Another hotel suggestion, "schedule" and some other stuff...

A new hotel recently opened up in Homewood - pretty much halfway between the ceremony site and the reception site. I had a client stay there a couple of weeks back and he loved it. It's brand new, in a great location, and has terrific specials. It's called Aloft. It is a Starwood Hotel for those of you tracking your points. Right now you can do buy-one-night-get-one-half-off, buy-two-get-the-third-one-free, something about pay $119 for the first night, then the next two are the year of your birth (not counting the 19) - like I would pay $72 because I was born in 1972. Here's something cool, too, they not only allow pets, they pamper them. One guest is bringing her dog, and she (the dog) gets a special bed, bag of treats and some other fun stuff. There is a self-serve cafe there, as well as a restaurant and bar. It's also in a cool little neighborhood with shops and restaurants and galleries. Mmmmm... check out O'Carrs for a cream cheese and cucumber sandwich on french bread.
Here's some other stuff...
For planning purposes, here's the "schedule" for the weekend. I'm off work starting Wednesday. Feel free to come help me do last-minute stuff.
Friday there will be people arriving. No real plans that day, but hopefully can pull together dinner or drinks or something for whoever is in town.
We're working on some fun stuff for Saturday for those of you who will already be here - optional, of course. Soon we'll give you ideas of things we think you really oughtta do while you're in Birmingham. In the meantime, check out "36 Hours in Birmingham" from the New York Times. There's a link on the left-hand side of this blog. It's under "Things We Love".
The rehearsal is scheduled for 4:00 on Saturday. If you're taking part in the ceremony or are immediate family, please plan to be there. We'll get through it quickly, then we have a special Birmingham treat planned for dinner. The hope is to meet up with everyone else who is in town for dessert and/or drinks afterwards.
On Sunday, the ceremony is scheduled for 1:00, immediately followed by cocktail hour and reception.
We're leaving for Atlanta midday on Monday, but feel free to stay and hang out in The 'Ham if you'd like!
I hope that helps a little for your planning...
In other news - after months of dark clouds, frustration, and anxiety through the roof, I am FINALLY getting excited about The Wedding. I have been fretting and freaked out for so long about the planning. This really has been a quite lonely experience - somewhat sad in a way - but I'm through that part now. I am so blessed that Gary has been so supportive and involved over the last 10 months.
I had my first dress fitting yesterday. Gary finally has his ties in a color close to That Blue. Our dining room has turned in to the "wedding room" - it's full of ... well, stuff for The Wedding. We're getting close now - and I am getting excited! This is going to be a lot of fun! I get to marry the most amazing man I've ever known, we get to hang out with people we love and love to spend time with, and I get to be a real princess for the day - and then, when it's over, I get to spend the rest of my life with the hottest guy on the planet. I really am the luckiest girl in the world...