Wedding Readiness!!!

Matt and I have been busy getting all the final preparations ready to go for the wedding.
I tried my dress on the day it came in!  The company that makes my dress makes them to order, so I wasn't worried about it fitting.  It was even more beautiful then I remembered though :).  Mom and I had already picked out jewelry and it was perfect!
Everything else has been worked on - both of our families have had a blast working on of the little things together.  We have all the wedding favors complete, the programs are started, the seating chart has been started, and all the centerpieces are ready to go.  I had a friend ask me today if I was getting stressed about this and I told him no - I am too anally organized about everything for the stress to hit yet.  I'm sure the week before the wedding will be a little harder though.

So, hopefully you can tell, the wedding planning/preparation has been (for the most part) low stress.  I'll admit I had my moments, but you'll have to ask Matt because I can't remember right now.  Our families have been able to spend a lot of quality time together and there is very large amount of respect and love between all of us.  I think it makes Matt and I's relationship even more special that our families truly enjoy spending time together.  They have even talked about getting together without us while we are gone on the honeymoon.  Nothing would make me happier!

The most stressful part of the last two months has been job change for Matt.  He was offered a job with a company that manufactures a lot of products that were sold at Star (where he used to work).  After some praying and getting advice from numerous family and friends, Matt decide to go in for the interview.  He wasn't even home from the airport when he got the call with an offer!  We were and are still both excited about the opportunity he will have with this company.  No doubt - Matt really enjoyed his job at Star (and will miss his co-workers), but the new job allows for a little more growth as a salesman.

Although I have not changed jobs, I did have an amazing opportunity present itself to me for the summer.   I will be taking two weeks of summer classes a year for the next 3 summers.   The amazing part of this is I get 3 FREE credit hours each summer and I get paid to take these classes and implement what I am learning in my classroom.  You can't beat that - getting PAID to go back to school?  Even better - it's with one of my favorite professors from college!  Better yet?  It covers all kinds of math with the new standards (I know - yawn for all non-teachers out there).  Anyways, it will be a great way for me to learn how to teach the new things I have to teach.

We will see how the stress level gets over the next 19 days - I'm sure there will be ups and downs, but as long as we keep enjoying it like we have for the last 8 months, it will be everything I have imagined and more. 

Registries

As you get your invitations, many have asked about where Matt and I are registered. 
We set up registries at two stores - Kohls and Target.  Matt really wanted to ask the sales person at Cabela's if we could set one up there but hasn't had a chance. ;)  I think he is just excited about the funny looks he might get!!!

You can click on the following links to get to our registries.

Matt and Katie at Target

Matt and Katie at Kohls

We are very excited to start getting our RSVP cards back and get all of the last details planned!

The Wedding Party

Matt and I were excited to ask our closest friends and family members to be part of our wedding day.  We each had already thought about who we wanted in our wedding party before we even got engaged and our lists were easy to decide.  We wanted to choose people that we knew would be in our lives for years to come.

Katie's Ladies:

Matron of Honor:  Elizabeth Stockemer

Elizabeth is a very special woman that I know God put into my life to help me be a better person.  She married my older brother Matt almost 7 years ago.  She has taught me about not being judgemental and always trying to find the good in people.  She is very caring and isn't scared to give advice that is the best she can come up with, even if it's not what I want to hear at the time.  She has helped my relationship with God grow.  She is someone that I know will be an amazing example for us as we grow older. 
Elizabeth and I's friendship really started to grow when we took some cake decorating classes together at a local cake store.  We spent hours creating sugary goodies that we didn't even want after the weeks of classes.  We ended up blowing them to pieces.  More on that to come in July ;)

Bridesmaid:  Leslie Bretches
I was blessed to meet Leslie about 5 years ago when we both joined a Catholic women's book club called Sisterhood.  We slowly started getting to know each other and became friends.  In a couple of years I got to know Leslie even better and realized what a caring and loving woman she is.  When Matt and I starting dating I joked once that Leslie should have set us up a long time ago - but we realized that neither of us were ready at that time.  It all happened as God wanted it too.
Leslie has quickly become one of my most trusted friends.  I know that she is always going to do what she can for Matt and I.  Her strong family belief is one that everyone should look up too.  I truly believe that she will be one my closest friends for life.

Bridesmaid:  Maggie Eck
Maggie is another beautiful woman that I feel has greatly influenced my life.  Maggie and I met our first year of teaching at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Maggie and I have been on several vacations together - including Cancun for spring break and Vegas for the Nationals Final Radio.  Maggie quiet literally knows more about me then anyone else (except Matt).  What I love most about Maggie is that she is brutally honest with me.  I know that she will always tell me the truth!  I also feel like Maggie can understand me better then just about anyone else because we are so much alike.  We have very similar personality traits.  Maggie and I both have close relationships with out families and family comes first for both of us.   I know that Maggie and I will be friends for years and years to come... first because we are so alike, but second because she knows my deepest darkest secrets!!! Hahaha.

Bridesmaid: Kali Brewer 
Kali is my beautiful cousin.  She is the strongest, most amazing high school aged girl I have ever met.  Kali and I have know each other all of her life.  I remember writing her name on my lunch sack the day after she was born because I thought is was the most beautiful name ever.  Kali and I spent lots of time together  while she was growing up.  She is one of the most open people I know - coming from one of the most private people ever!  Her strength in life is amazing.
Kali is someone that I see spending lots of time with Matt and I in the future.  Hopefully babysitting our kids and letting me help plan her wedding someday!

Matt's Men

Best Man: Dave McDaneld
Dave is the friend that I have known the longest.  We were literally kicking each others asses in 5th grade.  We have gotten in lots of trouble together (lots of fireworks).  I chose Dave to be my best man because of our long lasting friendship.  Dave will always be there for me.

Groomsman: Willie Shideler
Willie is my hunting buddy.  We have known each other since the beginning of high school.  When it comes to calling someone to help with a project, no one is quicker to help with manual labor then Mr. Shideler.  PS - he enjoys it.  We are occasionally only work friends (inside joke).  He is a hard working, honest, and trustworthy man.

Groomsman: Rory Curmode
 Rory is another great friend of mine that I have known since high school.  Rory is always kind and carefree.  He is always there for advice and a party.  He is my football watching buddy.  He is funny, smart, and quite the ladies man. 

Groomsman:  John Stockemer
John is one of my newest friends and I can't wait to be his brother-in-law (as well as Matt).  He is a very smart, funny individual.  He is also one of the most intense KU fans I have ever met.  I see my relationship with John growing and strengthening over the years as we watch sports and hunt together and I am looking forward to it.

Update on Wedding Planning!

Matt and I have been busy with our families and friends getting everything planned for the wedding.
We have spent plenty of time picking out and getting invitations all ready to send - including great arguments from my dad about where the labels should go on the envelope.  Of course he had been up the night before nursing a orphaned calf so he was a little loopy  We were blessed to have all of my bridesmaids there to help us along with all of both of our families.

We have all the dresses and tuxes picked out and ready to go - except flower girl dresses, but we have it down to two.  My neices Melanie and Claire are VERY excited to be part of the wedding.  We are just hoping they will make it down the aisle in front of me without getting too shy.  My mom and Irene (Matt's mom) are still finializing plans for their dresses as well, but are getting close.

Our goal this whole time has been to have a fun and relaxed wedding.  We want the least amount of stress possible.  The more we can get done now the better.  We have all the wedding favors ready except for a bow.  All of our wedding day needs - guestbook, flowers, lunch plans, hair appts, makeup appts, reception decorations, are all done or very close to.  We hope to have all of these things ready by the end of spring break.

I am the first to admit I can be overly organized.  I hope to have as much done as soon as I can so that the last week before I get married can be a time to spend with all of our family that is coming in town. Including Matt's Uncle Bob from Scotland, my family from Colorado, Washington, and Montana.  Matt's family from Colorado, Missouri, and Arkansas.  We want to be able to spend time with all of them and not just have a passing "hello" at the reception after they travel so far so spend this special day with us.

Matt and I have also spent hours planning our honeymoon which I will post about soon!

Engagement Pictures

One of the first contracts Matt and I signed was with our photographer.  We met with Amy once and knew that we would get along with her.  She also takes beautiful pictures and loves taking outdoor pictures, so we knew that she would be perfect for our engagement session.  We wanted to take them out at the ranch. 

It worked out perfectly that Matt had a day off the same day I did.  We drove out to the ranch the night before and were able to hang out and scout out some spots where we wanted pictures.  Amy came out in the evening so we would have good light and spent two hours with us.  We were ecstatic with out the pictures turned out.

So here are some of our favorites. 

All the pictures were taken by Amy Stevens of LolaJo Photo Design.

Our Engagement

Matt and I talked about getting married after only a few months of dating.  We were at his cousins wedding and he leaned over and said, "I like these readings for our wedding."  I knew that our discussions about marriage had been serious and this made me realize he wasn't just talking - it was the real deal. 

 This is a picture from that wedding.

We knew last June that we wanted to get married, but wanted to keep having fun dating as well.  So we waited a whole two months before going ring shopping.  Finding a ring was like finding Matt for me.  It was a very quick process.  I had it picked out within an hour and a half.  I think Matt enjoys my quick decisions.

Since I knew about the ring and I knew that Matt had it, he wanted to make sure I was very surprised about the proposal.  I was getting frustrated that he wasn't doing it.  I knew that he had talked to my dad and so when we went out to my parents land (the ranch) for a  weekend with my mom and dad I really thought he was going to ask then.  I was so excited.  We both love being out there - it is relaxing and beautiful.  We headed out on Saturday morning and met my parents for a quick lunch in a small town.  We were sitting at Lila's waiting for my parents when Matt grabbed my hand.  He leaned in close and looking into my eyes said, "I don't want you to get your hopes up about this weekend.  I have a plan about proposing to you, but it won't be this weekend.  I didn't want you to be on edge the whole time."

I think I just stared for about a minute. 

I didn't tell my parents he told me this, so Matt and I both had fun over the weekend watching them glance at my left hand everytime Matt and I came back from a ride or a walk.  I think my mom was about to ask him when he would do it by the time we left. (I know I was!)

About a week later I had a night off of volleyball and Matt offered to be in charge of dinner.  I'm glad he was because I was exhausted when I got home from school and just laid down on the couch and started to fall asleep.  When Matt walked into the house I was being pretty lazy and just laid around while he got everything going in the kitchen for dinner.

I could smell the pizza cooking and got up to help.  I offered to make the dip we usually had with pizza while he went to the bathroom.  As I was getting the hotsauce out of the fridge, we walked around the corner with red pepper flakes in his hand.  He ran over to me, got down on his knee, and said his romantic words - all while opening the bottle of pepper flakes.  There was the beautiful ring we had picked out together.

It was perfect.

We ate dinner together and had some time to celebrate alone before heading out to tell all of our family.  My parents were first and couldn't have been happier.  We then made our way to my brother and sister-in-laws house so we could get there before my neices went to bed.  Next was Matt's mom and sister and finally my younger brother.  It was the most perfect night I could imagine.

The night we got engaged.

We were so excited to start the planning and get all of the places reserved!!!

How We Met

Katie:  Matt and I met one night when a mutual friend brought me to his house.  We talked for about three hours and when it was time to leave (because Matt shot off some fireworks and I was nervous he was about to get in trouble) I thought "wow, what a nice/fun guy".  I guess you can say the evening ended with a bang.

Matt:  I thought it was just going to be another night.  Expecting only one person to come over, I was called back and asked if it were allright that Kate Stockemer come over.  After casually answering sure, I rushed to get ready.  After visiting with her for a short time at a New Year Eve party a couple months before I was very excited.

Katie: After Matt got my number from me about a week later, we talked met up at a bar when I had headed with some friends and he happened to be going to that night for a birthday party.  We again spent the whole evening talking and I was even more excited about spending time with him.  This was good b/c he was heading over to my house the next night with some friends for and Oscar's Party!

Matt: After spending time with Katie, I began to feel the connection was mutual, but I wasn't sure. After the night at the bar I text her and said what a good time I had.  Her response was "Me too, it was great talking to you."  I  felt better after the Oscar's Party because we kept making eye contact and sending secret messages to each other all night.  The next day I couldn't stop thinking of her and was excited when she text me that afternoon.  I decided to take a risk and see if she wanted to meet up again.

Katie: The first time we were somewhere just the two of us it was at my house.  It was the Monday after Matt and I had met at the bar and the Oscar's Party.  He figured I was tired and wouldn't want to see him three nights in a row - little did he know!  There was a KU basketball game on the night and Matt brought a pizza over and we watched the game and spent hours talking and getting to know each other.  This was also the night Matt and I figured out we both like spicy food - including pepper flakes on our pizza.  The joke after this night was "you had me at pepper flakes".  Which leads into Matt's proposal story.