The Wedding Chronicles

So, How's Married Life?

2009-09-10T13:00:00.003-05:00

We've been asked this question a lot lately, though sometimes I suspect it's merely small talk or an ice breaker. Other times, people are completely serious.

And I always have the same reply: "No different, really. It's just good."

I know this may seem like a Debbie-Downer response. Maybe people expect me to gush about just how wonderful it is to be married, like as soon as I said "I do," a magical marriage fairy came down and sprinkled me with special marriage dust and everything in the world became brighter, more clear, and sparkly.

Well, not so my friends, not so.

But what I can tell you is that life is good. Really good. I wouldn't say "better," simply because we enjoyed each other before the wedding, and we enjoy each other now.

I came across a quote this morning. I LOVE quotes. Love them. So it's not odd that they "speak to me." Most of them do. I saw this, studied it, and decided, "Hmm. I like it."

"Dating is about loving someone just the way he is today;
marriage is about loving someone just the way he will be tomorrow."

And I still do like it. But now, after staring at it a bit more, and re-reading it, I've decided that it doesn't really apply to us.

You see, we loved each other as-is, without conditions, for the majority of our relationship. The concept of "dating" really is foreign to both of us, as we settled into a serious, committed relationship long before it's considered normal. But we knew. We knew deep in our hearts that this was meant to be.

And now, our marriage, feels like a deep sigh of relief. A chance to relax without the pressures of wedding planning, really. But in terms of our emotional relationship, it's little different. And for us, that's a good thing.

It's funny, after the wedding, and for us, it really was on the ride home that evening, it all seemed so far away and so, well, insignificant. The details that I pored so much time and effort into were fabulous, but inconsequential. I don't regret the amount of time I spent thinking about our flowers, what color shoes I should wear, or if the men's' suits should have two buttons or three. Everything came together and was lovely, and for that, I have no regrets. I'm glad we focused on what we did and ignored the rest. I'm grateful that we feel this way, because I know not all couples do after their weddings.

So, how's married life? It's good. We're content and enjoying life. And if my blog posts continue to be sporadic, this is why. I will surely update once we get the rest of our wedding photos, and then send you all on your merry way to our other blog endeavor, Living With Murdock, for honeymoon recaps, snippets on home, decor, crafts and cooking, and basic life updates.

Our Wedding Story...

2009-09-02T09:34:00.001-05:00

...as told in pictures.

More from Kara!

Professional Pictures!

2009-08-28T11:09:00.002-05:00

Today, Kara posted a sneak peak of our wedding photos. Can't wait to see more!

First kiss!

Umm...Bec, where's your smile? (And Nic, you look a bit like Mary Poppins!)

LOVE this one! What silly boys we had!

Okay, so this was our big surprise! As we got married on the hottest day Chicago has seen this summer, we had an ice cream truck arrive and serve our guests! How awesome is that?!?!

FAVORITE.

Love it.

Meh. Stupid heat made my dress cling to me, hence producing wrinkles where I didn't have them before. Oh well.

Sweet.

We were giggling through this entire shot, because I was so nervous his hands would be sweaty from the heat and drop me!

Like it.

Our Ceremony.

2009-08-27T09:11:00.002-05:00

Since I'm still waiting on more pictures to surface, today, I'll provide the text from our wedding ceremony. I LOVE this ceremony. True story, I'd just sit and read and re-read it before the wedding. I just thought it was so fitting.

Throughout the process, we had said we wanted to be married in a ceremony that spoke to us -- not just a traditional ceremony because "we're supposed to." That's not us, and that wasn't how we wanted to start our marriage.

One of the best compliments I could have received that day was "I just loved the ceremony," or off-shoots of that. We received so many of those, I was shocked. I didn't expect people to embrace it, as 80+% of the guests are Catholic, and have only most attended Catholic weddings.

The bottom line is we did what we felt suited us best, and because people saw the honesty and thoughtfulness in it, they liked it. Or at least they claimed they did!

Oh well. So, without further adieu, here's the text: (**last names have been removed for privacy, as this blog is searchable**)

_____________________________

Introduction/Welcome

Good morning!
Everyone, please be seated.

Before we get started, let me introduce myself and explain a little about the ceremony.
My name is Nick. As many of you already know, I am a good friend of Tom and Beth, and this is the first wedding I have officiated.

Beth, Tom and I have worked together to create a ceremony that is meaningful for them and celebrates the love and affection they share with you: their family and friends.

You all are as much a part of this as Tom, Beth and even myself. You are not here to simply hear words uttered in ceremony, or just to witness the first kiss between husband and wife.

So, we ask for your active participation in this ceremony, just as you are active in their lives. You should feel free to clap and cheer and laugh as the mood strikes you.
And towards the end, I will ask you to join me, in pronouncing them a married couple.
Beth, Tom,
You're getting married!
(*hopefully audience will clap*)

Before we start, take a breath and look around you. All the planning and preparation, has come to fruition.

Your family, your friends, have all gathered to share in this morning with you. We have friends from childhood, high school, college, and your workplaces. We have brothers, and sisters, nieces and cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and dearest of all, moms and dads.
Today, we bring together not just two wonderful people, but two wonderful families.
Thank you all for coming.

Box, Wine & Love Letter Ceremony
Before we proceed with the rings and vows, Beth and Tom have chosen as a couple to perform a box, wine, and love letter ceremony.

*(reach down and pick up the box from behind the altar*)

In my hands, I have a box, a bottle of wine, and two glasses, and Beth and Tom have love letters from each to the other. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry.
They have given much thought to these letters, and they have been sealed in individual envelopes. Neither Tom, nor Beth has seen what the other has written.

Beth and Tom, should you ever find your marriage enduring serious hardships, as some marriages do, you are to, as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another on the day you were united as a couple.
By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today and share a new resolve to strengthen your relationship.

The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box. And if this is the case, you are to open it to share and enjoy its contents on your 20th anniversary!

Tom and Beth, please seal the box.
(*Beth and Tom put letters into the box with a lid, where they tie the bow on top of it together*)
_____________________
Reading
At this point, I’d like to read a piece titled “Union” by Robert Fulghum. Beth and Tom feel strongly that this reading represents their relationship, and their reason for being here today.
Union by Robert Fulghum

“You have known each other for years, through the first glance of acquaintance to this moment of commitment. At some moment, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with "When we’re married" and continued with "I will" and "you will" and "we will" - those late night talks that included "someday" and "somehow" and "maybe" - and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. Just two people working out what they want, what they believe, what they hope for each other. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, "You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed - well, I meant it all, every word." Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another - acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. You have learned that good company and friendship count for more than good looks. And you’ve learned that marriage is a maze into which we wander – a maze that is best got through with a great companion. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this - is my husband, this - is my wife.”

Vows
And with that, Beth and Tom will begin their vows.
Beth and Tom, please join hands and look at each other.
These are the hands of your best friend, of today and every day. These are the hands that will work along side yours as you build your future together. These are the hands that will lovingly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you as you struggle through difficult times. And lastly, these are the hands that, even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours.

My wish for you today is that you will be able to clear your heads and try to remember every word and cherish this memory. For most people, this is the most memorable few minutes of their life. So my wish for you today is that you enter into your vows with conviction, with your hearts open.

Tom, please go first:
Tom: I, Thomas Chester, choose you, Elizabeth Anne, to be my wife (PERSONAL VOWS – 30 seconds)
Beth?
Beth: I, Elizabeth Anne, choose you, Thomas Chester, to be my husband (PERSONAL VOWS – 30 seconds)

Rings
May I please have the rings?
(*Best Man gives rings to Nick*)

Rings have endured as a symbol of love and commitment because of their strength, durability and shape. These rings represent your home in each other. Every time you look at your ring, remember this night. Remember the feeling of excitement, the look in each other's eyes, and the love in your heart.

As you exchange rings, declare your commitment to one another.
(*Nick gives Beth’s ring to Tom*)
Tom, please repeat after me:
Beth, take this ring as a token of my love

which is true and ever-lasting.

With this ring, I thee wed.

Do you, Tom, take Beth as your wife, to love and support her, to treat her lovingly and with respect, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be a faithful, committed partner, for all the days before you?
Tom: I do

(*Nick gives Beth’s ring to Tom*)
Beth, please repeat after me.
Tom, take this ring as a token of my love

which is true and ever-lasting.

With this ring, I thee wed.

Do you, Beth, take Tom as your husband, to love and support him, to treat him lovingly and with respect, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and to be a faithful, committed partner, for all the days before you?
Beth: I do

The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized
and the promise fulfilled. Please place your engagement ring on Beth’s finger over
her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage.

Traditional Celtic Handfasting Ceremony
What is about to take place is a Traditional Celtic Handfasting ceremony. While at one point in Celtic regions, and still today in Scotland, this was recognized as a legal form of marriage, Beth and Tom have opted to participate in this ceremony as a lasting reminder about the honesty, sincerity, and commitment required of a marriage.

Nick: Please join hands. Tom, will you cause Beth pain?
Tom: I May
Nick: Is that your intent?
Tom: No
Nick: Beth, will you cause him pain?
Beth: I may
Nick: Is that your intent?
Beth: No
Nick: Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?
COUPLE: We will
Nick: First cord is draped across the bride and groom's hands
Beth, will you share his laughter?
Beth: Yes
Nick: Tom, Will you share her laughter?
Tom: Yes
Nick: Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?
COUPLE: We will
Nick: Second cord is draped across the couples hands
Beth, will you burden him?
Beth: I may
Nick: Is that your intent?
Beth: No
Nick: Tom, will you burden her?
Tom: I may
Nick: Is that your intent?
Tom: No
Nick: Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?
COUPLE: Yes
Nick: Drape third cord across the couples hands
Beth, will you share his dreams?
Beth: Yes
Nick: Tom, will you share her dreams?
Tom: Yes
Nick: Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?
COUPLE: We will.
Nick: Drape fourth cord across the couples hands
Nick: Tom, will you cause her anger?
Tom: I may
Nick: Is that your intent?
Tom: No
Nick: Beth, will you cause him anger?
Beth: I may
Nick: Is that your intent?
Beth: No
Nick: Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?
COUPLE: We Will
Nick: Drape fifth cord across the couples hands
Nick: Beth, Will you honor him?
Beth: I will
Nick: Tom, Will you honor her?
Tom: I will
Nick: Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?
COUPLE: We will
Nick: Drape sixth cord across the couples hands. Tie cords together while saying:

The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making and the breaking of this union.

Group Blessing

Each of you are here today because you bring something special to the lives of Beth and Tom. Some of you have known one or both of them for years - and some of you are
meeting one of them for the very first time today. But whether you’re an old friend or a newly acquired relation, you have a special place in their hearts. Likewise, you have a special purpose. As beloved family and friends, it is you to whom they’ll turn in the coming years, whether in joy or in sorrow. It is you with whom they’ll share their happiness, and you to whom they’ll bring their pain. You will watch their marriage mature; you will watch their children grow.And when hard times come, and the loving support of friends and family is needed, Beth and Tom hope to be able to turn to you, just as they will turn to each other.

And so they ask that you commit to them, as they are committing to one another. That just as they pledge to support and protect the other, you pledge to support and protect their relationship, today and always."

When prompted, please answer “We do”.

They ask: Do you offer this man and woman your blessing as husband and wife?
Please say, we do. (We do.)
And do you offer their marriage your support, as loving friends and family?
Please say, we do. (We do.)

Pronouncement
Tom and Beth, you have signed the legal paperwork. You have received the blessing of your family and friends, made vows, and exchanged rings.

Now, I ask everyone to join me in this pronouncement, saying together, in full voice:

And please repeat after me:
We, your family and friends,
now pronounce you husband and wife!

Tom, you may kiss the bride

(*Beth and Tom kiss! Hopefully everyone else cheers.*)

I am very happy to introduce, for the first time as a married couple,
Tom and Beth!

Le Fleurs...

2009-08-25T08:39:00.003-05:00

The flowers, which I really put so much focus on early in the planning, were beyond my wildest dreams! Kristen from Kio Kreations captured what I wanted perfectly --- modern styling with a summery, garden feel, and flowers that just made everything POP! She was awesome enough to blog about us here, and I stole all these pictures from her! I'm guessing that some towards the end might be from our professional photographer, Kara, so consider this a sneak peek! I sure do!

My bouquet, including the locket Tom bought me for Christmas 5.5 years ago!

I love the pin detailing she did --- lovely, but simple enough not to detract from the flowers or the locket...

Boutonnieres --- I believe Tom's is on the right:

Words cannot say how much I love this picture!

Oh my gosh. Perfection. I just wished my legs would have been a bit more tan, haha.

Love it.

Pretty.

And, lest we forget it, the infamous brick:

Married.

2009-08-24T09:30:00.002-05:00

After a long hiatus, I am happy to return here to this blog on the other side --- the married side.

The day, albeit hot, was absolutely wonderful. Of course, a few things went wrong. We knew they would. But overwhelmingly, the day was rather successful. Everything came together, just as I had suspected.

Hopefully soon we'll be looking at our professional pictures, which I'll certainly have highlights of here. In the meantime, I'll be spending the next few days recapping the wedding day and our honeymoon, which was AMAZING!

More to come later -- promise!

The Finished Seating Charts...

2009-08-06T07:53:00.003-05:00

So we've said all along that we didn't want to go with traditional escort/place cards, and instead, wanted to simplify into a seating chart.

Below is a semi-inspiration picture...

We opted to cut the chart up across 5 picture frames, with the names listed in alphabetical order. Final product below:

Would it have been cheaper to do the traditional folded pieces of paper? Probably. But in the end, this wasn't really expensive, either.

Cost breakdown:

5 picture frames: 40% off @ Michaels, and used a 25% all picture frames coupon: $12

5 4" black easels: $14.99

Blue backing paper: FREE (same as used for the envelope lining)

Time, labor, effort: FREE (though I should probably charge for my services!

Even though it cost around $30, I know I'll be able to reuse all the black frames in my house when we're done (probably for wedding pictures!), and I can probably re-sell the easels, too!

If My Dad Could Plan My Wedding...

2009-08-05T16:46:00.003-05:00

Two posts in one day?? Shocking!

But, this, I could not resist.

The long-standing joke in my family has been that my parents, well really, my dad, would host a spectacular carnival wedding for whichever crazy daughter agrees to it. Every year, our family parish hosts a carnival, and a few years back, my dad started brainstorming.

He has it all planned --- the tent is already there, the band is already booked. We'll pay for beer, the guests all get pizza or hot dogs, and onion blossoms will double as both the centerpieces and appetizers. No really, he's thought it out.

And if all that wasn't stellar enough, the bride and groom get a free ride on the Ferris Wheel. Lucky us.

So imagine my shock/horror/chagrin when I came across this on The Knot's "Wedding Ideas We Love" blog:

I guess my dad's been right along when he claims he thinks about ten years ahead of the trends...

The Final Checklist.

2009-08-05T08:04:00.003-05:00

So I know I'm a bit tardy with July's checklist, but I've been just a wee bit busy. Here goes...*I'm estimating a 95% success rate!)

Buy wine bottles for "guest book" & ceremony box Done!
Purchase remaining bridal party gifts :) Done!
Attend appt. with stylist for hair/veil If by stylist you mean my mother, then yes
Attend gown fitting (currently being hemmed, bustled at the next) Dress is finished & in my possession!
Send out rehearsal dinner invites Word-of-mouth is a handy thing...
Trial hair/makeup runs Done!
Finish, print & assemble programs Done!
Get marriage license! Done!
Go over ceremony with "officiant" Done!
Wrap bridal party gifts Done!
Get final count for reception & confirm with Maggiano's Turning it in today! (170 +3 kids!)
Confirm & send out final payments for Czarina, Kristen & Kara Done! (Well, final payment for Kristen the day-of...)
Book airport shuttles and other tours for Australia Done!
Send "must-take" picture list to Kara Done!
Finish up music playlists and confirm equipment Done!
Paint flower girl wands and get them over to Kristen Umm...done. Sorta. She did this for us...
Create signs for wedding day Done! Dropping them off tomorrow!
Finalize after-party arrangements! Done. This one is sad. There are no after-party arrangements any more :(

As for our current to-do list, we're almost done, really. In the next few days, this is what we have left...

Create seating arrangements (assignments done, just need to be typed)
Print miscellaneous signage
Pack ceremony & reception boxes
Pack for honeymoon
Clean house
Finalize rehearsal menu and buy any other food we'll need
Confirm all honeymoon reservations and flights
Pack overnight bags for Saturday
Get nails done
Break-in wedding shoes
Create checklist for all items to make sure they arrive and are safely returned
Finish vows and send to officiant
Print out final copy of ceremony and pack binder for ceremony
Pack gifts for rehearsal dinner

I think this is all. Don't worry, I have a master checklist at home so we don't forget anything the day of!

Why I Love My Fiance: Reason #5,235,298

2009-08-04T13:09:00.002-05:00

Remember my inspiration for our programs??

Look what we have!

Ours are a bit bigger and squared -- 8.5 x 8.5, and the corners are rounded, though it's a bit hard to tell from this picture. Tom, despite having a bunch of other important things to take care of, spent the day armed with a hot glue gun and glue 100 of these together. Tonight and tomorrow, I'll be trying ribbons around the stems.

Teamwork, I tell ya -- it's glorious!

Bear With Me.

2009-08-03T09:10:00.003-05:00

Things I Hate Right Now:

93 degree weather forecasts.
Vehicles that decide to breakdown.
Poor timing.
Seating arrangements.
Knowing I put important documents in a safe place, only to forget where said safe place is.
Dishes that pile up in my kitchen sink because washing them will ruin my nails.
Having to worry about ruining my nails.
My inner control freak.
Options.
Purchasing expensive luggage, only to find that it's actually crap upon arrival.
Attempting to return said luggage.
Trying to find new luggage 7 days before you leave the country.
Packing.
To-do lists.
Confirming reservations.
Breaking in new shoes.
Hot glue guns.

Le sigh. It's been a rough weekend. But, the good news is that I was able to try on my dress for the first time complete with hair, makeup, veil and jewelry. I am SO pleased with the result. For once, something in this wedding has actually lived up to the vision! Everything else has been close, but the look was just spot on.

The programs and menus, hot off the press on Friday, have been freshly corner-rounded (if any one's counting, that's 800 corner punches, brought to you by these little hands!), and are awaiting the final assembly. We'll be finalizing the seating arrangements tonight, and hopefully I can start formatting the seating chart and get that printed soon. We'll be turning the final count in to Maggiano's this week, and then from that point, just confirming setup times with the rest of the vendors. Overall, we're still feeling confident, and the calmness ebbs and flows.

At this point, I guess that's all we can hope for...

The Loose Ends... (& the Music!)

2009-07-30T09:28:00.003-05:00

Right now, I feel like I'm drowning in small details. I feel like every project is half-completed, and we'll never get to the finish line.

The programs? Printed, but not assembled.
The ceremony? Edited, but not printed.
The vows? Started, but not finished.
The signs? One base coat down, one to finish. Assembly and ribbons still required.
The Thank-Yous? Half purchased, have to get the rest this week.
The seating charts? Assembled, but need to get the easels.

I know things will come together sooner or later, but I just wish more of this was done. It's a really crappy feeling knowing the fate that awaits you for the next 10 days --- glue guns and paintbrushes galore.

We're STILL finalizing the final guest count, which keeps teetering between 164-170.

The one thing we have done is the music playlists for the day (and that was only because I outsourced this to my lovely sister and maid of honor). I LOVE all the music we're having! I can't wait to share it with you, so here it is:

Pre-Wedding

Plain White Tees- Write You A Song
The Last Goodnight- Pictures of You
The Proclaimers- 500 Miles
Adam Sandler- Grow Old with you (With Billy idol intro)
Taylor Swift- Love Story
Ingrid Michaelson- The Way I Am
Frank Sinatra- You make Me Feel So Young
Matt Nathanson- Wedding Dress
Josh Radin- I’d Rather Be With You

Processional

1,2,3,4 - Plain White T's
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

Post-Wedding

Katrina and the Waves- Walking on Sunshine
Natalie Cole- This Will Be
The Monkees- Daydream Believer
Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye- Ain't No Mountain
Sonny and Cher- I got you Babe
The Turtles- Happy Together
Captain and Tenille- Love Will Keep us together

Cocktail Hour

Dean Martin- That's Amore
Michael Buble- Sway
Jason Mraz- Beautiful Mess
Frank Sinatra- Moonlight Becomes You
Michael Buble- Everything
Billy Joel- For The Longest Time
Frank Sinatra- Embracable You
Gavin Degraw- Follow Through
Dean Martin- You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You
Michael Buble- That’s All
Phil Collins- True Colors
Sara Bareilles- Many The Miles
Michael Buble- The Way you Look Tonight
Dean Martin- Everybody Loves Somebody
Jason Mraz- You and I Both
Nat Cole- L.O.V.E
Michael Buble- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Dean Martin- Memories Are Made of This

Reception

Jason Mraz- Lucky (First dance)
Irish Eyes... (Father/Daughter dance)
My Wish - Rascal Flatts (Mother/son dance)
Michael Buble- Feeling Good
ACDC-You Shook Me
Stevie Wondie- Signed Sealed Delivered
Etta Jones- At Last
Kenny Chesney- The Good Stuff
The Commadors- Brick House
The Weather Girls- It's Raining Men
Casper- Cha Cha Slide
Bobby Vinton- Beer Barrel Polka
Tiffany- I think we’re alone now
Rascal Flatts- God Bless The Broken Road
Billy Joel- Just the Way you are
Sir Mix Alot- jump on it
Brian Setzer- Jump Jive n Wail
Michael Jackson- Beat it
Elton Jon- Crocodile Rock
The Four Seasons- December 1963
John Mellancamp- Jack and Diane
Whitney Houston- I wanna dance with somebody
ABBA- Dancing Queen
Chubby Checkers- The Twist
The Isley Brothers- Shout
Lionel Richie- All Night Long
Toby Keith- Me Too
Journey- Don't stop Believing
Sir Mix a lot- Baby Got back
Marcia Grass- Electric Slide
Jackson 5- I want you back
The 4 tops- I can't help myself
Journey- Faithfully
Van Morris- Brown Eyed Girl
Michael Buble- Save the Last dance

Some of the reception songs have changed and others have been added, but this is the basic gist: fun, happy music. I'm so excited -- I have a feeling this will make for a very enjoyable mood all day!

Set in Stone...

2009-07-29T08:37:00.002-05:00

Remember WAY back in March when I mentioned that our wedding ceremony includes a memorial brick in the garden? No? Refresh your memory here. So I took a ride over to Wilder Park yesterday to scope out our brick location, what plants were in bloom, and the overall parking situation. I can report only good things!

Plus, I can prove photographic evidence!

Hey look! That's us!!

Sorry for the stinky picture, but seriously, how cool is this?!?!?!

What I'm Doing Now...

2009-07-28T09:38:00.004-05:00

Obsessively checking the 15-day weather forecasts.

I am happy to report that there is not a drop of precipitation near August 9th. Cross your fingers it stays that way...

Coincidence that our wedding day is the only one labelled "Sunshine"? I think not...

With Open Hearts, Clear Minds & Conviction

2009-07-27T08:52:00.006-05:00

Tom and I had a lovely weekend -- sure, it was busy and eventful, containing smatterings of family, friends, parties, broken car windows, unexpected expenses, wedding tasks, and thankfully, a little R&R.

Among the most eventful things, however, was a resolution we made. From today (well, yesterday) onward, we decided that we will not stress out or let anything in the next 13 days (!) bother us. Que sera, sera. We're not dumb -- we understand things will go wrong, unexpected issues will arise, things will be lost, forgotten, etc. Bearing all that in mind, we have made a conscious commitment to each other to not let it bother us, and to not let anything ruin the next few days for us.

I think it hit us both yesterday, as we spent an afternoon shopping online for new luggage, that once these next 2 weeks are over, we will no longer be dating. We will no longer be engaged. We will no longer be Tom and Beth, technically single. We will be Tom and Beth, married.

I know that sounds fairly obvious to all of you, considering you're reading a wedding planning blog. But taking into account that we've been dating for 6 years, and engaged for 2 of those, it's all we've known.

We've been looking forward to this day, and all that will follow it, for what feels like centuries. To have it so close, so impossibly tangible, it's almost unbelievable. I realized yesterday that I feel like I've been holding my breath. Just waiting, waiting, waiting....and now it's finally time to let it out, relax, and ENJOY all that the next few weeks (and again, beyond!) have to offer.

So, as our title says, and so do our vows, with open hearts, clear minds, and conviction, we have decided to reside on Cloud 9 for the remaining days of our engagement. Feel free to find us there, and if you have any problems, leave 'em at the door!

"It is Time to Get Excited!"

2009-07-22T08:57:00.003-05:00

I think it's been fairly evident with my lack of posts lately, and the length of the ones I do post, that there's been little excitement around here.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm overwhelmed (not really with the wedding, but with simultaneously trying to plan a honeymoon and 2 weeks out of work), or if it's simply because I'm impatient and just want the day to be here already, but I'm just not excited. There. I said it. Judge me if you will, but I've been finding it harder and harder to be excited. I know I should be jumping around and dancing and gushing to every single person who will listen, but I can't for some reason.

This isn't cold feet or anything, please don't jump to conclusions. Maybe it's just the overwhelming-ness of the plans (as stated earlier) with the realization that I'M ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED. Weird. It still doesn't feel real, and probably won't until about half-way through the reception, once it hits me square in the face.

Yesterday, as I enjoyed a fun outing to a baseball game with my lovely fiance, I received an email from one of our vendors with some contract details. As I read the email, I saw these words: "It is time to get excited!" A genuine smile crept across my face, and as I leaned over to show Tom the email, I saw the grin on his face get wider, too.

And there you have it, folks. A glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can break out of this funk and enjoy the next 2.5 weeks (though I'm guessing with my diet/exercise regimen that might not be possible)...

Hi, My Name is Beth...

2009-07-21T09:39:00.002-05:00

...and I have a problem.

An addiction, really.

I love wedding signs. I do. I really, really do.

Look at this one I found this morning on Etsy!

Charming, no?

Tom's already cut the wood for our signs (and they actually look just like this!). Now, I'm tempted to redesign the way I want them painted so they look all cute like this!!!

So It's Finally Happened.

2009-07-20T08:53:00.002-05:00

I like to call it "The Part of the Wedding When You Have SO Much Stuff That You Can No Longer Functionally Use Your Living Room or Kitchen Table."

Yep. We've hit that point. I naively never thought we'd be here --- I always figured that I was organized enough that we wouldn't have boxes of wedding paraphernalia strewn about. I was wrong. Gravely wrong.

Poor Tom came home from work to find the house littered with tulle, sparkles, scraps of paper, boxes of parasols, and mountains of other crafty supplies. Even my best effort cleaning it all up left us with over 4 boxes stacked on tables and couches.

At least we held out this long!

20 days to go!! :)

Where Have I Been?

2009-07-17T08:15:00.002-05:00

Don't worry, I'm still alive over here.

Strangely, with about 3 weeks to the wedding, things are moving slowly over here. I feel pretty in control and only have a few minor things to accomplish. I've been taking the last week easy, because I know after this week, there's no turning back. It's going to quickly become wedding central over here, and I just don't know if I'm ready for that!

This weekend, I have another dress fitting (checking the hem and starting the bustle!). I also hope to make a trip to the craft store and pick up the picture frames for our seating list and a few other miscellaneous things I need. I also need to paint the signs that Tom made. (They're WAY cute and I can't wait to show them off to you!).

I've spent some time this week finalizing the programs, and now am just searching for somewhere to get them printed (you wouldn't believe the ridiculous prices I've been quoted!). I've figured out the final checks we need to write, and now just need to sit down and write them. Then, I need to make the confirmations for our honeymoon reservations.

That's the major stuff right now, and what I hope to get done this week.

Have a good weekend!

She's Got the Look...

2009-07-10T08:59:00.002-05:00

Hair and makeup for me is tricky. My hair is thin, fine and completely straight. It's difficult to get it to hold a curl, and applying product only weighs it down and makes it look dirty. With makeup, I never like the way it turns out when a professional does it. I don't look good with black eyeliner and mascara does absolutely nothing for my eyelashes (luckily, my eyelashes are super long and curly!!).

From the beginning, then, I had decided that there would absolutely be no professionals involved with my hair and makeup, besides my mom and sisters. Tomorrow I'm heading over to my mom's house for hair trial #1. She's known for her mild hair talent and major eyebrow talent, so this has all been entrusted to her.

But, we still have the makeup to work out. I'm a huge fan and proponent of Bare Minerals, having been on the bandwagon for over three years (and converting at least 5 people to it since...). I plan on taking a trek over to the Bare Escentuals store soon and testing out more of their eyeshadows and liners, since I really want to concentrate on my eyes (what I deem as my best feature).

I saw the picture below, and really liked how her eyes were the focus, and the rest of her makeup was natural, but still pretty. Substitute the black eyeliner for brown, and this is pretty much the look I want to achieve:

I really think my makeup should still be natural looking, and just a slight exaggeration of how I normally wear it. I want to look back at my wedding pictures and see me, not see the trends of '09 reflected on my face (much like the brides of the '80's look back and see blue eyeshadow staring at them).

Eh. Time will tell. Of course, I'll post updates on how my adventures go.

Happy Weekend!

Why I Love My Florist

2009-07-08T11:14:00.005-05:00

This sounds like the great beginning of an essay, and maybe it should be.

I know I've extolled her virtues and talent before, here, here , here and here, but you've got to believe me -- she really is superbly talented.

And even though I have complete faith and trust in her, I can't say I'm not nervous that I won't actually see the flowers until I arrive at the ceremony on the wedding day. So yesterday, when she posted on her blog about a wedding she did this weekend where the colors were white and light blue and encompassed most of the flowers I'm using, I was so excited to see them!

Below are snapshots of the bridesmaids bouquets --- these are essentially what we'll be doing, but with some green hypericum berries and some blue/green hydrangeas thrown in...

Gorgeous, no?

Bouquets and photographs lovingly copied from Kio Kreations

The 2 Sides of a Wedding

2009-07-07T10:53:00.003-05:00

Lately, I haven't quite been feeling the "fire" for wedding planning. Whenever people ask me how it's going, I usually reply with a one-word answer and try to focus on something different, usually the honeymoon or our house or our dog...anything but wedding details. I feel guilty that I'm not more excited at this point. I've been racking my brain lately trying to figure out why I'm doing this.

Am I excited to be married? Absolutely! Am I excited to celebrate the day with our closest friends and family? Absolutely! So what's the problem?

Today I had a bit of a "Eureka!" moment. I'm a bit embarrassed to say that despite blogging for almost a year now, and silently planning my wedding in my head before that, it never really occurred to me WHY this is such a challenge.

One's wedding has two sides --- 2 separate, distinct parts. The first part, and the most important, is about committing to marriage with the person you love, and celebrating that with your family and friends. The other, and the part that is often CONSIDERED more important but isn't, is the actual planning of an event. It's the details, the timing, the vendors -- everything associated with a party.

When one graduates college, what do people ask you? "Are you excited to graduate?" "Any job prospects?" "Where will you be heading next?" -- not "Are you having monogrammed napkins at your party?" or "What color is your cap and gown?"

So why is it that weddings are treated differently? Of that, I'm not sure.

But what I do know is that I cannot wait to be marrying Thomas. Period. The party, as they say, is small potatoes. Our marriage is what is to be celebrated, not our choice of flowers.

2009-07-06T11:10:00.002-05:00

Wedding blogs, if not filled with pictures, are simply just musings. This blog, without its occasional spattering of pictures, would just be terribly boring. I love photography, I love fine art photographs, I love pictures of the quirky details -- I love it all.

But now, as I face the task of making a list of "must-have" pictures, I find myself struggling.

How detailed do I get? Where is the line between being a control freak and demanding "pictures of guests laughing" versus letting our photographer do what she does best?

I have complete faith that our photos will be gorgeous -- I just don't want any of my "details" to be overlooked.

So, below is a random assortment of pictures I love. Maybe they'll provide me with the perfect amount of inspiration when compiling my list.

Oh, and I welcome (most) suggestions. Please don't suggest any family/group type photographs, because that's simply not what I'm interested in. We'll take those, don't worry, but right now, I'm looking for helpful suggestions on what photographs speak to you (or what photographs you wished you would have gotten at your wedding).

The quintessential ring shot. Already on my list.

Simple, yet perfect.

Sweet. And I love the blue shoes peeking out.

Perfect timing.

I love it. Who knew you could capture so much personality without seeing any faces??

Legal.

2009-07-02T09:50:00.004-05:00

Today, Tom and I are making it legal.

We're heading over to the DuPage County Clerk's office to complete the paperwork for our marriage license!

Once we file this, we have 60 days to get married. And with 38 on the official count, I think we have a nice cushion.

So, with my lovely half-day today (and a full day off tomorrow!), Tom and I are meeting up for lunch and then we're off to file our paperwork.

We're getting SO close! I don't know how I'm going to be able to stand being in the same house as the license and my wedding band and not want to elope!! :)

The Old Hair/Veil Debate.

2009-07-01T08:23:00.002-05:00

Here's the dilemma:

My hair is at a medium-length with plenty of layers and sideswept bangs. It's not exactly what you would call "bridal hair." It's a proven fact: my hair usually looks better down than up. Why? I'm not really sure. Fact: I refuse to wear my hair down for the wedding. Fact: I also refuse to wear my veil (if I wear one) on the crown of my head. I will only wear it at the nape of my neck, or not at all.

So how are we going to make this work? I'm not sure. I'll be scheduling an appt. with my normal hair stylist and hopefully she can figure out the puzzle. Below are pictures of how I'd LOVE my hair to be:

Ideally, of course.

June's Checklist -- Totally Successful!

2009-06-30T09:19:00.002-05:00

In May, I was only semi-successful with getting things done on my to-do list. But, with the wedding getting closer, it was time to buckle down. Without further ado:

Workout 5 days a week. I'd give myself a "B" on this one. I was doing this, until I pulled a muscle in my hip. Worst pain I've experienced to date. Honest. Now, I'm doing yoga until it heals. :(
Assemble, stuff & ship envelopes. Totally successful.
Celebrate birthday! Success. :)
Make sure Tom gets his passport (or else I'm honeymooning by myself...) Got it! And it came in the mail last week!!
Attend 2nd shower, write thank-yous, unpack new stuff! Finishing the thank-yous tonight and tomorrow! :)
Confirm men's attire with the groomsmen, and hound them until they've figured out what they're doing... Done.
Paperwork. Arrange new insurance policies, draft will, etc. Half-done. We have to wait for our marriage certificate to take care of the rest...
Remind Tom to figure out day-of transportation... Done! We've booked a convertible to drive around that weekend! :)
Begin working on writing ceremony and vows (!) Ceremony - done. Vows -- I still think it's a bit early, though I've been brainstorming.
Get new accessories for Thomas (shoes, shirt, cuff links, etc.) Done!
Finalize bridal party gifts... Almost done. Most are purchased/the rest have been figured out.
Decide on veil...(?) Well, I've ordered the tulle to make it, and will make a final decision once I meet with my stylist this month.
Make rehearsal dinner arrangements Done! Now I just need to let everyone know...
Finalize wedding timeline and photographer schedule Done, too!
Finalize floral selections & send to florist Boo. Not done.
Draft program & get quote from printer Half-done.
Reserve & confirm honeymoon hotels Done!

If I say so myself, that was one heck of a month! Go me! :) Unfortunately, July's going to be just as bad, if not worse! Let's take a look:

Buy wine bottles for "guest book" & ceremony box (more on that later)
Purchase remaining bridal party gifts :)
Attend appt. with stylist for hair/veil
Attend gown fitting (currently being hemmed, bustled at the next)
Send out rehearsal dinner invites
Trial hair/makeup runs
Finish, print & assemble programs
Get marriage license! (yeah! I think we're doing it this week!!!)
Go over ceremony with "officiant"
Wrap bridal party gifts
Get final count for reception & confirm with Maggiano's
Confirm & send out final payments for Czarina, Kristen & Kara
Book airport shuttles and other tours for Australia
Send "must-take" picture list to Kara
Finish up music playlists and confirm equipment
Paint flower girl wands and get them over to Kristen
Create signs for wedding day
Finalize after-party arrangements! Yes!!!

Anything I'm missing?? I'm sure there is...

Exhausted.

2009-06-29T08:44:00.002-05:00

As predicted, we had such a great (but busy!) weekend.

Our shower on Saturday was fabulous, and we really got some great gifts. We have pretty much everything we need now, and are really excited to get everything organized so we can start using it! Some highlights:

We got TONS of baking stuff this weekend! Everything from rolling pins to sprinkles to cookie cutters to cupcake carriers -- it's AWESOME!
We have almost all of our dishes now (short 1 set) and we have all our everyday silverware :)
We got all of our towels and a shower curtain, which looks lovely with our freshly painted guest bath!
Pots and pans! (You don't want to know how we've been improvising...)
A party pack, complete with cooler and tiki torches!
A crockpot!
A new tv!!!

Yesterday, Tom and my brother-in-law finished up the painting in our dining room and bathroom, so once we get all our new stuff washed and put away, those rooms and the kitchen should be almost done! :)

I can't believe we have less than 6 weeks to go!!! Stay tuned tomorrow to see how well I did on our checklist!

I Live for Weekends.

2009-06-26T10:30:00.003-05:00

Words cannot express how glad I am that today is Friday. This week has just been tedious, filled with many menial tasks.

But tonight, things are a-changing. We're having some friends over for dinner, which is exciting, because we haven't really had anyone besides our families over to our house yet. Then, we're all going out to see the new Transformers movie (that part I'm NOT looking forward to). Tom and I haven't been to the movies in such a long time -- I'm glad we're going, even though I don't approve of the choice! :)

Tomorrow is our 2nd wedding shower! Yay! Tom's parents are hosting his family, his friends, and their friends. I'm really looking forward to it :)

And, on Sunday, Tom and I will be painting our dining room. Again. For the 3rd time. 1st time: wrong color. (oops.) 2nd time: spotty. 3rd time: new (expensive) brushes, new (expensive) rollers = hopefully success. I'm seriously getting tired of our furniture, as well as all the dog stuff crammed into our already packed-with-wedding-stuff living room.

Yay for weekends! :)

Just Say No.

2009-06-24T08:32:00.003-05:00

As the days continue to drop and our wedding inches closer, I find myself trying to make last minute additions to the wedding. As soon as I talk myself out of something, I talk myself into something else.

At this point, I'm finding the tedious details to be painful and overwhelming, simply because I have no interest in planning logistics. I'm anxious for our day to arrive, I'm anxious to say our vows and exchange rings, and I'm anxious to jet off with Tom to the other side of the world. The rest is becoming one big, beautiful blur, and yet, I still feel compelled to continue to add to it.

There has to be a point where I just start saying "No." In the wedding planning world, where there is continuous sensory overload, it's tough to stop imagining small details that would "be so perfect."

Today, 200 blog posts later, I'm still struggling. And then, I came across one of my favorite bloggers, offering her no-nonsense, practical and thoughtful ideas, and it seemed like she was speaking directly to me:

"If I've learned one thing planning this wedding, its this: The times that you say 'NO, that is not who we are, that is not what we want' will be vastly overpowered by the times you say 'YES YES YES, this is who we are, this is what we want, this is how we live'." - Meg at a Practical Wedding

So true.

What a Weekend!

2009-06-21T12:30:00.002-05:00

With just under 50 days to go until the wedding, we're racing against the clock to make sure that all the details are getting ironed out. This weekend, we knocked out some really big things. First, I had my dress fitting. I approached this with some apprehension, as there was a little concern about my dress actually fitting. And, in a moment of excitement, tugging, pulling, and some oxygen loss, it fit! There's certainly more work to be done, but this is a HUGE thing we don't have to worry about now.

After my fitting, my mother accompanied me to Maggiano's, where we met with our event manager and finalized the menu, timing, and room layout. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times --- book vendors you feel comfortable with. I am SO pleased with Maggiano's right now. Beyond the food being fabulous, the service is just impeccable. They're so flexible and let us completely customize how the event will flow, rather than just following the typical schedule. They're even going to have waiters walking around passing drinks as people come in, rather than have people wait in line at the bar! We don't even have to pay extra for that, which is a rarity in the wedding planning world. Fresh flower centerpieces and exquisite linens are all included -- and surprisingly, they live up to my standards. Love, I tell ya. I just plain love this place.

I am feeling so much better about everything now. I feel like everything that's left undone is simply small details. If they happen, they happen. If they don't, it won't change our day.

Oh, and since writing the ceremony the other day, I read it daily. I am IN LOVE with it. It's so sweet, simple and honest. I can't imagine having anything else right now!

I know I'm rambling, but I just feel like I'm on cloud 9 right now. Everything is coming together in the most perfect of ways -- this day is simply about celebrating Tom and I, and I am so pleased that it truly reflects us as a couple.

Booked! (And a Freebie!)

2009-06-19T13:52:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's post really did inspire to buckle down and finish up the main plans for our honeymoon.

I spent hours yesterday researching hotels, scouring the internet for deals, rating hotels on qualities, features, locations, specials, etc., and sending top choices to Tom for input.

We had originally planned on using our credit card rewards for the hotel cost, but we found out that are type of card doesn't allow transfers to our hotel rewards program. Major bummer. Despite that setback, we were still able to book five-star hotels, get upgraded rooms, and save over $400!

I'll admit that I'm a bit of a hotel snob, and I didn't want to settle for anything less than perfect. You only get one honeymoon, and in reality, probably only one trip to Australia in your lifetime. Armed with that knowledge, and a free sweet upgrade, we booked this glam hotel in the heart of Sydney:

It was originally the old post office, which was converted to super swanky rooms!

While this isn't our exact room, ours will be similar:

We're about 1-2 miles from most of the major tourist attractions (Darling Harbor, Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the Rocks, etc.). Exciting!

Halfway through the trip we fly from Sydney to Port Douglas, a resort town located off of the Great Barrier Reef.

We're staying at a resort here, so while it's not as modern and swanky as Sydney, it's still pretty awesome. Our room includes a private balcony, and a private entrance into the pool. How cool is that??

With the great deal on airfare, along with my lovely hotel finds, we've saved over $700 off of what we originally budgeted for this trip. That doesn't factor in the actual savings off of the rack rates for the hotels and plane tickets. With the current currency rate, I'd venture to say that we've saved well over $2,000.

And if that's not all, since we weren't able to use our credit card points towards our hotel program, we were able to apply half towards our credit card balance (reducing what we pay for the hotels by about $115), and use the other half to get a new camera for free! (Tom brought my camera to Colorado, and there was a baggage handling incident that caused it to die an early death).

Seriously, a money-saving day indeed! :)

I Need a Vacation.

2009-06-18T09:05:00.003-05:00

Recently, I've had a lot of people asking me if I was nervous or if I was overwhelmed. I always say no to both (especially the nervous question!), but lately I've begun to feel overwhelmed. It's nothing I can't handle -- I've certainly planned other events that require timelines be created, speeches be written, people be directed, etc. But, now I'm finding it difficult to plan a rehearsal dinner, a wedding, a reception, an afterparty, and a honeymoon. I feel completely on schedule with the wedding stuff, but I feel like I've devoted no time to planning our honeymoon, and that is not typical of me.

When I travel, I make itineraries. Several, actually. I create budget spreadsheets, get directions to local restaurants, book excursions early on, program taxi numbers in my phone --- the works.

With 7 weeks until we leave for our honeymoon, we still haven't booked the hotels.

I know, I know, I suck. But I've been working on it.

Today, for instance, I just booked a day trip on this:

We'll be sailing the seas, or rather the Pacific Ocean, on this catamaran. We depart at 8:30 in the morning, sail until 10, and then dock at the Low Isles, part of Coral Cay and the Great Barrier Reef. We'll get to snorkel, lounge on a private island, have lunch and afternoon tea, then sail on back to town.

I want to be here, now. As in right now. Or better yet, 10 minutes ago.

Is it terrible that when people ask "Are you excited for the wedding?" I usually respond with "Yeah, but not nearly as much as for the honeymoon."

I think this post has given me a kick in the tush to go and book our hotels tonight.

Surreal...

2009-06-17T09:58:00.003-05:00

Today, I've started working on a rough draft of our ceremony.

It is so absolutely surreal to see, on paper, our names, our vows...it's totally strange!

At this point, it's about 9 pages, which I think is pretty good. The rule of thumb is that it takes 1 minute per page to read aloud, which I think we can effectively round up to 2 minutes, to ensure enough time. Maybe, eventually I'll post this for critique, but right now, a) it's WAY too long, and b) it's way too close to my heart to let others (besides Tom and our officiant, and maybe my mom) see.

Seriously, I just can't get over how real this is all starting to feel! It's about time!!! :)

Handfasting: Yay or Nay?

2009-06-16T09:03:00.004-05:00

*I may have posted this before, but bear with me, as I think it's worth repeating!)

Handfasting, a traditional Celtic marriage ceremony, is something that has always intrigued me. This is where the term "tying the knot" derived from, and I absolutely love the honesty and simplicity of the ceremony.

We haven't decided if we're going to do this yet, but I'd like to consider it.

Traditional Handfasting Ceremony:

CELEBRANT: [Groom's Name], Will you cause her pain?

GROOM: I May

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

GROOM: No

CELEBRANT: [Bride's Name], Will you cause him pain?

BRIDE: I may

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

BRIDE: No

CELEBRANT: To Both
Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

COUPLE: We will

CELEBRANT:
And so the binding is made. Join your hands
First cord is draped across the bride and groom's hands

[Bride's Name], Will you share his laughter?

BRIDE: Yes

CELEBRANT:
[Groom's Name], Will you share her laughter?

GROOM: Yes

CELEBRANT:
Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

COUPLE: We will

CELEBRANT:
And so the binding is made.
Second cord is draped across the couples hands

[Bride's Name], Will you burden him?

BRIDE: I may

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

BRIDE: No

CELEBRANT:
[Groom's Name], Will you burden her?

GROOM: I may

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

GROOM: No

CELEBRANT: To Both
Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

COUPLE: Yes

CELEBRANT:
And so the binding is made.
*Drape third cord across the couples hands*

CELEBRANT:
[Bride's Name], will you share his dreams?

BRIDE Yes

CELEBRANT:
[Groom's Name], will you share her dreams?

GROOM: Yes

CELEBRANT: To Both
Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes?

COUPLE: We will.

CELEBRANT:
And so the binding is made.

Drape fourth cord across the couples hands

CELEBRANT:
[Groom's Name], will you cause her anger?

GROOM: I may

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

GROOM: No

CELEBRANT:
[Bride's Name], will you cause him anger?

BRIDE: I may

CELEBRANT: Is that your intent?

BRIDE: No

CELEBRANT: To Both
Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?

COUPLE: We Will

CELEBRANT: And so the binding is made.
*Drape fifth cord across the couples hands*

CELEBRANT: [Bride's Name], Will you honor him?

BRIDE: I will

CELEBRANT: [Groom's Name], Will you honor her?

GROOM: I will

CELEBRANT: To Both
Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?

COUPLE: We shall never do so

CELEBRANT: And so the binding is made.
Drape sixth cord across the couples hands

Tie cords together while saying:
The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the cords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making and the breaking of this union.

A Weak Moment...

2009-06-15T08:33:00.002-05:00

I was having a weak moment last Thursday, trapped in wedding-land, where all I could see were artistic photos and wedding magazines, and purchased these:

Well, 10 of these, to be exact. In blue.

I pictured a fun picture like this:

(coincidentally taken by our lovely photographer).

I picture cute pictures in the garden of my sisters and I, each holding one of these, and the extras sitting in a basket for the guests who wanted to stroll in the sunny rose garden...

I admit, it might not have been my finest moment, but at $4 each, I thought it was worth it.

Besides this moment of weakness, the rest of the month has been going pretty well. Just wait until you my to-do list at the end of the month!!! I am on top of it! And really, with 56 days until the wedding, I need to be! Things are creeping up!

YUM-O!*

2009-06-12T08:27:00.003-05:00

One of the tasks on my list that I've been putting off until closer to the wedding was choosing the final menu. Maybe fate somehow had this in its hands, because Maggiano's just updated their menu offerings, which would have negated all the hard, hard work it would have taken to choose between an omelet or a scramble :)

Upon reading the updated menu, I am once again so glad we're having the reception at Maggiano's! One thing I had stated from the beginning of this process was that I did not want to pay $60 a person for dry chicken. Tom is not a picky person, yet we somehow end up in the McDonald's drive-thru after several weddings because neither one of us could eat the chicken. I think Maggiano's offers the best of both worlds -- affordability (surprisingly) and FANTASTIC food!

Our package includes:

Assortment of muffins
Sliced seasonal fruit
Croissants, Assorted Jams & Butter
Fresh Baked Zucchini Bread
Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
Assorted Fruit Juices
Regular & Decaffeinated coffee
Assortment of Hot Teas
Fran's Potatoes with Roasted Peppers & Onions

Along with a choice from one of each bullet:

Scrambled Eggs, Italian Sausage & Bacon Frittata, or Spinach & Tomato Frittata
Cheese Crispelles, Apple Crispelles, or Cinnamon French Toast with Caramelized Bananas
Italian Sausage or Bacon

Because a few people attending are vegetarian and one of my coworkers is Muslim (no pork products), I'm leaning towards choosing the Spinach & Tomato Frittata, and then those who want meat can enjoy the bacon. Also, I LOVE almost anything banana, and I love me some french toast, so I think that's what we'll go with in the middle category.

I do have to run it all past Tom, but I'm pretty sure he'll just shrug his shoulders and say, "Whatever. I eat anything."

So, what do you think? Put your votes in now, or forever hold your peace! :)

*normally I detest Rachael Ray, but in this case, this was the only clever title that I could come up with.

Feeding My Love Language...

2009-06-11T08:46:00.003-05:00

Gary Chapman's best seller, The Five Love Languages discusses how people demonstrate and feel loved, specifically breaking it down into five separate categories.

I always knew that I enjoyed buying people things, more so than I enjoy shopping for myself, but I never realized that this was how I demonstrate love until I read this book. Quite an aha moment, really.

But it's true. I LOVE buying people gifts. I love brainstorming for ideas, I love analyzing them to figure out what they need or want, I love wrapping it up, and most of all, and I love seeing how much they love it (because really, I'm good at it. I'd say 98% of my gifting endeavors are highly successful).

So, I knew that I wasn't going to be gifting our bridal party and parents with standard gifts. Not an option. I also really didn't want to give them all the same gift, because that just seemed so impersonal. We are thanking these people for sharing this day with us --- does a monogrammed flask really do the trick?

I set out on a quest to find the "perfect" gifts for my sisters and my nieces. I'm 2/5 done with my sisters, and still on the hunt. I bought gifts for 2 out of 3 of my nieces last night, and I'm absolutely thrilled with them.

Normally I don't give jewelry to people. I feel that it's a very personal thing, and I certainly wouldn't expect someone to understand what I wanted to wear every day (though coincidentally, I wear my pearl earrings, a gift from my parents, every single day). However, in this case, it just felt like the right choice.

For my older nieces, one is turning 6 and the other just turned 3, Tom and I purchased lockets. Originally, I was only going to get this for the older one, but both Tom and my mother convinced me otherwise. We were able to get them engraved with their initials, which I think was a sweet touch.

I personally think they're pretty cute, and is something they can wear every day, or for special occasions, and will be pretty timeless.

It's safe to say that we have a pretty special relationship with our nieces, and Tom and I both felt strongly that we should get them something to reflect that, not just an embroidered flower girl tote or t-shirt.

Now, does anyone have good ideas for a 1 year old? (Just kidding, I've got plenty of ideas!!)

Adventures in Wilder Park

2009-06-10T08:39:00.005-05:00

The beauty of getting married 10 minutes from where I work is that I can steal away on my lunch hour to complete wedding-related tasks.

Yesterday, I met with my lovely florist, Kristen from Kio Kreations, to view the ceremony site in full bloom and decide if we need to add any more arrangements. We decided that we really need nothing besides petals, and a piece of fabric for the arch. I'll explain that once we hit the right photo...

The entrance to the park, with the ceremony tent peeking out:

This looks like the same shot, but I really just walked to the other side of the garden (so the tent is at my back, and took a picture of the entrance.

The tent! Straight ahead is where we'll be standing, with chairs filling up the grassy area...

This is where we'll be standing in less than 8 weeks!

The black arch you see has been primed for clematis growth, but it doesn't look like it will fill up completely in time for the wedding, so we're going to secure green sheer fabric (that will match the sashes on the chairs) and stretch that across the top of the arch. It won't be draped, as Kristen thinks that will take away from the simplicity of the garden itself.

There will be large amounts of petals, however. They will line the aisle, outline the circle, and then fill it to create the "pillow carpet" that I had talked about previously.

Magic, I tell ya.

Oh, and the flowers planted behind the "altar" are white lilies, and there's a very good chance that they'll be in bloom just in time for the ceremony!

We'll just have to wait and see!

I absolutely LOVE this space!! Now, if only I can figure out the processional...

In the Mail!

2009-06-09T08:48:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, I picked the envelopes up from the calligrapher, and surprise, they're fabulous!

Yesterday was a flurry of stamping, stuffing and sealing, but this morning, there was a stack of 100+ invitations ready to head to the post office.

Here they are, in all their final glory:

The completed "invitation suite":

You can see the DIY envelope liners that I did (with the help of my lovely sister Nicole) back in January. I think they turned out quite smashing! :)

Knowing what I do now would have saved me some time, money and aggravation, but the truth is, this probably wasn't as painful as it could have been. And, when all is said and done, the final product is really close to my original vision (and hey, maybe even better?).

I'm so glad to have this done! Now, onward to tracking the responses! I know this will be a fun task, because I was already handed back a blank one from one of my coworkers where he wrote in that there were 148 people attending...haha.

Grateful.

2009-06-05T08:37:00.002-05:00

Today's my 23rd birthday (I know, I know...I'm young. My coworkers affectionately call me a zygote). In honor of this, I thought I'd do something a bit different. So, without further adieu:

23 Things I'm Grateful For (and a surprise at the end!)

Thomas. There are not enough words in the world to demonstrate how grateful I am to have this wonderful specimen of a man in my life.
My family. Through it all, they encourage me, keep me grounded, smile with me, laugh with me, cry with me...Whether or not it's a late night or early morning phone call because I just need to talk, or it's just a lazy Sunday morning thumbing through the Sunday ads while eating Mom's pancakes, they're always there.
My nieces. While certainly a part of #2, their smiles, hugs, sloppy kisses, giggles, and sweet words bring me more joy than I ever knew possible.
Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Starting now, these are in no particular order. But seriously, I love this coffee.
My job. Everyone has moments of frustration, but overall, I love my coworkers (who I'm grateful for, too! Yay for bringing me cookies today!), have great flexibility, and pretty much enjoy what I do. And I get a paycheck. Not too shabby.
Our house. More specifically, the whirlpool tub that I used for the first time last night. (Side note: I'm not particularly grateful for the muscle pull in my back that required me to use the tub. Stupid working out.)
My puppy. Once you get past his crazy barking fits and his occasional temper tantrum, he's a sweet, sweet boy who loves to cuddle with me at night. More than once I've woken up to find him sleeping on the other half of my pillow...haha.
My friends. I'm so very grateful that they haven't ditched me after all my hair-brained schemes...you know who you are, girls! :)
A sense of humor. Seriously, people are boring without one.
J.R. Watkins Apothecary Lemon Cream body cream and hand lotion. These 2 bottles are within 6 inches of my hands at all times at work. True love, people, true love.
Fresh flowers. I pick up a bouquet weekly at the store, and they just make me smile.
Sweet Iced Tea with Lemons. Constantly chilled in my fridge --- yum! :)
My BlackBerry. I'm connected ALL the time, and I love it. I told Tom last night that I would never, ever have a normal phone again.
My past. It's shaped me to who I am now, and brought me to where I am, and I'm always grateful for that.
Love Actually. If this movie had never come about, my life would be less rich.
The opportunity to travel. I'm so thankful that I can go where I'd like and experience what I want. Not everyone has that opportunity!
New clothes. I got a bunch of new clothes yesterday (an early birthday present). There's something about putting on a brand new outfit that just boosts your self-esteem. :)
Flip-flops. My life would not be complete without these.
My ability to write. Whether or not I'm making one of my crazy lists, writing for work, or just blogging for fun, writing has always been a creative outlet, and I'm so grateful I've discovered it and used it to my advantage.
Chocolate. What list would be complete without it?
Manicures and pedicures. A guilty indulgence that I'm most definitely grateful for.
My GPS. I'm grateful that I never have to worry about getting lost again.
My finished wedding invitations. Yep, you read that right. They surprised me and arrived yesterday. Ta-da!

Oh, sweet, sweet love.

Happy Birthday to me!

Shipped!

2009-06-02T15:54:00.004-05:00

My invitations were shipped today, with 3-day shipping, which should put them on my doorstep on Friday.

What's so exciting about that, you ask?

Well, Friday's my birthday, and I couldn't ask for a better birthday present! YAY!

How weird is it going to be HOLDING my wedding invitation? Ahh...so strange!!

I just can't believe how soon everything is creeping up. It feels like just yesterday I was complaining to Tom that we wouldn't be married for another 2 years and pricing out a huge outdoor tented affair...and now it's 2 months away and couldn't be more perfect!

I still have moments where I kick myself for not coming up with clever favors, or not renting a photobooth (I priced one out over the weekend before coming to my senses), but then I have my moments of clarity, too. For being so detail-oriented, I find it funny that my vision of the wedding day no longer includes any details. All I see is Tom, waiting for me at the end of the aisle, and blurs upon blurs of family and friends smiling upon us. And then it hits me --- that's all that matters anyway.

Because I'm Not the Only Person Attending This Wedding...

2009-06-01T10:18:00.005-05:00

The past two weekends have been fairly successful for members of my family out seeking dresses. Last weekend, my younger sister and maid of honor was able to find the cutest black dress for the wedding. It looks SO good on her (I already warned her not to upstage me!). I don't know where she got it, so I can't post the details, but be warned, it's seriously hot. And I'm jealous.

This weekend, I was out shopping with my mother for her dress. After trying on at least 20 dresses, most pretty classic mother-of-the-bride style, she found a winner. I can't really describe the dress, other than to say it's crazy, but in a really, really good way. It's certainly nothing you would ever expect as a mother of the bride dress, but it looks great on her, and that's really all that matters. I tried finding a picture of it, but no such luck. I did find a picture of her shoes, though, which are doubly awesome because they complement the dress perfectly.

The dress, a combination of black, blue and silver, should look really good in pictures (if you ignore the fact that my dad is wearing a green tie!).

In non-wedding news, Tom's back from 2 back-to-back trips, and I'm SO glad he's home! He's going to get his passport today, so we can check that off the list, too!

May Checklist - Semi-Successful!

2009-05-29T08:22:00.002-05:00

I think I was pretty successful this month... Without further ado:

Workout 5 days a week. Umm...I worked out 4 times this week. Does that count?
Schedule bridal fitting for June Check! Meeting Sue on June 20th!
Gocco the invitation suite Uhhh...let's go with check on this one. At least they're "finished"
Address all wedding invitations Also a check...sort of...
Paint the house! No painting, but the dining room is halfway prepped...?

Okay, so May (with all of its outsourcing) was much better than April. Here's to hoping June is even better!

June goals (and there's a lot of them):

Workout 5 days a week.
Assemble, stuff & ship envelopes.
Celebrate birthday!
Make sure Tom gets his passport (or else I'm honeymooning by myself...)
Attend 2nd shower, write thank-yous, unpack new stuff!
Confirm men's attire with the groomsmen, and hound them until they've figured out what they're doing...
Paperwork. Arrange new insurance policies, draft will, etc.
Remind Tom to figure out day-of transportation...
Begin working on writing ceremony and vows (!)
Get new accessories for Thomas (shoes, shirt, cuff links, etc.)
Finalize bridal party gifts...
Decide on veil...(?)
Make rehearsal dinner arrangements
Finalize wedding timeline and photographer schedule
Finalize floral selections & send to florist
Draft program & get quote from printer
Reserve & confirm honeymoon hotels

Okay, so it's going to be a busy month. But I'm SO excited that we're almost there!!

Success!

2009-05-28T08:14:00.003-05:00

The invitations are ordered!

It took a few polite but pressing emails, and then wouldn't you know it, I was quoted, checked out, and processing within 15 minutes! I was really happy with the quote, too. The paper for the white part of the invitations, the green mat, the green RSVP cards, and all the printing (both color, double-sided, and full bleed) cost me $110. Including priority shipping. Holla! That brings the total, with the envelopes and blue paper to about $140.

For comparison sake, this invitation below, along with the envelope and a response card would cost me $316.28 to order.

(via WeddingPaperDivas.com)

Despite the frustration of dealing with these, I think we have by far, still made a good decision.

I hope to have these in hand by the end of next week, which would mean that I'll be spending my birthday assembling and stuffing envelopes! :)

My Semi-Productive Weekend...

2009-05-27T11:10:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm not going to bother copying my weekend checklist here --- the important thing is that yes, I did get all of our gifts unpacked, cleaned, and organized! It felt SO good to have that done and have our dining room back! Unfortunately, the invitation nonsense STILL hasn't been cleared up yet. I was able to get the designs to the printer, and they promised me a quote ASAP, but I'm still waiting. I sent them a polite email today asking for an ETA since this was supposed to be urgent, and I'm still waiting. (Common theme here, apparently). I told Tom that I was going to give them until mid-day today before I scrapped that and found someone else completely. We'll see. I may turn to my always trusted Etsy.com...

While I didn't complete some of the more craft-intensive projects I thought I would, I was able to get more stuff done around the house, which is more important to me now anyway. I spoke with the calligrapher today...she's making lots of progress on the envelopes, and we should have those back soon!

So, back to the waiting game. I'll update when I know more. Until then, I'll just be working out and sitting by my email...

He Did It!

2009-05-24T22:36:00.003-05:00

First, he did this:

Then, he got this:

...and ended up here:

Three must be his lucky number...In his 3rd collegiate track season, Thomas threw 16.33', shattering his previous PR (and school record) of 6.08'. Jumping up from 11th to 7th in the nation, Tom won his 3rd All-American title in the Men's Outdoor Shot Put. With these three titles to his name, Tom is tied with one other athlete at his university to have the most career All-American titles, and he still has another year left next year (which means the possibility of 4 more titles!).

I am just absolutely bursting with pride and happiness for Tom. I've seen firsthand all the work that he's put into the last 6 months of track (and the 4 months of training prior). He spends an estimated 15 hours a week practicing, 10+ hours a week lifting weights, and another 5-6 hours a week running and doing other drills at a separate training facility. I can't even begin to count the number of times he's come home caked in mud and sweat, only to find a layer of sunburn underneath. He works so unbelievably hard, is so constant, unwavering and diligent --- I've never met another person with the determination he demonstrates.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm not happy track season is over. I squealed out loud when he told me he was taking off the summer at the gym! It's just nice to have him around more. There have been a few rough spots this year, trying to balance our time together, his time practicing, his time competing, and then trying to fit everything else (school, work, family, etc.) in. But, weekends like this make everything make sense again. They make all the time apart, the 6+ hours I spend at a track meet, the strain of having another major priority in his life, all of it, worth it.

Who knows what the future will hold for us...this weekend alone he's had people approaching him about job and training opportunities...but the one thing I do know is that I'm happy to just be with him, chasing dreams together. :)

And thus endeth my sappiness. Sorry, but there has to be one of these posts every once in a while.

A Weekend of Tasks...

2009-05-22T10:01:00.003-05:00

With the holiday weekend, I have much more spare time than I'm used to. So, I plan to take full advantage of it all and accomplish some of the smaller tasks that I've been ignoring.

What I need to do this weekend:

Pick up and paint dowel rods and accessories for the girls flower wands
Pick up, paint & assemble ribbon wands
Unpack & organize all our new kitchen toys from the shower!
Mail shower thank-yous (they were finished Wednesday, but I'm just now getting around to getting to the post office)
Finalize invitation nonsense

This last one, the invitations, have obviously been killing me the last few days. But as always, I think I've found a solution that I'm happy with and won't break the bank.

Before I go into specifics, here's a visualization of the new invitation with my oh-so-lovely Photoshop skills.

Using the blue invitations I still have, I'll be layering green and white mats, the white containing the printing. The text will be black, and our names and the design will be blue to match the backing. I'll be returning the original RSVP cards I bought (luckily they're all still in the package!), and having the company custom cut and print the new ones to match the green of the mat. The printing on that will be black.

Despite all the new paper, and the double-sided and color printing, this will probably only run about $100 or so total. The company I've found is absolutely fantastic, and has promised me a 2-day turnaround on printing, and 3-day shipping! So, if all goes well, I'll still have the invites a week before I wanted to send them. Awesome!! :)

Even though these have ended up costing more than I originally planned on spending, when you add in the cost for the Gocco, this new route, including the professional calligraphy, will probably only end up costing an extra $50. Not too bad, right? When you take into consideration that the average invitation costs $3.50, and ours will end up right around $1.15, I don't feel so bad!

Wakeup Call.

2009-05-21T10:11:00.003-05:00

Today marks 80 days out from the wedding (not that I'm counting or anything...).

I had a slight freakout yesterday, and somehow got it in my head that we were 6 weeks away (mathematically impossible, no matter how you calculate it!).

Then I looked at a calendar, realized I was freaking out for nothing, but kicked my butt into gear anyway.

On my way to meet the calligrapher, I called my seamstress to schedule my first dress fitting. Our conversation went something like this: (To help you visualize, picture a teeny, tiny, sweet little Asian woman)

Me: I'm calling to schedule a fitting for my wedding dress. It needs to be hemmed, I believe.
Her: When your wedding?
Me: August 9th.
Her: Oh. You come in soon. June work okay?
Me: Yes. Do you have anything available at the end of June?
Her: End of June no work. Need more time. 13th or 20th?
Me: The 20th will work fine. (Silently panicking...like one more week would really make a difference in how it fits?)

Now that there is a solid date on the calendar, I've been hit with a wakeup call. There is no more rationalizing a cookie at work, a stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee in the morning...it's all gotta go.

1 month and this dress needs to fit, and fit well.

Before Tom left for Nationals, we decided to start a competition. Since I need to look good in my dress and he needs to shed a few pounds to help his speed in the ring, we're going to do it together. Sort of. (When I'm not sabotaging him with butter in his food! :P -- I kid, I kid.)

The goal: To obtain the highest weight loss percentage.
The prize: Winner gets to pick our annual New Year's Eve vacation spot!

Wish me luck! (Though it's certainly not helping that today is a coworker's birthday and I'm surrounded by cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, coffeecake, and headed to a celebratory birthday lunch, right?).

Good Luck, Thomas!

2009-05-20T10:08:00.002-05:00

At 4 am this morning, my dear boy departed on an 8 hour journey to Marietta, Ohio.

What's in Ohio, you ask?

NCAA Division III Outdoor Track Nationals, you see.

Again, despite the odds stacked against him, Tom qualified for Nationals in the shot put. They took the top 15 from the nation, and Tom is going in ranked 11th. To get his 3rd All-American title this year, he'll need to jump to 8th place.

I like to tease Tom and call him a procrastinator. He didn't qualify once for shot put until the very last meet on his VERY last throw. Talk about a last chance! As in his nature, this throw shattered the existing the school record.

He competes on Saturday, so we'll be unfortunately waiting on pins and needles until then. I believe that if he captures another title, he'll be the first three-time All-American in the history of his college.

I am so VERY proud of him! I can't wait to report back to you all on Monday with updates! :)

Knowing When to Throw the Towel In - THE FOLLOW UP

2009-05-19T10:15:00.003-05:00

It's official -- we're definitely going the professional route on the calligraphy.

I am SO pleased with this decision. I know it's going to turn out absolutely fabulously, and don't regret the price tag!

This is the script we're going with:

Flourished Copperplate:

Our calligrapher, Katie, of Belles Lettres Designs, is fantastic at what she does, obviously. I think it's quite a gift to be able to do calligraphy, and have always admired those that could.

We've opted to go with the white ink on the blue envelope, even though it will cost more. There are still just a few aspects of my vision that I'm unwilling to relinquish.

I'll be dropping off the addresses tomorrow, and in lightning speed, they should be ready sometime next week!! Pictures will definitely follow! :)

PS - I was able to successfully sell my Gocco, so we're not incurring any extra costs here! Holla for the budget!

Fabulous Shower!!!

2009-05-18T11:05:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was our first bridal shower, hosted by my lovely and talented mother! Years ago, I called "dibs" on a recipe-themed shower (Hey, in a family of four girls, sometimes "dibs" is the only way to be sure you have a chance to get what you want!). My mother created these super-cute recipe card invitations, and asked the guests to send in some of their favorite recipes. She then compiled a huge book of them for me. I LOVE it! I've probably read through it twice, mentally dog-earing the recipes I want to try!

We are so very grateful to have had all the guests, gifts and good food that made up yesterday. As the very first "wedding event," it was pretty surreal, albeit fun!

It was also a major plus that we made out like bandits!! Everyone was unbelievably generous, and we now have SO much stuff, we don't know where to start the unpacking!!

Yeah, there's a table under there.

And within 20 minutes of unloading the truck, this is what Tom was doing:

He LOVES that goofy vacuum! And it really is as good as the commercial makes it look. Totally recommended! :) (Thanks again, Marie & Omer!)

He also got his vegetable peeler, which he was pretty stoked about! (Way to go, Bec!)

We also received dish towels and oven mitts...

....my favorite tablecloth (from my amazing Maid of Honor!)

Yay! My tea set (along with a date for tea from the gifter!)

And lots and lots of plates from my lovely grandmother, aunt, and godmother!

We got TONS more, too, but these are the only pictures stored on my computer :)

Off the top of my head I know we got a spice rack (2 actually), a few awesome serving sets, a coffeemaker, pasta pot, grill pan, drinking glasses, wine glasses, beer glasses, silverware, a grill (including charcoal, lighter fluid, matches, and every accessory known to man), and our Kitchen-Aid mixer!!

Overall, it was a super fabulous afternoon! Many thanks to my parents for throwing our shower, and to all who attended! We're looking forward to our next shower at the end of June! It should be a lot of fun --- it's going to be co-ed, which should be interesting! :)

Knowing When to Throw the Towel In...

2009-05-15T08:22:00.006-05:00

So I feel pretty bad about making such a fuss about the Gocco and our invitations only to have it all fail. Or as my coworker pointed out, failed a tiny bit.

I've come to the conclusion that the amount of time it would take for me to fix the problem, however, is not worth the stress and time involved. As an estimate, the invitations and reply cards would probably take 10+ hours because of the embossing involved, and the calligraphy, because it would have to be written twice to show up, would take upwards of 15 hours.

Determined to stay on budget, I've sought out other solutions. It's tough to give up on my vision, as I've always pictured this a certain way. Below is our invite, so you all can see what I'm talking about as I reference it... (some parts of blurry for privacy sake. You never know who's out there...Be assured, however, that we do have last names and addresses on the real invitation...)

(Designed by my trusty graphic design ninja)

I had always pictured the background paper as blue, the swirl and our names in white, and the other text in green. Since white ink won't print with a basic printer (hence why I purchased the Gocco originally), I'm forced to re-think the color scheme.

What I plan to do now is print the invitation on white card stock, and mat it on the original blue invitation panels we bought. The swirl will be printed in blue to match the backing paper. I haven't decided on text yet. I'm leaning towards keeping the text black and our names in blue, but then there is no green there, and it might look a bit jarring to have a green response card...?

I might do all the text green and our names in blue, along with the swirl. I think this would "fit" better, but I just think the text would look "better" in black.

Le sigh. Any opinions?

Now, since I've decided not to do calligraphy myself, but still have my heart set on it, I've been searching for a deal.

I've found a FABULOUS calligrapher who works out of Wheaton, and is willing to give me a 15% discount, due to the recession.

Isn't it dreamy??

She's also willing to do it all in white ink!

The problem comes that it's expensive. BUT, if I sell my Gocco (and I've already had 2 offers on it) and the favor boxes that I bought recklessly (again, already had an offer on those, too!), it won't cost me anything out of pocket. It's still $250, though :(

Another calligrapher based out of Evanston would be about $75 cheaper, but I just don't think her work is what I'm looking for. I figure if I'm going to spend this much money on something, I might as well get what I want.

So, in the end, the invitations aren't turning out to be what I originally pictured. BUT, I think I may end up with something just as fabulous, or even more so! Stay tuned!

Oh, and leave a comment on which colors I should use to print -- blue and black, or blue and green?

Fail.

2009-05-14T09:06:00.003-05:00

I'm about thisclose to completely giving up on invitations all together and just visiting people door to door informing them of the wedding.

Seriously. Thisclose.

Yesterday, I had time off work, so I thought I would utilize it by beginning the envelope calligraphy. It sounded easy enough: format the envelope, type in the address, print in a light blue, trace in white India ink. Done.

But really, nothing is ever easy for me. EVER.

I began by formatting the envelope and entering in the address. I was using my parents' address as my test dummy, because I knew (hoped) they wouldn't mind a lame attempt.

Everything was set, the printer was formatted, I hit the print button.

I heard printing. Success!! I was so excited!

Until I saw what was printing on one of my beautiful envelopes that I had spent HOURS lining:

Tom's PowerPoint presentation. Seriously?? Why don't printers automatically reset once they're unplugged and moved 30 miles?? I don't get it. But, I figured I would take advantage of the mistake to practice using the calligraphy pen and white ink.

You guessed it --- another FAIL.

Ugh. I spent $15 on 2 bottles of this stupid ink. WHY is it not appearing dark? And WHY is it so runny?

Whatever. I'll try printing another envelope and tracing it and see how it goes.

What?? Paper Jam??? You have GOT to be KIDDING me!?!?!?!?

Apparently the envelope is too thick with the liner to feed properly.

So now we have a few choices. We can trek over to my parents' house who have a nicer printer (albeit a little moody) and give it a shot there, we can buy a new printer (which we've been discussing anyway), or we can just kick and scream and cry, then pay a calligrapher $2 per envelope.

What should we do?

I Haven't Obsessed in a While...

2009-05-12T09:32:00.003-05:00

...so I think I'm entitled to devote this post entirely to a very small, insignificant detail.

Postage.

So as of yesterday, the U.S. Post Office decided to raise postage. This is extremely unfortunate, because I loved the 42 cent stamp with the red heart that was out for Valentine's Day. It was bright, multi-color, and sweet without being gag-worthy or cliche.

So, here are my choices for 44 cent stamps:

Uhhh, lame.

Meh. This is part of their "Love" line (you can see it towards the bottom of the stamp). This is probably what we'll go with, but I don't love it.

Even though the envelope only needs the normal 44 cent stamp, we could spend the extra money to a) ensure delivery, and b) get a nicer stamp.

The standard "Love" stamp. Meh. 59 cents.

Wedding cake. Also very blah. 61 cents.

I like the colors on this one, but it has no relation to anything. 57 cents.

And last, but not least, the stamp for the response card:

Lame. Very, very lame. But unless we want to put 14 2 cent stamps on one card, we have to go with this for the response cards.

Crunch Time!

2009-05-11T10:41:00.003-05:00

With LESS THAN 3 MONTHS TO GO, I'm really started to feel the crunch! This week/weekend, I'm going to attempt to finish the invitations. If it doesn't work, I'm going to have to go professional with these, as I have 2-3 weeks before they're mailed. Since the cost of stamps went up yesterday, I was waiting before I purchased over $100 worth of postage. I have to begin the calligraphy for the envelopes, and then I can finally relax. Sort of.

I don't perceive June to be much work, just beginning to track RSVPs and I'll have my first dress fitting, but July will be where it all happens!

We are SO looking forward to our first shower on Sunday!! I feel like this pretty much kicks off summer for us -- and it's all downhill from here!

:)

Add Another Flower Girl...

2009-05-07T09:09:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to my sister Becca, my brother-in-law Rick, and my nieces Madalyn and Amelia on the arrival of our 4th flower girl!

Introducing the very sweet, precious (and fresh from the womb), baby Charlotte Joanne:

Tom and I will be meeting her tonight for the first time! We are so VERY excited to meet her and cannot wait to welcome yet another sweet little one into our growing family!

Another Fail.

2009-05-06T15:37:00.002-05:00

What do you do when a DIY project fails?

I, for one, leave it on my kitchen table, in hopes that when I wake up the next morning, it will be magically fixed.

Usually, it's not.

Check out this cute design that my awesome graphic ninja (again!) designed for me. They're thank-you cards for our wedding shower. Get it? Raining kitchen appliances??

This would be so cute and clever IF THE PRINTING WASN'T UGLY!

Stupid Gocco.

I'm half-tempted to sell it. I can recoup my money, at least...

A Money Celebration!

2009-05-05T09:13:00.003-05:00

So I know the last time I posted about money, I made a lot of eyes glaze over.

Sorry. I just like to talk about it. A lot. But I promise, this will be MUCH shorter!

As we found out early on in the planning, having a budget and sticking to it is key. Okay, fine. Sounds fairly straightforward, right?

But in reality, where does that budget come from? How in the world is a young couple just starting out supposed to come up with upwards of $20,000???

For us, our budget was set by what we could afford to put aside everything month, while still saving for other important things (cars, house, vacations, etc.). When we decided to move the wedding up an entire year, we lost 12 months of savings. While the cost of the wedding has decreased, it still is costing us a fairly large chunk of money. But, we've been diligent in putting money aside every month, and Tom and I are very happy to announce that...

We're OFFICIALLY done saving for the wedding and honeymoon!!!! It's SUCH a great feeling (especially because we're 3 months early!!).

The good news is that now we have a bit more flexibility with our budget. We'd been debating about an after-party, and now know that would be easy to do, or we can spend the money on some FANTASTIC bridal party gifts we had nixed because of cost...

We'll see! For now, Tom and I are just thrilled to have this taken care of and off of our minds!

Gocco: Step by Step

2009-05-04T08:38:00.002-05:00

So I'm betting that 99.9% of you had never heard of a Gocco before reading this blog. I hadn't heard of it until last summer, either. Once I saw the magic that it produces, I knew I had to have it.

So, I scoured eBay for a great deal, and had this baby shipped all the way from Japan:

As a wedding gift to us, one of my coworkers who is a graphic design ninja, designed our invitation and response card.

On Saturday evening, I got to work:

Little did I know (since the instructions were in Japanese), that this sucker needed new batteries. After a quick trip to the local gas station, we were once again ready to make our screen.

Voila! Now you just peel the design off of the back, ink it up, and begin printing.

Okay, kids, now what have we learned? Now we see that a) the blue ink is too dark, so we'll have to custom mix a lighter shade, b) the white ink doesn't appear well on the green paper, and c) the font is much too small --- it's blurry and doesn't take up much of the card.

Since I was still trying it out, I thought I'd see what the design on the actual invitation would look like:

Aaah. Another "teachable moment." Design too blurry, needs to be sharpened. White still a little light, should probably be embossed. Also, must work on centering skills.

In short, we'll be reworking the design a teensy bit, I'll sharpen it up, and I'll get back to work. Also, I've decided to emboss the entire suite so the ink is raised, which will add many, many more man hours to the project. Good thing Tom's done with finals on Wednesday... ;)

Anything I missed? Questions, comments, compliments??? :)

In Commemoration...

2009-05-01T09:35:00.003-05:00

Does anyone know what today is?

Yes, May Day, but that's not what I mean.

Today marks 100 days until the wedding!!

In commemoration, we're launching our new blog. This will follow our non-wedding adventures, and will become our only blog once the wedding is over. You'll probably find that I'll begin posting more over there than here soon, but I'll try to be diligent and fair!

So, I humbly present to you: Living with Murdock

The Follow-Up

2009-04-30T10:19:00.003-05:00

Remember my virtual to-do list? Well, here's how I did this month:

Work out 5 days a week. (I've been trying on this one, and about 50% successful in March.) Okay, so I failed miserably at this one. But in my defense, I couldn't move my knee for the first half of the month (nasty infection!), and for the second half, I have been taking the puppy out on long walks...
Gocco the invitation suite. Man, another fail. But I have the printouts at the house, and should be attempting my first Gocco on Sunday...
Spring clean. Yay! A success! Since we moved a bit early, I've been cleaning the new house, and was able to clean and pack up at my parents...
Pack for the new house! Yes! Success! See previous bullet point...
Keep "fun" spending to under $100 this month. (This one's going to be majorly tough, but this girl needs new tires.) Ummm...fairly successful. I did get new tires, so let's count this one as a success, too...

So, here are my tasks for the month of May:

Workout 5 days a week.
Schedule bridal fitting for June
Gocco the invitation suite
Address all wedding invitations
Paint the house!

Hopefully my success rate will be 5/5 for this month...

Muzak...

2009-04-29T09:43:00.002-05:00

I've been DYING to post about our ceremony music choices, but oddly, have refrained for quite a while.

It's of no surprise to any of you that Tom and I are not taking the orthodox music route. Even when we were looking into getting married in a church, the admission of secular music was something I refused to budge on (and similarly, the Catholic church refused to budge, so there went that...).

I'm not a "Bridal March" kind of girl. It's not who I am. Instead, Tom and I have tried to find music that we feel embodies us and our relationship. To me, music is such a personal and emotional thing that I couldn't see choosing from an arbitrary list of standard wedding songs. I knew that when I walked down the aisle, and Tom saw me for the first time (the one thing he refuses to budge on), I wanted music in the background that fit.

So, onward with our unorthodox playlist:

As guests gather, chat, and are seated, it's important to me that we set the mood. Rather than play Canon in D (not knocking, I love me some classical music), I want upbeat, sweet and silly music. A few choices thus far:

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
Love Story - (Taylor Swift) - partially an inside joke with a coworker, partially because for no sane reason I want to cry during the last verse, and partially because Tom sings a rousing rendition of this song where he changes the lyrics Weird Al style :)
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & the Waves
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - Stevie Wonder

...and the like. I'm just shooting for a really fun, sweet atmosphere.

Onto the processional: I have my heart set on 2 songs for the processional. The first you should recognize from my handy, dandy music player on this blog. 1,2,3,4 by the Plain White T's is not only a fun, cute song that I fell in love with the instant I heard it, but the band itself has some significance as Nic (my Maid of Honor) and I went and saw them in concert almost 2 years ago. They were one of my favorite bands before they got popular! :)

To begin the processional, we're switching the order around a bit. After the mothers walk down the aisle, my nieces will walk down. Normally the flower girls directly precede the bride, but since Tom has been such a huge part of their childhood (Madalyn was 3 weeks old when we began dating, and Tom met my family for the first time at her christening), we felt it was only appropriate to have them walk down first, walk straight down to Tom, and give him a hug before they sit in their respective places. Then, my sisters will follow (and possibly hug Tom as well), to round out the processional.

As I begin my walk, my FAVORITE song ever will play: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. (You can also hear this on the music player to the right of your screen). I first heard this song around the time that Tom and I were debating moving the wedding up, and the lyrics just spoke to my heart:

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Le sigh. I LOVE it. Whenever I hear this song, I practically melt into a puddle.

In the ceremony, I don't believe we'll have any other music. Since the ceremony is short, there's really not much need for it...

So, for the big finish, my maid of honor has something up her sleeve. Because there's no practical way to keep this a surprise from me, I know the basic gist of it. I know it involves another one of my favorite songs, a live band, and is derived from my favorite scene from my favorite movie. I don't know the exact details, but I do know that I am SO SUPER EXCITED for this, and think it will be one of my favorite moments of the day. But since I can't really ruin my own "surprise," I'll recap this after the wedding!

So there you have it. Our completely crazy, non-standard ceremony soundtrack. :)

Baby Steps...

2009-04-28T11:44:00.002-05:00

If any of you have stuck around thus far, congratulations. I'll be rewarding you with some wedding updates today.

According to the ever-present, always looming Knot checklist, I have 61 things left to due, with four of them being "overdue." Truthfully, we are right on schedule --- the four things overdue being 1) book honeymoon arrangements (flights booked, waiting on hotel prices to drop, so no worries there), 2) arrange tuxedo rental and let the guys know (since we're just going with suits, we don't have to worry about this), 3) verify menu with caterer (not time pressing -- will determine MUCH closer to the wedding) and 4) book rehearsal dinner site (I think we'll be hosting a BBQ at our new house, so this isn't an issue, either).

With the move this month, I've left all my Gocco supplies at my parents' house, so I might not do that all this weekend, but definitely soon. I'll be starting to address the invitations shortly, and will post pictures of our work.

I'll be scheduling my first dress fitting now, but that won't be until June (gotta be quick during wedding season, though).

We'll have to take Tom (and his suit) for alterations, because he hasn't actually worn it since last October, and his muscles have grown and his waistline has shrunk...We'll also need to get him some new dress shoes (I'm crossing my fingers that he'll get some REALLY shiny ones!). He also needs to get his passport, or else I'll be flying to Oz by myself!!

Our first wedding shower is in less than 3 weeks, and I am soooo excited! My mother has been doing an excellent job planning, and it sounds like it's going to be a fun time. Tom's mother has also verified the date for our second shower, which will be in late June. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to start eating off of real plates, instead of glad ware! :)

More soon!!

Heatstroke.

2009-04-24T15:09:00.002-05:00

I think I'm suffering from heatstroke.

My thoughts are swimming, I'm sweating from every pore, my speech is slowing, and I'm making rash decisions.

The air conditioning in my office is broken, and we're at a sweltering 80 degrees. Because I don't trust myself to write coherently for my clients, I figured there was no better time to update this blog. ;)

So, when I say what I'm about to say, keep in mind that my brain is 15 minutes away from frying.

I think I'm going to nix handing out favors altogether.

No, really, I'm serious! I know I've spent a lot of time debating about this, and I've even purchased $50 worth of favor boxes (what was I thinking?!?!), but it's just SO not necessary. I think the fact that this hasn't been an easy decision speaks volumes to its importance (which is none).

Plus, the more I think about spending upwards of $200 on cookies, the more I get sick to my stomach. (Though that could just be because of the heat...). I'd rather take the $200 and get our bridal party/parents fantastic, thoughtful gifts, or be selfish and use that money for a great dinner on our honeymoon.

Truth be told, I'm sad I won't have those cute little boxes tied with ribbon. BUT, I certainly don't want to spend that much money just so I can have attractive pictures.

More DIY postings to come...Stay tuned!

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T10:00:00.003-05:00

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd devote a few moments to talk about one of the hottest wedding trends right now: eco-friendly affairs.

A lot of couples have taken sustainability to a whole new level by using local business, locally-grown food, and recycled items for their wedding. There are companies devoted to recycling old jewelry and gold to create unique wedding bands and engagement rings. Couples use either recycled paper or go completely paperless with their wedding invitations. More and more wedding menus are going organic, and favors, if there are any, are tree seedlings, plant seeds, or local products (i.e. organic honey, tea, etc.).

I think the concept in and of itself is pretty cool, especially when you consider how much waste that this one day will generate. One of the major drawbacks, though, is the cost of going eco-friendly.

Tom and I are trying to take a "less is more" approach to our lifestyle (though we're not always successful!), and the same applies to our wedding. Below are a few eco-friendly ideas that I've come across in the wedding blog world:

Ditch the inner envelope. The tradition, dating back to when correspondence was delivered via livery, was started so that the butler could remove the dusty envelope and present a clean one to the lord/lady of the house. (And while you're at it, ditch the silly tissue paper included with invitations. Again, the origin of this "tradition" used to serve a purpose, but somewhere along the way, the purpose was eliminated and the paper wasn't.)
Rent. It might save you $1 or $2 to purchase vases from a wholesaler, but renting them from a florist is much more eco-friendly. (Ditto this on linens, too!)
Skip all the fancy packaging for favors. Not only is there an abundance of it, but most of the time, it isn't biodegradable.
Serve beer from a keg. You can hide the keg behind the bar, eliminating all the bottles that have to be produced, recycled, and disposed of.
Forget the stretch Hummer limo. Pretty self-explanatory...

Anybody else have any good tips?

DIY Month: Update 1

2009-04-21T09:08:00.004-05:00

So a while ago, I mentioned that I was working on lots of DIY projects, though not all of them were for the wedding.

As my newest niece, Charlotte, will be arriving shortly, there is a sense of urgency surrounding projects relating to her bedroom and my nieces' new "big girl" bedroom. A few weeks back, I completed a set of 6 or 7 throw pillows for their room, and just recently, Becca and I tackled a few more "decor" elements. Take a look at the lamp below, as well as the letter plaques that we spent almost 8 hours on:

Pretty awesome, no?

Kudos to my brother-in-law Rick for the lovely wall paint job (as well as the dresser, chair rail, and mirror, in addition to the bunk beds and custom closet, too!). AND, major kudos to Bec for all her work refining and creating her vision. It's really turning out awesome, and I hope to be able to show off the rest of the room later (including the SUPER awesome reading corner, complete with seating & a chandelier!).

PS - I love the reflection in the mirror ;)

A Wedding After My Own Heart...

2009-04-20T11:35:00.003-05:00

Does any of this look familiar?

Blue, green & ivory bouquet and blue shoes?

Blue & green Gocco invitations?

That might even be the same the same font as our invitations, too!

So It's Safe to Say...

2009-04-17T08:11:00.002-05:00

...that I love our dog!!

He is so absolutely sweet and lovable! He's pretty well trained already, which is amazing considering he's only 13 weeks old. He's playful and rambunctious, but he listens well when we tell him "no."

Last night was an adventure for all of us. Here are a few good pictures I managed to get:

(He sits very politely for pictures, because he thinks my cell phone is a treat. We're working on that.)

(My two favorite boys!)

Onward!

2009-04-14T11:01:00.003-05:00

Here's something they never tell you in the "What Happens When You're Engaged" book:

Sometimes, you're so engrossed in the wedding that you forget there are other areas of your life.

But you know what? There's more to Tom and I than color swatches and the occasional track meet. In fact, there's a whole other world we live in, complete with people, jobs, houses, and cars. And while I tend not to delve too much into those "teeny, insignificant details" (Nicole, name that movie!), I can't ignore our good news much longer!

This week will be one for the record books for us --- we're moving and adopting a puppy!!

I took a straw poll (Nicole, name that movie again!), and it turns out, we are certifiably crazy for trying to do both this week. But, we've fallen head over heels in love with this puppy, and he needs a home. By chance, it turns out, we have one to offer him.

So, lovely readers and wanderers, I'd like to introduce you to Murdock:

I know, right? He's absolutely, eat him with a spoon, pick him up and squeeze him, adorable!! He's a 13-week old Australian Cattle Dog, or Blue Heeler. He's extremely intelligent (already sits on command and is housebroken), he's great with other dogs, cats and kids, and from what I hear, he's quite the cuddler!

So, dear readers, please forgive me if my postings become sporadic and sparse. It's highly likely I'll either be a) engrossed with my new DVR, b) trying to figure out how to paint a vaulted ceiling without hiring a professional, c) teaching Murdock how to make my morning coffee, or d) attempting to move my multitude of boxes labelled "wedding" from my parents' house.

We're bringing our new boy home on Thursday, so I'm hoping I'll have some fresh pictures of him soon!

PS - Does anyone have some great puppy training tips? We've pretty much read everything we can get our hands on, but are always looking for more suggestions until we've gotten him registered for "Puppy School."

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T08:52:00.003-05:00

What's Easter without some Peeps?

And what's 2009 without a reference to the pop-culture phenomenon, the Snuggie?!?!

Peeps on Parade finalist, via the Chicago Tribune.

Happy Easter, everybody! Signing off until Monday...

Shopping For Oz: Part 3

2009-04-09T09:39:00.003-05:00

No outfit, or trip, really, is ever complete without a good handbag. I learned this the hard way when I travelled to Ireland a year ago. The purse I had brought (stupidly, a leather Coach bag), just wasn't big enough to hold my wallet, passports, rental car paperwork, guidebooks, and random souvenirs.

I like big bags. I can't help it. So, on day 2 of our trip, Nicole and I ventured out in search of a new purse. And I found one that was fantastic, and used it for the next 3 months! :)

So, I've decided that I have to travel with a big bag. Maybe it's a security blanket of sorts, but I find it really, really helpful.

I Love Love Love this one from Banana Republic:

But, I can find a lot of better uses for $230.

And what trip is complete without a pair of oversized sunglasses? Yes, these are also a weakness of mine. I've owned at least 5 pairs in the past 2 years.

They're on sale for $68, down from $98, but I already have a pair I love and will stick with those for a while longer...

And I LOVE these sandals:

From Piperlime, coming in at $45.

So there you have it --- the accessories to round out the travel wardrobe!

Shopping for Oz: Part 2

2009-04-08T09:37:00.002-05:00

You know that feeling you get when you're just browsing for clothes, but you find something you love and then you find out it's on sale?

Yeah, not such a good thing for your wallet.

I experienced it this morning, when looking for fodder for this post. I fell in love, saw everything was on sale/clearance, and before you know it, was pressing the "confirm" button on the order screen. Whoops.

But, I think I picked some great pieces that I'll be able to wear this spring/summer, as well as on the honeymoon, so I guess I don't feel soooo terrible.

Love it! And for $7.99, I couldn't pass it up.

Remember yesterday when I was talking about a lightweight cardigan/sweater? Mission accomplished! (Oh yeah, and for only $15!)

And how can I forget these? Aka, the greatest pants ever? I bought a pair of these my senior year of college, and I've worn them so much that they're starting to get see-through in some spots (not a good thing). So, I bought a replacement pair for $15. Did I mention that I was wearing these when Tom proposed? True story. I had bought the cutest cream and black halter to match, and was wearing a pair of hot red stilettos. It was my "just in case he happens to propose this weekend" outfit. It totally worked!

Oh, and I've decided to go ahead and buy that dress from yesterday. I received an Old Navy 20% coupon yesterday, which I'm deeming as fate. That brings the dress down to about $25. Holla! At this rate, I'll be almost finished with my shopping before May! :)

Shopping for Oz: Part 1

2009-04-07T10:47:00.003-05:00

I saw this idea on another wedding blog, so I'm stealing it.

We're going to do some window shopping for the honeymoon!

Background Information:
The weather in Sydney will be about 60-65 degrees, and 65-75 in Port Douglas. In Sydney, we'll be doing a lot of touristy stuff, so I'll need appropriate clothing. In Port Douglas, however, we have very few plans, and most of them include fruity drinks and lying on the beach.

Since we'll be traveling for 12 days, we're going to have to pack smartly. Because we're flying international, we can bring 2 suitcases each (plus a carry-on and purse/laptop bag/briefcase) without being charged extra. But, this doesn't mean we'll have a ton of extra space. In my previous travels to Europe, I've always brought 2 suitcases, each half-packed. On my way home, my suitcases always end up mysteriously filled to the brim! In short, I'll need a few pairs of jeans, a few breezy dresses, a few skirts, 1 or 2 lightweight sweaters/cardigans, shorts, a few bathing suits, and shirts. Then, I'll need to pack all my comfy clothes for the dreaded 28 hour flights. :(

With that said, I'm searching for pieces that are easy to dress up or dress down (as we'll be at the beach in the day and in town by night), pieces that are universal (i.e. cardigans), and pieces that are lightweight (for both the weather and for packing!).

So, here's a dress that I LOVE! I think it would be great to wear to the beach as a cover up, but would also be great paired up with a thin sweater, metallic sandals and a cute purse to wear into town for dinner.

And for under $30, this is sooo worth it.

Leave a Message...

2009-04-06T08:36:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if it's spring fever, my aforementioned apathy creeping up, or just my interests moving on towards other projects, but I'm starting to hit a wall, here.

So, if you would do me the kind favor of leaving a message with ideas/topics of what you'd like to read about, I'll give it the good ol' college try at writing about it. Really, I'm pretty flexible, as you all know. :)

So, please leave a message after the beep.
.
.
.
.
Beep.

The Big Money Debacle

2009-04-03T09:20:00.002-05:00

So let's talk about a topic that I tend to dance around....money.

I read a great article yesterday from the Wall Street Journal: With This Debt, I Thee Wed. It discusses how finances, and specifically debt, can cause strife within a marriage, and how important it is to have a similar philosophy.

I just gonna put this out there: I love money. I love studying it, I love having it, I love budgeting it, I love reading about it. I own 4 books on personal finance, investing, etc. Because it's something I have such an interest in, it's become a central part of my relationship with Tom. When you combine that with weddings and moving out/starting a life together, money becomes a big factor.

We always tend to err on the side of caution, always spending less than more. This isn't to say that we're misers, because we certainly spend our money and have a good time with it, but we're careful to save and invest, always with the future in mind.

We have lots of honest, open conversations about money: how much we have now, how much we need, how much we want, etc. Because of all these conversations, we're completely on the same page in terms of saving, spending and investing. One thing that's really helped us has been setting concrete goals for where we want to be, not just "dreaming" about it. When planning the wedding budget, we figured out a rough estimate of what we'd need, then figured out how much a month we had to put aside for it. We're doing the same thing for a house --- we've figured out how much of a down payment we want, and we set aside a certain amount of money a month for it.

One book that's really helped is Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, Revisited. While the book is really geared towards couples with debt, it did help teach us a few certain principles about money management. One of the biggest things he preaches is about savings. He advocates that every couple should have 4-6 months of living expenses saved as an "emergency fund." While that can quickly add up to a startling number, it makes a lot of sense (especially in this economy!). Once that is saved (assuming you have no credit card debt), you begin maxing out retirement savings, paying down mortgages (and other "good" debts), and investing your money in other places (stocks, child savings accounts, etc.).

I'm extremely glad that Tom and I began having conversations about money early on in our relationship. It's really saved us a lot of trouble, because now, as we really "combine" finances, we're finding it much easier. It's so exciting to see our savings build and our student loans go down. :-)

While we're not experts by any stretch of the imagination, here are a few things that have helped us:

Being completely open and honest with each other. You can't make any headway when one partner is hiding something, and that's certainly no way to start a marriage.
Being honest with ourselves. Don't kid yourself into thinking you can afford something if you can't. It gets you nowhere.
Having fun. Just because you're saving money doesn't mean you don't have fun. Spend some, just not more than you have.
Communicate constantly. Set up clear understandings of what it's okay to buy or not buy with consulting each other (say, purchases under $50 or under $100), and check in at certain times of the month (we like to do it on pay days!)
Set goals. Figure out what you want to have/do in the future, and set financial goals accordingly (i.e. if you want a certain amount of money in savings, if you plan on buying a house, even if you plan on financing future children's educations --- it's never too early to starting thinking/planning/saving)
Don't forget about retirement. The more money you save earlier, the better off you are. Compound interest is your friend. You don't have to have a company 401(k) to start saving, either. You can open a Roth at a variety of places and start saving as early as 18. Also, discuss when you both want to retire. Make sure you're on the same page (or at least understand the other person!)
Get help. When you're really planning long term (retirement, IRAs, stocks, etc.) a good financial planner is worth the cost. Plus, having some accountability can't hurt either.
Automatic savings are your friend. Payroll deductions have saved us some serious strife. We don't even have to think about setting the money aside --- it's already done for us.
Set up separate savings accounts. We have separate savings, house, and travel accounts that help us keep track better. It's nice to know in 1 click where we stand.
Think twice before you purchase anything major. Do you really need it, or do you just want it? Chances are it's probably a want.
Live below your means. Just because you make a certain amount of money doesn't mean you have to spend that much.
Figure out what works for you. I can preach until I'm blue in the face, but if you don't find a solution that works for you, nothing ever will.
Relax. In the end, it's just money. Sure, it will make your life more comfortable, but having a savings account won't stop you from being miserable and unhappy.

Accountability...

2009-04-01T09:41:00.003-05:00

I thought I'd try something new this month, in the form of a to-do list. I'd seen this done on a new blog I've been following, Imperfect, and wanted to give it a try.

I'll start the month listing what I want to accomplish, and report back at the end of the month on what I did. Here goes:

April's To-Do List

Work out 5 days a week. (I've been trying on this one, and about 50% successful in March.)
Gocco the invitation suite.
Spring clean.
Pack for the new house!
Keep "fun" spending to under $100 this month. (This one's going to be majorly tough, but this girl needs new tires.)

I'll let you all know in a month how this goes! :)

Wait, What Color?

2009-03-31T08:39:00.003-05:00

I get that reaction a lot when I tell people that my sisters will be wearing black bridesmaid dresses. I know that this is pretty neo-traditional, and certainly not a trend many people have seen yet.

I was pretty confident it would look great when I made the decision, and still am now.

Even more so, now that I've seen these pictures:

See? It doesn't look like a funeral...

The Sparkle is Starting to Fade...

2009-03-27T10:25:00.003-05:00

This week, I did the unimaginable.

I deleted almost ALL of the wedding blogs I read daily from my Google Reader.

Why? I don't know. I guess you could say that I'm over them. I've found myself scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, and not really stopping to look at any of the pictures or read the stories. The 2 blogs I have continued to subscribe to are my always wonderful A Practical Wedding and the fabulously funny blog, I Hate Planning My Wedding. Unfortunately, her wedding was back in February, and there are no updates, so I'll probably delete that one soon, too.

I've really begun feeling very "Meh" about the planning and the details. I feel that I have everything under control, and actually get slightly annoyed when people ask if I'm stressed out. All of our big decisions feel great, and we don't regret a single one. I still feel very confident in all of our vendors to deliver what we've agreed upon, and deliver it well. I know that if any issues arise the day of, they all have the experience and practicality to fix it how they see best. Because of this feeling of implicit trust, my stress has really been at a minimum. The most stressful part for both Tom and I was the guest list, and that really has nothing to do with any of our vendors.

It's not that I'm not excited for the wedding, because let me tell you, I am SUPER excited, it's just that I'm not dwelling on all the different facets of it anymore. It's a pretty great feeling, knowing that I can now devote my time and energy into other arenas of my life (including my insane craft list!). As Tom and I begin the preparations to move, and he moves into yet another season of track, we've realized that the whole point to this wedding is beginning life the day after.

We've been doing some serious thinking and discussing this week about all the possibilities in the future for us. A lot of our conversations center around money, as many couples' do. With Tom planning on becoming a professional athlete once he graduates, our future priorities are a bit different than other people. For example, every important (and sometimes not-so-important) decision we make centers around our big potential move in a year. Tom has an opportunity to be coached by an Olympian, and that's certainly not something we'd ever give up. But, it does change where we'd thought we'd be in five years.

When I start thinking about all that we discuss, and how well we know each other, I am always amazed at how similar we think. Before it was even said aloud, we were both on the same page concerning Tom's Olympic dream. I knew I'd do anything to make it happen, he knew that he wouldn't let me give up everything to make it happen. We've come to such a great place of calmness and trust within our relationship, I can't imagine it being any other way.

So I guess the sparkle of wedding planning isn't really gone, it's just transferred to another place in our relationship. And I think I like it a lot better...

A Little Late to the Game

2009-03-25T08:43:00.005-05:00

Did you know that March is designated as "National Crafts Month"? I did. And I've started my celebration late.

It's no surprise that I love me a good project, especially one that has instant results.

I actually started these organza flowers a few weeks ago as a test run. They were pretty simple, actually, and I had churned out 3 in less than half an hour. Plus, I only spent $10 on the organza, and I have plenty left over!

Mine are made out of blue and green, and I'm hoping I can figure out a way to make them into hair clips for my nieces. The ones I made were a bit more curly around the edges, but I like them that way. If I figure out a good use for them, I'll be sure to post the final result.

Last night, I left the wedding projects behind and moved into home decor. Not for my house (though those projects are beginning to swirl in my head, too!), but for my nieces' bedroom. The two oldest of the bunch are moving up to a "big girl" bedroom to make room for little Charlotte, who will be arriving in just 6 short weeks! So, last night, I dug my trust little sewing machine out from the depths of my closet, fired it up, and whipped up 2 pairs of curtains and 3 throw pillows. Tonight, I'm finishing up the last of the 3 pillows. Soon, Becca and I will start with the last of the accents, which I'm most excited about. I'll definitely post some pictures once the room is finished!

Since I was already on a crafty roll yesterday, I ordered a new set of calligraphy pens and white India ink to address the invitations.

(Clever calligraphy from Once Wed)

I informed Tom that once I finalize and verify all the guests' addresses, I'll be launching a hostile takeover of his computer and printer so I can begin the printing, then will start the white ink process in batches throughout April and May. This way, June will roll around and all I'll have to do will be to purchase the stamps! :)

And what's an envelope without an invitation?

That's right --- I'm breaking out the Gocco. I know I've made a series of false promises with this, but I really have no choice anymore. I have to start this and figure it out, in case it doesn't work...

And maybe, just maybe, if I'm not too burned out, I'll finally start on the ribbon wands I mentioned.

I've purchased a TON of ribbon a few weeks ago, but I still have to purchase the dowel rods for these and the flower girl wands and paint them before I begin anything...

A Recap Among Recaps

2009-03-24T09:38:00.004-05:00

So this is going to be a ridiculously long, picture-filled post. My apologies.

But, as we stand 4 months out from the wedding, here's the plans/inspiration so far:

This is the bouquet that started it all; Most of my decisions have stemmed from this picture:

The ceremony venue:

The apparel:

The ties for the gentlemen:

The flower girl dresses:

Symbolic of the black dresses my sisters are wearing:

My HOT shoes (but in blue):

The accessories:

The rings:

The paper:

Invitation inspiration (but blue, not pink):

The programs:

The favor boxes:

The details:

Our wine "guestbook":

Our personalized brick:

So I think it's shaping up nicely!

Wedding Philosophy...

2009-03-23T08:17:00.004-05:00

So this morning, while making my blog rounds, I stumbled upon another great post by Meg over on A Practical Wedding. I always identify with what Meg writes. I've highlighted in red my reactions to what she wrote:

The 4 Keys to Having a "Practical" Wedding:

That you have a honest wedding. That your wedding budget (whatever it is) reflects who you are, and what you feel you can afford to spend. That when you think of your wedding budget you don't feel ill and wonder, "oh dear god, how are we ever going to pay off this party?" I mean, in my experience *any* wedding budget will make you feel ill now and then, but most of the time it should make you feel confident like, "Hey, it feels like a lot of money, but we're spending smart, and we can do this thing." Amen, sister! So glad we nixed the $20k budget!
That you tried to spend less then you can afford. At the end of the day, it's nice to know that you have a little in the bank in case of an emergency, and you didn't blow it all on one day. (I'm aware that this is not always possible. In my most broke days a marriage license would have felt like more then I could afford!) Yes! I'm a deal-hunter! This is sooo me. We're paying for the wedding and honeymoon in cash, and will still have a savings! Yes!
That you have a laid back wedding where you care more about having a wedding that reflects who you are then meeting some arbitrary criteria, whether they are set by a wedding magazine or a blog. Hey, us again! We're on a roll! Haven't I tried (though I've slipped at times) to focus on WHY we're getting married, not HOW?
But there is one thing that I care about most of all: I think how you spend your money is more important than how much you spend. When I look back at what we've spent our money on, the decisions I feel the best about are the ones where we put our money towards things we believe in. I don't feel best about the affordable wine we bought at Bevmo (though I think it was a smart choice), instead I feel the best about the wine that we bought on sale from Meeker - our favorite funky, low brow, small, local winery. When we bought Meeker wine, we helped support a business that we want to thrive in a difficult economic environment, and I feel great about that. I've tried to look at our wedding budget as money we are going to spend regardless, and tried to allocate it to people, businesses, and local artists that we want to thrive. Hmmm, if I stretch it, this one might be us, too. Though we're not having an all out eco-friendly, locally-grown wedding, we are doing our best to make conscious decisions about how and where we spend our money.

It's funny, because I was planning on posting something thoughtful today, anyway, that this showed up on my Google Reader. It's one of the few wedding blogs that doesn't just churn out pictures of over-priced (but gorgeous) weddings that focus on the invitations, the bridal dress, the venue, etc.

This weekend, I had a "Eureka" moment. Tom and I had a fairly laid back weekend, and the only "wedding" moment was when we tried on our wedding rings (which was a pretty spectacular moment, by the way!). The rest was all wedding-free, and it was so nice returning back to who we are as a couple, as opposed to Tom and Beth, the groom and bride. It's so very easy to get caught up in the plans, the budget, the etiquette rules, and the details, that we forget to relax and enjoy ourselves. :)

So, as March begins to come to a close and we head into "the crazy months," I plan on making a concerted effort to keep my head screwed on straight and my stress to a minimum. The "Will it matter in 10 minutes? 10 days? 10 years?" question will be one I ask myself more often.

Any maybe, just maybe, I'll remain practical until August.

Diamonds = Confusion.

2009-03-20T09:09:00.005-05:00

Remember my ring?

No?

Okay, here's a reminder:

Looks like it would be pretty easy to find a matching band, right?

Wrong.

My initial idea was to purchase 2 of these, and have one above and one below. Essentially, I could mix and match -- wear both bands and my e-ring, one band and my e-ring, just my e-ring, just a band, whatever. I could change the look to whatever I desired...
But, that idea crashed and burned. I got the rings sometime last week, tried them on, and promptly decided I hated the idea. Absolutely hated.

So, this weekend, Tom and I went shopping again. After trying on several rings with no luck, the saleslady grabbed this:

I loved it. Immediately.

The catch?

It only came in platinum. The cost was equivalent to a down payment on a car. I asked if it came in white gold, and was told no.

The next day, I loaded up their website, and to my chagrin, found the EXACT ring in white gold.

Whaddya know? Plus the cost was close enough to our budget.

I received the ring yesterday, and am on the fence. I like it, then I don't like it.

Is it too shiny? Do all the diamonds match? Are the diamonds too big? Does it dwarf my engagement ring? Is the band too tapered? Should I have my engagement ring tapered to match? Should I get it soldered so the diamonds match up all the time? Is this what I'm going to want thirty years from now?

For now, I'll hang onto it. I'll show it Tom, wear it around, then make my decision. Ultimately, I think I'll keep it, but you never know...

I'm Running Out of Topics...

2009-03-19T09:08:00.006-05:00

So while this really is a trivial detail, I thought I'd share anyway.

Below are photographs from our florist's wedding (actually photographed by our photographer, Kara!)

Kristen, our florist, did all the flowers for her own wedding. This is the card holder she'll be providing for our wedding (using the same flowers as my bouquet, of course!):

Hard to see? Sorry. It's a HUGE vase (I think almost 3 feet tall), with a floral rim on the top. It's pretty, it's secure, and it's pretty obvious in person what it is.

(All photographs from Kristen's portfolio)

PS - According to the USPS tracking, my ring should arrive today, Tom's tomorrow, and our ties on Monday. Hopefully I'll be able to do a BIG, GIANT recap on Monday or Tuesday complete with photographs of everything! :)

Making it Official, With Stone...

2009-03-18T08:11:00.002-05:00

I'm sorry I keep dwelling on the same subjects this week, but I'm just super excited that we are FINALLY making some headway in the planning. Besides the rings and ties (which I'm still patiently waiting on), I'm finalizing the ceremony site today.

While it's still a little early to be making our last payment, there's a reason for the madness.

This bad boy right here:

Part of the ceremony "package" with the park district is a free engraved brick to be placed in the garden where the ceremony takes place. Tom and I thought it would be more fun to have the brick there the day we were getting married, instead of after. So, we have to pay the money and choose our inscription this week to meet the deadline before August.

I am sooo excited about this brick! I've already decided that we're going to make a big, obvious sign with an arrow pointing towards it that says something like "Look Down" to point it out, and I want to get a picture of our rings with it. :)

A Musing on Gifts...

2009-03-17T10:13:00.003-05:00

One of the most cliche parts of planning a wedding, in my humble opinion, is the purchasing of the bridal party gifts.

This isn't to say that couples don't put thought into the gifts, but when buying a "blanket" gift for 6, 7, or 8 people, you tend to get generic. And one thing Thomas and I are not is generic.

So, we plan to go unique with our gifts. Instead of giving the boys all pilsner glasses or cuff links, Tom will actually be taking them all to a White Sox game. Most of them, including Tom, are Sox fans, and they all enjoy baseball, so it seems a good opportunity for some male bonding. Plus, since 3 of the groomsmen are underage, it's a lot easier logistically than going to a bar or other seedy joint.

For my sisters, who are all my bridesmaids, I haven't completely decided on what I'd like to do. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't post here since they all read this. I'm most likely not going to do the jewelry route, since I don't care if they all have matching jewelry. I like the idea of buying them all clutches, but it's a bit impractical considering two of them need mom purses. I really like the idea of buying them all different, separate gifts, so I might do that.

Then, we have the parents to consider. I don't even know where to begin on this one. How do you thank your parents for all their love, support and time with a $50 or $100 gift? While I know they would appreciate a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, I don't think it's completely fitting.

But, again, I have a few tricks up my sleeve, as always. Stay tuned. :)

Fabric Swatches - The Finale

2009-03-16T09:36:00.004-05:00

Remember when I professed my love for swatches?

Look what my swatches turned into!!

Yay! Our ties our finished! In less than a week, no less. They're being shipped from NY today or tomorrow, so I should have them soon! I should also have our wedding rings in this week, too! It's all so very exciting!!!!!

PS - Videos of Tom to come later...he hogged the computer all night last night so I couldn't upload them :(

I'm Officially Marrying an All-American!

2009-03-14T09:09:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! There will be no photos/videos, because as I alluded to yesterday, Tom was in charge of bringing the dock, which he forgot. :(

Gotta forgive the boy, though, because, well, he took 5th OVERALL in the weight throw!!

I'll probably post Sunday morning with the videos of his throws, plus all the pictures of him on the All-American podium receiving his award!

Today, at 3:30 EST, he'll be throwing the shot put. He's definitely more relaxed today than he was yesterday, so today should be another good one!

More later! :)

Shoes Make a Heart Happy

2009-03-12T08:39:00.002-05:00

I love shoes.

Even though you will find me wearing flip-flops on any given day, including winter, I still love (and collect!) shoes. What did I bring back from Germany? Wine, nutcrackers and shoes. Red peep toe stilettos, to be exact.

So it's of no surprise that I'm taking the task of finding my wedding shoes pretty seriously. Pretty seriously, indeed.

Every time I enter a store, I head to the shoe section and peruse the selection. Saturday's trip to the mall was no different. I was actually about to pass a store up when my mom convinced me to look inside.

I'd been searching for shoes like these, but in blue:

And what did I find? This exact shoe in the perfect blue! With an original price of $59.99, these shoes became destined for my wedding when I found out they were marked down to $19.99. Score!

I love love LOVE them! :)

Again, just one more example of how waiting can bring good things into your life. Had I purchased the $60 shoes and paid another $15 to dye them, I'd be out an extra $50, run the possibility of the dye bleeding if the grass was wet that morning, and not be completely satisfied anyway.

In other Tom news, I won't be posting tomorrow, since I'll be heading up to Terre Haute, IN for Nationals. As it stands, Tom is still ranked #7 nationally, in both events. If he finishes within the top 8 (out of 14), he'll be honored with the title of All-American! I'll be taking video and pictures, and hope to post his results in the evening. (He's in charge of packing the camera and the dock, so if I don't post, you'll know why...). This whole experience is still very surreal. He's been waiting for this moment for four years. I know he'll be splendid and turn out the performance of his life! :)

Be back tomorrow evening with updates!

I'm Not Sure What I Like More...

2009-03-11T08:38:00.002-05:00

(from A Practical Wedding)

I'm not sure what I like more --- the DIY flower tree, or the photograph itself.

Bargain Hunting Success!

2009-03-10T08:43:00.002-05:00

Being the super internet sleuth that I am, I was able to track down the ring that Tom wants, and save over 50% off the list price...

While most people are afraid of using the internet for expensive purchases, I do not shy away. It's a fantastic medium that allows for easy price comparing, provides extra information, and can offer some great deals.

The trick to buying jewelry on the internet is to research and know your product. Check out the product in-stores, get the prices, try it on for size, then head to the internet. Read reviews of the product, the stores, check out the Better Business Bureau, etc.

Before purchasing Tom's ring, we visited several stores. We first determined the style that Tom likes --- white gold, simple, no design or diamonds. Then, we sized his finger. (We promptly forgot it, so in the end, he had to print off a sizer and do it himself...). I searched for about 2 months, reading reviews of various vendors and websites, watching the Christmas sales, signing up for promo codes, etc. I'd send him links to different rings, and he'd reply with what he liked and didn't like about them.

In the end, he chose this ring:

It's the exact ring he tried on at a jeweler's, and even with their "20% wedding jewelry" sale, it was completely out of our budget. While we realize that rings are not something to skimp on, since we'll be wearing them the rest of our lives, we still did have a budget that we had to stick to. By searching out the ring online, I found a Chicago-based store that had an online shop. Then, I searched for the store on eBay, finding the ring to be $30 cheaper (and included free shipping) than was listed on their website. In the end, I saved more than 50% of what the jeweler quoted us. Before I purchased it, though, I read the terms and conditions, refund and exchange policies, and the warranty and appraisal information. Since all checked out, I went ahead with the transaction.

Tom opted for white gold, as it holds up better than most other metals against scratches, but can still be easily buffed. Because he uses his hands so much with weightlifting and throwing, we needed to be sure that the ring could be cut off at any point in case of an injury. We'd heard many conflicting reports about titanium, palladium and tungsten, so we just decided to be on the safe side and choose gold.

All in all, we're both pretty happy with our ring selections. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures once they're in! :)

Checkity-Check-Check!

2009-03-09T08:36:00.003-05:00

Continuing the theme from last week, I'm happy to report that things are going along swimmingly! Our first wedding shower is booked (yay! - Thanks Mom!) and our second is ironing out dates, as well. On Friday, I purchased my rings (yes, plural!). Once they arrive, and I'm sure I like them, I'll post pictures and more information. We also picked out Tom's ring, and need to verify his ring size and decide on engraving before we order it.

On Saturday, on a happenstance outing to the local mall with my mother, I found the exact pair of shoes I'd been in love with, since seeing them make the rounds on other blogs. I'm working on finding a picture. I'll probably just end up taking a lovely picture for you all...

Being the slacker that I am, I just actually signed the contracts for the florist and linen specialist, and will mail those this week. I also bought the ribbon for the wands, and am waiting for the dowel rods to go on sale before I pick them up.

Yesterday, while my nieces were over and my sister was in a black dress, we took the opportunity to try on our wedding wear. It was sooo exciting to see "the vision" together for the first time. It's just so crazy to think that the planning portion of this is over, and the actual "doing" portion is here.

As of today, we are officially 5 months away from the wedding! I have a feeling that the next few months are going to fly by! This month, I hope to start printing the invitations and other stationery (that's right, it's finally Gocco time!). April should give us a bit of a break. Tom and I will be moving mid-May, so the end of April/beginning of May should be a flurry of packing, cleaning, painting and unpacking, and then we go right into our first shower (which means I need to get cracking on designing and printing thank-you's, too). Our newest niece will be born in May, Tom has outdoor Nationals, finals and then a week-long trip to Colorado, and we'll have a variety of family functions and graduations to top it all off. June and July aren't much better, and then before you know it, the wedding will be here!

Phew!

Moving Right Along...

2009-03-06T08:24:00.004-06:00

I feel like we can safely say we're in the home stretch of planning now. Every aspect of planning is decision-making, not just gathering inspiration or narrowing down options.

This morning, I finalized the order for the custom ties (Tom chose to wear "apple" green, put all the boys in the "light turquoise" and give the fathers "apple" green, if you were wondering...). In the next week, I'll be finalizing the order for the favors (more to come on that later --- it's turning out to be awesome!) and hopefully beginning to work on some of the minor stationery elements (napkins, "guest book" cards, etc.). Yesterday, I finalized the wording for the response card.

I really wanted something fun, instead of the etiquette-appropriate "Accepts with Pleasure/Declines with Regret." So, this is what I found:

In case you can't read it, the options are "Wouldn't miss it for the world" or "Be there in spirit."

I can't wait to see how it turns out!!

The After-Party: Because One Party Just Isn't Enough...

2009-03-05T09:20:00.002-06:00

The plan all along has been to have an afternoon wedding, for the convenience of some out-of-state travelers we have. But an afternoon wedding seems fairly anti-climactic. I can picture it now:

Tom: Well, it's 4:30 in the afternoon, and we're married. What's next?
Me: Uhh, I don't know. Wanna go out to dinner?

Now I'm not talking a "Let's go to the club and dance until 3 am" after-party. After all, we will be leaving for Australia the next day!! Instead, I've always pictured us having a low-key, lounge-around, fun party.

After-party napkins! How fun are these?

So, my first thought was Lucky Strike bowling alley. Since LS is known for being a bowling lounge (think sectional couches, coffee tables and low-hanging lamps) instead of a regular bowling alley, I thought it would be perfect. Until I found out the price. Parties start at $40 a person. That quickly adds up, and really isn't an option.

So I have two choices. I can either try to reserve 2 lanes before the wedding (reservations are only accepted 2 weeks out) and we can provide a few beer buckets and trays of snacks, or we can try to brainstorm a different idea.

Another major plus: our photographer is willing to come to the party and take photographs. How much fun will those pictures be?!?!?

Do You Know What I Love?

2009-03-04T09:49:00.003-06:00

You know, besides Tom, that is...

Fabric swatches.

I'm not sure why. Could it be the promise of what will be made with those swatches? Maybe. Could it be the ability to coordinate these swatches with the rest of your design elements? Possibly. Could it be the ability to feel the different textures and see the way they look in different lights? Could be.

Who knows? I just love them. So when I received swatches in the mail on Saturday, I was a happy, happy girl. I immediately dug out my wedding boxes from underneath my bed and in the depths of my closet, comparing ribbons and invitations and flower girl dresses to these tiny swatches.

And what where these swatches for? The guys' ties! (Say that 5 times fast.)

(Etsy Seller Jesswitaj)

I put a bid out for these ties using the Alchemy feature of Etsy. You simply describe the object(s) you want, how many you want, and the price you are willing to pay. Sellers then input bids that you can accept or reject. Then you work with the seller to create your custom item.

I received over 20 bids in 24 hours, which was awesome! I had retired Home Ec teachers, stay at home moms, and aspiring fashion designers all offering to custom-make these ties.

In the end, I selected Jes. She falls into the aspiring fashion designer category. Her Etsy shop is filled with her printed ties, which are really fun. We're not having our ties printed, since it doesn't really match up with the feel of the wedding, but I've seen some of her work from weddings, and they look awesome!

So, back to the swatches: After showing them to my family, the consensus was to select the Light Aqua silk and the Kiwi silk. But since they're for the boys, the decision ultimately came down to what Tom liked. He chose Light Turquoise and Apple, which were the colors I like first. :)

Now we just have to decide who gets what color tie, and place the final order.

Oh, and before you get all judgey-judgey about ordering custom ties, I'd like to mention that these ties will cost us less than if we purchased them in a department store. Total price for 8 ties? $120, or $15 each. Plus, I get to keep the fabric swatches! ;)

Some DIY Details...

2009-03-03T08:52:00.003-06:00

So unfortunately, this is the best picture I have of our ceremony site. Once the weather warms up, I plan on taking a run over there with my florist, so I'll be able to report back with better pictures.

Until then, bear with me and use your imagination...

So the paver walkway extends past the staircase, and then splits around a small flower bed, then meets again. The path continues for a distance to the parking lot, I believe. The garden is actually tucked behind a building, so it is not visible from the parking lot.

As a dual-purpose project, I'm thinking of creating some path markers. I saw this featured on OnceWed:

Ribbon wands:

Pinwheels and ribbon wands:

Now picture these ribbon wands, with a bit thicker stem and thicker ribbons, spaced every two feet or so, lining the path to the tent. As a project that will cost less than $20, I think this is something that would make a big impact with little effort (similar to the sheer sashes being tied to the chairs!).

Ribbon is on sale at a few craft stores right now, so maybe I'll talk a gander at the selection, calculate it, and make a final decision tonight...

And the Results Are In...

2009-03-01T20:02:00.006-06:00

Before you watch the videos, please note that the order is screwed up. I know this, but since I don't have the files on this computer, Blogger isn't letting me switch the order. So, read the first part, watch the second video. Then, read the second part and watch the first video. Got it? Good!

Saturday was possibly one of the longest meets I have ever been to, and I've been to a lot of meets.

During the warm-up for the guys' weight throw, a guy broke a crossbar off of the throwing cage, and for safety reasons, we had to wait until they could fix it. So, for an hour and a half, we sat and waited. And waited. And waited some more.

In the meantime, Tom, who had been up all night with a fever and cough, was doing his best to rest and quell his queasiness. When he woke up that morning, the first thing he said to me was "I can't even lift my head off the pillow. How am I going to throw?"

Eventually they fixed the crossbar, and Tom mustered up the strength to do this:

Not only did this throw (coming in at 17.43 meters) place Tom in the lead, it also broke every existing conference record and secured him 7th place nationally. Yep, nationally. Like, all 50 states nationally. How cool is that?

Since he was in the lead by over 2 meters (almost 7 feet!), his coach had him sit out through finals so he could conserve his strength. The poor guy was so sick that he was running to the bathroom in between events and throwing up... :(

But, he somehow managed to do this:

This throw, in shot put, measured at 16.00 meters. Again, this was enough to place him in 1st, break all existing conferences records, and place him in 7th place nationally. Too funny, isn't it?

In weight throw, Tom and his teammates placed 1st, 2nd, and 4th. In shot put, they placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. At the end of the meet, in addition to receiving his medals, Tom was also named Men's Field Athlete of the Meet.

To me, it's unbelievable that despite how sick he was (and he was pretty dang sick, people), he was able to make this his best meet EVER. I guess it really shows you how important mind over matter is.

And it really shows the mettle that this kid's made out of.

I am bursting with pride, and just so happy he's made it to this point. I am extremely lucky (despite my complaints at times!) to be sharing this journey with him...

Oh, and I promise, back to wedding stuff the rest of this week. I have some exciting stuff! :)

A Tom-Filled Weekend! (And An Honest Story.)

2009-02-27T08:31:00.005-06:00

Last weekend I didn't get to see very much of Tom, which is why I am super excited for this weekend with him!

(My good-lookin' boy!)

Tonight we're going on a "we really don't like fighting the crowds and prices on Valentine's Day, so we're going to dinner two weeks later" date. We're going to Meson Sabika, hands down my favorite tapas restaurant, and a former venue choice for our wedding. I absolutely LOVE the food at this place, and Tom enjoys it, too, even though the portions are small. This is the place where I first discovered bacon-wrapped dates, which was probably one of the greatest days of my life! ;) I just cannot stress enough how delicious all of their food (and their sangria!) is. If you're in the Naperville, IL area, check it out!!

On Saturday, Tom is competing in the conference meet for indoor track. I believe he's ranked #1 in the weight throw and #2 in the shot...or maybe #1 in both? I lose track, sorry!

So, I'll be making the drive northward to Kenosha to cheer him on! This meet is definitely a long time in coming, and it should be amazing.

For those of you who don't know his background, 2 years ago, Tom dislocated his ankle at track practice. It was no regular dislocation, and I'll spare you all the gory details. I received a phone call at 8 am saying that he was in an ambulance on his way to the hospital, and that emergency surgery was imminent. It took me exactly 14 minutes to pack my stuff, load my car, and pick up a very brave friend before I could set out on the 3 hour drive to him. I arrived at the hospital just as he was coming out of recovery. His injury was so severe that for several days after, we still had no idea whether or not he would ever be able to play sports again. Tom was told to keep his weight off his ankle for two months. He was on bed rest for a week, which was a lifetime for him. He was diligent in doing therapy and exercises, and two months later, Tom was not only walking on his ankle, but running and throwing shot put again.

Watching Tom go from being a record-setting athlete to a hospital patient who couldn't stand up on his own was one of the hardest periods of our relationship. I wanted to help him, but didn't know how. He wanted help, but didn't know how much. It was a turning point in our relationship, too, though. The night of his surgery, I stayed with him at the hospital. It was that night that we decided that we both wanted more out of our relationship --- that we needed to be together, especially through the rough times.

You obviously all know how that part of our story turned out. And as for Tom, he continues physical therapy and a variety of other treatments on his ankle to this day. And after two years of recovery, Tom has begun reclaiming all the records he set that season, and has become a force to be reckoned with. He took the time to strengthen the parts of his body where he was weak, he optimized his technique, and learned to channel his emotions and control his mind. His future is bright; he has one more season in track, and the possibility of training professionally once he graduates.

Tomorrow marks a full circle for him---a day he has been training for for years. And I couldn't be prouder to sit and cheer him on!

Good luck Thomas!

The Best of Both Worlds...

2009-02-26T08:10:00.004-06:00

So I'm not sure why I've been so philosophical and thought-provoking lately. Sometimes I wonder if the "doom and gloom" of the economy really is hitting everyone, and every one's moods, more than people think.

For Tom and I, this has meant that we've really stopped to take inventory of our life, both current and future. Because of this, I've been trying to stay away from the wedding blogs and websites that only follow the "pretty" stuff, because we all know there is more to a wedding than that.

This morning, upon checking my Google Reader, I was greeted with the best of both worlds:

A gorgeous picture:

(via StyleMePretty)

I LOVE those blue shoes just peeking through...

And some sound advice from Rebecca, guest blogger @ A Practical Wedding:

"I knew, too, that I am the only person who can ruin my wedding -- by letting the small stuff get to me -- and as long as Thom and I were married at the end of the day, it was going to be the best day of my life (so far!). "

Good advice!

A Study in Favors

2009-02-25T08:31:00.003-06:00

I present to you all, exhibit A:

(Favor boxes by Brides; sold at Michael's)

I trust you remember when I confessed my weakness for these boxes. Now, with 200 of these beauties sitting in a box with my unused Gocco, I find myself still searching for "the ideal" filler.

I'm pretty nonchalant about the whole thing --- if we find something great; if not, we'll skip it.

So I present to you all, four options. Please leave your vote on the poll...

Yum. Homemade peanut butter cups. One of our favorite candies!!

Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches -- hands down, Tom's favorite.

Mmm....chocolate truffles. Simple, yet delicious.

How cute are these? No, you can't vote for these, because they're $3 a cookie.

Thoughts?

The Moral of the Story...

2009-02-24T12:37:00.002-06:00

When I first started planning the wedding, you would have thought I was competing in a race. I was running, no, sprinting, to plan every detail. Little did I know that planning is more like a marathon --- you need to take it slow, make deliberate choices, and let yourself feel the effects.

I have found, with the exception of the purchase of my wedding dress, that hasty decisions have left me unsatisfied or overspent. Take for instance the purchase of the flower girl dresses this weekend. One week of frustrated shopping, and I was ready to settle for something I didn't want. Then, by chance, I find the perfect choice where I least expected it, for 1/2 of what I wanted to pay. Ditto with the honeymoon. I was so desperate to choose something and have concrete plans, that I almost missed getting the deal of a lifetime on our top choice!

The same school of thought, then, should be applied to my shoes. Why waste $70 on a pair of shoes I will most likely wear once? All because I'm too anxious to wait for the summer shoes to arrive in stores?

When I think back to the original planning stages and compare that vision to the current one, I am absolutely amazed by how much has both changed and stayed the same. As all the pieces begin to fit together (venues, attire, decor), I find myself so unbelievably excited. I can absolutely picture the day in my head, from the moment I see all my nieces all dressed up and waving their wands to the first moment Thomas and I have alone. The more I picture these moments, the more I find the small details matter less and less.

So I guess all of our mothers have been right all along ---- patience really is a virtue.