O-C-T-O-B-E-R

Hey Everyone! We are almost half way through with October and time keeps ticking.  I am so very grateful I have had an extended engagement! I don't know how people who get married in 6 months do it? 

I left off last time at the weekend of our engagement photo shoot.  It was so much fun to take pictures together and gave us a lot of great practice for the actual wedding.  Here are a few of my favorites so far....

So in a nutshell that is what we have been up to lately.  I spent last weekend up at Lake Toxaway (without Kevin as he had to work) celebrating my sister's 27th Birthday.  I was sick so I couldn't do much, but we had a lot of fun out on the boat. 

I will be hosting Amrita and Hrishi here in Atlanta this weekend! They are coming to visit with us and see Atlanta.  We have a few fun events scheduled for the weekend like the Roswell ghost tour on Friday night and a fun Italian restaurant in Innman Park on Saturday called Sotto Sotto.  We might even hit up the new movie Footloose, as for my 13th birthday, Amrita and I saw the play!

The invitations for our first wedding party went out this week.  It will be in Gainesville and is being hosted by some of my mother's close friends.  We couldn't be more excited about the party.  Now, I just have to find something fun to wear!

Next week will be a short week as we are headed to Athens (the first time I will have been back after getting engaged!) for my cousin's wedding.  We will be staying at the Hotel Indigo which is one of my company's hotels, which is always fun! We will be leaving on Thursday to head to Athens! We couldn't be more excited for this family wedding, the first big wedding on the Rentz side!

Hope all is well with everyone! More pics of Amrita and Hrishi's visit to come! XOXO

Mrs. Kittery Van Sciver and SAVE THE DATES!

It's been a while but I HAVE to post pics and recall events from Kittery's wedding.  Kittery is one of my bridesmaids and close middle school/high school friend.  She is a dear friend and we were so excited to attend her Davidson, North Carolina wedding!  Here are a few pics that highlight the events!


Airport Arrivals of my best friends!



Rehearsal Dinner with BRIDEY:)

Getting Ready for the Wedding at my sister's condo

They are married!

Picture Time!

Gorgeous Reception location

Cake Cutting! So pretty!

It was such a fun wedding and seeing Kittery's family after such a long time was also a highlight! Can't wait to hang out with my best buds more during the next 8 months!

It's been quite an exciting week around here as we (ahem, my sweet Mommy whom I shall forever be grateful towards!) sent out our Save the Dates for the wedding! I am so thankful for those who reached out and commented on them- (Shout out to the Engelke's!) It's been fun to hear that everyone has received them! I personally designed them with a fabulous artist, Ashley Brooke Designs.  Mommy tied all the ribbons and while we were all having fun at Kittery's wedding she sent me this picture which got me so excited about sending them out!

........So, it looks like Kevin and I are finally going to be in Atlanta for a few weeks solid.  Next trip is to the beach for my cousin's bachelorette weekend in mid September.

UGA football starts next weekend! We are getting very excited around here! Hope everyone is doing well!

XOXO,
Andra

And the beat goes on...

Things are progressing slowly but surely in our wedding world.  Unfortunately, we cannot book our reception site until a year out, so we are patiently waiting for that time to come so we can move full steam ahead with plans.  Right now, I am enjoying having a little time to read all my bride magazines, research photographers, and dream about the honeymoon.  This timing actually works out perfectly with Kevin's schedule as he is knee deep in tax preparation until April 18th.  The long hours and weekends have started.  This past weekend left me with idle time on my hands which is something I haven't experienced in a very long time! I went to the gym, relaxed on the porch with my magazines, and talked to a wedding photographer.  We also went to go see the movie "Just Go With It" and now are considering Hawaii as an option for the honeymoon! It was so gorgeous!  A very funny movie...it was just what we needed for our date night after focusing on the wedding 24/7! 

We also used a Groupon this past weekend that my best friend Amrita had given me for my birthday to a delicious sushi and noodle house in Buckhead called Genki.  They had live music and amazing food.  Kevin doesn't care for sushi like I do, so he ordered an outrageously delicious brown rice bowl.  It was a great date and made me appreciate living in Atlanta around so much culture.  On Sunday we played a round of putt putt golf with sorority sister, Caitlin, and her boyfriend Chris.  We also did a little residential neighborhood looking for that glorious day when we can move in together!  Even though I have a 25-30 minute commute to work everyday, we both feel strongly about our desire to remain in the Vinings area, where I currently live.  It fits our lifestyle very well and is so close to Buckhead.  Kevin and I love house looking, so much more to come on this subject!

Somos Novios

This past weekend was quite a trip! I think Kevin and I have finally wrapped up our "on the road tour 2011" (at least for the next two months while he is in tax season!)  Sorry for being so absent the past two weeks (Caroline Inge-my personal apologies to you! I was reminded by Caroline that I was being a bad blogger via her facebook post!) We have just been living life at warp speed!

Last Friday we traveled to the Atlanta airport to pick up my sister and then drive home to Gainesville, Florida.  We arrived around 10:30pm to a lovely Valentine's day dinner buffet prepared by my parents.  Highlights included chocolate dipped strawberries and a latin favorite, Picadillo.  Unforutnately, we had to delay our visit to Miami as my grandfather was in the hospital and had to have an operation on Saturday at 8am.  We decided to stay close to Gainesville over the weekend visiting Papa in the hospital each day and to leave for the concert on Monday morning.  We had a really nice visit in Gainesville.  On Saturday night Kevin and I located Father of the Bride at Best Buy and we all watched the DVD (15th Anniversary Special Edition) together.  Even though we have all seen the movie before, it was a real treat to watch it since we are actually going through the process now!

Sunday was also a special day as my mother, sister and I got to play with my Mom's wedding dress! It was the first time it had been opened since her wedding day.  It was the most fun we have had yet during the engagment period! I loved looking at the dress and imagining what her wedding day was like!

Monday morning I worked from 7-9am and then we were off to Fort Lauderdale for the Bocelli concert (Sunrise to be exact).  The concert was at 7:30pm so we were on a schedule to get down there.  We had a lovely Valentine's day dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse.  None of us had ever been to one before and were very intrigued by the process of bringing meat around on skewers.  It was very entertaining.  We rode together in my mother's car as the concert had a complimentary Lexus parking lot.  We were so impressed when we drove up to the concert and got front row parking! 

Valentine's Day Dinner at Brazaviva Steakhouse!



Andrea Bocelli was magnificent! He literally took my breath away! It was a chance of a lifetime to be able to see him live on Valentine's Day!

 We had great seats and could see the entire orchestra.  My best friend Amrita attended his concert in Boston back in the fall and filled me in on all the highlights.  She was right when she said how amazed I would be! He sang all my favorites, Somos Novios, The Prayer, Granada, Time to Say Goodbye etc.

It was definitely an experience I will never forget! Thank you to my sister for such an incredible Christmas present!

Our family outside the Bank Atlantic Center, Sunrise FL

Tuesday morning bright and early, we jumped back in the car and drove home to Gainesville, grabbed a quick bite of lunch and stopped by the hospital to tell Papa goodbye.  Then it was back on the road again for five more hours.  Kevin and I got back to Atlanta last night after a long but fun filled weekend! 

The wedding plans are coming along.  My mother visited the first weekend in Feburary and we finalized a few things.  I can confirm that the wedding will be held here in Atlanta at our church and reception will follow!  I will wait to share the reception location until it's contracted!  I will post my mother's visit re-cap later this week- just wanted to share the Bocelli highlights first from Valentine's Day!  Thank you to all who sent such sweet thoughts about my grandfather and our travels.