plan our wedding

All the “planning” is done. We had our rehearsal today. Now all we have to do is pull it off. I am nervous. Not about marrying Erik, but about speaking in front of people. I’ll just block them out and talk only to him. He just left for the night, and I won’t see him again until I’m walking down the aisle. It’s a little surreal.

All the dresses are finished. Huge burden gone.

I met with the DJ today. Seems like a really nice guy, and very competent.

But I am so sick of bridesmaid drama.

3 dresses DONE. Completely. On hangers and ready to go. I just have to do neck facings on the other 3 and they too will be finished. Now that I’ve finally figured out which fabric/interfacing combo works, these 3 should go faster.

Counting down…

We went to the courthouse and got our license today! It’s really getting close. I spent the whole morning in the salon getting my final hair color, and a style and makeup test. I am really happy with the results. My bridesmaids’ dresses are in the hemming stage (i.e. almost done), and Erik is printing the programs tonight and tomorrow. We’re stringing lights and moving house on Sunday, and then the countdown really begins…

Monday I was in total meltdown when I went over to the wedding site to meet with the caterer and found that the owners, without informing us, had dug a trench for a pipeline and ripped up half the driveway. There were backhoes everywhere, and piles of dirt, treadmarks, and trash. I was devastated. We quickly decided that there was no way that the wedding could take place there as planned. We went home in great distress to talk to my parents about what could be done. After brainstorming (and crying) for an hour, my mom suggested the home of my dad’s former employer. Every year he and his wife throw a huge party for their company (250-300 people), so we knew the place would accommodate our large tent and mere 85 guests. We gave them a call, and they were so kind, generous and gracious. They said it would be no trouble at all, and to come right over and take a look at the place. When I got there, I was blown away. It is PERFECT. It has a cement patio, a deck, a pool (where hopefully we can float our candles), a big yard, and a garage and parking pad that will be just right to house the catering truck and setup. But even more magical was that as I was scanning the site to decide where the ceremony should take place, my eye fell upon a stand of trees, or maybe it’s really one huge tree, very tall, in a semi-circle, with overhanging branches that looked like a cathedral of nature. It took my breath away. I can’t wait to be married under those trees, with the paper lanterns hanging from the branches, casting a glow over us. It is ten times more beautiful than our original site, for all the family history it held. (And will require much less cleanup, which our wedding party will be grateful for!). Sometimes life is like that. You lose something, but you HAD to, in order to get something even better. It’s happened over and over to us. Everything happens for a reason.

To say things are getting stressful would be the understatement of the year. But I have decided to be c a l m. People are being very helpful, particularly my future sister-in-law, who has taken many of the organizational aspects onto herself. So…

-Rehearsal dinner restaurant is booked (hibachi and sushi – YUM!)

-Dress is back from the tailor, and looks stunning.

-Bridesmaids’ dresses are…getting there. My sewing machine chose last night to get fucked up, so I am borrowing a friend’s. It set me back a day, but I’ll be fine.

-Bridesmaids’ arrangements are nearly done. I’ve been sewing on ribbons all evening.

-Schedules for rehearsal day and wedding day have been decided, including where everyone is getting dressed, etc.

-My vows are progressing towards a finished form.

-Programs are designed, and just need to be formatted and printed.

-Favors are made.

We are buying alcohol and other beverages this week (we’re thinking of getting a keg from our favorite brewhouse, too :) ), and I’m ordering the flowers for the tables in the next few days. I also bought a cake “knife” that I think is awesome, and will be a surprise for Erik. I think he’ll love it.

It’s all coming together, albeit slowly.

I keep reminding myself that it’s all trimmings. The real celebration is that I get to marry my best friend in a little over two weeks, and be with him forever. I love him so much.

I started sewing dresses today! It only took me about an hour to assemble one bodice and sleeves, and that’s the “hard” part of the construction (other than the zipper), so hopefully I can get them all done in about a week, week-and-a-half.

Our rings are ready. :) I pick up my wedding gown on Thursday. I got the finalized invoice from the caterer. Dance floor is rented, tent is reserved. Erik and his crew are getting fitted for tuxes next week (Erik wanted to wait and see how much weight he lost – he’s dropped probably 20 lbs since his surgery).

I got a guest book and a “feather” pen, my mom made me a box for cards. I’m going to work on designing the programs this week so we can get them printed and made up as well.

Things are really getting there. I can’t wait. It’s going to be beautiful.

1 month from today! Oh my god!

I now have a wedding-day coordinator, in the person of a coworker of mine who wants to become a wedding planner. She is a very competent, cool-under-pressure, sweet person; just the sort of person I would trust with the million little things that I won’t be able to do myself. It is a great weight off my mind.

The wedding site is being measured for the tent on Wednesday, and I’m ordering the dance floor tomorrow. Things are coming along nicely. The only really PRESSING thing I have to finish are the bridesmaids’ gowns and their flower arrangements.

32 days and counting…

I got my wedding dress fitted today! It will be ready in two weeks, and it cost less to do than I’d budgeted for. Yay! It was so surreal to see myself reflected in the full-length mirror, with the dress pinned tight so it looked the way it’s “supposed” to. I looked like a bride. And I’m starting to feel like one, too. :)

I’m halfway done cutting out bridesmaids’ dresses (I finally got everyone’s measurements so I could start), and the glue is drying on my favors as I write. We also hired a DJ today, which will make our lives easier. Just about all the invitations have gone out, and the rest will go this weekend. Responses are showing up daily. Making progress, making progress.

Surprise bridal shower today! I never saw it coming. My friends (and fiance) are sneaky when they need to be. They all really did it up for me. I have such great people. (Got lots of cool stuff, too.) :)