Update!

Wow, a month is a very long time to wait for a "Wedding Wednesday" update. Let's just say, it's been a crazy month. We've had our ups and downs and I think most of the hard stuff is accomplished.

I didn't even look to see where I was the last time I posted, but I'm assuming it was somewhere around...nothing was done! Pretty sure I hadn't dress shopped and was hopeless about the Hilton.

Where we are today: We have the Hilton booked for Friday, December 4, 2009 now. And I've found, purchased, and ordered my dress!

How we got there: Ugh...such a exhausting story. After back and forthing with my parents over how much to spend...we settled on an amount. Basically I just threw my hands up in the air and said "fine...whatever". I contacted the Hilton via email to see if there was anything the sales manager, Eileen, could do about helping us out with the price, since the current amts were just out of our budget. After a few emails back and forth, she offered me 10% off the menu prices and let us include bar revenue into the minimum we had to spend. Perfect. Fine. Oh but one catch...you have to move the date to Friday. Grr...This totally messed our 12/5 relation up. (Through marriage prep at church, Bobby and I discovered that a few of our sacraments were made on either 12/5 or 5/12 so we saw this as a cool "sign" type of thing.) Ok, fine, we're flexible...

So I called the church...and called...and emailed...and called...etc to try to get ahold of the deacon to see if we could switch our day. Finally after like 5 days he calls me back. Yes, the church is available, yes we can move our date. Great, let's do it. I call Eileen, tell her it's a go and we'll be down there Friday or Saturday (June 6) to sign the contract.

Friday, my parents and I go down there...happy, excited...whoo hoo, something's getting done! La-dee da, I sign the contract. Eileen says, "Are you going to the Bridal Show tomorrow?" I say, "Well, we were thinking about it." She replies, "Oh great, we'll have a booth set up, stop by and say 'hi'". Well, isn't that nice...sure, let's go! Mom, Brielle and I decide to go to the Bridal Show on Sunday.

About 30 minutes into walking the aisles at the show, we come across the Hilton's booth. Big neon flashing sign on the LCD screen, posters everywhere....30% OFF!!!!! Uh, what? I casually ask the man standing in front of me...ha haha "What if I just booked 2 days ago?? Can I get this deal?" "Hmm...I think you'll have to talk to Eileen." Eileen walks up...."Hi...so glad you came!" Uh yeah. "Hey...we just booked 2 days ago, we want this deal too!" In an 'office space tone' "Yeahhhhhhhh" *shrug of the shoulders* My mother and I are furious. We get a "we'll talk" from her and storm off. The rest of show was a complete waste...all I could think about was how this woman knew that 2 days after we booked she was going to give everyone else 30% off. Oh and it was supposedly a "bridal show" discount only. Meaning you had to book there or at least book a site visit and if you booked the room you'd get the discount...but only for bridal show peeps. Whatever.

My mom tells my dad, my dad freaks out. Monday morning my dad calls Eileen and explains how this is horrible business...yada yada yada...we get the 30% off. But we still have to meet the minimum sales amt...so basically we get to host 2 hours of bar service now for FREE! Super! We go down Wednesday morning, sign a new contract...all is well. SIGH OF RELIEF. Oh but I did notice a sign up in the lobby of the Hilton. The same sign from the Bridal Show. 30% OFF...guess it wasn't Bridal Show only. Games.

The same day I originally signed the contrat, my mom, dad, and I went back to Uptown Bridal in Chandler and purchased my dress too! Yay! I got to try it on again...yep, still love it! So it should be here in September.

I've been looking at ideas for favors online. Just need to make a decision! I have a flower lady I need to contact to get a price estimate. Although, my grandmother used to work in the flower business and has offered to make my bouquet. Wouldn't that be special? She says I can just give her a picture and she can make anything. I'm sure she can make the other bouquets and boutaneers (sp) too. Don't know about decor flowers though...trying to keep that very simple. Bobby and I need to go to Cathy's Rum Cake and sample and order our cake. I think I have the guest list done though. Gosh, The Knot.com really helps keep me organized!

Ok, I'll try to be better about updating this now...had a rough, busy month!