Wedding shoes and stress free news! haha

I haven't really progressed too much in the wedding planning. I am still searching for the catering. I think I have pretty much found the rental company, but catering is something I still feel really lost on. I can't go over budget on this. I am stressing out about it. Stressing like crazy. It will work out in the end...

I have purchased the shoes though! I am so excited! They came in the mail today, and I love them! I am concerned that I will be taller then Joe. I am almost sure I will be at least as tall with those 5 inch heals. We'll see. I really love them, and it would stink to have to return them. I plan on trying them on with Joe blindfolded next to me. Hahaha.

I am about to book.....(drum roll please).....
A wedding planner! More specifically, a day of coordinator. If somebody would have told me a year ago that I would hire one, I probably would have laughed in their face. As this planning comes closer to the big day, I have come to the realization that I will have to go through so many vendors. I am so worried that I, or somebody close to me will have to run around like crazy on that day. I am also worried about the room change. I don't want any family member to have to lift a finger. The rental companies that I have corresponded with have told me that they either don't do a room change, or I found out that the price was insane and it wouldn't even include putting up the decorations! That is when I saw a wedding deal online with The Smitten Bride. I quickly e-mailed them for more information. I met up with them, and my mom, Joe, and I fell in love with them. I  met up with two ladies from the team and loved their personalities. I was worried, because I recently attended a bridal expo and when asked about a room change, (in her loud and slightly obnoxious voice) she stated that the catering company would do it. I was scared they would give me the same attitude. When we asked The Smitten Bride, there response made me feel so great. They will have their team physically do the room change! They will make sure everything is put together exactly how I want it. I instantly felt relieved. We left so excited and my mom felt a lot calmer. That was super important to me. We are about to sign the contract within the next day or so. Now they do offer a lot more then just the room change, but that was my main concern. They will assist with other things such as creating a timeline (which has stressed me out since we are having a cocktail only reception), they will be in charge of the rehearsal, they will be there all day on my wedding, they will set up and break down, make sure to oversee the other vendors, they will look over all the contracts and make sure everything is perfect, and many other things. The best part? A stress free day. 


I am a little stressed, but also really excited.

194 days...

Until the wedding!

I can't believe it's already 2012. I'm sitting here typing up this blog a year and one day after Joe purposed to me. Ahh such sweet memories.

I have really been slacking in the planning department. I planned to do some planning in December, but with work and Christmas, I never really felt up to it. I am finally anxious and ready to continue the planning. Below are things I have already booked/purchased.

1. Venue - Kitchen Chicago
2. DJ -  Windy City Mix
3. Photographer - AE Photography
4. Dress - David's Bridal

My next goal is the table/chair rentals and catering. This has been ridiculously difficult. Everything is so expensive. I knew what I was getting into, but it doesn't make it any easier. My biggest worry is the room transformation after the ceremony into the reception. I've been watching a lot of Whose Wedding is it Anyway? and it makes me long for a wedding planner who can make everything go smoothly. Those are just so expensive. 

I am now trying to find somebody who can make jewelry. I know what necklace of my dreams looks like, I just need somebody to make it!

My small goals are to create a timeline of the day and brainstorm on what the decor will consist of. It will help to book the rentals first, so that I know exactly how much I have. 

I need to finalize the save-the-dates and send them out this month!

Bridesmaids dresses need to be picked out (this month?) and purchased soon

Ahh, I also need to start eating better and losing weight! This starts tomorrow! 

So much to do!

Street photography

There is a lot of magic in analog photography, but that all happens in the dark room. It's that moment when your image magically appears on the paper. It's frustrating at times, not knowing the immediate result. At the end of the day, I enjoyed that class, but digital is the way to go. You can take a picture and see the immediate results. I am currently in a digital photography class and for my last project, I originally wanted to do street portraits. I wanted to go out there and ask people to take their picture. I was inspired by Clay Enos from a youtube video my brother showed me. 

It was an experience. I'm too scared to ask people, so I got my assistant to go with me haha. Joe was amazing. He asked the people, and I shot the photos. It was not a good day to go out. It was drizzling and super windy on Michigan Ave. It was also very cold. Nobody wanted to stop and get their picture taken. A lot of them said no. The photo below was of someone who agreed. He called himself a space scientist director or something. He was an interesting character to say the least. After all the NOs, the day was well worth it after this man agreed. Here is one of the photos I am almost done editing. 

Who inspires you to shoot? Who are your favorite photographers?

Statement Necklaces!

I've been trying to find the perfect statement necklace for my dress. It's not just any dress, it's the dress. So the necklace has to be perfect! Those who know me, know my obsession for jewelry that has been around since I was 13. I feel like this necklace has to be fantastic, but more importantly, unique. Here are some necklaces that I love, but just aren't quite the one. I haven't given up though! The truth is, the necklace I fell in love with is by Vera Wang and is no longer available. It's probably better for my pocket this way. haha!

Necklace from Ebay!  

This is so pretty and super affordable!

This is a necklace you can rent, and then buy if you love it! 

How awesome is that! It isn't that affordable, but is by the designer Kenneth Jay Lane. 

www.bagborroworsteal.com

I kind of liked this one. I'm not so sure anymore. 

http://dramatic-jewels.com/products/crystal-bridal-necklace-on-multi-strand-collar

This one is no longer available. 

It isn't exactly what I would want for a wedding.

It is a fantastic necklace though. I want it! 

Versace Necklace

This one isn't available anymore, 

but you can look on amazon for some great prices on jewelry.

Amazon!

This is a dream necklace. Tom Binns is a fantastic designer. 

For those who really want a statement and some color, this one is a dream!

Tom Binns

I'm so sorry for the screenshots. It wouldn't let me copy the images.

These two necklaces are fantastic. I've never purchased anything from this

website but their jewelry is simply amazing. I love the second piece for incorporating 

black into their Designer inspired statement necklace. It is stunning. I'm considering this one for a rehearsal dinner or something. The prices are super affordable. 

www.happilyeverafterjewelry.net/#!designer-celebrity-inspired/productsstackergallery3=20

Those are all the necklaces that I love. The one's that I love the most, I can't share just in case Joe stumbles on this blog! 

What statement necklaces are you in love with? 

melissaisaiphotography.com

Artist?

I always feel funny calling myself an artist. As a graphic design major, you would think I would be completely comfortable with the title. I am not though. I feel like calling myself an artist puts a
sort of expectation on me to be someone as great as Warhol, Winogrand, or Maholy Nagy (those were
just the first names that popped into my head haha). So what should I call myself?

On another note...Here is the work that I've recently done for class.

Photography. Earlier I posted my first project. Below is my second project. I always thought thrift stores were interesting. You always find the weirdest stuff, and some stuff is just sad. So I went and explored a few different stores. I tried to pick stuff that was weird or that triggered some sort of emotion. I could go on and on, but I'll just post the images. I'm not sure how successful this project was, and some images are better then the rest. :)

The photos below are from the third and most recent project. The assignment was appropriation. I decided to copy famous abstract paintings from the past. I took them from online and traced over them in Illustrator. I think copying or appropriation is kind of silly. Sherri Levine directly copied other's work and reprinted them. I think that is outrageous. So I wanted to start a similar conversation. On the other hand, as a student, It can be very beneficial. By appropriating you can learn about another artist's style and technique. The following before are from 3 different artists. Throughout the process of copying and drawing them out. I started off thinking it was their work, and then I started calling it my work. It took time to draw and then print it all out. Funny how appropriation works. Again, I could ramble, but I'll show the images below along with the original artist. 

It wouldn't let me upload the images. I am not quite sure why. I don't know how to make it work! For now, here is a screen shot of my? work. There is more, but these are the ones I presented. 

Surprise from the fiance!

Joe came to my job on Saturday. It was the sweetest thing. My manager asked me to go help the guy 'cuz she knew those weren't for her. I turned around to see Joe holding flowers and a Starbucks coffee. It was amazing. I blushed. I took the flowers from him and put it away. I came back and told him to follow me. I gave him a quick kiss and my car keys. He wanted to get my oil changed. How sweet!

He later told me that he got those flowers from Dominick's. He asked them to arrange something for me. He knows that I am considering Dominick's for my flower arrangements for our wedding. They did a great job! They are beautiful and the arrangement is fantastic! I approve! 

Engaged - How Joe purposed to me.

I wrote this shortly after the engagement. I thought I'd share it her on my new blog.



I just got engaged on Saturday, the 8th of January.

It was the best night of my life.

We went out to celebrate our anniversary. He gave me a hint and said we were going
to see an iphoneography exhibit. I got ready and wore something nice. I realize
now why my mom told me to get a little bit more dressed up. haha. He picked me up
and we got Starbucks. because I really had a taste for a hot drink. We arrived at
the gallery when he told me to close my eyes. He ran inside (to make sure everything
was perfect and kick the others out). He came back and let me out of the car when
everything was ready. I walked up to the door and he pointed out a sign he made. 
It said Iphoneography by Melissa Alicea. I was happy to know he went out of his
way to do such a thing as put up my photos in a gallery. We walked inside, said hi to the owners, and walked around. We viewed my pictures on the dividers and on the wall.
We talked about each one and he asked me questions on where/when/and how I took/
edited each photo. It was a very romantic moment. He skipped over one that was on
a stand, and said it was the best one. When we were finished we went back to the frame
that was covered with a black blanket. He told me to close my eyes. Music played in
the background. I opened my eyes when he was ready to see a huge collage of pictures.
There were pictures of me and him throughout the past couple of years. Written in
large red letters was, "Will you marry me?" I was in shock. It took me about 5 minutes 
to read it and understand what the question was. haha. Joe later told me he had
what he was going to say all planned out, but kind of lost it because I took so long. haha.
I turned around to see him on one knee with a tiny black box with a beautiful 
ring inside. He asked me to marry him and told me how much I mean to him. I honestly
can't remember his speech. I was in shock. I started crying and asked him like 10
times, "Really?!?!" It was so unreal to me. I nodded yes while tears poured down my 
face. He started to put the ring on my finger as I laughed and told him he was 
putting it on the wrong hand. He took the other hand and pushed it up my finger. It
was a perfect fit. It was gorgeous. I couldn't actually see the ring right away because I 
was crying so much. I could see it sparkle though, and boy did it sparkle!  We hugged for a minute and he spun me around the room a couple of times. haha. He got a phone call
and said one word. His family and close friends (Roman and Karla) came in. They gave us
both hugs and congratulated us. I couldn't talk, because when they came in I started to
cry really hard again. I cried once more when my family all came through the door. My mom said later that I was shaking like a leaf. I was in "engagementcoma" as Gabi puts it.
It was the happiest moment of my life. A couple more people joined us and we toasted with Champagne.

Afterwards Me and Joe, Roman, Karla, Nikisha, Dyamond, and Fey went out to dinner at a nearby Italian resteraunt. It was really good food and service. We relaxed and spent
time with good friends. After that Joe and I went to his house for an hour just to talk about what happened and laugh.

I am still in disbelief at times when I look at my ring. I can't wait to spend the rest 
of my life with this man.