To Do Checklist...

...is getting smaller and smaller each day and I love it! As my previous post mentioned, the stress is building but after the weekend, it's nice knowing that things actually might be under control.

We were able to successfully wait in the (long) line at the Van Nuys Courthouse for what seemed like forever to get our marriage license. I was totally fine until the moment she asked us to raise our hands and declare that everything was correct. I started getting a little teary eyed at that moment along with some warm and fuzzies.

• the official paperwork •

For future brides or people who don't like doing silly games that go hand in hand with bridal showers, I highly suggest doing a jewelry making party! Our "theme" was jewelry making and all of our guests were able to make their own earrings. Some guests didn't make any while some made three or four but either way, it was so perfect having everyone sit around and doing something they would normally not do. I wish I had the hindsight to photo each of the girls with their creations but after a few mimosas, things like that are easily forgotten.

• jewelry preparation •

• some desserts •

• sun, mimosas and girls •

• mother and daughter •

On another note, my lil' sister just bought her first home and we got to visit it this weekend. It was so great to see all the hard work to make it her own. I'm so proud of lil' sis!

Winding into the Stress Season

There is so much to do in a short amount of time. I can't believe where the time has gone. We've had a long eleven month engagement which has helped to get a lot of the stuff done but still, we're less than six weeks away. I know that everything will work itself out, the celebrations will rock and we get to be in the company of all of our loved ones.

This weekend is the weekend where it all just sinks in with just how much still needs to be done. Here is just an idea of this weekend's itinerary and this is only for this weekend!

• Drive down to LA Thursday evening
• Check out LA Flower Market Friday morning by noon
• Head to courthouse to file for wedding license by two
• Head for dress fitting by six
-wind down time in the evening

• Wake up early for make-up trial by ten
• Meet with our husband-wife photographer team by one
• Bridal Shower - jewelry making theme for all the women by four
• Close friend's 30th Birthday celebration by eight
- wind down time in the evening

• Wake up early to meet with wedding venue by ten
• Meet with our DJ by one
• Drive back to Santa Clara

The weekend hasn't even started yet and I'm already tired. This is going to be a long and brutal weekend but we're coming into the home stretch so the excitement is starting to build.

Our eco-friendly invites have all been shipped and I am so happy with the final outcome of our invites. We found these invites that are 100% paper free and the exterior of the invites is made out of seeds so you get to plant our invite and watch it grow into flowers! We put together over 200 invites but it was a worthwhile task.

• the prep table •

We've also started putting together our Candy Bar and I never knew how expensive candy is! We're having a variety of Jelly Belly, Kisses, Starbursts, Skittles, M&M's, Red Vines and German Candy Eggs and you don't even want to know what that final cost was. For something that is so unhealthy and full of sugar, it sure is pricey! I even think that we might need to add a few more variety (e.g. lollipops) to make sure that we have enough for everyone. We now have to assemble our Chinese Take Out boxes and decorate them. Just another thing to do and this doesn't even include our Dessert Bar!

• the standard mess that lives upstairs •

It's funny because it doesn't seem like there is much more to do besides more DIY projects but as we get closer to each day, there is a little part inside of me that does a subtle freak out. It hasn't been external and to be honest, I have been nowhere close to be a crazy bride but it's just a lot of work for us to do. So I guess the whole working part time has actually been more of a blessing in disguise. It's helped give me a lot more time to put these little projects together while Marijn focuses more on his crazy work life.

Oh but I am looking forward to the relaxing part after! We're spending our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. Six days doing absolutely nothing except sitting by the beach and swim up bar. Although knowing us, we're going to want to get away to do a little white water rafting and zip lining but knowing that we don't have to do anything makes me warm and fuzzy.

So instead of counting down to the "big day," I'm going to countdown to our adventure in the Caribbean instead!

• our hotel •

• the coast of the Dominican Republic •