My how the time does fly!

Ok... Start the one year countdown!

I mean technically it's not one year until the 25th, but I plan on being done with decisions by this time next year.... I mean hopefully I am not making important ones two weeks before my wedding!

I am going to look at a church tomorrow morning. My Mother has already scoped it out. A friend of a friend is actually getting married there tomorrow evening, but the church was really in to me seeing it decorated before the wedding.... I'm excited.

I came to the decision not to get married at Mavris simply because it was going to be a hassle. If we got married out in their wonderful garden, we ran the risk of our ceremony being halted by a passing train. And although their 1st floor is just as gorgeous as the rest of the facility, I really wanted to have cocktails down there, not my ceremony.

In addition, there is a wedding the night before mine. This isn't a big deal except that we would have to have our rehearsal very early on Friday, with hours to kill until the dinner. With so many people having to book hotels, etc., I just didn't feel like making them take the entire day off of work.

So I have narrowed it down to two very traditional churches.. I look at one tomorrow and the other in a few weeks (they are laying new carpet and don't want me to see it until the pews are back in place, etc.)

On another note, I have somewhat officially hired the ladies at Heavy Metal Event Planning to be my day of coordinators. Even though Mavris provides me with one, I really wanted to have someone that sees my vision and knows what I like, not just someone hired to make sure things run smoothly. With all the DIY projects, it's really important to have someone there to make sure things are correctly executed, and I know I can trust Katy and Kathi to be as particular as I am!

I also set up a cake tasting with Jill at Indy Cakes for the first weekend in October. She was referred to me by my photographer and has some pretty neat skills.

I want to start looking at dresses soon, but getting it coordinated with the people I want to be there is probably going to be complicated. As long as I have at least started looking by October I will feel ok.

In the meantime don't forget I am student teaching, showing my horse, and trying to work when life allows for it! I just don't want to wait until next summer to do all of this, so I am going to take it one piece and one step at a time!

I will let everyone know how it goes tomorrow! I'm excited!!

And I just want to take time out to address how grateful I am to be planning this wedding at all.

On a day like today (9/11) I really stop and think about how lucky I am to be alive and have so many loved ones still happy and healthy. I know so many that have suffered such loss and tragedy, and I can only hope that if I ever do experience anything like they have I will handle it with as much grace as they have shown. You know who you are.... and you know I love you.

<3 Jenn