100 days later...

...it's crazy to think that in 46 days I will be Mrs. Christopher Raber! <3

I'm incredibly excited yet insanely stressed out!

Things are beginning to come together slowly. I am getting in touch with our vendors and getting last minute details straightened out. Invitations have been sent and the reply cards are beginning to trickle in. I'm excited to see everyone! :)

I got my dress fitted last week. It fits PERFECTLY! Up side: I don't HAVE to lose anymore weight. Down side: I CAN'T lose anymore weight or the thing won't fit. Either way, I didn't want to take it off... it's so beautiful! I get giddy just being in it! :)

I have finally found the candle holders that I want for the reception centerpieces. Bad news is, they are $20 each. I have been searching for these things FOREVER and finally found them! So, I have decided to only get a few. (like 4 or 5) I anticipate having 20-ish tables at the reception so, if I can come up with 4 or 5 more centerpiece ideas, then I will just create a pattern with the centerpieces throughout the room. This DIY stuff is fun... I love being creative... but it can be stressful too. Sometimes I just want someone to do it for me. But it just wouldn't be the same without my imprint on it.

I am busy creating gifts for my ladies... getting excited for my bachelorette party and bridal shower :)

...and hi to my newest follower... my sweet cousin Kayla! :) Layla says hi!

Well... if I think of anything more I will be back... I hope to update more often but it's really getting down to the wire here...

XO
Jess

...146 days to go...

Hello everyone! Small update...

...we finally got around to designing and ordering our cake yesterday! I'm sooo excited that everything is really coming together!

Also, I added hotels in the Greenfield area to our wedding website. I know some people have been asking so I thought I would just give a simple list of 3 decently priced hotels in the area and let you decide! They are all pretty close to the reception site. :)

I also purchased invitations yesterday and plan on getting them printed out in the next couple weeks... I will let you know when to start checking your mailboxes!!!

Update... only 200 days!

...so much has happened!

My bridesmaids are in the process of ordering dresses!

We have decided on a DJ (instead of a live band) just because asking a band to learn all of the songs we want for our reception just wouldn't be fair!

Contacting a cake person in the next couple of days...

... got our engagement pictures taken... beautiful! More to come in April! (We only did half a session... it was just TOO cold!)

And we have 2 registries pretty much finished!

In the process of collecting items to create reception centerpieces!

Okay, now I need to get some much needed sleep...

In the mail...

Save the Dates have been sent! Hopefully everyone got both the card and the magnet (yes, there's a magnet hiding in there!) :)

I am now getting my bridesmaids in order and starting to get ideas for the invitations and our cake. I'm so glad I've gotten a head start because things seem to be flowing pretty smoothly right now!

Short Update...

I bought a dress! YAY!... so that's done.

Also, changed the color scheme... I saw that Oasis actually looks more green in a dress that it does online... boo. So, now the color is Serene (and I have actually seen it in person this time!). So, the girls' dresses will be Serene (David's Bridal colors).

I think that's it...

... 287 days!

Small Update

Guest list is about 10 addresses away from being finalized! Save the Dates will be sent around the end of the month/early November!

We have decided on a live band for our reception! I'm so excited! :)

Gotten a lot done...

I've decided on things, changed my mind, then gone back to the original decision... and I keep doing that over and over again (I've never been good at making decisions).

But the good news is, we have several things done!! :)

• Colors: Tangerine and Oasis (DavidsBridal.com ... this meshes my desire for orange and Chris's input of blue)
  
• Party favors have been decided on
• Reception site (Creative Arts and Event Center in Greenfield)
• Photographer (Cat Satre... recommended to me by the most amazing friend, Kathi!)
• Church (Park Chapel in Greenfield... going to reserve it tomorrow!)
• Officiant: Dean Nester at Park Chapel
  
• Save the Dates have been designed and will be sent out around September!
• The final guest list is being decided on as we speak! The deadline is the end of August, parents! :)

I think that's all... I've made my own Wedding Planning book to keep track of appointments, payments, etc. Chris makes fun of me because I'm such a planner. I'm too embarrassed to tell him that it's just because I can't remember anything.

So the next few things I'm going to start working on:

• Contacting the caterer (we already know who we want)
• Finding a DJ or a live band... I'm down the middle on that right now... not sure which I would like more
• Reception decorations (I don't think we're going to do too much decorating at the church)
• Deciding on/designing invitations
• Videographer
• Getting engagement photos taken (Probably in December... I know my photographer must be amazing because she is booked until then!)