Wow. I am a good blogger. Like really really ridiculously good.

The Dress Dilemma

My mom and sister were here this weekend to go dress shopping. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, but once we started trying different styles, I found that I loved dresses that I never would have chosen just looking at pictures.

So now I am down to three beautiful dresses. Two are relatively affordable, one is about twice as much as I planned on spending. I have had that MOMENT with all three them, so there is no clear frontrunner. THIS IS SO HARD!

I've got pictures of me in all of them, which has helped. I can't post them because Kurt does not want to accidentally see them. I just need to look at my budget, go try them on again, and really see which one I feel is THE ONE.

Things are coming along nicely....we've got our reception hall, church, probably the DJ, and after this week the photographer. I am a planner, so I like to have things taken care of early. Plus that leaves me more time to look at the little things, like making my own ceremony programs and deciding once and for all on colors.

Mom and Tal will be here in three weeks to go dress shopping! Must put the chocolate down and take the stairs!

The Date!

May 1, 2010. May Day!

We've chosen our date and reception site. We'll be doing the reception at the Seville in Streamwood. It is a fabulous banquet hall, with great food and even a chocolate fountain! YUM. We are still working on the ceremony. We are having some difficulty deciding between a Catholic ceremony (Kurt) or a Lutheran/Methodist one (me). It is a hard decision, one that we are trying to figure out.

Other than that, things are progressing smoothly. I need to really sit down and look through my list and try to get started on the little things that often get overlooked!

Put a ring on it...

We finally picked out my ring! After all the hemming and hawing I pick a simple setting with a blinging solitaire diamond. It is a princess cut, but we are having it kite-mounted (so that it looks like a diamond shape). I love it. Plus, as Kurt said, it gives us options to UPGRADE later on.

We start touring places tomorrow. I am excited to finally find a place and set a date so that I can really start getting some planning done. I can't even pick a church because we don't know where in the Chicagoland area we will have the reception!

Already had to take a vacation....

I have not done any planning in the last two weeks because I have been on a family trip to Germany/Holland. I took my magazines, but really was doing other stuff with the cousins the whole time. I put Kurt to work while I was gone, and we are going to tour 5 potential reception places next weekend. Once we do that, we can pick a place and set a date. I'll be glad once we get that taken care of!

I've been doing a lot of brainstorming on ways to cut costs. Kurt and I are fortunate to have some very talented friends who have already been volunteering to help with things. I figure their rates will be cheaper than "professionals," plus I trust them more!

I am heading to Iowa today with mom and sister. I am scouting a few Iowa locations, since we are not ruling an IA wedding out.

I am beginning to sympathize with all my friends who have planned weddings before me.....I understand now!

Day 2......

So I've been engaged for two days, and I am already thinking of moving the wedding to 2011. Mostly because it would give me more time to plan, save, and really do what I want. If I want to get married next May/June, Kurt and I need to pick a reception site and book like THIS WEEK. I can't pick something so quickly without being able to go see some places. So I need to contemplate things today and try to decide what is best.

ENGAGED!

Okay, I finally have a blogging purpose!

Kurt and I got engaged May 31, 2009. We were "re-creating" our first date in Chicago, ending with the Ferris Wheel ride that we did not get to go on last year. It was on this ride that Kurt got down on one knee (yes, in a ferris wheel basket) and asked me to marry him. I think my first words were "Are you kidding me?" because it was totally unexpected. My next words were, of course, "YES YES!!"

Backing up, we had a great day in Chicago--Shedd Aquarium, walking from Shedd to Water Tower, window shopping, chocolate, dinner at YTK (site of our first date), and walking around Navy Pier. It was a perfect day. Except for my morning meltdown with my hair, but whatever. That's to be expected with me.

Now on to the fun/hard stuff. Planning. I will do my best to keep this updated with everything I am thinking/doing/not doing. And I welcome ANY and ALL advice...I am good at planning, but this is a whole new world for me!

Yeah, I know....I never write anymore....Grad School has taken over my life, but in 2 months I will be free and able to play online more. Since I probably won't be able to get a job right away, I'll have LOTS of time. Till then, check out all the blogs I follow....lots of much more interesting people posting interesting things!

See you in May.....