This Is Where It's Gonna Go Down

Hey friends! I'm sorry for the lack of posts the past few days - I've been out of my mind taking care of last minute wedding details.

I'm finally starting to relax and even easing into holiday mode (i.e. having a glass of wine while I sit here at the keyboard) because I think I am finally done packing, organizing, emailing, and taking care of business, for the most part. I still need to walk uptown and do a bit of last minute shopping but other than that, I'm ready!

My upstairs neighbor, Dara, (who, by the way, was married at the Basking Ridge Country Club two weeks ago and looked absolutely stunning) came down to my place earlier to see my dress and help me finish packing. I couldn't have done it without her - seriously, she is the exact voice of reason I needed today:

Dara: "Um, yeah - you're going to take that wadded up tissue paper and walk it over to the trash can and throw it away, along with those ribbons that you think you need to save,"

Ali: "Come on, Dara. Can't I save this pink tissue? I might be able to..."

Dara: "NO".

Ali: "Fine. You know how I am when it comes to bags, boxes, and other hard to discard items; I mean, I can't throw away this box - my wedding shoes came in this box! What am I going to put them in when I get home?"

Dara: "Well, if you're like me, you're going to be dying them black because your heels sank so far into the grass that they are now practically destroyed. So much for my Kate Spade wedding shoes. You're throwing the damn box away. End of discussion."

And she was right - there is no need for me to keep that damn box because knowing me, I won't even come home with the shoes! THANK YOU, Dara, for being my voice of reason this morning. You are a love.

Moving on. So, this is a pic of where I'm getting married. Yep, I'm getting married under this exact arch. Well, that is unless the torrential down pours continue and the 50 degree weather keeps up. Then, I'll be getting married indoors. This girl always has a contingency plan - have you seen the arrival itinerary I made? If not, well, you would be impressed.

My mind only operates in one mode - and that mode is uber precise and ridiculously detailed. It's a curse and a blessing; I know that all of my exhaustive planning won't change the actual day much at all and will have been, some will say, a waste of time, but because I did it and did it my way, at least I will be able to enjoy the day knowing that I conceived ideas, sought out the means and answers to implement those ideas, and delivered the information to all parties involved.

This is it, gang, my last blog from New Jersey as a single woman - the next time I blog it will probably be from Edinburgh (still a single woman) and within the next ten days, I'll be blogging officially as Ms. La Pointe!

So, what's La Pointe of It All? Well, it's this - I'm getting married and I'm doing it the way that Matty and I want to do it. I'm going to miss my JAPS and my other close BFFs who can't make it terribly but I'm looking forward to celebrating with those friends and fam upon our return. And in the end, I don't regret our choices because to my Matty and me, it's all about the marriage, not the wedding.

xx