Photo Gallery | Wedding Wednesday: Week 19
You may know me as News 8's "Good Morning Quad Cities" Reporter, but when I'm not interviewing our Korean War Era Veterans as they leave for Honor Flight #19 or trying not to swallow mayflies while doing live shots along the Mississippi River, I am planning a wedding!
Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays!
Days Until We Say "I Do"? 80. 80. 80.
It's the NUMBER that pounded against my brain on Day #83. 80 Days. 11 Weeks. 1,920 Hours. As exciting as that is, I can't help but start to feel the premarital pressure of difficult decisions and tiny tasks. As I tell a lot of my friends... I feel like when I cross one thing of the list, I add 10 things to it.
For example, I picked up our invitations on Saturday (pictured above). They look spectacular. I cannot tell you how happy I am with Heather Behrens Design (website below, because I want you to use her for all your design needs!). So... Pick Up Invites -- CHECK. But... ADD - Buy Stamps, Put On Stamps, Stuff Envelopes, Stick On Labels, Triple Check Guest List, Alphabetize Envelopes, Mail Invites. It doesn't seem like a lot, but on the list of dozens of other tasks, it is if you're not organized.
http://www.heatherbehrens.com/
If you know me, you know I have NO problem with that. I used to come over to my friends' houses when I was growing up and clean their rooms FOR them so they could come out and play. I plan my day out by the hour so that I am able to get my full REM Cycle in twice a day (the disadvantage of a strange work shift). And don't even get me started on the way I mow the yard!
This brings me to the next picture you'll see... which is the Master To-Do List/Time Table I made on Day #83 when "80. 80. 80." was on my mind so much I couldn't keep track of how many push-ups and burpees I did during my workout (so I rounded up... oops!). Luckily, it made me feel 80x better (ha) after I was finished. It has everything from "Alterations Appointment #1" on June 2nd to "SLEEP LOTS" on August 8th (my last day of work until after the wedding). The best part about a to-do list? Crossing it off with a thick blue permanent marker :) I will post THAT picture on Week 31, which is the Wednesday AFTER the Wedding!
What keeps me grounded is I know every bride goes through this in the last few months leading up to their wedding. More than that though, it's knowing that on August 11th, I will wake up stress-free. My to-do list is crazy organized NOW, so that when it comes to THAT day (and hopefully the couple days leading up to it), all that's left to check off the list is "Marry My Best Friend" (which is absolutely on the list, by the way).
Okay, MOVING ON! In other NUPTIAL NEWS...
- The Registry is DONE! Zach survived Bed, Bath, and Beyond and he had a little too much fun making sure we had the comfiest pillows and the softest towels. I tell you though, that man knows what's important in life.
- Shoes are CHOSEN and/or ORDERED! I have included pictures of both the bridesmaids' shoes and my shoes. The bridesmaids' are from Payless ($19.99... you can't beat that!) and are a little shorter with a thicker heel so they don't get stuck in the grass. My shoes are from the website listed on the picture... they were a recommendation from another bride who jumped in her pictures, danced for three hours straight, and walked all over a golf course without ever wanting to take her shoes off. They'll also be useful for the Waltz I'm doing with my Dad :)
80 days or 10 days, I am very lucky to have a great support group who all constantly ask if they can help with anything. I am told Lauren is in the midst of planning the bachelorette party (WHOO!) and I have my local girls coming over tomorrow night to help hole-punch favor tags (CHECK!), put ribbon on favors (CHECK!), and glue tags on our wedding wish cards (CHECK!). Above all, my Mom and Dad are the most incredible people in the world and Zach is constantly checking my blood pressure to make sure I am still human (just kidding) or just to give me lots of unconditional love. I am very thankful to have a great group of friends, family, and in-laws... even if they are just checking in to make sure I don't need therapy :)
