before, during & after the vows.

joseph and i are saying 'i do' at the older [of the two] st. joseph's catholic church in downtown dexter. the beautiful church was where both his parents and my parents said 'i do' many moons ago. due to it's old-fashioned appearance, not much decorating will be done, except for a blushing bride and handsome groom at the altar. my childhood dream of being married where my parents were married is now reality - i will be walking down the aisle, arm in arm with my mother&father, wearing the same viel my mother wore twenty-eight years ago, towards my future [jaw-droppingingly attractive] husband-to-be. six lovely ladies and one handsome dude will be on my side during the ceremony - julie, cassi, erika, jamie, stephanie, carlie & sean [he will not be wearing a dress, but maybe open toed shoes. kidding.]. the ladies will be wearing a beautiful cornflower matte satin, strapless, floor-length bridesmaid dress. they will be carrying a tight mini bouquet of white gerbera daisies while i carry a simple bouquet of the original white shasta daisy.

the girls'    mine

on the other side of the altar will be seven incredibly handsome groomsmen - drew, mike, nick, tim, david, cj and justin. we haven't chose their get-up, but we are thinking black tuxes with a faint silver vest and white tie. joseph will be wearing a black tux with white vest and white tie [to look different, of course]. after the short, but sweet, ceremony, and that first kiss as husband&wife, we will exit the church and take our first pictures with our amazing photographer, adam czap, in the exact spot my parents had their first pictures as husband&wife on may15,1982.

when the pictures are complete, we will hop aboard a bright red 40-passenger trolley with our bridal party&their guests, headed towards grandma&grandpa ottoman's farm for another photo shoot. jello shots and beer will also be aboard, as well as a beer bong that was used for justin&alli's wedding in o7. the main goal for the trolley [other than to have a rockin'-good time] will be to avoid any spillage on the white-lacey dress and to remain as sober as can be as to not appear trashed when we arrive at the reception hall. how classy would that be?

our reception hall is at the comfort inn&suites. the banquet hall is detached from the hotel so we will not have to worry about wedding crashers. the wedding planner at the comfort inn will be doing setup&cleanup, catering and providing the booze [liquor, beer & wine!]. i will not be doing any decorating or cleaning up on the big day - very important for the easily stressed bride. the reception will begin at five pm [the wedding party will be fashionably late, i'm sure] and last until one am. the dj is booked. joseph's aunt is making our cake for our wedding present [and my grandma&grandpa dziurgot's cake topper will add a something old touch].

now onto the more simple things that have proven to be the major stressers - an example, place cards. joseph and i decided to be uniquely different by giving each table a name based upon a location or object that is meaningful to us - examples are fort benning, shoreview drive, mastercraft, labatt blue, the big house, metro airport, crooked lake, waterloo road and the farm. i've been tossing around ideas of how to do the place cards and table numbers; the simpler and less time-consuming for me, the better. i found these place cards through etsy by lamawork's; i want them. joe and i aren't into doing favors, but these would be fantastically perfect. simple&classy and i would be hitting two birds with one stone. nothing better than that.

after our plated dinners, my new husband and i will be making our way to the dance floor to share our first dance as a newly married couple. we have so many choices... only you can love me this way by keith urban, i just call you mine by martina mcbride or i can't help falling in love with you by ingrid michaelson. the three songs match well with our relationship and feelings towards one another - i wish we could use certain parts of each song and combine it into one. father&daughter dance will be next; i am more nervous about this dance than with joseph. my dad and i are very close and i'm his first child and only daughter. per his request, "let's dance to a more upbeat song so i don't get all blubbery." isn't she lovely by stevie wonder or have i told you lately by rod stewart are the two choices, thus far. joseph and his mother will more than likely dancing to what a wonderful world... he has not made a decision yet, nor do i think he wants that responsibility. hopefully these decisions are made in due time. so until then, the songs will remain on repeat until that spark flies.

116 days to go... it will be here before i know it.