Now that it's over..thank you!

Whew! Planning a wedding is more of a whirlwind than I ever realized! Thanks to all of the people who helped the ceremony and reception go smoothly--

Summer Doll, you did an excellent job in being my maid of honor, I am blessed to have such a wonderful sister.

Thanks to Ashley Balthis for doing such a great job as DJ for the night!

Thanks to all of the out-of-town friends and relatives who literally came from all over the United States to help us to celebrate- Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Massetchusetts, Utah, and so on.. And thanks to all who helped with setup, too.

Thanks to Amanda Wilkins for doing my hair and makeup as well as my bridesmaids, and helping with my dress!

Thanks to the Kleeman family for all of your help- Rudy, you did a fantastic job of ordaining, and Sara, you were a real lifesaver in leading the pre-wedding and post-ceremony set-up!

Thanks to Cathy Ryan for planning my bachelorette party and for always being there to lend a helping hand.

Thanks to Joe and Pat for helping to plan Pat's bachelor party.

Thanks to Dad and Uncle Brian for setting up the lights outside- they looked so nice twinkling, as the night came on.

Thanks to Mary Ellen for all of your help with the reception, as well as all of our new island friends who helped to make the reception run smoothly.

Thanks, Jan and Gus Parlier for allowing us to stay the night in your beautiful cabin- it was nice to be able to truly relax after all of the excitement that weddings bring.

Thanks to everyone who came early to help out, and to our bridal party that helped us to stay sane throughout this whole process!

Finally, thanks to my mom- you are the best and I am so greatful that you could be there to help us celebrate- don't know what I would do without you and dad.

In planning a wedding, there is a lot of stress, more than you can imagine unless you've done it before. But it's all worth it. As I stood up in front of everyone and took my vows, I couldn't help but look around to see everyone who came, all of the people who surrounded us, that supported us. I felt so lucky, not only to be marrying the love of my life, but to have so many good friends and family in our lives.

Little-Known Tourist Attractions for Out-Of-Town Guests

Ok, so everyone knows about the space needle and pike place market, but in my opinion, they are both slightly overrated. If Pat and I were coming to Western Washington on vacation, here are a few places and events we would make sure to check out:

1. Experience Music Project- Known by locals as the EMP, this museum showcases artifacts from a diverse assortment of local bands, everyone from Jimi Hendrix to The Ventures to Bing Crosby to Kurt Cobain. Very cool.

2. Artopia- This is an art festival that takes place every year in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. It is a lot of fun, and a great way for local artists to showcase their work. excellent people watching.

3.The Seattle Art Museum- Diverse collection of art, everything from Renaissance to Post Modernism. Students receive a discount.

4. Belltown/Pioneer Square- During the grunge era, these Seattle neighborhoods were popular among members of bands such as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sound Garden, and Alice In Chains. Local bars such as Crocodile Cafe and Central Saloon were among the first to host these bands. Great area to visit for music nerds, like myself.

5.Alki Beach- One of my favorite beaches in Seattle in a great neighborhood. Spectacular views of the Seattle Skyline from the waterfront.

6. Pacific Place/Westlake Center- This area is a lot of fun for shopping. Be sure to also visit Dilletante Mocha Cafe in Westlake Center- I used to work there, and their mochas are to die for :) In addition to shops, there is also Gameworks, a combination bar/ arcade that boasts a pool hall and fun for all ages before 9PM.

7. Safeco Field- Great for the sports enthusiast. Be sure to catch a Mariners game while you're here- I hear they are doing pretty good this year!

8. Savor Seattle Tours- I haven't actually done this, but it looks like a lot of fun. Great for foodies, Savor Seattle tours offer "chocolate indulgence" tours and "craving capitol hill" tours, amongst a variety of others. Visit their website at http://www.savorseattletours.com/

9. International District- Recognized by the city of Seattle as a "historical landmark", this neighborhood offers a look into the diverse cultures and communities that Seattle harbors. If you haven't before, try bubble tea at one of the many local restaurants!

10. Elliott Bay Book Store- A favorite book store of many locals because of its cozy atmosphere and wide selection.

11. Meeker Mansion- Located in Puyallup, this mansion offers a peek into the past. If you are a history buff, you will enjoy meandering the home of famed pioneer Ezra Meeker.

This is all I've got for now, but if anybody else has ideas, feel free to post them below :)

The Question on Everyone's Mind..

So.. several of you have asked me if it's okay to bring plus ones to the wedding. The answer is yes, of course it's okay, but not mandatory. Please let me know via rsvp how many will be attending, as well as the name of your date so I can make sure to create a place card for him or her. Small children are also allowed to attend :)

Also, thank you to everyone who has rsvp'ed so far! Everytime I see another pink or orange postcard in the mail, I get excited :)

Don't forget the flowers!

As far as flowers, we have chosen to go local with Forget Me Not Farms in Langley. The cool thing about them is that I can choose whatever flowers I want, and they will grow them for me on their farm! Right now, they are growing poppies for potted centerpieces that will double as take home gifts. We have talked about incorporating anemones, wild roses and peonies into the bouquets as well. My future mother-in-law referred me to them, and so far it has been a delight working with them!

Photographer Found!

A few weeks ago, Patrick and I found a wonderful team of wedding photographers. They are a married couple from Vancouver (how cute is that?), and we were impressed by the professionalism of their work. And her name is Tiffany too, which is pretty awesome. Check out their photography site here: T & R Boyd Photography.

Registry Details for Bridal Shower Attendees

Hey Everyone!

I am posting some links to our online registries.

First of all, we are registered at Sandals Resorts for our honeymoon in St. Lucia. This is our primary registry, and any donations made would be deeply appreciated and enjoyed. How this works is you can make a donation to our honeymoon (starting at $25), or you can choose from a list of activites, including options such as a jeep ride through the rainforest, dolphin and whale watching, or a candle lit dinner. To check it out, click here.

We are also registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond. To view this registry, click here.

To view our Crate & Barrell Registry, click here.

Thanks! If you have any questions, let Pat or I know!

Bridal Shower Carpool!

My bridal shower is in 2 weeks and I am super excited. Anyone who lives north (or east) of Seattle and doesn't feel like making the trek to Maple Valley alone, let me know! We are trying to set up a carpool, so everyone can save on gas. Call, e-mail, or leave a comment below if you are interested :)