Whirlwind Wedding Planning Weekend!

Though I had just seen her in Japan not two weeks before, I knew Ellie was making a quick trip home for wedding planning.  I really had not intended on joining her, as I knew her sister, Emily, and family on her dad's side, would likely help with all of that.  Yet, as a MOMMA, I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by.  With just a few day's notice, I was able to cash in some air miles, pay $11.50, and I was on my way to Indiana after class last Thursday.  

I didn't arrive to Indianapolis until after midnight, and after I picked up my rental car and drove to my friend Susan's (she and her family were my last visitors in China this past June :) it was nearly 1am. Only Mittens the kitty was up and waiting for me!  It was a very short night, and at 6:15am the next morning, Mike treated me to some delicious ginseng tea (also from China) and we spent an hour catching up as dawn was breaking.  You know you are friends for life when you fall in step and pick up right where you left off- no matter the time or distance between visits.  We invariably share some laughs, and with Susan, it's just EASY.  I love that girl; it's hard to believe that we have been friends for nearly thirty years.

I had a tight schedule to keep as I had to drive from Indianapolis to Pendleton to meet Ellie at 8:15am, who was coming from her dad's in New Castle.  I quick run through McDonald's for some much needed coffee, and we were on our way.  The girl knows the way to my heart, too. She stopped and got me a caramel-no-nuts Jack's Donut!  I was in Donut heaven!!!

The first appointment was at 10:30am at catering place in downtown Ft. Wayne.  Ellen had found this place on the internet, and what suited her was that it was a 'one stop shop' for wedding planning. They will deliver and set up in Warsaw, IN, where the wedding and reception will take place in the back yard of her dad's lake cottage on Chapman Lake.

We both walked straight to these table center pieces. Replace
the purple buds with blooms or berries in dusty rose? Done.

The birch wood, scarf, and taupe table cloths?  Done.

One cannot have enough twinkly lights. Done.

A chandelier over the dance floor?  In the same
ashen gray as the dance floor planks? Done and done.

In keeping with the outdoors woodsy theme....
Some greenery and more twinkly lights to hang about? Done.

A chalkboard for seating, mini chalkboards on
the tables, perhaps a different take on the guestbook,
lanterns to line the sidewalk to the tent, and a white
porta-potty to match? Done, done, done, done, and done!
Seriously planned the entire look of the wedding
and reception, down to the fresh flowers and candles
for the tables, all in less than 1.5 hours. The girl knows
what she wants!  She is decisive like her momma :)

Next we had to drive to Wakarusa to meet with a caterer.
I had no idea I was going that far north in Indiana!  We went
right through Nappanee; my childhood stomping grounds :)

We passed one buggy,

...after another,

...and nearly every Amish home had their laundry
on the line on a sunny, but bitterly cold winter's day.
 Friday must be wash day for the Amish!  

Funny story on the caterer....Nelson's used to be called Nelson's Golden Glo Portapit Chicken.  All through my junior high and high school years in band, we had Nelson's Chicken BBQ's as a fund raiser, where we would sell tickets and put on a band concert for the public. The chicken is amazing...nothing tastes quite like it.  On occasion, my brother Kent will work several events for them each year when they need extra hands on deck for the busy summer catering season.  I was shocked that Nelson's was one of the caterers on my daughter's list.  After we met with them, discussed the menu options, and made a few changes?  Done.  No need to meet with the other caterer.  I told you she's decisive!

Next we drove to Martin's, the family owned grocery store that originated in my hometown of Nappanee.  They have since expanded to several towns in northern Indiana, one of them being Warsaw, near Chapman Lake.  We hightailed it from Wakarusa to Warsaw to meet with the bakery and florist shop.  Ellie again was clear on what she wanted in the way of a cake, and we hit our first struggle at Martin's.  There were very few options for flavors, or designs, and the cake would be brought down from South Bend, which meant it could not be tiered, etc., etc., etc.  After messing around on the computer for twenty minutes or so, we put those thoughts on hold for the time being to meet with the florist. It just was not 'feeling right.'

The manager in the Florist shop of Martin's was a sweetheart, but like many others, she wanted to schedule an appointment, as she was busy preparing flowers for a funeral. We explained 'ain't nobody got that kinda time', as Ellie was on a quick visit from Japan, and I flew up from Florida for just two days. 'Alrighty, then!', she says, and she grabbed a scrap pf paper and began writing.  Again, in a matter of minutes, she 'got' Ellie and the look she was going for....lots of greenery, simple, and 'natural', but elegant.  She needed a $50 deposit, and said she would have the estimate along with some photos to her by the next day. She kept her word. Done.

Ellie checked Google maps, and there was only one private bakery in Warsaw, that was closing in 30 minutes. We took a chance and zoomed downtown to Betty's cake shop- a family owned operation for several generations. I was a bit breathless when we entered their shop, and when the lady said we needed an appointment to plan a wedding cake, I said that wouldn't do...could we just have a few minutes of her time? As the woman left for the back room to get a scrap of paper, Ellie scolded me for sounding too harsh and unfriendly.  Seeing the board in the shop and that they had the very flavors Ellie was hoping to get, when she returned, I made my apologies and we got off to a better start.  In 10 minutes, just before closing time, Ellie had exactly the cake she wanted, bought and paid for, (with a discount) which ended up being $50 less than anything she could have gotten from Martin's. Done.

Boom baby for Betty's cakes!!!

To round out the remainder of the afternoon, we stopped at her
dad's cottage on Chapman Lake to get a closer look, to walk off
the dimensions of the tent, and to plan where the ceremony will
take place by the water.  It will be at 5:00pm, as the sun descends
lower in the sky, hopefully on a bright blue sky day teeming
with the colors of fall.  Save the date; October 6th, 2018!

On the drive home, in an effort to save some more money,

Ellie got on Amazon, and I talked her through all the table

service, bar glasses, napkins and other paper products she will

need for the reception. She searched from her phone and placed

things in her cart, and before we reached our exit, all of that was

done, too! Check the wedding and reception off the list!

After ALL that driving, we pulled in to Emily's with just
fifteen minutes to spare.  It was Friday night pizza night,
and Andrew, Ness and the kids brought the pizzas.  We
broke in to the wine cabinet for a little celebration, then
played the new game, What Do You Meme?  Hilarious!
(And oh so very wrong at times! Cover your ears, kids! 🙉)

I sure love dem babies and grand babies 💕

On Saturday morning we were back on the road to Winchester,
Indiana, for an appointment at Rose Gate Bridal.  Saturday was
wedding dress shopping day, bridesmaid dress shopping day,
and momma of the bride dress shopping day.  We had
three appointments and were hoping we strike gold!

Deborah, the owner of Rose Gate, and Gayle,
her tailor, were awesome ladies to work with-
we loved this place already! What a great start to the day.

We got to play the game, Love it, or Leave it!
(With strict orders that we were NOT to express
any opinion until Ellie spoke first, lol)

All I can say is after a half dozen misses and a few maybes,
she came out with the biggest, most genuine smile on her
face that it gave the ladies goose pimples and I got tears!

Can I get a triple 'Love It'?!?!
Deborah said that trying on dresses isn't
about the bride finding the right dress, it
is about the dress finding the right bride.
I couldn't agree more.... more tears 😂

Truthfully, it wasn't quite that simple.  As we left Winchester
on our way to David's Bridal in Indianapolis, Ellie wanted to
cancel the other two appointments, and turn around to purchase
THE DRESS. Emily and I both agreed that she owed it to
herself to try some others, just to be certain.  We had the
most delightful consultant, Chelsea, at David's Bridal. While
in the dressing room, Ellie told her that she thought she may
have found THE DRESS at another store. Chelsea was so
charming. Though she tried on another 4-5 dresses, one
of which she really liked, Chelsea asked to see a photo of
Ellie in the other dress.  When Emily handed her the phone,
it was Chelsea who said, "Oh no, THIS is the dress Ellie,"
then she promptly found her the perfect pair of shoes. Done!
Next up? Emily trying on bridesmaids dresses.  Done.
The last appointment of the day was cancelled.

Then momma found her dress, too.  And with that, as
Chelsea was ordering our dresses, I called back Rose Gate,
and gave her my credit card. Ellie said yes to the dress:)

With that, we stopped at the grocery, and headed back to Emily's home in Pendleton.  I fixed dinner for everyone, and Todd (the girl's father) joined us, too, so we could fill him in on all the details of the last two days.  With all the business taken care of, we cleared our dinner plates and enjoyed the rest of the evening playing cards. Such fun to be with family again! It made this momma's 💗happy!

Ellie sent me this today; her invitations are now
ordered, too.  She returned to Rose Gate Bridal
for a first fitting, and she made their web page:
http://rosegatebridal.com/  Check her out!

By golly, we did it!  Planned an entire wedding in less than 48 hours-
no shot guns involved, either.  I can't wait to share this special day
with friends and family.  My baby girl is going to be a beautiful bride 👰

G'nite, y'all!