I know I keep saying this, but time is passing by so quickly. I can't believe the wedding is less than two months away - there is still SO much to do!
Remember how I said there are NO open weekends until the wedding?! Well, stick around for the ride. Here is the latest update, weekend-to-weekend.
February 27 I had a wedding shower. It was given by the sweet ladies at Cristy's office. We had champagne punch, a variety of delicious quiches, a divine hashbrown potato casserole, and beautiful decadent petit fours. These women have worked with Cristy since Wade was born; it was so special to celebrate with people who have known us since our beginning.
The next weekend (March 6) was our double church wedding shower. We are truly blessed by our wonderful church family. We had the largest spread of breakfast casseroles, desserts, coffee, and punch; you name it, we had it! It was lovely - Ellen and I each had our own 'special' chair to sit in and our own individual gift tables. It took us an hour to open all of our gifts. Some were handmade and some were off of our registry. I love each and every one in a very special way. The sixteen, yes, 16 hostesses are amazing women, each with so much love, hospitality, and generosity. We are fortunate to know them have then in our lives.
March 12-14 we headed to Dallas! Ellen, Kara (el's MOH), me, Jenni (my BOH), Susanna and Katy (el's bmaids) celebrated her BaChElOrEtTe PaRtY! We wined and dined ALL weekend at some of the most delicious, well-known restaurants in downtown Dallas. Friday night we checked in and got ready. We had dinner and drinks in the hotel and then went to Plush and Mantus, two bars downtown. It was so much fun and we danced all night! Saturday we arose
and had mimosas and brunch at Taverna, a little Italian bungalow. After brunch, we headed over to North Park for some shopping. We ordered in Patrizio's and went back to the hotel to eat and relax! After, we had Ellen's lingerie shower and then got ready to go out for round 2. Drinks and more dancing at the W's Ghost Bar and Fire Hose. Sunday afternoon, before heading out of town, we had lunch at one of my favs, Celebrity at Highland Park. The weekend was full of good laughs, great food, and the best of friends!
Up next, March 19-21 was my Bachelorette Weekend! Friday, 14 of my best friends traveled south of Fort Smith to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Oh.My.Gosh. What a weekend it was!?! After eating IHOP, hah, we left for the Spa City. Upon arrival we immediately had a toast to start the weekend off right! Next was Happy Hour downstairs in the Embassy and then we all headed up
the elevator to get ready for the night! Dinner was at Back Porch Grill - it was so good - and then headed back to the hotel for my lingerie shower. I received some of the prettiest, delicate 'pretties' anyone could ever want. Each outfit was named by my bridesmaids. My trousseau is going to be filled with the most beautiful ensembles. After a fashion show, we headed to Bogart's for some dancing and fun. Saturday morning we all met for a yummy breakfast downstairs. Made-to-order omelets, pancakes, french toast, fruit, oatmeal, grits, biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes, all kinds of juice, coffee were just a FEW of the options one could choose from to fill their tummy. The concierge called a ride for us to go to the Quapaw Spa. Each of us got into the warm, hot spring water and relaxed. Some got spa packages; I received, as a gift, what was called the Southern Comfort. It consisted of a 60 minute massage, a 60 minute facial, a foot scrub and wrap, and a drink. The SC was a slice of heaven! Oh my goodness, it was wonderful! After relaxing a few minutes longer, we headed back to the hotel to pick up the rest of the girls for the races!! One of my bridesmaids, Jenni, had the cutest tshirts made for us to wear. How fun it was for all of us to wear them out! A couple bloody marys and a reuben later, we were all having a blast! Some placed bets, most lost, some won! It was so much fun! Dinner Saturday night was at Belle Arti, a delicious Italian restaurant. They offer the most wonderful appetizers and homemade pastas... and tiramisu. YUM. Can you tell we all LOVE to eat? hah - for the last night out, we headed to Smiley's, a fun bar on Lake Hamilton. We again, danced all night! I have the BEST friends a girl could ask for. I am blessed to have each of them in my life and can not imagine this special time without them! LOVE them ALL.
In between, our menu was finalized, we finalized the song list for
the band, grooms' cakes have been ordered, and our A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. wedding invitations came in and were quickly mailed. I have to say, I would not be able to do everything without Ellen. I can't say enough how thrilled I am to be sharing this time/day with her. I can't imagine it any other way!
Wadey has been working, working, working. He, amidst all of the planning, is finishing school and keeping me sane! His heart and wit is what keeps me so happy. We are still trying to decided what to do about a home... build, rent, buy. Please pray we find something to call our home, even if it is temporary.
This weekend is our last Kamp family rendezvous. Dad, mom, El, me, and John are headed to one of our favorite cities, Saint Louis. Looking forward to spending time with them and making more memories.
