Wednesday

3 days

Tomorrow is my last day of work before the wedding! I'm working from 7 until 3 and then I'm off to do wedding stuff for the rest of the day! Thankfully, I'll have Jess and Cris here to help me with the rest of my to-do list, including the out of town bags!

We got a gift yesterday from CJ and Andrea that we finally opened today! It's the storage chest for our silverware! (Well, once we get the good silverware, it'll go in there.)

And good news is I'll be able to bring most of the reception stuff to the Biltmore tomorrow!! So excited to get it out of my house!

On the Short List

93 days

214 invited
42 attending
10 declined

RSVPs today were friends of my family, Josh & Tiffanie (decline) and Matt's cousin, Dan, and his girlfriend, Desiree.

I got the black gems in for one of the centerpieces today! I only need the square vases to come in and I'll be done!! Here's a picture of the centerpiece that I finished as well as the one for our sweetheart table:

The other day I wrote down everything that we still need to buy for the wedding. Surprisingly, it wasn't a long list! So that I have a virtual copy that I can't lose, here it is:
favors
-boxes
-purple & pink M&Ms
out of town bags
-bags (Michael's)
-bottled water (BJs)
-individual packets of aspirin
-cookie bags
-Friars car stickers (PC)
-CDs (Staples)
-CD mailers
kids bags
-reusable tote bags
-disposable cameras
-handheld games
-snacks (BJs)
gifts
-moms' clutches
-readers' cufflinks
-girls' jewelry (Lia Sophia)
-Jos A. Bank gift cards
-groomsmen t-shirts (debating between making and having them made)
-small black bags (for groomsmen gifts)
-Matt's cufflinks
attire
-Hannah's shoes
-Olivia's shoes
-Cole's socks
-sunglasses
ceremony/reception
-basket for bubbles at ceremony (Michael's)
-fans
-I spy card holders

We're so close! I'm so EXCITED!!

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!

CL

150 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)
                                 escort card letters (28/28 done)
                                 guestbook envelopes (115/115 done)

I got home to another mni-Christmas! I had three packages waiting for me, two of which were wedding-related.

First, I got the envelopes that we're using for the escort cards and guestbook. (I'm so glad I bought the Tacky Glue the other day!) I have already glued them into the book! I just need to add the labels to the envelopes and it will be completely done!

Second, I got my package from Vistaprint! In it was the I Spy cards, the rest of the RSVP cards (good thing, I just ran out), some more thank yous, and the stamp for the fans. Sadly, I ordered the invitations with a matte cover instead of glossy. They're still nice, but now they're different from the rest. I think that I'm going to use them for the bridal shower, though. I just need to order the fans!

The third package was the new mouse I ordered for our laptop. Just in time, too, because the left button was dying quickly on the old one. (It would stick after I let go of it.)

I'm going to really start making myself work on the bouquets so that I'm not rushing at the last minute. I have quite a bit to do on some of them and I'm so unmotivated.

And here are the pictures of the frames that I finished yesterday!

A Pocket for Corduroy

163 days

26/130 pocketfolds

I started our invitations the other night and have gotten a total of 26 done. That's what the number under my countdown is for. Right now I have everything but one insert, the rest of the stamps, and the labels (which are on their way), so I'm making the pocketfolds and then putting in what I have for inserts. I really like the way they are coming out and I'm saving a ton making my own instead of ordering the pocketfolds (SUPER expensive for 6x9 invites), but they are definitely a labor of love.

Speaking of labors of love, I really need to start working on the bouquets again. They have become rather neglected and I only have 5 months (seems like a lot, but it's not) to finish the other 5. On average that's one a month which I should be able to do. I just need to get into the groove again (and perhaps rangle my bridesmaids in to help with the pearls and everything). Of course, that also means I need to finish buying the brooches. Okay, well I need to work on the invitations!

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:

Covering It All

Last night I completed to cover of our guestbook! I started by using the Glue Dots to fasten a piece of ribbon around the front. Then I wrote everything in pencil (it's a linen cover so it can be erased) and then wrote over it in silver Sharpie. I really love it! All that's left to do now is buy and add in the envelopes!

The picture was taken on our bed, the black and white around it is our comforter.

It's in the Bag

I received another package from Vistaprint today with lots of goodies! I got the totes for our VIP girls and moms, some of the stickers for the menus, the guestbook signs, the thank yous that I ordered as small gifts for our moms, and the labels for the bubbles for after the ceremony.
Here are the totes:

The pictures of the stationery are on my website here.

I spent an hour early putting the labels on the bubbles. It was easy since they were plain plastic bottles, but I like having the labels on there explaining what the bubbles are for.

The fabric for the flowers for the tote bags should be coming in tomorrow, so I'll probably get started on those using CvilleClaire's instructions!

Boxer

I finished our card box tonight and it looks great! I just had to hot glue the strung pearls on, cut out the letters and glue them on as well, and put the bow on top. (For full instructions click here to see my website.) Here it is!

I also received the tote bags for my bridesmaids from Vistaprint today! They look great and I'm really excited to start decorating them! (Now I just need to order the chiffon for the flowers for them.) Here are pictures of them as well as mine which came in a couple days ago:

AND I ordered the wire for my hanger last night and it shipped TODAY! I'm so excited to get it!

Fumigated

I finished spray painting the frames for the table numbers! YAY! The apartment can finally air out completely! They look really good and all I need now are the numbers reprinted. (I had them printed but didn't think about margin space so parts of the quotes are getting cut off.) I'm buying glitter scrapbooking tape from Michael's for the favors and I think I may use it on the base of the frames as well since I can't get a ribbon to look good. I'll be sure to post pictures once I'm finished!

Hang On

I've been looking on Etsy for personalized hangers for my bridal party and myself. There are many options, but they are individually $8 and up which would mean at least $64. I love the ones with the bent wire, but I also saw one that was simply a painted wooden hanger with a name and design on it. I like this idea and it's something I could do myself! I found a 10 pack of wooden hangers online that will cost less than $20 with shipping. I can buy paint at Michael's and either get stencils or attempt to paint their names freehand. (Probably going with the stencils because who knows what it will look like otherwise.) I think I may buy one of the wire parts of the hanger with "Mrs.Denver" for my hanger to make it stand out since they're only $6.50. Plus, doing the painting myself, I can write on both sides of the hanger, perhaps the girls' names and their role as well as adding the date of the wedding. Maybe some fake flowers, rhinestones, and other embellishments, too. And with the 10 pack, I'll be able to do one for mine & Matt's moms! I'm so excited about these!

On another, completely unrelated note I made a "picture" of the wedding party and Matt and I.

I used familystickers.com to make the characters and tried to find bodies that corresponded with each person!

Decisions, Decisions

Speaking of them, Matt and I have finalized some things for the wedding. (Of course this means that I have made other decisions that I have to make.) However, here is what we have decided:

Flowers
The bouquets and boutonnieres will be made out of pearls instead of doing real flowers. They are absolutely beautiful and we'll be able to save them without adding an extra cost. Here's a link on how to make them (it's super easy)!
For our mothers' corsages, we're going to hopefully use scraps from their dresses and have them made by this seller on Etsy. (If we can't use the scraps, we'll have them made with new material in a color that matches the dresses.)
*See pictures below!

Tuxedos
We have settled on Joseph A. Bank to rent the groomsmen's tuxedos from. They are highly recommended and have all of the colors for vests that we will need.

I actually think that's all that we have decided on so far. On another note, we have an appointment with a potential videographer this Thursday. We will also be publishing the third newsletter at the end of the week, so I'll be sure to post it here.

Bouquets 

Boutonnieres

Corsgages

Fancy Fathers

Matt and I were originally going to get both of our dads cufflinks that would match the colors of our moms' dresses. Instead, the other day, I found Marine Corps cufflinks that I thought would be great for my dad. He was in the Marines straight out of high school and stayed in for several years before he was honorably discharged.

I thought that we should do something similar for Matt's dad; getting him cufflinks that meant something to him. Matt's dad is Irish so we found Celtic Triqueta cufflinks that are silver and will match anything!

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)