My Last Week as a Bachelorette!

Well this has been a fun and eventful week! Friday was my bachelorette party, and we had a blast! We went to club Habits and danced and drank the night away, I probably have the best friends in the world! Saturday my mother and I finished the wedding shopping, and Sunday all the desserts were baked (by yours truly, Bob, and my cousins Rob and Tracy) Monday and Tuesday Bob and I did all our packing and booked our wedding night room. Then today I went and got my hair done, a mani, pedi and wax before doing the rehearsal dinner. It's finally  here, I'm looking at the clock and I know I'm going to be getting married in 16 hours, that's right HOURS!! Since Bob is currently at his  Bachelor party and will come home exhausted, and we have a busy day tomorrow, I think it's safe to say he won't be reading my blog before we get married, so I'm going to take a chance and post some of my Bridal pictures!

So I may be stating the obvious here, but anyone who still reads this blog, I won't be updating the blog next week since I will be on my honeymoon in Cozumel! I will update the blog again in 2 weeks, so stay tuned for how the wedding and honeymoon went!

Bob's Last Birthday as a Bachelor

Well today marks the last week that Bob and I are "single" so to speak, and we are kicking it off with a bang! Today was Bob's birthday, so I decided to start the day off right. I brought him homemade breakfast in bed (homemade as in pancake mix, I'm not that good!), then I gave him his gifts. He got a brand new sweater just in time for fall and winter, a new white T-Shirt, and The Secret World of Arrietty (which actually surprised him since I don't like Anime type movies, but he does!) Unfortunately after that we both had to go to work, but it was still a great morning!



The Breakfast in Bed I made for Bob (sometimes I do cook!)





Bob after opening his presents





Bob's new sweater



 

Movie I got for Bob

Tomorrow will also be a busy day! After I drop Bob off at work, I will be heading over to Dawn Foods to bake and pick up all of the food for the dessert bar for the wedding (as well as my check since I work across the street, YAY for payday!) Then I have to rush home to get dressed up since my soon to be nephew is getting cealed to my soon to be sister-in-law Tessa and her family. (I get to watch all the kids, including a little 2 month old baby, and we all know how I LOVE babies!). Then there will be a little celebratory dinner for Braxton's cealing/birthday, and also my mother-in-law Marcie's birthday. After a quick wardrobe change it's out to party the night away with my girls for my bachelorette party, thrown by my lifelong bestie Sarah at Habits. Saturday my mom and I will be buying a couple last minute things for the wedding and Bob will be getting his final tux fitting and Wednesday is our rehearsal dinner. All that we have left is booking a hotel room for our wedding night. I can't believe that in one week I will be Mrs. Loose, it's finally close enough that I feel like I can see the finish line! Yay!

Book Our Honeymoon: CHECK!

Big News! Our honeymoon is booked! We will be leaving at 6 AM the day after our wedding (the early part kinda stinks but that's the only part that does!) for the beautiful island of Cozumel where we will spend 9 days and 8 nights in an all inclusive resort called Melia. While we are there we will go on a tour of the Tulum Mayan ruins, zip line over the rainforest, go repelling, snorkel in an underground river, snorkel in 2 different tropical reefs, and literally sail into the sunset. We are so excited to go on this adventure of a lifetime!

 

Other news for the wedding, Bob has an appointment for his tux fitting this Saturday, and we found someone who will loan us a P.A. system, we picked out all our music and put it into a play list. The yard is looking really good, and is so close to being finished. My wedding band finally came and fits perfectly, and our guestbook finally came from Shutterfly and it looks great! I was also able to get a sneak peak at my Bridals from Jeanine, and I should be able to pick up the edited pictures any day now (they look AMAZING).  Bob's sister Tessa is almost done making our ring pillow, and my sisters and I finished a whole bunch of other little DIY projects at our big Bell Sister Blow-out Slumber Party (my sisters did a great job of coming up with some funny games before watching the all too fitting movie Bridesmaids-needless to say we stayed up all night and had a blast!).

 

Our Sparklers for when we leave

The matches that go with the Sparklers

I'm filling this bowl with Swedish Fish and sending it to the guys while they get ready

This mailbox is for giftcards, cards and money on the gift table

This sign will be set up on the grass by the chairs for the ceremony
 

All that's left is a few odds and ends like the pen for signing the guest book, cake knife, the hot cocoa stuff and we need to book a room for our wedding night. Next Friday I will be picking up and cooking all the food, and next Friday my maid of honor is throwing me a Bachellorette Party at Club Habits! Then 2 weeks from today I will become Mrs. Brittney Loose, celebrate with all my family and friends before jetting off for our honeymoon! Yay!

3 Weeks and Counting

Only 3 weeks left until I become Mrs. Loose and things finally feel like they are coming together. Bob's ring came in the mail, and he loves it (he keeps wearing it, even though I don't think he's supposed to). His passport came in the mail yesterday as well, so we will be booking the honeymoon this weekend. My ring is in the mail, but it hasn't arrived yet. Bob and I also got our marriage license (kind of important), and we finally settled on an officiant (also very important) so now we know the marriage will be legit and not just some expensive party! We also wrote out and delivered the check for our food this week and I went on shutterfly to make our guest book with a bunch of our engagement photos. I wanted something more personal than just an expensive fabric covered notebook. I also got all of the supplies I need for our DIY wedding crafts, and although I haven't started any of them, my sisters and I have big plans to do all of them in our blow out Bell sister slumber party this weekend. This weekend was also the weekend of Sarah's big engagement party for Bob and I. I don't know if it turned out quite the way Sarah planned, but I loved it. Several of our friends were able to come, even though some came right at the end of the party and others left early. We played Sarah's games which I thought were pretty good, and funny, even though Sarah said they went way faster than she planned. I think the biggest surprise of the day was Sarah is actually a great cook! I know I joke about the time she set my parents stove on fire making the nastiest tasting top ramon ever a lot, but the "better than sex" cake, and the cassaroles she made for the party were amazing! I was quite impressed. Unfortunately I was too busy enjoying the party, so I forgot to take pictures :( After the party we went to my Aunt and Uncle Banks' house for their BBQ, and my aunt, uncle and cousins were able to round up the rest of the chairs we needed for the ceremony (yay! everyone can sit down)! This weekend was a long weekend for Labor Day, and so Bob's family was able to come help with a lot of yard work as well. Thank heavens too, I think my parents were a little bit panicky about whether or not the yard would be ready for the wedding or not, but thanks to the extra hands and Ricky's super human strength the yard transformed right before our eyes (again I forgot to take before and after pics), however I did get this super cute picture of my little nephew Ryan helping!

Little Ryan wanted to help by mowing the lawn

Other than booking the honeymoon, and getting all the crafts done this weekend there are only 2 more big projects to do. Bob and the groomsmen need to go get their tuxes, and we still don't have our music figured out.... Once those are done though, we only have silly small projects like getting a ring pillow and cake cutter, etc. I was so stressed a week ago, but now things seem to be coming together so beautifully, that I'm not too worried about it anymore. I feel like I can finally sit back and enjoy being engaged and planning my wedding. I'm finally feeling more excited about my big day instead of anxious about getting everything done! Thank you so much to every one who has helped us with our wedding! Special thanks to Bob's parents, siblings and neices and nephews who helped so much with the yard, Ryan and Lisa for helping with the cake, Tessa for doing so much shopping for some of the little things I didn't have time for, My parents and sisters for putting in so much work with the yard and decorations, Sarah for throwing our Engagement Party and Anya and AJ for lending their house and helping Sarah with the party, The whole Banks clan for helping us with chairs, and my cousins Amy and Rob for helping with the food. (Sorry if I forgot anyone! and Thanks for your help too!) We are so excited to share our special day with all of you in 3 short weeks!

Finally moving again...

Here's my weekly update on the wedding. Over the last week or so, we really got down to business with wedding planning. Bob and I are still waiting on his passport to come in the mail, and the rings are ordered! We also picked out most of our songs, so now we just need to put them together into a playlist and figure out if we are going to have a DJ, band or just hook up an iPod. We designed our cake as well, and will be handing that over to Ryan soon. We also got most of our invites addressed, and we are ready to send those out. We are trying to get addresses for Bob's family though, so we are a little behind on getting those invites sent out. This week we will hopefully get those invites addressed and sent, as well as we will apply for our marriage license, and we will get the tuxes done. This weekend Bob's family is all going to come and help put the finishing touches on the backyard. Sunday my maid of honor Sarah will be throwing Bob and I an engagement party, which I'm excited for since all of my best friends will be there, and I don't see them often anymore with all the wedding planning and what not. Afterward I will be meeting with my photographer, Jeanine, to go thru my bridals and pick out the ones I like the most to be edited. I'm excited to see how they all turned out! The most exciting part of this last week though, was probably the bridal shower my family put together for me. We had a great turn out from both Bob's family and mine, and we ended up with some great gifts! Thank you everyone who came out and showed support!

The three women who planned it all, my sisters Kelsey, Rachel and Savannah

Chelsea, my Aunts Debbie and Karen and my cousin Jenny waiting for presents



Some of the earlier guests waiting for everyone else to arrive



More of my early guests



My little cousin Brooke being turned into a toilet paper bride




My sister Savannah turning my niece Mimi into a toilet papers bride



My cousin Stephanie having a little bit too much fun with the left over toilet papers

Everyone's favorite part of the shower- Time to open presents



Checking out one of my amazing gifts



Getting ready to open the last gift

Showing off the pots and pans from my parents and sisters



Showing off one of my many gift cards



Chelsea, one of my best friends

Savannah Shiveley, my long-time neighbor and adopted sister.



My sister Kelsey and I posing in the Sashes she made for us.




Posing with Bob's cousin Meadow




Posing with my very preggers bestie Chelsea!





Posing with the Party planners themselves, my sisters!



No more excuses, no more procrastination!

Yesterday I got my bridal pictures taken. Jeanine was amazing, I was so comfortable and able to let loose, so I think she was able to get some really amazing shots! I really can't wait to see how they turn out. We started out at her home studio with a classic black backdrop. Then we took some shots with a vintage looking backdrop before heading out to the salt flats. I fully anticipated my dress getting salty while shooting out there, but I didn't know my feet would sink in the salt to make watery puddles... Now I guess I have to go get the salt water cleaned from my dress before the wedding. Just one more thing to add to my ever growing list!

For those of you who were wondering- I have two bridal showers coming up. The family shower is this Saturday, the 25th from 2-4. The invites were a little late going out on the Loose side, so if you expected an invite but you still don't receive one by Saturday, please feel free to come anyway. For my friends, My best friend/Maid-of-honor Sarah Tran has planned a bridal shower/engagement party for Sunday, September 2nd from 10 AM to 1 PM. It will be at our friend Anya's house, and rather than invitations, you should have received an evite via facebook. Please let me know if you didn't get one, and I can make sure it gets sent. It's co-ed, so feel free to bring your significant other, and it's just going to be a casual get together for both Bob and I with our friends. For my special ladies, Sarah is also planning on throwing me a bachellorette party for later in September. So far it is looking like Friday, September 21st, but nothing is set in stone yet. It will be later at night, so if you work days, you won't have to take work off. We are registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond as well as Target.

Other updates- Bob submitted all of his passport information, and did his interveiw a couple weeks back, so we are still playing the waiting game. We have a destination picked out, but we don't want to book the honeymoon until Bob's passport comes-Just to be safe. It also turns out Bob's brother Ryan, may be able to do the ceremony after all, so we have our fingers crossed that we won't have to find a last minute officiant. Bob also has found a co-worker who's band might be interested in playing at our wedding, and if not there is a neighbor who is willing to lend us great speakers that we will just hook up to my iPod. Invitations should be sent out soon, but unfortuately I have been a bit of a slacker and haven't been able to address the invites yet... Sorry, it wasn't one of the things on the top of my priority list until now. Also on the top of my priority list, wedding rings. That's right, Bob and I have not picked out our rings yet, and now that we are down to the wire, it looks like we have two options. Buy the rings right from the case, and get them sized, or go to a jeweler and have a custom ring made asap. (The manufactorer rings that are made in bulk apparently take 6-8 weeks, but custom made rings only 1-2? It didn't make sense to me either, but thats what I was told at the jeweler over the weekend) Also at the top of my list, apply for the marriage license. I don't want to take a chance and put it off and then not get it by the wedding, so I'm planning on getting it by the beginning of September. Bob is also going to go get the guys tuxes soon, and Bob and I are going to plan out our vows, song list and order our guestbook (we are using shutterfly to make a book with our engagement pictures) all -hopefully- in the next 2 weeks! Other than that, I think we are down to planning the little details, finishing the yard work at my parents and making all the DIY crafts we planned for the wedding. I'm going to be a busy busy girl! I can't believe there is only 1 month and 1 week left until I become Mrs. Loose! EEP! I'm so excited!

Flowers, and Showers

I finally got my flowers done! There was a lot of back and forth with my mom and I, but we have finally decided on a florist and we decided on our flowers. The deposit is paid, flowers picked out and a pick up time set! It looks like I'm going to have a cascading bouquet of roses, day lillies, calla lillies, and daisies in Autumn colors. It really sounded like a beautiful bouquet and I can't wait to see the final product! My mom and I also got a lot of the decorations decided for the wedding, so now it is much easier to picture what my wedding day will actually look like :)

For all my family members (and soon-to-be family members) who would like advance notice about the wedding shower so that you can plan around it- The date has officially been set for Saturday, August 25th. The shower will be between 2-4 PM at my parents ward house in South Jordan (10227 South 4000 West). Invitations will be sent out soon, but I do know that sometimes the mail gets lost or delayed so if you don't get an invite, but you planned on coming, please come anyway. For my friends there will be another shower/engagement party at a later date, so please allow me to spend this time with my family. I have a large family and Bob has a large family, so there will already be a lot of people there to meet me or spend time with me without me being distracted by a room full of my friends. Thanks!

We are also really close to finally booking our honeymoon! Thanks to Bob's mom Marcie, and his grandma's gracious loan to us, we have the money to pay for our honeymoon! We have a certain destination picked out, but Bob needs his passport for us to go so we are waiting until it comes to officially book it. I would hate to pay for a honeymoon that we can't go on... He has everything filled out, and ready to go so now it's just a waiting game!

Today we also got a final statement from our apartment complex along with (wait for it) A CHECK for almost $200. I didn't think we would get any money from our deposit back since we had pets and we painted the walls, but I guess Bob and I rock at cleaning and painting! Nothing is better than surprise money while planning a wedding!