19th Century Club Oak Park and Decor

Location: 19th Century Club, Oak Park, IL

Decor: d.michael floral design

ahhhhh all done!

I def slacked in the past 2 months on postings... In short, everything was wonderful. It was how I imagined and MORE. My decorator did a phenomenal job along with the caterer. I cannot say enough good things about the venue :-) Cheers to being relaxed and not consumed with wedding wedding wedding 24/7! I'm enjoying it!

really? 23 days?

wow have I been a SLACKER!! I'm soooo busy. Between final projects for school, work, and this wedding - my brain is going 150MPH! But I am beginning to see the light, whoo hoo!! Update:

• My dress is at my seamstress, I should have first fitting next week. I love it now!! yah! Thank you YELP!
• We met with our desert GURU and I am SOOO excited about our desserts! they are going to be FAB and the cake (her idea!) sounds soo much fun!
• Got most my gifts done - all that's left is brideman & my parents... struggling but thinking constantly.
• my gram and aunt come in a week from tomorrow, WOWSERS!
• I only have ONE class left for school - just a final project and paper due in a week from Monday I have yet to start! this weekend....
• Josh's bach party is this weekend at his cabin - have fun guys!
• we have our rings, tucked away in a safe spot!
• we have our marriage license
• still have a decent amount of RSVPS out there! if anyone reads this and hasn't responded, send it in!

That's it for now!

crazy

So, I think I'm officially starting to go crazy. It's nothing I can pinpoint and say, "this part is really freaking me out", it's just the constant anxiety and constant worrying that has taken over my body. I feel like I am forgetting something or I am behind on something... but I don't think that I am. I guess it's just something I am going to have to deal with for the next 40+ days or so? yuck.

We have contracted/hired d.michael floral design to help with decor ideas & for the day-of decorating and I could not be more excited!! Such a HUGE relief, and I am so excited to be working with David on this endeavor :-) Here is his website: http://dmichaelfloraldesign.com - I have attended a wedding last year which showcased his work, and I fully trust him for the day of! Yay!

My bachelorette party is this upcoming weekend. I cannot believe it is here so fast. I am SOOOO excited for the day and night... we're starting by doing a strip pole dancing class at noon on Saturday! Will be GREAT! Then we proceed by hanging at my friends in the city, getting ready, grabbing sushi at a byob, and then going out! whoo hoo!

wedding shower

Group of family & friends with Josh & I (after shower)

Dessert & cake set up

My BMs and I getting some eats

Me & My bridesmaids minus Shari, who had an emergency

The YUMMY cake I went off my diet to eat... I want more!

My wedding shower was the past weekend and I love love loved it! It was just perfect. I wanted a luncheon and everything to be done in 3 hours (and not to BORE people) and we finished at 2:55pm, when it started at noon! I love getting to see everyone I love in my life - nothing beats that, and getting lots of new things! It's been a struggle finding a 'home' for everything in the kitchen, as my FH and I live in a 1BR apartment, tho a very lovely 1BR apartment it tis.

Thank you all!

the fun part!

We got 3 response cards back yesterday - one we already knew about b/c my FMIL had heard from her friend that she had sent it in! The anticipation is fun while opening them up - who is it? yes or no? how many? The amount of people that accept will shape much of the evening as far as how many tables to set up - how much booze to get, etc... I hope there are more today!

My shower is Saturday - I cannot believe it's already that time. I feel like I just dropped the invitation labels off to my MOH... The weather is looking to be pretty $hitty unfortunately. It's in a nice patio room with sliding windows/screen doors overlooking a little pond & fountain - very nice environment if it were to be nice - but 40 degrees won't get those windows open! There is a fireplace though that we will be putting on! [and it's heated in there!].

invitations OUT!

I dropped them off this morning at about 9:10am at the Romeoville Post Office on my way to work, feels sooooo good! I had the awesome help of my FSIL and BM last night to finish them - I was waiting on more paper this week, then had to glue them together, then stuff, stamp & seal. She was a TON of help!! There they are above all sitting pretty in the box before I handed them over to the postal lady! Now the fun and exciting part is waiting for the RSVPs to come back!!

my yelp review

I was mean!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/evas-bridals-of-oak-lawn-oak-lawn#hrid:-GrpJ36bjuBwCKH2TlKbIA

my yelp review.. it may change.

update on dress

ahhh, the drama! Long story short:

• I wrote bad review for Eva's on Yelp (love Yelp!)
• manager called me within hours to fix issue
• i picked up dress from seamstress and brought back to Eva's
• Eva's says dress is wrong size
• Maggie Sottero is shipping a larger size within 2 weeks and Eva's is putting in zipper for no charge

Better situation! But still cutting it close! wayyyy closer than i ever intended and why i ordered my dress in MARCH!

Invites go out TOMORROW! Took ONE to post office today and they weigh MORE than a 44 cent stamp! i had to buy 160 17cent stamps... ugh, it NEVER ends!!! Can't wait until they are out though, my house is a MESS! stuff everywhere.

We are going to Augustana in quad cities this weekend for Josh's college homecoming.. will be nice to get away and not think about the WEDDING.

dress woes

i was excited & nervous to get my dress from Eva's today. it took 7 months to get in -it's that "will i still love it? did i make the right decision?" - I do still love it, BUT my fear came true... I ordered a couple sizes bigger than what I am fitted for b/c I planned (and still will!) on removing the corset back to put in a zipper with buttons - that is what I always wanted and love. The salesgirl told me to get a 12 and said that I needed that size for the fabric to match when you put the zipper in... Well, it's too small - not too small if i was to want to wear the corset back, but too small near the top of the back and the fabric does not match up. There's nothing i can do b/c you sign something saying you are aware you are ordering NOT the size you measure for, so OH WELL from them. I was afraid of this all along. panic came over me - i immediately called my seamstress and was able to bring it to her this afternoon, she could sense the panic in my voice over the phone.

it's not an ez solution and unfortunaltely I did not hear from her, "oh no big deal!" like I wished. Not b/c i do not trust her capabilities, but b/c it's not ez to make something larger... She is going to take the 2 seams out on the sides and see how much she has to work with and call me, and we'll go from there. I feel good that it's 2 months to the DAY, and the dress is with her, but it's not the greatest 'picking up MY wedding dress' sort of day I wanted. ahhhh, good times. I pray it will work.

On a better note, i am meeting with a couple of friends/guys that are going to do my decorating the day of, and that is a HUGE relief. one less thing to worry about.

9 week and i'll be married and on my honeymoon at this moment!

OMG! 9 weeks from Saturday!

updates updates! My dress is in - i got a call and a message that it's in and I have to make an appointment to pick it up. I've called two times today with no luck of speaking to anyone that knows what's going on. I really just want to get it out of the store, since it has taken nearly SEVEN MONTHS to come in (just REDICULOUS!), and to my seamstress so she can start - I'm having some sort-of major work by removing the corset and putting in a zipper & buttons... Hopefully i can get it Sunday!

Invites are printed and ready to be assembled at home! Fresh off the press - I can't wait!! There are layers of colored paper, so they need to be put together, with labels on, and then in the mail next week! SOOOO excited and I'm dying to see them!

One BM dress is in - was ordered from David's Bridal only about 2-3 weeks ago - now they are the company to work with if you can find something there!

This week we went over our ceremony and started the outline with our officiant - everything is getting more and more real and I can't wait!

In between I have been slaving away on a project I have due for class today, which has consumed all of my freetime this week. It's over tonight after I give my presentation - ahhhhhh!

Kelly's wedding!

Tomorrow is my friend's, and bridesmaid, wedding! The time has gone by so quickly that I cannot believe the day is here! We are working on our invites - the paper is at the printer for him to print us a sample. They have become much more involved than originally planned but I believe they are going to be beautiful and I am so excited to send them out for everyone to see. I am missing only 5 addresses, and the labels are set up and formatted - ready to print! I just need to get some clear labels.

Decor, ahhhh decor. It's somewhat on hold as I need to speak with someone about asking them to be my day-of decorator... i'm waiting for a return phone call. I pray that he will say yes... please pray with me! I have piles of pine cones and vases and branches in my house... just what to do with them!

rehearsal dinner site

we went yesterday and found our spot for our rehearsal dinner - one more things off the checklist!

been so long

Less than three months and things are picking up. My shower invites are out. We are working on wedding invites with hopes of them being complete and stacked in our house on 10/1 - that has been my deadline. Things are beginning to feel more real - not that they didn't before, but once you go through actually SENDING things out, I think a sense of realism sets in... yes, I couldn't invite everyone I want - same will be for our wedding. It's a hard hard thing to do - balance your guest list with expectations of others... I hope I do not offend, but feel it's impossible not to - and our time to offend is coming closer and closer!

Soon I will post what our invites will look like. The search for the right color paper is on!

Facebook reconnects Tinley Park hardware store employees :: The SouthtownStar :: Tinley Park :: Orland Hills

Facebook reconnects Tinley Park hardware store employees :: The SouthtownStar :: Tinley Park :: Orland Hills

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what we doin

i saw a friend of mine last night who asked me how my blog was going - shout out to LM! :-)
i had to think and remember i had not updated it in a while. I guess I've been busy, started school, but it's not hard yet b/c it's early in the semester. Love this part of the school year. And my one class is taught by a Chinese prof who believes in lecturing for 3 hours straight, so the reading that is required is not discussed in the class... at this point I'm thinking, why read it?! Word is it's the easiest A in the program - saaaaawwweeet!

What we are working on:

• invites - FH's cousin, and BM drew us up a diddy of a pine cone design we will be using on our invites. not sharing the pic - no chance for copywright infringement (is that right?) and want to be a surrrprise!
• decor - it's ongoing. been buying tall vases from Michael's for part of centerpieces - got 50% coupons and help from my FIL's!
• ceremony - how long (25 min-ish), readers, unity candle?, much much more... Starting this very large discussion with PW in couple weeks at next counseling session
• guest list - think we're done. ahhhhhhhh. need some more addresses - not too many. have them all in label form.
• music - mainly ceremony.... what are we going to do. this is a priority.
• wedding party gifts - for me, my bridesmaids and brideman - i'm nearly done... I'm so excited for my theme of gifts & surprises that i already can't wait to give to them!
• guest book - friend of FH family has home in the Keys and has purchased a book for us to possibly use, which sounds exactly like what we want! waiting on that...
• shower labels for MOH - DONE! bringing them to her on Tuesday.
• my accessories - i need a hair comb piece. I'm seeing my stylist on 9/12 and i'd like to have something to bring with me that day. Need to look NOW! i found one i really like at DB, but it's $50, and i don't want to spend that much... Got my corset, shoes, and veil in hand already!

Ok, i'm exhausted. half from that list, half from drinking wine last night and going to bed too late.

109 days!

As The Knot reminds me, there is 109 days until our wedding! All very exciting as well as nerve racking (sp?). I started my Fall semester this week, which means I will have school on the brain as well as wedding planning & work from now until the Thursday before we are married (12/10). WOW. It's an insane thing to think about, but also so exciting that it's getting closer and things can start to be planned more.

This past weekend I worked on centerpiece ideas with my FSIL, and we (mostly she) came up with some great ideas! Now the shopping for what's necessary begins. We are going to be doing something like pictured here with twigs and berries (haha, i said it!).. with pine cones anchoring the bottom of the vase (we didn't have any to play with). These will be on my high top tables (our cocktail reception is mixing high tops & traditional rounds). We have an idea too with some birch wood that will incorporated into the design...

My FH has officially asked everyone to stand up and we are set with a FULL bridal party - yay! People have started booking rooms - last I checked, 15 rooms have already been booked at the Carleton Hotel! I'm so excited for this, as I love the hotel and the fact we are able to do a "breakfast" the following day for those that are staying.

I am now on the hunt for a hairpiece.. I'm looking for a smaller comb to only go in the side of my hair - I am wearing it back/up, but do not want too large of a bling bling in my hair - something elegant & discreet. My dress should be in next month, so I feel like I will have more to pull together once I see it again and will gain some inspiration.

out.

where to register...

FH and i spent few hours in Macy's yesterday tidying up our registry... He got the gun and I headed over to lingerie to try on some corset/boustierres (no clue spelling and don't feel like looking it up). I had no luck, they had like 2 items... I want to get a few things to take with me when my dress comes in to see what I like best. The search continues.

We then headed over to Sears, where we thought we wanted to register as well. After walking through the store, where there was 1000 employees working (have no clue how they can afford that?!), we were stuck with not having too much we want from there! I really want an air mattress, since we only have a 1BR apartment - i always have to borrow my FSIL's air mattress when we have guests... so that was the main reason for my registry at Sears. Not really a good reason! So we decided to scratch that store, and to to Target instead - they have everything that was on my Sears registry and are so much more convienent... and they have more stuff too and at reasonable prices.

So, it's final: Macy's, C&B, Target. all with very easy on-line access! I also have been updating our website which i'm about to add to this site - the info is out there people! no excuses!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/JamieLamm&JoshuaTate

4 months 4 months 4 months!

Holy majoly - but very exciting! I think of 4 months ago [April] and that doesn't seem too far away, so it is nuts to me that in 4 months we'll be getting married. Today I'm sending in the retainer letter & deposit to my florist (very excited about the direction we are going). My FH and I are going to have a date night on Friday - our pastor has given us the 'orders' and we must report back to him on Monday, our next session of counseling. We are at the point where we are going to start discussing ceremony and timelines and all that other stuff. I went to Borders after work yesterday to look for a Florida Keys coffee table book to use for our guest book - no such luck - nothing even close! I am going to have to order one online and hope for the best that it will be good. I was hoping to be able to skim through it to make sure it's what we'd want... but there are some choices online.

Other things I have been thinking about and working with others on: menus, itinerary for evening [my aunt], programs [FSIL], and FH has started working on music - starting by initial reception music... I told him I'm in control and on top of the late night music, ha!

whatimadoin

i'm on a 2 week break from school. although I am still working, I feel like I am vacation. I have begun to work on some projects. I have assigned my mom the "welcome bag" job for the hotel guests - she has already purchased a small item to include inside. I have given her the direction I am looking for with them, and I feel good that they will not be a last minute thing. I just placed an order for "oatmeal" brown paper gift bags with handles [in bulk] that I will be using for them. I also need them for project #2 I am working on and that is a surprise I don't want to discuss b/c I think some of my BMs may read this blog from time to time... no big deal, just something I've thought up for my shower. no more hints.

I went to Michaels yesterday - I was trying to avoid it b/c i want to buy everything - but had to stop at SuperTarget for some food (Atkins day 6!) - I have a new obsession with rubber stamps and homemade cards. I for a long time do not really purchase "regular cards" and like to use blank ones anyhow, but now I just bought some very nice cardstock and envelopes with some cute stamps to use as my thank-yous... I made a purchase a couple months back of 50 cards for thank yous from Home Goods (wayyy good price) but I will be needing more than 50! Right now I have about 120 thank you cards including the cards I purchased from Michaels yesterday to make. I want stamps for everything now. Birthdays, thank yous, Miss yous, thinking of yous, etc...... I realize there is a whole sophisticated world of rubber stamp card making, but i am exciting to try to enter it! :-) i want every rubber stamp to my disposal! Could I get this good?: