woke up early - I seemed to be sleeping less and less as the days were getting closer - Thursday was the day I would be picking up my dress and our wedding rehearsal and dinner. Kenny was going around the house saying we are going to be married in two days, you are going to MY WIFE, and it was so weird to hear it. Clea, one of my bridesmaids, called at 7:30am to tell me that she was just getting off work and would be at my house by 10:30. Heather, my maid of honor, was arriving at 2:30 from Boston so I knew from the get-go that I would be on a seriously tight timeframe. And I had to pick my mother up so that we could get the dresses. Julie called around 9:30ish to see if there was anything she could do and I told her that I had everything under control (HA-HA). She said to call if there was anything she could do (little did she know)

hile I waited for Clea to arrive, I went food shopping with my cousins who were staying with me so that I had food to feed all my guests - who knew people would want food as well as lodging? We finished food shopping by 9 am and then I cleaned my house like it had never been cleaned before - out came the industrial strength polisher for the master bedroom and the living room where the majority of the formal pictures with the girls and family would be taken. I must have dusted and swept and swiffered every little corner I could find.

or once Clea arrived on time, said a quick hello and proceeded to march upstairs to my closet and announce that she had nothing to wear for the wedding rehearsal. So just like the old days when we were in school (we were college roommates) we raided my closet and had a mini fashion show. She ended up with a very smart outfit and not to mention a few extra items of clothing that I told her she could take home - she then marched into the second bedroom and passed out. That is when I realized how the time was flying (it was already after 11am) and I had to get to my mom's house by noon so that we could get the dresses by one o'clock.

y some grace of God I was actually on time (this couldn't last for long) but as mothers are known to do - she threw a monkey wrench in my plans. My mom tells me that along with getting ALL the girls dresses, her dress and MY DRESS - we have to stop off at David's Bridal to get the dress my cousin had bought a few days before. All that ran through my head was 'I am never gonna make it to Metro Park by 2:30 to get Heather'. The butterflies started again - not to mention the testiness on my part. I seriously knew we would be in trouble if we even attempted to do everything and try to get Heather. I began thinking that I was going to have a wedding without my maid of honor. Then, like a miracle of some sort my brain started to function - Brilliant Idea Number One: I remembered that Julie said to call if I needed anything - so thank the stars above for cell phones (and that Julie had hers on!). Julie was out running errands at the mall - she proclaimed that she wasn't even showered or meeting people ready, as she put it, but said that she would pick Heather up at the station no problem and that she would see me later. Problem/Obstacle 1 solved :)

y mother and I arrived at the bridal shop somewhat on time (my mom managed to mess up my schedule something good, as only mothers can). I have been going to this bridal shop since I was 15 - Maria Di Carlo, the shop owner, helped me pick out my Sweet 16 gown and my prom and formal gowns. She watched me grow up and today I was picking up my wedding gown. We walked into the shop and they greeted us as only good friends do, with bear hugs and kisses. She led me to where my gown was - all pressed with the train in its full regalia - ready to go. I looked at it as if I had never seen it before and I started to tear up. Maria then said she had a surprise for me - a special little something. She walked me to my gown and picked up some of the many layers and showed me where they had embroidered "MM" in blue (for my something blue) in one of the under-layers of satin and I lost it. I started to cry. Maria said that this way I would always be Maria Moreno no matter what my new name was going to be! My mom laughed and said I was a mess.

nce I managed to return to my normal self (as if that were possible) I helped the ladies place my gown in the garment bag for the trip home. I had no idea how we were going to get the cathedral train in the bag without ruining it but they knew what they were doing because when I took the gown out of the bag hours later - the gown looked just as good as it did in the shop. We loaded up the car with my mom's gown and girl's gowns and than my gown. Again the back of the car looked like a mini bridal shop. I thanked Maria for everything she had done and promised to bring pictures as soon as I had them.

e went to David's and shocker of all shockers- my cousin's dress wasn't ready, they told us that we would have to come back on Friday - one word - AARRRGGGHHHHHHH. But they told us this after they had us waiting for 30 minutes. We finally left, aggravated, tired and without the dress (of course) and proceeded to head home.

e arrived at my house and were greeted with gorgeous flowers on my front steps. Julie and Heather had purchased pretty daffodils and purple pansies and made the front of my house look marvelous! Heather helped my mom and me get the gowns out of the car and into the house while Clea slept away. We hung up the girl's gowns in my closet and we hung up my gown in the closet in the second bedroom with the train resting on the ironing board - 3/4 of the way out of the closet. This is when I remembered that Kenny's closet was in that room and he would see the gown - Problem 2 had arrived.

e all made the executive decision that Kenny wasn't allowed in that room (easier said than done!). It was now almost 5ish and I still needed to shower for the rehearsal and figure out what to wear, when Kenny arrives home. He still had to pack his bag for the following night because he was spending the night before the wedding it at the hotel, so needless to say, he was not happy when he found out he couldn't go into the bedroom to get his clothes. We both needed to shower and get ready and we were arguing about his clothes - MEN! While we were loudly discussing his clothes, Heather came to the rescue by somehow managing to fit my gown all the way in the closet and closing the door so Kenny could get his stuff - YAYAY! Problem 2 solved.

ide-note: did I mention that before Kenny came home he went to get his hair cut? Rather HIS HAIR SHAVED!!!!! I must give myself several pats on the back for not chopping his head off. Heather and my mother were extremely proud of how I handled the hair situation because he had created his own look. He had the sides and back shaved almost to his scalp and that left what looked like a mini carpet on top of his head - I wanted to cry but at that point what could I do?

enny also mentions that he still has to go to the mall to get his tux before the wedding rehearsal and that he was meeting my brother at the mall at 5:45. So he runs into the shower first, and it was already 5:15 - so that left me with even less time to get ready and takes FOREVER. He finally leaves the house at 5:45 - and I was still unshowered!

nother side-note: we still had to wake Clea up (she had worked the night shift at the hospital) at 5:30 and when we did she moved in slower motion than a snail? She was so out of it she had no clue how to use an iron - I smiled and walked away. Julie arrived at some point with a very pretty little Alissa - who had a pretend flower basket for the rehearsal. The rehearsal was scheduled for 6:30 and at 6:15 we were still all at my house.

e arrived at the church only about 5 minutes late(today was definitely the day of miracle timing) and Father Joe was ready to get us going. Several people still had not arrived - like Kenny's sister (his best man/honor attendant) and brother-in-law(one of the groomsmen), Sue (one of my bridesmaids) and one of the readers (who never made it cause of major traffic coming out of NYC).

irst thing that Father Joe asked me throws me for a loop: In what order is everyone was walking in? As if I had time to think of these little details?!?!?! I blanked - I hadn't a clue so I just winged it - spontaneity is a good thing! My Mom and Dad were both going to walk me down the aisle. So as we practiced this together for the first time, my mom and I were arguing about whether she should take my armor not. She was saying no and had her arm down at her side and I was hissing at her to take my arm and once we arrived at the altar Father Joe told her that she should take my arm for the escort in (Score on point for the bride/daughter!)

he entire time of the rehearsal I was shaking on the inside and my butterflies were on the move. (Julie could tell I was nervous cause she said at one point I was petting Alissa like a dog and I didn't even realize I was doing it) We went through the motions of the beginnings of the ceremony and since only one of readers were there we only practiced her reading (and she started to cry there!!!!) We were at the point where we answer the 'consent questions' and after every question Fr Joe asked, Kenny responded with 'NO' and shook his head - I wanted to kill him. And Kenny kept sticking his tongue out at me when Fr Joe wasn't looking (which of course he did during the actual ceremony)

t this point Kenny's sister(his best man) and brother-in-law(one of the groomsmen) arrive. Once we had completed the 'vows' and 'rings' and 'monedas' practice, Fr Joe asked if we were ok? He then told Kenny that he needed to behave himself, especially on Saturday. He also asked if we wanted to confess ourselves and Kenny told Fr Joe that he wanted to confess on Saturday morning since he still had one more day of work and that he planned on sinning a lot on that day! This had everyone in stitches because only my Kenny would plan sinning!

nce the official rehearsal was over we were off to the dinner. We all caravaned to The Store Restaurant where we ate, drank, laughed but mostly relaxed and enjoyed a wonderful evening spent with family and friends. We tricked Kari into making a 'practice" toast and all she managed to choke out was 'Salut'. I must say, it was not very original. The food was great and the Coronas even better. The evening ended with a gorgeous cake from Gourmet Touch - it was lavender with silver swirls on the outside and devil's food chocolate with chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries in the center.

e headed home around 10:30 and after a very busy day I was still not tired. Kenny and I went home and opened up some last minute gifts that Kari brought for us that were at his grandmother's house (some were wedding gifts and some were late bridal shower gifts). Kenny and I stayed up awhile talking since we knew the following night we weren't going to be seeing each other nor would we be sleeping in the same bed. It was our last night together as 'singletons'. It was sweet but at the same time frightening - the next time we would be getting into bed together we would be Mr. & Mrs.