Grandma Needs Attention Too

Sunday Andy and I hit another milestone in our relationship. We looked at our first apartment together. We have been practically living together since we started dating, but it has always been with room mates. This will be a change we both are extremely excited to take on. We've been having little tiffs about what we need and what we don't need. For instance he wants to get rid of my dishes! I told him the money we spend on new dishes we could use to buy other things that we don't have-like a couch. Dishes is something we can put on our gift registry. I still don't think he realizes it but the plates are staying. Needless to say Ikea.com and I have become quite good friends.

Late last night I get a phone call from my grandma. She is the type that loves to talk just so someone will listen. So I answered. We chatted for a while and then she brings up the wedding. I got excited because (maybe it runs in the family) but I love talking about my wedding to anyone that will listen! Then it took a turn for the worse. She first tried to get me to change my date! She thought we just picked some random date in March! Then she proceeded to tell me she wishes we would have our wedding in Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Green Bay (and she listed about every other city in Wisconsin).

After listening to her plead for ab out 5 minutes I told her that we were not changing our date because that was a special date to us and having a destination wedding was cheaper for us to have because all we have to do is pay a small fee (which probably even pay for our wedding cake here) and they do everything for us. OH! that opened another can of worms. She basically said we were being selfish because even thought it is cheaper for us what about everyone else?! I told her as well as I'm sure my mom and my aunt that Andy's parents can get great one week all inclusive deals and two of my cousins (who I hardly talk to) are already looking up deals online. She calmed down for a moment. She then got vicious again and started bringing up people that she knew I would want there for instance my brother who is recently married and recently bought a house. She asked how he would be able to afford it . I simply said I don't know Grandma, he will figure it out. He told me he was already excited to go. When that wasn't enough she started bringing up my grandma and aunt from my other side of the family (who i know she has not talked to) saying that they are not going to be able to make it either. With all this arguing my head is spinning and I'm not sure how to even tackle this situation nicely anymore. It's a complete mess!

With all my frustration (and still trying to be pleasant) I told her that we are having a reception in Milwaukee for anyone that could not make it to the wedding because we know that not everyone will be able to afford to share our day with us. She then went into how that will be expensive. So this was my opportunity to tell her that with the money we are saving on the wedding we will be able to have a more enjoyable reception. She then kept going on and on about other things such having a wedding during spring break and parking at the airport. I told her that it was getting late and I had to get going. I'm sure this will be a hot topic at upcoming events and even though the discussion was over last night- I will still get to hear about it for the next two years at every family function.

On a brighter note...

721 days :)

What To Do For The Bridesmaids?

I went up to my mom's house yesterday and we were looking at wedding stuff. I think she is finally getting more excited about it. While looking at wedding dresses we discovered we have two totally different tastes. She likes more fitted where I like A-Line or a princess gown (yes, I did just use bridal lingo!).I found a wedding dress that would be absolutely perfect for a beach wedding! We also looked at bridesmaid dresses. She brought up a great point that I am going to have to keep them inexpensive if I expect my bridesmaids to fly to Cancun as well. I found one that would be perfect.It looks a lot like the wedding dress that I like but the only problem is it doesn't come in the color I want. Oh well we still have two years and I'm sure I will like something completely different by then.

I started brainstorming fun ideas for bridesmaids gifts. I thought it would be fun to fill a beach bag full of wedding stuff that they can still use for everyday. For their shoes I want to do silver flip flops (and there are a pair at Target that I'm in love with!) Then I got to thinking, how cool would it be to have bikinis with bridesmaid written on the back! Trying to find those have been quite the challenge though. I'm not sure what else I want to stuff in the bag yet, but I want them to know how much I appreciate them being in my wedding and spending the money to fly to Cancun.

Also today I started using theknot.com. It is absolutely fabulous. They have everything you would ever need help with on there. The only problem is, they don't give you ideas where you can buy things such as the centerpieces they display. The thing that will keep me visiting their website frequently is they have a countdown until your wedding for you. With that being said...

727 days :)

So Far Away...

Today we opened up a joint bank account together! I know it not really that exciting, but it is a big step in our relationship. Now we can start saving for our wedding. The lady at Chase was not only very helpful on the banking side, but she gave great wedding advice. I know why I'll be visiting Chase more frequently, and it won't be for financial advice...kidding!

We have been trying to reach a compromise about the guest list. I want a large wedding, while he wants a small wedding. He does have good reasoning though, feeding that many people is very costly. I wanted around 125 guests, thinking that was pretty small, and he limited us to 75. Narrowing down the list is hard, and in two years who knows who I may meet or who I may not even be friends with anymore.

Which brings me to my next point: trying to pick bridesmaids. I want to let the girls know ASAP so that way they have no reason not to share our day with is, but at the same time it still is two years away. Most of the girls I want to have in the wedding I have been friends with for many years, but there is one who I really do want in my wedding but I'm not sure if we will still be friends when the day arrives. My best friend, who I really want to be my maid of honor, and I have been growing more distant. We still talk weekly, but the amount we see each other has decreased since she has been in a relationship. That's one more thing I have to think about.

 Being the techy guy he is, he created an excel sheet that will calculate all of our guests and their +1 for us. He set it up so when it is time to send out invitations their address, phone number, email address is all right there. When they start RSVPing then there is a column set up to calculate how many guest we are to expect. Also it will help us with the seating arrangements because we can enter that in as well. I knew I loved him for a reason! :)

How It All Began

Andy and I have been dating for almost a year, but have known eachother for about three years now. You know how they always say, "when you know, you know", well we just knew. We started joking about marriage after we celebrated our six months together. While shopping one day he asked if we wanted to go into a jewelry store to look around. I was very hesitant and my heart was racing a million miles an hour. Eventually we went into one just to check things out. Well after getting over the fear of the first one, I loved shopping for rings! So every now and again we would just drop in and check out what jewelers had, and I would even start going by myself. Nothing serious.

Time had past, and one day he told me he had bought a diamond. A little shocked, but really excited I told him that no matter what he could not propose until after we had been together for a year. Next thing I knew him and his mom picked out a ring. He wouldn't tell me when he bought the ring though because then it would be too easy for me to guess when he was going to propose. Since Andy can't keep a secret, I got it out of him. I knew it would take around six weeks to make (it was custom made), so it should arrive... ON MY BIRTHDAY! Yuck! Who wants to get proposed to on their birthday?! Not this lady! I dropped lots of hints that it would be more special if it was just a random day of the week, and any holiday.

Well to my surprise, I come home one Friday night from work and he is telling me he has something for me. Now he has been doing this for awhile, acting like he is going to propose, so I just figured this was just another crying wolf type of deal. So I went to go see what it was. Here his niece made me this cute little pink (my favorite color) cup cake. Then he said now I have something to ask you. I didn't believe it for one second. Out came a white. Down on one knee he went. Out popped the ring. I was shocked. The ring came early. It was Feb. 18th! The ring wasn't supposed to arrive until Feb. 25! I didn't realize what was happening until the ring was on my finger!

We have recently set the date: March 19, 2013 in Cancun
Mark your calenders!