The Army Goes Rolling Along

ROTC is a strange world.  It's made even more strange when you've been a part of the active duty Army, in some form or another, first.  It's crazy to think that this time next year we will be finding out if the Army will take us back. It never really occurred to me that not going back to the Army would be a possibility, until yesterday.  A lot of the friends we've made while Sgt. has been in school are in their senior year now.  Senior year is the time when all of the cadets get their assessions placement - meaning, every cadet in the country gets ranked 1 - 3000 (or however many there are that year that intend to commission).  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 soon to be commissioned ROTC cadet's were involuntarily sent to the National Guard.  Now, none of those soldiers were in Sgt.'s battalion, but still... that's a lot of people.  The National Guard isn't bad, it's just not what we want, or what I was expecting. 

There is a lot that goes in to where you place after your Junior year, including scores from LDAC (Leadership Development Assesment Course), your GPA, how involved you are, etc.. and I am confident that Sgt. is doing well and working hard at the things he needs to get done so it's not a HUGE concern, it's just one of those things that kind of opened my eyes.

I can't believe that this time next year we'll know what his job will likely be for what will hopefully be a long and successful career. WOW

I also can't believe that this time next month I'm going to be MARRIED!!  :) Double wow!

I miss my blog

I really do!  I just feel like I've been away from it so long I don't know where to start so this is my third attempt at blogging again after my very long absence.  No promises but hey, it's worth a shot!

I am getting married in 23 days!!  WOW.  I seriously can not believe it.  I keep telling Sgt. that getting married only makes me feel really young, not old.  Kind of like "Wow... I'm in my twenties and I'm going to be a married woman... I'm going to be a wife...."  and I mean that in the best way possible.  I'm so so excited and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!  It's just such a major life change, I'm trying to take it one step at a time and take it all in.

Wedding planning has definitely been an adventure.  Planning a wedding is hard enough, planning an out of state wedding is grueling, especially for a control-freak-perfectionist-who-won't-let anyone-else-help.  In truth, I have let one person help - My MOH has been OUT OF THIS WORLD amazing!  She's really the only person who's opinion I trusted  enough to make major decisions (because our opinions are so similar) and I've been lucky enough to be able to make a few trips down to Texas to iron out details.  My vendors have been great over the phone and e-mail (for the most part *cough*) and we've been really blessed to have a lot of connections for things involved with the wedding like invitations, the venue, etc..

However, (and of course, there is always the "but") there are still a MILLION things to do in the next 23 days.  I mean, if I'm being completely honest people, I just got a cake yesterday.   Between working 50 + hours a week and trying to plan this wedding I just don't have enough hours in the day (age old complaint huh?) and I worry about everything getting done. 

The list as it stands now:

•  Pick cake flavors
• send playlist to DJ
• Buy wedding shoes
• Get Sgt. wedding gift
• Make pew decorations (25)
• Purchase favors (it's food so we're trying to hold off until the last minute so it's fresh)
• Make flower girl tutu
• Get wedding jewelry
• Reserve wedding night hotel
• Purchase Jr. Bridesmaid gifts
• Purchase Groomsman gifts
• Purchase parent gifts
• finalize rehearsal dinner menu
• Plan morning after brunch (family thing)
• Make a list of alcohol and mixers needed (we have to stock our own bar)
• Get marriage license
• Iron all linens
• Buy candles for ceremony and reception
• Write vows - (I know... I know.)
• Pick Ceremony Readings
• Pick Ceremony Readers
• Haircut and Color
• Create ceremony programs
• Make wishing tree for guest table
• Layout wedding day schedule

That's the short version, there are lots more little things but you get the idea.  Everyone says that it all comes together so that's what I'm banking on.  Oh, and if you have an suggestions for cake flavors or fillings... send them my way!

Sale!

Just so you know... Ann Taylor Loft is having a 50% off sale right now online... ok back to shopping!

Wedding question Wednesday

In an attempt to plan a wedding, not let the wedding plan me.... I'm going to TRY and not post wedding talk all the time. The same way I TRY and not talk about it every single day. It's a work in progress. I figured a Wedding Wednesday is the best way to go about that! So guaranteed every Wednesday... I'm going to talk about our wedding in one way or another. All the other days... well, I can't guarantee anything, but I will find something to talk about :)

For today's Wedding Wednesday we're going to talk about receptions. Or, I'm going to talk and you're going to save me. Ok? Sgt. and I are paying for about 85% of our wedding. So of course we're trying to figure out ways to make it what we want, not go crazy, still have a beautiful wedding, and most importantly have FUN. We want to have fun, we want to celebrate, and we want to treat our guests to a fun, tasty, twirly time! Whooo hooo!

We've been TOTALLY blessed to get our reception venue at no cost because I just happen to have been blessed with working at the best place on earth (not Disney World) not long ago. They are my family away from family... and that place happens to be a gorgeous rolling hill landscape right on the river. It's awesome. And I'm so thankful!

The Ceremony is supposed to take place at The Church. The Church only holds weddings at 2:00. Yep, 2:00 in the afternoon. Now, for someone who wants to have a fun, tasty, twirly reception... this poses an issue.

By the time the Ceremony is over and everyone gets out of the church and out to the reception it'll be about 3:00. I've spoken with the caterer and we're supposed to have a cocktail hour and appetizers (ok, I'll be honest, I tried to spell the H word and couldn't) until about 4:30 at which point I'm hoping people will take their sweet time finding their seats and then we can start dinner at 5. Dinner over at 6 and dancing until 9.

Except it just seems so LONG to me. Mostly because the caterer is (fairly) charging me a little extra because she's got to stay there from 3-9. If I could figure out a way to cut some of the time down we would be golden.

First option is have the ceremony somewhere else.... like at the reception venue, starting later in the evening. But the church is important to us, so for now, I'd like to not do that.

Second option is to do our own appetizers and cocktails. Have signature drink, beer, wine, and snacks out from 3 - 4:30 and then have the caterer show up at 5 to do dinner. This would reduce the time they're there...

Third option is to have ceremony and then not start the cocktail hour until 5... and just give guests a list of things to do around town until then. What I worry about here is that 1. Wedding momentum will be lost and people won't be as eager to have fun since they just had to wait all that time for the next portion. 2. The people who do not have a hotel in town will really have to find something to do. Most people are coming from out of town but not everyone... I thought about asking the camp (reception venue) if maybe we could set up some fun laid back activities like horseshoes, washers, the putting green, etc... so people could do that while waiting. (an hour or two) But then I feel like it will be an extension of the wedding and I should at least have drinks or something out there for them to enjoy. 3. What about my hair? And Makeup? And do I stay in my dress for two hours hanging out... or do I change... which would mean two dresses.

The wedding isn't formal - the theme we're working with now is "Upscale-Down Home" so it's sort of an Americana feel to it... (please God, no one show up in cutoffs) Semi-formal with a laid back vibe.

This has just got me stuck! I don't know what to do. I think either way it seems like dinner is too early, or there was too much wait time. So, please, help me. What would you do? or better yet, what would you ENJOY as a guest? What wouldn't you enjoy? Why? Am I crazy? Do you have any other options for me other than the ones listed? Any and all help is appreciated! Especially from Sgt... if I ask him this question anymore I think he'll blindfold me and kidnap me to Mexico so we can elope.

With all these two cents, I could start a piggy bank.

You know how you get engaged and then you and your fiance sit down and talk about all the details you want in your wedding. You start thinking about colors and venues and food and music and decorations, and you're so excited. Then you call your parents and they ask how the plans are coming and you tell them all of your great ideas and they're so thrilled and happy and say things like "Oh, that's such a great idea!" and "Wow, I couldn't have done it better myself" and "Whoever you think to invite is fine, we will be there, you guys will be there, that's all that matters"

No? You either? Well at least it's not just me.

Truth be told... it's not my "Family" it's *looks around* *whispers* my step mom.

Whom I love, and who really has her my best interests at heart. However, I am actually avoiding wedding planning JUST so when she calls I can say "I haven't really had time to get much more done." I'm probably overreacting since we only had the one conversation... and I know that if I said "This is important to me, and I want it done this way" she'd back off... with hurt feelings but I do want to include her, and I don't want her to think I'm completely discounting her opinions...

I JUST DO NOT WANT YOUR MOM BRINGING HAM ROLL UPS TO OUR WEDDING!

There. That felt better :)