I'm getting a quote from the Lemp Mansion on a dinner there. That would be way cool, but I'm trying to figure out if I can get them to either give us a price break, or give us extras since we won't have an open bar. (4 hours of open bar is included in their package quote). So we'll see what they come back with. In other news, I got the contract last night for the Church. The time isn't pre-set for us, just any time before 2PM. I'm going to sit tight for a week or so, and leave open the possibility of doing an afternoon reception. So far of the available places, Dad found 2 that were available in the afternoon, and then the Lemp is open in the evening. So if things don't work out with the Lemp, I'd rather do an earlier wedding so we can have the whole afternoon for the reception. If they do work out with Lemp, I'd rather have a little bit later wedding so I'll have time to get gussied up. I've gotten feedback from all of the major players on the guest list. We've got a grand total of 262 on the list, but I'd honestly be surprised if we got 150. In part that's because I've added "& Guest" to any unmarried person's name, and in part because roughly half are from out of town. I'm planning for 175, we'll see what we get!
Hope all is well!
Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 7:15 AM

 
Hooray! I heard back from Deacon Tom Sullivan today. He's in the same order of priests that my brother is, and is going to be ordained a priest at the end of May. As long as he gets the okee dokee from Fr Bill Casey, the head of the order, he's agreed to be our officiant. He sent a very nice response:

Dear Cheryl, thank you soooooooooo much for such a wonderful gift to witness
to your and Chris's marriage. I would be very happy to help out as much as I
can. I will have to find out what my assignment will be and if I can get
away for the 11th but I do not for-see any problems but I have to place
everything into the hands of my superiors and await their OK. so yes I would
be very happy to officiate and I will ask for the permissions ASAP // Deacon
Tom

Happy, happy, joy, joy! It may still fall through, but for now I'm going to check off getting an officiant from my list, and worry about the things I know for a fact aren't done.

Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 7:10 AM

 
Minor thing - there's now a picture of Chris & I on the official web page. Becky took it of us at Yosemite.
Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 3:13 PM

 
We're official, the date is December 11, 2004 at St Cecilia's. Hooray! Now to go change the website at The Knot so that no one shows up at midnight. Unfortunately I was running and didn't set the wedding time,but I'm supposed to get paperwork in the mail in the next couple of days, so we'll sort it out then. Wooohoo! Now I'm only 11 months behind on my task list! By the way, cool thing numero dos is that it's also Tammie's birthday. :)
Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 6:53 AM

 
Oops, one more thing - starting to set up the official wedding page over at "The Knot". This will eventually be a place that people can go for details when they (like me!) lose the wedding invitation under the sofa or leave it safely in the car while they fly to St Louis. Not sure about the design on this yet, so many to choose from. It will probably change 100 times before I start telling people where it is.
Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 8:24 AM

 
Yea! I talked to Charlyn last night and the two open dates for St Cecilia's are Dec 11 and Jan 8. After talking with Bill, he can make December 11, 2004. So I'll call her back tonight and confirm. December 11 is better just from a weather/travel viewpoint. Odds of an ice or snow storm are much less in December (although not impossible!) Anyway, Score! :) I also talked to my friend Christina last night, and she can hook me up with discounts on wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, veils, etc. Double score!
- posted by cam @ 7:46 AM

 
Why a Blaaaaahhhggg?
Chris and I got engaged on April 2, 2004, in a typically us fashion. I was in the dining room, perusing the takeout menu from the local restaurant trying to find something without meat in it (lent and all). Chris was rifling through his Timbuktu bag.
“Here’s the film from the trip” he said, laying it next to my hand.
“Thanks” I said putting my hand on the film.
“Do you want to get married?”
“Sure” I replied, trying to decide between the tuna wrap and the tuna salad.
“No…Do…You…Want…To….Get … Married?”
I looked down at the film, and realized there was also a ring box next to it.

And voila, the journey was on. And since those of you who I've given a link to this blog are the ones who need to know details, I figured this way everyone could stay up to date.

So the next step is to try to decide the whens and wheres. I'm hoping to get married at St Cecilia's Church in St Louis. This one is kind of special because my Mom & Dad got married there, as did my Dad's Mom & Dad. I'm a legacy, woohoo! I feel so debutante! Anyway, St Cecilia's ties in nicely with my having Chris's Mom's ring for my engagement ring. Chris and I both like the tradition that these represent. For a brief, breathless moment, I thought I was going to be able to get married at St Cecilia's on Dec 18th, which would fit all of the important schedules well. So many good things about that, but alas, another bride beat me to it. So the plan is tonight, to get in touch with Charlyn at St Cecilia's, and establish another date. As soon as this happens, we'll be able to move forward on all of the rest of the plans.

Hopefully more news tomorrow AM!

Cheryl
- posted by cam @ 9:41 AM