my family is cute

2 reasons why:

#1 - My aunts are hosting a shower for us in Ohio and they created the invitations based on our save-the-dates. Love!

#2 - My brothers are giants and we love our grandpa. (And beer, apparently.)

365 down, 132 to go

Everyone said it would, but I can't even believe how quickly this last year has gone by. Being engaged for 1 year+ is nice for planning purposes, but I'm just about over it. Let's get this show on the road! I couldn't let the date pass without a little retrospection, however...

So happy and naive. Poor Ed had no idea he was about to learn so much about labor and delivery costs, hotel attrition rates, Paper Source and the inside circles of Chicago's wedding industry over the next 12 months.

Sushi and wine at NoMi

Bob's toast...

And ending the night at Stanley's, where it all began. Notice how my glasses made a late-night appearance - always the sign of a good night, in my book.

(Shots courtesy of Betsy and Artie, our favorite bartender.)

Sun & Sand

On Wednesday evening, I arrived home from work to this:

I've known for a while now that a destination bachelorette party was in the works. Sly requests for email addresses and dates and secret meetings between Betsy and Ellen tipped me off. And now that's it's getting close, I get this clue from Ed's sisters Katie and Sharon. Sand, shells and daquiris? Yes, please! Especially now as I stare out the window at a gray and snow-covered Chicago.

Exactly one month from now we'll be there. (Now I just need to figure out where "there" is!)

p.s. - for those of you who know Ed, here's the answer to your question: he let the sand stay in our apartment for 2 full days before requesting that I please throw it out.

p.p.s. - the Yankee Candles are extremely appropriate. Katie's been giving them to Ed as gifts forever and there's always one burning in our kitchen. I won't even tell you how many of the large jar candles we have because you won't believe me.

(25!)

Dress progress

Betsy and I spent our lunch today at my first official dress fitting...thrilling and nerve-wracking all at once!

Here are the newest developments:

1. It turns out there is a way to make the dress a bit longer, so I won't have to be as stringent with my heel height. I'm not sure who is more relieved about that, me or Ed. He's just not a fan of a mini heel.

2. I now have a pretty good idea how the revised waistline and straps will turn out. And because I can't hold in too many secrets, here's a sneak peek at the applique that will be added at the waist (although I really shouldn't bother with iPhone pics anymore). In real life, that garish gold is much more muted and rose-colored. The other beads are silver and clear. The hole in the middle is where we removed a larger bead that I wasn't too crazy about.

3. I also booked the rest of my fittings, up to the last one on June 3. After the final fitting, they will send it to the cleaners who will deliver it to our hotel the day before the wedding. While I admit that is excellent service, I will probably be a little nervous not having the dress in my sight until June 18.

vintage yellow clutches

from verovintage, eunonymous and sungelly87

Confession

Alternate title: "I Can't Believe I'm Posting This Photo"

(thank goodness for poor iPhone photo quality)

Contrary to what this blog may lead you to believe, I have not been planning this wedding my entire life. But there is one random thing that I always knew would be part of my ceremony if it was to be held in church. Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

You see, in a former life I was a band nerd. Clarinet and tenor sax, to be exact. And Ode to Joy was one of my first and favorite songs to perform. (#1 was Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas Music, which to this day will bring me to tears.)

A decision I won't regret: Ode to Joy as our recessional song. A decision I do regret: bangs.

Divine twine

I'm going to have to figure out a way to incorporate this into one of my many upcoming paper projects.

Invitations or Programs or Placecards?

Oh my.

from divine twine