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So... I logged into theknot.com today to look at the "50 Photographs You Have to Have" (me and my mom... a picture of my bouquet - no way! - total waste of time!). While I was logged in, a little personalized part of the site popped up and told me that there are 222 days till our wedding. I like that number! It's smaller than 365, but big enough to (hopefully) encompass ALL that we have to do.

The weekend before last, I spent a LOT of time on weddingwire.com, a ratings-based wedding vendor site, and I made a list of 3-5 vendors from each category (florist, baker, DJ, caterer) and we got in contact with a bunch of them via email. Since then, there's been a flurry of emails back and forth and we've finally started to set appointments with the vendors. This week, we have two cake tastings and a catering tasting. We're looking at as many fall-inspired elements as we can find, and I'm REALLY excited for the cake tasting on Wednesday. We're trying 3 cakes: 1-Chocolate w/ Raspberry Filling, 2-Hazelnut w/ Hazelnut Chocolate Filling, 3-Spice w/Cream Cheese filling. I am determined to have a spice cake layer, and the others sound amazing, too! Our photographer (who is also planning her wedding) told us that you get treated like royalty when you go in for tastings, so I'm excited for that little bit of pampering!

Speaking of our photographer, J and I are SO lucky! I guess, though, that I really shouldn't call her "our" photographer yet because we cannot decide on what package we want, but we have totally decided on the person, so I suppose that counts for something. Anyway, not only is she incredibly talented and ridiculously within our price range, but she is also the sweetest and most professional vendor. Honestly, the most important thing I can say about our meeting with her is that after we left (my parents came, too!) all of us were smiling, excited, and couldn't wait to work with this photographer.

It was important to me that I felt excited after the meeting, because what I've discovered since my last post, where I ruminated on things as simple as words(!), is that a wedding is a business. And a weird business at that, because it will only be in operation for one day. So, whereas in my professional life when I'm learning something new or stretching my comfort level, it's useful later, I'm not so sure I can say the same about all this trial-by-firing off emails wedding planning stuff. I'm certainly learning a lot, but I can't for the life of me think of when I might use this stuff later!

Thankfully, here's the checklist for now:

Reception/Ceremony location - check!
Officiant - check! (can't wait to tell you more about this!)
Photographer - check(ed out)!
Other Vendors.... coming along!

Also... I'm pretty sure I've settled on my dress. Not being one for shopping in person, and being one for LUCKILY stumbling across a TEA-LENGTH DRESS with SLEEVES (both things I wanted... in one dress... a dress I can [sort of] afford?!?!) as I was browsing online in January, I'm pretty sure I'm ready to take measurements and make an order. I may make at least one trip to Bridal Row in Reading to look at other options, but I'm happy that my dress is out there (in theory, at least!)

I am hopeful that by the beginning of May we will have all our major vendors signed, but we'll see how these meetings progress. I'm also excited for an upcoming trip to the library to look at old editions of Martha Stewart Weddings Fall.

Between now and my next update, I will leave a little wedding planning inspiration for you to peep - from Queen Martha herself! (Photo from http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/wheat-wreath?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/fall-good-things-for-weddings#slide_2)