99 Problems and My Dress is One

131 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)

I went to my trial alteration appointment after work today! I needed my dress hemmed and I wanted to do it early so I can order our mothers' corsages. Ana was really great and their prices are AMAZING! I'll be paying $130 for the hemming and between $50 and $75 if I need the bust taken in. In total, that's just what I was planning on spending: $200. It was weird, though, leaving my dress there and knowing I won't see it again until the end of April. I'm going then to try it on and make sure the hem is correct as well as seeing if the bust needs taking in. And more money-saving: Ana said that when the tulle is steamed, it will be quite a bit bigger so I don't need a slip!

I got in my after party dress and it didn't fit! I'm really surprised because I ordered the same size from them before and it fit perfectly. I'm going to send it back tomorrow to exchange for the next size up.

Another problem with another dress: ModCloth ran out of the Baklava Beauty dress in the size I need AGAIN, so my exchange couldn't be completed. So I ordered the Soda Fountain dress that I've wanted forever instead! It's about half the price and I only had to pay a little additional money since I was credited $35 for the exchange. (The other $50 was paid on a card so it's going back to my account.) I'm really happy and just praying that this one fits!

And, lastly, I messaged the Etsy seller who's doing the corsages telling her that I have the scraps from my dress. I'm hoping that I can send it to her soon and get the corsages made! Here's the picture from the listing, which I'm sure I've posted before. (Oh well.)

Baby Talk

132 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)

I have had baby fever for a while now (working at a daycare is obviously not helping this) and, after sitting behind two of the cutest little girls I have ever seen at the Friars game, I realized that Matt and I should talk about when we want to have a baby. He knew my position, as I've made it quite clear; as soon as possible after the wedding. However, after some thought on my part, I realized I would want to be living in a bigger, nicer place (which we plan on doing right after the wedding) and have a better paying job. (That second part may be slightly easier now that I'm certified to teach in Massachusetts.) Matt had made it clear that he wanted to wait, but we had never really talked about how long. So I asked him tonight when he would ideally like to start trying. Surprisingly, he said in September. His reasoning was that we would be able to enjoy newlywed life for a few months and give ourselves time to settle into a new home and, hopefully, a new job for me. I was really happy with this answer and so we have made it official (as official as this decision can be); I'll be going off birth control in September and we'll see how it goes from there.

On a more wedding-related note, I have my trial alteration appointment tomorrow. I'm going to get some of the material taken off the bottom so that I can get our mothers' corsages ordered from Etsy. I'm really excited to see how they turn out! (Random, but a crossword puzzle I was working on today had Etsy as one of the answers!)

And, last but not least, we bought a new printer today (on sale) so I can finally print everything for our scrapbook...in color!

Something Blue

143 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)

I got my dress label in the mail today! It's a little bigger than I thought it would be, but it's so simple and cute! I love that it's the perfect something blue, but I'm still wearing my blue underwear that I got at Gap.

I also ordered new black Maryjanes on Monday night and got an email that they shipped today! I've been needing a new pair for a while, my other ones are falling apart and dirty. They're my favorite shoes, though, and they go with everything. I also want them for the bachelorette since we're doing a little black dress dinner. Here's the shoes:

Matt and I also have an appointment with our officiant, Father Al, on Sunday. I'm hoping to finalize the mass (we have the music done and our readings picked, so it's just going over everything with Father Al) so that we can order the ceremony programs. Speaking of Vistaprint, they shipped another one of my orders! I'll see what it is in a couple days!

And one last thing, I bought another Groupon for Vistaprint! I can order almost everything for the wedding without spending a fortune!

Just a Few Inches

145 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)

I found a local salon that is going to do the alterations on my wedding dress! They're quite different from Alfred Angelo, as they don't start until the month before the wedding to take into account any weight loss/gain that might occur. As long as my dress is ready, I'll be happy, and they were really highly recommended online. So I scheduled my appointment for Monday, April 30 at 6 30 after I get out of work. Sadly, their alteration days are only on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I'm going to have to have my girls get their dresses altered somewhere near them, except for Shannon since Ana Bridal (where I'm going) is literally across from the end of her street. I also asked if I could come in just to get some fabric cut off so that I can send it in my our mothers' corsages and they said it would be no problem as long as I bring my shoes. I'm going next Monday (my mom will be visiting so she can go too) to get some of it cut off. Then I can order the corsages! Here's the picture from the listing; the ones I'll get will be white, obviously, with the pearls.

On another note, Matt and I found out that bed bugs are coming through the cracks between the ceiling and wall above our bed. So last night at 11 40, we rearranged the room so the bed was against the opposite wall. Matt called the apartment owners today to tell them so they can get rid of them. It sucks, but it gave us a (pressing) reason to move around the bedroom.

Just Broochy

147 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)
                                  bouquet pearls (7/8 done)

I FINALLY ordered the last brooches for Jess and Shannon's bouquets! Of course, one of Shannon's won't ship until after the end of the month, but at least I ordered them and can finish those bouquets once they're in. Here are the pictures (let's pray they look this way and I don't have to order any more).

Jess

Shannon

Shannon

Also on the subject of bouquets, I finished the pearls for Juliana's bouquet! I now have only one left to finish which I'm going to do tomorrow! Then it's just the brooches left to buy and put in, then arrange the whole thing and wrap it all up!

I also cancelled my alterations appointment with Alfred Angelo this morning. I'm going to shop around and ask for some estimates before I decide where to get them done. But I'm glad I won't be paying $500 to have material cut off my dress.

Alter This

148 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)
                                   bouquet pearls (6/8 done)

Tonight, Matt and I went to Alfred Angelo to pick up Cristina's dress! I love it! The piping on the top looks so great! I also scheduled my appointment for alterations. However, when I came home and looked up what pricing might be (thinking around $200) I saw that their stores ran up bills as high as $500! I am NOT paying that much money (half of what my dress costs) to have it hemmed and taken in. So I've looked around on the internets for a local shop and emailed them about coming in for an estimate with them. I'm going to call tomorrow and cancel my alteration appointment saying that I'll reschedule, but I won't. I don't want to make it awkward, though, since I have to pick up some of the other girls' dresses. Speaking of which, I also told them about the cost so they can go somewhere near them or to the same place as me.

Cristina's dress

I also stopped at Michael's and got some more stickers to decorate the guestbook, as well as going to Walmart to grab some more silver wiring. I'm DETERMINED to finish the pearls for the bouquets tomorrow. And then, it's just ordering the rest of the brooches!

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)

Friday the 13th

155 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (51/130 done)

I'm really excited for tomorrow! Matt and I are going to meet with the ceremony musicians at 2 at the chapel. We'll pick out the hymns and such and I will hopefully be able to get them to play something other than Here Comes the Bride for my entrance. I LOATHE that song and would like either Pachebel's Canon to continue or use Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Then, at 5, we're going to Joseph A. Bank to start looking for tuxes for the guys. Matt knows basically what he wants, but it'll be fun to see him try them on. We invited some of the groomsmen and ushers and to come as well.

I also received the blacklight pens that I ordered a while ago! I actually got them in a couple days ago, but forgot to post. I tried them out and they work really well! You can't see it on the RSVP card unless you use the little black light attached to the pen! It's such a great, simple way to keep track of the RSVPs!

I'll be sure to post pictures of the tux session tomorrow!

Crayons of the Rainbow

162 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (26/130 done)

I got my after party shoes in today! They are even more amazing in person! Love at first sight!

I also went to the mall today to grab some stuff for the bridesmaids (and our apartment - new placemats!) and flower girl. I got the bridesmaids each a pashmina for the ceremony. One of the kiosks at the mall was having a post-Christmas sale of 3 for $20. Perfect because I needed six (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)! I also got a mini anti-bacterial for each girl for their clutch from Bath and Body Works (they were only 50 cents) in their color!

Tomorrow I'm going with my bridal party to order their dresses! (Cristina already ordered hers and Shannon and I are going a different weekend.) I'm so excited to get that done!

Planning Potpourri

165 days

This morning Matt sent out the package with my dress from ModCloth that I was going to use for the after party. I'll be getting a store credit that I can put towards the dress that I want for my shower. However, i ordered my shoes for the after party from the same site! I love, love, LOVE them and can't wait until they get here!

Matt finally got an email back from Joseph A. Bank about scheduling an appointment to look at tuxes. We are going to do it on January 14 after our consultation with the musicians from the chapel. It should be rather quick and painless since Matt basically knows what he wants (and their company has a build a tux program on their site that we used).

Matt and I ran some errands after we went to dinner tonight. We got some supplies at Michael's; more paper for the pocketfolds, Glue Dots, and the photo corners for the table menus. Then we went to Staples and they were...CLOSED. At 5 after eight, they were already closed so I have to go after work tomorrow to pick up the hard copy of my newsletter.

I also got a call earlier today from Alfred Angelo asking if I was coming to my 1 o'clock appointment this afternoon. I told the lady that I had an appointment for this Saturday; one for my bridesmaids to get measured and order their dresses and then one right after for my alterations. She said that the woman that does alterations isn't in except on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She was getting really rude about the whole ordeal even though I did absolutely nothing wrong. Long story short, I told her I'd reschedule and mine (no problem) and to knock off the attitude.

Do You Have an Appointment?

So I FINALLY remembered to call Alfred Angelo about the bridesmaids' dress appointments in two weeks! I had to add my first dress fitting to the appointment! I'm so excited to do something with my dress again! It's been sitting in my closet for six months and I've only taken it out once!

That same day, I'm getting my hair cut (my usual 2 month appointment) but I'm also scheduling my wedding party's beauty appointments! The night before the wedding, I'm taking the girls to get their nails done (except for my two sisters). Then the morning of, we're getting our hair done and some are getting their makeup done as well. That means that I'll get to schedule my hair trial as well! It's so exciting to be getting things done again!

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!

The Venue, the Brooch, and the Dress

187 days

I got an invitation in the mail today from the Biltmore for the menu sampling! It's on February 12 from 4 to 7 and we get to sample the menu possibilities and then choose our own menu for the wedding! I'm so excited and it's making the wedding seem that much more real...and closer!!

I FINALLY got the purple brooch that I ordered weeks ago. It's pretty and I only need one more to finish Hannah's bouquet!!

I also found a dress for our after party that I really like! I think I'm going to get it instead of the one from ModCloth. (That one's out of stock and this one is also cheaper.)