Wedding Wednesday: ONE MONTH!!!

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

So I am going to keep this short today, unfortunately.

I want to devote the time and energy a post deserves for the incredible weekend I just had in Pittsburgh: my sister, mom and aunt threw me the most amazing shower and then my sister and some gals from the bridal party took me out on the town - limo and all!
I can't wait to share everything with you! I have a few pictures on my phone but I'm excited to see what my mom got on her camera!

To put it plainly, this past weekend and the weekend when I found THE DRESS (posts are here and here) go down as the best weekends of my life, for sure!
Well, that is until the weekend of April 26, anyway. :)

Aside from last weekend (I'm still smiling from it!), we are now in the home stretch...

That's right! ONE MONTH from today I get to FINALLY marry my wonderful Andrew!
Sorry, I won't get sappy, I'm just really excited and waterproof mascara will definitely be a must!

Also, we are heading to Ohio this weekend to meet our DJ, get our marriage license (!!!), meet with the priest and have my make-up trial!!

As if that isn't enough I have a handful of other things to do around the apartment (including taxes! Ahh!) and I need to start Thank You notes for the shower and bachelorette! Those deserve my utmost attention because I really am so very thankful!!!

Oh and my last day at my job is tomorrow and I start a new one on Monday.

No big deal, right? ;)

How are you doing this week?

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 Please join our linkup!

Kristyn and I sure do love it when you do! Please share the link-up on social, too, if you wish! @marysue20 is the name, #WeddingWednesday is the game.

Wedding Wednesday: List Update!

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

So much is happening!
First and foremost, I can hardly stand how excited I am for this weekend: I'm off to Pittsburgh for my shower and bachelorette! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

On Friday I had my second fitting and let me tell ya, I loooooove my dress. Absolutely love it.
Andrew had his bachelor party this past weekend, too! Big stuff!

And now for a checklist update!
I hyperlinked a bunch of them so that I can easily reference posts.
And yes, it's a very long list.
And no, I'm not actually crazy.

The Big Stuff

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book DJ

Create wedding website 

Register

Book florist (Part I) (Part II)

Buy wedding dress (Part I) (Part II)

Book cake baker

Book cookie table baker

Take engagement pictures

Take Save the Date pictures

Meet with priest and vendors

Purchase veil  (using the family veil!!)

Purchase accessories for dress

Order save the dates  

Finalize guest list 

Compile addresses

Send save the dates  

Pre-marital counseling

Book makeup artist

Book hair stylist

Mail invitations 

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Book shuttle bus for bridal party

Find a videographer (in process!)

Purchase wedding rings

Get marriage license

Complete file of documents for church (in process!)

Shower and Bachelorette invitations

Rehearsal dinner invitations

The People

Ask bridal party to be in wedding (MOH & Flower Girl) (Bridesmaids)

Finalize ceremony musicians

Select bridesmaid dresses

Select and order groom & groomsmen attire  (I think this is all settled?)

Select Flower Girl dress

The Big Day

Purchase flats for reception

Buy cake knife & server (got it for Christmas!)

Purchase guest book

Find wedding shoes (and here)

Find wedding jewelry

Purchase garter

The Church

Ask people to be involved in ceremony (almost done!)

Make ceremony programs

Rehearsal

The Reception

Make reception table menus

Figure out location and décor for guest book

Make escort cards

Create favors

Ask pianist friend to play during cocktail hour

Put together a few bathroom essentials for ladies bathroom

Card Box

Honor the family veil in some fashion (I’m going to wear it!!)

Pick signature drink and name!

The Details

Hotel room blocks
Teach myself calligraphy

MOB dress shopping 

MOG dress shopping

Menu tasting  

Cake tasting

Hair trial

Make-up trial

1^st dress fitting 
2^nd dress fitting

Finalize where I'm getting ready & where Andrew is getting ready 

Send email reminders to bridal party about rehearsal dinner/hotel reservations

Order invitations

Purchase rehearsal dinner dress 

Purchase bridal party gifts (almost done!)

Bachelorette party (Pittsburgh and a night out in Chicago!)

Bridal shower (Pittsburgh in March!)

Bachelor party (Milwaukee)

Purchase dresses for shower and bachelorettes

Write thank you notes for Chicago bachelorette

Write thank you notes for Pittsburgh shower and bachelorette!

Put together picture list for photographer

Rehearsal dinner deserts (MOG says “There must be desert!” Yes ma’am!)

Music selections to DJ

Music selections to ceremony musicians

Rehearsal dinner seating chart

Pick out first dance songs

Dance lessons

Finalize wedding-day timeline

Confirm florals

Wrap bridesmaids gifts in a cute way

Get ring cleaned!

Get my hair ‘did

Welcome Bags

Confirm everything with vendors

Prepare final payments/tips

Order thank you notes

Send final guest list to venue

Break in shoes (both pairs)!

Clean veil

Deliver everything to reception the Thursday before

The Big Day, Honeymoon & After

Decide on honeymoon location (Costa Rica!!!)

Book honeymoon flights

Book wedding night hotel room

Change name!

Write thank you cards!!!!

But Most Importantly…

Walk down the aisle & say I do!

How are you doing this week?

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 Please join our linkup!

Kristyn and I sure do love it when you do! Please share the link-up on social, too, if you wish! @marysue20 is the name, #WeddingWednesday is the game.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hi there! 

It's such a happy day!

And here's my one picture from this epic weekend:

Yup, that sums it up.

Erin Go Bragh!

Wedding Wednesday!

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

I had another idea for a post today, so I will write half of it and then share what my new post is!

First of all, I had a nice surprise when looking for reception flats the other day: Dessy has cute and CHEAP options!

So I got two: one for the reception, one for the honeymoon (Costa Rica, baby!!! AHHH can't wait!!!)

{via}

{via}

Yay so fun!

OK now for the post that gave me CHILLS when I read it this morning!

Bonnie, from Life of Bon, is celebrating her third wedding anniversary today. She has been so honest about she and her husband's marriage thus far. I find it so refreshing! Her post today was no different: she listed 54 reasons why marriage is "worth it," and it made me want to run to Andrew's office, give him a big hug and a smooch and race down that altar already!

Please go read her post! It will take away any wedding planning stresses you may be feeling and help you put it all in perspective because the wedding is an awesome day but the marriage is an awesome lifetime!

How are you doing this week?

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 Please join our linkup!

Kristyn and I sure do love it when you do! Please share the link-up on social, too, if you wish! @marysue20 is the name, #WeddingWednesday is the game.

Little Bit of Class Tuesday: Blogger Probs

Every morning after my workout I stretch and then cool down by reading through some blogs for a few minutes.  This morning I read through The Sweetest Thing, admiring her impeccable style. And her necklace. Which she linked to. Which I clicked. Which I am now obsessed.
This, my friends, is what I call a Blogger Problem.
Now I have a wish list on Ily and want nearly everything on the site. This typically happens when I read blogs featuring cute stuff: I WANT ALL OF THE THINGS!
Here are my favorites on Ily - aren't they pretty???

1 | 2 | 3 4 | 5 | 6
The inner monologue kills me:
Devil on my shoulder: "Get them, Mary. Get them all." Angel on my shoulder: "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Devil: "Don't listen to her. You deserve these." Angel: "You have enough jewelry." Devil: "Never! These are trendier yet classic - way better than anything you own now. They're classy AND sassy, Mary. They scream 'you.'" Angel: "Um, hi. You're about to get married. You have no extra money for yourself." Devil: "Buuuuut you did just get a new job. Reward yourself." Angel: "You reward yourself with cabs, Chipotle and Starbucks all of the time. And this Saturday you will reward your Irish heritage." Devil: "They are cheap, though. Look how cheap!" Angel: "Exactly. They will probably break. You are clumsy." Devil: "Exactly! You just broke one of your favorite necklaces! You NEED a new one! Or three!" Angel: "Sigh...if you must, only buy one of the six you have on your wish list. But look for coupon codes online first!" Devil: "GET THEM ALL!!!!!"
UGH!
I will not buy any.  Angel wins. For now.

Just a Little Update

Hi gang!

Everything has been so busy around these parts and I haven't written too often lately. I know none of you care, but I feel the need to explain.

Honestly, if it wasn't for Wedding Wednesday I probably wouldn't write at all!

{via}

As of right now, we are 47 days away from THE BIG DAY, but that's not all that's going on in my life, I can assure you.

{via}

Last Tuesday I accepted an offer: I have a new job!

Yep, this crazy girl is leaving the current job on 3/27, going to Ohio for wedding planning 3/28, starting the new job 3/31, going to Austin on 4/4 for a wedding and then, you know, tying the knot and going on a honeymoon starting on 4/23.

No biggie, right?

Right!

It's all good stuff!

{via}

I will miss my co-workers and small office, but I am SO excited for the new gig. It's a great step for my career. I'm terrified since there will be a learning curve, but I know that I can learn quickly and rock it out. Or at least I hope so! I met with nine incredible people during the interview process and I am so thrilled to be part of the team!

There's other stuff going on, of course, but those are the big two!

How are you doing? What's new in your world?
Do you love The Peanuts as much as I do? :)

Wedding Wednesday: Chicago Bachelorette!

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

This past Saturday my Chicago girlfriends threw me a bachelorette party!
15 people came! It was so wonderful that all of them came out, especially since the weather was snowy and awful!

But you better believe I still wore heels.
*Mary tosses hair*

All I wanted was something low-key, not too expensive and fun, which was exactly what they did! Two of my girlfriends arranged for a little pizza and wine dinner followed by a couple of bars in Roscoe Village. I had never been out in Roscoe, so that was fun! The gals all got me presents, too! It was so unnecessary but so incredibly thoughtful!

And yes, some gifts made me blush!

Before I met up with the big group I did my nails and I got my hair blown out!
Blowtique was incredible. I couldn't believe how high my hair was.

My sister surprised me by "sending" a bottle of champagne to me (through Daniela!) at the salon, too!

Va Va Voom! 

I want to do this to my hair every day!

Here are a few other shots from the evening. I started our wedding hashtag that night as well: #AndrewMarriesMary!

One girlfriend took photos on her real camera - I can't wait to see those!!! She got a group shot that is definitely frame-worthy, I'm sure!

Let's just say I was hurting the next day. 

It was so so so so fun!!!

My sister also sent a toast. I teared up!

Here it is:

"Mary, you are loved

by so many it is true

but those with whom you raise a glass tonight

are the lucky Chicago ones that truly know you

So wishing you a fun-filled night

wishing I could also be there

but I'll raise one, too, from San Francisco

and join in toasting OUR MARE!!!"

AWWWWW! I LOVE MY SISTER!

I can't wait until my Pittsburgh shower and bachelorette!!!!!

How are you doing this week?
.................................................................

 Please join our linkup!
Kristyn and I sure do love it when you do! Please share the link-up on social, too, if you wish! @marysue20 is the name, #WeddingWednesday is the game.