19th Century Club Oak Park and Decor

Location: 19th Century Club, Oak Park, IL

Decor: d.michael floral design

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!

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!

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.

Less than 5 months to go!

this past weekend we hosted a party for the bike races that happen in our town. Alex was here from Philly for his 30th birthday. He and I went to Oak Park Friday night to check out 19thCC and restaurant, and he met my caterer. I wanted him to get a good feeling for the venue to help with decor. FH & I had a counseling session last night, soon we will start discussing the ceremony, length, music (no clue!!), vision of wedding, etc... That's the fun part!

My "knot" 5 months to go email said to start talking about groomsmen's outfits and groom's outfit and order... we still do not have a full wedding party!

stuff

Yes yes yes, I never post anymore! But not like anyone reads this anyhow - a few do I think, but I don't have a long list of followers begging for my next entry. I started summer school (slightly regretting it) but I'm 2 weeks into an 8 week course, so that's promising.

Alex comes in 2 weeks!! yay!! I pick him up from the airport on 7/10 and we're going straight to Oak Park to Cucina Paridiso for a bite to eat and cocktail - once it's not too busy, Anthony will take us over to 19thCC so I can show him the space. I'm sooo excited b/c he's so creative and I want him to see it and help me with decor. It will be wonderful to have him be able to picture everything rather than just looking at pictures. And then, it's his 30th bday on 7/11!

I have been finalizing my ideas for flowers with my florist, Carolynn - she has been wonderful in dealing with my tight budget and my "all over the map" ideas. I think I have settled on something [above] minus a few things. I love love love this bouquet and am so excited. I'm having holly bouts (thank you Katherine Heigl wedding last winter where I got the idea).

We have been discussing ceremony music, and still doing counseling with our pastor... things are moving, nothing HUGE, but moving! TGIF!

hiatus

I haven't been blogging because I haven't been doing much... although the hotel is now blocked with rooms for the wedding weekend and I will soon post the info on the sidebar. I purchased some willow sticks and this weekend we may try to put some centerpieces together to get some ideas - I have in my mind what I want the centerpieces to look like, but not sure if it will turn out ok.... I am only having 10-11 round tables and then having about 6-7 hightops - so will have different centerpieces on each... I'm keeping my eye on these votive holders on C&B: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1340&f=26397 seeing if they go on sale... I'd like to mix them with regular votives on the table..

I can't wait to go dress shopping - I found a line I really like and will be trying on: Saison Blanche - we go in a week from Saturday! But i am all over the place [again] in what I like, so who knows what will be THE dress!!