8"ish" months to go!

So time is flying!  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is just around the corner!  I have had a great time already!  Marnie and Dick came down to visit in October, that was when we toured venues all over Wilmington and found the Watermark Marina.  We think this is going to be the perfect indoor/outdoor location!  Bring your sunglasses though!  :-)

Later on my Mom and I got some shopping time alone...shopping for the dress.  Again, I think Jason would kill me if I said too much, but I will say that when I put on various gowns we had some great mother/daughter ohhh....ahhh....laugh....then there it was.  And we both knew.  But we were patient.  The next weekend Jessie, Julie, Rachel and I went to another store and tried on many more gowns.  We had a blast and I convinced myself I found another favorite...yep, it was down to two!  So, this past Monday, Mom and I met at the first store.  I put on the first dress....and that was it.  We had every intention of going to the other store to help us make a decision, but there was no decision to be made.  This was it.  We were so excited!  I'm so happy I got to share that moment with her!  

The photographer... that's been the easiest part so far!  We looked into quite a few photographers that were local, but we have a friend from Wilson, NC who has some amazing pictures taken this past September.  Their photographers name was Britten Berry and we drove all the way to Rocky Mount to meet her.  We LOVED the pictures she took, but we LOVE her personality just as much!  We are excited for you all to meet her and her husband and feel blessed to have found such an affordable, but talented photographer.

Food....now this is incredibly important.  The first caterer we met with somehow got the impression that world simply revolved around budget...not so much "us" or what we "dreamed."  Jason and that lady got to talking and planning the most cost-effective meal possible.  We walked away with pricing for a plated dinner of chicken, gravy, green beans and potatoes.....and I was in tears.  :-(  I told Jason I just felt like there was a glass wall between me and the two of them and that it all happened so fast!  Never had we talked about any of those things....not that I wanted "big, fancy food," but I just wasn't ready for this.  After a long, sweet chat...and Jason putting up with my crazy hormones, we agreed that this particular idea didn't represent us at all.  So, since then we have brainstormed many ideas and don't want to "spoil" them all, but they certainly represent more of us.  We met with an exciting caterer that we hope to go with on Monday (Pine Valley Market).  They only use local, fresh products and she was very creative with food ideas as well as cost-effective ideas.  We will get some pricing options from her after Thanksgiving and go from there!

Save The Dates- Well, as you know, those went out this week!  We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!  Thanks to Catt Larson for taking some amazing pictures and to Marnie and Dick for the input on the layout. 

Wedding Coordinator- I'm sooooooooooooooo lucky to have a sister-in-law with some both real experience with wedding coordination, a great relationship with me, and the attitude to whip everyone into shape that day!  Nicole has agreed to do this and she simply has no idea how much Jason and I appreciate it!  

Things are certainly moving forward and while it hasn't been "stress-free" it's certainly been fun!  I'm looking forward to showing off my dress this weekend to Catt and Heather and hopefully taking them by the Marina. 

Jason and I are so excited to spend the Holidays with both of our families!  What fun times are ahead!