Invitation Time!

Now that the invitations are in it's time to start the addressing process. As I was mentioning on my friend Meghan's wall on Facebook, I typically have great handwriting. I mean, I have been in enough boring meetings, car rides and on enough long phone calls to have practiced getting it perfect. However, when it came to addressing these things it's like my handwriting barfed all over the envelop. Actually. It's not THAT horrible looking, but it's certainly not as good as I would've liked them to look. I think Mom is going to be doing a majority of them, and I will be doing assembly and reading the addresses off to her. A task which I am much better at ... and penmanship isn't a necessity.

This past weekend my lovely cousin, and bridesmaid (!!) Ally and my Aunt Susie (her Mom), threw me a beautiful shower in Chestertown, MD. It's about 30 minutes outside of Annapolis. It was at a yacht/country club that is local to the area and it was right on the water and just all around gorgeous. What helped was that we had perfect weather and great company. The New Jersey contingent from my Dad's side of the family came down and it was just delightful to spend time with my family, who we don't get to see too often. I also got to spend time with Ally and Aunt Susie and Ally's daughter Cora, who took on the role of Mistress of Ceremonies, and did a great job! Since it was a bit of a trip, the guys got to come too .. and were able to share the day with us after the gifts were all opened. (During the shower they hung out by and in the pool.) Boy did we get showered! We got so many lovely wonderful presents. We really feel honored and loved and have a lot to be thankful for this year. It's a great feeling throwing our old stuff out (if it's in bad shape or if it's OK donating it) and replacing it with what will be our new life together :)

Later that evening we went into Downtown Annapolis for dinner. The dinner was OK but what was really fantastic was the city of Annapolis. It's definitely a place I'd love to go back and spend a weekend. Quaint, beautiful, on the water ... all the makings of a great time. Some of the restaurants looked really superb. All I really need for a relaxing weekend is to be near water of some sort ... and Annapolis delivered!

So there you have my Fodors review of Annapolis - a must see if you can!

Looking forward to the 65 days we have left until The Big Day!! Can't wait to see you all there!

Up next ... FINAL dress fitting on September 8, and the Bridal Portrait on September 21!! A truly remarkable day that I get to share with my dear friend Leah's Birthday, Nanny & Pop's engagement anniversary and my Aunt Patty's Birthday as well. That right there is the makings a special moment that I'll always remember.

The Whatnot and So Forth

Exciting news at the Duni/Parker residence! Our invitations are in! We're going next weekend to pick them up and do one last check before we take 'em home and start the addressing process. I'm so excited about them. They are very simple and elegant and formal. Actually. Traditional, would be the best descriptor. For those of you who attended my parents wedding - they look almost exactly like theirs. Which, to me is super special. I love things like that.

Only 89 days left till the wedding! Wow. Double digits guys. This thing is right around the corner. I really gotta start getting things in order. Like the engagement announcement out in the newspaper, the photo booth deposit and meet with the florist one more time. I don't know if you guys know but, we are not doing centerpieces. Well, your traditional floral centerpieces. It would just be too ridiculously expensive. So, a great way to cut cost is to have candles and flower petals. I think it's going to look magical when it's all said and done.

This Thursday is my final dress fitting before my bridal portrait on September 21. I just can't wait to put it on again. I love it.

Speaking of dresses!!! My Mom found her dress!! OH my goodness. She looks like a vision in it. And ... it's pink! Well, a form of pink. It's elegant, fancy and perfect. It looks like it was made for her. She has a train on her dress just like me! I'm so happy that she's going to look so, so gorgeous. I could cry just thinking about her in that dress on my wedding day. I just love her so much. And I'm happy that she found a dress that she loves so much too.

Also my dear and wonderful cousin Ally and my Aunt Susie are hosting a bridal shower at the end of August in Annapolis, MD. It will be a great time to spend with them and see some family that I haven't gotten to see in a while. I'm really honored and looking forward to it.

My cousin Chris and his fiance Holly are getting married on August 14 out in Wisconsin. I am so happy for them. They have a precious daughter Lena and are going to make (and already do) such a lovely, beautiful family. It will be such a special day that they remember forever and I can't wait to see pictures. Holly is just a beautiful girl and she's going to look even more so on her special day in that beautiful dress.

So much excitement. I love it.

Shoes!

To be honest. I had totally forgotten about shoes for the wedding until I had a conversation with my Mom last week on my way in to work. But once I realized that I still needed this key component for the big day I was really excited to go shopping for them! Do you go with flats or heels? Open toe or peep toe? Sling back or flip flops? Pumps or high-heels? Fun and flirty or simple and practical?

During my conversation with Mom last week, I had already decided I was going to forgo high heel for comfort. But comfort when it comes to shoes is ambiguous, as it doesn't always mean flats, it could be wedge, kitten heel, slight heel.

I have never tried on so many shoes in my whole life. But I had a great time doing it. I started at TJ Maxx which was a strike out. They had one pair that was kinda cute and kinda comfy but not really wedding day cute. I did find a super cute dress though! It was so calling my name.

Next stop was Macy's. They have so many sales, and I had a coupon and I'm a recent Macy's card holder - all excellent reasons to pop in for a shoe trip. Well, in the shoe department it was a total strike out. Not a lot looked comfortable and not a lot looked wedding. They had a great variety if I was going to go clubbing or if I needed a great pair of Power Pumps - and let's face it. That doesn't exactly scream comfort. I did find a great pair of earrings (they match my new dress perfectly!), a bikini - it was marked down a ton and will look great in Costa Rica!, and I got Mike a shirt. So, it wasn't a total wash out.

Being more of a self-service kinda gal, DSW was a total win. I found The Shoes. They are super comfy (pillows people, pillows), quirky (just like me!), and overall perfect for the big day. Plus, I found a pair of cute flip-flops and some shoes to go with my new dress from TJ Maxx. However, tomorrow I have to go get a 1/2 size larger in The Shoes from a DSW on the other side of town. I can't wait for you all to see them!! I can't wait to have them in my possession!! I can't wait for Saturday!! I can't wait to be married to Mike!! I just can't wait!!

Showered!

So, last post I said that I would write about what it feels like to have a bridal shower. I can tell you that it's the greatest feeling in the whole wide world. There's nothing more heartwarming than having your closest friends, family friends and family gathered to spend an afternoon with you. It was so good to catch-up, and let's be honest - eat cake. My best friend Jec-Jec and her mom (who is like my 2nd Mom) put on the shower and what a sight it was! The venue, Willow Oaks, never looked better - from the flowers, to the colors, to the cake to the food, to the treats scattered around and just the thought and love and time and effort they put into it - I was in tears from the moment I arrived. I was just so touched by the obvious outpouring of love and support for my and Mike's upcoming wedding. And boy did we get showered with gifts. Oh good lordy. Everyone was beyond generous. We got so much. My heart just swells with the love. There aren't enough words to show my gratitude for the shower that was thrown. It was just perfect from start to finish. Such a fond, lovely memory that I will have forever.

Also, I can now update you and tell you what it feels like to be wedding ring owners - freaking awesome. What a great reality it is when you finally get those rings. We bought them today and took them home with us - they will reside in our safe deposit box until the big day. They are going to look so good on. Mike chose a white gold band with a brushed thick center part and some shiny detail on the sides. Since my engagement ring is so insanely sparkly I chose a curved band that will hug the rings curves but has no diamonds. It looks amazing. I can't wait to wear it forever and let the world know that I am married to an amazing man.

In other bridal land news ... My first dress fitting is Saturday, July 10 (eek!!!). My bridal portrait is set for Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30pm. These two dates alone have me oozing with joy and happiness. I can't wait!!

Shower Bands

This is not in reference to storm cells. It's in reference to the events that have taken/are going to take place.

Tomorrow is the day of my first ever bridal shower and I am ridiculously excited for it. For one all my closest family and friends will be there. Which is just insanely heartwarming. For two, it's being thrown by two of my most favorite people in the whole wide world, Jec-Jec and her Mom. For three, it's going to be so great. For four, the invitations were just amazing. So classy and beautiful. Lastly, I got a new dress just to wear for the shower. And I always get excited for dresses.

Bands is in reference to the fact that we picked out our wedding bands today. It was a lot of fun and they are going to look just great. Wedding bands really suit Mike - which if there's something that has to suit you - good thing it's a wedding band. We go to a really great local jeweler who has really taken the time and patience with us through the whole engagement ring shopping project, Mike's engagement watch project and now the wedding bands. He looks out for us and genuinely enjoys helping us out. We are so grateful and excited to work with him again.

More to come later on how the shower went and what a bridal shower feels like. Right now it feels fortunate and grateful for my friend's & family's love.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

All throughout my high school and college career my friends called me by my last name. Why? Because it's little and fun sounding and hard to spell if you go at it phonetically. I love my last name, and admittedly, I'm really going to miss it. I know I could keep it, but I wouldn't really feel right.

I'm excited about my new last name too. I think it sounds like a movie star name. But I've enjoyed my tenure as a D**i. I guess you could say I'm passing the torch to my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Katie. She also will have the same initials as my Mom ... KCD ... when she becomes a D**i.

I'll just secretly look forward to the times when old college or high school friends, who don't know I'm married, call out "Hey D**i!" I'll smile and it'll be the perfect segway into my good news that "Well, now I'm a P****r!"

Wedding Season

There's nothing going to a wedding to get you excited for your own. Yesterday, May 29, my dear friend Amy got married. She's a coworker of mine, and we immediately bonded over quick-wit and commisseration - it's a happy union (and our significant others are both named Mike!!). She couldn't have had a more perfect day, nor could she have looked more beautiful. I was so happy we were there to help celebrate her marriage.

Seeing her walk down the aisle, watching them recite their vows and then partake in the reception festivities got me more excited than I could imagine for my wedding to Mike. It's going to be a great party to celebrate a wonderful lifetime of joy and happiness.

Can'ting waiting for November!!