HUGE JOB DONE!

Thanks to Caitlin, we finished the last 8 centerpieces today!  30 of them in all!!!!  I even had time to organize and clean the basement to store them in over the next 8 1/2 months!  :-) 
 
Here's a picture of the basket that will hold the bird seed bags, which will be passed out to guests after the wedding to throw at the bride and groom.  The two jars will be added to the treat table at the reception. And....the low flat tray will hold the wedding programs.  All of these items can be used in Caitlin and Joey's house after the wedding.  :-)

The next wedding update probably won't be for some time......It's back to Nursing school for Caitlin, and back to work for me.  The next long stretch of time should be over Spring Break in late March.  Stay tuned!

SAVE THE DATE CARDS

 

Caitlin, Grandma Betty, Vickie and I worked on Save The Date cards.  It was quite an accomplishment to narrow down the wedding list to a manageable number.  We hand wrote 160 addresses, with the hopes of keeping the reception at around (no more than) 300 guests!  In doing so, a decision was made to hold an Open House for the families of the Church that Joey and Caitlin attend (Possibly the weekend after their wedding).   If we invited them all, the reception would be upwards to 500 plus!  YIKES!

 Here's Caitlin getting ready to pick the stamps to embellish the cards and envelopes we ordered online from Shutterfly.

 

Front of the envelope, which she put a corner stamp on to jazz it up!

 

The back of the envelope couldn't go untouched!  Isn't this a pretty stamp?  I bet she uses this one for the invitations, also!

And of course, she couldn't let the free white space go untouched .....Adding this little scroll to the card tied it all together!  10 hours and 160 cards later.....They are ready to be mailed!  YAY!

Lasting Impressions

 Today Grandma Betty, Aunt Sue, Caitlin and I went to Lasting Impressions to set the table with the stuff we've made and rented for the reception.  This first picture shows an organza chair bow, tableware and flower arrangements.  All of our eggplant/plum colors match!  Yea....since we've purchased some and rented some....The eggplant is a tough color to match!

 Here's another view....In this picture, you can see the gold table number holder and the menu easel near the candles.

 We are still deciding how to do the napkin....on the plate, under the plate, beside the plate or in the glass as shown here.  I think Caitlin needs to look at some pictures on the web and find a design that she absolutely loves and go with it!

Here's another view of the menu and table number holders.

Tomorrow is another day full of wedding things to check off of our list.  We will spend the majority of the day working on the save the date cards.  Grandma Betty wants to hand write all the addresses....She says it is tacky to stick a label on it........If I had my way, we would be sticking a label on it!.......This time, Grandma wins!

BRUISED HANDS!

I had time to make 2 more centerpieces.  Could have made 3 of them but the palm of my hand feel bruised from cutting all the stems!.......But worth the aches and pains......Caitlin and Joey will have a beautiful reception!  Less than 9 months till the wedding!

ON CHRISTMAS BREAK--WORKING ON WEDDING STUFF!

 

We made 5 more flower arrangements (centerpieces) for the tables at the reception! (10 more to go!).....We took a break and decided to start the bride's bouquet.  This picture shows the start.....flowers were placed on a 5 inch round ball.  Caitlin wants the round look with stems showing........ 

 And......Here's the finished bride's bouquet!  The hardest part was cutting the stems.....Our hands were tired after making 5 centerpieces, so Joey helped out with the cutting!  Thanks Joey!....By the way, Caitlin made this bouquet....pretty talented girl, isn't she?!

 Caitlin chose this set for the Unity Candle ......Most likely, we will make some type of flower arrangement to add to the table where this candle set will be placed.....tying in the eggplant/plum, copper and ivory colors together.

 

I forgot to post this from our last shopping expedition!  It is a 16 x 24 picture frame with the letter T for the kids' married name.  This frame will be displayed on an easel as the guests first enter the reception hall....near a table where the name cards and seating arrangements will be located.  There are four spaces for their engagement pictures.....which can later be replaced with wedding pictures and hung in their home!

CHRISTMAS 2010

2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER!

2nd annual Christmas dinner out with Caitlin and Joey's family!

MORE WEDDING SHOPPING!

 Grandma Bettty is buying these table menu holders for the reception.  They will look beautiful with plum menu cards on them!

 

 We found these programs at Michael's Craft Store for half price (about 45 cents per program)!  Woot!

Caitlin found this set at Hobby Lobby....The 40% discount coupons sure did come in handy on a few of these items (Thanks to Grandma Betty)!!!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES 2010

 

This year, we had a special helper making the Christmas cookies!

REMEMBER THESE FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS?

Caitlin and I made eight of these today!  15 done in all......15 more to go! 

Aunt Caitlin and Nevaeh have a special relationship!

SWEET FACES!

Aunt Caitlin and Nevaeh......Such beautiful sweet faces with sweet personalities to match! 

BEADED INSPIRATION!

 This is the beaded inspiration found on Etsy.com......But we don't want to pay the high prices....so off to JoAnn Fabric store for the half off sale on all their beads!!!!!

We bought these beads and copper colored wire to wrap toasting glasses, serving set, and the unity candle.  We will post the finished products when we make them.  Most likely we will have to wait until the Christmas vacation for more time on wedding decorations!

TREAT TABLE AND HEAD TABLE

 This candle set will be at the head table in front of the bride and groom.  When the wedding is over, the kids can take this to their new home!

These two sets of jars will be used at the treat table.  Once again, after the wedding, the kids can use these decorative jars in their home!

COUNTDOWN- 10 MONTHS AWAY- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

HOLIDAY/WEDDING BUY- 40 BOXES OF WHITE LIGHTS AT $1.00 PER BOX (100 COUNT.)!  WOOT!

 Vases!  These were 1/2 price at Krogers!!!!  We are thinking these would look good with greenery at the entrance of the church or rececption. Not sure yet, but couldn't pass up the great buy.....plus Caitlin and Joey (and maybe this Mom! :-)) can use them in the house after the wedding!

THE FLOWER GIRL IS 8 MONTHS OLD!

Auntie Caitlin and Nevaeh.  The future flower girl is 8 months old already!!!!

WINTER QUARTER AND GRADUATION APPLICATION!

This week marked the light at the end of a VERY long tunnel for Caitlin.  She met with her academic adviser, signed up for Winter quarter, which starts in January......and....this weekend, she is filling out the forms for graduation and ordering her cap and gown!!!!!  YEA  .....May will be here before you know it!

By the way...I need to brag a bit.....Caitlin got 100% on her medsurge midterm!  WOW....such a brainiac!

SAVE THE DATE CARDS

The Save the Date cards were ordered online at Shutterfly.com   Caitlin got a 40% off coupon in e-mail, plus an additional 20% discount when ordered.  We got 200 cards/envelopes for under $100.00!   Once we have the guest list done...(hopefully by Thanksgiving), we can mail these out!

ONE YEAR FROM TODAY....

In exactly one year from today, Caitlin will be a married woman!  THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!!!

THE CAKE!

 

Our evening started by trying on the wedding dress again.....can't wait to share the full view with you....but for now only a sneak peek!

 

Our cake shopping started and stopped with the only place that Caitlin would entertain.....all of our cakes have come from this little shop since before Caitlin was born!  The cake is FABULOUS!....and only $2.00 a slice.   The cake booths at the bridal shows had prices starting at $3.50 and up.  Grandma and Grandpa Richards are buying the cake as a gift for them!  Wow!  What a nice gift!

 

And this is what she picked out!  SIMPLY ELEGANT! 

 

We ended our evening with a nice dinner!

COLLEGE DAYS!

Caitlin's last year of nursing school is in full swing!  Wedding takes a back seat to school for now.....Thinking Thanksgiving and Christmas break will be the next big blocks of time to focus on the wedding plans.  Good thing we had over a year to plan!  Soooo much to still do!

HOME FOR THE WEEKEND!

Caitlin was home for the weekend (last year in College!) and so was baby Nevaeh (and Courtney)!  All my girls together this weekend.....what more could a mom (grandma) ask for!

5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Awww! Joey is sooooo sweet.  They have been dating for 5 years now!

FLOWER GIRL

Our flower girl is 5 months old already!

TASTE TESTING

We had a taste testing at the caterer's this evening.  The food was FABULOUS!  The menu is picked and the deposit paid.  Whew!  The hardest part is done.....now onto picking out a cake......so many choices!

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY, CAITLIN!

Hard to believe that my baby girl is officially an adult now!  Where did the time go?!  I am enjoying this phase of your life.  Thank you for allowing me to share in it.  You are a special girl.  I love you very much!

Mom

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS