Getting ready

We're busy finishing up details and getting everything ready for the big day. We can't wait to see everyone & celebrate!

Hotel group rate expires soon

Just a friendly reminder that the group rate at the Marriott expires on Tuesday 8/10 at the end of the day on Monday 8/9 (Correction!). If you were planning to stay there, get your reservations in soon so you don't loose out.

Addition (Aug. 9): If you still need to make reservations after the cutoff, call the hotel directly (800.328.9297) instead of reserving online or calling their national registration number. They said they'll be able to continue to offer rooms at rate on a case-by-case basis.

Brunch details

We've finalized the brunch details for Monday morning: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. If you're not staying at the hotel, please let us know if you're coming to the brunch so we give them an accurate count.

Unpacking and still busy

We moved into our new apartment in early June, but still have a few stacks of boxes we need to empty. We've been busy meeting with the hotel caterer and working on other wedding details. If you're planning your trip, save some time to visit some of Pittsburgh's great local attractions!

Still packing

We're less than 2 weeks away from moving and still have a lot of packing to do, but we're running out of space to put the full boxes. My collection of large-format school projects and other large paper is proving to be challenging, but my bus maps are a piece of cake to pack. The only problem there is the collection keeps growing, so I'm spilling over into a third box.

Found: one new apartment

Sometimes things just work out the way you least expect it. After a week of waiting, we learned yesterday that our application for a beautiful duplex in Point Breeze was rejected. So we went out today determined to keep a positive attitude. And the first place we visited, on Wilkins Avenue in Squirrel Hill, was great! It's a 2-bedroom apartment in a small building (4 units) with a living room, dining room and sun room. We put a deposit down this afternoon and plan to move in early June.

Dress shopping

While we were home visiting my family for Thanksgiving, I took Peter and my bridesmaids to the dress shop to try on the final dress candidates for my girls. I brought Peter primarily to help me pick out a color that would fit with the other things he's been working on and we picked a great burgundy dress. Then I kicked him out out of the store and got to try on my dress, which had just come in the week before. It was fabulous!

Smile for the camera

I felt like a model today — we had an engagement session with our photographer. We took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and had fun around Schenley Plaza, Phipps and Carnegie Mellon in Oakland. It'll be a few weeks before we get the pictures back, but it was pretty fun!

I said Yes!

Peter took me out to dinner at the Georgetowne Inn on top of Mt. Washington. As we headed back to the incline to go back down to the car, he took me over to the observation platform and we gazed out at the city for a moment. Then before I really realized what was happening, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him! What a wonderful night that I'll remember forever. Read the full story...