This Will Be Our Year...

New Years'd Out

So here we are, 2009 brides, sitting right smack in the year we will be betrothed to our most loved for the rest of our days. We will create beautiful, memorable celebrations (with varying degrees of assistance) that reflect our personalities as a couple.

This year I will turn 30, I will stand up in the wedding of my great friend who I have known since we were tots and I will marry my dream dude - in that order. Even though my brain won't let me think past the honeymoon at this point (so I'm hitting a mental wall around the end of June 09), I am so excited for the months to come!

2009 will be a fantastic year, but the best part is, I know it's only the beginning. Spending the rest of my life with Hillary will be an adventure like no other. I am a truly lucky girl. 

Oh Christmas Tree...

So I pretty much had nothing to do with putting this tree together, but isn't it pretty? My mom always does such a great job decorating the house. (She's mad at me because I took the photos before she had the skirt on it.) 

The trip home has been productive so far. We met with the florist and it went really great. Ladies in the Northwest Indiana area should consider talking with Dan at Earthly Enchantments. We explained out vision and he jumped right on board, telling us what we could do and suggesting back up flowers in case I can't have my bouquet of white ranaculous. I am happy with his suggestions and guidance. Now we'll just wait for the quote :) 

After Christmas we're meeting with the cater and picking out the suits for the guys. Check, check and check! We're looking at 6 months tomorrow...yikes!

Holiday Wedding Planning

Headed home for the holidays. My mom and I have tons of wedding issues to take care of. We're meeting with the caterer to finalize the menu and service details. We're taking Hill and my bro suit shopping so we can see what styles we like. We're making mock-up boutonnieres (more on that later) and, maybe most importantly, we're meeting with the florist to talk bouquets!

I love dahlias, but sadly, they are a fall flower and not available around the Midwest in June...or shall I say, not with our budget.  

Chucking the To-do List

{Lake Michigan from the Indiana Dunes}

As the sun sets and our red eye to Charlotte leaves in about 4 hours, I am giving up on 50% of the wedding tasks I was trying to finish before the holiday weekend.

Task 1 - Get group booking contract from the hotel - CHECK, signed, sealed and in the mail.

Task 2 - Make reservations for the boy, the brother and the parents at the caterer's restaurant  for when we are in the Chicago area over Christmas. - NO CHECK, called the caterer 4 times over the last week and can not get him to return my calls. 

Task 3 - Get the prices from the local brewery we're using as the bar tenders that I've been requesting for over a month. - NO CHECK, called the brewery 3 times over the last week and no one will return my calls. 

Task 4 - Make first of 4 fitting appointments with the seamstress. - CHECK, appointment made and my first fitting is the second week of Dec. Exciting!

So what is up with people in the food and beverage industry? You really can't get much more customer service oriented, and yet, I can't seem to get anyone to return my phone calls. Has anyone else had problems like these? Any good advice as how to handle? 

Everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving and forget about fitting into that wedding dress for the day.