Saturday, March 25, 2023

Wedding Planning Timeline

Anna's engagement: a timeline. After getting engaged on October 22, Anna checked out several venues in and around Atlanta, but the prices were astronomical. Figuring prices would be lower in Athens, she looked there.

NOV 11: day trip to Athens with C, A, & Ashley to visit two venues: the Georgian Hotel and The Chapel Athens. The chapel is still very much under construction.

After much discussion, the wedding date is finally picked. Any time after late May was problematic. Anna’s friends had commitments in mid May. Jordan told Anna she will be getting married on May 6, which would’ve been the perfect date. Several conflicts in April: April Fools, G-Day, a bike race, and Taylor Swift concerts. We accept March 4, but when March 25 becomes available, we snatch it up. Not much time.

Anna got her first choice venue, the Chapel, for the same price as the cheaper Georgia Hotel. M brushes up on his wedding cake skills.

Anna needed stamps. I didn’t realize they were for the save the date cards, which never got sent out.

JAN 5: Ceil shops for a mother of the bride dress.

JAN 7: day trip to Athens, looking for available hotels. There are few choices due to availability. Lots of progress on the Chapel.

JAN 11: A&C start wedding counseling meetings at JFBC with Lee & Heather Taylor. Ceil was Heather's Sunday School teacher back when she was in high school.

JAN 19: send the invitations off to the printer. Designed by Anna.

JAN 22: shop for AirB&B’s.

JAN 24: 2nd deposit due.

JAN 25: Anna picks up her wedding dress.

FEB 2: C&A come over to help stuff and address envelopes. 

FEB 3: C discovers the invitations are too heavy, and require a second stamp.

C&A find a house to rent, in Peachtree Hills.

FEB 13: Sunday afternoon the tasting in Athens was at 3 pm. First came out several different appetizers: chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, pimento cheese, goat cheese, roast beef on toast, BBQ. Then two salads to try. Then through a buffet line to sample grilled brussels sprouts, spinach casserole, glazed carrots, macaroni & cheese, grits with a shrimp & sausage gumbo, loaded mashed potatoes, salmon, lemon chicken, grilled peppers, chicken in a tomato sauce, pork tenderloin, and roast beef. Most entres good. I let A&C pick what they want. It's Caleb's first time to see the venue.

A less pressure packed drive home, except since A&C had somewhere to go for the Super Bowl I didn’t take my usual surface street route, but retraced my earlier route of 85 south 285 west and 400 north. While I drove they watched the beginning of the game on their phones.

Feb 17: Ceil works on Anna's veil.

FEB 18: party at Noelle’s, hosted by the Halls, Earharts, Cushings, and Falis’. Prayers of blessing from John, Will, Rob, Lee, Steve, and me.

FEB 19: I buy a navy suit. Not sure when the last time I did that.  Will and Matthew had previously gotten fitted for theirs. I find a nice tie.

FEB 24: third deposit due. Also final selections. I order shoes.

FEB 25: wedding shower.

MAR 4 weekend: the guys weekend in north Georgia.

The girls to Chattanooga.

MAR 10: final guest count due 

MAR 14: A&C pick up their marriage license.

MAR 17: A&C start moving into their Peachtree Hills rental.

MAR 18: A&C buy a sofa. Cake tasting.

MAR 19: problem: the suits aren't navy - they're royal. Switching to black. Conference call with the wedding coordinator. Can't meet: she has covid. An extra nice wedding present:

MAR 20: I run errands most of the day. Pay the photographer & videographer.

MAR 21: Anna works on the seating chart. I run more errands, including picking up 120 sparklers from Phantom Fireworks.

MAR 22: pick up flowers at 3 Porches Farm, east of Comer GA, which is like 16 miles east of Athens, almost to the SC border.

MAR 23: Errands errands errands. Put the finishing touches on the seating chart. Organizing and packing. Matthew picks up the cookies, bakes the cake, and makes the tarts.

MAR 24: Rehearsal dinner in downtown Athens.

MAR 25: Wedding day.

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