I have been nagging/encouraging my daughter to get started on those notes BEFORE the wedding. She has received numerous gifts, and will be really pressed for time afterwards. A short honeymoon and then a move back to the Boston area, where she will start grad school. She’s not a procrastinator normally, but she’s really underestimating how much time all of this is going to consume! And yes, she will be the one to do them all, I suspect!
@greenwitch so helpful to hear your experience with room blocks! We declined to do this because it seemed risky. Even though there are not a ton of hotels here, the one where the reception is being held is expensive and most of their friends probably don’t want to pay that much. Plus, they didn’t give us much of a break on the rate.
GosD followed the etiquette of thank you’s for shower gifts within two weeks; gifts received before wedding were sent thank you’s before the big day. After the wedding, she and the Perfect Son In Law (PSIL) had their thank you’s out within a month. They really wanted to get that task off their plates…and I think it was a big relief, as it does take time to do it right…
Yes…all gifts received prior to a week before the wedding…those thank you notes were already completed before the wedding.
DD will be happy to have this off her to do list. SIL is helping with some of his friends…and is doing all the thank you for coming ones (no gift) from his friends.
Both names signed regardless of who writes the note!
D1 is going to use one of her professional wedding pictures on her thank-you card, so it is going to take few more weeks.
DS#1 and wife were great with thank-you’s. Timely, personalized, well written. DS#2 and fiancee (soon to be w) are quite the opposite. No clue if they’ve even finished the ones from the party we had in February!! We were at friends’ for brunch today and she mentioned she had the engagement gift sent to the store (BB&B) (not sure why- the registry had the gifts going to the kids’ address but whatever…) and she didn’t know if they ever picked it up. The store was supposedly supposed to call my s (I never heard of that, and didn’t think my friend had my s’s phone #… ) Anyway… DS’s fiancee happened to be going to BB&B today so I send photos of my friends’ receipt so they can look into it. I hope they get it straightened out, and that they get the thank you notes written!
When they get back from their honeymoon they have to look into moving- so they will be busy. They are actually considering moving back into the house DS lived in for 2 years when he was “single”. The couple that are in the master BR are possibly moving out, and it would be cost effective for them while they look around. They splurged for this year for the apartment they currently live in. Long story, as the one they rented did a bait and switch on them and they had to find something fast. Where they are is gorgeous, with lots of perks. But, $$$$. and I mean $$$$
We just got the photos from the photographer and one will be printed onto the thank you card, so they are just starting to go out. D had sent a “thank you, we received your gift” to everyone who sent one before the ceremony, but they will all get an official one now.
Ok…so now I’m sort of wishing we had gotten a wedding picture thank you card. But then…I’m also happy for,the wedding couple that the thank you cards are almost done.
Cutest pic we got with a thank you card was the couple with champagne glasses sitting next to a pile of boxes looking like they are about to dig in! 
I am sure it was staged, but looked cute.
@thumper1 They could always use a photo for a holiday card.
Well, time to decide what to pack to layer for the changing temperatures. Weather forecast is for significant wind, and the ceremony is outdoors. DS said the photos are supposed to be after the ceremony, but we may be very wind blown. Planning to have my hair in a half updo, but that might be a mistake with the weather forecast. And the wildfires, while hopefully far enough away, are still worrisome.
@jym626 some things are totally out of your control. I finally just stopped looking at the weather forecasts because there was nothing I could do to change them.
It rained. But we had an indoor plan for that.
The sun will shine down on your bride and groom regardless of the weather.
I have to pack. I will be 3000 away from my closet, so can’t make last minute changes. The weather temps range from the 50s to the 70s. In past visits I have had a talent for bringing the wrong clothes (brought for warm when it was cool, and vice versa). I will plan layers, but want things to look right together. DS told me last night we will go right from the rehearsal (outdoors, 4 pm) to the rehearsal dinner (on a covered patio) to the welcome party (outdoor uncovered patio). I have the rest of the wardrobe pretty well set (wedding clothes and shawl options, Sunday brunch outfit) but am still thinking through the friday options. Oh, and winds are predicted to be up to 20 mph. I cant control the weather, but I can prepare for it. At least it won’t rain.
DH doesn’t want me to overpack (HAHAHA) so I am trying to plan as best I can. I can’t simply throw extra stuff in a car.
I’ve go to make room for the hospitality bags, tissue paper, ribbon, scissors, box of ziploc bags, etc I am bringing from here. Only the hospitality bags will take up much room, but still…
Was planning to have Thurs evening to assemble the hospitality bags, but found out we are heading to DS#1s home as they are planning a birthday dinner for me. Very sweet.
@jym626 -Good to get your wardrobe sorted in advance; you have a range to plan for as winds can impact how any temperature feels. Nice about the birthday dinner and maybe someone would help with assembling your bags that night.
DD’s wedding involved a seaside climate with accompanying challenges and if it helps, we found the hair stylists quite adept at locking and loading all hair types for the day. My hair wasn’t in an updo and is prone to massive expansion in humidity. They somehow kept it contained and soft. It definitely was a different approach than taken for a routine wash and blow dry the day before; they will likely have a good strategy to suggest.
Have a great time. It is always a relief when all that can be done is behind you and all that’s left to do is enjoy it as it unfolds, even with an inevitable surprise or two.
@jym626, hope it is a great week for you & your family!
I am really proud of my D, who wrote thank you notes as gifts were received (many were sent to her ahead of time). She had an amazingly short turnaround time, and she had all thank you notes sent out for gifts received at the wedding less than 2 weeks later (she had a honeymoon in between!). Wish I could say I was that prompt back in the day.
@jym626 , wishing you a wonderful week!
SIL is not a PSIL but he definitely is a keeper. Knew he would not be good on the TY notes. DD has done ‘hers’. They had a baby right away (wedding July; baby May). They have a baby picture TY note for those gifts and SIL will make sure his wedding TY notes are out as well. It is what it is. H and I really encouraged them to be a couple for a while, but the baby is PERFECT!
Thanks, @travelnut , @2VU0609 and @kelsmom. It will all work out. And congrats @SOSConcern ! Hope you posted on the grandparents thread!!
I forgot that there is also the chance our granddaughter/the flower girl could barf on something while we are holding her this weekend… Will keep that In mind.
I am testing out contact lenses I’ve had (yes, fresh ones) but haven’t worn in a long time. I think they will work!
Oh, and got the draft of the welcome letter!! Yay!! HE will make a few tweaks and we are all set! to print, I hope.
A little more work and we were local, but I ordered custom M&Ms for the welcome bags and I put them in little 2 ounce mason jars with a custom logo label on the lid. I used the same labels on the water bottles. Other goodies included snack sized zip locks with safety pins, band aids, and Advil, clementines, and chips (the bride’s favorite). We also included the welcome letter/card in the bags. Best wishes for the upcoming weekend’s festivities!
@jym626 Tell your husband that an extra bag fee going each way is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the wedding, and will make you easier to live with because you will be set for contingencies (weather, barfing kids, you name it!) Then pack an extra bag if you need it!