Hoppy Easter!!!

Okay, forgive the "hoppy" cheesiness…but I've been rolling with it at work and it's been a hit…so there ya go.  I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday with your family & friends!!  Ant and I are hosting our very first holiday here at 140 Lakeside today!! {Family should be here any minute - wish us luck!} I can't wait to share with you all how it goes…hopefully it's something we can start to do more often!

The problem with holidays is that it is VERY difficult to find a good cup of coffee…we snuck into Perk on Church 5 minutes before they closed! Crisis averted :)

In the meantime, here are a few sweet shots from Ant's grandfather's 90th birthday party yesterday.  We  are very lucky to have some amazing people (and genes) in our lives!!!

The 6 month sprint: Week 6

Happy Hump Day!!!  I am thrilled to be spending this fabulous Wednesday with my MOH - doing some shopping and a few wedding related errands {which you will be sure to read about in my next 6monthsprint update}.  I know I JUST posted one of these, but I promised I was going to try to get caught up…so here we go!

Saturday 4/5:  Emailed another JP about our date to check availability.  Got an answer back right away that they were available {yay for that!} and asking for some more details.  Also got our Minted sample back in our custom colors.  It's PERFECT.  Insert happy dance around the living room that that decision is now final.  Had to work - but joined friends afterwards to celebrate UConn's big Final Four win!

This is what UConn roomie joy looks like when UConn wins the final four.  That, and too much flash.

Sunday: {Celebrated my Grandfather's 96th birthday.  Yes, you read that right. 96.  Love that guy!}  Requested he wear the same outfit on my wedding day.  He said he will consider it.  Emailed Jen about 3 topics: invitation wording, setting up a date to visit the BH with her, and checking on JP suggestions, since she does so many local weddings.

All this guy wants to do is dance.  So he hired an 18 piece band for his birthday party.  

I can only hope I'm as sharp as him when I'm 96.

Monday: Got a phone call that Ant's wedding band had come in and we could come visit/pick them up anytime! As a bride to be, I've learned that phone calls often result in happy dances of some sort.  This was another one of those times. {Watched the NCAA Championship - GO HUSKIES!}  While watching the game, worked with Jen on invitation details - finalized wording…and discussed another possibility for invitations with similar design.  More to come on that! Confirmed date to meet with Jen and walk through BH.

Tuesday:  I personally did absolutely nothing wedding related this day.  BUT!  Ant and all of his groomsmen living in CT currently…yes, all 7 of them…went to Jos.A.Bank and tried on their suits. Only 3 needed to be exchanged for the correct sizes.  One is currently being shipped to Nebraska, and Ant brought home the two that were ready to go from our last visit!!!  The groom's suit has landed and is now living in our closet. Yay for that!!!  I spent my night at work getting fabulous pictures of each of the boys as they tried the suits on.  That is going to be one fine looking bridal party :)

This is what a happy groom looks like after a night with his guys.  Suit in hand!

Wednesday:  We got our second save the date for the season - for a September wedding outside of Boston!!  Wednesdays always seem to be some of my more productive days, since I'm usually off.  I worked this Wednesday, but after work Ally came over with her boyfriend and my nephew Henry to spend the night!  While the boys played video games after dinner, we made the dining room gold paint central.  We mocked up a few versions of my place card idea…some better than others, and ultimately decided as a general idea it's going to work perfectly!

Isn't my nephew the cutest??

That brings us to last Wednesday, so I'll stop for now…How is your wedding planning going?? Are you in the 6 month sprint yet?  Or just starting out???  I'd love to hear about it!

The 6 month sprint: Week 5

Picking up where we left off…I've been SUPER busy with work and wedding things…so we're back tracking quite a few days for this 6 month sprint update!!  Hence putting some dates in so you can follow what the heck I'm talking about :)

Wednesday March 26:  Got a confirmation email  from TWD for my 4 fitting dates! {first fitting is 5/8, less than a month!!}  Also, did some bridesmaids hair brainstorming with roomie.  Thank goodness for Pinterest!

Thursday: Emailed the Marriott to confirm an issue with the rooms.  Got an email back the next AM that it was all set!  Yay for non-problems.  Also took an inventory of who has reserved rooms in the block so we can start sending out friendly "8/8 is surprisingly soon - please book!" reminders :)

Sunday:  Did some MAJOR bridesmaid shoe research so I can send out suggestions to the girls.  Got an email that my bridesmaids earrings were ready!!!! {can't possibly put enough !!! to explain my excitement.  I am in love.}  Went on minted.com and ordered the sample of our invite in custom colors so we can start to get the ball rolling on getting invitations out!

Monday: Booked hotels for our first wedding of the summer - yay for a full weekend in Newport!  Finally stopped whining and starting making moves in the JP department - sent an email to one potential person.

Tuesday: Heard back from the JP that he isn't available for our wedding date.  Whined a bit more…then moved on and started searching again.  Got a text from Jen on my way to work that my wedding band came in!!!!  Now we just have to wait for Ants!

Wednesday April 2:  Ant and I had the day off together so we became the most productive people ever.   {roughly} Spent some time online researching and choosing B&W pictures - and ordered prints.  Went shopping and bought frames/numbers/so much gold paint….then came home and started testing out our table number idea.  Did a 95% complete mockup.  Learned that spray painting in the house is not the smartest life choice.  Ran into another scheduling conflict {the joys of two different rotating schedules} and confirmed a new date to meet with the videographer.  Met Ant's mom for dinner and MOTG dress shopping!  Hit every store in the West Farms mall - with varying levels of success.  Came home to a pin from Jen of my ring - Pinterest is great for brainstorming but even more fun as you start to create a board that's all your real wedding things!  Perfect way to see it all come together.

There are less than four months now - and I probably say this all of the time, but I could not be more excited!!!  My monthly lists have done a wonderful job of keeping me sane and on track and we have done a great job of keeping the wedding planning process FUN :)  If it isn't fun, whats the point??