stationary...

So it is the final countdown (cue the song by Europe)! Only 4 days left and I will be a Mrs.!
I have been looking through everything I have made up to this point and even T said I should put together a portfolio... my second career idea other than Sweet Disposition!
The most recent of my DIY stationary endeavors would have to be the programs that will be distributed to our guests who attend our ceremony (FYI: to those of you who don't know, the beautiful church we chose to become married in is now covered from sidewalk to bell tower in construction scaffolding). We decided to go with a simple single folded program in white cover stock (see the post about staples). This way, I could design the entire thing and print it at home with ease. That is exactly what happened. I made a few drafts and asked T to choose his favorite. He ended up choosing the program on which I placed graphics from our invitations. I framed the outside and inside with hemispheres and scrolls from our invites. I then used one of my favorite free font websites to add a little font flair. I even added a little fairytale touch to the back hinting at a happily ever after. The last thing I added was a little sparkle, of course!

Updates: Gifts, MOH's, Cake stands, favors, even more deatils...

Since it is now officially crunch time, my rear end has been set into hyper drive when it comes to the little details and DIY projects that I have decided to take on...

The girls' gifts are finally complete and have been packaged up nicely.  They are ready to be delivered this Saturday at our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  I really hope they enjoy them as much I had in choosing and putting them together.  My flower girl's gift is super cute and I cannot wait to give it to her.  

Don't worry... I will be posting pictures once they have been given to the girls... I cannot go and spoil the surprise that I have been so good at keeping! 

A quick update about MOH... I am the luckiest bride around because I now have 2 MOH's!!  My very best friend and my "little" cousin <3 Love them both so much!

Our fabulously delicious cake will now be sitting atop an awesome cake stand.  My dad has really taken the idea of the tree stump cake stand and run with it.  He was nice enough to carve the top of the stump so when the cake is taken to be cut and distributed to our guests, guests will be able to see the carved stand on display!  I cannot wait for everyone to see this piece of art!  Here he is in action!

This wedding is a family affair!  My mom finished the favors for the wedding and they are awesome!!!  I will be taking pictures of them all together but if you forget what they look like, check it out!

One other project I have taken on is a Bride and Groom sign for our chairs so no one gets confused and takes our chairs from the sweetheart table (because that would really happen... no comments please :) ).  I had taken even more tree cross sections (like the ones used for the tables numbers) and painted Bride and Groom (font inspiration from a special free website).  Holes will be drilled in them and ribbon will be strung to hang on the chairs. 

 

Last thing that might be of some interest... I found my dream shoes and could not be happier!  They are pink, they are Kate Spade and they are phenomenal!  Pictures to come soon.  

I cannot wait to see all of the details come together... hopefully they will! 

The Official Countdown... 10 Days!

So it is official... we are down to only 10 days!  I can remember when we had 150 days left!  I would remind TJ of the remaining days each day by looking at my app that I downloaded from TheKnot with a daily countdown.  TJ finally asked me to let him know when we only had 150 days... then when that day arrived, he asked me to alert him of 100 days... then 50... then 25... now 10!!  I cannot believe that it is almost here.  I was telling TJ that with all of the planning and our lives being taken over by table linens, flower choices, dress debacles, DIY details, and favors, it feels as if the planning will never end and the wedding day will never arrive... It has become commonplace to be stressed, pressed for time, and fearful of the details not falling into place as I imagine.  However, lately, I have been feeling a sense of calm.  

There have been so many hiccups along the way of planning that I seem to be immune to any more set backs.  Just for the record, here are just a few of the hiccups (in case you are unaware):  the original wedding gown I feel in love with was discontinued when I went to buy it, it rained on our engagement shoot, it rained on my bridal shower, the person I originally hired for my makeup cancelled on me last week, my moh (love you!) cannot make the ceremony, the original canter cannot sing at our ceremony, and to top it all off... the entire Church is covered from sidewalk to bell-tower in construction scaffolding.  

Now, you might be reading this and saying to yourself, "But these little things do not matter in the end.  All that matters is that TJ and you will be married!"  This is the notion that I have been conditioning myself to understand (while suppressing the inner princess) and I finally have become numb to any other bumps in the road.  If I cannot get to making the I-Spy cards... Oh well!  

This is the metaphor I have used to illustrate my feelings:  I have been rollerskating down a very steep and bumpy hill (the entire planning process) and now I have hit a ramp and am flying, weightlessly (carelessly) through the air, waiting to hit the ground and come back to reality (post-wedding).

I am tired, stressed, fatigued but still so excited to be marrying my best friend and soul mate.  After all, that is all that matters <3

P.S.: Words to the wise (teachers)... DO NOT get married during the school year!