Happy Halloween...

...from me and my Gay Husband! I am supposed to be Rosemary's Baby, but I need to find better devil horns. I've since torn the horns off of this mask and taped them to my head. I don't know who he is supposed to be, but I am scared.

My Hetero Husband still doesn't have a costume. Of course.

A Little Reminiscing...

I don't know if I ever shared these with you guys, but below are some photos of the Halloween-y invitations and decorations that my sister designed for the engagement party that my parents hosted for Andy and I last fall.

These cute pumpkins decorated all of the tables in the hall.

Andy and I gave all of the kids who attended pumpkins full of treats. This seemingly simple project was our first taste of how bad I'd be at estimating the cost of wedding projects. I remember walking out of Target in a mad panic after paying the bill! I banned myself from Target after that. I can't be trusted in there. ;)

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

image: http://www.eventsbymartene.com/seasonal.htm

Fred and Wilma Flinstone Costumes

Does anyone who lives or works in Downtown Chicago or on the North Side need a Fred and Wilma Flinstone costume? My original costume idea panned out after all, so I have two extra costumes if anyone's in a pinch. I can you meet you at lunch or after work. $30/ea. These are the pix on the cover -- Fred's tie isn't nearly as wide as the one shown.

Images: http://www.flintstonecostumes.com/

Please leave your e-mail address in the comments if you're interested.

Back to Life, Back to Reality.

It was so, so, so fun. Wildly Beyond our Imaginations X 10 + More Fun.

Images: Tina's Friend Becky "The Wick" R.

I'd just like to say, before the recaps begin, that I think that I was made to wear beehive hairdos and false eyelashes. I've often thought that I was born two decades too late and the wedding confirmed it.

OMG! It's Here! It's Here! It's Here! It's Here! It's Here!

I literally do not know where this week went! Our apartment's a disaster and I've bagged about 10 projects. But I forgot which ones about 10 minutes into the rehearsal dinner when someone asked me, so they must not be that important. :) Now I'm sitting in Kinko's spending $15 for an hour of computer time because I never answered the questions the priest sent us. I am the world's most unorganized bride. Oh well.

Everything's been a blast so far. Andy has been a saint this week. I hope that he doesn't hurt himself trying to navigate the condo this a.m. His side of the bed is literally the only free seating area in the whole joint. Nails and lunch with our moms, Aunt Ruth, our sisters, and VP was very nice. I have to admit that I had a hard time sitting still and relaxing -- despite the 4 glasses of champagne and 2 glasses of wine! And the rehearsal dinner was so delicious -- at least the few bites of food that I took when I actually paused my motor mouth were.

I need to get back to the hotel and start getting pretty, but I wanted to say "hello" to all of you. Thank you for all of your help and support since January 30th. I can't tell you the number of conversations that I've had that started with "One of my blog friends..."

Tara and Colleen, feel free to pop in at 7:00 tonight if you'd like. :)

Lots of thanks and virtual friendship,

-t

P.S. Any brides to be, hire a Day of Coordinator. Seriously. Find the money somewhere.

Oh, Paper Source, You Are a Fickle, Fickle Lover

I stopped into Paper Source to pick up some last minute supplies and walked out with a bag of stuff that I pray Natalie and Piehole never, ever see and a receipt that I hope Andy never, ever sees. Paper Source has apparently updated their line in the last few weeks and released several items that would have saved me HOURS over the last six months.

For example, remember these?

I spent hours punching and applying those circle stickers. Literally, hours. These sheets of 1.25" labels would have saved me from myself for sure:

image: Paper Source

I spent Sunday night making all of the signage for the event -- reserved tables, cake table, etc. I used 5" labels mounted on 5.5" square cards, similar to these table numbers from my friend trix's wedding:

image: Kachadurian

Printing on the circle labels involves measuring the center of each circle, taping it to an 8.5" X 11" template, and praying that it prints centered. These new sheets of 4" labels would have been perfect for the task -- not to mention the for the programs. My friends VP, Kenny, and I have all spent way too much time trying to get the program covers to print on 5.5" circle cards.

Image: Paper Source

They've also released copper stardream paper. Just a few weeks earlier, and my program covers would be copper stardream circles with 4" round labels. Oh well. My programs are very handsome and the work's already (almost) done, so I'm not too disappointed. Still, you have to admit that it is a bit of an F-U! My friend VP has threatened to stage an intervention.

BTW, I got my rings resized yesterday. I finally convinced the woman that I am NOT a 6.25 - 6.5. She refused to go up to a size 7 so we split the difference and made my e-ring a 6.75 and my wedding band a "Shy 7." I can now slide them on and off with effort, but without panic.

Is it wierd...

...that I am sitting on the couch in a DIM (Do It My- Damn-Self) Coma, four days away from my wedding, and all I can think about is how excited I am to see the cake? It's been in the back of my mind for a few days and then I read this post on Classic Bride and realized that it is definitely the detail that I am most jazzed about. Actually, it's second to the ceremony space. I am dying to see that the most. I wonder if they will look anything like my mental image?

Andy just called from work and I shared my fantasy of a student-loan-free world where I could have outsourced everything -- invites, menu cards, programs, stationery, etc. -- and he laughed at me! He said that I couldn't do it. He better watch it or I'll make him renew our vows next year and give me money for letterpress.

This Time Next Week My Initials Will be TLW-C!

I'm officially on wedding vacation!

(Mentally insert a photo of a stunning bride throwing her arms up in excitement here.
I am too lazy to search for one.)

I don't even know what to do first! This week was not a very good week in wedding planning. I had started mentally composing a post about it, but now that it's time to write about it, I realize it is best to drop it if I want to keep you all as my friends. But, I will ask for you to keep your collective Internet Fingers crossed that the jeweler will resize my engagement ring and my brand new, overpriced wedding band to the size I asked for and NOT THE SIZE THAT SHE INSISTED I WAS DESPITE THE FACT THAT PUTTING ON THE SIZER THINGS GAVE ME A PANIC ATTACK. I wore them around the house this morning and an hour after taking them off, my finger still hurts.

We're in the Home Stretch!

Only one week, three days to go! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! What do I do first? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Just kidding! The programs are really the only remaining thing that "has" to be done. Everything else can be 86-ed with little to no consequence.

We plowed through the "To Dos" today -- I dropped off my ring for sizing and polishing, Andy dropped off the deposit for the valet service, we had our final DJ meeting* tonight, and I just sent the final ceremony document off to the officiant. The incredibly gracious Ellie of Mrs. Lovebug fame agreed to let us use her Group Vows. A million thanks and tons of good karma to her! :)

My bachelorette party was on Saturday evening. Once again, my grrrllls spoiled me. The recap will have to wait until next week because I'm still BEAT!

Look how frightened my sister-in-law-to-be (right) is by my Beyonce Moves!

*I still don't know what song I walking down the aisle to. I asked Andy to pick so that I'd have a surprise. I thought that I had it figured out, but after tonight's meeting, I don't know...

I Stayed Up Too Late Last Night.

"Perfectionist" is an adjective that's been popping up in my parent-teacher conferences and performance for reviews for years. And although it's usually not used in a positive manner, I always silently smirked when people said it. But then a couple of years ago, most likely when I was absolutely exhausted from working my tail off, I realized that it meant:

I don't get to sleep the week of deadlines.

I tend WASTE TIME RE-DOING others' work.

I fall behind on everything else while trying to complete a single task.

And lots of other things that I probably shouldn't list ad nauseum in case employers ever see this. But back to my point. I stayed up until 1:45 a.m. last night. And I stayed up to work on something that was so trivial that, although a wedding guest may smirk at it when he/she sees it, it's DEFINITELY something that no one would have EVER noticed if it didn't exist. And now I'm so tired that it physically hurts. Today, we're at 14 days and counting. I think that the most important thing for me to remember over the next 14 days is:

PAPER DOESN'T MATTER.

ANDY AND I SPENT PHAT CASH ON A PIMP, MIMINALIST VENUE FOR A REASON.

MY OVERTIRED LOOK (PALE WITH GET DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES) DOES NOT MAKE A VERY BLUSHING BRIDE.

I AM GOING TO BE SO BUSY ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING, THAT I WON'T NOTICE IF GUESTS NOTICE ANYTHING.

I know that I will focus on Andy and enjoy the day. I am definitely a "live in the moment" type of person -- to a fault, really. I just have to remember to let go and sleep during the many moments leading up to THE MOMENT, if you catch my drift.

Sonoma Recommendations

We (i.e., me) are in the process of making reservations for our honeymoon in Napa Valley. Neither of us have been to Sonoma, but would like to check it out. Can anyone recommend any wineries or tours to check out. Here's our Napa agenda so far...

Wineries:

Cakebread (one of Andy's favorites)

Duckhorn

Merryvale

Opus One

Sterling (pretty)

Stag's Leap

Silver Oak (my favorite)

Sinskey

Tours:

Del Dotto Cave Tour

Niebaum-Coppola

Lunch Plans:

AuBerge de Soleil -- We'd so be having our wedding here if we were rich and having a destination wedding.

CIA

Mustards Grill

Dinner Reservations:

If we win the lottery with enough time to make reservations,
French Laundry is so being added to the list.
Bistro Jeanty

FlatIron Grill -- I'm iffy on this one based on the Yelp reviews.

Rutherford Grill (Dinner with Friends)

Tra Vigne

A Few Things That I Forgot To Discuss With You Guys...

Overall, I was pleased with how my makeup from the trial photographed in our engagement pix. It looks great in black and white, but as I type this, I think that it may look a little washed out toward the middle of the colored photos. BUT, that could have been because it was 9,000 degrees out with 300% humidity. Here are the some close-ups where you can see the makeup. I think that they're the same ones that I shared a few weeks ago, but I have double chins in all of the other close-ups so I'm not sharing them. I wonder where I can buy a neck within the next 15 days?

Images: Sarah Alair

I picked up the bridesmaid jewelry from Sara Lenart last week. It is gorgeous. I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE my sister's necklace and wish that I could keep it for myself after the wedding. They both know that they're getting bling, but I want it to be a surprise, so I can't share it yet. :( Besides, I need something to post about when I'm going through withdrawal after the wedding.

I had my final dress fitting on Saturday. The dress itself fits like a glove, but I am so nervous about the top. I hope that I don't have a waredrobe malfunction while doing the Twist. It chaps my hide too because I busted my a*s looking for a dress that had straps so that I wouldn't be in this situation.

Hopefully, I'll look more like this:

Source

Than This

Source Unknown

Am I the Only...

...one who sees the downside of a mirrored dance floor? I saw this in one of the bridal mags and it made me giggle. It certainly is beatiful.

Images: Michelle Rago

Re: Programs

I'm thinking one per invited guest/couple, not one per person. What do you think? 75 of our attendees will have martinis in their hands during the ceremony and another 35 will be drinking water. They can't hold a program AND a drink, right? ;)

I already have the supplies and it's too late to return them, so it's not saving me any money to NOT make 145 programs, just time. And time = gold these days.

Images: The Knot

(A Note to Any of My Girlfriends and Family Members Reading This: If you see any crumbled up invitations or programs laying around at the wedding, please kick them under a table so that I don't see them and cry. :( I would do it for you! And chances are, if I made your programs, I did for you. Ha. Ha.)

Bathroom Baskets

Do I HAVE to provide bathroom baskets? I'm getting tired of spending money. And organizing. And making lists. And trips to Target are rare when you live in a neighborhood in which parking spaces are a hot commodity.

What if I just put some mints out? Is that rude? Or could I use travel sizes of stuff like hairspray, mouthwash, etc.? I can run that errand at CVS at lunch.

I think that I am getting bitter that my minimalist wedding is out of control. I'm cool with renting furniture and every piece of cookware that the kitchen will use, but I don't think that I have another $200 trip to Target for toiletries in me. (Nor does my bank account. And EVERY trip to Target becomes a $200 trip. Don't deny it.) Does that make me a bad hostess?

Your Crass Pal,

Tina

P.S. I've decided that minimalism is for either very lazy people pretending to be chic by not having posessions or decor OR for control freaks for have to edit everything. It takes a lot of energy to keep things small.