Starting to stress a bit....

I'm worried I'm behind. Maybe I'm not, but I'm still worried. I'm thinking of new to-do's every day. Egads.

Here's the full list I've been keeping:


-Schedule meeting with caterer (DONE 4/14)
-Select first dance and other special dance songs (DONE 4/14)
-Update registry lists for bridal shower (2 DONE, 1-2 to go)
-Pick readings and songs for Mass (Readings Started)
-Attend pre-cana (Started, one session left!)
-Research invitation designs (STARTED 4/21 - ideas sent to Erin Proud)
-Select cantor and organist (need to talk to Paul's mom)
-Schedule engagement photos (talking to photographer)
-Research signature drink options (still discussing if we are doing this)
-Discuss flowers with Erin (still working on)
-Hotel blocks (DONE 5/4)
-Programs - who will hand out? (Tommy & Simon?)
-Pick readers (Paul and I are still discussing who to ask....)
-Unity candle and mothers candles (monogram will go on candle - need to discuss with Erin Proud)
-Who will bring up gifts? (need to discuss with Paul)
-Buy reader and witnesses gifts (discussing what to buy)
-Gift for Father Ken? (discussing what to buy)
-Discuss transportation options (working with Erin Proud)
-Test drive directions (to do in June/July)
-Order wedding rings (to do in June/July)
-Schedule dance lessons (to do in July/August)
-Order tuxedo (to do in July/August)
-Draft wedding program information (to do in July/August)
-Order Mothers' gifts (to do July/August)
-Order Paul's dad's gift (to do July/August)
-Shop for engagement photo attire (to handle in July/August)
-Moms dress (July/August)
-Schedule massage for day before (waiting til August)
-Schedule hair and makeup day after (waiting til August)
-Meet with hair and makeup stylists to discuss ideas (to handle in August)
-buy Pauls wedding gifts (have researched - will start to buy in August)
-need to buy - garter, cake cutters, champagne flutes (waiting til August/September)
-Create song play and do not playlists (to handle in August/September)
-Attend first dress fitting (to do in August)
-Purchase guest book pens (to do in August/September)
-Find something old, new, borrowed and blue (to do August/September)
-Book nail appointment at Nail Bar (to do August/September)
-Order food for wedding day to be delivered (to do August/September)
-Discuss Philly food bar and OOT boxes with Erin Proud (to do August/September)
-Discuss signage with Erin Proud - chair signs, menus, signature drinks, etc (to do September)
-Outfit for day before, day of, day after, evening after (waiting til September)
-Apply for the marriage license (to do October)
-Buy cooler and goodies for cooler for wedding day (to do October)
-Card box and order pictures for box (to do October)

Well, not much to do now, I'm in that lull. Come summer time I am going to be BUSY!!!

More checks off the list!!!

I've been a busy lil' bee lately. Although procrastination can be my middle name, I've really been working hard on this wedding stuff. I just don't want to have to do everything at the last minute, so my goal is one wedding item (but hopefully more) per week.

Oh, and no comments about the timeliness of my blog? For weeks I had to hear that I was behind and now I'm all caught up I get no props????

Today I took care of our hotel blocks. Ok, Erin Proud coordinated all the hotel block info, I just had to sign the paperwork and fax it in. But still, I had 2 failed attempts at faxing from my hotels so I had to travel to Staples and fax everything back. I am SO excited about one of our hotel blocks (info to be posted soon).

I also started researching invitation designs. Wow, it's hard to find stuff online. I seriously have no time to do anything wedding related on weekends. However, this coming week I am taking vacation (woo hoo painting and construction I can hardly wait!) and will visit some invitation stores for some inspiration.

Also, without a doubt, I need to get my butt over to Williams and Sonoma and Pottery Barn to work on these registries. I guess I should make appointments. Hmmm.....

Pre-Cana, Part 1

Since we are getting married in the Catholic Church, it is mandatory that Paul and I attend pre-cana classes. The standard definition of pre-cana (well according to Wikipedia) -

"Pre-Cana is a course or consultation Catholic couples must undergo before they can be married in a Catholic church. The name is derived from John 2:1-12, the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine.

Approaches to Pre-Cana vary among Catholic dioceses and parishes. Often six weekly sessions will be led by a priest or deacon with support from a married Catholic couple. Common topic include: compatibility of the couple, basic principles of Catholic marriage and family life (namely theological meaning of marriage), conflict resolution within marriage, rules the couple is accepting to follow (including, but not limited to, natural family planning)."

The Camden Diocese's approach has a few options. Paul and I decided to sign up for 2 pre-cana classes on varying weekends. My travel schedule for work didn't allow any of the other options.

Our first class was a Friday night. We had to drive to Marmora (near Ocean City, NJ) for this class. Oh how Paul was dreading this pre-cana class!

There were @ 25-30 couples total in attendance. After a brief welcome session, we were broken into small groups of 5 couples each. In our small group, we were the only couple that did not meet in high school or college - which should speak to the average age of the couples in our class. Our small group leaders were a couple close to our ages who was quite fun. They asked us to talk a bit about ourselves, our upcoming wedding, and how we met.

We then went back to the main room to listen to a talk on Communication. After we broke up in small groups again to fill out a worksheet. Paul and I each had to circle words that describe our partner. Many of the words were similar, and some really made us laugh. Especially the words used to describe me!

After we went back to our main room to listen to a talk on Finances. It actually wasn't just on finances, but that was the topic of the worksheet. Overall this was the biggest wake up call for Paul and I. Since we are blending households and incomes from professionals who have worked for over 10 years, our issues are not the same as younger couples. The question that made me think the most was..."I can spend xxx amount without consulting my partner...." Of course Paul and I had very different answers. I've never thought about needing to discuss spending before and now I do. Definitely gave me something to think about!

After this we listened to a few more talks and wrapped up in about 3.5 hours. Although we went home a bit tired, especially after the long drive back, overall, I thought it was a good opportunity to talk about some topics that we haven't discussed before.

One class left which takes place in June....for 6 hours! More on that later.....

Finalizing the Menu!

Everyone's favorite topic....FOOD!

Paul and I along with Erin Proud from Proud to Plan met with Stephen from Day by Day Catering to finalize our menu. All I can say is yum-o!

Here is a sample of one of their set-ups. How pretty is this?



In talking with Stephen, we decided on the following:

5 or 6 butlered hors d'oeuvres
Slider Bar with burgers, veggie burgers, and pulled pork
Mac N Cheese
BLT Salad
Mashed Potato Bar with lots of toppings!
Antipasto Bar to include various meats and olives

Here are items we are hoping to include:

Upscale cheese selection
Crudites mini shotglasses with a shrimp and crab claw and mixed veggies with dip
Dessert table to include puff pastries, cannoli, and chocolate covered strawberries
Philadelphia inspired snack table with goodie bags

To help us pick our hors d'oeuvres, I sent a message to a large group of friends/family on Facebook and asked for their input. The email I sent is at the bottom of this post.

I'll give everyone til the end of the week to respond and then we have to send along our top ten choices to Stephen from Day by Day.

More to come as we finalize our menu!



Hi everyone,

Paul and I just met with our caterer yesterday to start finalizing our menu. We are so excited to see you at our reception. This will be posted twice because Facebook limits how many folks can be "tagged".

It was suggested we supply a list of appetizers we want to offer at our wedding. Paul and I picked our top 3 choices, but need input from all of you as well. Since you will be sharing in our special day, who better to suggest food than the folks who will eat it?

Can you help? From the list below, please select your top 5 choices. We're not certain if you can respond to this note, so feel free to email us - mullinwedding@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Jill and Paul

Pre-Selected Appetizers (don't worry there is going to be a ton of food outside of these apps!)
Pigs in a Blanket
Scallops wrapped in bacon
Spinach and Cheese in Phyllo



Other considerations (please select your 5 faves):

Roast Beef in Baguettes with Boursin
Filet Crouts of Beef
Smoked Turkey in Baguettes with Honey Mustard
Orange Muffins with Smokey Turkey and Chutney
Crab Meat Mousse
Marinated Mussels
Crab & Shrimp Salad Croustades
Shrimp & Avocado Salad on Corn Tortillas
Melon in Proscuitto
Seven Layer Mexican Dip with Tortilla Chips
Eggplant Dip with Pita Points
Black Bean Dip wtih Tortilla Chips
Mini sandwiches with roast beef, turkey breast, smoked turkey, ham & brie, chicken salad, tuna salad
Country Ham in corn muffins
Beef Sate with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Miniature Croque Monsieur
Thai Meatballs
Brie & Crab in Phyllo
Goat Cheese & Olive Pizza
Coconut Batter Fried Shrimp
Crab Meat Parmesan Canapes
Thai Shrimp Skewers
Curried Crab Crepes
Lobster Asparagus Tart
Crab Cakes with Chipolte Mayo
Mini Quiche
Warm Crab Artichoke
Spring Rolls


What do you all think? Does this all sound yummy or what???? What are your top 5 choices?

Thanks to Stephen from Day by Day Catering (21st and Samson Street, Philadelphia, PA) - Paul and I don't hesitate to recommend them for any event!!!! They have many more options beyond this as well!!!

Songs selected - another check off the list!!!

So today Paul and I were recovering from the Bunny Hop. Ok, I was recovering, he was counting the charitable funds, and I mentioned we need to accomplish one wedding "to-do."

Then a song came on tv and I said...."I think this would be great for our wedding...." And he reminded me that he as well loves the song, plus we heard an acoustic version our first night in Hawaii. So, we have decided this song is a must, but where?

We debated some other songs including - Welcome to the Jungle (Paul said no), Ball and Chain (don't think our parents would like it), Let's Get It On (um, might not be the way we want to kick off our night), and many more.

In the end, we picked our first dance song which is very modern and very unique (actually I'm unsure how many folks attending our wedding will know it). I teared up at the thought that this is going to be OUR song!! We also picked our cake cutting song which we were going to use as our first dance song originally but thought we couldn't really dance to it. And finally we picked our entrance song, which is a surprising choice. I came across it accidentally on YouTube and we started laughing and said...this would be great! It's a total throw back and we think some of our older guests will think it's clever.

Since I like to keep some elements of surprise, I'm not going to post any of these songs, but I promise, they are all great!

MUA otherwise known as Makeup Artist

I've had makeup applied a few times professionally. Some has been really great and some not so much. I am super excited to be working with Emily from Cheekadee. She offers a traveling service for brides and receives glowing reviews!

Since I'm hoping for my eyes to just "pop" on my wedding day, a professional makeup artist is a must.

I've contracted with Emily and she will be applying my makeup on the big day as well as my mother's. I can hardly wait til the trial this summer! I will post pictures after.

Visit the Cheekadee website for more info and a gallery of Emily's work.