Saturday Night Fever

What a lovely weekend! Matt (aka Chevy) and Jen's wedding was wonderful. Jen looked absolutely incredible, the food was delish, and the company was just right! Chevy displayed quite a few proud moments as the Ohio State fight song played right before their first dance, and we displayed quite a few laughs as Brian delivered his Best Man speech. Yes, Brian was Chevy's best man, and a wonderful best man at that. (I let Chevy loan him for a couple days. He's always my best man! :) )

I know that it's nerve racking to deliver speeches in front of so many people, but Brian did wonderfully. He even had props to pass around which made it even more fun!

I hope that my maid of honor, Tamara, and Brian's best man, Mike, aren't too nervous when they give their speeches. I know that, no matter what, they will both be perfect!

In other wedding news, we received our final copy of our invitation this weekend and Brian and I are both blown away! It looks fantastic! We cannot wait to get them in the mail. (We're just slightly overdue with that, but they are well worth the wait!) We can definitely speak highly of Erin, our lovely invitationista, with DFMI Designs. She has been patient with us and has given us exactly what we were looking for for an unbelievable cost. You really can't beat that!

In other non-wedding news, our puppy, Jack, had his first go with the water hose this weekend. Until Sunday, he has always barked at it like it was some sort of attacker. We think he likes it now! Check out the video below!

In the end, it was a wonderful weekend. Brian and I are both still so excited for our wedding! Seeing Chevy and Jen's has heighten our excitement by a ten fold, and each day that passes we get closer and closer to our big day!

28...and counting!

Today is my birfday! I'm officially 28, not a day more, not a day less, and I couldn't be happier! I've got 28 solid years under my belt, and life continues to surprise me. Three years ago, I could not have told you that I would be marrying the man of my dreams in just two and half short months! Five years ago, Ohio would not have been the first place that I would have thought about moving to, and ten years ago, I would not have imagined that I would have the most incredible family to come home to each night. Brian, Bun, and Jack truly mean the world to me. I am thankful everyday to have them all in my life. I am thankful everyday to have the opportunities that I do and be surrounded by the loving family and friends that I have. And, today, on this monumental day (ah hem, yes, my birthday is nearly a national holiday), I am thankful that every year that I turn slightly older, I am truly happier. (Ok, the national holiday thing may be a slight exaggeration...) Today is just a wonderful day!

Tonight we are headed to one of Brian's great friends (and groomsman's) rehearsal dinner. Matt and Jen will be married tomorrow. We are excited to attend their rehearsal dinner and wedding, especially one of a good friend, since we are smack dab in the middle of planning our own! We will surely post some photos upon our return!

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes

The BP (Part II)

Stag night. Bull's party. Buck's night.

Why, it's the Bachelor Party, of course!

July 9 through July 11th Brian is in for a fantastic weekend with many of his wonderful friends and family at Put-In Bay, Ohio. It will be full of sun, fun, and quite a few adult beverages, I'm sure. (After all, that's what Bachelor Parties are all about, I suppose!)

I know that he is super excited to celebrate this wondrous occasion, and, more importantly, to have the opportunity to hang with all of his mates.

It will truly be a memorable (we think) weekend! Perhaps there will be a decent picture or two that we can recap with! ...Perhaps!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

A week and a half ago I started a new job ... It has been a complete 180. I literally went from having absolutely nothing to do (not a joke) to working 10-12 hour days and weekends. It has been quite an awakening - wedding planning just got a bit more challenging.

Despite the work load, I'm confident that I've made a good move. I'm hopeful that I will have a more regular work schedule in the near future, and I certainly enjoy the people and the work one million times more than I did with my previous employer. That has truly been an added bonus so far.

There has been one minor detail that has really thrown me for a bit of a loop though. Since Brian and I will be married in August (in 2 and a half months...oh, my gravy! Time is flying by!), my employer has essentially already changed my name. I'm not kidding. My business cards, my email, my username, etc. They are all what my married name will be...if I choose to take Brian's last name. (I may let him take mine.) He figured it would make the most sense rather than ordering new business cards and changing everything around again in a couple months. So, I get the gist. I'm all about efficiency, so it does make sense...I guess.

The weird thing, though, is I can't say my full married name. It's crazy. When I introduce myself to my clients, I just say my first name. When I hand them my business card, a huge part of me wants to explain that 'my last name is actually blah, blah, blah, but I'm getting married in August so blah, blah, blah', but then I realize there really is no point. It kind of feels like I'm cheating, or that I'm not really that person, yet, because I guess I'm not. Half the time, I don't even recognize what my name really is. It is quite strange, if I do say.

I wonder if it will still be strange once we are actually married. I suppose I would actually fit the bill then. For now, I will just have to keep quiet and pretend, but every time I see my 'married name', Changes replays through my head...over and over and over again! (And yes, once again, I was born in the 80's. Don't hate.)

Ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Don't wanna be a richer [wo]man
Ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Gonna have to be a different [wo]man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

Top 100

50 days ago, we wrote a post about there being 150 days left until our wedding...

...That felt like last week. Time is flying by! We are officially one hundred days away from our big day. Incredible.

So, in lieu of the monumental day that we have reached, we thought it would be nice to give you all a quick recap of the last 277 days (since we officially became engaged).

THINGS WE ARE FOR SURE ABOUT

Rehearsal Dinner: Due Amici
Ceremony Site: Goodale Park
Reception Site: The Venue at Smith Brothers
(some) Transportation: Columbus Trolley
Wedding Cake: Alice's Piece of Cake
Florist: Sarah Smith
DJ: Encore Entertainment
Invitationist: DFMI Designs
Photographer: Picture the Love
Videographer: Indy Productions
Wedding Dress: Kleinfled Bridal
Honeymoon: Secrets Maroma Beach - Riviera Maya, Mexico

THINGS WE STILL NEED TO DO

-Find bridesmaid dresses.
-Figure out what Brian and the guys will be wearing.
-Finalize the menu.
-Pick out some of our wedding songs.
-Tie up all the loose ends.

THINGS WE WONDER ABOUT

-Will Jack be well behaved enough to attend our wedding as a guest?
-Will Bun change his last name to Hendricks?
-Will we smash the cake in each others faces?
-What have we forgotten?

It really is incredible to see how much we have done. We are so fortunate to be able to have had the time to do our research to find vendors, locations, and people that we absolutely adore. We can't wait to be working with all of our vendors. They are the ones that are making our day. They are the ones that are capturing our moments. They are the ones that are helping us create our perfect wedding.

We are sure that no matter what ends up happening on August 6, 2010, it is going to be a fabulous day!

La Jeune Mariée

Guess what?

My gown has officially arrived to the Kleinfeld store in NYC!!! And, in a few short days, it will be making its way southwest to Columbus, Ohio, where I will have it altered. It's so exciting! I've already set up my appointments for my alterations with a highly recommended seamstress located in Westerville, OH. I received the recommendation from a bridal boutique in Worthington called La Jeune Mariee. (That's French for 'the young bride', for those of you who don't speak French...) From what I understand, she is the best of the best, and I am very excited to be working with her.

In two months, my gown will officially be complete. And in three and a half, I'll be walking down the aisle in it.

Time to accessorize!

Etsy

Unbelievable. Unique. Utterly fantastic.

We.heart.etsy.com.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the site, you have to check it out! It is basically an online smorgasbord of artists of all different colors promoting their unique and handmade goods. You can find nearly anything on this site. You can have nearly anything custom designed. And best of all, nearly everything is reasonable. (A word that is semi-unfamiliar in the wedding world.)

We have been very pleased with our first purchase from etsy.com. (Actually, we haven't received our product yet, but I am sure the quality will be unsurpassed, and can therefore promote a website that has yet to deliver.) Our wedding will be delighted with multiple purchases from etsy.com.

It is all still very exciting!

April Showers

We waited, and waited, for the Maryland public schools to announce high school graduation dates. For some reason, they wait until a month before school lets out before they have it figured out. I suppose this works well for any snow days that need to be added on to the school year, but it is my understanding that seniors don't have to make up snow days...

Nevertheless, we wanted to wait until we had found out the exact graduation dates for my sister, Amy, and Brian's brother, Brent, before we decided on dates for our bridal showers. (Both will be graduating from high school this year in Maryland and Ohio, respectively!) And since Spring Break has come and gone, and there is nearly a month left of school, we now have solid dates for graduations...and showers!

Brian's wonderful Aunt Kathy, along with some extremely helpful hands, have offered to host a 'Couples Shower' for us. That will take place here in Ohio on Saturday, June 12. My beautiful Mom, along with my lovely MOH, have offered to host another shower in Maryland for us on Saturday, June 19. AND, it is very possible that we may have another shower here in Ohio to celebrate. (Details to follow on all...) We are very lucky to be surrounded with so many loving and caring people.

So far, our April showers have been very effective at promoting growth in the future months!

Dr. Suess Is My Hero

We received our first invitation design!
The look is incredible! It is absolutely divine!
There are minor changes that we would like to receive,
But, all in all, the design is hard to believe.
It captures the look and the feel of our day,
And says exactly what we want it to say!
The graphic is great and the layout is clear.
It has turned out precisely as we would like it to appear.
I'm shocked, and amazed, and ecstatic, too
And so excited for our invitation debut!
I'm thinking we're only one month away
From sending our invites to our party in the U.S.A.! (Thanks, Miley!)
In just four months time, our wedding will be here.
Come celebrate as we embark on the married life frontier.
If this doesn't convince you, please take it from me:
It will be unforgettable! That is a guarantee!

Sometimes I get so excited about something that I randomly just have to bust out a rhyme...I did miss my calling: I should've been a rapper.

The BP (Part 1)

It is time, ladies and gents, to introduce our all-star cast (at least, all-star to us...), and line-up for our Bridal Party!!

We'll start with the obvious:

Bride: Erin - aka 'E'
Groom: Brian - aka 'Hendricks'

The Girls:
Maid of Honor - Tamara - we take our days back to middle school!
Bridesmaid - Brandi - friends since our days at Virginia Tech!
Bridesmaid - Shalini - aka 'Shalu' - another fellow Hokie!

Bridesmaid - Amy - lovely sister of the bride; friends since she was born...
Bridesmaid - Shanna - we take our days back to high school!

The Guys:
Best Man - Mike - aka 'Mikie'; brother of the groom
Groomsman - Matt - aka 'Chevy'; friends since the days at Ohio University...
Groomsman - Jeff - aka 'Giesse'; friends since grade school!
Groomsman - Nathaniel - aka 'Than'; friends since high school.
Groomsman - Patrick - aka 'Wickline'; friends since Brian stole Patrick's seat on the bus...in grade school...

The Kids:

Ring Bearer - Miles - will be nearly 6

Ring Bearer - Ben - will be nearly 4

Flower Girl - Crystal - will be nearly 3.5

The Ushers:

Brent - brother of the groom - delightful

Travis - brother of the bride - charming

James - brother of the bride - entertaining

We are so lucky to have all of these very important people stand by our sides on this wonderful day. Each and everyone in our Bridal Party holds a very special place in our hearts. We are who we are because of them, and we are thankful, every day, that they are a part of our lives.