Hey gals - just one week before I head out to Michigan before the wedding! Yikes!

I am sort of floundering right now to try to figure out what still needs to be done - maybe I have it all done already????

I do need to do my table number still, but otherwise, all my DIY projects are done I believe. Still need to get some music info to the DJ. But otherwise drawing a blank.

Hey, any suggestions for finding an ivory dress to change into at the reception (my wedding dress is just so uncomfortable - I'll never dance in it!). I found a great one at Newport News, and then it was on backorder! I need a 16W so it needs to be available in women's sizes. Any guidance would be appreciated - I've looked everywhere locally.
Cindy

I'm a bride-to-be (and have been for 2 years, long story), no date set yet, september 08 or 09 I think.. but I thought I would introduce myself to the group and say HI!

I'm not doing too bad with the budget, but I'm pretty sure I'll be going over $2k. My mom is also giving me $1K but we're using that for the honeymoon! I'm thinking if I can spend $3K total on the actual wedding, we'd be doing pretty great. The thing is, I'm actually trading for the invitations. I found a screenprinter who needs a website, so I'll be making her website and she's printing my paper stuff. HOWEVER, I'm trying to keep the cost down so I can actually make some money off the deal :P I have decided that I will go ahead and go with Save the Date postcards. I have them designs and ready to go for the most part! I'm still working on the budget (the wedding is 6mo away) so I still have time...


**EDIT** here are my saves the date designs... my printer still has to go over them and make sure they are "screenprint safe" ... but I'm really happy with them

Rakel- very cute Save the Date cards!

ValentineBride- welcome!!!

BfL Cat- try Target's website. They have wedding dresses designed by Isaac Mizrahi and the one I checked (Opal cream strapless sheath dress for $89.99) goes to size 18. Looking at the options, the most you'll probably spend is $200. Let me know if this works- I'm tempted to buy my wedding dress there just based on the price!

Thanks guys! I got a big THUMBS UP from my printer so she's gonna print them up now . I've been doing lots of work on my wedding website... you guys are welcome to check it out, but I don't have any content up yet, I've just been working on the design. It's the first time I ever made a Wordpress template from 100% scratch, so it's definitely been a learning experience... and there are still some bugs with the script I used to insert font headlines on-the-fly, I believe that is what's causing it to bring up ugly 403 errors when you try clicking on some things. BUT... still working on it.

check it!: fairfull.us

MissMess- No kidding, we have every item on that list! In some cases, we have two! So many of the big items were gifts that I hesitate to register for new ones for fear of upsetting the givers. My mom and aunts have long held the belief that I would take an interest in cooking if I just had the right equipment. I'm pretty sure that's how I got a stand mixer for my birthday.

I did discover last night (when I almost sliced my fingers off) that we need a bagel slicer. That's one item!!!

I started to plan our registry. FINALLY. China and crystal with a few silver serving pieces plus tablecloths, sheet sets and towels. I also added a good quality down comforter.

My future sister-in-law told me in the nicest way to stop being so pragmatic! It's actually pretty fun now that I've started to think extravagant instead of practical. Can you tell I prefer to give rather than receive?!?

Is anyone else getting married in a Church then going to another location for their reception? We're trying to figure out transportation from the Church to the reception now. What are you guys doing?

One week to go - eek!

We registered at Macy's and William Sonoma. I only have 60 guests, and we only had one MI shower - none in NY due to some confusion, so I didn't get a lot off my registries. Which is ok, since I'm 43 and I have all the stuff I really need. The W-S stuff is more of a treat for my cooking, and I will buy some stuff with the gift cards I've gotten. We did get a set of Waterford candlesticks from our Macy's registry - I was quite surprised that someone got us such a nice $$ gift!

We are just having the guest drive from the church to the reception - I was going to try to shuttle them, but it's just not in the budget. I do have a couple of designated drivers though, in case the open bar is too much for some guests. All of my places are only about 5 miles apart, so it's easy for us to manage.

I'm trying to clean the house up for the pet sitter - it's a disaster, then I need to tackle some final DIY projects - table numbers, finish place cards, photo site card, and that's about it.

Then the creation of the to-do and to-pack list begins!
Cindy

PS - Rakel - love the STDs - I wish I could design stuff like that myself!

MissMess & BFL -- thanks!

Lafayette -- We are considering it. We're either going to have it at our church, or at our apartment complex clubhouse (can't afford anywhere else :P). I don't really know what the most appropriate thing is, but I know my sister had a pretty formal wedding and people just drove their cards to the reception spot. I don't think you need to provide any transportation for guests... or do you mean for yourself? If that's the case, people either get limos or... ?? Their own car?

So much going on here!


Cindy - Down to the wire now, eh? Good luck with everything, I'm sure it will be lovely!

rakel - How cool that you can design your own invites and save-the-dates! And that trade deal is saving you a bundle.

The couple that will be sharing our ceremony site with us (their wedding is a couple hours after ours) has agreed to split costs on the tent and chair rentals, and they seem nice and easy to work with so that looks like it's going to work out fine. We also confirmed with the ceremony site that our dog will be allowed, even though the gardens don't generally allow dogs. So Dexter gets to be "Best Dog", he's going to look sharp in a bow tie

We are having a problem with stuff being discontinued on our Crate and Barrel registry. In retrospect we should have gone with BB&B.

Wedding website is starting to come together, still needs some work http://www.shannonjason.com/

I found my dress on Saturday! Good thing, it's about 1/3 of the cost of the dress I was infatuated with last week. It very simple and elegant, and also very comfortable! I'm so excited and happy to have that detail taken care of.

Meeting with this florist this Wednesday. Feeling a little more on top of things now.

shananigans -- lovely website! I like the color scheme a lot and the dark wood! I'm super happy that I found someone to trade the invitations with because I would be in big trouble otherwise! I am certainly feeling blessed about that for sure!

Shan- so glad you found a dress! Pictures?

Rakel- My fiance thought my plan to coordinate others to drive groomsmen and bridesmaids to the Church and reception (we'd get some time to ourselves in a car or limo between the two events that way) was great until he attended a friend's wedding a few weekends ago and they had a bus for the entire wedding party. He just wants to be sure we've covered all the bases. I'm torn because the idea of a few minutes alone has definite appeal!

Cindy- Good luck!

The store I'm getting my dress from has a "no pictures till you buy" policy, which is weird, no? Thankfully I brought a bridesmaid with me and she assures me that it looks hot from all angles I'm going to try and get some pictures when I go in for measuring this Thursday.

At my sister's wedding had a "party bus" to get the wedding party and bride and groom from the ceremony to reception. We stopped at a few scenic places along the way to hop off and take pictures too. It was so fun to get the party started with champagne and dancing (there was a pole on the bus, it was put to use ) before we even got to the reception. We liked it so much we got the wedding party to pitch in on a limo bus as a gift to the bride and groom at our friends' wedding a few weeks ago. If you can get a large number of people to chip in it becomes pretty affordable, and very worth it in my opinion.

OK, if my fiance can find a bus with a pole, we're getting a bus!!! Wait 'til he hears this!

I've heard of several stores that forbid pictures and even forbid writing down designers and style numbers. Whatev... then again, I've watched women tie up dressing rooms for their fashion shoots.

I broke down and started the ball rolling on my own bridal shower since everyone was "too busy." I had almost convinced myself it wasn't that big of a deal not to have a shower and then I thought, "HEY! I bought this stuff for everyone else!" Amazingly enough, if you plan your own shower, people come out of the woodwork to "host" it. Hmm... since I also get to foot the bill, we're just throwing a party here at the house with food and drinks.

Oooh, and I have to share- we're "registering" for gift cards from Home Depot. I wandered into the kitchen for registry inspiration and found I really wanted new flooring, light fixtures, cabinetry hardware and paint. I knew I could find SOMETHING we needed for the kitchen if I looked hard enough!

Hi gals - yes, definitely down to the wire! I picked up my last set of DIY stuff from Staples today, and we're heading out to pick up the engraved cuff links shortly.

We leave for MI in the morning - car will be packed tonight and then once there, we'll be crazy busy again.

I'll send a photo or two when I get a chance!
Cindy