procrastination always and forever

Here's a shocker: Brian and I suck at planning.

Like I said in my first entry, how many moons ago, we have a great idea and then sit on it. No surprise that happened again.

But as our wedding nears closer, action needs to start happening... Shortly after writing my last entry, I decided on my wedding party. Things like where I was getting married, or what it would look like are dramatically less important to me than who will be standing next to me.

The Matron of Honor: Katie/Katey 

Her given name is Katie, but one night at a bar we changed it to Katey. And continuing to spell it that way is just something that we would do.  She my sister from another mother, and I also really like her mother. We haven't lived in the same city for a really long time, but she's probably the only person - besides Brian - who really gets me. Who I can be ugly and make inappropriate jokes with and still feel glamorous, who remembers little details just like I do, who loves inside jokes. We were best friends through high school, broke up in college (And yes broke up. There were dear John emails involved.) We reconnected when we were both newly single in Milwaukee together. Thinking back on all our adventures now, I laugh. We were a riot. But mostly we got each other through. She's smart and principled. She used to call me J. The reason I decided to give SB a try is because he called me J. He reminded me of my best friend.

Bridesmaids:
Katerina - Brian's sister. In a family full of boys who spend the majority of their time quoting movies, Katerina was a breath of fresh air. One of the things that made me fall in love even more with Brian is his family. They love each other. They love the good, the bad, the funny, the crazy. Brian's brothers are nice, but they're boys. A lot of fun, but no one I could really connect with. Katerina lived in Florida, so when Brian and I first started dating I didn't get to see her and her family a lot. They recently moved up to Cincinnati and having them close by is great. More than anything I want my family to grow. When you meet Brian's family, they don't treat you like a guest, or a friend of someone they know. You're immediately family. When Katerina first talked about moving here, I might have been the most excited. I wasn't just gaining a future sister, I was gaining a friend.

Jennifer - Plain and simple without Jenn, I wouldn't know Brian nor would my life be remotely like it is today. I met her shortly after moving to Cinci. We worked together for a week. She was the first person here to reach out to me, to invite me out. When I was newly single and looking for a place to live, she offered her couch. When I was lonely she started trying to set me up. I wasn't interested, but she kept him around. She gives so much of herself, that I'm amazed there's anything left.

Jessica - My parents didn't find out if they were having a boy or a girl before my sister was born. When I pestered them about it, they would reply, we just want a healthy baby. I always answered the same. I wanted a sister. Jessica was my dream come true, what I wished for, and I'm so thankful that she turned out better than my eight year old brain planned for. I made my parents pick the name Jessica; I wanted to call her Jessie. She insisted on Jess. She's always found her own way through things. No matter what someone wanted to call her, or wanted her to be, she's found the strength to find her own way, to challenge herself, to challenge others. She has the most beautiful soul full of strength, which grows every day.

My Girls. Like with the date, I told Brian these were my choices, and ordered him to work around it. Who knows who his wedding party is. Who knows if we'll have the same number or not.

Location: We recently visited a local golf course to see about having our wedding there. A family friend offered to let us use her membership pricing. And while the place was gorgeous, we quickly decided it wasn't for us. While our budget has grown slightly from my last post, I wasn't ready to spend the cash. Over Thanksgiving we approached Brian's younger brother, Ian and his fiance Aly about having our wedding at their house.

Last August, they hosted a large joint birthday party for their daughter and her cousin at their place. There was a ton of people, a petting zoo, and an ice cream truck. These people know how to throw a party. They live in the caretakers house of her father's landscaping company. It sits on a large lot, has a big field and a office/warehouse that we can use. Basically its my dream place. Picking a place at a friend/family member's house is key in the budget wedding idea.

Up next on the horizon. Formally finalize with Aly and Ian about using their house. Go there when it starts to get warmer and do some scouting.

Dress shopping! EEK! I go back and forth between short and fun or a-line, light weight garden party or a-line with a bunch of flowers on it.

Colors: I know the colors I want but not the shades.

Learning to become crafty.

 Hopefully, I'll post again before the wedding :)