I HAVE A DRESS!

Need I say more?! Right size, color, & style. Yahoo! Now I just need to get a hold of the slightly flaky dressmaker...

The Final Countdown

Should I start singing a Def Leppard song now? That's what it feels like. Only 2 weeks left. The dress FINALLY got to Ashland, and they turned around & shipped it right to me. I should have it very shortly after the holiday weekend. Now I just have to let the gal who does the alterations know & get an appointment set for that. But, we have brats & curds all lined up; we just need buns, chips, & some drinks!

The balloons are ordered & will be ready for pick up on Friday the 18th. The cakes are all set up. I should call the flower shop & make sure I can get those on the 18th. The biggest thing left is the lady who is doing our guest scroll. I still have concerns about her; but maybe that is just a little stress leaking out.

On a happier note, RJ & I got a waiver from the state of Wisconsin; this means no 5-day waiting period, so we do not have to drive to Superior before the wedding to apply for the license. We can just drive up on the 17th with our passports & driver's licenses, wait 20-30 minutes, & have a license for Saturday. Hooray! The $25 extra to do this is worth it, since it would cost us about twice that (or more) in gas to drive up to Superior & back--and that's not counting the over 4 hour round trip drive.

RJ's mom is coming in tonight, and will be around until the 13th; then off to her Michigan relatives until wedding time, at which point she will drive through the U.P. to get to northern Wisconsin with them. By then, only 6 days to wedding bells. Eek. I just want to have one heck of a fun party!

3 Weeks Left...Seriously??

Can I panic yet? Oh, I am all OK with getting married--no worries about a runaway bride. However, we still have to get the license from Douglas County. My dress is either on a plane in-country, or in China getting ready to board for western ports; I won't know until later this week, if I am lucky. The lady who is supposedly doing alterations hasn't emptied her stupid voicemail, so I can't get a hold of her to let her know what is going on with said dress. I have yet to do the programs. I am short a bit of ribbon for favors. I need to wrap a few gifts & pick some other stuff up. Did I mention the school term started this week, so I am now teaching full time again?

And let's not forget that RJ's mom will be coming here at the end of next week before she heads to Michigan. Then his dad & step mom will be here the day before we head up to Ashland. In the meantime, I need to start calling places regarding picnic food, and should probably find a place to put the brats & curds for the night before the wedding. Oh yeah...and balloons. Let's not forget the balloons.

If I were the way I used to be, I'd probably be a little strung out right now. However, for some weird reason, I am not in a panic...yet...Talk to me in about 10 days, and I will let you know where I am at. I think my head is just still in bike racing mode, and that I will be freaking out come September 14th. Help???

GUEST: PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!

Folks: This is a VERY important post. I have had a call from the River Rock Inn, asking me if I could "unblock" the rooms. Since only 2 people from the wedding party have made reservations there, I told them OK. Also, the rooms at the Best Western are going to open up here SOON.

Why is this so important? Because if you have not made reservations, you NEED to do so soon. I know there is still a month to go; however, I have been informed that, not only is the Fat Tire Festival going on down by Cable (and don't kid yourself: people stay 40 miles away in Ashland for that), there is also a Bass fishing contest going on in the area the weekend of our wedding.

This means HOTELS WILL FILL UP FAST IN THE NEXT 4 WEEKS!! Yes, there are a number of hotels in the area. However, if you want to be able to pick and choose--and not potentially spend a fortune, sleep in a "dive," or have to stay in the Duluth area--it would be best to get a room ASAP... as in, maybe before-this-coming-weekend soon.

We have 57 confirmed adults, including all the wedding party, with 3 smaller children. This is a total of 60 people. There are a few I am still waiting on, so it could be up to 70 people. I am going to guess maybe 65. It is a mix of my family, RJ's family, our mutual friends, and our "biking family". Heck! We might be able to introduce you all to one another! (no silly name games, though...)

Things are coming together nicely. It sounds like I should (knock on wood) have my dress in early September. Yea! The party favors for guests are pretty much done, the Deepwater knows how many to plan for, the party music is all lined up, and various small things are all set. Hooray! Let the count-down begin. Tick-tock, Tick-tock...

Rings are In, but Waiting on Others

We have rings!!! (Pics above...) It is amazing that Canadian Customs let them through so fast, considering how long we had to wait for my engagement ring. However, maybe they consider wood less of a "threat" than metal? They are gorgeous--almost unreal, in how smooth they are. Mine is not as wide as I would have hoped, but then again, I don't know as I would have wanted a really "chunky" ring; my engagement ring is big enough, and is staying on the left hand. The wedding ring will be on my right, European style, since the wood should not be clacking against the metal. I think I will feel more balanced this way...

But, the dress is still not in (no big surprise, as it has only been three weeks); also, I am trying to get the person who is doing our guest scroll to contact me. It is like I have to constantly be the initiator with this lady. Maybe it is just me, but my understanding is that is not the way to run a business!

The flower shop knows precisely how many corsages are needed, and I need to check in with the party supply place about balloons. My friend Charlee is all set up to decorate, and we have a general idea of how to layout the reception place. Please be aware that this is NOT going to be a traditional "head table" type of set up. The room fits about 80, but it is not your typical rectangular room. There is a patio outside--upstairs--and the rest of the upstairs is like an L-balcony.

We have heard from most people, but we really need you to let us know your plans, if you haven't yet. Our reception place will need to know about how many people to cook for, and we need to know how many people to plan for, for the picnic.

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate! It has been quite cool in the northern Wisconsin area, so plan accordingly. We are hoping we get the odd 80-degree day, but we are also not holding our breath. We would be happy with sunny and dry.

It is hard to believe we are only 5-1/2 weeks away from this event. We are really starting to get excited for an awesome celebration!!

Ooops, or Andrea Gets a Dress, Take 2

Ok, so I thought something was off with my dress when my aunt brought it home from the great northwoods. The day I got it, I thought, "this seems a little darker/more 'gold' than I thought." So, I figured I would compare it to the color swatch I had at home.

Well, Grandpa died the next day. Literally. Needless to say, it sort of popped out of my mind for a couple of weeks.

Having made an appointment with the tailor to talk about fitting the dress correctly, I found the swatch. Umm....can we say, I was right?

So now, I am taking the dress back up to Ashland this weekend. The gal talked to the manufacturer, and a "super rush" is going to be put on the new/correct color. She wants to see the correct color swatch I have, and be absolutely certain we get it right. She thought it was off, too, and when she asked her assistant about it, the woman said "well, she said she didn't want white..." Did the dye lots change? Was the swatch in the wrong place or labeled wrong at the store? Did a number get entered wrong? We don't know, but Embellishments in Ashland is being very responsible about taking care of this for me.

No, I do not want white, or even ivory--which looks white until it is put up against a stark white background. However, borderline gold is not quite what I was going for, despite that is would work for an autumn wedding. Oh well. I am crossing my fingers, and am also preparing to use the dress I have, if needed.

At least it gives me perspective about all those crazy Bridezillas...because, let's face it: the dress is the one thing that really should be "right." However, I also do not feel the need to pitch a fit and fall in it, dragging everyone down with me, disappointed though I am. *Sigh* Just when you think everything is going as scheduled...Here's hoping this is the only "crisis."

"What's for Dinner?!"

So, it has been a few weeks since the last post, and I thought it might be nice to let you all know what to expect on the menu for the upcoming celebration. I have some of this on the details page, but just in case you can't open that link...

First, the post-ceremony picnic: We will be supplying brats, buns, chips, beer, soda & wine, and cheese curds. Yes, cheese curds (this IS Wisconsin, after all...). If you want hard liquor, BYOB; it IS legal in the state of WI to have alcohol of all kinds in the State Parks (unlike MN). We are not doing dessert, because there will be a plethora of sweets to choose from come reception time.

Speaking of the reception, food includes: Beef in a red wine reduction, Chicken in a mushroom cream sauce, garlic-smashed potatoes, sweet potatoes in brown sugar, steamed veggies, and rolls. Oh, and cake, of course...lots and LOTS of cake (there's a little surprise with that one we'll leave you to wait and see). We will be toasting the wedding with Mead, not champagne, but we'll have a little white wine if Mead is not your thing. As for other alcoholic beverages, there will be a cash bar to quench your thirst.

As for other updates, I now have my dress, and am trying to get a hold of a local woman for alterations. If she proves impossible to reach (and she could be...long story), I will just take it back to the place where I bought it for a quick hemming. I am also getting a little miffed with the person who is to do our calligraphic scroll that is taking the place of a guestbook--3 days and no reply from the email I sent, reminding her of our agreement/my order. One would think a business owner would be a little more on top of things. Maybe she is on vacation.

Lastly, please remember to send your reply card; I know we said until August 1st. I also know of two people who have lost theirs already! Oops. Maybe I was a little preemptive...but I am just a planner like that. Less than 3 months to go! We're looking forward to a fun time!