The Final Week!

We are BEYOND excited to see everyone in a week! Thank you to all of you, our family and friends, for your love, support and guidance. We wouldn’t be who we are or where we are without each of you! Please travel safe as you make your way to Traverse City and get ready to celebrate!!! We’ll see you all soon!!

One month!!

Well, things have been a little crazy around here the past few days. Mainly because Griffin broke his back on July 13th after running full speed into a tree. We’ve been to two vets in GR and a neurologist in Commerce. He’s had lots of xrays, a ct scan and an mri… he is a trooper!! We’re so thankful to Dr. Cinzori who saw something she didn’t like in one of her xrays and referred us to the neurologist… and thank you to Dr. Wolf for figuring out exactly what we’re dealing with.

As for wedding stuff, its been starting to pick up again with rsvps coming in. I’ve started to work on preliminary floor plans and timelines… not to mention, having a practice hair appointment, finalizing the ceremony readings and songs, making sure my I’m staying on top of vendor deadlines and what not. The list goes on and on… but I’m beyond excited for the actual day!!

I’ll have more updates I’m sure over the next few weeks… get excited!!!!!!

Last few days to book a hotel room!

We just want to let all of you know that the block of rooms we had held will be forfeited after July 20th. If you need to make hotel accommodations, please make sure you take care of that as soon as possible! We’re extremely excited to see everyone on our wedding day and look forward to celebrating the beginning of our marriage with you!

Food Tasting!

Last month, Joe and I had our tasting at the Jolly Pumpkin of Mission Table at Bowers Harbor Inn. Yes – that is a mouthful to say During the last several months, the new owners of Bowers Harbor Inn have come just about full circle with rebranding the infamous restaurant. To read more about their rebranding, focus on locally grown food/beer/wine along with creating an atmosphere that feels “up north” – please visit their website!

On to the tasting… Barb and her husband, Chef Paul, wowed us with an incredible menu selection. We were able to try several delicious entrees… two fish options and two chicken options. It was so hard to choose one of each since both options for each entree type were so delicious.

Here is the final menu!

1. Grilled Filet Mignon with a Red Wine Reduction (YUM!)

2. Herb Roasted Chicken with Morel Chicken Jus (local morels – so amazing!!)

3. Oven Roasted Ruby Trout with Citrus Vinaigrette

4. Grilled Vegetable Pasta with Fresh Tomato Basil

Three months!

Alright, so I know it has been awhile (a very long while) since my last post, but life has been a little busy. I had a bridal shower, started a new job, moved into a new apartment and the puppies had their little surgeries. I’m feeling like I’m back on a normal schedule and I have time for things like this again! At least for now…

The new apartment!

Three months… that is how much time is left until Joe and I get married It is hard to believe that it is coming up so fast, but at the same time, it feels like it should’ve been here forever ago! SO… here is the update of where we are now!!!

Completed:

- I have the invitations/rsvp cards printed, I just need to finish addressing all of the envelopes and buy stamps. With summer around the corner and people making plans, I’m going to get these out earlier than normal since we didn’t do save the dates!

- Cake and Food has been finalized I’m getting hungry just thinking about it…!

- Tuxes, shirts and ties have been picked out… now onto getting measurements!

- Bridesmaid dresses have been selected!

- Music vendor has been selected fro the reception… Tom Kaufmann for those of you who go to Beacon Lounge on the weekends

- Marriage Prep courses for the Catholic Church

- Everything else that I have previously posted out (photographer, dress with alterations, ect)

- Rooms have been blocked off for out of town guests!

Still to Do:

- Finalize the ceremony readings and music selections

- Get the guys measured for their tuxes

- Flowers –> everything is picked out and ready to go, I have a rendering with Modern Day in June… be ready for some pics!

- Linens… I know I had already posted about this, however I’m debating a few things in regards to this!

- Selecting reception “do-not-play-under-any-circumstance” music

- Send out invites and then every little thing that goes along with the RSVPs.

- All of the little things that I can’t think of right now!

The Ceremony

Next month, whenever Joe doesn’t have to fly… we are heading up to Traverse City to meet with the church to begin planning the ceremony. I’m beyond excited… mostly because I have only been to a handful of Catholic weddings and have NO idea how everything fits in together.

There are many things about the marriage sacrament I’m not familiar with (that is a good thing!) and have SO many questions. I look forward to seeing which songs are allowed… how many songs are there are supposed to be… what options of readings we have… the order of a “rite of marriage” ceremony… and so on and so forth.

note: this is not me

This, to me, will be the most important time in my life and I’m excited to learn about it… in the meantime, trying to stay patient until we get an appointment scheduled

Our little family :)

Over Easter weekend, my dad snapped this shot of Joe, the pups and me These little guys were just about 17 weeks in this picture. Below you’ll see the progression of Molly and Griffin!

Molly

Griffin!

Shots from the weekend we picked these adorable babies up! They were almost 10 wks

It took Griffin some time to figure out how to jump up on the sofa Just about 12 wks

Miss Independent at about 12 wks old

Tiny Cuddles – 14 wks

Molly and Griffin waiting for a treat 14 wks!

This picture right here… this is why we got two 17 wks old

Sitting for a treat! 17 wks

Bridesmaid Dress Update

Alright… so, in my first post about bridesmaid dresses, I was sure that the girls would be wearing a beautiful silk chiffon dress from JCrew. I will say, the dresses were gorgeous. HOWEVER… on a whim, my amazing mother decided to order one of JCrew’s “cotton cady” dresses. She knew that my sister and I really loved the cut of the Sydney dress, but I was hesitant about cotton dresses. And I am “oh-so-glad” that she did!!

image courtesy of JCrew

My sister tried on a beautiful silk chiffon dress and looked absolutely beautiful… then she tried on the Sydney dress and I thought my face was going to fall off!!! She looked GORGEOUS. And I mean… drop dead, pick your jaw up off the floor gorgeous! With that reaction, there is absolutely no turning back THIS my friends, is the dress

image courtesy of Anthropologie

Just so you can get the full picture, I have included a picture of the necklace that will accompany the stunning piece of sewing mastery It was supposed to be a surprise… but I’m sure Lauren has tried it on at least a dozen times already This necklace was something I picked up from Anthropologie with once again, the help of my mom and sister!

Alteration Master

The past month, I have been visiting the kindest and most talented seamstress! The lovely lady is Dottie and she has worked on hundreds (if not thousands) of dresses and can do anything… and I mean anything. So any other brides out there… or mothers of the bride, mothers of the groom, bridesmaids, grandmothers, friends, ect… If you need the contact information for someone who can work some serious magic, just let me know and I will pass it along!!!

image courtesy of Heritage Gown

So the update on my experience: not much needed to be done to my dress… Dottie shortened it (all six layers), tucked in the bodice a bit and put in a three-point over bustle. Tonight was my “final” fitting… and let me tell you, the fit couldn’t have been any more perfect. I can’t wait to show everyone on August 20th!! Next week, she will have to cleaned and pressed for me to pick up!

You may be thinking “5 months is a little early”… and I agree. It is a little early. Good think I’m done growing and I am not well endowed The next several months are sure to be busy for both myself and for Dottie… she should be having a heavy influx of prom dresses, wedding dresses, ect starting in just a few short weeks. To save us both the headache, now just made the most sense.

Etsy… A Place for great finds!

A few weeks ago, I decided to see if I could find some vintage broaches on Etsy. After hours and hours of searching for just a few accent pieces to use on my bridesmaids bouquets and the head table… I was starting to get restless! Fortunately, I came across My Vintage Jewels… the shop owner, Debi, has so many incredible pieces! Here are the pieces I purchased… The ear rings will be used on the bridesmaid bouquet handles and the broaches will be pinned on the “pick-ups” of the head table!