Single Digits

9 days

Matt scheduled his hair appointment today! He's going next Thursday morning to get everything trimmed and groomed!

Twenty

20 days

Matt and I are spending some quality, non-wedding related time together today. We're going to tailgate and then see a demolition derby with some of my coworkers! I LOVE demolition derbies and have been trying to get Matt to one for year, but we always miss the one near my parents. This year, though, we're going to that one as well with my parents and siblings! I'll post pictures later if I remember to take any with our NEW camera!

Pressed

45 days

222 invited
127 attending
34 declined

And another no RSVP day. Sad Ashley.

However, we got our first wedding present today! It's our PANINI PRESS! So excited!! It's from my professor and advisor from college! He's the best!

Matt's gift from L.L.Bean came in today! I already told him what it was, but I'm still excited for him to open it!!

Fifty

50 days

222 invited
122 attending
34 declined

One RSVP today from my parents' good friends, Liz and Steve.

Matt and I went to the UPS location in Warwick to pick up our Crate and Barrel package today. It's from Alicia and Paula, two of my coworkers, and they got us another set of the Bistro Bowls as well as the Chip and Dip Set we wanted. Here's a picture of the chip and dip set:

Of course, after the ridiculousness with that package, I come home to an email saying Matt's gift was left at the front door by UPS. NO IT WAS NOT. This is not the first time it's happened and so I called them and they're investigating it. I better get this package, I am so over UPS and their issues. However, I have to say their national customer assistance is really nice and helpful.

Matt and I have a meeting with our officiant, Father Al, tomorrow. I'll be sure to post how it goes, although I honestly have no idea what it's about.

Day Three

52 days

222 invited
118 attending
33 declined

Third day in a row with no RSVPs. It makes me so sad when I open the mailbox and there are none.

I ordered Matt's gift today! It was only $22.95 and shipping was free! It should be here in 5 or less business days! I'm going to give it to him before the wedding, since it's for the honeymoon, so he can actually use it!

I don't know if I mentioned it the other day, but someone bought our camera for us off our registry! It's one of the few gifts I'm going to search for after the wedding so we can use it on the honeymoon! Here's a picture:

I'm super excited about my alterations on Monday! I can't wait to put my dress on again!

I also finished spray painting the rocks last night! They came out great!

Lazy

54 days

222 invited
118 attending
33 declined

And yet another no RSVP day. These days are no fun.

I have yet to spray paint the rocks for the centerpieces. I'm really lazy lately and doing that would require not sitting on the couch, which is something I cannot bring myself to do. I'm going to really try to push myself to do it tonight.

Matt and I are still waiting to hear about everything for the condo. I'm praying that he gets pre-approved for the loan and qualifies for the assistance so we can get this place. If not, though, we've been looking at other apartments that are bigger. We've found quite a few that are either the same price or cheaper than we're paying now.

I decided that I'm going to get Matt another small gift for the wedding/honeymoon. I have a great L.L.Bean travel caddy for all my shower/personal stuff. I usually carry Matt's stuff in there as well, but for the honeymoon I don't think there'll be enough room. Therefore, I'm going to get him his own! Here's the one I think I'm going to get him:

I'll be the perfect size for his stuff. I'm also deciding whether or not to have it personalized (with just an M most likely) for an extra $8.

Just One More

65 days

225 invited
99 attending
22 declined

One RSVP today from Matt's college friend, Tommy, and he's declined. He lives in Chicago and won't be able to make the trip. I'm seriously thinking it's because I want to break 100 guests. Come on, just one yes tomorrow!!

Matt's linen pants came in today! They're really nice and fit him perfectly! They'll be perfect for the honeymoon!!

After trying to stamp a fan last night, I realized it wasn't going to happen and so I stopped. Oh well.

Mom texted me today to say that my dad found a name tag of his from the Marines. She's sending it to me so I can sew it in my dress as my something borrowed! I love that I'll have my maiden name sewn into my dress!! Now I have to remind Gram to bring the necklace for my something old.

Last, I want to wish Matt good luck tomorrow at his interview! He's going in for an interview for a higher position with Verizon! Good luck baby! I love you!

For the Groom

77 days

222 invited
78 attending
15 declined

RSVPs today from my cousin, Alex and his girlfriend, Katlyn, and my former Gap coworker Amanda and her husband Brian. Sadly, my friend from college Mike has declined coming because he has a family event that weekend. But we'll be seeing him at some point!

Went today to pick up Matt's mom's dress! It is the most gorgeous blue!! Now we're just waiting on my mom's which the store was calling about to see why it hadn't shipped yet.

I got the rest of the jewelry for our readers, greeters, and gift bearers yesterday! Again, I nailed it! AND I got Matt's gift as well! His cufflinks are absolutely amazing! I can't wait until he sees them the night before the wedding!

Matt's mom has booked the rehearsal dinner at Waterplace in downtown Providence. It's a great restaurant and sits right over the river. Absolutely gorgeous!

Purple Rain

81 days

220 invited
69 attending
14 declined

I finished the purple issue of our newsletter! It's been published on the website and now I'll post it here! I'll be printing my copy soon and then emailing them on April 1! Only one more issue to go!

I got an email today that Matt's gift got sent out today! I can't wait to see them!!

Buy, Buy, Buy!

91 days

216 invited
42 attending
12 declined

RSVPs (from yesterday): only one and it was a decline from Matt's uncle and aunt from Kentucky. They are going to be out of the country on June 16!

I ordered several things from Oriental Trading last night, totaling $73 (with free shipping). I got the small black gift bags for the groomsmen's gifts, the totes for the kids' bags, sunglasses for the wedding party (for photos), the cellophane cookie bags for the out of town bags, and, most importantly, the boxes for the M&M favors! It was one of the larger purchases I had to make, so I'm glad it's out of the way.

I also ordered another dress from Charlotte Russe for the honeymoon. I HAD to have it since it's ORANGE! Here's a picture:

I'm also ordering little place card holders for the I Spy cards for the wedding. They're from Crate and Barrel and they went on sale! Perfect!

I finally found some argyle socks for Cole! I had bought all the groomsmen a pair in their color from Express and he's too small for theirs. I ended up finding a pair from Brooks Brothers (didn't know they even had a kids section) for $12. They've got just a little pink, so they aren't too much either.

AND I'm ordering the cufflinks for the two readers, Greg and CJ. I found a nice pair on Amazon that are very versatile. Here's a picture:

And I'm ordering the new cufflinks for Matt that I found a couple posts ago!

Pain in the Tux

94 days

212 invited
40 attending
8 declined

RSVPs today:
-Jay & Donna, Matt's uncle and aunt
-Luke, Matt's cousin
-J.M., Matt's friend from college and
-Joslyn and Tom, my friend from high school and her boyfriend

Today I went to pick up Nicole's dress at Alfred Angelo and got a VERY pleasant surprise: ALL of the girls' dresses have come in! I picked them all up, except for Shannon's because she has a balance due on hers, and brought them home! They are beautiful!!

I then took Nick to get his measurements done in Cranston. Those men have no idea how to use a computer. It took almost an hour! In the end, everything was fine, but it was a ridiculously painful experience. Ugh

And, last, I found a different pair of cufflinks for Matt! They're going to be a surprise, though! Here is the original picture:

Obviously they'll have our initials and date, but I love them!

Let Them Eat Cake

96 days

212 invited
31 attending
8 declined

Our RSVPs today:
-my college friend Kara
-my best friend from high school and Matt's groomsman, Lars, and his girlfriend, Natasha
-my proxy godfather and his wife, Wes and Linda (declined because their daughters high school graduation is that weekend)
That gives us another 2 spaces to fill so we're inviting my actual godfather, Joel, and his wife.

We had our cake tasting yesterday with Justin (and Lenny)! We're getting a two tier cake like the one in our inspiration photo. The bottom layer will be chocolate cake with a raspberry cream filling. The top layer will be lemon and the whole cake will be frosted in Italian buttercream. It will be amazing! And Matt and I are the only ones eating it! I also asked Justin to make a small grooms cake for Matt. It's going to be chocolate with peanut butter buttercream frosting: just like his favorite candy, Reese's.

I worked some more on the centerpieces as well! We got the globe vases, silver rocks, and silver diamonds from Save on Crafts today. I completed two of the centerpieces, but of course came across a problem. I have to find some time of waterproof Glue Dots to keep the rocks in the bottom of the bowl. (They're styrofoam and so they float to the top.) I'll be on the lookout, but any suggestions are welcome!

I finished the baskets for the ceremony programs! I spray painted them silver yesterday and then added the ribbon today. I'm going to put the programs in them tonight and hide them in the closet away from the cats. Here are the baskets:

I got my registry exchange gift today! I got the set of 6 rainbow stacking mugs and they're awesome!! Here's a picture of them:

Matt and I were searching around the internet for a song to play for the slow dance between the garter and bouquet toss winners (we picked Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" as a joke) and found another great idea. It's an anniversary dance: all the married/committed couples go on the floor and the DJ eliminates them by how long they've been married (6 hours for us, 5 years, 10 years, and so on) until only one couple remains. The way we saw it, they won the tossing bouquet and garter, but we're going to have another corsage made by Maggie from Etsy and an extra boutonniere I have. We picked "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones fading into "At Last" by Etta James to play during the dance. I'm really excited about this!

It's My Party

It's my birthday! I'm 24 today!

Here is what the card reads that Matt gave me:

"The Future Mrs. Denver"
"It's funny...it's your birthday, and yet I feel like I'm the one to get the big wonderful present...you. I'm amazed every day by all the joy you've added to my life...like the joy of being able to laugh, relax, and totally be myself with you...or the comfort of knowing how much we have in common. But more than anything - you've given me the incredible reassurance that I'm loved for who I am. And that's no small gift. It's your birthday, but you're the one who's given me more than I could have hoped for. And I want to know just how grateful I am...for the day you were born, for the person you are, for the wondrous ways you've changed my life." - Suzanne Berry
"My greatest present will be our lives together. In love. Matt"

He is the best man in the world.

L‡ Breithe Mhaith Agat

Happy birthday to my wonderful fiance and future husband! He turned 24 today!

(The title says Happy Birthday in Irish Gaelic.)

365x6

Today is Matt and my 6th anniversary! We didn't do much since the Foo Fighters' concert was our gift to ourselves, but we're having a nice night together. Sometimes I can't believe that it's been six years!

I love you Matt!

Another One Bites the Dust

And I have OFFICIALLY finished the boutonnieres!! I bought new beads for Matt's today after work and came home and got to work. (Okay so it took less than 10 minutes, but whatever.) I love the way it came out, especially the ribbon! Take a look!

And here are the beads that I bought since the ones that I ordered were too small.

Juliana

Jessica

Cristina

Shannon

Nicole

Hannah

Matt & me

me

They are all Bead Gallery from Michael's!

Phase One: Complete

I have finished the pearl stems for the boutonnieres! The previous post has a picture of Matt's boutonniere and here are the rest (minus the ring bearer's).

Left to right: Matt, Nick T, Matt's dad, my dad, Ryan, Nick C, Lars, Rich, Devon, Erik, and Chase

I have also decided to buy black pearls and use them for the two ushers' boutonnieres instead of the black beads. This will separate them from the groomsmen, but still stay within the theme. So excited!

For My Love

I bought more silver wire today at Walmart (24 gauge this time) and started on Matt's boutonniere. I've decided to use 20 pearls for his, 15 for the best man and dads, 12 for the groomsmen, 10 for the ushers, and 8 for the ring bearer. As for the beads; 10 for Matt, 8 for the best man and dads, and 6 for the groomsmen, 5 for the ushers, and 4 for the ring bearer. I'll be sure to post pictures of the bead colors when they come in and I'll keep updating as I work on the bouquets and boutonnieres!