7 months 2 weeks and 2 days till I marry Simon!

It may seem like a long way off, but it’s getting closer!  We’re pretty much at the halfway mark in our long engagement, or getting close at least.  Okay, I did the math, we’ll be halfway in another month.  Still…time flies! 

I feel like not much is getting done at the moment, again.  I also think I need to take stock soon and figure out EXACTLY what I have left.  Maybe you all can help me?

Done:

Venue booked (comes with caterer), deposit paid

Photographer booked, deposit paid

Videographer booked, deposit paid

Baker booked, cake designed, deposit paid

Honeymoon booked and paid in full (flights and resort)

Engagement announcements sent

Save-the-dates, thank-you cards, wedding announcements purchased

Half of the favors purchased (pens)

Bridal and bridesmaid jewelry purchased

Ceremony musician booked (a friend)

Officiant booked (a family member)

Lighting designer booked, deposit paid

Reception furniture researched

Decorations and silk flowers picked out

Wedding gown tentatively picked out

Bridesmaids’ dresses picked out

Bridal shoes purchased

Rehearsal dinner venue tentatively picked out

 

Whew!  Here’s what’s left:

Finish paying all booked vendors

View reception furniture in showroom and make final decision

Send save-the-dates

Design and print invitations

Purchase the other half of the favors (donations to the American Cancer Society)

Figure out how we’re getting a keyboard to the venue and who has one

Purchase bridesmaids’ dresses and shoes and groomsmen’s ties

Get my cousin ordained online so she can officiate

Purchase decorations and silk flowers, put together décor and bouquets

Decide on and purchase bridal party and parent gifts

Research and book our rehearsal dinner venue

Pick out and purchase wedding rings

Find and book wedding day transportation

Find and book a hair stylist and makeup artist (I have one in mind)

Finalize and purchase my wedding gown (waiting until July pending weight loss)

Meet with caterer to do tasting and finalize menu

Create iPod playlist to play during the reception

Purchase an instant camera for guest pictures

 

Okay, that second list looks really long.  The good thing is most things are DECIDED, just not DONE.  I feel like the biggies, invitations and gown, are looming over my head.  Other biggies, like transportation and caterer, also have me worried but don’t need much time really.  Basically, I need to finish cleaning my craft room at home and purchase everything I can buy ahead of time so that it’s DONE.  Weekend project,  I think!

Yay my uncle's okay and out of the hospital, no surgery needed!

Well, this has been a nerve-wracking week.  My aunt Rena was my mother’s older sister.  She’s the only one left in their immediate family.  She and her husband Aaron have been my parents since I lost my own.  The night I got engaged, I called them and asked Uncle Aaron to walk me down the aisle.

He recently became ill and ended up in the hospital.  He was going to need surgery if he didn’t get better.  I was so nervous to lose another parent.  I know it sounds selfish, but I was petrified that I’d lose him too.  I need him at my wedding.

Luckily, I found out Wednesday morning that he was out of the hospital and doing much better.  I am SO relieved!  My aunt has lost so many people, and this would have just destroyed her.  And now I have him healthy and whole to walk me down the aisle!

So my cousin's destination wedding that's 6 months after our honeymoon is in Cozumel, Mexico, directly south of our honeymoon, same resort

It figures.  Right after Simon and I finish booking and paying for our honeymoon, I get a save-the-date from my recently engaged cousin.  They’re having a destination wedding in Cozumel, Mexico, just south of our honeymoon in Cancun, in the same resort family, six months after we get back.

Now, I am very excited for her, especially since she’s over 40 and thrilled to death to finally be getting married.  I can hardly blame her for wanting to go all out.  This is just gonna get expensive!  Obviously, I could say no, but technically we have the money, and it’s my dad’s side of the family, which I never get to see because they live on the other side of the country.  And of course, she gave us plenty of head’s up, as the wedding is in April 2011.

It just figures.  ;)

Simon wonders if we should try to change our honeymoon to her wedding date, but I’m selfish and don’t want to share my honeymoon.  He agreed with my reasons; I’m going to want to see my family while we’re in Cozumel, while on our honeymoon I barely want to be anywhere but bed or the pool!  I’ve never even taken one tropical vacation before, never been to an all-inclusive resort, and now I’m going to two in six months.  Luckily, that means if I’m not at my ultimate goal weight by our honeymoon (which I doubt I will be), I sure as heck can be by that April!  Woo hoo bathing suits!

So that’s my “oh goodness” moment of the week.  What were the chances?

Going to the Museum Of Science Friday to meet with our wedding coordinator again

How do you justify taking a day off from work to see the Harry Potter exhibit?  By also meeting with your wedding coordinator while you’re at the museum, of course!

Simon and I were planning on going to the exhibit anyways, but we actually won tickets, which makes it even sweeter.  We didn’t want to go during school vacation or on a weekend, so we needed an excuse to go during the week.  I have a ton of things I want to talk to my wedding coordinator about, and she’s free this Friday, yay!

Most important is the floor plan:

I want to make sure all of the above will work.  I’ve done it to scale to the best of my ability, including the tables, couches, end tables, bar, cake table, photo table, etc.  This would work for up to about 70 guests (10 chairs at each round table, plus 4 couches), but if I get more than that I’ll add another table.  I’m setting it up sort of like a lounge, with couches for people to socialize on, instead of being assigned to tables.  With it just being hors d’oeuvres and desserts, there’s no need for strict seating.  I’d like people to mingle!

I have no idea what the food set-up will be, so that’s what I need to ask the coordinator about.  I also want to take more pictures of the room (they have some online) to help me decorate.  Thank goodness I hired a lighting designer, because the room is VERY bland.  I’ll save on centerpieces by only having 5 or 6 tables.  Stools from IKEA draped with fabric will serve as end tables, we’re renting the couches, and we’ll buy throw pillows because they wanted $15/each just to rent.  We can buy them for the same amount!

I just need to get back in that room, I haven’t been since June.  I should also check out the ceremony room again because I have NO idea how I’m setting that up.  8 months to go, time to make some decisions!

I know, AGAIN with the wedding dresses, but...thoughts?

At least I’m not really changing my mind again!  I just think this dress:

…is the closest to what I’ve been looking for; white lace, short train, sweetheart strapless neckline.  Perfect!  And only $189!  I’m in love…again

This time though, I’m waiting.  Why?  Because I finally started losing weight!  I’m down almost 9 lbs. already, and it’s been steady and healthy.  Simon and I are doing it together, and it’s really working.  We’re using SparkPeople.com, something everyone who wants to be healthy should check out!

If you do join, be sure to say CelestialAxis referred you.  ;)  It’s based on healthy lifestyle changes instead of dieting, and community support instead of being told what you’re doing wrong.  My SparkFriends are always there for me, with encouragement and virtual hugs.  You can also follow @SparkPeople on Twitter.  And the site is completely free!

It finally hit me on New Year’s Eve…I’m getting married THIS year.  Not in a year and a half, not in a year, not in 10 months.  Nine short months, THIS year.  I’d been trying on and off to lose weight for the wedding, then kept falling off the wagon with the excuse of “I have plenty of time.”  Well, now I don’t.  Not only do I want to look good in my wedding pictures, I want to start a healthier life and have energy for our eventual child.  When it finally clicked, suddenly it wasn’t so hard any more.  I’ve been eating right and exercising every day for over three weeks straight now.  It’s not a New Year’s resolution, it’s a LIFE resolution.  My BMI puts me in the obese category.  No more.

I will wear that dress, and I will look BEAUTIFUL.  I’m waiting till July to order it; it takes 3-4 weeks to arrive, leaving 2 months for alterations.  It will fit like a glove.  I will look and feel perfect!

Having my aunt and uncle and Simon's parents over today to meet for the first time!

Well, we did it. We successfully introduced the future in-laws.

Using the excuse of Simon's birthday, we had my aunt and uncle and Simon's parents over for dinner on Saturday. We cleaned all morning, and I cooked and baked all afternoon. I made chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, and salad, with a chocolate Oreo birthday cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert (my first cake from scratch!).

We put the football game on the TV, even though we both hate sports. My aunt and uncle came first (my “parents,” for those of you who don't know), and my aunt set up veggies and crackers. She brought a bouquet for me and a potted tulip for Simon's mom. She's good at this stuff. My uncle watched football.

Simon's parents arrived, laden with way too many presents for Simon (they give well beyond their means, but I love them). The introductions were made, and the men settled in for football, talking about the score and various man-things. The ladies started talking about medical things, which they both work or worked in, then the conversation turned to pets, as they're all animal lovers. It was going great!

Then I served dinner, which also went very well. They devoured the cake, it was sooooooo good. Then Simon opened his presents, most of which were for me too (pot rack, garage door opener, Tupperware, yay!). We then went back to the living room, played with the cats, and talked for another hour or so. They all got along great and had plenty to talk about.

PHEW!

Yay wedding cake chosen and placed my wedding jewelry order

I am so excited to finally be DOING something with my wedding again. Simon and I visited Dessert Works in Norwood, MA on Sunday. We tasted three kinds of cake: Boston cream pie, dolce de leche, and day and night (chocolate, vanilla, and raspberry). All three were amazing, but we decided on the first two as our favorites (as in, Boston cream pie was his favorite and dolce de leche was mine, so we got both!). Based on approximately 70 guests, the cost will be around $420 including delivery. It was a bit more than I had planned on, but Simon was surprised it wasn’t higher

It will be three tiers, with dulce de leche on the bottom and Boston cream pie on the top two. Vanilla buttercream frosting with a ribbon of milk chocolate at the bottom of each tier. Ivy scrollwork in milk chocolate along the vanilla portion above the chocolate ribbon on each tier. Scattered chocolate leaves in red, orange, and yellow. It sounds PERFECT! They also give you a mini replica of the cake instead of a top tier to save. I think ours will get eaten after the honeymoon, we’re not into the one-year anniversary thing with the cake, too long!

Then I finally got all my bridesmaids’ measurement info for them, so I can order dresses, jewelry, and shoes. First is jewelry, as I’m having an artist on Etsy custom-make all of it. A total deal at $320 for all four of us. See her store here. Here are the pieces I’m ordering:



My jewelry set.



Tiara for my MoH and I. Mine will be doubled.



MoH and bridesmaids’ necklace and bracelet.


MoH and bridesmaids’ earrings.

I didn’t want pearls when I first started planning this wedding, but like all things, I started leaning towards the traditional and decided they would look lovely with our look. I’m going to try 50s-style hair and makeup on myself, so the pearls will really fit in. And of course, there’s plenty of sparkle!

So, two more things checked off the list. Love it!

(Also, happy birthday Simon! I love you sweetie!)