Robert and I got engaged December 24, 2008 in Bristol, Tennessee. We will be getting married June 12, 2010!! There are so many plans to make before and we are looking forward to sharing that day with you!!
Where the heck did time just go?? I swear that yesterday was the day that Robert and I got engaged... but actually that was like 10 months ago. Wow.
Planning a wedding takes a lot of time and energy... something I can't seem to find a lot of right now. School is keeping me so busy that I haven't had time to do anything for the past 2 months. I did find a reception location... I just have to call and find out if they are available June 12 (fingers crossed!).
And next month... we are having a bridesmaids weekend. All the details aren't worked out yet, but dress shopping will be taking place. I know they are so excited!! :)) Over the next couple of months, I will do short little profiles on each of the important people that will be helping us during this time.
I did make a new to-do sheet since I have 8 months left. Many items are checked with "Will not complete this month." I know that there are lots of items checked with that, but at least it gives me an idea of everything I still have to do!!
Oh and by the way... yes... my to-do list is two pages!
Wow... How the past month has FLOWN by... It seems like just yesterday that Robert and I had 10 months to go before our BIG day and now we are down to LESS than 9 months! Where has all this time gone???
I know that I have not updated my blog in the past month... and that is because life has been super CRAZY!!
I started my last semester of undergraduate classes at UM (Yay!) and Robert is in full teaching/coaching mode at DCHS. Robert is in his second year of teaching United States History to 11th graders. He is in first official year of coaching football. I am finally beginning to understand football better. Now don't get me wrong - I understood the basics before, but now I have to understand all the mumbo-jumbo and learn all the penalties and all that fun stuff (otherwise I will be super lost during the ball game!).
Also during the past month, we finished the DCHS Football Program. We took it over last year and raised $10K! If I must say, it was a MUCH better product than in the past. It had 100 pages and color on the Front/Inside Front/Inside Back/Back. This year we raised roughly $8K and it was around 88 pages! (Not bad for a slow economy!)
We worked our butts off selling and building ads. We both were super busy with other things, so we didn't put our 100% effort into it. It came down to crunch time and for one whole week in August we were staying up till 2 a.m. each night. It was AWFUL! But I think it all paid off in the end. The printing company messed up and printed the entire book in color (88 pages!) and besides a couple things I think it looks really good. I heard lots of POSITIVE comments at the DCHS game Friday night, which made me happy!
Robert was also very sick about two weeks ago. He got sick with what appeared to be a sinus infection one Sunday afternoon and then proceeded to stay out of work all the next week and ended up being diagnosed with pneumonia. He is finally back up and running to full speed! Thank goodness!
In wedding news... not much has changed. Between school and football season, I can't seem to concentrate on our wedding. I know that is awful and I will be getting back on it ASAP! It is just so much to deal with right now!
Still looking for a reception location... Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! :))
I promise I will be back to updating regularly this week! I know you are excited! :))
Robert (left) coaching his first high school game and Katie (right) cheering at her last first high school game.
So the madness has officially begun! Friday night was Dallas County's opening game against West Blocton High School. DCHS lost 42-18. The score sounds awful... but it was not as bad as it sounds. I will keep most of my feelings to myself... but when four players get hurt during one game and they are all the same type injuries... then the other team must be doing something illegal... but I'm not naming any names!
It was Robert's first game to coach and Katie's last first game to cheer at. It was definitely bittersweet! Robert did such a good job... at least that's what me and Anna thought! Ha! :)) And well Katie... she did an okay job I guess! :)) She just has to work on her throwing candy skills.
Tomorrow will be my first day back to school... and my last day of my undergraduate classes in the college classroom. I am very excited... but also nervous at the same time! Hopefully it will all go well!
I am just ready to have my own classroom and my own students... and a husband to come home to at night. The waiting part seems to be the hardest right now for the both of us. It's like we know that we will soon be able to come home to each other and not have 50 miles between us each night... which majorly SUCKS! (Sorry Mom!) I know that I should be thankful that it's only 50 miles and we get to see each other on the weekends... and sometimes during the week, but I am just so ready for all that to change! It will soon enough though...
Classes start bright and early in the morning... so I must get some sleep! Good night y'all!
So I was doing good for awhile... updating at least once a week. I even updated twice a week one week, I think. I promise I will be getting back to updating at least once a week starting now!
The picture to the left is not me, but it is how I feel. I am pretty sure that I am sleep deprived. I having been working non-stop at work for the past month and I have also been putting together DCHS's football program.
Robert is coaching football this year at DCHS (our alma mater). Last year, we sold ads for the football program and built most of the ads and then laid out all the pages. It didn't seem like that much work, so of course, I said we would do it again this year. I enjoyed doing it, so why not?
Well... we got together people to sell ads back in June, but I did not begin working on building ads until 2 weeks ago. I had to rebuild almost all the ads from last year because Robert's computer had died and then his jump drive got stolen, so we lost all our ads. I also added a couple new elements to the program this year - to make it different from last years and any other year before this.
Robert has been staying at football practice until at least 7 or 8 each night, so I have been working on a lot of the program by myself. He has helped tremendously when he could, but he has been super busy though. We just finished it last night/early morning. I have been functioning off of 4-5 hours of sleep each night trying to get it done. I just pray that everything looks good, and that there aren't too many spelling errors (I had 3 other people look at it... but it will be my luck that something is messed up!)
In wedding news, I called a man about a reception location 2 weeks ago and he is yet to call me back. I have been so busy with the football program and work that I have not had a chance to call him back yet. I will be doing that the first of next week though because that must be finalized ASAP!! Where has this month gone??
Robert is coaching his first high school football game tomorrow. I know that he will do a great job... now let's just hope that I remain calm in the stands! Ha! :)) And after that... classes start for me on Monday! My last semester of undergraduate classes in the classroom... and then my internship in the Spring! Yay!! :))
As promised... here is my 10 months checklist. I tried to make it all pretty and neat looking and then when I went to make it a PDF all the pictures turned fuzzy and the background looks funny!
Oh well... hopefully you will be able to see it. I think if you click on the picture, it will open in a new window and you can make it bigger... maybe! If it doesn't work, then I will work on fixing it.
Looks like I have a lot to get to this month... so I better get busy!!
When Robert and I got engaged, I knew I would need help. Our budget doesn't allow for a wedding planner; therefore, I rely on my wedding planner to be The Knot --- and it has been a LIFESAVER for me!
About once a week, theknot.com sends out a newsletter with helpful tips in it. These tips include a variety of topics...
--- 10 Biggest Wedding Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
--- 48 Wedding Songs You'll Love
--- 3 Hot (New!) Wedding Color Combos
--- 18 Wedding Beauty Bummers (and How to Fix Them)
Sometimes I just skim the article and don't really pay attention to it, and then other times I will bookmark the link and even print out the article and highlight important parts for me to remember! It has been amazing all the stuff that I did not even think would go into planning a wedding...
--- You should not begin planning your wedding until you have an idea of how many guests you will be inviting.
--- Colors play a MAJOR role in the wedding process.
--- Everything involved in the wedding process costs money and it all begins to add up very quickly!
Along with getting a newsletter once a week, I also receive reminders of how many months it is before the big day. As you know from the title, we have 10 months to go (as of tomorrow)!! It is so very exciting and so very scary to me too!
Knowing that I have 10 months to plan everything should not be stressful to me. Plenty of brides plan their weddings in a lot less time, and everything turns out beautifully. I guess I get so nervous because at the end of the month I will be starting my Senior year at the University of Montevallo and also my last semester in the university classroom. In the spring, I will begin my internship! (Praise the Lord!!) On top of all that, I will still be working part-time at the Shelby County Reporter through December.
Each month I will include (in a separate post) what I am supposed to be doing this month and what all I have gotten done! Look for that tomorrow!! :))
Robert and I met Samantha at Stephanie and Austin Bradford's wedding last June (2008). Robert was a groomsman in their wedding and thought she was very easy to work with. She had also brought her husband, Clark, along with her to help take pictures. They were both such sweet, nice and professional people at the wedding that I immediately fell in love with them.
Another thing I loved about them was that they were not right in everyone's face. When she posted their pictures online and we were looking through them, Robert and I both kept saying, "Wow! I don't remember seeing her take that picture." I can't stand to go to a wedding and the photographer walk around putting the camera in everyone's face and making you pose all night long. So rude!
When Robert and I got engaged in December, I immediately knew that I wanted Samantha to be our photographer for our wedding. Number one because we had "worked" with her before and I felt like she would do a great job and number two because photography is so important to me. After the wedding, the only thing you have beside your memories of the special day is the photos. We met with her in January and chose our photography package...
** OUR PACKAGE **
--- Up to 8 hours of photographic coverage --- Online proofing --- Print catalog --- A complete set of first-edition, bordered 4x6 prints --- 12x12 30 page Storybook album
She also has all sorts of add-ons for our package (Blog slideshow on DVD/iPod; Brag books - that are the perfect size for carrying around in your purse; Save the Dates, etc.) She also does engagement and bridal session photos.
Another element that she offers is The First Look. This just means that Robert and I will see each before the ceremony begins. Below is the excerpt from her website explaining it...
"It's great when my couples decide to see each other before the wedding because we know we're gonna get some great light before it gets too dark (especially for those late in the day ceremonies), it relieves extra stress and anxiety from the b/g, they have their pictures made first rather than last, and it's tons of fun and usually pretty emotional for them both! When my clients choose The First Look, we always set them up for an intimate and private meeting without an audience (except for Dad sometimes). ; )"
I am so excited about the pictures! They are going to be amazing! :)) Which reminds me that I have to make a payment sometime next month... I need to look that up!
Oh and the people in the top picture in this post are Stephanie and Austin. Photos courtesy of www.samanthaaldayphotography.com of course!
Robert and I are getting married in 313 days! It sounds so far away, but to me each day that passes brings so much more to do!
I was telling a friend the other day that I never knew that being a bride was such hard work! :)) I LOVE every minute of it though!
One thing I have discovered is that people like to ask you questions. They range from... "Where are you getting married?" to "Have you picked your colors yet?"
I have found though that two questions/statements are VERY common and are the main questions/statements that are asked of me. 1. "What all have you gotten done so far?"... and ... 2. "Do you need my address?/Our names better be on the guest list!"
I am beginning to dread them though! How awful is that! One thing that question #1 gives me is accountability. I need it more than anything, whether it be in the wedding process, school, church, etc. When people ask you that question, I feel like they are seeing if I am being a busy, busy bride.
Question/statement #2 causes controversy though. There is a restaurant in Selma where I used to go eat every Friday. It was the highlight of my week because that's when my dad and I did our bonding time. Also, you see everyone in Selma! Well... this past Friday I went with my mom and sister and ended up seeing one of my bridesmaids' aunts. I have known her forever and of course she asked question #2. I replied, "Well of course!", with a big smile on my face. All the while, I am saying on the inside that "I did not even think about her when I was making the guest list."
But yes, I have been making our guest list and have started with both sides of our family (200 for Robert, 100 for myself), my parents friends (100 roughly), both of our church families (1oo roughly), and then our many friends (???). If you kept up with the math, then that is 500 people without any friends.
All I can say is WOW!! WHO HAS THIS MANY FRIENDS?!?!?!
After many tears and after church at my grandmother's house,
we were finally able to take some pictures!
We were planning on going to Bristol, Tenn., with my parents, to visit my grandmother for Christmas. We were supposed to leave Sunday, December 21, 2008, but my uncle had a stroke and on Monday was transferred to UAB. Monday night, we decided to have Christmas with his parents. Robert told me he was only getting me one present this year. Secretly I was hoping for a ring, but I never told him this. He wanted to know if I wanted to open my present with his parents or my parents. I was really stuck, so I finally decided to open it with his parents. When I opened his present, his parents said my face showed disappointment (but I promise it didn’t!). It was the most beautiful diamond necklace I had ever seen. I was gushing over it and was so happy. I told him I could totally understand why he only got me one present.
After much deliberation and stressing, my family finally decided to go to my grandmother’s on Christmas Eve morning. We left at 6 a.m. to make sure we made it in time for Christmas Eve services. It was a very long trip! When we finally got to Bristol around 3 p.m., it was raining and looked miserable outside. All I wanted to do was go inside and rest before church that night. Robert had other plans. He began saying he wanted to go visit my “grandfather’s bridge.”
My grandfather, James A. Street, was an educator mainly in Alabama and Tennessee. He was a highly respected man. When he died three years ago, the Tennessee legislature named a bridge that is about a mile from my grandmother’s house the “James A. Street Memorial Bridge”. It may just be a bridge to some people, but it means so much more to me and my family.
Back to the engagement story… (I told you I get off track!) Robert began nagging and telling me he really wanted to go see the bridge named after my grandfather. I told him no, no, no. He kept trying to get me up and get ready for church. I told him so many reasons why I didn’t want to go - that I didn’t have to be ready for another 3 hours, it was raining, we would go another day, but he would not give up. After an hour of badgering, he decided the best way to get me ready was if he went and got ready. My mom and sister come in at this point and tell me that I am being so mean and that I should feel honored that Robert wants to go see the bridge. They put the total guilt trip on me! I finally got dressed, but I have to admit, I was a little annoyed.
When we were leaving, my parents told us to not be gone to long, we would have to be leaving for church soon. I said, “Don’t worry! It’s raining. We won’t even get out.” I remember hearing my mom say “I don’t know about that,” but I didn’t think anything of it at the time. On the short drive there, Robert was insanely quiet. I was being my normal chatty self and he was sitting with his hands in his pockets, not saying a word. While we were driving, the rain stopped, but of course I didn’t think anything of it at the time.
When we arrived at the bridge, I got out and walked over towards the bridge and said, “Well here it is – the bridge. You want to see anything else?” I turned around and Robert had his back to me. I asked him what he was doing and why he wasn’t even looking at me. He turned around and I will never forget the look on his face. It was a mixture of joy, happiness and nervousness. He looked so scared, but happy at the same time. My voice began to quiver and I asked, “What’s going on? What are you doing?” He walked towards me and grabbed my hands and got down on one knee. At this point, I began to freak out. All I could say was “This isn’t happening. This isn’t real.” Not the most romantic thing to say at this time, huh? After professing his love and him finally telling me “Yes Hailey, this is real. I do want you to be my wife,” I finally said YES! It seemed everything worked out for the happiest moment in our lives – next to our wedding day. Of course when I got back my parents and grandmother were ecstatic. They were in on the whole thing and helped Robert with the planning. We did make it to church, just barely, but we did make it!
Our first ever photo we ever took together... Wow! How we have both changed since then!!
How we met I consider to be an interesting story and when I tell people they consider it to be a very unique story. Katie (my sister) and Anna (Robert's sister) will tell you in a heartbeat that they were the reason that we met. You can be the judge of that I guess...
It was March 17, 2007. Dallas County High School was hosting their annual beauty review. Let me pause by saying that a beauty review is the same thing as a beauty pageant. I don't know why it's called a beauty review... It's the only thing I have ever known it by.
Anyways... Katie was only 14 at the time and could not drive. She really wanted to go to the beauty review, but did not have a ride. I was planning on staying at home that night because I had no reason to go the beauty review. My parents did not want to drive into town and take her, so I told her that I would take her. I am pretty sure there was some bargaining that took place... cleaning my room, free trips to Sonic, washing my car, something or anything.
We got to the beauty review late and decided to sit in the back. Within minutes I saw a friend from high school and his girlfriend and we walked up and sat with them. During intermission, Robert walked up to my friend and began talking to him. I noticed him, but I did not pay much attention to him. After a few minutes, my friend introduced me to Robert and explained that they were roommates at Alabama. I also learned that he was there because his sister was in the pageant.
Robert and I ended up sitting three people down from each other and I can remember hearing him tell jokes most of the pageant and thinking he was very funny. I had just gotten out a relationship though so I did not pay much attention to him. After the pageant was over, my friend asked if Robert and I wanted to ride around and hang out for a little bit. I debated it in my head and finally decided it would not harm anything to just hang out with them... it's not like it was a date or anything!
We walked out of the auditorium and Robert and I made small talk and I laughed the whole walk to the car. We rode around for a couple of hours when my friend and his girlfriend decided that they wanted to go home. They dropped us off at Robert's car. He asked me if I was ready to go home or if I wanted to ride around for a little while longer. I was not ready to go home yet, but I was a little nervous about riding around with a guy I had just met 3 hours earlier.
We ended up riding around until after midnight and by the end of the night I was in love. I can remember going to the grocery store the next day with my mom and telling her about this amazing guy I met the night before and how we ended up riding around and hanging out for hours. (Of course she did the whole Mom thing! Do you know him? Who are his parents? Where is he from? Has he been to prison? Does he have tattoos? Ha!)
I honestly did not expect to hear from ever again after that night, but while grocery shopping Robert ended up calling. For the next week we talked every night until 2'o'clock in the morning and within one week we were officially dating... and now we are a little over 10 months from getting married!! :))
So I guess before you hear the whole engagement story, you should probably at least know a little about the both of us. But then again, if you are a family member or a friend, then you already know all that. Oh well! I love to tell stories, so I will begin this post by telling a little about the both of us. (I'm going to skip all the baby stories... That's sound like a post for another time!)
Robert Walker Dolbare is from Valley Grande, Alabama. He graduated from Dallas County High School in 2001. He then attended the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 2005 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Relations and Computer Science. He worked in public relations for a year and a half before returning back to UA to work on his Masters in Secondary Education. He just completed his first year teaching 11th grade U.S. History II back at Dallas County High School and is getting ready to start his second year. (Yay!) He coaches football and golf. (Don't ask specifics... I love sports, but I get confused very easily when he starts talking all the specifics!) He is also attending the University of Montevallo to finish up his Masters degree in Secondary Education.
Hailey Elaine Davis (Me!) is also from Valley Grande. I graduated from Dallas County High School in 2006. I attended Wallace Community College-Selma for one year and then transferred to the University of Montevallo. I am currently working on a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education. I am taking classes this summer and then will begin Block II of my professional studies in the Fall. And, good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I will graduate May 2010. (Yay!!)
So that is a little bit about both of us... Hopefully I didn't bore you too bad!!
So today is my first blog post about mine and Robert's upcoming nuptials, so I am going to keep it pretty brief. This is totally new to me and I have no idea what I am doing. I was told that it's "just like writing an email to a friend." I will say that I can be wordy at times, so I apologize if a blog post is long.
I work for The Shelby County Reporter in Columbiana, Ala. We publish a publication called "Bride Guide" in the winter and spring. It features brides from the Shelby County area and gives tips and advices on your wedding celebration. Hopefully this blog can maybe give you a little insight on the joyous time of planning a wedding.
Oh and if you didn't know... Robert and I will be "tying the knot" June 12, 2010 in Selma, Ala. More details about us and the wedding will follow in later posts.
Where the heck did time just go?? I swear that yesterday was the day that Robert and I got engaged... but actually that was like 10 months ago. Wow.
ert and I got engaged, I knew I would need help. Our budget doesn't allow for a wedding planner; therefore, I rely on my wedding planner to be The Knot --- and it has been a LIFESAVER for me!
