No Surprises!

Just so there's no surprises here's a few things to expect on Saturday!

1.) 71 Degrees, mostly sunny and 10% chance of rain (ok, ok, it was worth a try!)

2.) We are expecting about 200+ people but only rented 100 chairs. (a. because the ceremony is short and b. because they didn't carry as many chairs as we would've needed!)

3. The ceremony is going to be SHORT, seriously....like 15 min...

4. Make sure to bring tissues, there will be a few tear jerkers. (SOME things need to stay a surprise!)

5. Rooms are booking fast, so if you haven't booked yours chances are they will be sold out.

6. Brad and I aren't going to see each other until I walk down the aisle (nor will he see Rylee) so we aren't going to attend the social hour because we will be doing our pictures. (I can't wait for the pictures!!! yeah!)

7. Social Hour will start at 4:30 and go until 5:30pm (there will be a keg beer-our treat and then cash bar) Dinner will be at 5:30-7pm and then the dance will start at 7pm. (Make sure you bring your dancing shoes because I willl expect to see you all out there! :) )

8. We may not have programs because the ceremony will be so short, but if we do, it will probably be mostly just the names of the wedding party, etc.

So sorry if you like surprises and were bummed I ruined some, but I like to know what's going on ahead of time so maybe some of you do too...


5 MORE DAYS!!!!! :)

Getting R Done

The pen is flying over the list checking things off! My ribbon is for the centerpieces is in, my bridesmaids all have their dresses (and they look AMAZING!) and just this AM (before 9am mind you) I called to set up a meeting with Fletcher Freeman who is marrying us to discuss the details of the ceremony, I ordered our Cake Topper, and ordered chairs for the outdoor ceremony! Whew! Not to mention I am working 45 hours a week, raising an almost 4 year old (and almost 29 year old) and doing photography on the side. (I finished editing engagement pics/family pics last night and took pics at my cousin's wedding July 24th and took pics at a wedding July 31st.) WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?! Seriously, I'm surprized I get 8 hours of sleep sometimes! :) I took today off work to get caught up on a few things. At 1pm today I'm going to Northern Image to get my "Practice Do" for the wedding (and I'm going to pamper myself with a color and tan while I'm there!) Then tonight, some of my WONDERFUL friends that can't make it to my shower are taking me out for some dinner and drinks. I'm really looking forward to today's activities!!

Stay tuned!

And P.S. Don't forget to book your room! Time is running out! 218-365-6565 or 1-800-365-5070!

Fits like a Glove!

Yesterday my Dad, his friend Patty, Rylee and I went to Duluth for my first dress fitting. I was relieved when it fit...and that it wasn't blue! It needed minimum alterations, so I will go back the 9th for my last fitting. It took my breath away when I put it on again (partially from getting laced up, DANG that's some hard work!) It is so.....perfect. It is a little of everything I liked about other dresses I tried on. They say the dress you pick is always one of the first 3 you try on...in this case it was one of the first 3 TIMES I tried on dresses, but it was so worth it. I couldn't have asked for a better moment then to see my Dad's eyes twinkle and krinkle up when he saw me in it. It was SO important to me that he was there. Rylee was such a sweetheart when the streamstress was pinning up my hem. Rylee brushed my dress with her hands and twirled her fingers over parts of the dress and told me how beautiful I was going to be. She told me over and over how much she loved me all day. We picked out her wedding shoes, and I dropped off my rings to be sautered (spelling!) together. So I felt like we got a lot accomplished.

It couldn't have been a more perfect day!!

36 Days!!!

Yahoo, sending the last bit of invites out! Thank you for all the wonderful compliments we've been getting!!

So the nightmares have been starting...you know...the ones that you wake up and it's the day of your wedding and you forgot to order something for the centerpieces...you don't have your dress yet...etc, etc. So I ordered the things that I need for the centerpieces and checked on the dress! Whew! Maybe those nightmares are just "reminders"???? Well anyway, they are working for me! The dress should be here mid next week, I'm SO excited to put it on!!

Our big things left to check off the list? Planning out the ceremony and finding someone to video the night. Any takers??? We're hoping to keep it cheap so if you know of anyone or want to volunteer, please comment or email me: tarakay2@yahoo.com

Soooo Thankful!

For the first time ever, I feel like I'm on top of things...what a GREAT feeling! My invites couldn't have turned out any more PERFECT! MAJOR props to our photographer: Jessica Moen-Baker with One Swift Click. She has been AmAzInG in this WHOLE process, I can't even begin to thank her! She has made us feel so comfortable and has been so easy to talk to I feel like I've known her for years. (Well, it has been about a year and a half that we've dragged the poor thing through our many dates and destinations, what a trooper!!) I can hardly wait to send them all out to you!

On Tuesday, Brad's mom and I went to plan our "design" I think you call it (??) for our wedding cake. Jan's good friend Nikki is creating the masterpiece that will be our wedding cake. Again, another AMAZING person to get to work with and so TALENTED! (Not to mention putting up with my mind changing a million times....I'm starting to see a pattern here...) She gave such great advice and we went from a boring white cake to something that is going to be so beautiful I can HARDLY wait to see it!

Yesterday Brad and I went to the Grand Ely Lodge to do our food tasting. (Not telling the food options, you have to be a LITTLE surprised, right?!) Once again, we had the sweetest person help us through all this. Not to mention she is my co-worker. :) But seriously, Barb is so PERSONABLE and genuine and makes you feel like you are the ONLY Bride and Groom in THE WORLD.

I called David's Bridal today and my bridesmaids' dresses are in--hooray!! (Oh and I got their gifts in the mail the other day!)

And tomorrow I leave for the cities for my first Bridal Shower being put on by my mom's side of the family. We are SO THANKFUL for ALL these people and MANY more! And to ALL of YOU that have been thinking of us and helping us and encouraging us. I could just well up with tears because our friends and family have been the BEST during this whole process. We are SO EXCITED to spend this day with all of you!!

Getting EXCITED!!

All of a sudden I'm really getting butterflys in my stomach at the thought of how close this thing is and the excitement can probably be seen from miles away. Things are slowly falling into place and I have a sense of relaxtion knowing that I'm probably running right on track for how these things are planned. I took the next 3 days off for a girl's weekend that I won't be able to attend for a couple of reasons. So since I can't make it I'm instead going to send Rylee to day care and get a few more little things checked off my list. Then I think I will pamper myself a little, because hey, I deserve it! :)

P.S. The tuxes have been ordered! whoo hoo! One more big thing checked off the list!!!!

The FINAL COUNTDOWN!

WOW! Only 3 months til the big day! I'm feeling alot more ready now days but wondering if I'm going to survive the busy summer with work, planning a wedding and raising a 3 year old!

So here's a few things that have been going on:

1. Last Saturday I met with the florist to pick out bouquets and centerpieces. (Check, check!)

2. Brad found a pastor but told him the wrong time of the ceremony! (Ha! but we'll get that fixed. Check!)

3. The girls, Brad's mom and I went and picked out the girl's bridesmaids dresses and they are ordered and should be here by July. (We went with "fern green" at David's Bridal if you're curious! Check!)

4. I have the bridesmaids gifts picked out and just need to be ordered. (Can't tell, it's a secret! check!)

5. Engagement pictures are done, and we are working on the invites! (whoo hoo! Check!)

6. Group block is set up and rooms are being booked. (Check! Don't forget to book your room!!)

7. Hair appointments are made! (Check!)

So as you can see, I'm feeling pretty good and not so far behind! :) There are a few more things we need to check off our list and I'm sure more will be added.

If you can think of anything we're forgeting, let me know!!

Room Information

Our Group Block is set up! It is under the Larsen/Akemann Wedding Block at the Grand Ely Lodge. For reservations, call (218) 365-6565. Or you can book online at www.grandelylodge.com

1. Go to the "Reservations" Tab on the left hand side

2. Enter in the desired date (reminder the wedding is Sat. Aug. 21! )

3. In the "Group ID" field, enter our ID #103567 (See picture below)

In the screen below, select the desired room type and select "Continue" to go to the next screen which will ask for your name, address, cc info, etc.

We look forward to spending this special day with you!! :)

Engagement Pictures!

This last Saturday we did our Engagement Pictures (I know, a little late!) on Lake Superior with the wonderful, talented Jessica Moen-Baker, who will be also be doing our Wedding Photos. They turned out GREAT! Kudos to her! Enjoy!

">Brad and Tara-Engagement Pictures

Check!

Ok so I can check a FEW things off the list!! :)

#4 Check!
#15 Check!

Oh, oh....I thought I checked more than that off!

Well, I have a few ideas on centerpieces, cake topper and we have talked to a paster, just waiting to hear back from him! We're hopefully doing engagment pictures next weekend...and my appointment with the cake lady got rescheduled. But we have picked the date for the bridal/bachelorrette party (Aug. 7th)...now just to come up with the guest lists.

Feel free to email me you address at tarakay2@yahoo.com!

Too many "TO DOs" before "I DO" !

4 months from today, and I'm starting to panic a little bit!

I have been on this computer for the last hour, hour and a half googling "wedding gifts for bridesmaids, wedding centerpiece ideas, wedding jewelry, wedding flowers". If it has "WEDDING" in front of it, believe me I HAVE GOOGLED IT! And the worst of it is, the more I look the harder it is and the more behind I feel. I need to keep reminding myself of the "for sure things". The things that I am 100% about so that I have a little confidence in my planning skills. I tend to second guess everything, and so I have changed my mind about too many things. (I have probably collectivly planned 3 different wedding in the last year in a half!)

Ok so here's some "FOR SURE THINGS"

1.) Brad (whew, right!)
2.) Location
3.) Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girl & Ring Bearer
4.) Rings
5.) Dress
6.) Color of the wedding
7.) Photographer
8.) Date (I guess this counts too, huh?)
9.) Who's doing the cake
10.) Who's doing the flowers

Doesn't look too bad, huh? Until I remember it's FOUR MONTHS AWAY and my "TO DO LIST" looks like this!:

1.) Pastor
2.) DJ
3.) Centerpieces
4.) Bridesmaid Dresses
5.) Tux
6.) Bouquets
7.) Cake
8.) Gifts for bridesmaids/groomsmen
9.) Dinner menu
10.) Chair covers??
11.) Rent chairs for outside
12.) Engagement pictures
13.) Invites
14.) Set up Group Block
15.) Make hair appointments
16.) Plan Grooms dinner
17.) etc, etc, etc!!

If you have any suggestions I would be more than happy to hear them! :) Wish me luck!

Saying "Yes" to the Dress

Someone told me that saying "yes" to the dress is even harder than saying "yes" to the fiance and boy are they ever correct on that one!

The dress shopping deserves a post of it's own....

Last year I found a dress that I L.O.V.E.D, but wasn't sure that it was "the one". It made me feel sexy, fantastic and even better I didn't have to suck my guy in when I turned sideways. I held off on buying it because he hadn't set a date and in the case that it wouldn't be last fall like we orignially wanted I didn't want to regret buying one so quickly and findly one that I ADORED later. So almost exactly 5 months from the wedding, I started to panic, because I.did.not.have.a.dress! My first instinct was to purchase the one from last year, but I questioned whether I loved it just because I felt sexy and what was it exactly that I wanted to feel on my wedding day. Was the dress "weddingy" enough?? I never wanted to be a princess on my wedding day...or did I?? So I made a last minute decision to go on Friday the 19th to try on dresses. Mary, my friend and co-worker who I look up to and wouldn't be able to write a letter to save my life at work without her, so graciouly took the day off to come with me. My personal attendant and good friend, Amanda, also accompanied me on this special day. We had lots of laughs and tears and bad directions that day!

It started off searching for about an hour in Duluth for a bridal shop that no longer existed. (But hey, I found a GREAT place to take pictures if I ever do a photo shoot in Duluth any time soon!) We finally ended up just going to David's Bridal, a much better experience this time than last time. Sara, the lady helping me was wonderful and very attentive. Not to mention great with Rylee, who came to try on Flower Girl dresses. (Which I'm not discussing...thinking of her again in those dresses brings tears to my eyes!!) I narrowed it down to 2 poofy dresses that were princessy but could not for the life of me decide on one or the other. So we went to lunch at Grandma's Restaurant to take a break and do a pro and con list of the 2 poofy dresses and the sexy dress. I decided to go to Princess Bride (home of the sexy dress) and try on some dresses to see if one would jump out at me. I only picked out about 4-5 "ok" dresses. By the 3rd one I was so frusturated and confused and getting stressed because I knew my dress should've been ordered months agao. As I unzipped the bag, I looked up with a tear and thought, "Mom, I need you here right now. I need to know what kind of dress YOU would've seen me in. If only there was a sign." I put on the 3rd dress and looked in the mirror before it was all laced up and sighed. I didn't like it. Mary came to help me lace it up and "had a feeling" about the dress. Once it was properly on and I looked in the mirror again, it was the ONE! It was elegant, it had a little bit of everything I liked in other dresses I tried on, and better yet--CHEAPER than the sexy dress!!

I later (thanks Mom!) got the "sign" I was looking for. About 5 days later, someone I worked with bought me a bridal magazine and out of the HUNDREDS of dresses I tried on, the ONLY dress in there that I tried on was MY DRESS...now that's gotta mean something!! :)

Update

We have booked the Grand Ely Lodge for our Wedding Ceremony (outdoors) and our Reception for Aug. 21, 2010!

We are currently working on setting up a block of rooms for our wedding guests. Because the rooms are above and below the Reception Area we are required to book those 10 rooms. There is one smoking room with Two Queen Beds and the rest are non-smoking rooms with Two Queen Beds or single King Beds that overlook beautiful Shagawa Lake. These rooms were completely re-modeled 3 years ago and come complete with pillow top mattresses, flat screen TV, mini fridges and microwaves. Not to mention your everyday amenities such as coffee maker, hair dryer, wet bar, iron and iron board. Feel free take a look at our website:

www.grandelylodge.com

Our block will be the Larsen/Akemann Wedding Block and the rooms will be at a discounted rate of $139.95. The 2 night minimum has been released for the group block for those of you that may only want to stay Saturday night. The block is not set up as of right now, but I will notify everyone when it is for if you'd like to make reservations! Keep in mind that the GEL has lots to offer in the summer and is great for a family vacation if you'd like to extend your stay! We have FREE canoe, kayak, paddle boats and bikes for guest use. Or you can rent a pontoon or fishing boat to check out Shagawa Lake (if you're lucky, Brad will give you some pointer for all the "hot" spots!)

We hope to see you all there!