excited and have never done this so we will need to start practicing right away. below is a picture of a cake we found that we like, however the colors are not correct. We want to use latte, chocolate, white, and maroon as our colors. I am sure with our twist on things it might not even end up looking like this - but its a start!

Most of us will be camping at the ranch.

There are a couple of rooms, many people will be bringing camp trailers, others tents and camping gear! For those that dont want to camp there are a couple of motel options but they are a min 40 minute drive down a very curvy mountain road called: “the wild cat”. so please no motels if you are drinking or planning on leaving the festivities really late at night.

In Ferndale you have a couple of Inn’s. They are more expensive but if you want to have a fun Victorian experience they are at the bottom of the hill and the first available from the ranch. Other than that if you drive about another 20 minutes into Fortuna there is a Holiday Inn Express that is more reasonable in pricing if you just want a room.

In Ferndale:
Bed and Breakfasts:
Collinwood Inn Bed & Breakfast 707 786-9219
Gingerbread Mansion 786-4000
Shaw House Inn 786-9958
Victorian Inn 786-4949
In Ferndale Motels Fern Motel (four rooms?) 786-5000
Francis Creek Inn 786-9611

10 minutes further
In Fortuna
Super 8 Motel AAA 725-2888
Comfort Inn & Suites 725-7025
Holiday Inn Express 725-5500
(www.hiexpress.com/fortunaca)

If you want to stay in Ferndale, I highly recommend staying at the Victorian Inn and staying in the suite that is named after my grandmother:
The Viola McBride suite

Thursday Night (7th): Fun Night!
Friday:

Friday morning and early afternoon the girls are doing a spa day and lunch. For all girls that want to go get treatments at the spa i need to know. I am going to find a spa and get prices to everyone. Anyone that does not want to go to the spa can join us for lunch!

Friday night is our big dinner - Lets call it: “Our Engagement Dinner” since it will be our last mean being engaged! Dads are going to BBQ in big pits and we are just going to hang out, socialize and have fun at the Ranch.

Saturday:
The big day! I think we will have the wedding around 2pm then after the wedding we will just be hanging out… reception as they call it! This will last into the night. We will have some music maybe have a little dance, who knows but it will be fun.

Sunday: Most everyone will be packing up and heading home, some of us will be staying a few extra days tying up any loose ends and cleanup.

Rick is going to marry us – he is now “Reverend Rick J”Best Men: The guys will be in a tux (black with either red or chocolate vests… haven’t decided yet)

Ben
Bart
Micheal Joe
Tommy
Gavin
Dean

Bridesmaids: Bridesmaids will be wearing a chocolate dress (maybe one of these)

Toni
Rachel
Alexis
Jen
Gina

For anyone flying you will want to fly into Eureka, CA. This is about 1.5 hours from the ranch and the closest airport. Next to this is flying into San Francisco (6 hours from the ranch). I ask that if at all possibly all flights come in before 2pm on Friday – this way everyone can be at the ranch and enjoy the dinner Friday night and we don’t have to worry about driving back into town to pick people up from the airport. Anytime before 2pm on Friday is good and we are flexible to pick you up! If you have to fly in after that time just let me know and we will work it out but if at all possible that would be great. You can also fly into San Fran and rent a car to drive the last 6 hours – many people do this and sometimes when you book last minute this is less money as well. It is an option.

Here is a map link to where the ranch for anyone curious or wanting to map it out!
Map It!