~ShOwErEd with lOvE~

So I woke up today with an email from the hair/makeup girl for the wedding saying that she won’t have enough time to provide services for everyone listed and she will “try and find an assistant to come and hopes they aren’t all booked”  this is after I reached out to her to touch base after already giving her this information in late May… total stress/frustration.  On top of the fact that work continually throws new projects my way that I can’t physically complete without working wayyy overtime (which frankly, I’m not motivated to do considering my last day is supposed to be August 31^st).  The same work that hasn’t even started interviewing my replacement which I’m afraid means they’ll want me to continue working… which I really can’t do full time because I have a million other details to finish for the wedding… AHHH!!  Why is it that no matter how far in advance I try to plan things, how on top of it I try to be there are ALWAYS  things that come up?  Life I guess??

Okay, venting time is over, time to remind myself that I am SOOO lucky because I have so many people in my life that are helping and making this entire experience (of getting married) even more exciting and special than I could imagine. 

I’m finally getting around to posting photos of the last few weeks and here are a few from the stunning shower a week and a half ago.

 I am lucky enough to have a mom who is a great planner and friend and even luckier that she has a circle of close friends that are literally like second (and third and fourth and ninth) mom’s to me.  These are women who’ve known me since birth and it means so much to have them be a part of the celebrations. 

~My mom and I~

~The four amazing hostesses~

I adore formal events and love any chance to dress up so the bridal shower was perfect!  The shower was held at McGregor Country Club and was just beautiful from the flowers and candles to the menu cards, to the adorable petit fours for dessert.  I was spoiled with gifts and showered with love!

 

~Last Fling before the Ring~

I spent 10 days back in North Carolina for my Bachelorette weekend, wedding planning, bridal showers and lots of family time.  I was definitely missing Patrick and Sadie while gone but there really is no place like home, especially when you’re home for such fun events! 

We went to Charleston for the bachelorette weekend and it was SUCH a perfect one.  I honestly can’t imagine being any luckier.  It’s been so long since I’ve gone to Charleston without having an agenda and to be able to spend a week in this charming town with 13 of the people closest to me was so incredible!  My sister did have an agenda however, and did such a phenomenal job organizing everyone and planning just enough for our time there while leaving the majority of the time for catching up.  The best part of the weekend was seeing everyone, but there were some other highlights as well:

Irvin House Vineyard and Firefly Distillery

As a surprise on Saturday, we piled into cars and headed about 25 minutes west to Irvin Vineyards, the only domestic winery in Charleston.  They grow the grapes, harvest them, make the wine, and bottle our wines on the property.  It is run by a couple who met while already semi-retired and when they married, decided to follow their dreams and passions of making wine (for Jim) and gardening (for Anne) and planted the grapes in 2001.  Pretty inspiring to take on such a project in retirement and definitely my idea of a retirement plan!  The woman running the little store/gift shop and conducting the tasting were incredibly gracious, so excited to host our group, and just lovely people.  Also helping in running the show are three dogs; Chloe, Cassie, and Harry Potter J. 

On the same property is the home of the Firefly Distillery, which also has a tasting room.  Jim is the co-founder of Firefly and they also have done an incredible job keeping this product local.  For $6.00 you can purchase a flight of six of the ten different varieties of the vodka (including Raspberry, Mint Tea, Peach Tea, and Lemonade) and then purchase what you’d like (the lemonade and spiced rum are only available here for purchase and I’d definitely stock up on the lemonade if you go!).

Dinner at Blossom: YUM.  Dining in Charleston is really always delish, and Blossom was no exception.  I highly recommend the she-crab soup, the yellow fin tuna Carpaccio, and the shrimp and grits (no I didn’t actually eat all of that; best part about going out to eat with 13 girls is sharing!).  We also had amazing BBQ and mac and cheese at Jim N Nicks and a fabulous brunch at High Cotton, which features a jazz band in it’s beautiful bar.

Between the food, cocktails, and best friends anyone could ask for, it was such an incredible weekend and one I’ll forever have wonderful memories from.  *But while it might be last one before I'm an Mrs., it better not really be the last fling - LOVE these girls ;)