Party's Over, Just 30 Days To Go!

Whoa...where has all the time gone? I'm getting married in 30 days! 30 days! Holy crap!! I'm so excited that it's almost here. Let me get through next weekend and I'll be even more excited with it being May...and the honeymoon just being around the corner.

Well last weekend was my final bridal shower/bachelorette party. What started out as a really rough week full of bad news turned so much better thanks to my awesome family and bridesmaids, Melissa & Tracy and my Maid of Honor, Christie.  We rented out the clubhouse here at the apartment for the afternoon and had a great time with lots of laughs.
Here are just a few pictures:

I got our martini glass set from Crystal

Melissa, Christie & Tracy

Opening More Gifts

We had a great time and I can't thank these ladies enough for putting together an awesome party with so many last minute changes.

Last week I also had my bridal portraits take with Mrs. Judy Kay in downtown Charleston. We stayed within a 5 block radius and took so many pictures is so many different areas. I got some teasers from her last night and I cannot wait to see more.  She is fabulous and for anyone looking for a photographer in the state of South Carolina, I highly recommend her and her husband!

Things to Book:
Ceremony Site
Reception Site
Wedding Photographer
DJ
Videographer
Officiant
Baker
Makeup Artist
Hairstylist
Pre-Wedding Night Hotel Room
Honeymoon
Honeymoon Transportation

Things To Do:
 Pay Off Vendors
Meet with Officer's Club For Catering
Download Ceremony Music
Meet with Officiant to Design Ceremony
Guys Get Measured
Have Beads On Dressed Fixed/First Fitting
Second Dress Fitting
Bridesmaid Order Dresses
Make "Must-Take Picture" Lists
Send Envelopes To Be Addressed
Have Invitation Weighed
Stuff & Stamp Invitations
Schedule Bridal Portraits
Make Hair & Makeup Appointments For Bridals
Apply For Marriage License
Water Bottle Labels
Pick Out Picture For Sand Ceremony

Have Bridal Portraits Done

Send Photographer Pics For Guest Book
Register for Gifts
Plan Rehearsal Dinner <-- Dave's Mom taking care of

Write Thank You Notes for Shower

Change of Name Paperwork
Give Final Headcount to Venue 
Confirm Final Payment Amounts with Vendors
Confirm Location/Date/Time with Photographer
Confirm Location/Date/Time with Videographer
Confirm Location/Date/Time/Playlist with DJ

Things to Send
Save the Dates
Invitations
Thank Yous for Shower
Thank Yous for Wedding

Things to Order/Buy:
My dress
Shoes 
My Jewelry
Garter  
Day Of Wear
Wedding Rings 
Rehearsal Dinner Dress
Invitation Postage
Wedding Day Gift for Dave
Clear Labels For Invites
Water Bottle Labels
Koozie Favors
Flute & Serving Set
Bridal Party Gifts
Sand/Sand Ceremony Frame
Sparklers/Ribbon/Lighters
Pen For Guest Book
Parasols

Things to Make
Cardbox 
Envelope Liners
Rhinestone cake Topper
Tears Of Joy Packets
"I Spy" Game
Info sheet with contact numbers
Wedding Day Timeline
Wedding Day emergency bag
Monogram
Programs


Week-of-Wedding To-Dos
Rehearse Ceremony
Pack Bags for Wedding/Honeymoon
Put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes
Wrap bridal party gifts
Drop off Materials at reception site
Prepare toasts/thanks to guests
Give wedding day schedule, directions and contact list to parents, wedding party and vendors

Getting Things Done!

Well today is a big milestone in our countdown to Mr. & Mrs. 100 days from now will be the big party and celebration, starting our new lives together! I'm so excited and can't wait.  It seems like only yesterday we were on the cruise ship and he proposed! Where has all the time gone??!!

We'll we've been getting things done... small things but hey they count. Things are starting to come in the mail, so once they arrive, I try to get the project knocked out of the way.  One of the first things done is our awesome custom water bottle labels.  We'll be having buckets out full of water for our guests since the wedding is outside and in Columbia, May can be warm sometimes. So we came up with two designs using our wedding colors and awesome e-pics... I did a case of water myself but then my mom and MOH wanted to help out as well so I shipped them each labels to take care of. So I can check that off my list.
I then needed a new projects (I know, I really don't need more to do) but I'd been chatting with some of the other May 2011 Brides on The Knot and a lot of them were doing "Tears of Joy" packets.. They are little envelopes with some tissue for anyone who thinks they may cry..and knowing my friends and family, there will be tears. I already had everything I needed here to make them, so why not.  I had lots of extra envelopes from the RSVP cards since we turned them into postcards, I had some extra ribbon and labels, and Dave has been sick and we bought two boxes of tissue so why not.  I made 60 of them. I didn't think everyone would need them. I've included a picture of my inspiration.












And finally yesterday I tackled my favorite project -- My cake topper. I finally got my rhinestones. I order them off etsy.com and had no idea the rhinestones were coming from Hong Kong so I was waiting for about 3 weeks for delivery. I'm not gonna post my final picture..but I show you one I took soon after I started. I'm so excited for it!

It's all coming along and I can't wait.  We also had some more people book the cruise... right now, there are about 25 people or so going.  That includes my parents, grandparents, Dave's Mom & Kelly, Ryan & Allison (Dave's cousin and girlfriend), Groomsmen Anthony, Kentrell & Jeff along with each of their ladies, The Knudsen family and a few others! I'm so excited!


Some other news -- I have two bridal showers coming in.  The ladies at the church I grew up in is having one for me in mid-March and my MOH & two other bridesmaids that live in the Charleston-area want to throw me a shower. Date has not been set.. And then Suzanne and I talked this week and decided on a date for my BACHELORETTE PARTY! I can't wait!

Need to Do:

·            Meet with Carol for catering 

·            Update flower list with Sandra

·             Download wedding ceremony music  <-- started

·             Meet with DJ – list of “to play” and “not to play” songs

·              Measurements for Guy Tuxs <--Still waiting for info to be sent, Dave called the guy yesterday

        Make Appointment for Alterations

        Have beads fixed on dress <-- dress is dropped off

·              Bridesmaid Order Dresses <-- 5 have ordered and 4 have received

·              Must take picture list

        Send Envelopes to Susanne to be addressed

·              Go to post office to weigh invitation

·              Schedule hair trial

·              Figure out who’s doing my makeup <-- My good friend Brittany has agreed to this, along with doing hair

·              Apply For Marriage License

       Send photographer disc of pics for guest book 

       Water Bottle Labels

   Need to Make:

·              Card Box <-- just need to buy lazy susan and put together

        Rhinestone Cake Topper

        Tears Of Joy Packets 

·              Programs

·              “Day Of” wear  <--ended up just buying

·              Emergency Kit

      Envelope Liners  <--cut out, now need to put in addressed envelopes

      

   Need to Buy/Order:

·            Clear Labels for Return Address

·              Postage for invitations

·              Pick out other gifts for Bridal Party

·              Sand/ Sand Ceremony Frame set

·              Dave’s wedding band

·              Garter

·              Sparklers, Ribbons & Container

·              Pen for guest book

·              Koozies <--ordered, should be arriving soon

·              Parasols 

·              Flutes & serving set <-- mom is taking care of

·              Solemates – heel covers

It's Becoming A Reality

     It's all starting to finally become real now that I've had my first bridal shower.
     Last weekend, my best friend and matron of honor Suzanne hosted an "Around The Clock Shower" for me at her mom's house.  It was amazing and turned out so well.  Each person was assigned a certain time to buy a gift for and we got a wide variety of things. From bathroom towels to wine glasses and to a chip-n-dip serving set, everything was great.   Each guest was also asked to bring a Christmas ornament for our tree. We got some really cool ones... From a monogram "T" to Santa Cupcakes as well as an engagement ring ornament. Suzanne's ornament was really cool.

     She ordered one from personalizationmall.com and had one of our engagement pictures put on it.  It's so cool! Once I get more pictures, I will be sure to upload them... To all those who attended, thank you so much! I'm so glad each of you were able to attend and be a part of the day!

     As for planning, things are coming along. We hit the 5 month countdown tomorrow! AHHH!!! My how time is going by so quickly.  Wedding invitations are ordered and have been delivered.  Dave's mom will be down this weekend for Christmas and she will be addressing them for us, so that is almost completely done.  After all the stress I dealt with to find invitations I really loved and was happy with, I'm so glad it's over!  I'm also adding a little personal touch to the invitations as well so that's another DIY project I've started and will finish once all the envelopes are addresses.

     The programs have also been finalized. I tweaked my design I previously posted on here.. (PAPER AND PROGRAMS) I'm really happy with the new layout and look forward to working on those. So now I will have to get those printed to start putting them together.

     My first bridesmaid has ordered her dress and it's already in! Snaps to Amanda!! YAY! I'm so happy.  Things are finally coming together... One down.... six to go!

     On a side note, Happy Anniversary to Dave and I! Tomorrow celebrates two years together...it's flown by yet it seems like it's been forever! Here's to many more years together!


Until Next Time...

Moving On Up....

The last few days of our lives have been crazy! We have packed up and left our apartment in West Ashley after hundreds of problems and am now living in a beautiful place in Summerville.... moving up the interstate, a little closer to my family by about 25 minutes! It's been a transition getting used to light switches, having more space, and climbing three flights of stairs as our apartment is on the third floor. 

It's a fairly new complex...only two years old and a place we plan to call home until we buy a house.  I can't thank our friends enough for helping us with the move... I know once they found out it was the third floor, they wanted to run and hide. So a big thanks to Geoff and Vicki, Gino & Elisha, Mandy, Kentrell, Andy, my grandparents and my mom... without yall, Dave and I would still be trying to move in.

Anyways.... enough on the side note...back to the wedding.  I found a place to print our invitations finally. It's a printing company in West Ashley that did the invitations for our friends, Joe & Krystle Yozzo.  The company has a graphic artist on hand and was able to recreate the invite I made and we are in the final stages of picking out a font we are happy with.  I can't wait for the final product.

This coming weekend we are hoping to get the wedding cake planning done. I think I've found two bakeries I want to check out while we head to Columbia to see Darius Rucker in concert on Sunday.  So that's on the to-do list. We are also planning out our ceremony this weekend.  My friend Mary Louise will be marrying us.  She's such an amazing woman and has a special place in my heart.  Not only did I get the chance to work with her on the Crimestoppers board when I was in Columbia working at WLTX but she is also dating my favorite professor from college who has helped me so much.

One other thing I'm pretty excited about right now wedding-related is my first bridal shower. My matron of honor, Suzanne, is hosting it December 11th in Columbia for all my friends/family there. I can't wait to see all my WLTX girls as well as some of my sorority sisters!  Here's what the front of the invitation looks like.

I'm so excited and really looking forward to it. Now I just need  update our registries since Dave and I have been living together for almost a year and have gotten a bunch of things.

Until next time...