[ Ed. – Our wedding registries can be found at Williams Sonoma and Macy’s. Just search for either of our names – Robert Warren, Kristi Jepson – in California, wedding date 7/5/08. ]

Back in September (when Kristi and I already knew that a marriage was coming), we both knew that the first half of this year would be a roller coaster ride, but that it’d go fast. It’s hard to believe that it’s already March and that the wedding is only four months away.

Here’s where things are at, since several people recently have asked:

* Kristi’s wedding dress has been selected and purchased. No, I haven’t seen it (though I have seen the veil and shoes).

* Tuxes have been sorted out and are registered at Men’s Wearhouse. Bridesmaid dresses are likewise sorted.

* The general color scheme of the wedding is ivory with navy and cornflower blues.

* We got my ring sorted out in the right size this week. It arrived yesterday and fits perfectly; we’re both very happy now with both our wedding rings. They’re both 14K white gold, mine a brushed comfort fit band. For hers, we chose to buy a pair of diamond anniversary bands, to be soldered above and below her 2 carat diamond engagement band.

* Kristi and Kathy (aka Kristi’s mom) met with the florist yesterday afternoon and worked out our arrangements. We’re going with a general ivory-rose-and-blue motif to match the tuxes and bridesmaid dresses. Kristi says Em will really be the standout, and not only because she’s going to be standing on my side of the aisle. The blue and rose against her black dress will be stunning.

* Kristi, Kathy and I will be going out to the country club tomorrow to talk food and work out venue issues – all the core points of the event. Right now it looks like we’re doing rosemary chicken for the wedding dinner.

* We’ve hired a string quartet to play for the ceremony, and Kristi’s friend Olivia Richardson will sing.

* We haven’t yet settled on a cake design or type.

* After a great deal of back-and-forth between us, we’ve gotten our reception soundtrack together. About four hours of music, starting first with contemporary songs and then moving into romantic standards (Sinatra, Ella, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, etc.) for dinner. We still need to get a CD deck that will plug into the club’s sound system. Em’s husband Jason has graciously agreed to run the music for that evening.

* The hotel rooms have been reserved at the Courtyard Marriott in Modesto and both Chris (my brother and Best Man) and Em Varan (Groomsgirl) have confirmed with us that their plane tickets from Florida have been purchased and their cars reserved. Disa (Maid of Honor) and Janelle (Kristi’s sister and Bridesmaid) are likewise confirmed.

* Disa will be staying in the guest room here at the house. I will be spending the night before the wedding at the hotel with Chris and probably Em and Jason.

* The Jepsons’ bible study group have very graciously volunteered to do the rehearsal dinner, to be held at the Jepsons’ house the night before the wedding. They seriously have no idea how much we really appreciate it, or how much that means to us. Thanks so much, guys.

* The bridesmaid/groomgirl gifts have been selected and purchased, but we haven’t yet worked out gifts for the boys.

* As we’re both concerned about the heat in July (possibly up to 105F and very dry), we think we’re going to go with small paper fans and iced bottled water as table favors. (Our first thought was chocolate truffles, and then we thought, chocolate.. desert summer heat.. fancy dress.. umm.. maybe not.)

* Invitations are being custom designed by Jennifer Duarte of Jennifer Duarte Design, who with some luck will hopefully also be attending the wedding with her husband Matias. (She’s due to give birth to their new daughter just a few weeks before.)

* We plan to drive down to San Diego during Spring Break later this month to meet and visit with Kristi’s cousin Andy, the Lutheran minister who will be conducting the ceremony.

* Honeymoon discussions continue, with a plan not yet firmly nailed down. Originally we talked about honeymooning back in my home state of Florida, but cost issues got us looking elsewhere in California. Our latest idea is to take an Alaskan cruise. I’m sure the plan will change another dozen times between now and July.

* While we plan to spend our wedding night at the Westin in Modesto, we will not be leaving on our honeymoon until a day or two after the wedding in order to see everyone safely on their way home.

I think that about covers it right now.

For those R&K readers still considering attending from out of state, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help you find the most cost effective way to get out here and back. Last night Kristi (who’s a flippin’ genius at this) was looking up ticket prices from Florida; apparently they can still be had right now for about $350-450 round trip per seat, by far the least expensive way to make the 6000-mile round trip. Call and we’ll hook you up. We still sincerely would like you to attend. The only thing that we ask is that you provide a trustworthy RSVP as early as possible, as we still have a ton of decisions to make about the event.

For those out of state R&K readers who wish they could make it but simply can’t, we appreciate the good intentions and love you for it. We wish you could be here. We are still registered at Williams Sonoma and Macy’s, but are happy to receive whatever gift or acknowledgement you wish to offer. We know that many of those closest in our lives cannot conveniently make this trip and we understand their absence.

Halfway there, folks. Halfway there.