AHHHH! I can't believe we have hit the 1 week mark!!!
We met with our venue tonight for our final meeting; it went really well. We decided to add back on the open bar (we originally cut it to beer and wine only, because of cost, but because we had way more no's than expected, we were able to add back in the open bar!).
They told us tonight that they would set up our candy buffet for us, which is a HUGE weight off our shoulders. They usually set up the escort cards/memorial table/guestbook/gift table/etc, but specialty settings, like candy buffets, they prefer that you come in and set it up. They told us tonight that if we set it up at home, take a picture of it, and give the picture to him when we drop everything off on Friday (another huge help), they will set it up for us per the picture. We are setting it up in the ballroom, which no one will be allowed in until dinner, so that gives us time to have someone (like my parents) check on it as soon as they get to the hall after formal church pics and make adjustments as needed.
I have to say, I have totally loved interacting with my venue- they are so laidback about everything. For example, I totally forgot that 50% of the estimated bill is due a month prior- I forgot until 2.5 weeks before the wedding. I panicked, and called Brad, the manager. He was so cool about it, said don't worry, and we had payment to him within a few days (their contract says you get penalized if it's late!). They were very accomodating about any special meals (my RB is Autistic, and only eats certain types of food. They were totally fine with him bringing in his own meal/snacks/juice- many places were not, which really pissed me off, actually), and I loved the fact that they only charge $10 for kids meals (versus $40 at other places) and vendor meals are FREE (they feed them the same thing we are having; versus $40 for sandwiches, $60 for hot meals at some places). He has been very accomodating about all my questions, and has gotten back to me within an hour, no matter what (unless it's late at night). I cannot say enough great things about interacting with Brad and Executive Banquet; I am not giving a final grade until after the wedding, but I can't see, barring some ridiculous mishap, them getting an awesome grade. If you don't have a venue already, PLEASE PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT!
Monday we are getting our marriage license; FI is back in the office on Monday, and his office is next door to the county building. I still need to print out all the signs (memorial table, love is sweet candy buffet, freewill offering sign, donation cards for the tables; we decided to print candy labels for only unwrapped candy, in case someone has an allergy or needs sugar free candy), but other than that, there isn't much that needs to be done. We have to take the cake items (the ribbon for our cake, the Lego toppers and Lego candy for the grooms cake) to the bakery tomorrow. The boys pick up their tuxes on Tuesday, my mom picked up her dress yesterday, my FMIL got hers today, my sister is getting hers hemmed tomorrow (all she needed, and her mom is doing it). I need to pack for the wedding night and following night, send out the general itinerary to everyone, talk to my dad about getting the dog to his place for the wedding day, FI and I need to finalize outfits for the rehearsal dinner, and we need to take a whole bunch of items (clothes, everything wedding) to my moms (since I am spending the night there Friday). I have to call the DJ tomorrow, as I totally forgot to mail in the forms to him, so I scanned them in and am going to ask if I can email them to him (it was a blessing in disguise, since we changed vendors last minute!). I also need to clean our place top to bottom (since my BIL and nephew are staying here Friday night; my sister and nieces are staying at my moms with us).
Luckily, my mom is off all next week, and FI is off Thursday afternoon and Friday. I have a mani/pedi/full set appt on Thursday, but am planning on going in earlier in the week to get my eyebrows done (I don't want to have a reaction or be all red and yuck- I want to give plenty of time for it to look normal!).
Oh, and I need to write a speech for the RD, a speech for the wedding (since FI won't talk), and do FI's card/letter. I have totally procrastinated on those items, and have writer's block a week before...AHHHH!
Anything that was not totally necessary, I scratched. At the beginning of this planning process, two years ago, I had all these detail and intricate plans. Funny how that list drastically shrunk when I got really close! I am sure all of you girls will be the same way, trust me!