January 12th 2008

[RJE080703]

So its just over 4 months till the big day, and my brain feels like its constantly going 100 miles an hour. I am the type of person to want everything done weeks before the wedding, and its getting very hard to keep straight what I have done and what I still need to do.

So here's a list of what I have done (hopefully I dont forget something):

Bought Dress & had it altered
Bought shoes, slip, bra
Bought FG dress for my daughter
Made appointments to pick out tuxedos next weekend
Book Church
Pre-marital session with Priest
Pre-marital questionaire
Book Reception Site - Owe $275
Visit Site and arrange layout for reception (Tables, chairs, bar, and kitchen included)
Book Caterer and linens - Owe about $700
Book florist and discuss all the flowers - Paid OFF!
Book Cakes - Paid OFF!
Book Band - Owe $200
Make Coloring books and bind colors for kids - DONE!
Bought all the decorations and made them for the wedding and reception
Booked hairstylists for me & BM's
Book Organist
Photographer
Garter

Still to do:
Tuxes
Make Programs - Half done
Make Invitations
Finish BM gift bags
Book hotel rooms for OOT guests
Pay for Booze
Assemble favors for reception

Ummm, I'm now drawing a complete blank... Not sure what else I have left.

Any ideas of things I am forgetting would be great! Or maybe things I havent even thought about!

[Montanabride]

What about. . .

Tuxes
Garter and Veil
Flower girl hair (ribbons or bow ect. . )
Rehersal dinner site booked
Photographer (list of shots you want)
Reception order (how u want things to go)
Postage bought (kinda sneaks up on ya for invites)
GM gifts

Um i cant think of anything else rite now. . i will update if i think of more.
Looks like you are doing well with 4 months to go!

[RJE080703]

Actually for the tuxes I have already picked a place or two, printed out coupons and talked to FH about it. Now its just up to him to get over there and deciding on what style and color. FH is also supposed to take care of the GM gifts. They are all big time hunters, and so we were going to get them these really nice hunting Knives and have them engraved. Just have to get him to the store to buy them so I can take them to the engraving store.

As far as the garter I already have both. The one to keep and the one to throw. I havent yet decided on whether I want to even wear a veil yet. I guess that’s one thing I will decide on after my hair trial.

FMIL is taking care of the rehearsal dinner. So I havent even worried about it, but maybe I should at least make sure she has an idea, and gets it taken care of in a timely manner.

I already have the photographer too Just forgot it… OOPS! Same thing with postage for invites, havent even considered it yet, but definitely I need to put on the to-do list!


Thanks for your help!! Much appreciation! Ya'll will definately help keep me on my toes thats for sure

[AshNJam07]

We spent so much money on postage, make sure you're ready for that cuz you need two stamps for each invite, and if it's heavy you'll need the more postage on the outer envelope.

[RJE080703]

OMG!! Just realized my ticker is under 3 months!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! Its just zooming by! I do feel pretty prepared so far, but there are always the things I cant finish until the last minute and those are the ones that are gonna get me.

[Yelycrazygirl]

I understand your excitment, I'm already there too.... and time is going really but really fast!!!!

[Mary2008Weds]

OMG I bet your sooo excited that its just around the corner. I am excited for you.

[RJE080703]

I'm excited but I'm also starting to think everyday what else do I need to do, what needs to be paid, and when the heck am I going to have time to do everything!

[Yelycrazygirl]

Make a list.... that helps a lot.... even though I had made too many lists but they do help!!!!

[Marksbride]

Under three months...wahoo!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with the list idea. That's what I did. Every time I crossed something out it felt great. I kept our list hanging on the fridge so we both saw it everyday and it reminded us to stay on top of things.

It's going to fly by!

[RJE080703]

Okay, so last night we almost finished all the invitations and RSVP cards. Stamped them all today at work. Hopefully Sunday FMIL and I can sit down and finish the last of them off and get them in the mail Monday (exactly 5 weeks before the wedding date)

Programs are all printed and cut. Just have to assemble them. Hopefully that will get done next weekend. I am also meeting with the organist for the last time Monday or Thursday.

Finalized the details with the soloist. She is singing Ave Maria, and a Latin Wedding song Its absolutely lovely. Cant remember the name, but will get it and try to find a sample for ya'll to hear.

Hmmmm... BM dresses are back from the alteration shop! Ended up getting them altered at an outside alterations shop here in my town. Not from DB after the mess we had with my dress. Plus DB wanted $85 and we got them done for $30 here in town. Plus come to find out I knew the lady who owns the shop. I went to school with her eldest daughter since elementary school.

FH & I are going to get our marriage license on the 18th, and I am taking the whole day off to finalize and pay the remaining balances on the reception hall, and another $400 for the food. That should be the remaining balance on the food for 200 people, but I may get a refund or have to pay a little more depending on the RSVP's. Plus I will drop off my little additions to the cake shop for FH's grooms cake. And pay the $20 accessory fee for FH's tux...

I think thats it... I'm sure more will come up between now and then, thats a week and a half away

Getting close, yet still feeling very good about my organization and check list!

Oh yeah, I also made a spreadsheet to keep track of the RSVP's as they come in!

[Yelycrazygirl]

Great!!!! Keep the good work.... you are doing great.....

Make sure you do as much as possible as you might find every day something else to do.... it has happened to me.....

[RJE080703]

Originally we were going to have a family friend take our wedding pictures. My mother and this guy used to have a photography studio and they even developed their own b&w photos in a dark room we built onto our house. But lately during the last two conversations with this guy, he has started to worry me about his reliability and dedication. I mean he wasnt even going to charge us anything, except the developing or enlargments we wanted, but thats still not an excuse to be flaky! If he didnt intend on giving it his all, why offer... So I have decided to find the money in the budget somewhere, to hire a professional photographer.

I got a couple references from girlfriends who got married recently, and made a couple calls. I am super duper excited because the one I really wanted to talk details with called me back last night. We talked for nearly an hour on the phone, and I am sooooo excited to go meet her in person Saturday morning!

Here's the details on the two packages that would fit our needs and budget:

$725 package includes:

-Private shoot (either bridal pictures, or bride & groom after wedding) 20-25 pictures
-Newspaper announcement and photo
-16X20 hard board enlargement from private shoot
-175-200 4X6 photos (one of every picture they will shoot that day)
-approximately 5-6 hours of service (30 min before ceremony, ceremony, approx. 30 min after ceremony, cake, toasts, garter/bouquet toss, dancing, etc)

For an additional $150 I can purchase the copyright/negatives to my wedding photos.

If I choose not to do a private shoot I can get 5-8X10 enlargements instead.

$675 package includes:

-2 8X10 enlargements
-Newspaper announcement and photo
-175-200 4X6 photos (one of every picture they will shoot that day)
-approximately 5-6 hours of service (30 min before ceremony, ceremony, approx. 30 min after ceremony, cake, toasts, garter/bouquet toss, dancing, etc)

For an additional $150 I can purchase the copyright/negatives to my wedding photos.


Sounds pretty good so far and the pictures I have seen from my girlfriends weddings were wonderful! We will probably end up going with the $675 package with the purchasing of the copyright/negatives since FMIL wanted to do the bridal shoot. She is awsome photographer as well, but didnt want to do the wedding. So as not to take anything away from her, I plan on still doing the bridal shoot with FMIL.

I'll let ya'll know how things go Saturday, and if we end up going with her services.

[Julz518]

Originally Posted by RJE080703

We will probably end up going with the $675 package with the purchasing of the copyright/negatives since FMIL wanted to do the bridal shoot. She is awsome photographer as well, but didnt want to do the wedding. So as not to take anything away from her, I plan on still doing the bridal shoot with FMIL.

Sounds like a good deal... I highly recommend purchasing the copyrights... that way if you want a different size of another picture sometime down the line, you can order it yourself. We did that with our engagement photos... One 8x10 was included in our photography package, but then I ordered 2 sets of 4x6's, 13 5X7's, 10 8x10's and some wallets for under $50... whereas the photographer would have charged twice that much just for the 8x10's.

Just make sure you ask her if you get the "touched up" copies, or only the proofs... You DEFINITELY want the ones that she has editted for lighting, blemishes, etc. not just the proofs!

[RJE080703]

I actually just got off the phone with my mom about all this. She agrees with you on everything!

She said its a must to buy the copyright! Because any package they will sell you at a later date will end up costing more than just purchasing the copyright and doing it yourself later when we have more money to make a bunch of different sizes, pictures, etc.

Thanks for the point on the touched up copies! I didnt even think about that! I meet with her Saturday morning and will definately ask about that!

My mom also brought up asking her if we cut out the 2 8X10's, which she charges approximately $20.00 for each 8X10, and therefore cut off about $40.00 from the package price. Since I would be buying the negatives, I could go get several enlargements done after the wedding for the $40.00! Not too sure if she will go for it, but its worth asking

[RJE080703]

I met with the organist again last night to finalize the wedding music. She has been doing this for many many years, so she has a whole bunch of music she will play while everyone is getting seated. I listened to about 5 different pieces last night, and loved them all. The BM's will be walking down to Canon D, I will be walking down to Trumpet Voluntary in D Minor, and we will be exiting to Joyful, Joyful....

My girlfriend who refered me to the photographer is going to sing two songs for me. She is an amazing singer! We sang together for 7 years, and also went to state for a 4 part, 8 women piece we did my senior year! She is also a University of Texas Music Major graduate and now a choir director!

She will sing a Latin Wedding song during communion, and Ave Maria after communion... I am soooo excited! One more thing checked off the list

[RJE080703]

Yesterday was a very productive day.

FH & I
-went to the courthouse, paid for, and received out marriage license.
-went to the reception site and finalized and confirmed the set up for the chairs, tables, etc

Here's a pic of the center to give a visual...


-paid off the last $275 of the reception site
-went to the tux shop & paid FH accessories fee & 1/2 of ring bearer's tux to help out FSIL with the large costs
-went and looked at rings again for him, he finally narrowed it down to one

-finished purchasing the additional supplies needed to make 10 more centerpieces
-paid the $400 balance on the catering
-purchased a few small miscellaneous items we were still lacking for the reception

It was a very productive, busy, and tiresome day. I am back at work today, darn near done with all christmas shopping. Still need to find something for FMIL, and FFIL.

Plus we still need to get the ushers, my escort, FFIL, & FMIL gifts for the wedding... But I think I am narrowing the FFIL & FMIL gifts down to something.

[RJE080703]

Also my mom found her dress yesterday too!!

Here's a few pics of it... She bought it from Dillards. These are the pics off the Dillards website.