Rod and Jess’ Wedding Blog

That’s right, our FINAL wedding project has been completed!  I had been putting off painting the aisle runner because it seemed like such a daunting task and Rod finally forced me to get it done. 

Here’s a step by step of how we did it:

First we taped down a copy of our monogram and covered it with wax paper (also taped to the counter top).

Then starting with the lightest color we started painting.  We used sponge brushes mostly.

We continued with the green and then the black.  Since the brushes we had didn’t lend themselves to the intricate font we had used (ha) on the monogram we had to do the black in sharpie! 

Here’s me starting to fill in the words with black sharpie markers.

The dogs through the whole process (we did it twice) were pretty bored - they stayed out of our hair!

The finished product!

Really this wasn’t a hard project since our monogram was so simple, it also was really great to have Rod’s help on this!  He really helped the project move along and the pendulum lights on our island made it easy to see!  If you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive, easy wedding project to customize your ceremony this would be one I’d highly recommend! 

What are some other DIY projects that you would recommend that people could tackle in one afternoon?

Hear that Bengal growling, mean and angry
See that Bengal prowling, lean and hungry
An offensive brute, run, pass, or boot
And defensively, he’s rough-errrr tough-errrr
Cincinnati Bengals that’s the team were gonna cheer to victory
Touchdown Bengals!!
Put some points up on the board and win a game for Cincinnati!

Who dey! Who dey!

Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals? NOOOOOBODY!

Me before the game sporting my Ocho Cinco jersey!

Last night Rod and I had the opportunity to watch the Bengals battle (or crush ) the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium from the Fox 59/Indiana’s 4 suite.  It was a great game; and even though I was in the suite, I was still able to catch a few of the touchdowns (in between talking to clients and other employees!  I do have to admit, I was disappointed not to see Housh, Ocho Cinco, Rudi Johnson and Carson Palmer out on the field during the game, but I’d rather they rest up and get over those injuries for the Bengals/Colts game in December!  A few pictures to show that I still have my Black and Orange pride:

You can’t see it very well but T.J. Houshmandzadeh is warming up on the field - that’s why I have such a grin, I think I’m going to get to see him play (too bad he sat it out)!

The Bengals warming up (Rudi Johnson is in that pic, I was SO excited to see him come out of the locker room)

Warmups and a great shot of the roof open at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The last play of the game - GO BENGALS! 

We had a lot of fun and it was really a great night for me, even if the “Cincinnati Chili” at the suite was just regular chili (including beans and tomatoes) with cinnamon added.  I can’t wait to go back in December and watch the Bengals battle the Colts for a second time. 

We were lucky enough to be able to see the first game (albeit preseason) in Lucas Oil Stadium.  Unfortunately the Colts didn’t have a very good showing and lost 20-7.  Oh well, we still have pictures!

Pre-game warmup

The roof is opening!

National anthem with a 100 yard flag

Team intro with flames!

Mid-game

Close-up action

This past Sunday we had an opportunity to get a sneak peek at the new Lucas Oil Stadium thanks to Jess being the keyholder for their corporate suite.

Overall the new stadium is a major step up over the old RCA Dome.  The acoustics are much better and all the seats feel closer to the field.  The interior is slightly less industrial and concession stands seem more numerous.  The suites are much larger and more comfortable as well.  The retractable roof is a very nice touch and it makes the interior feel incredibly more “outdoors” and lets in an immense amount of natural light.  The window on the side of the stadium that also opens provides for an awesome view of downtown.

On the down side, the stadium exterior looks more like a college field than a professional football stadium.  The consessions in general are very generic and there isn’t much variety.  The new airport puts a focus on local restaurants and foods that are authentic to Indiana.  It’s too bad the stadium didn’t follow suite.  There are a few cool looking concession stands that would have provided an excellent opportunity for this.

Anyway, on with the pictures!

The old RCA Dome next door

This picture makes it look almost rural

The back side of the stadium

It’s huge!

The side of the stadium, actually, which way is front?

In line at the West Gate

Jess all decked out in Colts gear!  Bet you thought you’d never see that!
The view of the field here is the view from the suite.

The side window opening

The roof opening

The view of downtown from the side window in the BUD LIGHT ZONE

The stadium with the roof open.

Tell us your impressions in the comments!

Today we crossed a few things off of our list, namely the seating chart and place cards.  We’re still finishing the place cards and the escort cards up, but we’ve at least got them printed and ready to go.  I’ve also got things consolidated into a few boxes and am getting it all together for the day of coordinator, April.

Another exciting thing finalized today was that we ordered a small, hand-held camcorder for the honeymoon:

It’s HD and it’s small enough to fit in the pocket of cargo shorts! We’ll be able to use it to capture our trek to Diamond Head; the trip to Pearl Harbor and the beautiful beaches of Oahu!

Only 28 more days to go and we’ve got the following things to go:

• Write thank you letters to parents
• Finish wrapping thank you gifts for groomsmen
• Paint monogram on aisle runner
• Put together large manila envelopes for each table with place cards, matchboxes, table number and seating chart for the Day of Coordinator (these just need the place cards and the seating chart for each table)
• Figure out transportation schedule and who is driving Jeep/Taurus for Wedding party

I’ll also need to pick up a few last minute things like scotch tape (for attaching cards to gifts at the reception) and send out packets of info to the wedding party, immediate families and vendors.  I can’t believe we only have 28 days to go!  I can’t wait to be Rod’s wife. 

We have 30 days left until the wedding and I have 18 days of work until I’m off for the wedding (thank you Labor Day weekend).  It’s amazing how long ago we got engaged and how much we’ve gotten accomplished.  It’s also amazing how much we still have to do before September 12th is here.

This weekend we’re hoping to get the seating chart done along with the place cards and escort cards.  If we haven’t heard from you with your RSVP please let me know ASAP if you’re coming (and the names of any guests!).  We’re also going to make packets for each table to give to April, our Day of Coordinator so that each table is ready to go when we turn everything over to her!

I also need to compile a packet with the way each special table should be laid out (memorial table, guestbook table, etc).  We have so many things to turn over to her, I hope it’s not overwhelming!  I just want it all to be taken care of and I trust April to get it done!  My ultimate goal for the wedding day is to spend the day drinking champagne and kissing Rod!  I don’t want to have to worry about a thing.

Let’s hope these next few weeks fly by and everything goes smoothly leading up to the wedding! 

a September Wedding? 

Yesterday was my shower in Peoria, IL thrown by Rod’s Aunt Connie.  My mom had come into town for the weekend and drove Katie, Erin, Rod and I all out west for the shower.  We had a blast during the road trip, listening to alternative hits of the 90’s and just getting to talk for the first time in a while with all of us there.

It was really nice to get to know some of Rod’s family better during the shower.  We played a few games (which it was a great touch getting everyone to introduce themselves and give us marital advice - I’ll be keeping those for the future); had a delicious meal of turkey sandwiches, a few salads (the caprese - tomato, mozzarella and olive was delicious!) veggies and dip; and opened gifts.  They really showered me with love and made me feel welcome in their family.  It was really special and you could really tell that Connie put a lot into the shower!

A few pictures of the day:

Erin and I as the shower started

Me with my great Crate & Barrel wine glasses

Rod’s cousin, his sister-in-law, my mom, Katie and Rod’s mom

Opening our new kitchen aid blender - I’m so ready for a milkshake!

So excited for our new serving bowl from Crate and Barrel

The delicious dessert - yogurt, granola and fruit with shortbread cookies.  Yum!

Erin, Katie and I infront of the pictures of Rod and I as kids.
I’m up on NYE in my picture (with my Dee Dee in the background) and Rod looked like Dennis the Menace in his!

Rod and I after the shower when I was showing him all the wonderful gifts, with Mario trying to give me kisses.  I think Rod was most excited for the blender since we’ve been without one for so long (our old one broke when we were in the old apartment)!

I really appreciate everything that has been done for me with showers, and I can’t believe we’re now at less than five weeks for the wedding!  Where did the last 17 months go? 

If you’re from Indiana, you’re obviously familiar with the annoying law prohibiting alcohol sales on Sundays.  You’re probably also used to only buying cold beer at a liquor store (and paying more for it).  On Thursday, a group put together a petition to try to repeal these laws.  States that still have outdated laws like these are pretty rare and we’d love to see any progress in modernizing our state.  Help us out by signing the petition!

When people ask me lately, “How’s the Wedding Planning?” I don’t really know what to tell them.

We’re down to the last details, minute tasks and steps before it all happens next month.  Mentally I’m more to the marriage planning step, I want to discuss our future and where we’re going after the wedding.  Our wedding is one day to jump start the rest of our lives.  It’s one day where we get to party and celebrate our love, but at the same time I want the rest of our lives to be time where we get to celebrate our love.

To be honest, I’m actually quite terrified at how emotional that day will be.  We’re under six weeks and I’m not sure how to handle the fear, excitement and joy that will be happening that day.  I did find a blog entry that kinda sums up how I’m feeling a bit better than I could do:  http://peoniesandpolaroids.blogspot.com/2008/07/cold-toes.html

It’s also the RSVP date today, if you haven’t sent yours back then please do or I’ll be calling you! 

A detailed to-do list of what we have left:

• Printing place cards
• Writing names/tables on escort cards
• Write thank you letters to parents
• Finish wrapping thank you gifts for groomsmen
• Seating chart - after all RSVPs are in
• Paint monogram on aisle runner
• Put together large manila envelopes for each table with place cards, matchboxes, table number and seating chart for the Day of Coordinator
• Figure out transportation schedule and who is driving Jeep/Taurus for Wedding party

Is it September 12th yet?!?

To top this week off…I get a jury summons in the mail, for the week of the wedding.  Way to go state of Indiana.
I’m returning the qualifications questionnaire back asking for a deferral since it’s the week of my wedding.  Seriously folks, could this week get any better?