Friday

1 day

It's tomorrow!

As for today, the girls and I have nail appointments at 2 (Jess, Shannon, Cris, and I at 1 for pedicures) at Metro Nails. We're going to go to the hotel and check in after that and get ready for the rehearsal at 4 30 at the chapel. After that we're going to dinner at Waterplace Restaurant at 6. Afterwards, we're going to McCormick & Schmidt's for drinks, which is in the bottom of the Biltmore.

However, the first thing that I need to do is get new shoes for Hannah since her feet grow at the rate of bamboo.

Jess, Cris, and I did the out of town bags this morning as well as the escort cards! We are all set for tomorrow!!

Paid In Full

16 days

We got the check from my gramma to finish paying the chapel and dj! I'm going to deposit it tomorrow and then send out checks to the two people as soon as it's in the account!

Tomorrow our bachelorette and bachelor weekends begin! I'm really excited! I'll be sure to post a lot of pictures!!

Chapel of Love

139 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)

Today Matt and I met with the wedding consultant for the chapel and went over the ceremony basics. We decided on a couple things such as sitting for the ceremony (versus kneeling), who's walking down the aisle and in what order, as well as other small details. We went through a bunch of old programs that Pat had and took a few as inspiration. We finished the programs on Vistaprint once we got home and I'm ordering them right now! Here are what they'll look like:

After we met with Pat, we went to the Priory and met with Father Al, our officiant. We talked for a little while, got his address, gave him the readings we decided on, and talked about our Pre-Cana in February. (Matt registered us for a two-day one on the 10th and 11th. Hopefully it'll be better having it split like that.)

We stopped at Michael's to get more Glue Dots for the pocketfolds as well as more bags for the welcome bags. I also found some really cute ribbon for the invitations since I knew I wouldn't have enough for those as well as the programs. It's white with light blue writing that says "Eat, Drink, & Be Married".

And now Matt and I are off to bed!

Penguin Suits

154 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (51/130 done)

Matt and I were busy wedding bees today! We had two different wedding appointments that we went to.

First we went to the chapel to meet with the musical coordinator (who's also the organist) and the vocalist. We decided on the hymns, psalms, and music that would be played during the ceremony. We were also able to get a violinist (although he wasn't there) which I've always wanted! The vocalist has an amazing voice and Sherry, the organist, was great as well! Matt and I are really happy with them and excited to have one more thing checked off our to-do list!

Later we went to Joseph A. Bank to register our wedding and pick out the tuxes that the guys will be wearing for the wedding. We had already built a tux online, so it was just making sure they had all the pieces and registering the wedding and the guys. Now we'll just be sending out an email for them to get measured (at any Joseph A. Bank store) by May! Here are the tuxes that we'll be getting:

Matt

Nick T

Ryan

Nick C

Lars

Rich

Devon

Cole

ushers

my dad (Paul)

Matt's dad (Mark)

Music to Our Ears

184 days

I got a voicemail on Tuesday from the head of the liturgical music for the college and chapel. She asked for my email so that we could communicate easier and set up a music consultation. So I called her back, gave her my email, and today she sent me a message. She asked if January 14 was okay to hear the vocalist and organist and also whether we wanted other instrumentalists. (The vocalist and organist are required, but they have other instruments available for an additional fee.) I asked about a violinist because I have always pictured our wedding with one. (To be honest, I don't like organs, but since it's required I have no choice.) We are going to see them on the 14th of next month and discuss weddings songs and such. I'm really excited!

I also sent in one of the three checks we need for the chapel today! We're one step closer to this wedding!

We're Going to the Chapel

188 days

Matt and I are sending in part of the deposit for the chapel! We've decided that it will be easier to send in a couple smaller payments rather than wait until we have it all. (We've been trying, but we end up using part or all of it.) I really just want to get this part of it out of the way, since we only have one more piece of the paperwork to send in (when Matt finally remembers it).

I'm also going to be ordering our invitation envelopes this week! We're buying matching ones from Vistaprint and I still have some Groupon deals! I'll be sure to post when I actually order them and post a picture here!

Speaking of Vistaprint, I also finished the I Spy cards! I really think they're a cute idea and will bring in a lot of extra pictures from the guests! Here's a picture:

It's Never Too Late

Apparently I have decided to really venture into blogging.

My fiance, Matt, and I got engaged in March of this year and we have already started planning the wedding. I think I'm driving most everyone around me (especially Matt) nuts with the planning details. So to get them out, I'll post to the entire world. Not only that, but I'm hoping that I can help future brides with their planning. (I've been contemplating becoming a wedding planner...after my wedding.)

Here's a rundown of the wedding so far:

• We picked our ceremony and reception venues (not the same place): St. Dominic Chapel at Providence College for the ceremony and the Providence Biltmore for the reception. As to picking a college's chapel: Matt graduated from PC in 2009 and he absolutely loves the school. He was their mascot (the Friar) for two years and has held basketball season tickets for since he was a freshman. We live in Rhode Island now and plan on staying here and I wanted to include some aspect of PC in the wedding. (I refused to let the Friar attend the wedding.) In addition, we don't belong to a church here and we want a Catholic ceremony. Thus, we agreed on St. Dominic Chapel. As for the Biltmore, we spent our first anniversary there and I absolutely love the hotel. It's a vintage, 1920s hotel with a penthouse level ballroom that has exquisite views of the city. It was a given...and love at first sight.
• We decided on wedding colors, well I decided on them and Matt agreed. We are doing mainly black and white with rainbow accents. Sound tacky? It's not, I promise. The bridesmaids will wear black dresses and each will have an accent color (my maid of honor with have red, the next bridesmaid will have orange, etc. down to my flower girl in pink) and the groomsmen will wear corresponding vests and ties. However, most of the decor will be black and white.
• We have recruited our wedding party! Here's the final roll call:
• Maid of Honor: Juliana, my friend and roommate from college
• Bridesmaids:
• Jess, a former coworker and close friend
• Cristina, another friend and roommate from college
• Margaret, a friend from high school
• Junior Bridesmaids:
• Nicole, Matt's 15-year-old sister
• Hannah, my 10-year-old sister
• Flower Girl: Olivia, my 5-year-old sister
• Best Man: Nick T, Matt's friend and roommate from college
• Groomsmen:
• Ryan, another of Matt's friends from college
• Nick C, a mutual friend that I went to college with
• Lars, a mutual friend that I went to high school with
• Rich, another mutual friend that I went to college with
• Junior Groomsman: Devon, my soon-to-be 13-year-old brother
• Ring Bearer: Cole, my 5-year-old cousin
• We have sent out our save-the-dates! We are doing all of our stationary through Vistaprint. They are AMAZING, especially for those brides (like myself) not willing to spend thousands of dollars on invitations and the like.
• We have found our photographer, dj, and officiant (the college doesn't provide one)!
• Jess Warzoha, a friend from college, is doing our photography! She does a great job and has already had some great offers (including shooting Drake's CD release)! I'm so excited to work with her, starting next Saturday with our engagement photos!
• We're using Living Reel Productions for our music at the wedding! Eric is very professional, cooperative, and helpful! He's already done a great job and, an added bonus, doesn't cost an arm and a leg!
• Our officiant is one of Matt's former professors from PC (they're a Catholic school), Father Albino Barrera. We've had an initial meeting with him and I really like him! He's easy to listen to so our guests won't fall asleep, hopefully!
• My parents have planned an engagement party for Matt and I next Saturday at their house! Most of the wedding party will be attending as well as close friends and family from both sides. Of course all of these people are also invited to the wedding, so no hard feelings yet!
• Our guest list has been started and agreed upon! A HUGE part of the planning, and a huge headache for many couples, we got an early start. We started by listing our family and friends that we both wanted, then asked our parents for additional guests. Luckily, our parents are all easy-going so it wasn't very dramatic or painful.

I think that's all that has been done so far that's finalized. I will update my completed list as the months race by!

I am so excited about marrying Matt! I'm just hoping I don't drive everyone around me crazy with the details.

Some pictures!

St. Dominic Chapel

The Providence Biltmore

Our save-the-dates (with our last names blacked out)