a few updates for you all

Hi girls!!

I finally had some time to check out the two house rental options I was given three weeks ago! Sorry I've been so scarce. School has been stressful and driving me nuts as we wrap up the year. Anyway I think this is the one (the other one is super tricked out and SUPER expensive to boot). It will sleep everybody just about I think. I have just now e-mailed the realtor and asked for a discount from the 1,950 since we'll only need it for the weekend not the week, I'm hoping we can get it reduced by almost half so that would be under $1,000. No promises but I think that's do-able. It's a nice place for me to spend the night before the wedding with you and a place where we can have our boxed lunches delivered and get our hair done, etc. here is the link with lots of photos: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p387847#rates

What do you all think? I will get back to you guys on price ASAP so we can start coordinating deposits, etc.

Also do any of you have news on swatches for me as you are getting your dresses hemmed? Have you purchased the hair feathers?

I am getting invites wording out today to Bonnie up in VT and I'm hoping to have invites out to everyone by mid-July.

If you need registry info for shower planning reasons we have just started that process, check online in our names we are registered at Williams Sonoma and Target but stupid Target's scanners weren't working so I have to go on their site and plug everything in online so it will be awhile before anything shows up on Target. We found the registry hard to do because we are fairly nontraditonal -- we don't have a home to set up yet (so how can we get matchy towels, etc?!), and we are also going to be asking for cash to use at antique/pottery type places because how can you possibly register those. And finally, we have most of what we NEED already since we are older and what we are asking for is really just stuff we wouldn't normally buy for ourselves. I am still working on Honeyfund.com for the honeymoon help gifts of $, but I'm having issues with the site and address and bank verifications so that will be a while before it's edited, fixed and ready but that link can be included on shower info too. We actually have decided to rent a cabin somewhere along the outer banks of N.C. as it's just much cheaper/less stressful so I do have to edit the page to reflect that but we are excited for a few slow days away and not a far drive. Finally we tried to register at Lowe's for a grill we wanted but they don't do registries (grr)...the grill is here: http://www.lowes.com/pd_404333-40307-720-0819A_?productId=3850057

All of that will be included with the wedding invitations, too.

I hope that was helpful -- Sarah and Mary I promise I am starting work on getting all the addresses you will need for the bridal shower. Please let me know if you need anything else at this point.

I have four days left of school this week and then thank God, I will have some more time though I am taking a two-week trip west just to get away from it all finally. it's been a rewarding but in many ways very difficult year at work!

love and miss you all and remember to send me pics of you in your dress! anyone have any further ideas on shoes? I did have a thought that we could all try to get them from zappo's maybe they are very reputable and I know we're going to get all different ones but that way we could all share links to each other's. also we will have different sunflower yellow cardigans, i'd love to see pics of those as well.

we have decided that the men won't be wearing suits (groom's party) -- they will wear white button down shirts, black pants and shoes, and each will have a different vintage-y hat and a sunflower corsage. The ties will be purple, we haven't figured out yet but i'm hoping for a print.

Arianna I will be home the week of july 20 and i'm going to bring the wedding dress so you can get yarn for the gloves. (i'm taking it to my LYS tomorrow to find shawl yarn! yay!!).

Hope I haven't overwhelmed with all this info but I think that's it for now!! I will post about the house but please tell me your opinions price aside for now!!

Love you all,

Karen