Guests

When we first started planning the wedding, we ballpark-ed 120 as a guest number. When we started writing down names and asking family, that number kept going up, but we were hopeful that people might be busy this summer and our number might stay somewhat true to our 120 estimate (and the quoted price for that number - our true motivation). Standard wedding knowledge (read: a number I found on The Knot) says you can expect about 20% of invitees will send regrets. We sent out 156 invitations, and 31 folks declined. Go ahead, grab the calculator. With a 19.87% decline rate, our wedding is pretty darn average! We are happy with the final numbers, and look forward to celebrating with close family and friends without feeling overwhelmed by the number of people.

In finalizing the guest list, I did not anticipate losing any guests, but to our great sadness we lost my grandfather a week and a half ago. I will be forever thankful that I trekked to Maine two weeks ago, despite a lot going on in Boston that weekend, to spend time with my family, accomplish plenty of wedding tasks,  and celebrate my grandparents' 60th anniversary. We ate, laughed, and ate some more in true Baker fashion and, in hindsight, celebrated him out with style. I'm still trying to think of an appropriate way to memorialize my grandfather at the wedding. Grandpa had several thoughts about the wedding, none of which guests will see. We will not elope to save money (though, realistically, it might have been a good idea for the bank account!), there will not be a porta-potty in the middle of the dance floor, and we will not be married by a minister preaching fire and brimstone. We will, however, dance up a storm, have cocktails at 3, and "paint the town red" after the reception. We're less than three weeks out now, and we absolutely can not wait!

Whoa!

ONE MONTH from today we're FINALLY getting married!

And I only have to: write our vows, wrap gifts, finish getting gifts (clearly this list is not in order), decorate vases, paint bottles, finish beer and seal it, make flowers, finish the banner, order some more labels, try on my dress, do the seating chart, finish bothering folks for RSVPs, write thank you notes, create schedules for us and friends, pick up bridesmaid dresses, finish decorations, count candles and holders, make signs, frame photos, create the escort card display, get a marriage license, and finish paying people! Totes doable.

On a totally unrelated note, if anybody comes over for dinner in the next month, bring some scissors and nice handwriting!

Name decision!

Though I've mused on the topic in the blog before, I have made very few decisions about my name up until now. However, it occurred to me that it's getting late in the game to not have a plan as I'll be applying for a marriage license soon. (Really, it hit when I didn't know how to fill in the box on the DJ's form that says "How do you want to be introduced?")

As previously stated, my name rocks. It's full of unique names that may die with me if I change them, and my initials are SNL. The least unique part is my first name, but that's what I'm known as at work, so changing that is out. Vader's name also rocks. And, I want our family to have a collective name where I don't feel like I'm losing part of me. So....

After we're married, I'll be Sarah Nevers Ladner Apollo. Both Ladner and Apollo will be last names*, no hyphen, and if I sign up for a conference or something I'll be "Sarah Ladner Apollo." When people refer to Vader and I, we'll be "The Apollos". Together, we're a united front. Alone, I'm still the me I've always been with a new addition. What do you think?

*When I first mentioned this possibility to Vader, his response was "How will you pronounce that?" He thought I meant literally combine the two names and become Sarah Ladnerapollo. This still makes me laugh.

Checking things off

935 days into our engagement (I cheated and used an online date calculator...shh) there are more than a few projects for the wedding that have been on our radar for a LONG time, but it has never seemed crucial that they happen soon. Now only 42 days from the wedding, it's high time to get things done! So, here are the things we'll finally check off this weekend:

1.) Clear out the Amazon wish list [this has been a year in coming, and (to quote a master) "Boyzo," it feels good to have this done!]

2.) Use up my third Vistaprint Groupon of the wedding planning process. Jury is still out on whether we'll need another.

3.) Finalize the reception space layout with the Black Tie Co. people.

4.) Harrass family and friends as the RSVP deadline encroaches (hint, hint...)

5.) Move closer to having the beer favors ready - nothing like brewing in 90 degree heat!

6.) Possess everything necessary for the candy buffet!

7.) Buy gifts for the little people in the wedding party.

8.) Write vows!

In addition, I've spent this afternoon doing all sorts of silly tasks like designing beer labels, wrapping ribbon around vases, and getting so engrossed in wedding details that I forgot about the laundry. Thankfully, nobody in their right mind wants to hang out in a humid laundry room when it's 95 degrees out.

A special thank you to Mom, who has been putting together rehearsal dinner options and booked a location this afternoon! It sounds like great food, a convenient space, will be a wonderfully relaxing evening before the wedding, AND allows me to check off multiple to dos on the checklist I've been using as we count down!

All in all a productive wedding-planning day, with a lot more to get done tomorrow. Stay cool, New England. And others, I suppose :)