Michael and I meet Dave at the lounge at the Doubletree Hotel in Waltham. The meeting goes well, Dave seems like a very nice, funny, and reliable guy. And not too pushy. It sounds like he would be accommodating to doing the wedding how we want - not how he wants. So this is looking promising. If we go with him we can also book the cocktail hour/dinner music we have in mind though Curtis International as well so that would make it easier. After this meeting I decide it is not worth our time to even go and meet with this Ron Bartell guy. Work has been too crazy. I can't keep cutting out at 5:30 to meet with wedding vendors! So I call Ron and cancel. He doesn't seem to phased. I don't even think he knew who I was. Hmmph. But we have one more DJ I want to meet before we make the final decision next week. His name is Bruce Shannon and he is in Rockport. Our appointment is next Tuesday night - I'm looking forward to this because we're going out for a lobster dinner afterwards - and the first steamers of the summer YUM! Will keep you posted as to the final DJ decision, but it looks like it will be wrapped up as of next week. Thank goodness.

Car Fun:
Well the DJ stuff has been stressful, but the transportation "shopping" has been fun so far. We decided to go with a vintage car for Michael and I. We tossed around maybe borrowing a friend of his white Porsche, but decided neither of us wanted to be driving - just relaxing! So I saw an add for a vintage car company in Waltham, Pedersen Livery and called them up. The rates were reasonable so I made us an appointment to go out and see the cars. What an experience. They have this huge garage under their house with about 10 classic white cars. There were some Model T's, two stretch Model T's, two Rolls Royce Silver Clouds and two Packards (and some others which I have forgotten). I really liked the stretch Model T's but because the wedding is in April, we would probably have had to have the plastic sides on which I thought looked awful so that was a NO. I had initially thought we'd go with one of the Silver Clouds but on closer look, I really didn't like them and neither did Michael. It turned out we both really liked the Packards. They look like something out of a Scott Fitzgerald novel. I loved it. Classy and funky - a perfect combination. I really like the suicide doors (though I have no idea why they are called this), that open up opposite of normal doors so the whole side of the car is exposed. The one we chose is a 1937 Packard and you can see it in the picture above, top right. As much as I like the car itself, the name sounds so fuddy-duddy. Packard. Sounds like a Howard Cunningham car. Oh well! So that is one part done, now for the limos for the bridal party and parents and grandparents. (Photo courtesy of Pedersen livery).

We went out to Rose's Limousine in Waltham (for some strange reason Waltham is polluted with wedding vendors - I have never been there so much in my life as in the last three months!) tonight to check out some limos. They were nice, they were limos, not much to tell. I really just wanted to see the company and make sure it looked reputable. Not just a house with some limos in the driveway saying for rent, if you know what I mean. Rose was very nice and showed us around the cars. She seems to be a little higher than a place we're going to check out in Medford next week, but she was very nice and the cars were in great shape. You usually get what you pay for....so we'll see. She said they will probably have the 2000 models by our wedding as well which would be neat. So no decision here yet, but looking good!

Dinner with the Ladies:
Monday night the wonderful ladies in the bridal party (except for Hang who couldn't make it) went out to dinner at Artu in Beacon Hill - very yummy! I just wanted to get everyone together before Bonny and Kim went off to school in the fall. We looked at some dresses in the magazines and it seems like we all have the same taste so I think we will be ok. Now if only I could find the time to actually go dress shopping! I think I'm going to try to go next Friday in the morning before we drive home to PA for the weekend. So much to do! Would definitely like to get this done by October though so we have enough time for alterations without having to worry.

A Surprise in the Mail:
This week we got a lovely surprise in the mail from Mark and Liron, who were traveling through Europe, Israel, and Thailand on the way home to Australia. For an engagement/housewarming gift they sent us some beautiful crystal wine glasses from Israel. Liron has a similar set, and whenever we'd go over to their place I was always so nervous drinking out of them because they are so beautiful and delicate. Well I guess I better get used to it now! So many thanks to both of you - can't wait to have you over to use them, though I guess it will be awhile, sniff sniff. Mark, Liron, Michael and Lisa

DJ Number 2:
Well we went to meet with Bruce Shannon - the DJ in Rockport - last Tuesday (the 17th). The meeting went very well. He was very chatty - although he assured us he is not during the wedding! He actually was just very nice, very honest, and being a sound engineer really seemed to know what he was talking about, in not just providing great music but great sound as well. There were many little things that made me lean towards going with him. After the meeting I was surprised to find Michael was ambivalent and liked both DJs equally. After I pointed out some reasons why I liked Bruce better - most specifically that he sets up a pre wedding meeting to sit down with you and discuss everything. DJ Dave seemed to rely more on the fax machine. That, in addition to other small points, pushed us over to Bruce. So I called him yesterday, the 24th, to confirm and am now just waiting to hear back. He said the date was on hold for us so hopefully it will all work out! And unfortunately, the meeting ran so late, we didn't have time to go out for lobster - we had to get home for the dog! Oh well, maybe next time!

Registering at the Bon-Ton:
Well this weekend, the 21st, we went home to Pennsylvania. The two main purposes were to bring my old car home for my brothers and to register at the Bon-Ton. The Bon-Ton is an East Coast department store, primarily mid-Atlantic I believe, and my mom has worked there for the past 8 years or so. One reason we are registering so early is because my family is planning a shower in PA in October. The shower is so early so that people will not have to travel in the winter months of November-March. So this was just a start on the registry so it will be up in time for the shower. It was actually quite fun and the woman who helped us had the patience of a saint. We really had no idea what we would like. But it seemed to all come together. The one thing we are having a hard time picking out is China - nothing really appeals. Oh well - I guess its out there somewhere! We still need to pick a nationwide store to register at before the wedding. We're leaning towards Macy's or Crate & Barrel. We'll see :-)

August 25th:
I received wonderful news from my friend and maid-of-honor Trang today - she and her boyfriend Andrew are now engaged! I am so happy for both of them - not to mention the fact that now I have someone to really commiserate with in all this wedding planning! Congratulations to both of you! (That's the four of us to the right).

August 31st:
Here is the last entry for August - I can't believe how fast time is flying! As of September 19th we will be engaged nine months! How crazy is that? I feel like I have so little accomplished! But at long last we have booked a DJ. This is a very large weight off of my shoulders. I am very happy with Bruce, he's funny and helpful - a good DJ combination! So that's done, at least for awhile - now we need to think of what songs to play - like first dance, last dance, mother/son, father/daughter, etc....UGH! Still need to finalize the traditional limos but that requires minimal stress :-)

This weekend I went to San Francisco with Trang, my maid of honor, and Kim, one of my bridesmaids. It was lots of fun - San Francisco definitely has some amazing restaurants! YUM! While we were there we went to the Jessica McClintock store and tried on some Bridesmaids dresses, and actually I did most of the trying on! I would never ask someone to wear a dress for 12 plus hours that I myself wouldn't wear or feel comfortable in! It was fun and we got some good ideas, two that we may even run by all the girls. I hope to do some dress shopping this weekend as well so we'll see what that turns up! Other than that, not too much else going on. Time to rest up before tackling September's goals!