dwindling task list

I have 11 things left on my to-do list (not including "pick up the marriage license," which, psh. That'll take ten minutes):

Five of them involve shopping
Three are things to figure out the night before
The other three are assembling DIY stuff

Easy.

Progress!

Invites are going out with the mail this afternoon! Holla!

Also, my pretty sage green crinoline is finished and was shipped today:Hopefully it arrives soon. Although I noticed she shipped it to my home address, so... I might end up having to fetch it from a post office somewhere, because we can't really accept packages at our place if they don't fit in the mailbox. Oh well. I'll get it somehow.

I also started cutting out pieces for our programs last night. Just the blank sections. I want to buy more ink before I endeavor to eff with the actual colored portions. This project is going to be the biggest pain in the ass yet. If I end up baking cookies as the favor, it's going to seem like a breeze compared to these programs.

Anyway. I finally got around to creating a To Do list and it's getting pretty short. Mostly just making purchases, with some shopping and writing and creating thrown in. It looks long but it's kind of not. Although I do feel like I'm forgetting something:

To Do

• find vases for centerpieces

• make centerpieces

• find square placemats or something for centerpieces to sit on

• acquire marriage license

• book flights to Vegas

• ask Darren's grandma to be a reader

• choose readings

• buy Darren's suit, shirt, shoes

• buy all ties

• buy groomsmen gifts

• finish buying bridesmaid gifts

• acquire games and stuff for reception

badminton
bocce ball
board games
bean bag toss

• decide where to stay before the wedding (book rooms if necessary)

• decide where to stay on wedding night (book room if necessary)

• finish vows

• finish ceremony

• finish programs

• make guestbook

• make description cards for food

• make signs (may scrap this idea depending on what resources end up being necessary. I want to use chalkboards but damn if they aren't surprisingly expensive):

"guestbook"
"games"
"food"
"drink"

• buy place settings, cups, serving utensils and bowls

• buy lanterns for decorating

• make playlists

pre-ceremony
dinner
dance

• try to go to Bertha to decide layout

meet with officiant if possible

• make signs to put along the road to direct people

• buy all beverages necessary

wine
water
soda

• favors??

• finalize day-of timing and details

• 2 weeks out: make sure officiant has final ceremony

• 2-3 weeks out: make sure rental company has final numbers

• determine any tasks for wedding party

• decide who will coordinate day-of setup

• write toasts

• do name-change paperwork

I'm thinking way in advance here, but I was looking for possible wedding party gifts and ways to package them. I created (or am creating. Clearly it's a work in progress) a list of ideas for gifts for each party member, and I think when it comes time to purchase and "wrap" each gift I'm going to create gift baskets for each of them.

The key then will be finding baskets that are smaller and inexpensive. And I totally found some.

I can't decide what to get for the guys. Maybe mini bottles of liquor (which I can also find at a liquor store) and shot glasses. I don't know.

Whatever, I am so awesome.

And I emailed my mom asking her to get some family addresses for me. Darren's mom is working on doing the same. I need to email various friends for theirs as well... and find out what Eric needs from me so we can get the Save the Dates designed and printed before mid-January.