Final Numbers and Planning!

Mike and I had our final planning session to confirm all of our decor, facility, numbers, etc. yesterday with our venue. Thankfully, our estimated number of 150 is now an actual number of 139. We'll actually have a few more at the ceremony than at the reception, but all in all I'm 100% happy with this number (and thankfully so were my parents!).

Now the final things are being done and organized. I have one more really long call with our wedding director set for the week of the wedding and then we'll be DONE and ready for the big day. I can't believe it's almost here. 16 more days until I'm officially MRS. MORRIS ... although my work email already says it (dang you Lotus Notes support!).

After a three hour stint to get the programs printed at Kinkos, Lauren and I were done with it all and on our loopy train. I picked them up yesterday and started the embossing process. I made one full program just to see how it looks. While I'm not 100% in love with it, I think it looks good and will definitely work. Programs are something I think are a good addition to a wedding, but not totally necessary so I didn't think spending a ton of money on them was worth it. Not to mention, if we did them ourselves, I could use my super awesome embossing tools and heat gun! I'm halfway done embossing and still have to assemble, really hoping to get these cranked out by the end of the weekend.


In other news, for all you fellow brides to be, past brides and future. Here's a hysterical e-card I received today from our sweet friend, Nicole. She knows I've bickered about people not RSVPing or waiting until the absolute last minute!

photo credit

I also got the best chuckle from a friend of ours last night as well. I got a FEDEX letter sent to the house and was quite confused when I saw who it was from. I ripped it open and low and behold, there was a RSVP card in it. Thankfully I had already included them in the headcount as I knew they were attending. They win funniest way to RSVP and an A+ for actually sending it since I still have people who emailed and told me rather than using the RSVP/RSVP envelope I provided!

Needless to say, my breakdown that I'm expecting still hasn't happened which is an awesome thing. I think I've got it mostly under control. If I can make it through next week at the office, we're in the home stretch to wedding and honeymoon good times. Here's to hoping!

Ladies Who Lunch

I'm so excited about the Bridesmaid Luncheon. It's still 2 weeks away, but I'm already giddy about it.

I have lived in Atlanta since 1991 and have always heard about The Swan Coach House located in the heart of Buckhead (and just steps from Mike and I's condo). It's a very "ladies who lunch in a southern way" kinda place. They offer lots of chicken salad, shrimp salad, punch, tea sandwiches and a whole lot more. I knew when I was planning my Bridesmaid Luncheon that I needed to have it somewhere fun, southern and very "Atlanta" and this was just the place.

photo via here

With a few room options, I was able to find enough space to host my 9 guests of honor. We will be lunching in the BelleNita Room. A spread of delicious southern food and some yummy punch will be on hand. I'll finally have time to catch up with my girls, mother and future mother-in-law. For once, we'll ALL be together!

I've got a cute little thing for each place setting  that I got off Etsy as well as individual gift baskets for all the girls. I can't wait for them to see what I've been stashing away at my parents house for months!

Instead of the tradition of someone hosting this luncheon for me, I'll be hosting it myself for my guests of honor! I really hope it lives up to my expectations and that it kicks our wedding weekend off on the right note. I am very much looking forward to sharing this time with some of my absolute favorite people in the world!

light at the end of the tunnel ...

18 days to keep my breathing normal, not stress or freak out. 18 days of being "single". 18 days until I officially am married. 18 days until we head to Hawaii on our honeymoon! HOLY.COW.

94% of our stuff is done. I've got a few big tasks still ahead but think we'll knock it out by the end of this weekend or next. Our final planning meeting to turn in numbers, finalize food, decor, etc is tomorrow and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit stressed out. I need to let the stress that I've racked up the past few days go and focus on the real deal ... marrying  my best friend. I've lost sight of that a bit the last few days trying to finish all the details, coordinate varying people and plans. But all in all, I think it's coming together and our day is going to be beautiful no matter what. I've worked so hard with the help of some awesome friends, my parents and unconditional support from Mike the past year to get ready for this ONE day. I absolutely can't wait to have all my friends in one place. I haven't seen some of my bridesmaids in months and one of them in a year. It's hard to believe all of us will be in one place at the same time...that's never happened, well at least not since we've been engaged.

So I'll keep trucking and keep trying to remind myself that it's about the future and being married, not about stressing 100% about making the day perfect, although I think with my years worth of planning, it will be!

In other news, Mike and I booked 2 more trips after Hawaii, so my stress will be a little better knowing that I still have a few more vacations throughout the year!

Mike, Me, Joe and Jess @ NYE 2010

We'll be heading out on a cruise to celebrate the 30th Birthday of our friend, Jessica. There are 6-8 of us going and I can't wait! We're taking the Royal Caribbean cruise 'Majesty of the Seas' September 4-9. This will be my first trip on a cruise and needless to say I'm very much looking forward to it. Thankfully, Mike's dad got us all rooms at the timeshare in Ft. Lauderdale so we can fly down early and have a night there to hang out/get ready before embarking on our trip!

Our other trip is sort of random! This past weekend, Mike and I got last minute tickets from our friends Jon and Erin to attend a benefit dinner for Right to Hike. There was a 3 course meal (including beer/wine), silent auction, live auction and the Indigo Girls played at the end of the evening.  It was really a great time for a wonderful cause and I'm thankful we got to attend! Here's the random part, Mike and I were sitting next to a gentleman and his young daughter (the most well behaved 10 year old I've ever met, might I add) at our table. Mike struck up a conversation and come to find out he is a big wig with the MGM Resorts International. He invited Mike and I on a trip this June. We'll be taking a private jet, have the hotel and limo comped and needless to say, be having a BLAST at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. I can't wait for this trip!!!

Needless to say, post the wedding, our lives don't settle down much. But that's the way I like to keep it. Always busy, on our toes and with something to do. One of these days I'll learn to slow down and enjoy it!

Weather Nerves

I've been stalking again. This time, it's the extended weather forecast. In a mere week (and a few days) the extended forecast will be available for our wedding date.

If all goes as planned, our wedding ceremony will be taking place outside with our reception moving inside/outside (for a few tables) for the rest of the night. So far, the average highs for our wedding day are in the mid/upper 70's with a low in the mid 50's and with historically no real rainfall on our day.

photo via here

If this stays true for our day, that'd be perfect. However, I get sick to my stomach every time I even think about it pouring/storming/hailing/tornadoing whatever on our wedding day. I really really hope that Mother Nature is on our side come April 30th. They do say that a little rain on your wedding day is good luck...so I'd be okay with that, BUT a torrential downpour, I find that to be not so much 'luck' as I do bad timing.

If for some reason Mother Nature decides to change my outdoor wedding to an indoor wedding, I think I'd be okay with it (just okay, not happy or elated). Flint Hill is notorious for weddings and special events so I know they'd have it covered, I'd just like for this to not happen as I think it'll lose a lot of the design I have planned.

So I'll be continuing to say little prayers to Mother Nature, doing no-rain dances and hoping for the best. In the end, all will be okay and regardless of if it's inside our outside, it'll be beautiful and I'll be married to my best friend at the end of the day.

Random Thursday!

My brain is in a fog of all the things I've done lately and still have to do. I'd be lying if I said this post had some real content. So here you go, a Random Thursday with me!

**Favorite new eating joint : Local Three Kitchen Check this place out. Food was divine, service was great, atmosphere a huge A+ with me. I went Monday night with some girls and i was definitely impressed with the place. Can't wait to go back.

**My iPad 2 comes today. I've been waiting almost a month for it to arrive and it's finally going to be here today...GET. EXCITED.  Too bad Mike is in Texas until tomorrow so he'll have to wait to play with it!

**Finally hired my summer intern. She starts right after we get back from our honeymoon. Seems like she's an uber smart chick with a lot of potential. I'm very much looking forward to having an intern this summer and working with her!

**My college BF moved to Buckhead this week which means we can hang out much more and not drive (okay, her not drive) so far to go to dinner/go out with us! Hooray! Love the new place, L

**I'm in search of new white pants. Mine are too big (hooray, right?) and not sure where to look. I picked up some new white jeans at Anthropologie the other day, but I need like more casual cute white pants...think wide leg. Got any ideas on where I should go?

Here are some of my recent favorite random images off two of my favorite sites, okay well it's really one site but two different segments ... you get my point. I always check Lolcats and Loldogs when I need a laugh mid-day or to find something funny to send to a friend!

That about wraps up my super random Thursday post. Hope you weren't expecting anything too good to read :) I'll be much better tomorrow and actually write something worth reading!

*all photos via Lolcats and Loldogs 

26 Days and Counting!

I just can't believe we're only 26 days away! Our RSVP deadline is fast approaching and so far we're looking to be right on that 150 attendee target! I have my final planning meeting to turn in numbers, plan, etc on the 13th...it all seems so surreal that it's so close.

Yesterday, some of my wedding elves (aka Lauren and Kerri) joined me once again at my parents house.We got a lot done! Here are a few shots of exactly how we spent our day!

shakers for our 'getaway'

150 mason jars filled with ivory M&M's!

final product! our favors that will be at each table setting for our guests

our gorgeous seating chart board ... thanks, Danialle!

outer envelope to go on the seating chart board...still not finished!

We're nearing the end. We've secured our paper and embossing items for our programs and have still have to get the final items for our Out of Town guest bags. We still have a few big items left, but I feel assured that by the end of this week or next, it'll all be finished (hopefully) so I can enjoy the final days of our engagement and mentally prep for the wedding!

Baby Kona is 6 Months Old!

Hard to believe what life was like pre-Kona! We've had her for four months now and wouldn't trade a thing. She's the big 6 months old today! Her curls are finally starting to come in and she's starting to look more like a real dog than a teddy bear! She brings us joy everyday and is one very loved poodle!