In this case, we do need to turn around.

We all pile into the limo and we're ready to go.  With me are my parents, my brother Joe (aka, bro of honor), my cousins jr bridesmaid and flower girl and Jake.  We pull away from the hotel and I play with the radio station, as my dad is talking up a storm to Jake.  Jr bridesmaid is looking out the window and flower girl is taking in the sights of her first limo.  

 this is such a cool picture. I saw it, loved it and knew that Jake got us.

I look at my mom who is sitting next to me and I ask "you have the rings, right?"  Can you guess her answer?

She gasps like a deer just ran out in front of her while she was driving and her hands fly up over her face.  Everyone snaps their heads in her direction.  Joe fills them in and the adults are shocked.  As for me, I'm perfectly fine.  I don't think I could be that calm on a normal day but nothing could really freak me out that day.  We tell the driver to turn around and I text Richard to tell him my mom forgot the rings.  I still have his response: "Yikes. Ok no worries.  It'll all start on time."

Joe says he fufilled his duties as bro of honor by running up to the hotel room to get the rings.  He was just as calm as me, but he usually is anyway.

We made it to the church in time, thankfully.  We were the ones with the programs, flowers...and the bride!

We gathered in the bride's room where we met with our priest a couple times.  MIL & SIL were already in the room when we got there.  Our florist Patty was there as well to give flower girl her flower basket.  Snag #2...she wanted a bouquet and literally threw the basket down with all the force she could muster.  My dad, standing next to me said, I told you that you shouldn't have involved her.  My only bridezilla moment was when I looked at him and told him that it was my decision and he needs to stay out of it.  Glad Jake was taking pictures of the church at this time.  


A few minutes later, the woman making sure our ceremony came in the room and said it was time.  Everyone lined up and I was about to make my way through a doorway from the rectory to the church but someone said the name Richard and I immediately backed up and hid behind a tall set of filing cabinets.  When we were given the all clear, we lined up by the door.  I was arm in arm with my parents already, watching everyone walk down the aisle.  Nicole was standing there next to us and she saw my mom starting to get emotional.  She handed her a little package of tissues so she had something to cry into when she reached the pew.  That girl thought of everything.  I was in awe of her all day.


I couldn't wait to walk down that aisle to my groom.


xoxo

Ten Days

Programs are printed and they look amazing, thanks to my super talented fiance who worked so hard on them. Almost every RSVP has been sent back to us and we even got a card from the Obama's! Bachelorette party this weekend. Meetings with photog, dj and florist have been taken care of. Thank you cards came in a matter of days. There is finally a hair and makeup person to take care of us. We are scoring a pretty sweet deal at our reception site and the words "I want to honor what you were told" have been said. I have to count my blessings because we do have a lot to be really thankful for.

Here I am ten days away and still no dress. My family must have a problem with dresses because my mom's dress got snagged as well when they were hemming the bottom. She's waiting on her dress to come in as well. My dress was supposed to come in yesterday but Richard was called and told "maybe tomorrow". You just don't say that to a person who's getting married next weekend. I know I'm being told it's on it's way but that nagging feeling won't go away. So I've decided if it doesn't come in today, I'm not messing around anymore. I need to find a dress that can at least serve as a back up.

All that drama aside though, I'm getting pretty freaking excited. I'm getting married and I can't wait! The things I'm most excited for is exchanging vows, dancing and getting to San Diego. I cannot wait to get to San Diego, people. With my new husband!!!!!!!!!! :) Love it.

xoxo

Well, this is a surprise.

24 days.

I don't have a wedding dress.

Yes, I'm freaking out. I'm actually doing a lot better than I was yesterday though. I was at work ready to have an anxiety attack.

Let me tell you the short version.

I called the shop, they said the dress was in. Thanks for calling and telling me that. So I made an appointment. Monday, I go in to try the dress on in all it's glory. After waiting with a friend for a few minutes, I know something is wrong. The manager comes back and says my dress isn't here, there was a snag in it so they had to send it back (to China) and I'm getting a new one. At that point, I'm speechless. My friend starts talking for me. The woman promises it will be here in time, we'll work with the fastest seamstress they have. Then she tells me this: "We just didn't want you to worry and freak out."

It's three weeks before my wedding. I don't have a dress. You didn't want to freak me out?! Well, I am now!!

When it gets down to it, none of us believe that the dress was there to begin with. The place that the dress is made is closed for Chinese New Year and they don't know when it will open again. My dress will be in the next shipment, whenever that may be. Let's just say we're calling everyday now.

So, I may be on the hunt for a new dress. My mom is going to the shop on Saturday which I think is just wasting time but she wants to do it in person in the middle of the store so people know what they're dealing with. She said she will be talking nicely and calmly but if she needs to go momzilla on them, she will. Her goal is to either walk out with the sample, a sample of any other dress I want in the store or money to buy me a sample somewhere else.

I'm trying to stay positive. Whatever happens, at the end of the day I'm marrying Richard and that is all that matters.

xoxo

NaNoWriMo

I'm not going to write a lot because I just wrote a NOVEL but... I am a bonafied winner according to National Novel Writing Month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Omg...I just wrote a novel! Complete with a beginning, middle and end!

Thank you for all your support along the way. It meant so much to me and literally kept me going when all I wanted was to give up.

xoxo

Crazy times, bride brain

I can't even begin to tell what is going on right now. I never knew that so many of the decisions that have been made would upset so many people. If I would have known this, I would have kept my opinion about making decisions and wouldn't make them at all! Indecisive is the way to go! No one gets upset. I so wish I could vent all over the place here but I'm going to refrain just in case someone stumbles across this blog. I never, ever knew so many silly, idiotic and down right stupid things would make me upset and cry. I just want the wedding to be a happy affair for us, our families and friends...

Then I need to remember this awesome advice that I got from Brittany... don't lose your voice in the planning. She's totally right. No matter what, this is our day and I'm going to make sure it reflects us. I'm going to bring in some things I don't want to do for my mom (so pretty much every wedding tradition known to man), I'm going to listen to what others want...but it's our day. I need to do what's right for us.

Is there a support group for brides? :)

xoxo

reception venue part 2

Yesterday PeachGroom called our venue to find out what was going on. Turns out that the person who told us he'd be in charge of our wedding doesn't work there anymore. Um, what? He didn't tell us that he was filling in for someone on maternity leave. And no one called us when the woman who is doing our wedding came back. I'm trusting you people with one of the biggest days of my life and giving you an insane amount of money...and you don't keep me in the know?

Needless to say I'm a little annoyed at the unprofessional way this was all handled. When I emailed her to ask if we could meet soon because I wanted to get to know her since she was doing the wedding and not who we originally thought, she didn't even apologize.

I know all of this might not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it makes me feel a little unsettled.

Reception venue

Today I passed our reception venue that I love. I love the building. I love the space. I love the sound of all the food.

I don't love our catering manager right now. I emailed him for a list of recommended djs.

2 weeks ago.

I know that there are tons of things that could be going on such as vacation, family emergencies and it is wedding season. I just get the feeling like he's brushing us off as if we don't matter yet because we aren't getting married until March. That doesn't mean I don't need to know things now though. I'm talking to vendors, I'm planning. For example, they offer lighting at the hotel. Well, we were offered lighting through a dj this week. How can I compare to see what's the best for our wedding if you don't answer?? Ugh.

xoxo