My bachelorette party was awesome!!

I had the absolute best time over my bachelorette party weekend! It was one of those weekends that once it was over I was ready to relive it all over again!!

We all took off from our respective starting points around 1:00 on Friday. Road trips as they are, usually interesting. Between traffic and conversations that go on over a 5 hour drive, you are ready to get out of the car and have a drink when you arrive at your destination! Kelly and I left Brookings and had a pit stop in Mankato. I needed a couple things for my bridesmaid gifts and I had already bought out the Sioux Falls store. From there we headed north to Minneapolis to pick up Amy, my personal attendant. She had flown in earlier in the day and her mom had picked her up at the airport and they had spent the day together at the Mall of America.

We were on our way and only had about 20 miles to go. We all arrived in Hudson around 6:30 or so showered up, took the bachelorette party oath and headed out. We went out to eat and opened gifts. Not sure why, but I totally didn’t think too much about bachelorette party gifts, and what usually comes in them…lets just say it wasn’t fruit baskets! One of the most memorable gift was Willy…you will see him in the pictures!

We ate and took a recommendation from our waitress to hit up a little bar on the corner that sells all drinks, 2 for 1. EVERYTHING was 2 for 1. You ordered a $4 beer, you got 2. You ordered a red bull vodka for $7 you got 2. Shots, other mixed drinks, everything. We were all getting to feeling pretty good, played a few songs and started introducing Willy to the crowd. He was a dude magnet. More guys wanted to sign, touch, feel, and play with that thing than I would have ever imagined! We headed to bar #2…Ellie’s. This was more of a dance type bar so we kept drinking and started dancing…and dancing…and dancing. Willy was an exceptional dancer and made his way around the crowd making friends all over. The night ended around 2, and back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow!

We woke up around 9 or so ready to go for the day. But as we looked outside expecting to see hot sunny weather for our day on the river, we were very disappointed to find clouds, rain showers, and very little sun. Temp was holding steady at 65. Ohh going to be a hot one! We ran around and did a couple things. Picked up beer, a few things at Wal-Mart and some pizza. No one was in too big of hurry to get to the river too soon. But once was all ate and got changed, we decided that we didn’t drive 5 hours to sit in a hotel room and we were floating down that river…RAIN OR SHINE!

We did it. The river was…refreshing. But the more we drank, it seemed like the water got warmer. Perfect. About ½ way down there was a large sandbar that we stopped and met some people. I took my first beer bong and we picked up 2 people who’s group had left them earlier. A little ways down another sandbar and yet another group of people parting…so we stopped. Here we met some really nice people yet again. I also received some good marriage advice from a gentleman that seemed to have the world figured out. Trust, communication, and honesty.

By the end of the river we had lost Bridget and Betty at one of the rapids, had ran out of beer, and we were all freezing cold! We got done, pick up the missing, and headed back to the hotel to sit in the hot tub. It was grrrrrreat! Hungry and still wanting to have some fun, we showered up and headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for supper…at11:00 pm. We ate and Kelly, Amy, and I tried to head back downtown. We couldn’t do it, we were tired, hung-over, but still sobering up, and still a little drunk. It was time to call it a weekend. Made for an ok drive home. Wasn’t hung over…just tired.

To everyone that came with to celebrate: Thank you so much for taking a weekend out of your summer to hang out with me. I had the best time ever and would love to make it a yearly party. Hopefully we can pick a warmer weekend! But I really had so much fun. Thank you all for the gifts and begin troopers to float down that river on a 73 degree day! I love you all and cant wait to celebrate again at the wedding!!

Bachelor/Bachelorette Party – THIS WEEKEND!!!

Pack your bags everyone, it’s time to party!!!

Randy heads out tonight for lake Shakatan to camp for the next 3 days and my crew heads out tomorrow at noon for a weekend at Apple River WI.

Sounds like Randy will have a couple campers for people to crash in, several boats for some days in the sun, and a grilling competition for Saturday night. We plan to arrive in WI tomorrow evening, change clothes and head downtown for dinner and drinks. We are all dressing up, everyone wearing black dresses and I will be wearing white. Should be a fun night, but not too much fun because we want to start down the river around 11:00 Saturday morning. It is a 3 hour ride, so highly recommended to do it twice…OK!

I cant guarantee anything from Randy, but I plan on taking some pictures…check back next week!

37 Days People!

No one else is probably as aware…but this wedding is in 37 days!

I am not freaking out…yet, but I think it is coming. Last Saturday I went to Sioux Falls with Emily and was able to get a bunch of stuff done. We started at PaperWerks and started designing out the program. I didn’t have all of the information ready for it, but I have heard so many stories about putting the programs together the week of the wedding or printing them out the night before. I don’t want to do that, so hopefully by starting them a little early, I think, I will be able to catch the mistakes, and have them ready to go. One thing we are working on to go inside the program is a meet the wedding party insert. I figured that we have a lot of people in this wedding party and not too many people know much about the people we hang out with or how we all met. So we are working on those little details.

We also stopped by the French Door picked up bridesmaid dresses for everyone out of town, stopped at hobby lobby and bought more ribbon, target to pick up a couple of small glass bowls, and the mall to shop for jewelry to go with the dress. Ended up back in Brookings around 5 or 6 and we were exhausted. It was a lot to do in a day and I have a lot to go.

But the little things are starting to come together. Napkins are ordered, tags for digital cameras are ordered, suits are ordered, lime green garter ordered, and we are getting going on gifts. I am working to get flowers finalized, place settings for family and wedding party settled, working on the design for the unity candle, and getting the kissing balls for the flower girls ordered. We have been busy and still have a lot to do. Next week…slide show.

Its coming together people!

Check, check, check

Today was productive. Between yesterday and today, we ordered the ties for the groomsman, ushers, dads, and Randy. It took a little time finding several lime green ties that all matched but not too matchy matchy. Here is what we decided on:

Ushers:

Groomsman:
Randy:

Ring Bearer:

I also finalized details with the videographer, sent our engagement announcement to the Brookings Register, and booked our piano player. I love crossing stuff off the list!!

New webiste to check out!

One of the things on my to do list is to create photo cards for the reception. Instead of having disposable cameras on all of the tables, we are choosing to have people take their own pictures with their own cameras and upload them to a shared website. I kind of thought that so many people have digital cameras these days, and so many people have told me that the pictures they got off of their disposable cameras were crap.

So we are going to give this a whirl. I am going to have photo cards printed and they will be placed at everyone's plate. This way people will know right away to take pictures and plan on sharing them with us after the wedding. The card will also have uploading instructions.

The website is up and running: http://thedeckerschillingwedding.shutterfly.com/
I have pictures from my recent bridal shower and will be adding pictures from the bachelorette party when we get back. Keep the website in mind at the wedding and take pictures and check back to see what others have uploaded!

To do list

This weekend I sat down and tried to think of everything that I need to do before the wedding. As you can see from the counter on the side, I am down to 46 days until the wedding. Time to get my poop in a group!

A few things on the to do list:
place cards
programs
rehearsal dinner invitations
newspaper announcement
ceremony details - readings, music, etc.
suits/ties
decorate candles for reception
decide on other reception decorations
finalize details with the Days Inn
gifts for our attendants
get a marriage license
rings
music for the reception

and on, and on, and on.

I quickly have realized that there are more things that I have to get done than I thought. Or I am realizing that I have less time to get everything done than I thought. It doesn't seem like that long ago this wedding was 6 months away, or even 4 months away, but we are down to 6 weeks. The excitement is building but so is the stress. Each day I am trying to get a few more things done, but I also seem to add a few more things to the list. Right now as a type I am thinking...hmm are we going to have a unity candle...probably. I guess I can add buy a unity candle to my list.

Bridesmaid dresses in

Received a call late Friday afternoon...bridesmaid dresses are in. The timing is perfect. I am planning on heading to Sioux Falls Saturday to meet with our videographer, start working on programs and run a couple other errands. I can swing by the French Door and pick up the dresses for my bridesmaids that live to far away to have the French Door do their alterations and then get their dresses to them next weekend at the bachelorette party.


Not only did the dresses come in, but my veil and head piece are in too. Now I just need to find some jewelry before my next fitting and we will see how everything comes together.

Happy 4th!!!

Happy Independence Day Everyone!!!!

Last night we headed from Bookings up to Lake Poinsett. Hit up a live band at one of the bars on lake shore and didn't make it home until 3.

Today the weather is perfect...no wind and no rain. Lets get the boat on the water!! We will be heading to Chester, SD to spend some time with my family.

Have a save and fun day!

RSVPs

Randy waited for me to get home from the gym, as he had a hunch that there might be something fun and exciting waiting for us in the mailbox. He was right! Our very first RSVP had arrived!! The honor goes to…Grandma Ingalls & Kenny. One of my co-workers handed me his at our usual Tuesday morning meeting, but I put it in the mailbox and sent it to myself at home. Dumb...yes, maybe, but I figured I paid for the stamps, might as well have the post office earn their $.28!

Today when we checked the mail at lunch I waited with excitement as Randy opened the mailbox. Tucked away between the bills, weekly newspaper, and other junk were 11 bright green posts cards. I don’t know that I have ever been so excited to get the mail! As I fingered thru each post card I read the name out loud and proudly announced that each person checked YES they would be coming to our wedding.

So, adding these 11 RSVPs to our 2 guests from yesterday, and the grand total for wedding guests is 28. I think that is a pretty good start for only having the invitations out for 3 days!

Keep em coming people!

Invitations are out!

We finished them up this morning and they are officially in the mail. We are probably waiting on 10 addresses or so from friends that we have lost contact with in the past few years. But the majority of them are out. I think we sent out just under 200 so we should have a good turnout for the wedding.

Not too often do I hit a goal that I set for myself, but I wanted these out no later than this weekend and they are out. I am so relieved to have that done. Now or never. People are invited, this party is happening!!

All the invites headed to the post office!