Heading Towards the Finish Line

My wedding projects are winding down. I no longer look around the office and feel overwelmed by the to-dos. They're mostly to-dones.

One of the few things I have left to do is cook up a wedding day timeline which involves finalizing times with the vendors. As I've gotten responses I've been transferring them into a word document to look at later. I decided I'd tackle it on my lunch break today.

I just realized that there are five hours scheduled for hair and makeup. This, for the girl that usually puts her hair in a pony tail and doesn't wear makeup.

It's moments like this when I wonder what the hell I was thinking.

Let Them Eat Cake

Some days I lament the fact that I’ve been such a hands-on bride and dream of how much easier things would be if I had just hired a planner and been done with it. Other days, I feel like my over-involved tendencies really paid off.

A few months back at one of Perona’s bridal shows, I had chatted up the lady that makes the cakes that are part of the wedding package. She was really nice and really made it sound like they could do whatever I wanted. When it came time to pick a cake, however, we were handed a book and asked to pick. The pictures were less than awesome, and I left the meeting only feeling so-so about our choice. It would have been a nice cake, it just wasn’t what I was dreaming up.

So, I decided to make some calls and see what I could do. I called the bakery and talked with the woman from the bridal show again and ended up emailing her a picture of a cake I liked. She got back to me shortly saying they could do it, no problem. I then emailed our coordinator at Perona and had the request changed at their end. When I called yesterday to give the final headcount I was told I would officially get that cake, and at no extra charge!

I’m really excited about the cake, and really glad I didn’t settle.

MHR - He's my Stress Relief

My husband to be rocks because he’s my stress relief. It’s days like today that make me realize it, and appreciate it so much more.

Today is my birthday. Our plans for the evening involve ordering dinner in and then doing nothing. I’ve been looking forward to it for a week and a half now. All I wanted this year was a nice, mellow birthday.

Wedding planning has gotten a little nutty. I’m no longer in breakdown mode. I can field calls without wanting to cry and I’m excited about the day again. But it’s still pretty stressful. Work’s been a little nutty too. I’m sure a lot of it is pressure I put on myself to get things done before I leave for the honeymoon… but the stress is still there. I was really looking forward to just bumming tonight.

Of course, life has other plans. I got a certified letter today letting me know I’m subpoenaed to appear in court Tuesday morning. I can’t tell you how much this shot my stress level up. Its like, is this some cruel joke? Don’t you people realize I have enough on my plate?

So, I call Mark. It still amazes me how much I can mellow out by just hearing his voice. Just a few minutes of chatting and I’m back to sanity. I love knowing that he’ll get home and give me a hug and it’ll feel so much better.

My Dad Is A Crier

It's a recent revelation for me that my Dad is a crier. I only remember him crying two times growing up - and both of those were at funerals.

Last year, my sister got her Girl Scout Gold Award. The family sat in the front row of the audience and she sat on a stool facing everyone. She kept making these weird motions - we didn't understand what she was trying to tell us. About halfway through she waved me up and whispered, "Get Dad some tissues!" - when I turned around to look at him he was all red and crying. So proud of his little girl!

We had a good laugh about it at the time, and it's been a running joke since that he'll probably be the first one to cry at the wedding. A few months back I saw an advertisement for custom-printed Kleenex boxes and knew I had to get him one for the wedding.

It wasn't cheap, but it's so worth it. We put some of our favorite engagement pictures on it, along with the date in our wedding colors. We'll all have a good laugh when we give it to him at the rehearsal dinner!

Jon & Kate vs. Kate & Mark

Last night was the big Jon & Kate announcement. I can’t say I was waiting for it with bated breath. I’ve never really watched the show – I’ve seen bits and pieces from commercials, and caught the Hawaii episodes on demand when I was home sick at one point or another. Mark isn’t a fan either. And after the divorce paperwork was filed yesterday afternoon, there was little speculation left to be made on what they were going to announce.

Still, the media hype and the lack of anything else on led us to turn it on.

To watch it was simply heartbreaking. I can’t imagine having to sit there in front of a camera and try to explain to the world how and why your relationship is ending.

I guess it’s because I’m three weeks from the wedding, but to me it’s completely unfathomable that you could love someone so much, and let your relationship turn into that. That you could sit there and say to the camera that you’ll always love the other one, but that divorce is still your best option.

Mark and I are getting married on our five-year dating anniversary. We made the decision pretty early on in our relationship that we’d get married someday. There’s been a lot of stress in the last five years – funerals, graduations, new jobs and moves. We’ve been furious, disappointed and hurt – both by each other and by the cards life has dealt us. Not once, though, has either ever threatened to walk away from the relationship. It’s just not an option. We’re in this for the long haul.

It makes me wonder what Jon and Kate were like when they got married. Did they talk to each other nicer? Did they make plans to have date nights and weekends away after they have kids? Did they figure out the finances to make sure they could pay for college? Did they sit around and have conversations about going to counseling if things ever got bad?

I feel like so much of our future has taken shape over the last year. We’ve always talked about getting married and having kids, but they were always more of an abstract. Now, there’s a time table for kids. A plan on when and where to look at houses. Plans for gardens and vacations and how we want our kids raised. Of course, the plans are fluid and depend a lot on everything else going on in the world, but right now I can’t imagine them changing drastically. At the core of everything are the same values and wants that we’ve been talking about for years.

I wonder if Jon and Kate were the same. If there were carefully thought out plans that got derailed. If all the good intentions in the world couldn’t have prevented what happened. I can’t imagine Mark and I ever sitting in that position. Then again, I’m sure Jon and Kate didn’t think it was possible three weeks before their wedding either.

I know we don’t see everything on TV, and I’m leery to believe what the tabloids say, despite my love for Men in Black. I just can’t help but feel that they didn’t try hard enough or fight long enough to make things right. Where was the counseling? The spending time working on the marriage? If it was there, we certainly didn’t see it. And in a way, I feel like that’s what separates us from them. This love would never be lost without a fight. From both of us.

My Husband (to be!) Rocks

Just about two weeks ago, I had a meltdown of epic proportions.

Throughout the whole wedding planning process, I had been pretty level-headed. I'd cried exactly once - over venue sticker-shock... twice if you count getting teary over listening to father-daughter dance songs with my Dad. Everyone kept telling me how great I was doing - it was a running joke at the gym that I must be the only not-stressed bride in the world.

And then everything I didn't know I was stressing about boiled over. There were several days of barely eating, lots of crying and not much sleeping. I'm sure it was enough to convince most men to cancel the wedding - but Mark isn't most men. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Throughtout the meltdown he called several times a day to tell me he loves me and that he can't wait to be my husband. He sat up with me at night when I couldn't sleep and told me repeatedly that if it was too stressful we could push the wedding back. He also told me that he would take over anything else that needs to be done planning-wise.

I feel so blessed that he is as patient and understanding as he is.

And for the record - yes, he is now doing most of the planning. He's been calling vendors to coordinate times and details. He's been filling out DJ forms, venue instruction sheets and the forms so we can get our marriage license (he set up that appointment too). He's spent evenings tweaking the excel spreadsheets of guest names - making sure the table arrangements all work and all of the guests' names are spelled correctly. All this while I sit around watching "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" and take a much needed break. He hasn't complained once.

I'm one lucky girl.

-----

To find out more about My Husband Rocks Fridays or to join in yourself, click here.

A few more things in the reception box…

Our Toasting Flutes – from my college roommate Jackie

Our Cake Knife and Server – from Mark’s Aunt Doreen and cousins Keri and Ava

Napkins

In Our Mailbox

Since our RSVP date passed, getting the mail has been a lot less exciting.

I was super excited to find a large envelope from California waiting for me the other day. Inside was a “wedding gift” from Mickey and Minnie Mouse (we had sent them a wedding invitation) - a signed picture of them in front of Sleeping Beauty castle, and a button that says “Just Married”.



We’re going to frame the picture and put it on the guestbook table along with family wedding pictures.

Now, let’s hope the President and the Pope get back to us too!

Our Wedding Gift from Oprah

I was boxing up stuff that needs to be dropped off at the venue and ran across our guestbook. I love this thing, so I wanted to share.

A few months ago Oprah did a show on getting organized. As part of the show, she gave out a code to get a free photo book from Snapfish. I used the code to make our guest book – it uses our engagement pictures and I made lines for people to sign on. You can’t beat the price of free. (Thanks, Oprah!) I probably paid shipping (I don’t remember anymore) and I had to get special markers that wouldn’t smudge on the paper, but it was still must cheaper than doing it any other way, and I love that it’s so personal.

Bathroom Baskets - Done!

The bathroom baskets are done. I really wanted to have these for the bathroom because I'm always the girl that needs whatever is not in her purse. I think the best illustration of that was my prom - I opted for the cute, tiny purse that matched my dress... and ended up getting my period AT prom. I always apprciate well stocked bathrooms (and friends that carry big purses and let you mooch)!

I had picked up the baskets months ago at Walmart on clearance, but hesitated to stock them full because of budget concerns. Around the same time, I started reading coupon blogs and seriously paying attention to the ads. These really turned into a labor of love. The entire project - including the baskets - cost only $20.

I'll post the list of contents below if anyone else needs it for inspiration.

Men's Room Basket
Lint Roller
Tums
Spray Deoderant
Lotion
Band-Aids
Hair Gel
Asprin
Excedrin
Shout Wipes
Colgate Wisps
Floss
Gum

Women's Room Basket
Spray Deoderant
Hairspray
Lotion
Emory Boards
Pads
Tampons
Panty Liners
Tums
Lint Roller
Gum
Band-Aids
Excedrin
Floss
Clear Nailpolish
Asprin
Shout Wipes
Colgate Wisps

Bubbles - Done!

Mark does such a good job of humoring me when it comes to wedding details. We ventured to Christmas Tree Shops last fall to buy bubbles for our exit at the church. Of course, the perfectionist in me didn't want to just hand out bubbles.

Mark and I spent the better part of two evenings printing the tags, getting them cut out, cutting up the ribbons and tying them on. I love the way they came out!

We have a menu!

Mark and I went to Perona Farms on Saturday to set the menu for the reception. While it seems late in the game, Perona only does their menu-setting the month before the wedding so that everything can be market-fresh and trendy. I'm super excited about all of the food - we're going to eat so well!

Cocktail Hour Menu

Passed Hors-d'oeuvresLobster CobblerSouthwestern Pepper Jack Chicken FiloSpinach, Pepperoni and Asiago PizzaCrab Cakes with a Smoked Tomato RemouladeMascarpone, Blue Cheese and Red Onion TartArtichoke and Parmesan Stuffed Chicken CupWhipped Sweet Potato PuffsFig & Fontina with Lavender in PhylloFilet Mignon on a Garlic CroustadeShrimp Scampi in a Filo ShellBarbecued Pork BiscuitsHummus in a Salt ConeSlidersProchiotto and MelonEdible Martinis, Coladas and Blood MarysChef StationPerona Farms Smoked Salmon and Pastrami Style Smoked Salmon with chopped egg whites, yolks, Bermuda onions, capers and cocktail crackers

Dinner Menu

Eggplant RolitiniSicillian Chicken - Italian herb marinated, pan roasted, fork-tender chicken garnished with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and brine-cured olivesDry-Rubbed Montmorency Pork - Slow roasted pork loin, brushed with a honey glaze and topped with midwestern cherriesSt. Peter's Fish with Fennel - Fresh tilapia topped iwth crispy orange-tarragon breading and accented with a fennel fondueFresh-Market Vegetable MedlyRoasted Red Potatos

Carving StationPrime Rib

Pasta StationPenne with Vodka Cream SauceBow Ties with Garlic and Vegetables

Salad StationPerona SaladCeasar SaladMixed Feild Greens

Dessert

Wedding Cake - Vanilla cake with Chocolate MouseServed on a decorated dessert plate with three pastries

My Husband Rocks - Birthday Bash

I found Katy at The Great Adventure during the blog party this spring. Every Friday she hosts My Husband Rocks - a celebration of the great things about our husbands and relationships. I had been planning to join in after the wedding (not because I don't think Mark rocks currently, I just can't fathom adding another thing to my to-do list before the wedding), but they're currently celebrating their first birthday so I thought it would be a good time to point the blog out to any wives and to-be wives that haven't found it yet.







All week there will be special posts, giveaways and other fun. Be sure to check it out if you haven't already!