187 Days (23 hours, 31 minutes and 53 seconds...)

Time is flying. I am currently panicking about how it's all going to get done. I just realized it's been almost a month since I blogged at all - completely because I've been too busy. You all know me well enough to know I've always got something to say and am generally not shy about saying it. Just. Too. (Favorite four-letter word + "ing"). Busy. Am in fact writing this at lunch right now because I wanted to get this out to you all because I know you're trying to plan.
Believe me, we know the economy is affecting everyone and everything. We're trying to plan a wedding at possibly the worst financial time in the last, well, since there was a little dinosaur lady who was trying as hard as she could to plan a creative and beautiful and fun and personal wedding without cutting the guest list or using credit cards...
Since we created the guest list, at least 3 people on it have been laid off. This is not a big wedding, folks. That's a lot. Especially considering several guests are still in school, and others either work from home or are self-employed.
We know this is a hard time, but we really, really want those of you who are out of town to be able to come in and be part of our celebration. Here are a couple of things for you to think about if you're sweating being able to make it:
1 - You can always carpool. According to Googlemaps, it's 11 hours and change from Portsmouth. (For lack of another central location, I did actually google it from WAVY to our house. Don't know why I couldn't come up with anything else.) There are a lot of people in Virginia on the guest list, and many of you already know each other. If you're interested in roadtrippin', email me and I'll send you email addresses of other people near you. Honestly, I think it would be fun. It may seem like a long time in the car, but it's a beautiful drive, and no one drives as slowly as Googlemaps would like us to - it's probably more like 10 hours. If you're splitting the cost with a few people, it might make it tolerable. Maybe you'll make new friends! Also remember it's a holiday weekend - you'll have all day Monday to get back.
2 -- Share a room. I am still working on hotel rooms and rates. I seriously have just been too busy to drive to a bunch and check them out. (I did check out a Bed & Breakfast this weekend in Birmingham - the ONLY B&B in Birmingham - and there is nfw I'm letting any of you stay there. Quick side story: Ira, the "innkeeper", was like a more effeminate Norman Bates wearing a way-too-tight black leather vest. There were full-sized carousel horses in this place, a peacock with it's thing all spread out in the fireplace, and tables were littered with little teacups and saucers and other dainty Victorian crap. In one of the "very affordable" suites, the sitting room was stufffed full with I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP little dolls and doll carriages and bassinets all posed with their plastic eyeballs staring right at you. Another room had this massive wedding dress all fluffed out and shaped and draped. It was horrific. Ira was so proud of it all. I was so creeped out it was all I could do to not run down the original oak steps and straight out the front door shrieking. But had I done that, I would have had to pass by - again - the wicker rocking chairs on the porch with bunnies placed just-so on them. I physically shuddered for about 30 minutes after leaving this place. I hate B&Bs anyway, and prefer not to stay in them, but this was ridiculous. I will not allow any of you to stay there. Period.) So anyway, I'm working on checking out real hotels for you, but while I do, please remember you can bunk with someone. Again, many of you know each other already, and if you don't, I'm sure we can match you up with someone we think you would like. After all, we think you're all pretty cool, so I'm sure you'll like each other, even if it's just well enough to enjoy a weekend together. I'm paying particular attention to hotels that offer suites so there will be more room in them, should you decide to split the cost and share with someone.
3 -- Share a car. If you do go ahead and fly in, think about sharing a rental car with someone. For the third time, many of you already know each other. And if you don't, we trust you each enough to recommend you to a person you could share a car with and know you won't hack them up into little pieces or purposefully run anyone into a telephone pole. Most likely you'll be going to many of the same places anyway, might as well split the cost. Want some names? Email me.
That's what I've got for now, mostly because it's time for me to get back to work. I promise I'm working on the hotels. The one I did already look at (that's attached to a mall and has a steakhouse and bar, etc. in it) ran about $119/night I think. That one's also a little out of the way, but it has a lot to do during down time. My uncle told me the other day he found one that's about 15 minutes from our house and the reception site, and about 20 or so from the ceremony site for about $49/night - and that's for a suite with an extra pull out sofa. I'm going to drive down and look at that one with my own eyes before I recommend it, but I think it's pretty new, so I can't imagine it's all that bad. I may be able to do that Saturday, but will be busy working the second job because, as I said, we're trying to plan a wedding in the worst financial time in history without cutting the guest list or using credit cards...