Suddenly Feeling More Real!

I'm off this week, so we've been doing some much needed housework, as well as some wedding planning and research. Yesterday I called several places that were in the running for my reception hall and asked some final questions. Kirk called his mom to try to get a more detailed guestlist for his family. (There's so many of them that it's hard to keep track!!!)

Also, I've had this thought niggling in the back of my head, and I finally decided to address it. I'd asked my half-sister, Vanessa, to stand up in my wedding as a bridesmaid. After the bridal expo I went to on Sunday, though, and some of the things my dad told me on our last conversation...I was beginning to have second thoughts.

Here's the problem. My half-sister is 20 years old and very young/immature. She's living with her boyfriend, but my dad and his wife still support her...up to and including paying for her gas. Sorry, but once you move out of the house, you sort of lose the right to expect them to take care of these things. She's hard, if not impossible, to reach. She's always got money problems. Some of the important duties for a bridesmaid include helping to plan the wedding, buying your dress for that day, and in her case, buying her plane ticket. And with my dad telling me that he was having difficulty making ends meet because he was supporting her...and hearing that she took a $3000 loan and blew the money inside a week on her boyfriend...and that she was now behind on those payments...I really started second guessing myself. I don't need that kind of stress surrounding my big day. I don't need to worry that she can't afford her gown, or she may not be able to pay for her plane ticket. So I'm talking to my dad today and letting him know that although I'd like her to be a part of the wedding, maybe this capacity is the wrong one for her. I'll give her a reading...this way if she's there or not, it's ok. And she can wear whatever she wants...so there's no additional expenses.

With that being decided firmly in my head, I asked another of my close friends from high school, Suzan, if she'd be my bridesmaid. She accepted. She's dying to introduce me to her new guy and to meet Kirk...who she's heard so much about, but not met. And she's offered to take some engagement pictures for us....for free! So stay tuned. I'll post them as I get them.

Today I also reserved the reception venue. We'll be having it at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook! I'm so excited about this. It's classy, it's elegant...and it's reasonably priced! Here are some pictures that my sister took when checking out the facility for me.

So now I feel as though I've accomplished something pretty major with the wedding planning. We've got our bridal party picked out.

This is my sister, my maid-of-honor, and her boyfriend, Rich...who will also be a groomsman.

This is Derek, Kirk's nephew and god-son. He's our little ring bearer...he'll be up and walking by then.

This is Gary, Kirk's brother and best man...holding his son, Derek.

The girl in the purple top here is my friend Suzan, who will be standing up as a bridesmaid.

These are Ben and Amber. They will also be standing up. They're some of our closest friends since moving to Florida. Amber works with me...Ben used to work with Kirk and I.
This is Ben, Kirk, and Mike...during one of our 4th of July extravaganzas. Mike will also be a groomsman at the wedding. He got married on my birthday this year.

This is Natalie, my matron-of-honor...with her daughter, Sienna, my flower girl.

The only couple not pictured are Kirk's Sister, Laura...and her husband, Mark. For some reason I can't find my pictures of them. It's just another hint that I need to clean my house. But in the meantime, now I feel like I've finally gotten something accomplished with our wedding plans.

Oh, and I think I've decided to march down the aisle to Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring. My sister says she knows an excellent flautist who can play along with the professional organist. I think it's gonna sound amazing!

Yup! I'm starting to get excited.