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Yesterday I had a temporary panic attack when I looked at the calendar and realized that it was the exact 8 week out mark until I am officially Mrs. McBrayer!  While there is nothing I can tell you to avoid having the same mini panic attack, hopefully these next points will help alleviate the stress that could follow.

Here are just a few things that I decided were the most important to get done in order to be able to enjoy the time we have left in our engagement:

• Invitations in the mail – exactly 8 weeks out – make sure invitations are mailed. 
• Touch base with your vendors to set up appointments for final preparations. 
• Meeting with coordinator  -  I am meeting with my friend who is coordinating our wedding and venue contact next week to go over everything and make sure we are all on the same page.  We will also figure out the final number of tables so the florist can also be prepared as well.
• Meet with florist – make sure everyone is covered – mothers’ flowers, ushers, guest book attendant, readers, anyone else that plays a part in  your wedding.
• Bridal gown fitting – make final preparations to have your final fitting and arrangements to have your dress pressed/steamed before the big day.
• Bridal Portraits – not a requirement, but something fun to do if you want to display your picture at the reception.
• Hair appointments – talk to your stylist and make your appointments to do your color touch ups and trim and to do a trial run of your hair and make-up.  I am using my bridal portrait day as my trial run.
• Rehearsal Dinner – send out invitations and make sure everything is on target to run smoothly.  If your future in-laws are handling, let them handle it.  If you are doing it yourself (like we are) then do not be afraid to ask for help.  I asked a couple of my aunts to handle the day of prep for us.  You will go crazy otherwise:)
• Meet with your Minister/Officiant – we are doing a few counseling sessions with our Minister, so be sure and get those scheduled if you need to.  You will also go through and discuss the outline of the ceremony during this time.
• Programs – after your meeting with your minister you can start laying out how the program will flow and get them printed.
• Bachelorette Party- if you aren’t going on a formal bachelorette party, then just plan a fun night out with friends.  You will need it!
• Thank You Notes – have a plan for thank you notes – get them personalized or printed before the wedding so you have them ready for when you get back from the honeymoon.
• ENJOY – have a few date nights where wedding talk is banned.  Just enjoy being an engaged couple and relax!

I hope these few hints keep you from having a meltdown!  There are wedding checklists out there to help you keep it all straight.  The Knot offers a personalized one with your wedding date.  Just remember to breathe and in the end you will be married and that is what is important!

Happy Planning!

-Ty

Brandon and I at our last shower

To show our thankfulness to those hosting the showers we have been getting each of our hostesses a small token of our appreciation.  It does not have to be anything big, just something that you know they will enjoy.

Here are a few ideas for hostess gifts:

• Cute tote bags – I recently got my 2 hostesses the cutest little tote bags at Peggy’s Gifts on Clay Avenue.  Luckily they are my neighbor and have TONS of cute ideas perfect for hostess gifts:)  One of the bags was even insulated, so it was perfect for the mommy to be to tote bottles, etc.
• Mani/Pedi gift card- This is something that women cannot get enough of, so you can’t go wrong!  An hour in the mani/pedi chair can make you feel pampered and revitalized.
• Entertainment ware – One of my hostesses had recently moved into a new home, so we got her some fun glasses for entertaining from Pier One.  They were cute and inexpensive.
• Stationery- A gal can never have too many cute note cards!  If you can think far enough ahead, have them personalized with their name or monogram.

Remember, it really does not matter how big the gift is.  Just that you thought enough to get them something they will enjoy.  Something they wouldn’t do for themselves.  They are making you feel pampered by hosting your shower, so do the same for them.

Happy Planning!

-Ty

Your wedding color sets the tone from the very beginning when sending out your invitations, to the linens on the tables during the reception.  The start off point is when you choose the color of your bridesmaid dresses.  The dress color you end up with plays a major role in the look and feel of your wedding.

Once you have chosen your girl’s dresses a great way to help in the rest of the planning is to order a fabric swatch.  This fabric swatch can then be taken to your invitation appointment, florist appointment, linen appointment , tuxedo appointment, and so on.  It’s important to know that just as every designer has different styles of dresses, they have different policies when ordering a fabric swatch. 

What you can expect is that fabric swatches typically take anywhere from 1 – 4 weeks to come in. Some designers will not allow swatches to be mailed out until your dress order is sent in to them.  Others have the option to go online yourself and place the swatch order without going through a retailer, like Dessy. 

When your swatch comes in remember that your dresses will be cut off a different dye-lot and may vary slightly from the dye-lot used for your dresses.  This is because silk fabric contains variances in shading and is completely normal. 

Having a fabric swatch can be so helpful.  Just check with your dress retailer to find out the best way to go about ordering yours.

~Jenni

The entire Jim Hjelm Spring 2010 bridesmaid collection will be at Twirl Scottsdale this weekend, plus the brand new bridal line by JLM, Blush. We are thrilled to be launching Blush by JLM at Twirl Chandler, and are excited to be able to showcase the bridal gowns this weekend in Scottsdale. The line is beautiful and what makes it more exciting – thre dresses are incredibly affordable.

Andrea, our guru from Jim Hjelm in New York, will be here to help our brides as well. Call (480.221.1222) or email (info@twirlscottsdale.com) us to make an appointment Friday, January 8 through Sunday, January 10.

Here are some of the styles we’ll have for Jim Hjelm and Blush trunk show:

See you this weekend!