As I may have mentioned, we're using used books for our favors. So we ordered personalized rubber stamps which we could use to label said favors (name, date, thanks for coming, that sort of thing). After some back and forth with the designer, the stamps were finally shipped on the 19th. Since I had moved that weekend, I filled out a change of address form for the new place. The stamps were shipped to the old place.
It has now been 10 days and no stamps. Why? Well, as it turns out, the forwarding process can take 7-10 additional days . . . which means that I might not get the stamps until 10-14 days from the date of shipping. Which . . . may or may not result in them arriving before the wedding. Gah!
Fingers crossed.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Suit up
As if the dress drama weren't enough, now we're dealing with suit drama.
We decided to buy a suit rather than renting one (what a waste), partly because I wanted him in grey (morning wedding, plus grey is one of the wedding colors) and the only rentable grey suits had satin edging on the lapel, which: no. Plus this way he'd have another suit to wear.
We bought the only cheap grey suit they had, and when we initially had it measured for alterations, the guy had the HTB put the pants where he would normally wear them. The HTB wears his pants low--under his belly. So they measured and decided to take in the waist. When we came back, though, the waist was smaller (as requested), but the legs were huge, comparatively, and the crotch was low. They looked like Hammer pants, or clown pants, or something. And his bottom half is NOT large. So we had them take up the crotch a bit and the guy told us to come back last Saturday to check the fit, because the tailor would be in that day and we could talk to her about the fit around the legs.
When we went in on Saturday, we discovered that a) the crotch was better, but b) the tailor was NOT in and was not supposed to be. The salesman did his best to mark the legs to be taken in, and we were told to come back Tuesday. The guy even agreed to adjust the tailor's hours so she would still be there in the evening when we stopped by.
On Tuesday, the fit around the legs was a bit better, but the pants still poofed out around the pockets . . . sort of a hint of jodhpurs, if you know what I mean. But the tailor said she couldn't really do much more--she put in a basting stitch to fix them as much as she could, but we were starting to run into the pocket, so we were kind of stuck.
THEN the sales guy (one we hadn't talked to before) told us that the real problem was that there pants were designed to be worn at the waist, not below the waist, and if worn across his stomach instead of below it, then all the fit problems would have been fixed (which makes sense). So what SHOULD have happened is that the FIRST sales guy should have TOLD us that and we should have had them fitted for his WAIST instead of below it and maybe gotten stays put in and had him wear suspenders or something. But we did not KNOW that, so we had them taken in and hemmed as if they were low rise. Anyway, the tailor is doing what she can and we're to pick them up this weekend. There will still be a hint of jodhpurs around the hips, but there doesn't seem to be a way around that. The coat will cover it some, but it's just . . . not ideal. Sigh.
We decided to buy a suit rather than renting one (what a waste), partly because I wanted him in grey (morning wedding, plus grey is one of the wedding colors) and the only rentable grey suits had satin edging on the lapel, which: no. Plus this way he'd have another suit to wear.
We bought the only cheap grey suit they had, and when we initially had it measured for alterations, the guy had the HTB put the pants where he would normally wear them. The HTB wears his pants low--under his belly. So they measured and decided to take in the waist. When we came back, though, the waist was smaller (as requested), but the legs were huge, comparatively, and the crotch was low. They looked like Hammer pants, or clown pants, or something. And his bottom half is NOT large. So we had them take up the crotch a bit and the guy told us to come back last Saturday to check the fit, because the tailor would be in that day and we could talk to her about the fit around the legs.
When we went in on Saturday, we discovered that a) the crotch was better, but b) the tailor was NOT in and was not supposed to be. The salesman did his best to mark the legs to be taken in, and we were told to come back Tuesday. The guy even agreed to adjust the tailor's hours so she would still be there in the evening when we stopped by.
On Tuesday, the fit around the legs was a bit better, but the pants still poofed out around the pockets . . . sort of a hint of jodhpurs, if you know what I mean. But the tailor said she couldn't really do much more--she put in a basting stitch to fix them as much as she could, but we were starting to run into the pocket, so we were kind of stuck.
THEN the sales guy (one we hadn't talked to before) told us that the real problem was that there pants were designed to be worn at the waist, not below the waist, and if worn across his stomach instead of below it, then all the fit problems would have been fixed (which makes sense). So what SHOULD have happened is that the FIRST sales guy should have TOLD us that and we should have had them fitted for his WAIST instead of below it and maybe gotten stays put in and had him wear suspenders or something. But we did not KNOW that, so we had them taken in and hemmed as if they were low rise. Anyway, the tailor is doing what she can and we're to pick them up this weekend. There will still be a hint of jodhpurs around the hips, but there doesn't seem to be a way around that. The coat will cover it some, but it's just . . . not ideal. Sigh.
Dressed to kill
Oh my gosh I am so sick of dealing with my dress.
First I had to order it in my size. Then I had to try it on. Then I had to buy tulle for the petticoat I wanted them to add. Then I had to try it on again. Then they added the tulle and I had to try it on to see how long to make the tulle. Then I had to try it on again, and the tulle was longer on one side than the other and had pieces hanging off of it. And the dress hadn't been pressed (even though I'd asked them to). Then I came back AGAIN and tried it on . . . the tulle was better, but it still needed pressing.
So they pressed it for me right then. Thank God. Now it's hanging in my closet . . . we'll see if gets creased between now and the big day.
Meanwhile, the shoes came, and they're not the most comfortable things in the world, but I so don't care, because a) I love them, and b) I do NOT want to try to find something else. So instead I am wearing them around the office to break them in. Ha!
First I had to order it in my size. Then I had to try it on. Then I had to buy tulle for the petticoat I wanted them to add. Then I had to try it on again. Then they added the tulle and I had to try it on to see how long to make the tulle. Then I had to try it on again, and the tulle was longer on one side than the other and had pieces hanging off of it. And the dress hadn't been pressed (even though I'd asked them to). Then I came back AGAIN and tried it on . . . the tulle was better, but it still needed pressing.
So they pressed it for me right then. Thank God. Now it's hanging in my closet . . . we'll see if gets creased between now and the big day.
Meanwhile, the shoes came, and they're not the most comfortable things in the world, but I so don't care, because a) I love them, and b) I do NOT want to try to find something else. So instead I am wearing them around the office to break them in. Ha!
Brown chicken brown cow
One lady said she hadn't gotten me lingerie because it makes her squeamish . . . I thought she meant the whole idea made her squeamish, but instead of lingerie, she got me a bold pearl-looking bead necklace . . . which she recommended in lieu of lingerie! HILARIOUS! She also got me a bottle of bubble and a beach ball. She was all about "have fun" which was just . . . yeah, I was cracking up. Good times all around. And much more fun than a bachelorette party, IMHO.
Monday, April 18, 2011
All tied up
As I believe I mentioned, I also got ties/pocket squares for the gentlemen: paisley for the HTB (to be worn with a solid pocket square) and herringbone for the best man (to be worn with a paisley pocket square). And the HTB went in for a suit fitting this weekend . . . still more work to do on the pants, but progress has been made. All we have left is the shirt. Oh, and socks. Hmm.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Showered? Try DRENCHED.
This past weekend was my wedding shower. My! Wedding! Shower! (!!!)
It was actually kind of fun. I mean, don't get me wrong. It was also uncomfortable. It is always weird for me to be the, like, obvious center of attention . . . I feel the same way at birthday parties. Oddly enough, I'm plenty willing to goof off and talk loud and be the center of attention in a more organic way. But for some reason the "we are gathered here to celebrate . . . me" thing is always really, really weird. It's actually one part of the wedding that I think will be a challenge. "Attention, everyone! I am going to walk down the aisle now. Everybody watch me! ALL EYES ON ME!" Ugh.
Anyway, other than that weirdness, the shower was good. My roommate was in charge of food, and she had the inspired idea of basing the whole menu around cheese. Mascarpone brownies, pasta with asparagus and goat cheese, a cheese-and-apple tart, a cheese-and-fruit tart, various cheeses with crackers, some kind of hot cheese dish, mini pie crusts (which could be filled with cheesy spinach dip), etc. Yummo.
My small group leader planned the festivities. This included singing (we always sing a few hymns at small group), prayer, a devotional, and then presents. Of which there were many.
Everyone was so sweet, and so considerate, and seemed so genuinely happy for me . . . it was quite humbling.
It was actually kind of fun. I mean, don't get me wrong. It was also uncomfortable. It is always weird for me to be the, like, obvious center of attention . . . I feel the same way at birthday parties. Oddly enough, I'm plenty willing to goof off and talk loud and be the center of attention in a more organic way. But for some reason the "we are gathered here to celebrate . . . me" thing is always really, really weird. It's actually one part of the wedding that I think will be a challenge. "Attention, everyone! I am going to walk down the aisle now. Everybody watch me! ALL EYES ON ME!" Ugh.
Anyway, other than that weirdness, the shower was good. My roommate was in charge of food, and she had the inspired idea of basing the whole menu around cheese. Mascarpone brownies, pasta with asparagus and goat cheese, a cheese-and-apple tart, a cheese-and-fruit tart, various cheeses with crackers, some kind of hot cheese dish, mini pie crusts (which could be filled with cheesy spinach dip), etc. Yummo.
My small group leader planned the festivities. This included singing (we always sing a few hymns at small group), prayer, a devotional, and then presents. Of which there were many.
Everyone was so sweet, and so considerate, and seemed so genuinely happy for me . . . it was quite humbling.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Baby steps
This weekend, I:
--looked at flowers with my mom and a friend of mine who is going to do the bouquets/arrangements. Possible ideas include orange & red ranunculus, red anemones, and green hypericum berries for filler.
--had my hair and makeup consultation. Hair--sort of a side ponytail with loose curls over the shoulder. Makeup--natural but with a smokier eye, in purple. Veil--birdcage, in kind of a pillbox hat shape with a flower in the middle.
--bought foundation garments for the big day, including gut-sucking-in stuff. Which will be much needed.
--got fitted for my alterations. (Note to self: eat less.) They're going to add a tulle petticoat with a raw (but hopefully clean) edge that will protrude a good inch or so out of the bottom, take in the shoulders at the back, and add a gather on the straps at the front to transform the (rather gappy) v-neck into a sweetheart.
--looked for dresses for my mom. No dice yet.
--had my wedding shower. Actually a lot of fun, if bizarre (and kind of uncomfortable to be the center of attention like that for 2 straight hours).
--talked over the rehearsal dinner menu with the church ladies who are preparing it. Looks like we'll be able to do it for fairly close to what we budgeted.
--did laundry. Because it was time.
In addition, the HTB picked up our 90-some inch bookshelves (with a friend of our who has a truck) and got them all cleaned off, so we can start putting books on them.
Busy busy busy!
--looked at flowers with my mom and a friend of mine who is going to do the bouquets/arrangements. Possible ideas include orange & red ranunculus, red anemones, and green hypericum berries for filler.
--had my hair and makeup consultation. Hair--sort of a side ponytail with loose curls over the shoulder. Makeup--natural but with a smokier eye, in purple. Veil--birdcage, in kind of a pillbox hat shape with a flower in the middle.
--bought foundation garments for the big day, including gut-sucking-in stuff. Which will be much needed.
--got fitted for my alterations. (Note to self: eat less.) They're going to add a tulle petticoat with a raw (but hopefully clean) edge that will protrude a good inch or so out of the bottom, take in the shoulders at the back, and add a gather on the straps at the front to transform the (rather gappy) v-neck into a sweetheart.
--looked for dresses for my mom. No dice yet.
--had my wedding shower. Actually a lot of fun, if bizarre (and kind of uncomfortable to be the center of attention like that for 2 straight hours).
--talked over the rehearsal dinner menu with the church ladies who are preparing it. Looks like we'll be able to do it for fairly close to what we budgeted.
--did laundry. Because it was time.
In addition, the HTB picked up our 90-some inch bookshelves (with a friend of our who has a truck) and got them all cleaned off, so we can start putting books on them.
Busy busy busy!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Progress
My twin mattress and bed frame are moved into the new apartment. (But not assembled--I'll just sleep on the mattress on the floor for the next month until his double bed is moved in.) We also now have 4 eye level bookshelves (plus an extra one that will be going to a friend of ours), 2 black reading chairs, a previously mentioned red couch, a previously mentioned zebra print rug, frames for his Army of Darkness poster and two vintage Lord of the Rings posters, two small white bookshelves, and red thermal blackout curtains for the front windows. This weekend, we should be getting brown curtains for the bedroom, and he is going to move in the two tall bookshelves.
After that, all we have left to move is:
--my large dresser
--my small dresser
--my cedar chest
--his small white bookshelf
--his bed
--his TV
--his TV stand
I think that's it for the big stuff. Obviously, we still have tons of clothes and books and stuff to move (and to throw away, because whoa do we not need everything we have). And we'll have to get rid of his recliner and futon, and my box springs. Then once his bed is in, we can get rid of the twin mattress (we're keeping the twin frame, since my grandma gave it to me).
But still, it's starting to look like people live there.
After that, all we have left to move is:
--my large dresser
--my small dresser
--my cedar chest
--his small white bookshelf
--his bed
--his TV
--his TV stand
I think that's it for the big stuff. Obviously, we still have tons of clothes and books and stuff to move (and to throw away, because whoa do we not need everything we have). And we'll have to get rid of his recliner and futon, and my box springs. Then once his bed is in, we can get rid of the twin mattress (we're keeping the twin frame, since my grandma gave it to me).
But still, it's starting to look like people live there.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Done and done!
Wedding/marriage related tasks accomplished: HTB added to phone plan. Engagement pics taken (and wedding and engagement pics paid for). Mattress moved to new place (shortly to be followed by box springs and frame). Books boxed up. Curtains purchased.
Oh my gosh, I'm actually more excited than overwhelmed today. Crazy.
Oh my gosh, I'm actually more excited than overwhelmed today. Crazy.
Phone home
And we're officially on the same phone plan. Which is to say, we're on my parents phone plan. It's much cheaper for us all to be on a friends and family plan together. CRAZY.
Friday, April 1, 2011
She's come undone
I have no idea how much is hormones, how much is wedding stress, and how much is just me being a sinner and falling prey to sinful worry, but I am seriously coming apart at the seams.
Last night, the post office was supposed to deliver the balance of our invitations. (We'd uploaded addresses for the first batch and had the printers address and mail them, but ordered another batch to be sent to us so we could address them as the 'no' rsvps opened up more spots.) But of course, they didn't actually deliver them. (This is unusual--usually the post office is fine with leaving packages on the step. It's UPS that has a weird phobia of my pristine and totally non-threatening neighborhood.) When I checked the tracking info today, I was informed that they'd 'attempted' delivery, but were unsuccessful, and so left a notice. Except there was no notice. So the post office website's instructions to pick up my package from the post office listed on the notice was not terribly helpful. So I called the post office 800 number. After a series of automated responses, I got a live person who told me where I could pick up my package. So I ducked out of the office to pick it up on my lunch hour.
Of course there was like a 10 minute wait for the metro. And then another 10 minute walk to the post office from the metro. And then a long line. While I was waiting in line, I got this funny feeling . . . and started wondering if maybe this wasn't the right post office. See, I live in one quadrant of the district, and this post office was in an adjacent quadrant. Since I was stuck waiting in line anyway, I decided to call the 800 number again and double check that I was in the right place (rather than waiting in line for half an hour only to discover that I'd been misinformed). And yeah. I'd been misinformed. My package was actually at the post office in my quadrant. Like a block from my house. There was no metro line between the two post offices, so I headed over on foot. Another 20 minute walk. Then a 15 minute wait in line. (Why not just go Saturday, you ask? Because the lines on Saturday are insane, and I have breakfast and bible study and wedding flowers and engagement pictures and all sort of craziness tomorrow. That's why.)
I had another scare when I got to the counter . . . the lady told me that the other post office was indeed my post office, but that the package might be at this one. Which it was. Thank God. Because by this time, I'd spent more than an hour and a half on this errand, and still had to get back to the office (another 30 minute walk/metro ride--I ended up cabbing it to save time).
So I got the package. But I have been fighting tears for the past hour. And I just . . . I don't know how much more of this I can handle. Because I can't seem to handle . . . anything. It feels like my sense of humor is broken. Everything's a tragedy, everything's annoying, everything is the end of the world. I just want to lay my head down on my desk and cry. And over what? A mistake by a postal employee? Yes, because that's something to write home about. It happens all the time. I know it happens all the time.
I just feel so overwhelmed. All the time. I feel pulled in a million directions and I don't know what to do.
As the HTB said the other day: We're never getting divorced, because the idea of doing all this again . . . well, that's the stuff nightmares are made of. God only knows why anyone would want to do this again.
Last night, the post office was supposed to deliver the balance of our invitations. (We'd uploaded addresses for the first batch and had the printers address and mail them, but ordered another batch to be sent to us so we could address them as the 'no' rsvps opened up more spots.) But of course, they didn't actually deliver them. (This is unusual--usually the post office is fine with leaving packages on the step. It's UPS that has a weird phobia of my pristine and totally non-threatening neighborhood.) When I checked the tracking info today, I was informed that they'd 'attempted' delivery, but were unsuccessful, and so left a notice. Except there was no notice. So the post office website's instructions to pick up my package from the post office listed on the notice was not terribly helpful. So I called the post office 800 number. After a series of automated responses, I got a live person who told me where I could pick up my package. So I ducked out of the office to pick it up on my lunch hour.
Of course there was like a 10 minute wait for the metro. And then another 10 minute walk to the post office from the metro. And then a long line. While I was waiting in line, I got this funny feeling . . . and started wondering if maybe this wasn't the right post office. See, I live in one quadrant of the district, and this post office was in an adjacent quadrant. Since I was stuck waiting in line anyway, I decided to call the 800 number again and double check that I was in the right place (rather than waiting in line for half an hour only to discover that I'd been misinformed). And yeah. I'd been misinformed. My package was actually at the post office in my quadrant. Like a block from my house. There was no metro line between the two post offices, so I headed over on foot. Another 20 minute walk. Then a 15 minute wait in line. (Why not just go Saturday, you ask? Because the lines on Saturday are insane, and I have breakfast and bible study and wedding flowers and engagement pictures and all sort of craziness tomorrow. That's why.)
I had another scare when I got to the counter . . . the lady told me that the other post office was indeed my post office, but that the package might be at this one. Which it was. Thank God. Because by this time, I'd spent more than an hour and a half on this errand, and still had to get back to the office (another 30 minute walk/metro ride--I ended up cabbing it to save time).
So I got the package. But I have been fighting tears for the past hour. And I just . . . I don't know how much more of this I can handle. Because I can't seem to handle . . . anything. It feels like my sense of humor is broken. Everything's a tragedy, everything's annoying, everything is the end of the world. I just want to lay my head down on my desk and cry. And over what? A mistake by a postal employee? Yes, because that's something to write home about. It happens all the time. I know it happens all the time.
I just feel so overwhelmed. All the time. I feel pulled in a million directions and I don't know what to do.
As the HTB said the other day: We're never getting divorced, because the idea of doing all this again . . . well, that's the stuff nightmares are made of. God only knows why anyone would want to do this again.
Surreal Life
The Evite for my wedding shower went out yesterday. My wedding shower. I am having a wedding shower. Because I am getting married. Married. When did this happen? Where was I? What is going on?
You'd think that picking out a wedding dress would have made me realize. Or maybe buying wedding rings. And getting them engraved. Or sending out wedding invitations. Or planning a reception. Or a thousand other tasks we've done in the past three months. But no. Somehow, looking at the Evite for my wedding shower . . . well, it hits me in a way I wouldn't have expected. People are coming. It's been less than 24 hours and 20 people have RSVP'd. They're coming to celebrate my upcoming marriage.
I had a related revelation the other day, as I realized that it's only 30-something days til the wedding. (36 today). I knew this. I knew it was coming. We're doing a countdown through Psalms, so I read Psalm 45 and knew it was 45 days til the wedding . . . read Psalm 40 and knew it was 40 days . . . every time I look at our wedding website, I see the banner across the top that says how many days we have left. But none of that sunk in. Until the HTB mentioned it the other day. And then my brain exploded. That's . . . so not very many days! And I swear they keep going by faster and faster. For a while there, I would think, man, it's been 11 weeks to the wedding forever! When will it be 10 weeks? Why is this taking so long? Now I'm like, "It's 5 weeks tomorrow? Where have I been? Wasn't it just 6 weeks?" It feels like a train I can't stop. It just keeps coming, picking up speed as it comes.
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want the train not to reach the destination. In some ways, I wish it were already here. But sometimes I wish I could just slow it down. Even pause it for a minute. Take a breath. Get my bearings.
It's not dissimilar to the feeling I had when he proposed. I told him I needed a minute . . . and then I waited for my brain to slow down, my breathing to regulate. I waited for my brain to get a handle on the situation, for my heart to stop racing. I wanted to chaos and panic and whirlwind to pass so I could respond from a place of cool, collected rationality. But the moment didn't come. My breathing didn't slow down, my heart didn't relax, my mind whirled around a mile a minute with no sign of stopping. There was no calm, no restful, cool stillness from which to speak. And when I realized that, realized that the chaos in my mind wasn't going anywhere, I went ahead and answered from the storm. Because after all, I knew the answer. I had known for a while. So I wasn't rushed, even if I sort of felt rushed. I felt like I was in a whirlwind, and I wanted to answer from a place of calm. But the calm wasn't there. So I answered anyway.
I begin to suspect that the rest of life is going to be this way. I know the answer. I know I want to marry him. I want to marry him more today than I did when he first proposed. But I confess that I also want to push the pause button for a bit, tell everyone (including myself) to just chill the heck out for a bit while I catch my breath. Then, once I get my brain around the situation, then we can press play again. Except there is no pause button. The train keeps rolling, the reel keeps spinning, and life marches on. And let's be honest. Even if I had a pause button, I cannot honestly say I'd every be fully ready. That moment of calm is just a fantasy. The reality is I'd be overwhelmed by marriage no matter how much time I had.
So once again I have to answer from the storm. I know this is the choice I want, I know it is good. And I will stick to it, even if my Vulcan heart wants to hold off until I can be coolly logical, instead of frantically discombobulated. Because life doesn't wait for you to be ready. It keeps coming. And God doesn't promise to equip you ahead of time. He gives grace for the moment, peace for today. So I remind myself to trust Him, and then duck my head and press on through the storm.
(Apologies for all the mixed metaphors, BTW.)
You'd think that picking out a wedding dress would have made me realize. Or maybe buying wedding rings. And getting them engraved. Or sending out wedding invitations. Or planning a reception. Or a thousand other tasks we've done in the past three months. But no. Somehow, looking at the Evite for my wedding shower . . . well, it hits me in a way I wouldn't have expected. People are coming. It's been less than 24 hours and 20 people have RSVP'd. They're coming to celebrate my upcoming marriage.
I had a related revelation the other day, as I realized that it's only 30-something days til the wedding. (36 today). I knew this. I knew it was coming. We're doing a countdown through Psalms, so I read Psalm 45 and knew it was 45 days til the wedding . . . read Psalm 40 and knew it was 40 days . . . every time I look at our wedding website, I see the banner across the top that says how many days we have left. But none of that sunk in. Until the HTB mentioned it the other day. And then my brain exploded. That's . . . so not very many days! And I swear they keep going by faster and faster. For a while there, I would think, man, it's been 11 weeks to the wedding forever! When will it be 10 weeks? Why is this taking so long? Now I'm like, "It's 5 weeks tomorrow? Where have I been? Wasn't it just 6 weeks?" It feels like a train I can't stop. It just keeps coming, picking up speed as it comes.
Don't get me wrong. It's not that I want the train not to reach the destination. In some ways, I wish it were already here. But sometimes I wish I could just slow it down. Even pause it for a minute. Take a breath. Get my bearings.
It's not dissimilar to the feeling I had when he proposed. I told him I needed a minute . . . and then I waited for my brain to slow down, my breathing to regulate. I waited for my brain to get a handle on the situation, for my heart to stop racing. I wanted to chaos and panic and whirlwind to pass so I could respond from a place of cool, collected rationality. But the moment didn't come. My breathing didn't slow down, my heart didn't relax, my mind whirled around a mile a minute with no sign of stopping. There was no calm, no restful, cool stillness from which to speak. And when I realized that, realized that the chaos in my mind wasn't going anywhere, I went ahead and answered from the storm. Because after all, I knew the answer. I had known for a while. So I wasn't rushed, even if I sort of felt rushed. I felt like I was in a whirlwind, and I wanted to answer from a place of calm. But the calm wasn't there. So I answered anyway.
I begin to suspect that the rest of life is going to be this way. I know the answer. I know I want to marry him. I want to marry him more today than I did when he first proposed. But I confess that I also want to push the pause button for a bit, tell everyone (including myself) to just chill the heck out for a bit while I catch my breath. Then, once I get my brain around the situation, then we can press play again. Except there is no pause button. The train keeps rolling, the reel keeps spinning, and life marches on. And let's be honest. Even if I had a pause button, I cannot honestly say I'd every be fully ready. That moment of calm is just a fantasy. The reality is I'd be overwhelmed by marriage no matter how much time I had.
So once again I have to answer from the storm. I know this is the choice I want, I know it is good. And I will stick to it, even if my Vulcan heart wants to hold off until I can be coolly logical, instead of frantically discombobulated. Because life doesn't wait for you to be ready. It keeps coming. And God doesn't promise to equip you ahead of time. He gives grace for the moment, peace for today. So I remind myself to trust Him, and then duck my head and press on through the storm.
(Apologies for all the mixed metaphors, BTW.)
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cutting a rug
In other furnishing news, we have a rug! It's zebra print. Yep, zebra print. It will go great with the red couch, black reading chairs, and Army of Darkness poster.
Sofa away!
Couch acquired! We bought a couch from someone at the church--a red cotton twill couch. It only cost us $100! Not too shabby, when you figure that new furniture often costs into four figures. We moved it Sunday in my little car, with half the sofa sticking out the back. Luckily, it's only like a mile from the place we got the couch to our new place, so it worked out fine. So excited!!!
On the shelf
Today we bought bookshelves. Four bookshelves, to be exact. Two tall ones and two shorter ones. Total cost: $116. See, there's this national bookstore and they declared bankruptcy a few months back and are closing a bunch of area stores. Which means the stores are selling everything. Including their solid wood bookshelves. Bingo! Now we just have to pick them up . . .
Monday, March 28, 2011
Suit yourself
We got his suit! It's a dark grey windowpane plaid! It was a bit of a challenge, since the places we looked either wanted $500-$700 for a suit (Men's Wearhouse) or didn't carry his size (Macy's). Finally, on a recommendation from the salesman at Macy's, we headed to Jos. A. Banks. We have a winner! They had a couple suits in his size, and some on sale! We got a suit for a great price and he got fitted for alterations real quick and we even ordered a tux jacket rental for his dad (to go with his black jeans and black cowboy boots, obvi).
Now we just have to find shirts, ties, and pocket squares. Grr.
Now we just have to find shirts, ties, and pocket squares. Grr.
Friday, March 25, 2011
You're invited!
We ordered our invitations today! 201 postcard invitations that will be printed, address, stamped, and mailed by one company! And another 100 to be sent to us for us to hand-deliver/stamp and mail as we hear back from others. And it actually ended up being CHEAPER than we'd budgeted. Praise the LORD.
Oh, AND they are actually kind of fun--superhero cartoons. Good times.
Oh, AND they are actually kind of fun--superhero cartoons. Good times.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tick tick tick tick
My ring: engraved and acquired.
Used books for favors: acquired.
China pattern: selected.
Fancy china: being donated by a friend.
Fancy crystal: acquired.
Invitation re-design: nearly complete.
Head: exploded.
Used books for favors: acquired.
China pattern: selected.
Fancy china: being donated by a friend.
Fancy crystal: acquired.
Invitation re-design: nearly complete.
Head: exploded.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Stairway to heaven?
Newly discovered awesome thing about our apartment: The front hall closet is really stairs. They don't go anywhere--the doorway between the first and second floors was closed off long ago, and now there's even flooring laid down above. But the stairs themselves remain. They go right up to the ceiling. Technically, it makes the closet smaller, but it also makes the closet more awesome.
Ring-a-ding ding
I almost forgot--I ordered my ring! It's just a plain white gold half-round band, 3mm wide, polished finish. My engagement ring has a very low setting, so the diamond bands are too tall to fit under it comfortably (in addition to being either too expensive or too cheap looking), and even the comfort bands are a little thick. The half round lies nice and flat against my finger, and lies almost flush with the engagement ring.
Anyway, it should arrive March 24. At which point we will have it engraved. Yee haw!
Anyway, it should arrive March 24. At which point we will have it engraved. Yee haw!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I finally said YES to the dress
The Nordstrom dress is the winner. I still have to buy the tulle or whatever so they can add a petticoat and have a bit of something peeking out of the bottom to add some length. But that's the dress I'm going with. The search is over. Thank God.
(It's cuter in person.)
Wrong-a-ding
This past weekend, we took his ring in to get engraved. Last night, we went to pick it up (and also to order my ring, since I finally decided what I want). Except that instead of engraving what we'd asked for--I John 4:19--they'd engraved it with I John 4-19. A dash instead of a colon. What? And then the engraving was upside down! See, his ring has a cross on the outside. An actual cross with a top and a bottom--not one of those that looks the same from any direction. If you set the ring down on a flat surface, so that the cross is right side up, the engraving is upside down. Here, maybe this will help.
Make sense? Anyway, I told them it was wrong and they agreed to fix it, but then they called this morning and said they can't fix it and that they don't usually engrave titanium rings and shouldn't have accepted it in the first place. The assistant manager said they would reimburse me for the cost of a new ring and would refund the money we paid for the engraving. I asked if I could have that in writing (you know, before I went and bought a new one), and she decided to call the manager. Now they're trying to see if they can fix it. But if it doesn't look right, I will ask them to reimburse us for a new one.
[UPDATE: They say they fixed it. We shall see. We'll pick it up this weekend, but if it's not right, they're gonna be reimbursing us for the cost of the ring AND the engraving.]
Make sense? Anyway, I told them it was wrong and they agreed to fix it, but then they called this morning and said they can't fix it and that they don't usually engrave titanium rings and shouldn't have accepted it in the first place. The assistant manager said they would reimburse me for the cost of a new ring and would refund the money we paid for the engraving. I asked if I could have that in writing (you know, before I went and bought a new one), and she decided to call the manager. Now they're trying to see if they can fix it. But if it doesn't look right, I will ask them to reimburse us for a new one.
[UPDATE: They say they fixed it. We shall see. We'll pick it up this weekend, but if it's not right, they're gonna be reimbursing us for the cost of the ring AND the engraving.]
April Showers
The time has come to talk wedding showers. My roommate has generously agreed to plan the menu, and my small group leader is going to find us a location and plan the shower itself. We were talking this weekend about possible dates, and they asked me if my mom was coming. Which never even occurred to me, since, you know, she lives like 4 states away. But it was a good question, so I asked her if she wanted to come . . . and she does! Which is really exciting! She hasn't been able to be here for any of the other wedding stuff--dress shopping, venue hunting, etc.--so it would be really nice if she could come for the shower. Especially since the shower might end up being the same weekend as my hair and makeup consultations, in which case she could come to that, too!
I'm trying not to get my hopes up, because, well, it's not settled yet. But it would be so nice to have her involved! It's been hard, since she and my maid of honor (and my honorary bridesmaid) are far away and thus can only offer limited help. It would be great to have some traditional mother-daughter moments in this process.
I'm trying not to get my hopes up, because, well, it's not settled yet. But it would be so nice to have her involved! It's been hard, since she and my maid of honor (and my honorary bridesmaid) are far away and thus can only offer limited help. It would be great to have some traditional mother-daughter moments in this process.
Order out of chaos
Last night we (sort of) figured out our Order of Service. Check it:
Prelude: "Blest Be the Tie that Binds" (instrumental--piano)I still need to figure out the various instrumental pieces for the prep music and after the postlude. But, yeah, that's what we have so far.
Seating of the Family: "How Great Thou Art" (instrumental--piano or guitar)
Entrance of the Bridal Party: "Come Thou Fount" (instrumental--piano)
Processional: "Old 100th" (Doxology) (instrumental--piano)
Call to Worship: Psalm 118:1
Welcome
Prayer
Declaration of Purpose
Question of Intent
Giving away of the Bride
Hymn: "Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy"
Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33
Prayer: Lutheran Prayer
Hymn: "Rock of Ages"
Hymn: "How Firm a Foundation"
Scripture: Hosea 2:16-20
Hymn: "Jesus Paid It All"
Scripture: I John 4:7-19
Sermon
Exchange of Vows
Exchange of Rings
Prayer: Puritan Marriage Prayer
Pronouncement
Recessional Hymn: "To God Be the Glory"
Benediction: "The Lord's Prayer" (acapella men's quartet)
Postlude: "Here Is Love"
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Hymn and her
I think we've picked some of the songs for our wedding. The processional will likely be Wagner's Bridal Chorus (the HTB is a big fan) or Old 100th (best known as the melody for the Doxology). I think the other hymns we'll use are: Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy, Rock of Ages, How Firm a Foundation, and Jesus Paid It All. I think To God Be the Glory will be the the recessional. We're still figuring out how to work other hymns in--lots will likely be instrumentals during the prelude or postlude, like Blest Be the Tie That Binds, How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Fount, Here Is Love, O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus, etc. I really like the acapella men's quartet arrangement of The Lord's Prayer, but the HTB really doesn't like special music, so we might have it as a benediction. And he really wants an instrumental version of White Wedding (yes, the Billy Idol song), so I've commissioned the Bruh-thair to create a church-appropriate arrangement. The sermon text will be I John 4:7-19, and we'll read Ephesians 5:21-33, of course. Not sure what the other passage will be.
Progress has definitely been made (miraculously, since we started with a list of like 100 hymns, then narrowed it 50, and now we're just steps away from a final Order of Service).
Progress has definitely been made (miraculously, since we started with a list of like 100 hymns, then narrowed it 50, and now we're just steps away from a final Order of Service).
The Keymaster
Yesterday, the HTB picked up the keys to our new place. So exciting! The landlord is having the floors touched up and is repainting the kitchen and fixing the garbage disposal, so we won't really start moving stuff until next week, but still, so exciting!!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Freebie
I almost got a free dress.
See, a friend of mine was engaged a while back ago (like, a while), but ended up calling off the wedding. However, by the time she broke things off, she'd already bought a marked-down dress at a going-out-of-business sale, so there was no way for her to return it. So it's just been sitting in her closet for several years. Because she is awesome, she offered to give it to me for free, and last night I trekked over to her place to try it on. Sadly, it was a little too small and wasn't really my style anyway. But still, it was very cool of her. We ended up chatting for like 2 hours and it was totally fun. So it's looking like the Nordstrom dress will be the winner. And I found out yesterday that the dress came in, so I'll need to go in and meet with the alterations people. Getting close!
See, a friend of mine was engaged a while back ago (like, a while), but ended up calling off the wedding. However, by the time she broke things off, she'd already bought a marked-down dress at a going-out-of-business sale, so there was no way for her to return it. So it's just been sitting in her closet for several years. Because she is awesome, she offered to give it to me for free, and last night I trekked over to her place to try it on. Sadly, it was a little too small and wasn't really my style anyway. But still, it was very cool of her. We ended up chatting for like 2 hours and it was totally fun. So it's looking like the Nordstrom dress will be the winner. And I found out yesterday that the dress came in, so I'll need to go in and meet with the alterations people. Getting close!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Helper Elms
Yesterday, we started asking more people to help out with wedding stuff. My brother and one of the church pianists have agreed to help with music, we've got someone lined up to teach the swing dance lesson at the reception (and we have a lead on a co-teacher), a friend of ours agreed to run the music for the reception, and another couple people have been given a heads up that we will likely be asking them to do something, even if we don't know what yet. Oh, and we have people to work the guestbook, too! And maybe even an emcee for the reception. We shall see.
Ring a ding DON'T
Well, we have a partial win on the rings. He likes his, and it fits him fine. So all we have to do for him is get it engraved. Mine is too big (and I don't feel like paying to get it re-sized) and the diamonds are cloudy and don't sparkle at all. Which: what's the point? So I'm returning it, and I think I will go with a plain white gold band instead.
Planning a Life
We've started to talk about budget stuff. Originally, we'd thought he would continue to teach part time and work another part time job while (theoretically) writing his dissertation. But God has intervened. The college where he's been teaching is reallocating their classes and giving their full time professors a heavier load, so it's by no means certain that he'll be able to teach with them this fall. And the bookstore where he's been working part time is closing--the parent company declared bankruptcy, and his store is part of the fallout. Of course, he could find something. (One of the things I love about him is that he's not above working a humble job--he doesn't think he has to hold out for the perfect job. He realizes that he needs to be working, and a job is a job, and if that means he mops floors, then so be it.) But the truth is, it's hard for him to work part time and write his dissertation. Especially since part time jobs tend to be a few hours several days a week, rather than a full day twice a week. And once you head off to work, put in a four hour shift, and come home, well, it kinda puts a chink in your whole day. So now we're wondering if this is God's way of clearing his schedule to work on the dissertation full time for a while. After all, better to do it now than later when there may be children or who knows what all in the picture. And the sooner he gets it done, the sooner he can apply for a full time position doing what he loves.
So the new tentative plan is for him to spend the summer writing his dissertation. If he has a draft ready by fall, then he can spend the fall getting the draft finalized with his advisor person (not sure what the technical term is) and applying for jobs and maybe working part time somewhere. Then come spring, he can defend his dissertation and start interviewing for jobs (again, while theoretically working part time somewhere). Neither of us sees it as ideal for me to be supporting us, but hopefully we'd just be living off my income for a few months, then he can start helping out with part time work, either in some sort of lower skilled job (retail, whatever) or by teaching a couple classes.
I was encouraged by our ability to work through this challenge. We discussed it openly and calmly, and we both agreed that for me to be the only breadwinner long term would be unacceptable. And honestly, while he is fine with me making more money than he does, he doesn't like the idea of me making all the money. So the fact that I am supporting us may provide an additional catalyst for productivity, since he (like me) tends to procrastinate.
So the new tentative plan is for him to spend the summer writing his dissertation. If he has a draft ready by fall, then he can spend the fall getting the draft finalized with his advisor person (not sure what the technical term is) and applying for jobs and maybe working part time somewhere. Then come spring, he can defend his dissertation and start interviewing for jobs (again, while theoretically working part time somewhere). Neither of us sees it as ideal for me to be supporting us, but hopefully we'd just be living off my income for a few months, then he can start helping out with part time work, either in some sort of lower skilled job (retail, whatever) or by teaching a couple classes.
I was encouraged by our ability to work through this challenge. We discussed it openly and calmly, and we both agreed that for me to be the only breadwinner long term would be unacceptable. And honestly, while he is fine with me making more money than he does, he doesn't like the idea of me making all the money. So the fact that I am supporting us may provide an additional catalyst for productivity, since he (like me) tends to procrastinate.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Dress WIN
I heart Nordstrom. Let me just get that off my chest from the get-go. I had never been before, but a friend told me they had a decent collection of reception dresses (so, short dresses), so I made an appointment. A few days before the appointment, the saleswoman called me to chat about what I was looking for, what my style is, what kind of budget I was looking for, that sort of thing. And not only was English her primary language (praise the Lord--I'm sorry, but it really does help), but she was completely nice! Even when I told her my budget (which is not large, and which could very easily be grounds for a place like Nordstrom deciding that I am not worth their time and/or that I should be sneered at as often as possible).
But the lady was totally nice, and when I arrived, she had like six dresses pulled for me, and three pairs of shoes, and some accessories. She offered us bottled water (sparkling or still), and was pretty much just super sweet and helpful the whole time. She even pulled out an iPad to google petticoat vendors (since she wasn't sure they could add petticoats there).
Anyway, the dress they had fit me, but only barely, so I ordered it a size larger--it should arrive in 8-10 business days (yay!), and then I will go in and get fitted for alterations (or, you know, decide I don't like it that much after all and send it back).
The best part? Since it's essentially just a white silk (silk!) party dress, I got it for less than $200. That's more like it.
But the lady was totally nice, and when I arrived, she had like six dresses pulled for me, and three pairs of shoes, and some accessories. She offered us bottled water (sparkling or still), and was pretty much just super sweet and helpful the whole time. She even pulled out an iPad to google petticoat vendors (since she wasn't sure they could add petticoats there).
Anyway, the dress they had fit me, but only barely, so I ordered it a size larger--it should arrive in 8-10 business days (yay!), and then I will go in and get fitted for alterations (or, you know, decide I don't like it that much after all and send it back).
The best part? Since it's essentially just a white silk (silk!) party dress, I got it for less than $200. That's more like it.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
There's a place for us, Part 2
We signed the lease! BAM! Dunzo. We take possession in like 2 weeks, and we have a good month or so to get me moved in, and then until, you know, May to get him moved in. So exciting!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Ring-a-ding kids
We ordered our rings! Off Amazon.com (we're so classy). His is a titanium comfort fit band with a cross engraved on the outside, and mine is a white gold band with a few tiny diamonds in a channel setting. Hopefully it will be thick enough to engrave. We may have to return them if it turns out we don't like them, but maybe we will like them! Here's hoping...
Dress FAIL
The ebay seller sent me the wrong dress. Granted, the dress was called a pencil skirt dress. But the picture--actually, the many pictures, from multiple angles--left no doubt that it was the fuller skirted dress I was looking for.
Except that's not what they sent. They sent the fitted one. Which means that I may not be able to find the dress after all. Other sellers were offering it, but in other sizes. And the one other seller offering the dress in my size billed it as having "imperfections"--whatever that means. What to do, what to do . . .
I do have an appointment at Nordstrom this weekend, and I plan to hit the mall looking for stuff, but I don't think it's terribly likely that I'll find anything. Sigh.
Except that's not what they sent. They sent the fitted one. Which means that I may not be able to find the dress after all. Other sellers were offering it, but in other sizes. And the one other seller offering the dress in my size billed it as having "imperfections"--whatever that means. What to do, what to do . . .
I do have an appointment at Nordstrom this weekend, and I plan to hit the mall looking for stuff, but I don't think it's terribly likely that I'll find anything. Sigh.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
There's a place for us...
I think we found an apartment! It's a one bedroom just a few blocks from Union Station, in a safe area, within walking distance of my office AND church . . . and just around the corner from a coffeeshop. We would be renting the ground floor of a row house--the landlords (a young married couple) live on the top two floors and are members of our church. There's another tenant in the basement, as well. The couple that owns the place also has a dog, and they are excited for their dog to have a buddy. They also have a little girl who loves dogs, and they are even interested in maybe having my dog come upstairs to play with her (and their dog) sometimes! There's a washer and a dryer in the basement, a normal sized kitchen (for the Hill anyway), and a rounded bay window in the front room. There are also windows in the bedroom AND the dining room (very rare for a row house). And a fenced in area in the back--it's mostly gravel (they park their car there), but they're looking at turning part of it to grass.
All in all, it seems like a great place. A little more than we'd hoped to pay, but we should be able to swing it.
All in all, it seems like a great place. A little more than we'd hoped to pay, but we should be able to swing it.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Say 'Maybe' to the Dress
I am not a fan of wedding dress shopping. At most, I've been able to find dresses that were ok. They were serviceable. They would do. And I was sort of fine with that. After all, I've come to grips (mostly) with the fact that no matter what dress I get, I will still look like me. And I probably won't find exactly what I want. I'm not even sure I know exactly what I want. So I am perfectly willing to settle for adequate.
Except that even these "adequate" dresses are priced at upwards of $500. And that's not counting alterations, which could be another $400 or even more. So now we're talking about paying nearly $1000 for a dress I don't even like that much. And I just . . . can't do it.
So instead, I bought a white cotton dress off Ebay for $50 (it's a style I already own and love in electric blue). I'll use that as an emergency backup dress and keep prowling the department stores for something more affordable.
Except that even these "adequate" dresses are priced at upwards of $500. And that's not counting alterations, which could be another $400 or even more. So now we're talking about paying nearly $1000 for a dress I don't even like that much. And I just . . . can't do it.
So instead, I bought a white cotton dress off Ebay for $50 (it's a style I already own and love in electric blue). I'll use that as an emergency backup dress and keep prowling the department stores for something more affordable.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Here's the thing...
...a lot of "wedding" or "love" songs express fundamental false or troubling sentiments. "You are my everything"? False. "I can't live without you"? False. "You're an angel who can do no wrong"? Waaaay false. "I would do anything for you"? Nope. "I need you"? Eh, kinda? I mean, I rely on him, sure, but I know I can live without him--I've done it for 28 years!
I didn't fall in love with him the moment I met him, I wasn't miserable until he came along, and I don't think I love him more than anyone else has ever loved anyone else in the history of the universe. We didn't break up and then reunite. I never almost lost him. Our physical relationship has not outpaced our commitment, so all those songs about watching one another sleeping or lying beside one another and suddenly realizing you want to get married . . . that never happened. Plus, I don't really go in for the whole "falling in love" thing. I mean, you love someone. Being in love with them . . . what is that? Chemistry? Attraction? Lust? Some subjective feeling that is at best unreliable and impossible to quantify? And the songs that talk about how you couldn't help falling in love with someone? How you were/are powerless to resist the throes of passion or whatever? How is that helpful? What's to stop you from uncontrollably falling in love with someone else? Me no likey. And even songs that promise to be together through eternity . . . they're false. Marriage is temporary. One or both of you will die, and in heaven the only marriage is that of Christ and His bride, the church.
So I guess what I'm really looking for is a song that says "You're awesome, I'm glad you came along (though even if you hadn't, God would still have been enough, but it was awfully nice of him to bring us together), and I choose to love you, and I'm looking forward to being married to you for the rest of one of our lives."
Oh, and I want to be able to dance to it.
Is that so much to ask?
I didn't fall in love with him the moment I met him, I wasn't miserable until he came along, and I don't think I love him more than anyone else has ever loved anyone else in the history of the universe. We didn't break up and then reunite. I never almost lost him. Our physical relationship has not outpaced our commitment, so all those songs about watching one another sleeping or lying beside one another and suddenly realizing you want to get married . . . that never happened. Plus, I don't really go in for the whole "falling in love" thing. I mean, you love someone. Being in love with them . . . what is that? Chemistry? Attraction? Lust? Some subjective feeling that is at best unreliable and impossible to quantify? And the songs that talk about how you couldn't help falling in love with someone? How you were/are powerless to resist the throes of passion or whatever? How is that helpful? What's to stop you from uncontrollably falling in love with someone else? Me no likey. And even songs that promise to be together through eternity . . . they're false. Marriage is temporary. One or both of you will die, and in heaven the only marriage is that of Christ and His bride, the church.
So I guess what I'm really looking for is a song that says "You're awesome, I'm glad you came along (though even if you hadn't, God would still have been enough, but it was awfully nice of him to bring us together), and I choose to love you, and I'm looking forward to being married to you for the rest of one of our lives."
Oh, and I want to be able to dance to it.
Is that so much to ask?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Dance with my father
Ugh. More choices. And so much schlock. We're thinking of combining the father-daughter and mother-son dances, so that knocks out the gender specific stuff.
- "What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong (a great song, but everyone does this).
- "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," by Marvin Gaye (a definite possibility).
- "Sunrise, Sunset," from Fiddler on the Roof ( love it, but it's kind of mean)
- "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," by Stevie Wonder (maybe?)
- "Have I Told You Lately," by Rod Stewart
- "Stand by Me," by Ben E. King
Here comes the bride . . .
He likes the traditional wedding march. I . . . do not. So here are some other ideas I'm kicking around.
- Handel's Water Music (piano)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (I would ask my brother to play on the classical guitar)
- Storybook Love (the theme from Princess Bride, also would be on classical guitar)
- Pachelbel's Canon in D (piano or guitar)
- Beethoven Sonata no. 8 Pathetique, 2nd movement (piano)
- Some well-known hymn tune, like
- The Lord Is King, Lift Up Your Voice
- St. Columba (The King of Love, My Shepherd Is)
- O Waly Waly (Though I May Speak)
- Old 100th (Praise God from Whom)
- Dona Nobis Pacem
They're playing our song . . .
Oh, wait. They're not. Because we have no song. Which means we have nothing to dance to at the reception. So I am brainstorming.
- "Always," by Irving Berlin. A classic standard, and my grandparents' song. A lot of the versions are super cheesy, but I like Willie Nelson's version (the gravelly voice counteracts the sweetness of the song), Kenny Rogers' version (ditto), and Frank Sinatra's version (he changes it to a swing beat halfway through).
- "Could I Have This Dance?" His aunt and uncle's wedding song, I think. A bit cheesy and a bit country for me. But we'll see.
- "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." One of my favorites, especially the Queen version (the HTB prefers Elvis or Michael Buble). But some good friends of ours danced to it last summer at their wedding, so I'm not sure.
- "When I'm 64," by the Beatles. Fun and lighthearted, not slow and sappy.
- "Happy Together," by the Turtles. Great song.
- "I Got You," by James Brown. Fun and unexpected.
- "Love Will Keep Us Together," by The Captain & Tenille. So fun.
- "Come Go With Me." Fun and swing-able.
- "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," by Marvin Gaye. Swing.
- "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," by the Proclaimers. Supposedly a swing dance. Not sure.
- "Moondance," by Van Morrison. Slow swing.
- "With This Ring," by the Platters. Another one some friends have done. Slow swing.
- "Open Arms," by Journey. Waltz. And hee.
- "Play Me," by Neil Diamond. Waltz.
- "It Had to Be You," probably the instrumental version from When Harry Met Sally... Fun swing number.
- "Our Love Is Here to Stay." Ditto, if a little slow.
- "I've Got You Under My Skin." Ditto.
- "More (Theme from Mondo Cane)." Cute swing number.
- "Hold You in My Arms," by Ray LaMontagne. Waltz.
- "Fly Me to the Moon." Swing.
- "The Best Is Yet to Come." Swing.
- "Because," by Dave Clark Five. Rumba.
- "More Today Than Yesterday," by Spiral Starecase. Swing.
- "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" Swing, and sort of ironic?
- "Put a Lid on it," by Squirrel Nut Zippers. Swing, and ironic.
- "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," by Louis Armstrong. Slow swing, funny.
- "All Shook Up," by Elvis Presley. Swing.
- "Teddy Bear," by Elvis Presley. Swing.
- "Little Less Conversation," by Elvis Presley. Swing, but possibly inappropriate?
- "Burning Love," by Elvis Presley. Swing, but possibly inappropriate?
- "Sway," by Michael Buble. Rumba.
- "Oh, Boy!" by Buddy Holly. Swing, but possibly inappropriate.
- "Can't Buy Me Love," by the Beatles. Swing.
- "Higher and Higher," by Jackie Wilson. Swing.
- "Wear My Ring," by Elvis Presley. Swing.
- "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby." Swing.
Friday, February 4, 2011
TBD
Things yet to be figured out:
Food. I have a tentative menu, but am still figuring out who will do food preparation.
Dress. No idea. Hoping it won't be too expensive.
Hair/Makeup. Have some leads, but it's looking more expensive than I thought, so I'm not sure.
Flowers. I have someone to do them, but am not really sure what I want yet.
Colors. Again, I have idea, but haven't finalized them.
Music. I think I want my brother to do the music, and maybe one of the church pianists, but I need to talk with the HTB.
Rings. Almost decided, but need to be ordered.
Invitations. No idea. Expensive. Ick.
Favors. Pinwheels? Squirt guns? Bubbles? Candy? Used books? Books we both own that we no longer need 2 copies of?
Rehearsal Dinner. ICK.
And probably a bajillion other things that have yet to occur to me.
Food. I have a tentative menu, but am still figuring out who will do food preparation.
Dress. No idea. Hoping it won't be too expensive.
Hair/Makeup. Have some leads, but it's looking more expensive than I thought, so I'm not sure.
Flowers. I have someone to do them, but am not really sure what I want yet.
Colors. Again, I have idea, but haven't finalized them.
Music. I think I want my brother to do the music, and maybe one of the church pianists, but I need to talk with the HTB.
Rings. Almost decided, but need to be ordered.
Invitations. No idea. Expensive. Ick.
Favors. Pinwheels? Squirt guns? Bubbles? Candy? Used books? Books we both own that we no longer need 2 copies of?
Rehearsal Dinner. ICK.
And probably a bajillion other things that have yet to occur to me.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Honeymooners
We found a spot! The Wilderness Inn, in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. It's got great reviews, a killer breakfast (none of this muffin-and-a-banana nonsense some bed and breakfasts try to pull), a super cute honeymoon cottage with a whirlpool bath and a deck overlooking the river, and it's totally affordable! We will fly into Manchester, which is crazy cheap on Southwest, and you can even check a bag. So the whole thing will be less than we budgeted! Hallelujah!
(We'd originally talked about going to London or the Caymans--former pastors of our church now pastor churches there--but that's more expensive (in airfare and lodging) and we don't have current passports, so that would be another $300 . . . plus folks we know said they wished they hadn't picked honeymoons far away with crazy travel because they were just so exhausted after the wedding. And rumor has it that it is inadvisable to go to touristy places, because you may or may not be inclined to go out and see stuff. You may just want to relax. So people recommended somewhere a) close, b) cheap, and c) with stuff to do if you want, but nothing you'll feel bad about not doing. Hence: New England. Close enough to travel to the night of the wedding, cheaper than many places (it's still sort of chilly in May, so the rates are lower), and plenty to see and do . . . if we feel like it.)
Anyway, the reservation is made, the HTB is buying tickets and reserving a car (the bed and breakfast is like an hour and a half from the airport), and we are good to go. YAY! Praise the Lord!
(We'd originally talked about going to London or the Caymans--former pastors of our church now pastor churches there--but that's more expensive (in airfare and lodging) and we don't have current passports, so that would be another $300 . . . plus folks we know said they wished they hadn't picked honeymoons far away with crazy travel because they were just so exhausted after the wedding. And rumor has it that it is inadvisable to go to touristy places, because you may or may not be inclined to go out and see stuff. You may just want to relax. So people recommended somewhere a) close, b) cheap, and c) with stuff to do if you want, but nothing you'll feel bad about not doing. Hence: New England. Close enough to travel to the night of the wedding, cheaper than many places (it's still sort of chilly in May, so the rates are lower), and plenty to see and do . . . if we feel like it.)
Anyway, the reservation is made, the HTB is buying tickets and reserving a car (the bed and breakfast is like an hour and a half from the airport), and we are good to go. YAY! Praise the Lord!
Money saving ideas
Flowers. A friend from church has agreed to arrange them. That means I can buy wholesale! Also, I am only having one bridesmaid, so it will just be my bouquet, hers, and decorations.
Corsages/Boutonnieres. The HTB and best man will wear pocket squares. The ushers (and male helpers) will wear ribbons. The female helpers will wear felt flower pins. Only the moms and grandmas will get real corsages.
Cake. My roommate is making it. And not just a top cake on top of 2 layers of icing-covered styrofoam. A full cake. Not sure what the ingredients will cost for this, but I plan to reimburse her for the costs. And I told her I don't want a wedding gift from her. This is more than gift enough. (She's actually really excited to do it--her mom used to make wedding cakes all the time, and she's been wanting to try, so I don't feel too bad about having her make it.)
Food. Hoping to have folks at my church help out with food prep. There's one lady in particular who does a lot of weddings for the church, so she would probably be the one to get. I'm told other people were able to have her do the food for about $12 per person. But we're thinking very simple, inexpensive breakfast foods--sausage, egg, & cheese casserole, french toast casserole, cheese grits casserole, hash brown casserole, maybe some quiches, and then some pastries and fruit--so I am hoping we can get that down to $10 per person.
Reception Hall. Using a community building. It's affordable to begin with, but the HTB is a county resident and he gets an extra discount. Tables and chairs are included, and you can rent the warming kitchen for a low hourly rate.
Bridal Accessories/Decorations. It seems like someone gets married at my church every weekend. I plan to beg, borrow, and, well, borrow everything I can. This includes veils, jewelry, flower girl baskets, vases, etc.
Other Decorations. I'm sure we'll have to buy some stuff to decorate the church and reception hall. But I am going with a very simple style for the wedding, so fewer decorations will be perfectly consistent with that theme. Also, the church and the reception hall are fairly pretty to begin with, so that should help.
Music. I am hoping to have my brother help out with music during the service, and maybe one of the church pianists. And another friend from church might be the DJ (or the overseer of the iPod). Of course, I would still give them thank you gifts, but it will be a lot cheaper than hiring musicians and a DJ. (Essentially, I am trying to get friends to do stuff wherever possible--labor in lieu of gifts. We'll see how it pans out.)
Photography. We're using a girl in our church who's sort of new to photography. She's been the second shooter at a couple weddings and done some engagement photos, but this will be her first time as primary on a wedding. As a result, we're getting a great deal.
Videography. We might not have this at all. If we do anything, we'll just use the church's video equipment (they record the sermons on Sunday) for the ceremony--very low-tech--and then have friends informally get video of the reception.
Rings. His will be titanium. Mine will be white gold, maybe with diamonds, but fairly small and simple and not too expensive (I hope). We're going to pay extra for engravings, but still, it counts as cutting costs.
Dress. I think I want a shorter dress. And simple--not much in the way of lace or beads or anything. In theory, this should be cheaper. However, since most dresses are long, so if I can't find one already short, transforming a long dress into a short dress will likely cost an arm and a leg in alterations. Also, I tend to prefer natural fibers, which are more expensive. Then again, I think I am, like, morally and psychologically opposed to paying an insane amount for a dress I will only wear once. And for like a day. I want to check out this place--you can mix and match silhouettes, including short ones, and they use almost exclusively natural fibers! If it works out, it could be totally doable.
Corsages/Boutonnieres. The HTB and best man will wear pocket squares. The ushers (and male helpers) will wear ribbons. The female helpers will wear felt flower pins. Only the moms and grandmas will get real corsages.
Cake. My roommate is making it. And not just a top cake on top of 2 layers of icing-covered styrofoam. A full cake. Not sure what the ingredients will cost for this, but I plan to reimburse her for the costs. And I told her I don't want a wedding gift from her. This is more than gift enough. (She's actually really excited to do it--her mom used to make wedding cakes all the time, and she's been wanting to try, so I don't feel too bad about having her make it.)
Food. Hoping to have folks at my church help out with food prep. There's one lady in particular who does a lot of weddings for the church, so she would probably be the one to get. I'm told other people were able to have her do the food for about $12 per person. But we're thinking very simple, inexpensive breakfast foods--sausage, egg, & cheese casserole, french toast casserole, cheese grits casserole, hash brown casserole, maybe some quiches, and then some pastries and fruit--so I am hoping we can get that down to $10 per person.
Reception Hall. Using a community building. It's affordable to begin with, but the HTB is a county resident and he gets an extra discount. Tables and chairs are included, and you can rent the warming kitchen for a low hourly rate.
Bridal Accessories/Decorations. It seems like someone gets married at my church every weekend. I plan to beg, borrow, and, well, borrow everything I can. This includes veils, jewelry, flower girl baskets, vases, etc.
Other Decorations. I'm sure we'll have to buy some stuff to decorate the church and reception hall. But I am going with a very simple style for the wedding, so fewer decorations will be perfectly consistent with that theme. Also, the church and the reception hall are fairly pretty to begin with, so that should help.
Music. I am hoping to have my brother help out with music during the service, and maybe one of the church pianists. And another friend from church might be the DJ (or the overseer of the iPod). Of course, I would still give them thank you gifts, but it will be a lot cheaper than hiring musicians and a DJ. (Essentially, I am trying to get friends to do stuff wherever possible--labor in lieu of gifts. We'll see how it pans out.)
Photography. We're using a girl in our church who's sort of new to photography. She's been the second shooter at a couple weddings and done some engagement photos, but this will be her first time as primary on a wedding. As a result, we're getting a great deal.
Videography. We might not have this at all. If we do anything, we'll just use the church's video equipment (they record the sermons on Sunday) for the ceremony--very low-tech--and then have friends informally get video of the reception.
Rings. His will be titanium. Mine will be white gold, maybe with diamonds, but fairly small and simple and not too expensive (I hope). We're going to pay extra for engravings, but still, it counts as cutting costs.
Dress. I think I want a shorter dress. And simple--not much in the way of lace or beads or anything. In theory, this should be cheaper. However, since most dresses are long, so if I can't find one already short, transforming a long dress into a short dress will likely cost an arm and a leg in alterations. Also, I tend to prefer natural fibers, which are more expensive. Then again, I think I am, like, morally and psychologically opposed to paying an insane amount for a dress I will only wear once. And for like a day. I want to check out this place--you can mix and match silhouettes, including short ones, and they use almost exclusively natural fibers! If it works out, it could be totally doable.
Check!
Things we have figured out for sure:
1) Ceremony. This will take place at our church. On May 7th. Well, pending the successful completion of our premarital counseling (Christian equivalent of 'knock on wood'). We were hoping for a Sunday wedding--an old-school Puritan-style wedding where you have a completely normal church service and at the end there's like a 10 minute wedding. Just the vows and maybe a song and a bible reading. BAM. No muss, no fuss. But that got shot down, and we're having a plain old Saturday wedding. In the morning, we think. Probably at like 10:30am, but we're not sure.
2) Reception hall. It was a little hairy for a while (many of the venues charge you upwards of $4000 just to walk in the door . . . then they require you to hire a licensed professional caterer (average cost: $50-$150 per person), and the restaurants with private dining options require that you spend a minimum of like $10,000--eek!), but we finally found a place with a more reasonable rental cost. AND they will allow us to arrange the catering however we want--including ladies from church! (Actually arranging the catering remains on our to-do list.) AND the place is easy to get to, close to a (free on the weekends) parking garage, and metro accessible. AND there are hotels nearby for out-of-town guests. AND it's a ballroom, so we can dance! AND there's a warming kitchen for food. AND it's pretty. See?
We're only renting half of it, but that should still be ample. Such an answer to prayer. (And it happened super fast, too--I found out about it on like a Wednesday morning, and found out it was available when we needed it. That afternoon, we had a snowstorm in DC, so I got out of work a couple hours early, and HTB and I zipped up to Maryland to take a look see before closing time. And . . . DONE.) God is awesome.
3) Photographer. Another Godsend. After freaking out over the potential cost of photographers, I emailed a bunch of newly married women in the church to ask for recommendations/estimates on what they paid. And lo and behold, one of the girls is actually looking to become a professional photographer! She's been the second shooter on a couple weddings and has done several sessions of engagement photos. She agreed to give us a crazy low rate, which we snapped up! So now we get to save beaucoup bucks and help a sister build her business. Praise the Lord.
TONS left to do (dress, food, rehearsal dinner, etc.), but it's nice to have some of the big stuff out of the way.
1) Ceremony. This will take place at our church. On May 7th. Well, pending the successful completion of our premarital counseling (Christian equivalent of 'knock on wood'). We were hoping for a Sunday wedding--an old-school Puritan-style wedding where you have a completely normal church service and at the end there's like a 10 minute wedding. Just the vows and maybe a song and a bible reading. BAM. No muss, no fuss. But that got shot down, and we're having a plain old Saturday wedding. In the morning, we think. Probably at like 10:30am, but we're not sure.
2) Reception hall. It was a little hairy for a while (many of the venues charge you upwards of $4000 just to walk in the door . . . then they require you to hire a licensed professional caterer (average cost: $50-$150 per person), and the restaurants with private dining options require that you spend a minimum of like $10,000--eek!), but we finally found a place with a more reasonable rental cost. AND they will allow us to arrange the catering however we want--including ladies from church! (Actually arranging the catering remains on our to-do list.) AND the place is easy to get to, close to a (free on the weekends) parking garage, and metro accessible. AND there are hotels nearby for out-of-town guests. AND it's a ballroom, so we can dance! AND there's a warming kitchen for food. AND it's pretty. See?
3) Photographer. Another Godsend. After freaking out over the potential cost of photographers, I emailed a bunch of newly married women in the church to ask for recommendations/estimates on what they paid. And lo and behold, one of the girls is actually looking to become a professional photographer! She's been the second shooter on a couple weddings and has done several sessions of engagement photos. She agreed to give us a crazy low rate, which we snapped up! So now we get to save beaucoup bucks and help a sister build her business. Praise the Lord.
TONS left to do (dress, food, rehearsal dinner, etc.), but it's nice to have some of the big stuff out of the way.
Greetings and Salutations!
I am getting married. May 7th. 94 days from today.
There is a LOT to do.
I have a LOT on my mind.
This is where it will all end up.
Enjoy! (Or, you know, not.)
There is a LOT to do.
I have a LOT on my mind.
This is where it will all end up.
Enjoy! (Or, you know, not.)
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