To Do List

Ok, so projects are getting done and I am seeing some light. I actually took off work today to just get things in order wedding wise, because next week I will be so busy with work.

We struggled to get the last of our 3o RSVPs in but now we are set to do the table assignments. I actually dreaded it, but it really has not been that bad. I actually got it done last night. Can you believe it? I had so many folks tell me that they hated doing these, but this was pretty easy...or was it too easy?

So here is a question for you guys, I am ready to do the escort cards. After googling and research, I can't seem to find the best answer. Do you do formal names - Mr. and Mrs. John Smith or John and Erica Smith?

Oh - and if folks saw this post on our photographer's site. Yup, that was him talking about our scouting trip. Our venue has live animals, 10 peacocks to be exact. I actually became quite alarmed but was told by our coordinator that they really don't bother the wedding guests. How I missed this on our first tour through Meyer's, but I did! Of course, Jeremy thinks we will get some great photos out of this!

How Many Days Away?

Wait for it, Wait for it - We are a month away! We are literally a month away! Oh my. I really am thrilled to say that I feel like I am on top of everything, but several projects are still in need of being done...

1) Our timeline is set, but I am working on a small brochure with information about the wedding and other festivities for our guests. OH and of course the Out-of-town bags, but really not too concerned about those.

2) Menu Cards and program finalized - Oh yeah, these need to be done.

3) I finally decided on the guestbook and we are doing the polaroids. I think I found a great option on Etsy for the guestbook, so we should be good there.

4) Our RSVPs are due on Monday and I still have 40 folks who have not sent back their invite. (mental note here - I will always fill out my RSVP card immediately after receiving it to all future weddings...).

...so maybe I am not so on top of everything?!

The Clock Is Ticking

Ugh, it has happened. I have wedding on the brain. And I don't think it is going away any time soon. Today, I was in a meeting and instead of listening to the conversations, I went into To-Do List mode - NOT work stuff just wedding. It was so bad that during the ice breaker, we were asked to talk about one thing that people may not know about us. I couldn't think of anything except that I was getting married in 40 days. 40 DAYS!

The good news - instead of me making our favors - which will be an array of chocolates - I found a really good price from a vendor back home, who also said she could put the boxes together, ribbon and labels. What a relief!

The Countdown Begins...

Well, I am less than two months away from our big day. My "Can't Wait to Get Married" To Do List is getting smaller and smaller, but then I decided to add a couple more DIY projects to it and it gets big again. So the pressure is on...

1) Invitations went out on Saturday when my fiance realized he had left off a couple friends. Then I realized I left off my boss. Oops...
2) I love, love these card boxes that I saw on Something New, Something Old. I have said that I would love to do this as a DIY project - but does anyone know where you can find these type of boxes? I am willing to do the fabric, etc., but can't seem to find any boxes with lids.
3) Four TJ Maxx stores later - I ended my quest for the letter "R". We might do something else with the S only...but darn you TJ - why could you not have an R!!
4) I seriously am addicted to stalking my gift registries.

To Do List

So I still have so much I need to do, but decided that I would at least highlight the things I have done!

1) Phew...invitations are done. DONE! And ready to go in the mail next week.
2) I am working on our menu cards and trying to figure out what we are going to do for escort cards and programs. Hopefully those suckers will be figured out next week.
3) I have scheduled my hair but still need to figure out make-up.
4) Approved our budget with our flowers...I went crazy and then decided to cut some things. Yes, the peonies centerpieces and bouquets are still on it!
5) Finally finished our registry.
6) Received my shower invitation and it is beautiful.
7) And did all of this while on the road for the last two weeks for work...Ugh, I miss you Chicago.

Putting It in Perspective

For the last week, I have been somewhat stressed on the most minor details with this wedding, so I felt like this quote from Katherine Heigl put it all in perspective.

"I loved my wedding dress, and now it's in a ball at the bottom of a garmet bag."

I need to keep telling myself that it is about having fun and enjoying ourselves. So what if the pink on my invitation is not the exact reddish pink I wanted!

Check, Check and Check

I sort of hit a wall with wedding planning this week, so the posts have been few. However, I am coming around and love the fact that we met with our caterer for our tasting, our new florist (long story, we had to change florists) and we had our cake tasting as well. All in one day. I will write more when I am up for it, but I need a nap!

To Do List...

I hate going to the knot, because of that ticking time bomb it has on your main page - the lovely countdown of how many days you have until your big day! Today, I went on there and saw that I have 130 days to go. It freaked me out a bit. However, this week I feel like I have progressed on a couple things. I am going to the Crate and Barrel registry party on Thursday night but prior to that I am stopping over to my designer to see my first proof of my invitation. A little excited and a little scared. I hope I like it. A couple things are getting finalized and I am hoping to get nailed down - transportation and hair and makeup. The biggest vent I have is the fact that vendors will not get back to me. Especially hair and makeup folks. Unfortunately, my hair guy is going to be out of town on our wedding weekend, so I have to start from stratch. I easily could do my own make-up but hair is another thing...Once I get those finalized, I feel like I am set (until the next DIY projects - favor boxes, menus, etc.). Yikes!

More on the To-Do List...

The To-Do list is getting a little shorter these days. I would like to get the majority of this vendor stuff done before x-mas, but the other stuff (like welcome baskets?, etc.) I think I can get done during the long winter weekends that we love here in Chicago.

Before x-mas...
1. Invitations (pretty much done design-wise, but have changed a couple things to delay this process even more. Remember the bridesmaids dress fiasco - lets just say it is starting down that path. I just need to stand by my decision)
2. Transportation
3. Hair and make-up (I think I have this one set. I have wooed my long-time hairstylist to do my hair along with my bridesmaids)
4. Live music for the ceremony (This is coming from my mother. Being a music major in college, she about fell over when I jokingly said that I was just going to have my IPod playing in the background. She is willing to fork over some moolah to pay for a quartet. Damn...why didn't I think of this sooner? Maybe then she would have coughed up even more if I told her I was going naked instead of wearing a dress...).

Good news...I lost four pounds this week. Not because I was exercising or eating right. Because I was so swamped at work that I never ate!

Bad news - I went to the Illinois-Arizona game at the United Center today and ate a hot dog and a pretzel and shared nachos with a friend. Yeah...I think I gained it all back.

Trying to check things off...

Work is killing me this week, so I have been lacking on the posts. I had two work presentations and then will be doing another one later this month, so I am totally feeling a little stressed right now. But I am still trying to sort through a couple wedding details right now. Invitations (thank you everyone for the suggestions!) - I think I have resolved for the time being. Bridesmaids dresses - it looks like it is going to be the Jim Hjelm dresses which I am finalizing tonight at the bridal shop.

On a major vent - I am trying to get ahold of my wedding planner. I had to get one through my venue and unfortunately, I had to leave another message again and have not heard back. I have a feeling that because my wedding is over six months - I am not her first priority. Yeah not good. Hopefully - I will get a call from her today or the anti-bridezilla clause I have is going out the window.

To Do List

Ok, even though I have seven months until my wedding, I am getting a little overwhelmed and need to finalize a couple things. I am actually taking off on Friday, so this might be the day where I finally get these off my list.

1) Bridesmaid dresses

2) Flowers (talk to florist)

3) Talk to my wedding planner (who has not made any effort to call me...hmm)

4) Invitations

Can I get this done all in one day? But as I sit here uninspired at work over my lunch break, I am trying to track down jewerly, headpiece, etc. to match my dress. Here is the crystal embroidered detail around my waist. I am just not finding anything that I like...

More off the Checklist

So I think I have my photographer and pastor...so lets check those off the list.

The head photographer actually had his wedding this weekend, so I can't finish the details just yet, but it seems like we will have that done by the end of the week. I am so happy, because I love these guys. They do absolutely the best work I have ever seen...

On Thursday, my mom called me to inform me that their really good friend is willing to do the wedding. We just have to pay for a hotel room, so again - I could probably get married this year and not next spring with the way things are working out (knock on wood).

Some more ongoing projects...

Two things I am hoping to nail down by the end of this week. I am working on sending out the Save the Date magnets....long and somewhat annoying project. But I realized that the website design that I am using for our "wedding" website also came with a managing guest list function. It is awesome. All I need to do is type in all my guest's names and addresses - and then paste onto a template and tada - I have mailing labels.

Second project is finding a photographer. I LOVE, LOVE - Studio This Is (http://www.studiothisis.com/). But a little pricey. Going to talk to the head photographer later this week. Keep your fingers crossed.

I am getting married!

Yeah! Excitement, right? I am suppose to be excited about this?! And at first I was...don't get me wrong. I am so thrilled to be getting married. And in the first instant that I said yes to my lovely fiance, I went out and bought about five wedding magazines. Because this is what you do, right? So as I sat down and read every magazine cover to cover - the realization that I had never really ever thought of my dream wedding before hit me. However, everyone around me told me how exciting it would be. The planning, etc. One married friend even told me that you would actually miss it...once the planning was over. Because this is your day! Yeah - my day.

But then the panic set in...and then the realization - what the $#%^ was I doing? So...this blog is my therapy as I go down the path or should I say aisle of matrimony planning. I am no bridezilla. I repeat - I am no bridezilla. That will be my new mantra...lets see if that remains the case.