Welcome tleef and Mickey79sf!Shan- I have not tried Spanx but I understand they are super spandex.  I was referred to Soma Intimates (a division of Chico's) for garments with some sucking power but with less super spandex injury potential.  I eventually chose the Merry Modes slip and never even tried Soma.My wedding is coming up VERY fast!  This Friday is my last day in my current job and I will be starting the new job 3/10, working for two weeks, then taking three weeks off (one before the wedding and two after for the honeymoon).  Insanity!!!  Right now, I am trying to create placecards and avoid maiming a particularly annoying coworker before the end of the week...Wish me luck!  Tomorrow night is my first fitting with the seamstress.  That dress better fit!
I gave my mom free reign to put together goodie bags for the travelling guests. She's having a blast, but I think the gift bag budget has been tripled by now. Gotta love her!

Hi Lafayette: Your wedding IS coming up really fast! You'll have to let us know how the dress fits. My first fitting is coming up at the end of March so I feel your pain. I've started exercising like a maniac in hopes of not just dropping more poundage but a couple of inches as well. The dress fits already, but I'd like the corset at the back to cinch in a little tighter than it currently does!

Your thoughts on maiming your coworker made me giggle...so thanks for that. It was interesting to me to hear that you're starting a new job right before the wedding. I also applied for a new job and will find out by the end of this week. That would give me two months at a new job before I am off for the wedding. What is it with us crazy brides? You'd think that we'd be swamped enough with wedding planning, households, full time jobs...but NO we have to run out and get new careers while we're at it. I think proposals destroy brain cells! LOL

I'm working a full-time and part-time job, am president of a non-profit group in town, have a house to run, a teenaged daughter, Fiance...of course as well as our 2yr old dog, 5yr old rabbit and three parrots. Sometimes I think I must be crazy...but then again most of the time it all seems like it's so worth it.

Anyhow so you must be really ready for the wedding. I just had my floral consult and will have to put my deposit down and get those ordered right away. Other than that we have a bit of time still...although I'm sure it will just fly by, especially if I get that new job and can't spend hours a day surfing the internet! LOL

Have a great day!
Tamara

OK, you win!

What's up with all the non-profit chicks in this thread? I'm also looking into applying for a job with a 4/15 application deadline. Don't know how serious I am about it just yet, but anything could happen this spring!

We had a "teleconference" with the DJ this afternoon, so our last big vendor is tied up.

Do any of you have suggestions for readings? We want to keep things secular and a little light. So far we have my FFIL reading this:


I'd love to include something from childrens literature too, maybe Dr. Seuss or Sheil Silverstein. Any thoughts?

"Bad, love, Bad!" is the best line Nonprofit chicks rule!

I'm just finalizing the programs. All that's left after that is the seating arrangement and placecards.

The dress fits but the seamstress is giving me a little extra room up top. It turns out I'm a DD, not a D. We'll be making some alterations That, and I swear they figure the hem for 6'-tall women... you can't fix that with diet either!

Tleef- sleep when you're dead Apply and improve your prospects! My first day was awesome and I'm actually looking forward to the next two weeks of work instead of dreading the fact that I will have to stay focused (or at least appear that way) in a position I hate while I'd rather be doing wedding stuff.

To answer your question, Shan... http://weddings.about.com/od/yourwed...elReadings.htm

I like the Madeleine L'Engel reading: From "The Irrational Season" by Madeleine L'Engle

But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take…It is indeed a fearful gamble…Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature.

To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take…If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation…It takes a lifetime to learn another person…When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected.

Ahhh Yae!! I thought this forum was closed!!!!!!!

I have been in this relationship for almost 4 yrs. Yeshua & I got engaged March 21st of last year. I want to get married on our 5th yr together. May 2nd, 2009! But I would like to drop all this extra weight I gained after having my 2nd child.

Hi Elisarae!

I am bad diet example. I lost weight after a major abdominal surgery this past August and then ordered my dress in the next size up, just in case wedding cake samples got the better of me. Not exactly motivational... but I did get down to a size 8 from a 14.

Good luck! I'm getting married March 29 (yes, in less than three weeks) so I may be AWOL for a while, but I'm pulling for you! And best wishes on the engagement!

Well hun you couldn't help but loose the weight. I wish I was an 8!! I'm sorry you had to have surgery. I hope you are better now. And many congrats on the wedding, 3 weeks will be here in no time!! YAE!! Thank you for the lovely comments!

Elisarae- have you started your wedding planning yet? We talked out the tone and feel we wanted our wedding to have and the rest seemed to fall into place (with quite a bit of work, but you know what I mean). We stopped debating every decision and just went with what best met our overall plan and budget. I have to say, going the traditional route- Church ceremony, dinner/dancing reception at the county club, following the almighty Emily Post rules- made our wedding really easy to pull together.

Thank God, or I'd be totally insane right now!

I have started planning but Lord, I've already racked up 2 grand and haven't spent a dime yet. I know when time comes the total cost will be out the roof.
I dunno, maybe just a small wedding....Ahhh, it's so stressful.

Welcome elisarae! And congrats.

Lafayette, your wedding will be here so soon!

Called the dress shop, my dress should get delivered the week of 3/24.

I think we've basically decided on what entree options we want.


Option 1: Caribbean Polenta (from the caterer's standard menu)

Gourmet red pepper polenta topped with fresh mango salsa, baked red rice with black beans & toasted corn


Option 2: Custom menu we came up with

Grilled eggplant roulade (filled with a sauteed mix of mushrooms, greens like spinach or kale, and leeks or shallots) with roasted red pepper coulis, Pilaf stuffed pepper (I'd like the pilaf to be something unusual to make it a little more interesting if possible, I'm thinking quinoa - red lentil - toasted pine nuts would be a good combo), Grilled asparagus


I feel like I need a green vegetable with the polenta dish though. Meeting with the caterers on 3/30, we’ll talk about it then.

Cake thing is working itself out. Caterer might be able to accommodate us yet (they’re worried about dairy-free frosting? Don’t get it, again, going to discuss in meeting) but I have a back up bakery in Milwaukee if that falls through.

Found another job I’m interested in today. Who decides to start a job search 2 months before their wedding?

Are we having fun yet?

Ha! I started a new job this past Monday! Well worth the minor psychosis, let me tell you! I love the new place and they are thrilled to have me, even if my productivity is about to become a little questionable.

Elisarae- the best advice we received was to make the wedding reflect who we are as a couple. We sat and discussed how we wanted the day to go and what we wanted to have in general terms before we really started signing anything. It was exhausting, but it made everything much easier in the end.

Eat your heart out, brides to be! We created a seating chart for 200 people in under 30 minutes! And it's a really good one, too.

The programs are spitting out of the printer as I sit here and I'm holding off on the placecards until the week of the wedding (next week). Otherwise, I just have one final dress fitting and I'm ready to go! Yippee!

Now, ask me if I've packed for the honeymoon... I need to get on that!

Lafayette- have you packed for your honeymoon? Congrats on the new job! The day is approaching! How much time are you taking off for the wedding?

Sorry I have been MIA, but my new job kicked into high gear, school is crazy and we are level 1 planning mode
After being in DF's home state over the weekend and dealing with question after question, I can say, with just over 5 months left I have accomplished:
-the registry
-the dress
-almost done with BM dress details
-flower girl dress (no ring bearer)
-bachelor party is in the works
-DJ is hired
-dessert is settled (no wedding cake- homemade strawberry and lemon fruit tarts instead)
-reservations at the hotel are being made by guests
-menus are good to go
-photographer hired
-florist hired
-engagement pic session scheduled

Big ones remaining:
-hiring ceremony musicians (coming from the Aspen Music Fest and School so I have to wait until the start of the season in May)
-Groom and GM attire
-the officient (we NEED to get on this pronto)

When I'm awake, I'm excited and can't wait. However, I'm having nightmares again (my dress is a dark green prom dress, I show up at the wrong place and the most terrifying to date, my dad is a no-show!)

Hope planning is going well, ladies!

Oh, and I have a question: Are you double registering? For example, I'm registered at BB&B and Target. I registered for several items at both places (casual dinnerware, coffee makers, bedding, etc...) Is this incredibly stupid? They both have lax return policies so we can take things back, but I wonder if it was wise. Thoughts?

I am so glad this thread exists! I am so close to my goal, and I am determined to wait until I start trying on dresses. Good luck to everyone


Bride to be rock

Velsmore- welcome!

Junebug- I registered at two places and, in some cases, for the same thing at each. I think it's smart!

I have eight days to "I do." OMG! Today was my last day at work until April 14th. I took off the week before the wedding (tomorrow was a bonus cuz it's Good Friday) and two weeks after for the honeymoon. We're doing two weeks between Paris and London. Yes, on top of the historic spike in precious metals pricing, we are vacationing in Europe while the dollar is hitting historic lows. Oh, well! We're only doing this ONCE!