3 Quarters

75 Days to Go!

On Saturday Ben and I made a trip to the Post Office to send out our invitations! It felt so wonderful to have them leave my hands. Now I need to set up an area in my apartment so I can start collecting and logging RSVPs! Here is the final shot of the invitations as we headed out the door.

I've been working on lots of wedding things. In fact I've got about 5 projects started but I get too excited to finish one project before starting another so none are really complete. Some I want to keep a surprise, sorry! But here is a shot of our programs that are in progress of being made.

Have a great week!

3 Months to Go

Time sure is flying now!

Spring Break was last week. Ben and I spent half the week with his family and the other half with mine. I was able to get help from Ben's youngest sister, Raena, in a special project. And in the process I learned a new craft! :) But that is all I can tell you about that.

My mom and little cousin, Mikayla, helped me out during Spring Break too. Thanks to them we were able to get the favors about 70% done! They were a HUGE help!

I really concentrated on the kids during Spring Break. I want to make this day special for all the amazing kids in our lives!

A few questions I had to answer:

1. What to have at the kids table?

2. How we can entertain kids at every age level?

3. Are there a few fun (and easy!) craft projects that I can make for them?

4. What can we get for the kids in our bridal party?

I was able to answer all of these questions! After figuring out the details, Ben, Raena and I did a little shopping and we picked up a few items to get me started on the kid details.

Now that I have that figured out:

1. We went to the post office and got our invitations weighed and bought all the postage stamps that we need. I'm putting all the stamps on the envelopes and sealing them shut TODAY! Those will go out soon.

2. I made a kids activity book and I am in the process of finishing those up this weekend.

3. The table markers have been sitting in a box just waiting to be worked on so those are on my to do list this weekend too!

What has Ben been doing?

He has been such a BIG help during the planning process. If I am doing crafty things, even though he won't be able to help (I'm too fussy haha) he'll sit next to me while I work on things. He is always asking me what he can do to help and wants a part in all the decision making. He has sat through numerous "boring" meetings with the florist, photographer, etc. He has been working on a few things of his own though.

1. He booked the honeymoon!! I have no idea where we are going but I do know we are driving and it will be mid 70s! Sounds good to me! I can't wait to see what he has planned.

2. Ben picked out the tuxes without my help and now he is in charge of getting all the measurements needed and getting that information to the shop we are getting the tuxes from.

3. He has been helping me with the table markers too!

No pictures this post but I'll try to get a few for the next one! :)

See you all in less than three months!

One-Hundred

100 days until we get married!!

This is our last day in the three digits!!

Check them out!

Here they are!!

I am almost done with them. I just need to get them weighed and put postage on the envelopes.I have been finishing them up and assembling them all evening. I have about 65% of them assembled and will have them finished by Tuesday! Feels SO terrific to have this BIG project done. After all I have been working on them since December.

I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.

I'm so excited!

Most of the invitation parts.

Part of my assembly line.

USA USA USA

This is totally not wedding related but I just love the Olympics!! Ben and I spent some quality time together on Saturday night watching the Olympics and eating a big bowl of ice cream. We've been cheering on our favorites every free moment we have and tonight was no different. Shaun White, Kimberly Derrick, Shani Davis, and J.R. Celski are among our favorites. Our National Anthem is currently being played as USA takes another gold in snowboarding and I can't help but tear up! I'm so excited for all of these athletes and I love watching some of the greatest moments of their lives! GO USA!

4 Months!

Four months left until our wedding! The months are truly flying by which means we have been very busy!

Tuxes

Ben and two of our groomsmen picked out the tux style this afternoon. Now the rest of the guys have to get measured and then we are all set! Feels good to cross off another big item. I was not able to make it to the appointment with them but I trust that what they choose will be great! I believe Ben said something about lime green tuxes.... haha

DJ

Our DJ is booked and paid for in full! Another big item completed! Want to check them out? You can at http://digneitbrothersproductions.com. And we got a discount just because I chatted with them at a bridal show. Yeah!

Registry

We are finishing up our Target registry tomorrow morning and our Kohl's one has been done for months now. This isn't Ben's favorite part.. but he's been a great sport plus he likes being in control of the scanner.

Rehearsal Dinner and Day After Brunch

We have figured out almost all of the details as of last weekend. We just needed a place to hold both and we found a FREE location last weekend! :)

Reception Decorations

We ordered all of the decorations for our reception and they should all be here soon.

So many things are finally falling into place and I couldn't be happier.

And now for some pictures....

My work station for embossing the invitation inserts.

The inserts are all printed and cut, now I am finishing them.

Most of these are done, finishing them up this weekend!

All the pieces of the invitations waiting patiently to be assembled.

We are putting out Andes Candies on the tables.

5lbs of chocolate is currently sitting in my fridge.

They came in the mail today.

What a great 4-month gift!

A mock table layout.

The fabric used here was some scraps from another project (see below).

Our table markers aren't done yet but you can get a good idea of what they look like.

The Andes are going to be down the middle of the fabric.

I got a chance to try out the sewing machine I got from the moms at my bridal shower.

I love it!!

I made a pillow case for Ben's knee pillow he got for Christmas! :)

Wedding Website

It is finished! We had a few "minor" details to add to the site but it is officially finished along with the times for our ceremony and reception!

I'm hoping to add a new post in the next week or so updating you all on what we have been up to and we have been up to alot! :D

Until then check out our website http://benandjessica2010.blogspot.com/ which also includes a pretty neat looking map I made.

Don't Stop Me Now

I've had this song stuck in my head all day. "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. I think I could listen to it all day! It is also a good motivational song, makes me feel like being productive. haha

Watch this wedding video made to the same song. One of the best videos I've ever seen! I must see!

http://vimeo.com/1531870

A Congratulations is in Order!

I'm so excited to be able to announce...

my Maid of Honor, Ashely is getting married!!

They are planning for a May wedding.

Congrats guys!!

5 Months to Go!

We're getting married in 151 days!!

Plans seem to be falling into place the last few days which was pretty unexpected. I am a tad bit stressed due to the start of a new semester and a new area for my job but I'm pleased to announce that I have got a lot of planning done during the past two weeks. I completed my Winter Break To Do list and even went beyond what I thought I'd have time for.

Now to catch you all up on what has been going on:

Our cake topper is officially here! We had a problem with the one we ordered a few months back (they sent us Christmas ornaments instead!) but Ben reordered it last week and it arrived yesterday. It looks great, but it is a secret... sorry!

Invitations are looking AWESOME!

Here is a behind the scenes glance at the invitations.

The map (above) took me about 3 hours to create!

There are 5 invitation inserts in all and all of them are designed. 2 are already printed, cut and ready to go. We are hoping to get our wedding time line finalized this week so I can print the rest of the cards. I'm hoping to have the invitations done by the beginning of next month so I can cross this HUGE project off my list! The envelopes came in yesterday too! So I get to start addressing those this weekend. I'm getting sooo excited to send them out (in a couple months!)

Bridesmaid News! Over break my bridesmaids picked out their dresses and they are ordered. It was quite the eventful afternoon when four of my bridesmaids tried to pick out their dresses. David's Bridal was PACKED and nothing the girls tried on seemed to work for them. After a couple hours and a change from the original plans, everyone went home happy. Which is all I could really ask for. My Maid of Honor wasn't able to join us but she was able to order her dress a few days later.

Ashely, Lauren, Eryn/Alyssa, Raena

Photographer! We finally have one! We are booking them on Thursday. This took WAY longer than I thought but I'm so happy with our decision. We really tried to get this one company but they NEVER returned our calls. In the end we felt like if we couldn't depend on them to call us back how can we depend on them to be our photographer.

Tuxes! Ben picked out what kind of tuxes he wants his boys to wear. Now he has to register everyone at Men's Warehouse (where the guys get 10% off their tux and Ben gets his free!) and then they all have to get fitted.

I'm sure I am missing alot but that will get you caught up a bit. I went to a Bridal Show this past weekend and I believe we found a DJ, looking to next weekend. Also I found a florist I like but I need to make an appointment to meet with them and check on prices. Hoping to get that all done SOON!

Love you all!

Bridal Shower #1

A Bridal Shower

marks a very special time

in the lives of those in love.

It's enjoying

happy moments

with friends and family,

sharing the anticipation

of a beautiful future -

celebrating love!

Ben's aunts, Julie and Addi threw me a bridal shower over Christmas break. I was a little nervous about having to open gifts in front of everyone but that was all forgotten the moment I walked into the house. I had so much fun during the shower. Celebrating our upcoming wedding with family and friends was so wonderful.

Here is a look at some of the fun we had:

Checking out the yummy food.

That's our flower girl in front of me, Ms. Lydia!

The beautiful cake Aunty Ju made.

Then I had to cut the beautiful cake. :(

The Games!

1. Why Do We Do That: Matching different customs to the reason why we do them.

2. 50 Years Later: We matched pictures of a couple on their wedding day and then 50 years later.

3. Ben and I answered 20 questions and the guests had to try and guess what our answers.

Playing games.

Starting to open gifts.

Checking out the blender!

Ben's family (Mom, Grandma, Aunt)

I got a sewing machine from my mom and Ben's mom!

I was just a tad bit excited!

And sewing accessories from Ben's sisters.

Lauren and Addie got me cookie cutters and cookie decorating items.

Lauren also wrote out a few of her favorite cookie recipes.

Alyssa started my rehearsal bouquet.

I get to add to it in April.

The biggest surprise of the night came when Aunty Ju

game me Thank You cards that were addressed

and stamped. What a great idea!

Here is a glimpse at the gifts I received.

Thanks to all who attended!

Christmas Break?

Christmas Break is a time to relax, but not for us!! I have decided to rename Christmas Break to Wedding Catch-Up!

We have registered somewhere else!

Ben and I have always talked about registering at Target but after researching it a bit I wasn't too happy with their return policy. Well they have recently changed their policy so last week Ben and I registered there! Kohl's is great for their bedroom/bathroom/kitchen selections but not much else. At Target we can find a lot of other things that is on our "wish list."

The Wedding To Do List:

Put together invitations... check

Design invitation inserts... 3/4 are done!

Design, cut and mount monogram for invitations... check

Design table markers... check

Design program cover... check

Wedding favor design... check

Still on the list for the next 2.5 weeks:

Pick up my wedding dress

Keep plugging away at invitations

Start making the table markers

Bridesmaid dress shopping with 4/5 bridesmaids

1/2 Bridal showers! Yeah!

2/4 premarital counseling class

I am never bored that is for sure! This whole process has been a blast so far and this next week is going to be so much fun! It will be a busy one filled with family and fun activities so I wanted to touch base quickly on the blog because I'm not sure when I'll be on next. :)

Blizzards, Invitations and Cutting, Oh my!

This is what I woke up to on what was suppose to be my last final of the semester.

This is my window!

I had to walk through this numerous times and some is past my knee!

Today, December 9th is our first snow day!

The only thing to do on a day like this? Get back into my PJs, throw in a movie, and work on a wedding project. Since invitations are going to probably take the most time, I've decided to get a head start. So far I have scored and folded all of them and am now in the process of cutting them and taping them together. The perfect project for a Snow Day? I think so! :)

Just after scoring and folding the invitations.

About 60% of them all ready for the next step!

Before & After cutting

All taped up!

The bottom is a pocket for all the reception and hotel information.

The middle is for the ceremony details.

The top is the fold that lays on top.

Now all I have to do is cut all of the invitations and tape them together!

Happy Snow Day!

Meet the Groomsmen!

Here they are!

Best man, Eric
with his wife (my bridesmaid, Lauren a month before Addison was born!)



The Groomsmen!

Jessica's brother, Justin




Ben's brother, Casey

Friend, Lance





Friend, Rich

It's HERE!

I ordered the paper for our invitations on Monday night and got it today!! The paper came in a hefty box and I was too excited to wait longer then .2 seconds after FedEx dropped it off! Everything looks great! Here's a glimpse!

In order to get the paper size that we needed they had to use REALLY long pieces of paper so they gave us what they didn't use. That paper is going to be used for SO many other aspects of our wedding.

Here is the paper we are using for the invitations!
In a few weeks they will be transformed!! :)

Busy Busy Busy

We have been so busy that our blog has been neglected a bit. Here is an update on our planning!



Paper and ribbon for our invitations were ordered on Monday! We ordered the paper from Anchor Paper (http://www.anchorpaper.com/) and ribbon from http://www.save-on-crafts.com. Those will be constructed over our semester break.



Our cake topper is ordered! Ben picked it out and it represents us as a couple quite well! :D We received it in the mail but Ben opened it and found they sent us Christmas ornaments instead so we are currently waiting to get our cake topper.



Bridal Showers are being planned! My first one is being planned by Ben's Aunts Ju and Addi and will take place on December 29. It is happening so early so Ben's older sisters can attend. My mom is making the trip down and I am really looking forward to everyone getting to meet her. My mom (with help from my aunts and Grandma) are planning a shower in my hometown on April 17th.



Save the Dates are here and stuffed into their envelopes! They are ready to go out in the mail soon! And the most exciting news that I have to share is... I said YES to the dress! Along with my mom, two aunts, cousin, my Maid of Honor and Grandma we traveled to David's Bridal where I tried on quite a few dresses but when it was all said and done #3 was the magic number! No behind the scenes look on the dress though! I want to share details with all of you but this is one I'm trying to hold back on a bit! But we did purchase a dress (thanks Mom!) and we are picking it up on December 23rd. What a great Christmas gift! I'm bringing it down state with me when Ben and I head to his house for Christmas so I can show his family! I can't wait to share this with them! My Maid of Honor (MOH) also tried on dresses and we choose a dress. She will be in Marine (Dark Blue) and the rest of the bridesmaids will be in Truffle (Deep Brown). They are going dress shopping in December.



There is a quick update!! I'll try to update a little more often, once the semester is over I hope to be on here more!

Meet the Bridesmaids!

Maid of Honor - Ashely


Bridesmaid - Lauren


Bridesmaids - Alyssa, Eryn, Raena (left to right)

There are my beautiful ladies! I can't wait to marry Ben with them by my side!

(Still To Come: The Groomsmen! Ben still has to talk to two more before I can share them! :D)