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

Turning 26 and Getting Things Done

Well for me, a new year brings a new birthday. Last week I turned 26. Wow..where has the time gone? I feel like I was just in high school.  I was worried about going "over the hump" and getting closer to 30 but Dave did such an amazing job! 

My mom came down Wednesday (12th) so we could spend my birthday doing wedding stuff. (more on that later).  Dave fixed dinner that night and told me he wanted to give me his gift.  My mom gave me a card from my grandparents then i had to go in search for Dave's card. I finally found it and inside it said I had to be somewhere that Friday morning. There was a little hint.. I was spending the day at the spa!  He'd booked me a full day spa treatment!!

Thursday, mom and I ran errands and that night Dave said he'd made dinner reservations at this new place for us. I asked if anyone was going and he said it would just be the three of us.  We walked in the restaurant, I told the hostess Non-smoking for 3... she said okay.  Dave then walked around me where I was standing in a hallway door frame and pulled me backwards and spun me around into a private room where a bunch of my friends were waiting! I've never had a surprise party and boy was I surprised! I had no idea.  He's such an amazing fiance to pull this off!  Then on Friday, we had people over to the apartment for a party and played Kinect and other games.  It was a great day!!




Back to wedding stuff..... When mom came into town we got a lot of things done. We started the day at Michaels getting some of the things we needed.  We then dropped my dress off at David's for alterations... Well not really alterations but getting my bustle done. My dress fits perfectly and I don't need any alterations.  So it's just the bustle and fixing the beading.  We then went by the store to order koozies for favors.  We told the graphic designer what Dave and I wanted.  Now I'm just waiting for the design.   We then headed downtown and got my Solemate covers which are supposed to help my heals from digging in the ground.

So we are getting there... 122 Days to go!!


Need to Do:

·            Meet with Carol for catering <--- Set For Jan. 27th

·            Update flower list with Sandra<-- Meeting Jan. 27th

·             Download wedding ceremony music

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

·              Measurements for Guy Tuxs <-- Info has been sent to them

        Make Appointment for Alterations

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

·              Bridesmaid Order Dresses <-- 3 have ordered and received

·              Pictures for memory table

·              Must take picture list

·              Go to post office to weigh invitation

·              Schedule hair trial

·              Figure out who’s doing my makeup

·              Apply For Marriage License

   Need to Make:

·              Card Box <-- started buying pieces

·              Programs

·              “Day Of” wear

·              Sand Ceremony Frame <-- bought frame

·              Emergency Kit

        Envelope Liners  <-- about half way done

      

   Need to Buy/Order:

·              Clear Labels for Return Address

·              Frames For Flip Flop & Map Sign

·              US Travel Map

·              Stick Pins

·              Postage for invitations

·              Pick out other gifts for Bridal Party

·              Sand/ Glasses (sand ceremony)

·              Dave’s wedding band

·              Garter

·              Business card holders for sharing cards

·              Sparklers, Ribbons & Container

·              Pen for guest book

·              Koozies

·              Parasols

·              Beverage Napkins

·              Flutes & serving set

·              Solemates – heel covers

E-Session

Yay for pictures! I love taking pictures, being in pictures... I love it all.

This past weekend Dave and I had our engagement pictures done by Judy Kay & Wayne Bryan. (www.photosbyjkay.com) Loved it!

We had so much fun. We met the two of them Downtown near the Market Sunday afternoon and within moments, JK had already spotted out a place to start.

We started at the US Custom House on East Bay... in the garden area and upstairs.. it's such a pretty building. Afterward, we headed to Waterfront Park and took lots of pictures there around the fountains, down the pier, and along the cobblestone streets.

After Downtown, we headed up near the Visitors Center where we found some churches and had a lot of fun there. Mom was tagging along and brought Daisy. She got to be in some of the pictures there.

Just as we were finishing up there, the sun was starting to go down so we headed out to Sullivan's Island and Fort Moultrie. Boy was the Fort a bad
idea!!

I have never seen so many bugs and sand gnats in my life! We were covered in them. Between the bugs and hundreds and dead jellyfish washed up on beach, we maybe stayed there 15 minutes before heading down the beach to another area to finish up the shoot.
Overall the day we so amazing and we had such a great time. Judy Kay & Wayne are so artistic and are so great at what they do. JK hopes to have some teaser pictures ready within a week, so I'll be sure to post them. Until then, check out her site and she how amazing the Bryan duo is!