Thursday

2 days

I have been on my feet today since 6 30 this morning! I worked from 7 to 3 30 today and then went immediately to pick up Cris from the bus station. We came back to the apartment and packed up most of the boxes for the reception. Cris, Jess, and I went to the Biltmore and delivered the boxes. We then went to pick up my dress, which I tried on again and it fits perfectly! After that we went to get pedicures, but had to schedule them for tomorrow before our manicures. Then we went to Walmart and got the rest of the supplies for the escort cards, out of town bags, and honeymoon. We picked up Matt and went to dinner at Newport Creamery and we JUST got back.

However, I am SO excited for the next two days...and the honeymoon!!

Altered State

47 days

222 invited
127 attending
34 declined

RSVPs today:
-my proxy godfather, Joel, and his wife, Stephanie
-my high school friend, Missy
-my college friend, Adri, and her boyfriend, Neal
I ordered a pretty (and sexy) satin nightie for the wedding night/honeymoon from Frederick's of Hollywood last night! Here's a picture, only I ordered it in black:

I had my alterations appointment tonight! Shannon went with me to take pictures as well as have her dress altered. Mine will be about $290, including a steaming to make the tulle look better. It's about half of what I would have paid at Alfred Angelo. Here's a great picture of the two of us:

 Someone bought our panini press off our registry today! I'm wicked excited because that was one of our favorite items!!

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!

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!

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.)

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.

Brooch Blues

149 days

Currently working on: pocketfolds (62/130 done)
                                   bouquet pearls (5/8 done)

I ordered my wedding dress label tonight! The money finally transferred to my Paypal account, so I put in my order on Etsy! It's a simple white piece of grosgrain ribbon with my initials and wedding date sewn into it. Here's the sample image that was on the listing:

I also ordered three more brooches for the bouquets which I have started working on again! I finished the pearls for Jess's bouquet and I'm going to start one of the other two. I'm determined to finish the pearls this weekend! Here are the brooches I ordered: the last one for Hannah's bouquet and two more for Jess's.

Hannah

Jess

Jess

I'm planning on buying my bridal shower dress tomorrow before it goes out of stock again, especially since the other one I liked is no longer available at all. I'll update on how that goes.

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!

How Could I Forget?

Oh my! I totally forgot about one of the most important parts of the wedding: my dress!

On June 12, my mom, my aunt, my grandmother, my sisters, my maid of honor, and one of my bridesmaids went to the Alfred Angelo store in North Attleboro to look for my dress! I had been looking at their dresses for, um, years. (I admit it.) I knew that I wanted one of their beautiful dresses, especially because they look designer but cost SO much less!

I ended up trying on 6 different dresses, but I already kind of knew which one I really wanted. I tried it on and, BAM!, love at first sight! I wanted to make sure that I really felt that way, so I tried on some others and I still felt the pull. The dress I got is part of Alfred Angelo's Disney Princess Collection, based on Belle from Beauty and the Beast. (My absolute favorite Disney movie!) My mom payed the initial 50% deposit of a little over $500 and I picked up the dress three weeks later. The total came to about $1100 which, after watching hours of "Say Yes to the Dress", I now know is a steal.

And now, here are some pictures of the dresses I tried on and my final choice!

Dress #1

Dress #2: Belle, my final pick!

Dress #3 which I like less every time I see it

Dress #4

Dress #5: Tiana

Dress #6