Only three days now. How did this happen? I can’t believe we’ve been engaged for a year and a half now. Planning this wedding for a year and a half.

Most everything is done. I have a couple of little errands I have to run, mostly revolving around gifts we’re giving people.

James has to do the program design, which really shouldn’t take him long, and then we have to print it somewhere. He wants color, so some place with a color copier, I guess.

And we have to write our vows. I have a rough draft, but we haven’t had a moment to sit down together and go over them.

But the house is clean, the curtains are up and our first house guests have arrived. I’m trying to relax and go with the flow, but, well, I’m getting married in three days.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I am dreading August. I think I am actually afraid of it.

Everything at The Journal is changing. The owners decided to cut their losses and shut down our print shop. We have an antiquated press and cannot afford to upgrade. Some people were laid off and all our deadlines have changed, since we now have to get our pages to an outside printer.

James has been, and is, instrumental in this process. He has a lot on his plate now and is very stressed out with all the meetings and preparations and putting out fires before they start.

Then, at my other job, we have a new chef, new menu and new procedures. And I have to buy black shirts for the new uniform.

We’re doing a tasting of the new menu Friday, which I’m looking forward to. If the main dishes are as good as the desserts we tried, it will be a very good thing indeed.

And then there’s the wedding. Only 39 days to go, according to The Knot. Yikes!

I made a list last night of everything we still have to do. It’s long. And I’m sure I’m missing something. I’ve already thought of another thing and forgotten it. Sigh.

But the napkin rings are coming along beautifully. I’ve got 60 that are just waiting for their final touches. And I really like the paper I’m using in them (thanks, Sharon, that’s from your box of leftovers), so I think I’m going to make escort cards out of it, too.

That’s what I forgot to put on the list: escort cards, table numbers, seating chart. But I can’t do that until the RSVPs are in.

It’s going to be a hard month.

Though I feel like I have a million details swimming around my head, things are beginning to get done.
I’ve booked mani, pedi, hair and make up for me, including trials, and made the offer to my bridal party (who are very slow about getting back to me — nudge, nudge).

We paid off and picked up our rings! The day we did, I think I showed them to everybody I ran into. They are so pretty and I am so happy with them. Now the question is whether to get them engraved before or after the wedding.

Travel arrangements have been made for James’s father’s side of the family.

I have recruited help to cook the rehearsal dinner.

I just ordered the bulk of the material for the napkin rings. I had some debate over whether or not to go through with it, but I’m really in love with them. Plus, I only have to make 100, and I have three days off next weekend. Completely off, from all jobs. Even if I only do 10 a day, that’s only 10 days.

The invitations are at the printer. We will see a proof tomorrow, and then Joe has promised me I will have them before the Fourth, so I can use my three days off to address them. I really want to get them in the mail that following week.

Progress is being made. It’s getting exciting!

Edit:  Oh!  I almost forgot!  I also booked Joel Blumert, local guy and awesome blues guitarist, for our cocktail hour.

James finished the invitation design last night and sent them off to the printer! They look great and I’m really excited for everyone to see them (one thing I am not going to reveal here, at least not until they hit mailboxes).

It’s getting real. Once the invites go out, it’s only a couple of months! I’m getting excited, but very stressed out, too. I feel like there’s still a lot to do and not enough money to do it with.

I dreamt last night that the wedding was tomorrow and I was no more prepared for it than I am today.

It was rather stressful.

I did, however, finish the pew decorations. If I could only find my receipt, which I swear I saved, I could return the extra materials to Michael’s. I hope it shows up.

I have been a bad wedding blogger, but I think when you hear what I’ve been up to, you’ll forgive me. At least, I hope so.Back on May 10, James and I met up with Melissa and Reed, who are also being married at the Wake Robin. Really sweet couple and we had a great time. Hopefully we’ll be able to hook up again.

On the home front, I’ve taken a second job to avoid putting any more wedding expenses on a credit card. I’m waitressing and hosting at The White Hart, a cozy hometown pub with an upscale menu. I am enjoying it so far (especially the tip money!), but I’m starting to get tired. At least I’ll have Memorial Day off from both jobs.

So, what’s left to do for the wedding? I’m glad you asked. Here’s a list:

Napkin rings!
Male wedding party (one down, two to go…)
Invitations (must be designed by the end of this month…that’s only a week!)
Favors?
Flower girl dresses (I keep forgetting to call their mom. Put that on the list.)
Groom’s outfit
Two more pew decorations to make
Buy materials for centerpieces
Call guests about room rate reduction
Figure out ceremony and music
Write vows
Finish paying for and pick up rings (engraving?)
Undergarments and shoes for the bride
Attendant gifts (I have my eye on a couple of things, just need to buy them)
Tiara, if I’m really going to do it (I want one!)
Cake topper (again, picked out, just have to buy)
Cake! We have done nothing with the cake!

Okay, I’m getting a little more frantic with each line I type, so I’m going to leave it at that for now. Things are crazy busy, but I think I can do all this. And if I can’t, well, we’ll still be married if I never get a tiara. That is, as long as we remember the marriage license. Put that on the list, too!