We’re legal! We got our marriage license at lunch today. Very exciting.

I took Carolina (James’s sister and a bridesmaid) shopping last night. We got her shoes and a couple of things and I bought most of the odds and ends I still needed. I came home and put together welcome bags and wrapped various things and basically was hyped up on wedding until almost 2 a.m.

So today has been rough. I have to do laundry when I get home and I want to start finishing up the napkin rings, now that I have the wire.

If we can just get the house clean, I think we’ll be in good shape. Oh, and find my credit card, which seems to have vanished. It has to be in the house somewhere. I just can’t figure out where.

I did, however, have a wedding nightmare last night that has left me pretty unsettled. But things have gone amazingly well here at the paper this week and I only have to work two days next week, so there’s that.

Second hair trial finished and we have achieved pretty pretty princess!!!

Of course, with 10 days to go, James and I have both come down with head colds. Figures. So all that time I spent cleaning the house for the party Saturday is wasted, since we’re being all sick and lazy and dirty.

Shopping tomorrow to pick up those last few things. Also meeting with the florist.

The checklist is growing smaller. Almost everything is done.

Now I just need to kick this cold.

This is an example of how I hope our wedding does not go:

Bride and Groom Tasered”

Okay, technically, my shower in July was the beginning of the celebrations. But tomorrow is our work shower and Saturday is my bachelorette (and I’m working on something for James). The wedding is just two weeks from Saturday!

I still need to talk to the florist and redo my hair trial (I was not happy with the first go round, but I think I know how to fix it). And a few other odds and ends. I feel a bit scattered.

Tomorrow is our walk through at the Wake Robin, too, and last night we met with our DJ. My dad called about 30 minutes too late, but he finally picked a song for our dance (which has been stuck in my head all day).

It’s going to be a crazy two weeks!

The wedding gifts have begun to roll in (and I swear, I’m going to write a batch of thank-you cards tonight; really!). Yesterday we arrived home to a deep fryer on our doorstep, courtesy of my cousin and his wife.

James is thrilled. He unpacked it and read all the directions last night.

He says we’re making fried ravioli tonight (yum). This is going to make staying at a weight that will allow my dress to zip even more difficult.

Here’s an update from mid-August (how did that happen?!?):

Everything is just as hectic as I was worried it would be, but I think we’re coping okay. Mostly. Except for those nights I end up sleeping 12 hours or the times when James falls asleep at the computer desk.

Things accomplished in the past two weeks:

• The groomsmen have all be asked and have confirmed their willingness to participate.
• Tuxes have been ordered, and my brother even sent in measurements from Oregon (though the tux place called; they have “important questions”; I’m a little concerned about that).
• Wedding dress fits and plans are underway for minor alterations.
• Tiara has been purchased.
• Make-up trial has been completed. I am so happy with my “look.”
• Hair trial will be this Friday (now that I have the tiara).
• Marriage license application has been mailed.
• Rehearsal dinner menu is planned.
• Ceremony is written (just needs final approval from the minister).
• RSVPs have been rolling in. The official respond by date was Friday, so now I have to start pestering people for their responses.
• Bachelorette is planned (Body Shop party and then sleepover; there is some talk the bachelor party will be the same night, but I haven’t been in on those discussions).
• We have a meeting set up with our DJ for next week.
• I have bought welcome bags and have planned a couple of items to put inside them.

Major things left to do:

• Finalize plans with florist.
• Walk through at the Wake Robin (scheduled for the 21st).
• Pay bills!
• Write vows.
• Pay for and pick up marriage license.
• Make ring bearer pillow, now that we know we’ll have a ring bearer.
• Clean the house before we are inundated with house guests.

When I look at the calendar, I get kind of freaked out, but overall, I know that we could get married today and have everything that’s important to us in place. Well, once we get the marriage license in our hands, we will.

Somehow, I sound calmer than I really am.