and today marks...

Just six short months left until our wedding! Every time we reach another milestone in the planning time frame I have an overwhelming flood of conflicting emotions - joy and panic. Joy wins today.
A few minutes ago, I sat down with my planner to write in holidays and such that are coming up through the end of the year and...SCORE!!! I have a LOT of time off during September and October. Days where I can concentrate fully on DIY projects and all things wedding related. At least, that's the plan. My office is closed for holidays or, I am taking vacation on:

• September 1 - holiday
• September 12 - vacation for florist appts and shopping with my mom for her dress
• September 30 - holiday
• October 1 - holiday
• October 9 - holiday
• October 14 - holiday
• October 30 - vacation for engagement photos!

Now, I just need to really organize my thoughts (and supplies) about each of my DIY projects, schedule them out and make a plan. And, maybe, use one of those days to shop for BP gifts and Christmas gifts at the same time.

On another note entirely...I may have mentioned earlier that I have a cat. I adopted him 11 years ago as an adult rescue and, until I moved in with FI, he was my only roommate for all this time. My poor boy has not handled this move well at all. He's not acting like himself, is not using his litter consistently and doesn't seem to be bathing himself as well. He is an elderly cat but, these are not good signs. So, I'm taking him to the vet this afternoon and just hoping they have an easy solution for us.

where did THAT come from?

I'm a fan of television in general. Particularly, wedding shows right now (go figure) but during the regular season I'm addicted to Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, Lipstick Jungle, Chuck, Law and Order: SVU and a few others. When I moved into FI's house in June, we counted the televisions and just shook our heads. FOUR sets for TWO people. A 27", a 25" and two 13". Seriously a disgrace. We have one in the living area (open floor plan living/kitchen/dining), another in the bedroom, a third in the office and the last in the garage. All plugged in and functional.

On Saturday, FI called me me from work and had me write "Sunday 11:00 am West" on the fridge memo board, telling me he had to pick up a surprise and that I could not ask questions. Umm...okay? Later, he tells me that he will be picking up a pre-wedding gift and that he was asked not to tell me who it was from just yet. Fine. So, Sunday he went out to run his errand and came home with this: A 42" LCD HD-TV. Yes, shamefully, we now own FIVE televisions. Seriously. Conspicuous consumption is alive and well in the MrB and SoonToBeMrsB household!!! A lovely and unbelievably generous gift and one that will have at least one old set sitting out at the yard sale next weekend. FI was finally able to reveal the gift-giver last night - a long-time, close friend of the family who will be unable to make the wedding and wanted us to have the gift now.

Now, how exactly does one go about writing a thank you note for something of this magnitude?

you are seated at...

Table numbers. They are necessary so, why not make them cute! The standard numbers at our venue are a.w.f.u.l. I had already thought about making them but, after seeing those last weekend there was no doubt! Originally, I thought about incorporating some of our e-pics (once they are done, of course!) but, I figured I'd play around with other ideas too.

I have this little obsession with quotations and, after we were engaged, I started a file with love quotes figuring I could use them here and there. Here is a rough draft of a table number sign (would be 5x7" in a silver frame) using both our colors and a quote. Thoughts????
The fonts used in the quote (Copperplate Gothic Light and Edwardian Script ITC) are the same style we used on our save the dates and will be using for our programs and invites...see where I'm going here? As for the numbers, I'm not super happy with this one but, I'm having a tough time finding a swirly number font that isn't at a diagonal (this one is Scriptina). Any suggestions?

save the dates...

And, here it is! FI and I went through dozens of ampersand designs until we found one we liked for our monogram, several revisions to get the design of the card down and then order the magnets. In the end, this was the final result that was mailed out to family and friends a few weeks ago:
Every time we visit someone on our guest list, the first thing we do is check the fridge to see if the magnet is up! We just can't help being excited about seeing our plans in motion.

So, where else will we use the monogram? A few places:

• programs
• runners for the cake and sweetheart tables
• menus
• favor boxes

The only difference will be changing the "&" to a "B" for the runners, favors and menus. We chose not to use our married last initial until we are officially married so, the programs will have the design as shown above. As for the use, three or four key places seem right to me. We don't want to over-do it but, I think it will add a nice personal touch. None of the weddings I have been to have used a monogram design so, I'm hoping it will stand out a bit with our crowd.

Also, I have a small CHECK from yesterday. Remember this post? Well, horchow.com e-mailed me a 20% off coupon yesterday so, I went online right away and ordered my "B" embosser for the Wish Jar cards. With the coupon it came in under $30, including shipping and should be here by early October. Score! Want one of your own? The sale was extended through today - Code: ONEDAY20

so much closer, so very excited...

This weekend has been a whirlwind of all things wedding - from start to finish. FI and I ended up getting a lot accomplished and, though we didn't think it was possible, are even more excited about our wedding.

1. On Saturday, we met with our amazing photographer. Each time we speak with him it is so clear why we chose his company - we get along so well and he immediately puts us at ease. And, of course, his work is stunning! During our meeting, we booked our engagement session for late October and decided on the locations: starting in Central Park, the steps of the Met, Grand Central Station, the Brooklyn Bridge and ending up in DUMBO. He shared some photos from a recent engagement session and we were just amazed at the emotional in the pictures...can't wait for ours!

2. Another visit to our venue. It was to be a quick trip to drop off another payment but, then we were told that due to another smaller booking of an event (a bar mitzvah that starts an hour after our reception begins) on our wedding day, they bumped us up into the larger, gorgeous Grand Ballroom. Check it out...

Our Sweetheart table will be set-up directly in front of the huge arched window. No photo can do this room justice. The entire wall of windows overlooks the water and will be lit up during the cocktail hour by the sun setting over the water. We were lucky enough see it set-up for a wedding of approximately our size and it really looked wonderful. Also made up my mind on a few DIY things - I will definitely be making my own place cards and table numbers (I do not like the venue defaults).

3. Saturday night was dinner with Jess, my best friend from college. I asked her to be a bridesmaid, working it in to part of her birthday gift and she said "yes!" My bridal party is now complete...let the dress shopping begin!

4. Sunday morning - We got to Macy's just after opening to set-up our registry (our first is at BB&B). I started a collection of Fiestaware several years ago and love it so, we registered for more. Also, some bakeware and picture frames. Macy's gives a nice registry incentive of a red Victorinox bag which made hauling all of the wedding mags out of the mall a lot easier! 5. We decided on our centerpieces!!! We knew we wanted something low and with candles for a romantic glow - perfect for a nighttime reception in February in New York. After shopping around for a while and using a table display to try out different combinations, we hit on one that we loved and jumped on the main components - vases, silver leafed chargers and clear and ice blue glass pieces - enough for 18 tables. We also picked up a couple packages of crystals to scatter on the chargers to refract the light. We'll pick up more over the next couple of months, after deciding how many we'll need. A little later in the year I'll order the pillar and votive candles and votive holders and we'll be set! MAJOR CHECK!!!!

Whew...I am tired, excited, optimistic and so relieved to have gotten so much done in just a few hours.

w.r. weekend...

As I was looking though a few knottie bios this week, I found a Wish Jar idea that I love (pics courtesy of knottie mauiluv). This would be in addition to our signature mat. I love the idea of having these little advice/wish cards after the wedding and placing them in an album to reflect on through the years. Her particular idea may have pulled me in more because we share the same married initial. I love that the embosser (from horchow) is something that I can order and then use forever:

The frame will have the following poem (from knottie danigirl715):

From each of your experiences come a very precious gift, a piece of well earned knowledge that we didn’t know exists…
Please share with us your wisdom about marriage, love & life, how to be a caring husband and what makes the perfect wife…
Please write down your reflections and your valuable insights, for the greatest gift of all to us is the gift of your advice.
We look forward to reading your warm thoughts and good wishes.
With sincere thanks from the new Mr. and Mrs.

or this one - short and sweet:

Please leave us a note, please drop us a line, add advice on marriage, to stand the test of time.

FI and I have lots of things on the wedding related to-do list this weekend starting with someone else's wedding tonight! I haven't been to a wedding in just over two years (and those friends are now expecting their first child!). So, I'm looking forward to tonight's Vow Renewal/At-Home Reception for once of FI's co-workers and his new wife.

Saturday morning we have a meeting with our photographer to book our E-pics (sometime in October). We decided to have them taken on and around the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO and in Central Park. On the way home, we'll stop at our venue to make another payment (one of mannnnyyy, of course!). I'm planning to look at linens and chairs while we are there and confirm that we can use candles in our centerpieces. Later, I'm meeting up with a long-time friend of mine to ask her to be a bridesmaid. She's been traveling all summer and I haven't seen her to ask in person (I'm a bit of a hopeless bride, I suppose!).

Sunday, we'll be shopping around for centerpiece ideas and plan to scoop up a few things to bring home and do mock-ups (I'll post pics, of course!). We also need to get into Macy's to register for some Fiestaware - our everyday dishes - and bedding.

the search...

My bridal party is made up of four amazing women - Corine (my sister and MOH), Aurie (my cousin), Diane and Jess. Three of them have been married and all of them have been in several wedding parties (so have I). Knowing this, I decided to go easy on all of us in terms of their attire. I'm asking them to choose any black dress that they like at David's as long as it is between knee and tea length. Since they can choose the style that they are comfortable in, I'm fairly certain they'll be able to wear it again. Who can't use a black cocktail dress, right?

I mentioned that last week, my sister and I went shopping for her MOH dress. She ended up finding two that she absolutely loves and looks beautiful them. Two very different styles and fabrics but, totally up to her. And, here they are...

#1 - Jim Hjelm #5850T. The material is silk and it is absolutely beautiful on her. Plus, MOH will be the only one flying in and this dress is very packable. The salesperson scrunched it up in her fist and when she let go, all it needed was a hand smoothing and it was perfect again. (No, it's not a David's dress but, she loves it and she IS the MOH after all). The downfall: $$$
#2 - David's #F12723. So flattering on her and she felt very comfortable moving around it. Since my nephew will be just over 2 at the wedding, picking him up might be a bit easier in this one. The downfall: Would have to be steam pressed after her flight.