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!!

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!

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.

TO DO LIST

not much to update. i have been severly slacking in updating, even if nothing! I have been working on a "wedding website" that will provide all the info for the wedding. Will somehow send it out in the invites, whether it is on the map & directions - prob not on the invite itself. There is a link to this blog on the website. We have a lot we need to do - My "knot.com" list is growing, and I have not been able to check things off lately... including:

• Choose your bridesmaids & groomsmen (OVERDUE)
• Finalize guest list (OVERDUE)
• Start auditioning DJs or bands (OVERDUE) - we are debating on trying to do a "ipod" wedding or not...
• Set up appointments with florists (OVERDUE) ... but I only plan on having flowers for myself and my party, so i don't think i need to do this 9months before?
• Narrow down gown choices and make final decision [working on this!]
• Book band or DJ and send deposit
• Start looking into registering for gifts
• request demo tapes for cememony musicians (no clue what we're doing!)

So, I def have things to do. I have given my FH about one more month on choosing a wedding party.... He hasn't felt it necessary yet, and it's not, but getting there! Going this weekend to look at dresses at 2 new places, i hope i can find my dress then!

invitations

for the sake of remembering, i came across some websites for inexpensive cardstock for invites:

http://www.cardsandpockets.com/, http://www.thepapermill.com/, http://www.paperandmore.com/, http://www.anchorpaper.com/retail/paper.htm (bad website, email Tom there for help)

Def early, but i wanted to remember these! I LOVE this site for ideas: http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/ - I copied this invite for Emily's shower invitation and it came out great using Adobe Illustrator and recycled paper from Office Max!