Just typing that post title gives me butterflies – less than 10 days to go?! I’m feeling good, though!! Kate Murphy via Once Wed Since my last update: — My wedding gown has arrived in CT! The wonderful ladies at my bridal salon agreed to ship it post-alterations. — We finally decided on a song for our first dance! — I finished a whole heap of signage: our large menu board, our station menu boards, tented cards for passed trays, dessert signage, boutonniere cards, and reserved table signs, as well as various little flags and food pick thingies. WHEW! — We finalized details with our bandleader — I wrote my personal vows, and John is currently working on his — We invited guests to brunch on Sunday — I had my final call with our day-of coordinator (love her!) — Meanwhile, Marget made an AMAZING graphic for our rehearsal dinner favors, and my Mom has been a busy bee overseeing house improvements, locating boxwood bushes, polishing silver, and tracking down easels! A few of the tasks still on the list for the remainder of the week: — Write notes to go along with gifts — Finish slideshow — Confirm final details with caterer and send final balance — Finish bar menus after confirming with caterer — Compile lists of all guests/vendors for wedding and rehearsal and send to USCGA base security — Confirm details with rehearsal dinner location — PACK — Write our toast – planning to do this on the drive up to CT! There are still a few things on the to do list for this weekend, so I expect to be back with a final update post a week from today! In between, I’m hoping to share my second bridal shower and bachelorette adventure!

Oh my. This has been a rough week in terms of wedding planning – the most to do, and seemingly not much time to do it. We did get a few things done, but I’m hoping to finish the week strong so that next week can be all about organizing and packing. Another task we completed this week — mapping out a wedding day car schedule, so our 16 bridal party + family members can get around in five cars on 10 different legs… without leaving anyone behind Since my last update: — I finished scanning all our slideshow photos and we’ve loaded them into the program – now just need to add finishing touches — We finalized our wedding day schedule (we also timed out our ceremony to make sure our estimate was accurate!) — We chose songs for all important moments (except first dance – still trying to decide on that one!) — We made the final selections for our bar — I printed the wrappers for our favors — I sent the ceremony programs, welcome bag inserts, and maps out to be printed — I’ve painted a first coat on our remaining large reception signage — I mapped out our menu board and bought the additional paper needed for the rest of our signage (oh signage…) — We sent final payments to several of our vendors – exciting! — My veil arrived! — I wrapped gifts for my bridesmaids and our greeters, readers, and pianist A few of the tasks still on the list for the remainder of the week: — Finalize details with our bandleader — Finish the slideshow — Write our toast — Finalize our personal vows (eep!) — Invite guests to Sunday brunch — Finish the bar menu signage — Assemble our menu board

Yikes, time for our next update already! We have been super productive, though, I must say. Reminder on our kitchen chalkboard this week Since my last update: — We alerted our ushers to their ushering duties — I finalized all linen and rental orders, and our floor plan — I assembled drink stirrers — We invited guests to the rehearsal dinner and alerted our rehearsal participants to the rehearsal — I designed our programs and designed and printed stickers for our welcome bags — I purchased John’s gift (WHOO!) — We deputized rehearsal dinner detail planning to John’s very talented sister — I lettered three more pieces of signage — We received our ring bearer bowl and switched out the ribbon for one matching our palette (so pretty!) — We bought a second cat carrier (Yes, this counts as a wedding-related to do, because — per special request from the groom — our cats will be joining us for the drive up North and the week before the wedding. No, I am not kidding.) — I bought a rehearsal dinner dress (THANK YOU for all of your help!) A few of the tasks to be completed this week: — Invite guests to Sunday brunch — More signage — Assemble slideshow (almost done scanning photos!) — Put together our menu board — Print the wrappers for our favors — Finalize our wedding day schedule and reception songs (first dance, last song, etc.) — Print maps, welcome bag pieces, and ceremony programs — Make final selections for our bar

Oh my goodness. Ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoodness. How did we get here?? I am trying my best to stay calm, but am not always successful. I am very thankful that though wedding planning is not John’s specialty, he is doing a great job picking up the slack on household chores, giving me extra time to check things off the master to do list. Speaking of the to do list? I decided to consolidate my three or four lists into one, and to break out every task into each of its component pieces (so, for example, “make drink stirrers” has now become “choose ribbon color”, “order ribbon”, “cut ribbon”, “cut sticks”, and “assemble stirrers”). This makes the list look more daunting (currently sitting at 122 to dos – yikes), but it also makes me feel good to know exactly what needs to be done and to have it all in one place. With that said, let’s check in! Belathee Photography Since my last update: — Invitations have arrived, been addressed and stuffed, and sent back out the door! So far we’ve received responses from 79 of our 157 invited guests (68 yeses), and our RSVP deadline is today. — I had my final dress fitting last week, and my dress is being shipped to Connecticut soon! — We’ve placed the order for our ring bearer bowl – short and sweet. Can’t wait to share! — We’ve finalized all of the details for our ceremony – order, readings, songs, everything – and are waiting for confirmation from our pastor. We’ve already sent the details out to our musicians! — I’ve FINALLY been making some good progress on our DIY projects! There has been much wood cutting, ribbon tying, cardboard painting, hot gluing, signage designing, and calligraphy-ing happening over here! — I ordered bridesmaid/reader/helper gifts and