We have a venue...

...but we have to put down the deposit first lol!

So, I wrote about the venue we went to look at, the Anderson Arts Center, a couple of months ago. We went to look at it again last week, and the event planner gave us a nice, detailed tour. I really love the place because it's different, there's art everywhere (so we won't have to do a whole lot of decorating), it holds up to 300 people, and we can have the rehearsal dinner there the night before!

A couple of pics (from Renee Burroughs Design):

Now I'm getting excited about planning the wedding! I made another inspiration board on The Knot, I'm planning to start looking for dresses next month, and I'm starting to do research on the decor. We still have to figure out the whole guest list, but that's another post for another day.

Since I'm really getting my butt in gear, I should be posting more often.

Until next time...

It's been a long time!

Hey ya'll! I know, it's been a while since I've written in here, and I apologize. I'ma do better, ya'll; I promise lol!

So, I haven't been doing much on the planning front lately, and that's why I haven't been blogging. But today, I logged on to The Knot to do some research for a client, and it said there's 298 days until the big day!! I started freaking out and panicking a little because I. Have. Done. Nothing. Well, I've chosen the colors, have a semi-finished guest list and a venue that I want to book (but I haven't), but that's it. I do have someone who's helping me out (thank God), I just need to sit down and figure out exactly what needs to be done-- and do it! I really don't want a disastrous wedding, and I don't want to be super-stressed when it's June, July, August 2011. It's just difficult to be in the planning mood because planning is so not me....oh, well, guess I'll just have to suck it up, and plan this Fabulous wedding (with help, of course)!

And if you have any tips to help me getting into a planning mood, pleeeaaase leave them below...thanks! : - )

A few photos..

Last month, I got some headshots made for my biz and blog (by NakeeshaRenee Photography), and she took some photos of Chris and me:

I want to like cooking...

This is so not me


I was procrastinating taking a break so I decided to head over to ChocolateBrides.com. On it, I read a post, "The Power of Food." In it, The Happy Nappy Bride talks about how she actually wants to cook for her hubby and family. Not that he can't do it, but she enjoys it and is good at it. The post made me think about my hate/hate relationship with cooking.

I want to like cooking. Really, I do. Not because I feel that I'm "supposed" to cook {Chris can cook; he's literally been doing so since, like, age 10}. I want to because 1) I like to eat; 2) Although I won't cook every night, I'm sure I'll have to some times, and I wouldn't mind actually enjoying it-- at least a little; and 3) When we have kids, they have to eat something besides frozen pizza and Wendy's right? {I guess...}

I just don't like to cook though...it takes too much time, in my opinion, and it's just not...fun. Maybe {hopefully} I'll learn to kinda like it within the next 345 days. Or at least learn to tolerate the act.

If you have any tips, advice, anything, leave me a comment...help a sista out! LOL!


Photo from mymajicdc.com

How much "riding" and dying" is necessary?

I'm sure ya'll all know by now about the situation with T.I. and Tiny. Yeah, we know they're dumb, but that's not what this post is about lol. When I was doing some reading on blogs and forums, I came across posts/discussions about what we {as women} would have done in this type of situation. In one blog post I read, the author said she is a ride or die chick so she would take the charges like Tiny probably will since T.I. will may serve time.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for being there for your man in hard times {as long as he's a great man- but that's a whole other post}. When Chris was out of work, I supported him; not so much financially, but I was there for him emotionally, I encouraged him, and I helped him look for a job, but I think there's a line, at least for me. And that line is pretty much anything illegal; I just can't get with that. I seriously, seriously doubt that Chris would do anything illegal, but if he did, I can't see myself being his 'ride or die' in that type of situation. I love him to pieces, but I love myself more than that.

I thought I was a ride or die chick because I don't run at the first sign of trouble, I don't insult or degrade him {even if he does something crazy}, and I stick by him in the rough times. But I guess people have different definitions of what that means. So I want to know:

What is your definition of 'ride or die'? Are you a ride or die chick? How far is too far, or is there no limit?

Photo Credit: herdailyfix.com

Take it from them...

...because black women {and men} find love, too!

This post is all about a happily married black man who's married to a black woman {yes, they do exist!}. Check out what Emmanuel has to say:

Wedding Anniversary Date: June 28, 2008

How did you know Crystal was the one?
That's a great question...honestly, I had commitment issues before Crystal- as in, I ran from the word "relationship." However, I always figured that whenever I actually "take the plunge" and get into a committed relationship, that woman would most likely be the one I marry. I guess I started to realize it when I thought about how she was the first person I felt like I could be myself 100% around, without holding back anything. I'm a very reserved, guarded person, and I knew she had to be special to be able to break down those barries so easily.

What is one thing marriage has taught you?
No matter what, if your foundation is built on love, you can weather any storm. No matter how wonderful the connection is between two people, you're not going to see eye-to-eye on everything; some issues may come up from time to time, but love will conquer all. It seems that, especially nowadays, people run at the first sign of trouble, but I think that's because they haven't built a foundation on love. I've heard couples refer to their marriages as business arrangements or partnerships- and that's unfortunate because the bond I have with my wife is so much more than that!

Any advice or tips for newlyweds?
Communicate! Learn how to disagree, discuss and dissolve an issue without fighting. Lastly, remember to do the nice little things you did for each other earlier in the relationship- continuous courtship keeps the fire buring for a lifetime.

Check out Emmanuel aka Eazy's music--> eazy.bandcamp.com

If you're a happily married black woman {or man}, and you want to be featured, send me an email for consideration: jamienfleming (at) gmail (dot) com.

The Venue

So I'm excited because we may have found the perfect venue! First, let me give you a little background about the search.

Okay, I live in Hartwell, a small town that doesn't have many options when it comes to wedding/reception venues. Initially, we thought we'd have the wedding at the church we attend and have the reception at the local golf course. I got information about having it there, and there are two prices: For 125 guests, the food, half the ballroom, etc, it was around $2500 {according to my calculations}. But as you know, the guest list is now way more than 125, and it costs $800 just to get the entire room. So...yeah, I don't think that's going to work.

Option two was to have the wedding in Hartwell and the reception in Anderson (where Chris is from). But it's a 30 minute drive, and I don't really feel comfortable asking people to drive to Hartwell for the wedding and then drive 30 more minutes to the reception. And besides, I don't want to ride 30 minutes to the reception either.

Now, I'm hoping {fingers crossed} that we can have the wedding in Anderson at the Anderson Arts Center. I love it because 1) Well, it's in Anderson; 2) It can hold up to 300 guests; 3) It's unique; and 4) It's affordable! I want to have both the wedding and reception there; the events coordinator said it was probably possible, but no one's ever had a wedding there...Anyhoo, I think we're going to have a look at it next week, and hopefully everything will work out...Wish me luck!