Less than a week to go!

I can't believe it.  We've got less than a week to go.  The wedding is THIS Saturday!  Ahhh!  We will be flying to Pennsylvania on Thursday.  It just doesn't seem real.  By this time next week, Philip and I will have landed in Rome!  Oh, how I'm looking forward to that! 

I'm kind of in shock that it's so close.  Today, after doing invoicing for work (yes, I've been bringing work home all week -- I'm hoping to actually be caught up by the time we leave!), I downloaded a bunch of music and ordered some last minute items.  What did I order?  

Well, since you asked!  I ordered this lovely to sit atop our cake:

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At $29.67, it's much more than I had intended to spend on a cake topper.  However, I'd been searching for months and months for something that I would fall in love with.  I wasn't able to come up with anything until last week.  This little guy caught my attention and I knew it would be perfect.  

Next up, I finally ordered the server set for us to cut our cake with:

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At $39.95, this is definitely more than I thought I'd spend on a server set; especially one without engraving.  However, I searched and searched for a good set and didn't find anything I liked.  The ones I liked the look of were light or hollow and I wanted something solid and usable beyond the wedding.  The ones that were solid were just not very pretty.  I ended up with these because I know Oneida makes a great product.  And, I thought if I was going to use the serving set in the future, the engraving would wear off anyway.

I also bought a veil.  I actually bought one back in July off ebay but it didn't work out.  The lady attempted to scam me but I was able to see it before it went too far and cancel the order.  I got my money back but it left a bad taste in my mouth.  So, it took a while for me to reorder.  I ended up with this one: 

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It's just a plain, fingertip length, double layer veil.  I think it's probably going to end up being too white but we'll fix that with some tea dying if need be.  We shall see.  At $14.99, I can't complain too much!

I also bought my garter set.  I wanted a keepsake garter as well as a toss garter so I just bought them in a set.  

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They're nothing spectacular but they will certainly work for me.  They're just plain, cream, satin garters.  I was hoping to figure out a Yankees garter, but I just couldn't get myself to spend that much money on something that I didn't really like that much.  I'm still hoping that I can find a Yankees charm of some sort to attach to these.  That would make me very happy!

I also bought some gifts for parents and host/esses and grandparents.  I am not going to share them here though because I know that those are the people who most often read this blog!  You'll just have to wait, ladies!  :)

I think that's about it for now.  It's going to be a busy few days.  Wish us luck!  :)

ONE!

I'm a little behind.  Yesterday was actually the one month mark, but I wasn't feeling up to blogging.  I haven't had a whole lot of motivation this week for wedding related stuff.  I'm starting to feel better though, so it's time to knock out the last of the stuff I need to do for the wedding.  

I didn't get nearly as much stuff done this month as I had hoped.  A lot came up and then I just really wasn't feeling working on wedding stuff.  I'm so glad that I planned ahead on a lot of this stuff so that I don't have to freak out right now.  

Here's what I want to get done this month:

• Order programs
• Order and send Indiana Reception postcards
• Reserve wedding night hotel (yeah, I know)
• Get BM shoes ordered (still waiting on my BM to decide!)
• Buy garters
• DIY flower hangers
• Buy mason jars for centerpieces
• Finish burlap table runners
• Finish Guest Book
• Finish burlap bunting
• Order flowers
• Order "chalkboard" seating chart
• Stock the bar
• Confirmation emails with all vendors
• Complete the favors
• Pack for the honeymoon
• Transport everything to Mom's house
• Send out the wedding packet to the VIPs
• Confirm RD details

That's all I can think of right now.  I'm chopping some stuff off of my original to do list.  I'm running out of time and motivation and some stuff just has to go.  It's not as important as I originally thought it would be.  Wish me luck!

Progress

Well, peeps.  It's here.  Two months until the wedding.  Actually, two months yesterday.  It's time to commence the super freak out.  AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I can't believe it.  There are only 61 days left until our wedding day.  It really makes me dizzy and nauseous to think about.  The good news is that I managed to get most of the stuff done on my to do list for this month.  

• Ask people to be readers at the ceremony
• Belly bands for the invitations
• Buy address stamps 
• Buy stamps for invitations & R.S.V.P.s
• Buy tour package for honeymoon
• Complete ceremony playlist
• Complete cocktail hour playlist
• Complete dinner playlist
• Complete the popcorn part of the favors (Changed to vanilla)
• Complete wedding packet (with schedule)
• DIY "reserved" signs for ceremony
• DIY flower girl basket
• DIY Photo Scavenger Hunt
• DIY Ring bearer box
• DIY signs for bride and groom chairs
• DIY thank you parasol
• DIY wooden signs
• Figure out wish jar
• Finish DIY guest book
• Mail out invitations by July 30 (might run into next month's to do list)
• Order dinnerware
• Order envelopes for invitations & programs
• Order headband/tiara
• Order jewelry
• Purchase or DIY veil
• Put together VIP ladies' bags
• R.S.V.P.s for the invitations
• Reserve wedding night hotel room
• Stuff envelopes and put on wax seals

I should be able to cross a few more items off my list tonight and tomorrow.  That's because the invitations will be DONE!  I should be sending them tomorrow.  Finally.  I can't wait for these things to be out of my house.  I'm sick of them!  

I planned to buy the dinnerware last Friday, but that didn't happen.  Other expenses popped up.  I'm not hugely worried about that though.  Still plenty of time.  

I don't think the hotel room is ever going to happen.  Same for the guest book.  I just haven't come up with any more inspiration for it.  I think I'm going a different direction than I thought with the flower girl basket.  So, I mostly finished the original basket but now I might be trashing it in favor of something new.  We shall see.  

That's all I've got for now.  I'm having a crappy day and I'm not looking forward to finishing up these invitations tonight.  But, I just need to keep telling myself, only one or two more days of these things and then they will be out of my life FOREVER!  And then I can focus on some of the other projects that I've got in the works!  My new to do list should be up later today or tomorrow.  And then I'll have a panic attack!  Yay!  :)

THREE!

The fact that there are only three months to go until the wedding makes my stomach jump up into my throat.  I feel a little dizzy/nauseous about it.  There is still a bunch to get done.  At least I had a productive month.  I've got another to do list for this month as well.  

I will finish the following items by July 24th:

• Ask people to be readers at the ceremony
• Belly bands for the invitations
• Buy address stamps 
• Buy stamps for invitations & R.S.V.P.s
• Buy tour package for honeymoon
• Complete ceremony playlist
• Complete cocktail hour playlist
• Complete dinner playlist
• Complete the popcorn part of the favors
• Complete wedding packet (with schedule)
• DIY "reserved" signs for ceremony
• DIY flower girl basket
• DIY Photo Scavenger Hunt
• DIY Ring bearer box
• DIY signs for bride and groom chairs
• DIY thank you parasol
• DIY wooden signs
• Figure out wish jar (?)
• Finish DIY guest book
• Mail out invitations by July 30 (might run into next month's to do list)
• Order dinnerware
• Order envelopes for invitations & programs
• Order headband/tiara
• Order jewelry
• Purchase or DIY veil
• Put together VIP ladies' bags
• R.S.V.P.s for the invitations
• Reserve wedding night hotel room
• Stuff envelopes and put on wax seals

It's pretty overwhelming.  I keep telling myself that if I get all of this done in the months prior, I won't have to stress so much in the month before the wedding.  It's just going to be a little extra stressful this month and next month.  ;)

This weekend, I am just going to relax.  I had to run myself ragged to get almost everything done for this past month's to do list.  You wouldn't believe how much time goes into making those damn pocketfold invitations!  It's not difficult but it takes forever!  

I think that most of the items on this month's list should be fairly simple.  Again, probably more time consuming than complicated.  But, I'm ready!

How did this happen?!?!

We are now at 99 days to go.  We are officially in only double digits.  DOUBLE DIGITS I TELL YOU!!  It makes me a little queasy to think about it.  When we started, we had 406 days before the wedding.  It seems like that was just last month!  Ahhhh!
 
I know that everything is coming along really well.  However, I've started having mini-freakouts about "what if I've forgotten something??"  Or "what if it doesn't turn out how I want it to??" Or "what if I run out of time??"

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I know that everything will be perfect, but that doesn't seem to make any difference when it comes to the butterflies in my stomach.  They still aren't sure of what I'm trying to make myself believe!  

I've started working on my to-do list for July/August and August/September.  It's overwhelming to think of how much I still have left to do.  At least most of it is pretty simple stuff.  I can do this!  I can do this!  I can do this!  

Okay.  End panic!  :)

I think I might have a panic attack...

Why?  Because we are officially at 100 days.  ONE HUNDRED!  Tomorrow, we will be in double digits!  How is that even remotely possible? Gah!  

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I know that I've been getting a lot done, but I still have so much to do!  I know that if I stick to my lists, I will be fine.  I just have to get things done when I've said I'd have them done by.  It will be A-okay.  Deep, cleansing breaths... deep, cleansing breaths!  

Tonight will be spent working on the invitations.  I've said I'd have them done by June 24th (well, minus the R.S.V.P. part), and I intend on making sure of that!   

FOUR!

I cannot believe that there are only FOUR months to go.  Where has the time gone?  There is still SO much to do!  And only 123 days to finish it all in!  

I won't lie.  In the past month, I began to feel a bit overwhelmed.  I started making lists of everything that I still had to do and still had to buy.  And, it's a ton.  How can I have gotten so much done and still have so much left to do?!?  It's just nuts.

But, I'm feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle all of it.  I will get it all done and it will be AMAZING!  

Now, for my "to do" list for the next month.  I will complete the following by June 24th:

• Finalize the centerpieces
• Decide between paper lanterns and String Balls (to be blogged later)
• Get my dress alterations started (another blog)
• Decide on the favors and get them started
• DIY "tears of joy"
• Finish DIY guest book
• Book all hotel rooms for the honeymoon
• Book hotel room for wedding night
• Redo the "dye disaster"
• Order Philip's wedding band
• Order photos and finish the photo memory book
• Order ceremony sand
• Order wedding party gifts
• DIY table numbers
• Finish updating the wedding website
• Find and order ties for the groomsmen
• Decide on a program design
• Finish DIY personalized Hangers
• Finish the pocketfold invitations

It's a lot, I know.  But, I have to keep up this pace if I want to get everything done and not be spazzing out in the weeks before the wedding!  The biggest one is going to be the invitations.  I've been putting them off for a while.  I pretty much have all the components done, but I have to put everything together.  I also have to figure out what I'm doing for the belly bands.  I have seen way too many ideas for it and I don't know what I want.  Once I get all of the invitations put together, I should have a better idea of where I want to go with it though.

The other items on the list shouldn't take more than a night of work each (if that).  So, I just need to get myself on the ball and get them all knocked out.  It's a bit daunting, but I will feel so much better if I can finish all of the items on the list this month.  Then I'll have another big "to do" list next month.  But, that will mean that the "to do" list for two months before should be pretty small.  And then the final month (yikes!) should have a tiny "to do" list.  And then I won't have to worry about a bazillion last minute items!  And I can be a relaxed bride.  :)

FIVE!

I really cannot believe how the time has flown by.  We now have only FIVE months left to go.  That's only 153 days!  How is that possible?  

Philip and I got engaged on August 14th.  At that point, there were 406 days until the wedding date.  Where has the time gone?!?

I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed.  I mean, if the past 253 days have gone by this quickly, I can only imagine how fast the next 153 days are going to go by!  

The good news is that we've managed to get so much done so far.  Decisions have been made and a ton of projects are finished.  The invitations are not put together, but the inserts are all designed (and some of them printed).  I have the programs designed (a blog post coming soon!).  We've got all of our major vendors.  We know what the bouquets are going to look like.

We have our honeymoon plans started.  We've begun learning Italian.  We have our flights (for the wedding and honeymoon).  We have our ceremony and reception sites.  We have our tent rented (along with all of our tables and chairs).  We are thisclose to deciding on a centerpiece design.  

Everything is coming together very nicely.  But, we still have a ton to do.  Just a few examples:

• Printing, compiling, mailing invitations
• Printing, compiling programs
• Ordering bridesmaid dresses (waiting for the measurements of 1 BM)
• Finding/Buying ties for the GMs
• Ordering GM/BM gifts
• Deciding centerpiece design
• Ordering centerpiece components
• Ordering flowers for bouquets/decor
• Ceremony aisle decor
• OOT bags
• Finishing photo album
• Finishing weekend timeline
• Finishing wedding packet (informational)
• DIY Tears of Joy
• DIY Thank You parasol
• Favors (soo close to a decision)
• Deciding/Buying wedding bands (his & hers)

Ugh.  The list seems like it grows everyday.  That list isn't complete and it is already overwhelming.  But, I know that we still have plenty of time.  I just need to pace myself and keep on keepin' on.  ;)  At least these projects are fun! 

SIX!

Six months to go until our wedding day!  Holy cow!  Where does the time go??

I have a few more projects in the works.  I did a Dollar Tree run on Tuesday night after work.  I found some cool things and came up with some new project ideas.  I'll be blogging about them a little later.  :)  

I'm most excited about a basket I found at Dollar Tree.  It's so adorable.  I'm going to make a few changes and turn it into the flower girl basket (photos later!).  

We are thisclose to ordering the bridesmaid dresses.  As I said before, it's down to 2 dresses.  Once the decision is made, then we'll just have to get the measurements of the girls and put in the order.  I just wish the decision would get made!  

We got the tent reserved this week (along with the tables and chairs).  I think that was the last major vendor we had left to find.  We decided to go with Hess Tent Rental.  

My mom, my FMIL, Philip's aunt (our on-site lady!), and I have been emailing back and forth to nail down all the details to make sure we're not forgetting anything.  It's been very helpful.  

I think I may have changed my mind about the centerpieces.  I'm going to do a mock-up tonight and see what I like.  

The invitations are coming along.  I've got a few of the inserts completed.  I need to get some photos so that I can show you all.  :)

Anyway, with six months to go, I'm feeling really good about where we're at in the planning.  I'll blog about some of the projects I've got completed a little later today when I can get photos done!  

SEVEN!

Well, we're down to seven months to go.  That seems ridiculously close.  It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that we were over a year away!  Where does the time go?

I am so excited!  The wedding plans are coming along swimmingly.   We have our major vendors set (the baker, caterer, photographer).  I contacted a TON of rental places today to see about getting quotes for the things we will need to rent (chairs, tables, and possibly a tent).   

And, I will be finishing up the save-the-dates tonight.  I would have finished them last night but I was just too exhausted.  I even stopped by the post office tonight after work and had one of the finished STDs weighed.  Even with the card, magnet, and envelope liner, the envelope still weighs little enough to use only a standard 44 cent stamp.  :D  

That is fantastic news!  I thought I would have to spend extra on stamps to get those puppies mailed!  Now I'm off to finish them up so I can get them mailed out tomorrow.  :)