good enough

Checking my email this morning, I saw an email from David's Bridal. I get approximately 4 million emails from David's Bridal a day, so I was about 2 seconds away from deleting it when I saw the title "Your Special Order has Arrived!"

"Special order?" I thought. "What special order?"

So I opened the email while gulping down my coffee and burning my tongue (I was late for work, as usual) and saw the following:

Event Member Megan Garcia
Style Number T9612
Color IVYCHAMPIVORY
Size 8
Department Bridal Gowns

HOLY CRAP WEDDING DRESS!

So, my dress has arrived 2 1/2 months earlier than expected, all of the invitations and save the dates are printed, the bridesmaids' dresses are in production, the catering menu is set, the venue is picked, the photographer is secured, and Brian and I had so much fun registering last weekend and picking tuxes. Whew!

This wedding planning stuff is easy!

is this really my idea

Just a few images I have been enjoying on this (finally!) sunny afternoon:

Wine bottle guest books from here

Gorgeous cymbidium orchid, calalily, and ivy bouquet from here

Mexican wedding banners from here

This bride's to-die-for beautiful makeup here

The students are gone for the day and I am free for a sweet weekend of tux/suit shopping and registry fun!

for once in my life

Super-nerdy, but I couldn't resist posting that I added the very first item to our wedding registries tonight! Brian and I registering at Macy's, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and (wait for it) REI. Tonight I registered for these babies:Whee!

photographer - CHECK!

OK, so this is what I'm most excited about. Today I drove up to SF again to meet with Kali Kraum about doing our wedding photography. Photography is super important to me and I was worried that A) she would be too expensive, B) we wouldn't get along, or C) Mom wouldn't like her. Lucky me, I had nothing to worry about! Her prices were totally reasonable, we laughed like we had been friends for years, and Mom thought she was awesome too! I cannot wait to do engagement pictures with her and work with her for the wedding. Here are a few samples of her work from her blog:

A San Rafael wedding

The same couple's engagement shots

Gorgeous! She also does boudoir sessions, but I don't know if I'm that brave...

stationary - check!

Last night my mom and I played around with wedding stationary. Here are some rough scans of what we plan to do:

Save the Dates

Invitations

Response Cards

The only major difference is that the final invitations and response cards will be done on cream cardstock (like the save the dates). Not too bad for a DIY, homemade wedding!

venue - check!

On Monday, Brian and I checked out Holbrook Palmer Park in Atherton, CA and it was a winner! We signed the necessary paperwork and are all set for July 26. It was such a relief to secure a venue so we could deal with all the other details. Here are some pictures:

We will set up dinner in this courtyard underneath the trees

The bridal party will get ready in the main house and then walk down the steps to the ceremony

The entrance to the park

this is my jam

And we have a wedding website!

Other posts coming, including our wedding venue, and (hopefully) our photographer!