To Be Continued...

Chronicles of the Tech Princess - The Chicago Years

Our Wedding Day

Saturday, October 15, 2005 - I awoke around 8AM, had the requisite coffee prior to shower, etc. Then headed to the beauty salon for my hair appointment. It took Andrea less than an hour to fix my hair and put in the veil. Amazing!!!

Of course, since the beauty salon is located close to Starbucks I was compelled to stop in for a cup of coffee. You have to picture this - it is 11 AM and I am in jeans and a button up sweater, no make up but with hair and a wedding veil. The girl behind the counter asked me if I was going to a wedding!

To be continued...

Earring lost...

The Rehearsal Day

Friday, October 14, 2005 - Two weeks of no work, of joy and sadness and now the time was finally here - the day before my wedding. It started with a trip to the airport to pick up my fiance' and then to Sharon's for a pedicure. We then met my sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Bill, for lunch. We'd planned the Cheesecake Factory but one look at the line (it had only been open maybe a month) told us we needed an alternative. So, off to ...


Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Diane

to be continued

The Preparations

January to October, 2005 - Once our engagement became official, then the "fun" of planning began. Our date with the church was booked almost a year ahead of time, long before Dave officially asked me to marry him. Our reception site was booked in December of 2004. Two big ticket items off of the long, long list.

The next big item was finding a wedding dress. Deb, my matron of honor went with me one Saturday in February. A stop at Starbucks over coffee and bridal magazines was really helpful and narrowed the choices. I wound up purchasing the second dress I tried on. It was perfectly me, so why look any further??

Dave's mother agreed to do the flowers for us so that was another headache I didn't have to contend with. My sister and brother-in-law agreed to play prelude music, and one of Dave's friends was on board to play and sing for the ceremony.

Thankfully I made use of a wedding website (theweddingchannel.com) which helped considerably in sorting out the details for this first time bride. I don't know what I would have done without a checklist like that to help keep me somewhat on track in the planning.

I was a little late in searching for a photographer, but finally found one who's work I liked and who was available.

Free massages - I don't think so!

We're Engaged!

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - Since we met on a cruise, where else but a cruise ship would Dave propose?

THE FACTS: Sunday, January 16, 2005 - somewhere in the Caribbean aboard the Caribbean Princess. Deck 7 (the Promenade deck) at approximately 8 PM, first formal night of the 2005 KT and Friends cruise.

We took a walk outside along the promenade deck just before dinner. It was a fairly warm, but the ship was moving so there was a strong, cool breeze blowing. We sat on a bench and talked a bit about the history of our relationship. Then Dave asked me to marry him and I said yes (of course!). And yes, for the inquiring minds, he was on one knee when he asked!!

Louisville Christmas 2004

It shall be remembered as the "layer cake" snowfall... ice, snow, ice and more snow on top of it.

Started on 12/23 - left work early.
Dave to arrive early evening but was delayed. Could not get out of the drive and had to ask him to take a cab from airport. Cab got stuck in the snow. He finally arrived around 1AM 12/24.

Missed going to Christmas Eve Joyce's.

Also did not go to Washington, IN as planned for visit with sister and brother-in-law.

Here is a picture of Dave with an ice block from the deck of the house. This was taken prior to his knocking me down with it! :)

20/20 Christmas Party

Iced in Chicago!!!