DAMN!!!

My final wedding blog.

Yep....scheduled this into the "night".

This has been the HAPPIEST day of my life. To see the crowd that was there, that helped celebrate, that shed tears, that hugged us, that loved us...

It's extremely overwhelming.

From the first note played, until the time we drove away....I was in Heaven. I still am. This was an AMAZING experience! A journey that took me over 20 years to trek, but it had made me appreciate crossing that finish line even more.

There are SOOOO many people I want to thank for helping us in this whole thing. Too many. But you know who you are. From the first order placed online, to the last person that stayed and threw a cup away....I will be forever indebted to you.

I will further fight to see that every couple - EVERY COUPLE - gets the chance to experience this. It is an amazing experience that overfills your heart.

With that said....

I'm outta here for awhile. I have a husband to take care of. And I will do it until the day I leave this earth.

Above all, remember......

All you need is love.

1:15 AM - The Morning OF!

Poor Jackie was worn out so he's gone to bed. Me? Heading that way soon. Still trying to process today's events AND wind down.

As I sit here in the living room listening to "The Golden Girls" in the background (Hallmark Channel), trying to wipe my mind clean in preparation for tomorrow, I thought....why not Blawg about it? That way, I can "purge" and still have the memories HERE!

I am simply overwhelmed from the support and help we've received from our friends, family, and the Greeneville community! There is NO WAY we could have done this like we are without the help we've received.

I am in total SHOCK that we have not had ONE major snafu in this whole process. NONE!! Either we planned really well, it was in the stars, or someone's been watching over us, but this whole process has been MIND BLOWING!! And there are PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PLANNERS?? Really???? Do drugs much?

As I look ahead to the next 20 hours or so, all that is in my mind is WHY we are doing this. We love each other - dearly. After 20+ years and STILL together? Yeah, we got this! And it's time to celebrate this. IT IS TIME!! We are no longer afraid what others' think. And more specifically, we don't care if someone disapproves. It's not about THEM...it's about US.

It's always about LOVE. Always has been....always will be.

And I do love him. He grounds me. Because...well, y'all KNOW how I am. He keeps me "grown-up". And I am the type person that SOOOO needs that!

..............

Sadly, this will be my next-to-last "blawg" in this format. But I'll be super-focused on something else soon and kick-start this bad-boy up!

Thanks to EACH OF YOU that have followed our journey here! I've "liberated" myself by doing this. Some of these updates, after reading through a few, really brought back memories.....memories of little details that I'd already forgotten. So I will NEVER give up this blog.

Until tomorrow's update......Love you all.

Let's Kick It Up A Notch!

Went and got some groceries early because we realized, some of this stuff can be done NOW and still be fresh by Saturday!

Soooo...off to Food City we went. I budgeted $250, and we only spent $190 - HOWEVER, there are some MORE PERISHABLE things that I have to get tomorrow. But I think I'm still going to be about $20 under budget.

But TOMORROW is going to be the BIG day - LOTSA food prep HAS to happen tomorrow!!

HERE WE GO!!!

96 HOURS AND COUNTING!!

GREAT productive day today. Got some food prep done early and celebrants' gifts wrapped. Also picked up a few last minute items EARLY!!

Looked at our budget vs. actual.....

WoW! How much does plasma go for???

ONLY things left to pay for, is the fresh food orders, ice, and paying Purple Zebra (the DJ).

Speaking of which....the girl that will be handling our reception called me last night and went over EVERY single thing we want played and when. She also made some GREAT suggestions which we gladly appreciated!

Tomorrow - it's "Get Pretty" Day....hair in the AM, then nails, then tux try-ons. Gonna take tomorrow EASY....it's gonna be FRANTIC from then on out!

HOLD ON!!!

Let's Get This Week Started!!

Today, cleaning the media room and organizing the pantry. Have to make a trip into town for an attractive "folder" for the celebrant to hold the ceremony "script" in.

Tomorrow, have to work. But then TUESDAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
VACATION BEGINS! (If you can call it that) One more room to "Spring Clean" and hopefully finish mowing, if the weather holds out.

Wednesday is "Get Purdee" Day. . . . hair, nails, and hopefully picking up tuxedos. Will try and rest-up this day because....

Thursday - FOOD DAY for the reception. Picking up bread, herbs, produce, etc. orders and begin prepping food. Going to be a LONG day!

Friday - decorations, MORE cooking, rehearsal and dinner. Mom and Hank will be here!!!

Saturday - DDAY!!!!! Breakfast with Mom and then some LAST MINUTE food prep. Some things HAVE TO BE the freshest they can be. Coordinating things with the servers will be another top priority. And my brothers and their families will be here!!!

I am SOOOO excited!

EIGHTEEN DAYS!! 18!!

No.

I need another week.

No, I don't.

Yes, I do.

OMG!!!

SHIT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL HERE, FOLKS!!!

Actually, it's not that bad.....everything is falling into place smoothly.....TOOO smoothly, maybe, but we'll just hafta wait and see.

I've never been happier.

He's mine, and I'm his. Forever. THAT'S what counts.

Food and Music On My Mind Today!

Prepped up another appetizer for the reception. One less thing to worry about.

BUT.....I've decided on a different song for the celebrant, family, and the party to walk in-to......

I can't help but cry a bit....

Oh jeez....what am I doing?

Food? READY!!

Well, THAT was a harrowing experience!! But, 80% of the food is PURCHASED!! Ceremony week is GOING TO BE HECTIC!!! So much prep to do, but I'm pretty confident it'll be ok. I've just got to sit down and go through ALL my plans, in reverse order, to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Only thing left, FOOD WISE, is things that have to be purchased fresh.....which is STILL going to be a lot!! Food ain't cheap, y'all!!

Already have the wine, Jackie is getting the beer soon, and I've still got to get the liquor. THAT ITSELF is going to be a chunk of $

Might need to look into selling plasma.....

FOOD TIME!!

Since I'm doing the majority of food prep, we're hitting Sam's tomorrow...

I KNOW...I KNOW!!!! But we're on a budget! Recipes are all printed out and arranged by order of preparation...and it's a PLUS that the venue has 2 stoves AND refrigerators! So I can do a LOT of prep-and-freeze things!!

Then, think I'll spend the afternoon enjoying the weather, if it complies.

Bits & Pieces!

Yep, it's time to start coordinating every thing and start looking at details! We've gone through all the decorations that we've PURCHASED to use, and cross-referenced them with the floral order. CHECK!!

Evening wear? Ordered, need to be measured.

Venue, paid.

DJ, deposit down, contract signed.

Bartender? GOT HER!! One of the most personable persons I could ever ASK for!

The "Officiant"? Dinner with her next Wednesday. She's more excited than I AM!!!

Food? Doing some shopping Sunday for "do-ahead" things.

Things are going TOOOOO smoothly! And that scares me.....I smell disaster.

FOOD!!

Testing a bruschetta topping recipe.....one of 3. This one? Tomato/basil w/garlic and green onions.

OH!

MAH!!

Gu....!

*check-mark sound*

Now, need to get my bakery and produce order in!

Tomorrow - it'll be 6 weeks and counting.

I'm a nervous shitball.....

Up Next? FOOD & BEVERAGE!!!

Yikes!!! By my calculations, the ALCOHOL bill is going to be around $600!!!!

BUT......it's a celebration. And one well deserved.

Going through the Guest List trying to figure out..."Will they drink? WHAT will they drink? HOW MUCH will they drink?" Like my friend and co-worker said, "It's all going to depend on their mood."

Well, I WANT EVERYONE to have a good time! AND not walk away hungry. Even though we're having heavy hors d'oeuvres, it sickens me to think someone would leave and go to McDonald's Drive-Thru.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT!!!

*Oh God....I need therapy*

Invitations - READY!

I just HAD to be Mr. Fancypants and hand-write all my envelopes in calligraphy. Needless to say, my eyes are tired from FOCUSING so much, my hand is crampy, and my shoulder aches.

By the time the date rolls around, I'll be in a wheelchair.

United States Postal Service.....HERE WE COME!!!

*Check-mark Noises*

Got to meet a facebook friend tonight....OUR BARTENDER!!

She is funnier, more pleasant, and more engaging than I could have asked for!! I absolutely LOVE her!!! And her willingness to help overwhelms me! I was very particular as to WHO would be serving our guests drinks, because it is a CELEBRATION and I would feel so much better if they were "celebratory" of our union and made our guests feel the same.

And I have 1000% confidence in Lora.

*Whew*

Also received the agreement with the DJ. Paying deposit tomorrow. NICE guy - out of Knoxville. Purple Zebra. Seems VERY easy to work with, we understand the set-up (which is simple, but we're not having KISS in concert in there!), and what WE SAY, goes. Reception "itinerary" ready to send to him along with announcements, ceremony-party names, etc.

But I'm STILL working on the music. The music has to SET THE TONE, from the first note at 5 PM to the last chord at 9 PM. Things happen at certain times and I want the music to reflect the MOOD at that certain time, ya' know?

Yes, yes, yes...I'm overthinking things, I'm sure.....but I'm just that way. People that know me, know that.

Thanks for bearing with me!

Rolling Right Along....

Gave the final "ok" to the printers, so now.....WE'RE IN PRODUCTION!!! (The invites are LOVELY, btw! ;) )

Almost ALL contracts signed - just a few little quibbles left, but nothing major.

It's hard to believe that in 2 months and a week, all this is going to come together. It's been a trip, and I'm sure the best is yet to come!

Now? TO THE MUSIC!!

SO Many Things Taken Care Of! Now? Tweaking Everything

We've really liked Cupcake's Moscato wine (was planning on serving it at the ceremony!), and I know I've turned several people onto it, but the last 4 bottles that I've purchased?.....Can't get the dang things uncorked! I've tried 3 different corkscrews....and I get:

1) Absolutely NO cork movement
2) The sound of glass breaking
3) A cork so dense, the corkscrew just drills a gaping hole

Granted, I DO FINALLY get the bottle opened, but I can't subject my bartender to that level of a physical workout!

So.....we're taste-test-sampling a couple of different Moscatos tonight.

STILL contemplating our "signature" BLUE cocktail . . . gonna experiment a little (YAY ME!!)

HUGE Sighs of Relief!

We got a few more MAJOR things taken care of since the last update. And for that, I am ECSTATIC!!! J and I were talking last night.....things are flowing perfectly, thus far.

HOWEVER - I keep thinking about the "what-ifs"....and trying to plan AROUND those instances should they occur.

Do ALL couples go through this?

And for those that HAVE gone through the marriage ceremony planning....

DO you "plan" for mishaps? WHAT kind of back-ups did you have?

This event HAS to be as less stressful as possible. That's why I've got contracts out the ying-yang, LOTS of "stuff" already purchased, etc.

Next on our list? TUXEDOS!!!

I can't WAIT to see my Brownie in a dashing tux.

Fonts? Yes, FONTS!!!

I'm going to hand-address the envelopes, so I've been practicing my caligraphy...so it only makes sense for the invitations and programs to "kinda" match, right?

Posted a PLEA on fartbook for wedding group members to send me their address....AND got a good response. BUT....I DIDN'T hear from a few people, so maybe they're not interested in coming. I already have FAMILY addresses, so that's a given, but.....


What do YOU think?

It's all coming together..bit by bit.

To The Printers' We Go!!!!

FINALLY finished the specs for the invites and ceremony!

Now, to get them to the printers and start practicing my calligraphy for addressing the envelopes!!!

As Park would say..."Oy!"

It's GREAT to FINALIZE some things. SOOOO many things - little things - are "up-in-the-air" right now. And with less than 3 months, it's time to get crackin'!!!

Tuxedos....flowers....food....music.....VOWS....!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, OY!!!!!

Moving Right Along!

Jackster is taking care of ALL the flowers (y'all remember my earlier blog, right?) so he's having centerpieces made up for approval. We're wanting to keep the centerpieces "simple", yet tasteful. AND INEXPENSIVE!!!

In talks with a couple of DJ's....really, I have to have a pro take care of this. Need music pumped outside for the ceremony....need someone that will "take the reins" during the reception and make sure thinks flow smoothly.

It's a frickin' WHIRLWIND!!! SOOOOOO many details to take care of....."little things"!

But we CAN do this!

Guess What We Did Today!

Yep - bought the rings today!! I'm gonna post a pic on fartbook.

This shit is hittin' HOME now!!!

I was unsure of my ring size, but something "told" me "It's the same as your shoe size".....

OK...10 1/2 Wide.

And WHAT fit? 10 1/2.....

But what about the WIDE part? Well, turns out, the WIDER the band, the better it felt - but from the style selection, I didn't like 'em. So, we picked one we BOTH liked and tried them on (medium width).

When I tried the band on, I immediately felt a feeling of warmth.

And fear.