The More The Merrier

Quick post today!  We now have another usher...Clint Sledge :)  This was kind of a last-minute thing, but we couldn't be more excited about it.  Everything happened just in time to get the program changed & get the clothes he'll need ordered!  I was a little surprised when he asked if we could use somebody else, but to tell you the truth I think things will go MUCH smoother on August 4th with his help.  It's recommended to have one usher for every 50 guests...but we only had 2 for 150.  Whoops!  He was already going to be at the wedding & the rehearsal dinner, so might as well put him to work, right?  NO, I'M KIDDING!  Seriously, I'm honored that he wanted to be part of our day!  Now both Mandie AND Clint will be able to share it with us & it will be ever more special because it'll be their five year wedding anniversary!  :)  Could things possibly be working out any more perfectly right now??

That coozie was one of the favors at their wedding...think I've posted that on here before but just had to show it again.  Notice the date!

Painting I did that is hanging in their living room right now :)

I wish that I had a picture of Anthony & Clint playing softball together at short-stop & third base...that would have been a lot more fitting!

That's all for today...I'm off to do a walk-through at our venue to design the layout of where everything is going to go...& turn in some final payments!  

No Longer Property Virgins

There it is...our new house!  (Well, new to us anyway!)  We have been extremely hesitant to post anything about being under contract or anything like that on the Internet, because it had been starting to seem like every time we told a few people good news, everything fell through.  FINALLY, after what seems like months of searching & going back & forth, we are homeowners!  We closed at 3 PM today at Kiser in Loganville & couldn't be more excited about it. :)  

Everything is falling into place at exactly the right time.  A little over a month before our wedding, we now have a home to live in & Anthony received an "official" offer for a full-time job with his company after our wedding.  We couldn't feel more happy, thankful, or blessed right now!  Can't wait to have everyone over sometime after the wedding for a combination housewarming/viewing party ;)

Until then, feel free to come over any time (we won't have furniture for at least a few weeks, so you're welcome to come walk around but you won't have anything to sit on! HA) & I'll post some empty-room pictures :)

Front Door & Foyer

Front Entrance & Living Room/Back Deck Entrance

Kitchen & Pantry

Dining Room & Laundry Room

Office

Master Bedroom & Bathroom

Master Bath

Master Closet

Back Porch

Backyard...needs a lot of work but we're up for the task!

Guest Bedrooms

Bonus Room & Stairs

Basement Kitchen...previous owners tried to finish it themselves, needs some improvement.

Basement Stairs & First Room

Second Basement Room (MAN CAVE)

Basement

We actually found out that the previous owners were running a daycare out of the basement!  Crazy, right?

Keys to the house & our sweet gift from Jen!

Old keys & my pretty new key after the locksmith came...I've been waiting to put that bird on there since I bought it months ago!

Annnnnnnd I spent all afternoon measuring carpet, hardwood & windows in the house.  Such exciting things!!  I'm off to go cheer on Anthony at softball!

Programs, Rings & Other Things

I feel like I need to make another post because I've been getting SO much done lately!  

A few weekends ago, Anthony, Mitchell, James & Nick helped me move a lot of the stuff that my dad is giving us from his old house into my grandparents' basement (we were hoping to have closed on a house by that time, but they are letting us keep our things in there for now).  I didn't take many pictures because we were so busy...but here's one of the boys working hard :) 

Can't wait to get everything into a house & be settled & be able to have everyone over!  It's so exciting!  If anyone wants to volunteer to help us move once we do close on the house, let me know!  You'll get a really yummy dinner out of it, haha!

Anthony has also finally gotten all of the groomsmen's suits ordered, so yay!  All they have left to get is their shirts, which shouldn't be too hard because they have an info sheet with the exact name, price & a picture...I'm kind of a perfectionist sometimes :)

A couple weeks ago, mom & I went to Carmichael's to order programs.  Well, they didn't have anything that I really loved enough to spend that kind of money on, so we decided to look online instead.  I stumbled upon The Wedding Sophisticate & designed some programs that I am seriously in love with.  It's one of the few things that I've splurged on, since I try really hard to find the best deals.  They are going to be so worth it.  I'm pretty excited about having such unique & fun programs :) Even though we didn't order programs in the store, we did get our napkin order placed.  They came in late last week & I am going to pick them up today!

I picked up Kera's bridesmaid's dress from Charme last week & brought it to her on our way back from Savannah...it looks great on her!  & Katie sent me a picture of her wearing the dress & the shoes together...it looks so awesome!  I wish I could post the pictures on here ;) Well, okay here's the one I took of Kera's in my car.  You can't really see what it looks like, just the color!  P.S. Ignore the mess in my car, this is what happens when you work at an art camp...blow-up pool toys & binders/papers everywhere.

Last weekend I also looked into some favors.  Everyone knows that I am using mason jars, but there are still some things that I'm trying to figure out.  I looked into personalized M&M's, but they're like...REALLY expensive & I've heard that they are unreliable & take longer than they say they will also.  Kera came up with a really good alternative :) You'll just have to wait & find out!

Speaking of things I ordered last weekend...

Well we had to have something to get ready in the morning of the wedding!  & I wanted to do something different from what anyone else is doing with robes, button-down shirts, etc.  So, can anyone guess which ones are for the bridesmaids & which one is for me? ;)

That's just one of the presents that the girls are going to be getting.  They have been so good to me over the past year (plus), I want to show them how much I appreciate it!  I'll post more on here as I give them their gifts...want some of it to be a surprise!

Yesterday was my first wedding shower!  I think I'm going to wait until all of the showers are done (which is two weeks before the wedding) & just make one big post about all of them...kind of like I did with Christmas :)  Anyway, it was in Gainesville & we had to drive right by the Mall of Georgia on the way home, so I had Anthony meet me at Guven's.  We finally got his wedding ring ordered & I tried mine on to make sure it fit...it did, perfectly!  Not to mention they cleaned my engagement ring while we were waiting.  I just love how much it sparkles after they do that!

Last night was spent working on lots of "thank you" notes.  I'm trying to do them right after we get anything, that way it's fresh in my mind & I can write something heartfelt!  I need to get to a store today though & order pictures that I'm going to put inside them!  Plus, I need more stamps from the post office ASAP.

I also spent a good deal of time yesterday working on our DJ's website to pick songs that I wanted for special things.  I think I did pretty good.  Let me know if you're reading this & you want to request a song!

Last thing...yesterday marked 6 weeks until the wedding!  I have a whole new to-do list for two-six weeks (even though I haven't quite finished the six-eight week ones...)

_ Confirm ceremony details with your officiant.

_ Arrange final fitting of bridesmaids' dresses. (I think they're on top of this, but I need to check.)

_ Have final fitting of your gown & headpiece. (July 7th!)

_ Finalize rehearsal dinner plans; arrange seating & write names on place cards, if desired. (Wish we could do this more than 30 days in advance!  Just have to wait 11 more days...)

_ Make final floral selections.

_ Make a detailed timeline for your wedding party.

_ Make a detailed timeline for your service providers. 

_ Confirm details with all service providers, including attire.  Give them a copy of your wedding timeline.

_ Start packing for your honeymoon. (My mom bought us the luggage that I wanted as a wedding gift, & I can't wait to start packing in it!)

_ Finalize addressing & stamping announcements.

_ Decide if you want to form a receiving line.  If so, determine when & where to form the line.

_ Contact guests who haven't responded. (PLEASE SEND IN YOUR RESPONSE CARDS!!!!!!!! It's not that hard, they are already stamped & addressed.  Thank you!)

_ Pick up rings & check for fit.

_ Meet with photographer & confirm special photos you want.

_ Meet with videographer & confirm special events or people you want videotaped.

_ Meet with musicians & confirm music to be played during special events such as first dance. (I don't think I could possibly be more excited for our violinist & cellist!)

x Continue writing thank-you notes as gifts arrive.

_ Remind bridesmaids & ushers of where to pick up their wedding attire.

_ Purchase the lipstick, nail polish & any other accessories you want your bridesmaids to wear.

_ Determine ceremony seating for special guests.  Give a list to the ushers.

_ Plan reception room layout & statins with your reception sure manager or caterer.  Write names on place cards for arranged seating.

Oh yeah, & be on the lookout for a VERY exciting & special post tomorrow! :)

Two Month To-Dos

There's our two month calendar...two rings over there for two months :) I haven't been able to post pictures of these for a while because I kind of lost my wedding planner calendar for a few months.  It was killing me that I didn't have it...I misplaced it in my move back home from school in Athens.  It ended up being in my mom's guest bathroom?  This month has a lot more going on that pretty much any other before.  Showers, fittings, etc. on top of the regular items that I need to get done.  I have an incredibly long to-do list over the next two weeks, about twice as long as any of the lists for up to three months at a time.  Here goes nothing:

x Mail invitations.  Include accommodation choices and a map to assist guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites. (If you get your invitation & send me a picture on my phone, it pretty much makes my day!  This happened a few times today & I loved it.)

_ Maintain a record of RSVPs and all gifts received.  Send thank-you notes upon receipt of gifts.

_ Determine hair style and makeup.

_ Schedule to have your hair, makeup and nails done the day of the wedding. (Think I want all of the bridesmaids & moms & me to get our nails done the day before the wedding!)

x Finalize shopping for wedding day accessories such as toasting glasses, ring pillow, guest book, etc.

_ Set up an area or table in your home to display gifts as you receive them.

_ Check with your local newspapers for wedding announcement requirements.

_ Have your formal wedding portrait taken.

_ Send wedding announcement & photograph to your local newspaper.

_ Change name & address on drivers license, social security card, insurance policies, subscriptions, bank accounts, memberships, etc. (I'm probably going to wait until after the wedding to do this because our plane tickets are in my maiden name.)

_ Select & reserve wedding attire for groom, ushers, father of the bride and ring bearer. (Well, we have it selected but the pants have been back-ordered for a few weeks now so we're having difficulty getting this part done.)

_ Select a guest book attendant.  Decide when to have guest sign in.

_ Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner. (We can't do this until at least 30 days out because The Cotton Warehouse doesn't allow us to reserve the space until then in case someone wants to book for a wedding on Friday night.)

_ Get blood test & health certificate.

_ Obtain marriage license.

_ Plan a luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids.  Give them their gifts at that time or at the rehearsal dinner. (Lake weekend...can't wait to give them a gift for that weekend & then more at the rehearsal dinner!)

_ Find "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a six pence (or shiny penny) for your shoe." (Got everything covered besides the six pence...do I really want a piece of metal in my shoe all day??)

x Finalize menu, beverage & alcohol order.

I've sure got a busy time ahead of me!  Plus I just started my summer job today & I found out that I'll be getting 7.5 hours a week more than last year, which is really a blessing since they weren't able to give us raises.  I'm thankful, but it's still going to be really hectic!  

First shower invite that I got from my mom's side...never mind that my name was spelled Sara, lol it's the thought that counts ;)

This is the gorgeous invitation that I got in the mail today from Anthony's mom for her shower...it is seriously perfect & even the right color for our wedding!

We were finally able to pick some bridesmaids' shoes (I posted a pic of my shoes, so I can post a pic of theirs too, right?) this weekend & the bridesmaids' dresses are supposed to be coming in sometime this week :) My mom found that out when she went to pick up my veil for me last weekend, which I really appreciated!  I also have an alterations appointment this Saturday afternoon, which is also when Anthony, Mitchell & James are helping my dad move some of the stuff that he is giving us out of his house.  

I've been forgetting to post these pictures because they weren't on my phone but through a Facebook message, but Andrew sent me these a while back.  Keys & blue glass, my favorites.  

Mandie noticed that me & Clint were wearing the wedding colors at small group on Saturday & took a picture!  Okay, it's kind of a horrible picture but you get the idea. Ha :)

Last thing...but I saw this guy at Racetrac & he had one of these antique skeleton keys tattooed on the back of his calf.  Really weird, but I couldn't help but take a picture!