Countdown: 347 Days – 13 Comebacks to Rude Wedding Questions

Some people just don’t know how to keep their opinions to themselves! Thankfully, I haven’t encountered any of these questions/statements yet (well maybe some version of the long engagement one), but thanks to The Knot I’m now armed with responses.

My favorites from the article include:

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"Is that really the ring you wanted?"

“So when are you going to have kids?"

Read the rest of the questions here HERE.

Countdown: 350 Days - Dress Shopping!

I have to admit that while I was excited to FINALLY have a rational excuse to try on wedding dresses, I was totally nervous. I’ve seen enough (ok all) Say Yes to the Dress episodes to know the kind of disasters that can happen in a bridal salon. The mean girls who hate every dress their "friend" tries on.  The perfect dress that’s double your budget. OMG that dress won’t fit HER?!

However, I was pleasantly surprised by my overall experience. My friends who have been through the process told me “You’ll love everything!” I didn’t believe them, but it’s true! Even the dresses I knew I wouldn’t be choosing for my big day were gorgeous. How can you go wrong with ivory silk taffeta, lace overlays and cathedral length veils? Well, you just can’t.

My Mom and sister (MOH) were kind enough to come to Chicago for the weekend to help me through two days of bridal shopping (you’re very impressed by my Mom right now if you know her low threshold for shopping). My other MOH Julie from St. Louis (who left her new baby for me!!) and bridesmaid Katye (Modge) also came along on Day 2 for a fresh perspective and additional support.

It was all hands on deck and everyone shone with their various expertises. My Mom stayed calm, cool and collected the whole weekend (not surprising) and I think it made me do the same (very surprising). Rachael was paparazzi queen, snapping photos of every dress from every angle…even when photos weren’t allowed! Julie offered inside jokes and under-the-breath comments about pushy salesgirls (that we were all thinking) to keep me laughing throughout the day. And Modge was the best train straightener I’ve ever seen!

I didn’t say YES to one dress, but MAYBE to two and they couldn’t be more different. How do you decide?! My confusion only grew when I started crying in the dress that I thought I liked a little less than the other. Oy. So, for now I think I will hit another store or two before making the final decision. Thankfully I still have some time!

Sorry there are no pictures with this post, need to keep some things top secret!

356: Down to the Derby

So I had my first experience of the Kentucky Derby this past weekend. No, not in the grandstand with all the celebrities where I felt I belonged, but in the infamous infield.

It was interesting to say the least. First of all, you could spend the whole day in the infield and never even see a horse! It’s also one of those events where everyone starts out totally playing the part of the sophisticated southerner, and by the time you’re ready to leave you have to look down at your feet the entire walk out of Churchill Downs to make sure you’re not about to step on one of the many “spectators” passed out on the ground. And don’t even get me started on the porta-potty racers (just Google it).

Regardless, we had an awesome time reuniting with friends we haven’t seen in way too long – Matt’s friends from law school, some of our college friends and Matt’s cousin all made the trip. At one point Matt and I looked around the bus and realized almost everyone there would be at our wedding and what an amazing party we’re going to have!

We did a day trip from Indy to Louisville by party bus which was a great time thanks to what was quite possibly the best music playlist I’ve ever heard, created by my talented fiancé. Plus I got to make an itinerary which always makes me very happy.

While it was a great time, I'm not sure I could handle it every year. Thankfully, we already have some plans for the first weekend in May next year! 

Countdown: 361 - Happy Mother's Day!

Yes, I know I'm a day late. But I'm new to this blogging thing so bear with me.

I have  few Mother's Day shout outs to give (and don't worry, I did make actual calls yesterday).

First, my Mom. I've always known that my Mom and I have a very special mother/daughter relationship. She is always there for me and we genuinely enjoy each other's company. I am so excited to share the next year of planning for the wedding with her!!

Next, my big sister Rachael. We've become great friends over the years and she is an amazing mother. It's so apparent how much her children mean to her and I hope I'm as good a mother one day, as she is to my niece and nephew.

My, further Mother-in-law Karen. I consider myself extremely lucky when it comes to having Karen for a mother-in-law. She's raised two amazing men and I can't wait to be part of her family!

And finally, a very special Happy Mother's Day to my best friend Lulu (aka Julie) on her very first! I've already seen such a change in her since Anna was born a few months ago and I've never seen her so happy.

As you can see, I'm very lucky to have such amazing Mom role models! Happy Mother's Day to all of you and all the other Mothers out there!

Countdown: 365 Days – Welcome!

I guess Matt was getting way too excited by my daily – 537 days to go! – announcements (I mean just look at him in that photo), because he asked that I wait to start the official countdown to our wedding until we reached the one year mark. Well, that day has finally arrived so…

365 DAYS TO GO!

Technically it’s 366 Days, 7 Hours, 58 Minutes and 49 Seconds until the actual ceremony as I write this, according to the Countdown Calculator widget that I CANNNOT for the life of me figure out how to actually install on my blog.

Anyway, I’ve wanted to start writing a blog for awhile now, but I didn’t know exactly what I would write about. After we got engaged, I figured I would have plenty of “wedding planning ups & downs” material to work with. And with so many of our friends and family spread out over the country, I thought I could use this blog as a way to keep everyone (who wants to be) involved in the planning of our big day. I also plan to throw in some random, non-wedding related posts as well to keep things interesting for you!

So, again, Welcome! And thanks for joining me as I Countdown to Carter!