Liking the Driver's Seat

I have a confession to make.

I am a closet control freak.  Or as I'd like to call it -- "hands on."

I have tried to relinquish the reins of life -- but planning and wedding just isn't the time or place to do it.

I count myself pretty lucky that those around me can go with my flow.  This includes taking part in stenciling homemade napkins...

Me, Mama Sweet Creams & FSIL Sweet Cream stenciling some handmade napkins

 ...Pinky swearing that they'll be by my side making limoncello in lieu of a champagne toast...

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...and getting ready to get down and diiirtty to make some BBQ sauce for our escort card/favor all-rolled-into one!

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So I have ideas that I KNOW I must-have-to-have-or-I-just-know-I'll-die that are part of the festivities leading up to us tying the knot.

THE SHOWER

I know that I want a "things that go together" themed shower.  Think peanut butter & jelly.  Peaches & cream. Bacon & Eggs.  Thank goodness that I could talk my ladies into letting me... wait for it... design the invites.

But I LOVE this kind of thing.  And just look at the rough draft!

Fold out invites, sewn with love.

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I loved brainstorming things that "go together,"

everything from "pork chops & applesauce" to "fred & ginger"

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When you lift it up more details on on Page Two,

including a voice saying not to worry because the date & place (our abode)

are not a surprise (although everything else is!)

(self pic)

I know what you are thinking.  But I just love doing stuff like this and it's my day, so why not.  I also wanted it at our house and not be a "surprise."  I want my shower to go long into the evening and be more of a party atmosphere v. a tea party -- even though I do love tea.  I want have the right dress picked out and not show up in my sweats and a concert t-shirt (which I might just add, FSIL Sweet Cream did to her surprise 16th birthday).  I don't want to make trips in a truck filled with our gifts.  I just want to party -- and my guests to too -- on my own stompin' grounds.

Don't worry -- I had to promise that everything else would remain a surprise -- except for an idea for favors... but I swear once you see them you'll agree that they are awesome.  I would never put the heavy task on my girls just because I may be borderline insane with the time I put into some projects.

I really can't wait to see some of the things they come up with for the "things that go together" themed shower!

THE BACHELORETTE PARTY

I knew that I wanted a weekend down the shore.  That may seem like a lot of time, but people do that around my neck of the woods.  I also knew that rooms were getting booked quickly so I begged and begged to let my BMs let me book a house.  And they let me.  Because they are awesome like that.  And who could deny this adorable house (especially that it is oh-so-reasonable, overlooks the bay AND has a firepit out back)???

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Again I pinky swore everything else would be a surprise - and I'm OK with that... the reigns are now theirs.  It's not that I don't trust my girls to pull it off -- they totally rock -- I just have my heart set on some things.

How are you handling surprises like your bachelorette party or shower? Do you have something in mind that you wish that your girls would do?? Do you zip your lip or spill your heart out -- complete with hyperlinks -- like me?