The Final Countdown

Just over a week to go until Sara's Big Day!

By Sara Cardace

Wow. We've got just a little over a week to go to the wedding and this is all beginning to feel so unreal. Things have really come together over the last week or so, so I'm hoping this last week of preparations won't be too much of a nightmare. I know what you're thinking - Good luck with that, right? - but I actually think we might have it under control.

I actually went into hyper-productive mode after my last blog post. In the past week John and I have contacted all the stragglers who hadn't sent in their RSVPs yet, booked the soundsystem rental (begrudgingly), coordinated all the people who are contributing to our cookie-favor table (we need something like a thousand cookies total!), mapped out our seating chart, booked hair appointments for my sisters, mom and I (we're going to Scott J Salon, on the advice of a friend), confirmed the rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch reservations (here and here, respectively), finalized the catering menu with Chef Rossi, bought baskets, hand-towels, and travel-sized items to spruce up the bathrooms, and ordered a bunch of white delphiniums (the only fresh element involved with our branchy centerpieces) to arrive next Wednesday. I also went with two friends for my second gown fitting. Whew.

Actually, since we were so productive last week--under duress, I confess--there's actually not all that much to do. Still, since it was weighing on me and I didn't want to have any more of those sleepless nights, we set up a schedule...

Today I'm writing up an agenda of all the events for the weekend that John's going to print up at work so we can send them out to our immediate families tonight. John's also calling Reverend Jesse to see if he can stay for the reception (his response will affect the guest count) and dropping off my favorite old pair of nude heels to get fixed. (The awesome silver ones I found at Lord & Taylor were vetoed by everyone in the room when I tried them on with my dress.) Tonight we're finalizing the seating chart and going through all the songs we've been collecting to come up with a must-play list to give to our DJ friends.

Keep in mind that both of us are still working, and this is all happening in one day! The rest of our tasks (finalize rentals, pick boutonniere for John, buy cookie bags, design and print escort and table-number cards, finish our vows, confirm final guest count with caterers, send in all the outstanding deposits, etc) are spread out over the course of the next ten days, which isn't too bad. Except that I just remembered that I somehow have to find time to squeeze in all the thank you notes that's been on my to-do list since the shower.

Lord help me! Think good thoughts.