Andrea and Dre answer the quiz

1. What's surprised you the most about being engaged?
Andrea: The word "fiance" sounds so foreign to me still...and I guess "husband" will take some getting used to also. Anyway, the thing that has really surprised me is the barrage of wedding crap...It's insane!!! I'm getting catalogs, magazines, and coupons for wedding photography packages in the mail, plus a sudden influx of diet solution emails. Even on Facebook and MySpace the internet banner ads have all changed to wedding rings, photography, dresses, registries, laser hair removal and whatnot. This industry is filled with vultures just waiting to attack the minute you change you relationship status to "engaged."
Dre: Nothing surprised me. Everyone else was just surprised that I'm engaged....friends, coworkers, family, EVERYBODY.

2. What worries you about being married?
Andrea: Fear of the unknown. I'm not looking forward to our first big fight... we typically agree on most things and find ways of talking through the things we disagree about. But when we have kids and need to make other tough life decisions, I hope it doesn't cause any drama between us. I guess we won't really know how we'll react until we're in the situation.
Dre: Nothing really...because I don't worry about too much of anything. I figure when the time comes, we'll figure it out, and we'll be alright. Maybe just a few worries about kid stuff, but I figure we'll both come to an agreement we'll be happy with.

3. How is your planning going?
Andrea: Planning is smooth so far, but I think it's because we were just really lucky to have everything laid out for us. For example, the reception was a no brainer because we're having it at the place where we met...duh, that's an easy one. We're not having an official bridal party, so we don't have to worry about pairing people to walk down the aisle or stress about what they're going to wear. And since there's no bridal party, that also means we don't have to plan a rehearsal dinner...there's nothing to rehearse.

The wedding is in the middle of September, so fall colors seemed obvious. We have family and friends to hook us up with flowers, invitation design, photography, etc. So it's smooth sailing.

Now dress shopping might be a bit more complicated now that I can't do bridal runway modeling this year...I couldn't fit into the skinny dresses! (Kelly was right about that unwanted 15 lbs.) I was planning to try on lots of dresses and maybe get one for free. Looks like I have to go shopping like everyone else. LOL
Dre: Going well. I stay away and let the ladies do their thing. They'll let me know what I need to do if I need to do it.

4. What was your last fight about?
Andrea: We don't "fight" per se... just discuss our disagreements. So the last "disagreement discussion" was about his unexplainable dislike for bonfires and Halloween parties. I think he's weird, and he's sticking to his opinions. So the resolution was that we will all go to the Lupe Fiasco concert and maybe out for drinks on Halloween night, and he can stay home and watch CNN while the rest of us go to the Halloween bonfire at our friend's house the day after. I've learned that he doesn't like to compromise on things like this. But he won't hold a grudge if we leave him home alone. Stubborn yet fair.
Dre: I guess it wasn't really a "fight". I just don't like barns and bonfires...I'm cool on that.

5. Is there a married couple you want to (or don't want to) be like?
Andrea: I've always looked up to my parents and their friends in their couples group. They have always been great role models for loving marriages, as well as the importance of having a strong support network of other married friends to keep your relationship uplifted. I know too many people who think marriage is just an extension of dating. For example, many failed Hollywood marriages started out as whirlwind romances with shallow roots, so when they got married, they were expecting real life to play out like the movies they star in. Life isn't a fairytale...even if you experience some fairytale moments.
Dre: I like Andrea's parents, my dad and his wife. I don't want to be like the Bundys.

Jake and Kelly answer a quiz

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1. What's surprised you the most about being engaged?
Jake: What’s surprised me the most about being engaged is how much happier the future wife is.
Kelly: How quickly I was able to gain 15 (unwanted) lbs.

2. What worries you about being married?
Jake: When will we hit that five million mark in the savings account is what I worry the most about.
Kelly: We'll now I'm worried about being fat. If an engagement can make me gain this much weight God only knows what a marriage will do.

3. How is your planning going?
Jake: Planning is going great, we are taking care of all the stuff asap. That way when it gets closer to the wedding date we can just relax and know we already did it.
Kelly: Ridiculously well. I think its too easy.

4. What was your last fight about?
Jake: Last fight? Don’t even know; it wasn’t a big deal obviously. It’s not that often we "fight," very rare, but "fighting" can also be healthy.

5. Is there a married couple you want to (or don't want) to be like?
Jake: Two married couples would be my mom and dad and mom2 and dad2. They both have been married for like over 126 years.
Kelly: I would like to be like our parents. I would not like to be like the Bobbits.

*Editor's note: Kelly wants you to know that the camera adds 27 lbs.

Shrinking Fingers by Andrea

We stopped by the mall over the weekend to make the first payment on the ring, and I wanted to see about getting it sized to fit my finger just a little tighter (I think my fingers are shrinking. The lady at Kay told us that once they send it out, it'll take 7-10 days to get the ring back. "Oh......it must be new. Not ready to let it go yet, huh?" (I guess she could tell by the look on my face that I didn't want to give it up for 10 days.)

So she pulled out her pliers and a little strip of metal and suggested a temporary alternative to keep the ring from slipping. It looks like some sort of orthodontic torture device I had to wear in high school. But hey, it works, and my ring won't go flying off. Eventually I'll need to build up the strength to send it out for sizing....wish me luck! Andrea

Finger Bling by Andrea

For all those who thought it wasn't official yet....we finally got an engagement ring!!! It's GORGEOUS and it suits me perfectly. Dre picked it out with very little input from me. I was quite impressed!

So today I showed the new finger bling to my coworkers....and everyone flipped out. "Like Chinese gymnasts" Dre says (LOL). So anyway, the story wasn't some overly romanticized Hollywood love scene, and not quite as picturesque as Jakelly's story, but it was still very very sweet. I had some work done on my car, so while we waited for VW to finish up, we went out for breakfast; then walked aimlessly around the mall to kill time. During our aimless meandering, we casually strolled by a couple jewelry stores. We had our fingers measured at one place, then got the phone call from VW that my car was ready. On our way out of the mall, we stopped at Kay to see what sales they had. So we sat down at the counter, and it turns out that Dre had really been doing his homework. I just sat back in my seat while he browsed through diamond bridal sets. He liked several of them, but when he found my ring (just like when he met me) he knew it was the one.

"I like the way it sparkles in the light...and I love the way it looks on your hand." So one thing led to another and the next thing I know, he's slipping the ring on my finger and the sales lady (Josephine Lopez aka J-Lo) is hugging us, bouncing around excited. It was really a great surprise, and I can't stop staring at it....I'm tempted to take it off while I'm typing because I keep getting distracted heehee. So now we are officially official, and no one can argue that. :) Andrea

Wedding Dress Drama from Kelly

So I'm writing this from the treadmill at the gym. I always write gum when I mean to write gym and then I laugh.

My wedding dress came in last week. Ok it came in like three weeks ago but I finally had time to pick it up last week. it was much prettier than I remembered it being. I actually wore makeup while putting it on so that helped.
But then I tried to zip it up and couldn't! One of my bridesmaids was with me and she couldn't even zip it up!!! So the dress quickly came off and I have taken up residency in the gym.

I used to wait for Jake to get off work and then we'd go together. But I've realized I don't like going at night so I am here during the day now. I always decide I'm going to go home after I work out and clean the house and cook some big meal. Instead I sit on my bed and next thing I know its like 3 hours later and I'm just waking up. Oops. Kelly

Kelly: Another Ring

I went to Seattle last week with some dude that I'm going to marry to surprise his mom for her birthday.

While we were there we went to his aunt who is a jeweler to pick out our wedding rings. Now I am not a jewelry person. I have 7 crappy earrings I wear from Claires and a necklace my cousin from Ireland gave me when I was 18. That's pretty much the nicest thing I had. But I think I've found a new love for diamonds. I want big sparkly rings. They're so fun.

When Jake proposed he obviously didn't have a ring because I surprised him in Europe.

He looked around for a fake ring to use for the night but had no luck. This meant I got to pick my own ring as soon as I got home. That was fun too. My ring is gorgeous. Both rings are gorgeous. I'm thinking of pushing up the wedding by 7 months so I can get to wear it sooner.

Jake decided against getting a giant diamond for himself and went with a plain white gold band. I decided against a plain white gold band and got a lot of diamonds.
Kelly

Kelly: Changing Names

I was instructed to write a blog about changing last names. I am definitely changing mine. The end.

It's never even occurred to me to keep my own last name. My mom and aunts hyphenated their last names. That's cool too. It's just not for me. I want my man to completely own me and I want to lose my own identity. That's ridiculous. It's not like my name is changing to "my name isn't important only Jake's is." It's just a last name.

I went to this name combining website once to see what kinds of last names it could come up with for the two of us. Because its not bad enough that just one person changes their name, now two can do it and make it even more complicated for the rest of their lives. One of the answers it gave me was Warty. I do not want to be called Kelly Warty ever. So guess I'm going to be a Wambold. Besides, if I did become Kelly Hagerty-Wambold, no one would ever call me that. They'd just call me Kelly Wambold. Then I'd have to correct them. I'm too lazy to waste my breath correcting people about something that I really dont care about. I also just remembered my mom said not to give out my last name. Well, I'm pretty sure if anyone ever wanted to find me, it's not too hard to figure out who my mom is. Then you could figure out my last name. Well maybe not since she's got one of those hyphenated names. Kelly

Meet the Bloggers Part One: Jake and Kelly

Name: Jake
Age: 26
Employed by: Hagerty Construction
Ethnic background: German
Place in family: Oldest
School: Fife High School
Religion: My grandparents are Lutheran.
Wedding Date: April 18, 2009
How did you meet? My band used to stay at one of the people’s house that worked for the record label we were on and Kelly was friends with the guy’s roommate and Kelly happened to be hanging out with her one night and we met.
How did you propose? Kelly surprised me in Europe when I was on tour and I had planned on asking her when I got home but since the Eiffel Tower is her favorite place on earth I had to take advantage of the situation and make her cry her face off by asking her to marry me on the tower.
How did you know this is the right person? Sounds cliché but I just know.
What’s your couple name? Brangelina
Wedding details: April 18th at St. Celestine
Anything else? Hi Mom!

Name: Kelly
Age: 26
Employed by: Cubby Bear
Ethnic background: Irish
Place in family: Current oldest (ask me about it if you want to feel really uncomfortable)
School: Grade School: St. Pascal, High School: Trinity
Religion: Catholic
How did you propose? I didn’t. I flew to Europe to surprise him while his band was there. While we were in Paris we went up on the Eiffel Tower and he totally surprised me by proposing. I responded by crying like an idiot for two hours straight.
How did you know this is the right person? He liked me during my pink hair disaster. He is hot. He’s the nicest human alive. He’s still fun even though we stopped drinking. I just know.
Wedding details: April 18 at St. Celestine. You’re invited.
What are you nervous about? Going to jail. I probably never will. I don’t really do anything wrong. I’ve never even had a detention. Oh, you mean about the wedding? I’m nervous about having to dance. I can’t dance.
Anything else? I’m very excited about writing these blogs. I will write a lot. I hope you get my sense of humor and his sense of humor.