October 2, 2010

That's right. We have a date. No reception location, but a date. While our Pirates will be fighting their tails off in Chapel Hill, we'll be celebrating it up in G-Vegas. I love finally being able to tell people a definite date instead of "next October."

Since my mom has decided to join the world of fb (with tons of warnings about being one of those "old people on facebook") the entire world should know this date and have it inked into their calendars. So in case you don't, ink it in. It should be a good time.

Speaking of good times, we have a date but no location for the reception. We need a place to hold our big ole party and there seems to be none available in Greenville. Short of pitching a tent in a field, we've tried all our possibilities... and I'm getting frustrated.

Oh well! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry (late) Christmas! We've taken a break from wedding planning to enjoy Chrismtas with our families but I am itching to get things going. The coolest idea we came up with we found at church last Sunday. My church was bought out by a developer awhile back so we were forced to find land and build a new church. Well this new church is beautiful and amazing. I am pretty much stoked to get married there. When we went to worship last weekend the first thing you notice are these stars made out of wrapping paper and hung in the eves (ceiling) of the church.

First thing Blake says is "We need those at our wedding."... really babe? Do you understand how much folding and work that really is? I made the mistake of telling my mom and of course she has run with the idea. (I do love the idea, I think it will be beautiful, but I'm too tired to fold 200 origami stars.) So we have spread the word to close friends and family--we need silver and gold wrapping paper! Since that is most common around Christmas, we are off early this morning to buy out all the local Wal-Marts.

I'm going to see if I can get my GS to qualify this folding project as a "service project." I think they can definitely manage to fold these with me. If not, I can always have my students fold them for me... oh the joys of having close ties to quick and easy child labor!

But for now, man your battle stations. We are off to conquer Wally World, Lowe's, and the exciting world of the mall.

October What?

As we get farther into planning, it becomes quite obvious to us that we really need to set a date. I want October 9 because it's the day after my daddy's birthday and we all know how much of a daddy's girl I am. But ECU football doesn't seem to agree. Everybody says the schedule won't be out until at least February and I'm sorry, but February doesn't work with my Type A-gotta-get-it-done-now style. I would like to have the big things booked by January so we can then focus on the details.

So that brings us to October 2. The only day in October that we are for sure ECU has an away football game--at UNC. That's a big rivalry game for ECU and UNC is super close so a lot of Pirates will travel but if you're willing to give up our wedding for the ECU vs. UNC game, then maybe you aren't supposed to come anyways. At least that's the take we've adopted. So October 2nd is looking like our future anniversary date.

Now that we have a semi-real date, we are contemplating reception locations. And wow. This is going to be interesting to find a place in Greenville that will suit our wedding size and not cost my entire inheritance...

Dresses Take 2

This past week we went to David's Bridal to try on dresses again. Not that I have a strong dislike for the monopoly they have on the bridal scene or anything... but I was not planning on liking anything I tried on. But guess what? I did.

The Momma, The Mother-in-Law, The Wedding Planner, The Sister-in-Law, and The Maid of Honor joined the party this time. (Yea, I know, we like to party big at the bridal stores...) I tried on several dresses and let's just say I had worked all day and then to come try on dresses, I got pooped easily. I absolutely loved one by Oleg Cassini but with its $1,050 price tag, it was a little over my budget. I know I told the lady that I was willing to pay the difference over my mom's budget, but that's seriously pushing it. I am a teacher after all. There was another possibility there and I might go back to try it on.

Stressed? I think so.

So almost three weeks after we got engaged I'm expected to have the ENTIRE wedding planned? Really?? Every person I run into always asks, so have you gotten your gown yet? Do you have invitations? What are your colors? I know I've planned this since I was teeeny tiny, but give me a break. I do have somewhat of a life outside of wedding planning.

I feel like people think I have to make all the decisions about this wedding right now. I know ten months isn't that long, but it's plenty long enough to plan this wedding. I don't have to make all the decisions right now.

I know what I want. I know how I want my day (I mean, our day...) to go. I know where I want it. I know the feel I want. But I don't have to solidify everything right now. I'm afraid that I'll feel so pressured to make a decision that I'll just say ok, whatever. And that's what I don't want. I don't want to do ANYTHING for this wedding that is not exactly how I want it. I know everybody has their own opinions and all but this is MY day. The one and only time I get married. And I think I deserve that.

So, please leave me alone about the wedding stuff. I will get it done, you know that. And it will be absolutely perfect.

K, rant over. Thanks.

Dress Shopping

Oh wow! That's all I have to say about it. I've always thought I knew what kind of dress I wanted: simple, elegant, timeless. Well, apparently that's all they make. (Not really but there are TONS like that!) Mom, FMIL, and FSIL went shopping in Smithfield yesterday and swung by for a "short" visit to the bridal world. Yea, "short" isn't a term they use there. It took 3 hours to try on about 10 gowns and we found 3 we REALLY liked. We ranged from the super fruffy with the tutu-like fru-fru underneath to the slim-line sheath. We had total lace old ladyish to the kind that look like it came right off the fashion runway that we all say we'd never wear. I'm not sold though. And I think for once in my life not being picky is proving to be horrible because I like different aspects of each dress.

UGH! I know we've only been to one store but by the time we got home last night I was pooped. I slept for 12 hours just recooperating from the experience. David's Bridal is up next in a week or so and then maybe to Burlington.... we'll see how that goes.

The Date

And that's the big question. When are we going to get married? I have planned my wedding since I was 12. Yes, I was one of those girls who dreamed about her wedding day and I do want it to be just perfect... but none of that can become a reality until I have finally set a date.

Here's the issue: I want a fall wedding, but Greenville (and us of course!) are HUGE Pirate football fans. Octobers and Pirate football go hand-in-hand except for when we are searching for that one weekend in October when I want to get married. And now we start patiently waiting for the 2010 football schedule so we can book our venues and start some real planning.

This Saturday momma & I are going to Smithfield... I'm excited to start trying on some wedding dresses :)