Sit Back, Relax and PLAN A WEDDING!

Welcome To My Office.

Once a year, I am required to take a check ride. This entails a written examination administered by my employer, AirTran Airways. It also includes an oral examination and a flight check administered by a person designated by my employer and approved by the FAA. It is all encompassing. Lots of my fellow aviators believe they become less stressful as the years go by. I have not found that to be the case. I fear failure. I have never failed a portion of a check ride and always fear that the next one could be it. I study. I study. I study some more. I get a little nervous. I hope I don't say something wrong. I hope I understand the way the question was posed. I don't want to come across as unprepared. I study some more. I am in the middle of planning a wedding. No time. I study. I hope that when my examiner asks me about the engines on my jet I don't talk about the bead work on my gown. I fear that when he asks me about the landing gear and brakes I don't spill off our menu. Did I mention that Dr. Youssef, the Rector presiding over our ceremony has only preformed 5 weddings in the last 10 years and 4 of those were for family members? I study. Today, I took my annual check ride. I got to talk about all kinds of airplane stuff like: EECs, VIAs, ECUs, PCDUs, GENs, BATTS, MDA, VDP, MAP, DH, DA, RNAV, ZFW, MGW, TOW, CG, FARs, JEPs, APUs. No one asked me about the most important aspect about my life right now, the big gig that is quickly approaching. I had to spit out limitations. Immediate action items. Procedures. The good news is that I passed. It is over. I remembered the most important thing of all when it comes to check rides, "pull up, houses get smaller. Push forward, houses get bigger". I am done for a year. I can flush all of the above acronyms. I can now focus on the most important acronym of all, losing LBs because my parents are making me wear white in October.

Three Months and Counting Down!

Some of you may not realize this, but Tad and I are getting HITCHED! We are going to be heading down the aisle three months from today and I couldn't be more excited. There is SO much to do between now and then, I have lists for the lists and will be double and triple checking everything to make sure everything is in order - but not until next Thursday. I am not allowing myself to obsess over our "big gig" until after my checkride (oral and practical flight tests) is over next Wednesday. So until then, good-bye blogging buddies. I have some cramming to do.

Everything Happens In Threes - Even Good Stuff!

Fortunately, after returning from vacation, I had a few days to "get 'er done!" - as our dear friend Paul would say. That being said, three significant things happened in the planning world of our wedding.

1) Our contract with the hotel (Ritz-Carlton downtown Atlanta) has been finalized and our guests can now book rooms effective immediately at a rate of $149/night for a standard room or $209/night for club level. That can be accomplished either via the Internet at:

www.ritzcarlton.com/atlanta

then imputing PHWPHWA in the group code or by calling 1-800-542-8680 and citing the Petrick/Hutcheson Wedding

Rooms are guaranteed for Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 but the Ritz Carlton has assured me that those who may need the rooms earlier will be accommodated at the group rate for the duration of their stay.

2) TIFFANY CALLED! Tad's ring is IN! Wow. We can go pick it up at any time.

3) Our invitations have been printed and are in my grubby hands. They are even more beautiful than the proofs eluded they would be. I love, love, love them! Our printer (the greatest EVER) is going to address all of the envelopes for us, which will not only make them look beautiful but saves my poor mother from massive hand cramping. YEAH!

You Are Invited But You May Not Bring A Guest

We have returned from an amazing week in Saint Maarten. That is what the Dutch call the Island. We were on the French side, known as Saint Martin. In either case, we have returned. We had a wonderful time, caught a lot of sun, had amazing food, great massages and even found some time to do a little shopping. The only thing we didn't do is worry about the "big gig" that is sneaking up on us.

When we returned, we hunkered down and made some serious progress on our guest list. As I have said before, we can sit 180 for dinner. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? You aren't marrying Tad Hutcheson. I was so afraid that I would only be able to invite my parents. After sitting down and having an "A-HA!!" moment, I realized I could also invite my wedding party, who assumed they would be invited for dinner. I even have space for some of my friends! And some of my parents friends! WOOT! 180 sure does add up quickly. That being said, after triple checking our list I made a command decision. For those singletons being invited who are not seriously involved with another person, I have decided that we are not going to do "and guest" invitations. It enables us to include more of our friends and maybe those friends will make some new ones! Everyone wins!

This is the most difficult task either one of us has ever undertaken. But it is mostly done and now we can put it behind us....

A Whole Lot Of Progress!

I was never a list maker by nature until I got engaged. Now, I have lists for the lists I have made. I find this to be a kin to holding a sister down. There is always a list that needs to be attended to. Just when I think I have made a little headway, someone either brilliantly gives me advice or an idea that is worthy of a list or I see something along the way that conjures "Add THAT to the list". Frustrating even to myself.

Tad has noticed the change in his once happy go lucky, free spirited girlfriend who has become maniacal over having the perfect wedding. This is evidenced by the numerous lists in both his home and mine. He suggested hiring a wedding coordinator. He went so far as to interview a couple of them for me. I added that to the list of things to consider.

We decided that we needed to get away from hectic offices, busy flight schedules and lists so we are off tomorrow to have a week away from everything. In the mean time, I took full advantage of all day light hours today tackling lists. Some of the items accomplished included:

1) securing a block rate of rooms for our guests. We scored BIG TIME. Ritz-Carlton, downtown Atlanta has offered us rooms at a rate of $149/night or $209/night for Club Level. Contract signed and placed in the mail.

2) Invitations and wording finally chosen. Once the proof of the RSVP card (ha!) is shared, invitations will be printed.

3) Photographer contract signed. Erika is amazing!

4) Cake deposit placed and contract signed. Our cake guy is the most talented baker I have ever seen and I know that our guests will be blown away by his creations.

5) I begged (well, okay only had to ask nicely) for my mom to come for a weekend. She jumped at the chance and I SO look forward to her coming to share in the "joy" of planning our wedding.

6) We secured our wedding coordinator. WHEW! Tad was right (score one for groom) he found Liz and I just adore her. She reminds me a lot of me. Well, at least in the way that we both have blonde hair. She is smart, organized, detail oriented and really fun. I am so glad that we decided to have her coordinate all things lapis and apple on October 24.

Now, we are getting away from all this. Lists included. However, I DO plan to have the MOST IMPORTANT list done by the time we return. That is is our GUEST LIST. Daunting. Limiting. Ugly. Probably a lot of cigars smoked and wine drunk during this list making. Everyone tells me it is the hardest part. I agree. If you happen to see larges plumes of smoke emerging from the Caribbean, please send for help. That means I have drown and Tad has smoked himself out finishing our most important list of all, who we get to invite........