Thank God for MySpace & Check Out My LONG HAIR!

Why?  Because I lost probably about a thousand pictures last year after a bad incident with my laptop.  I was so sad to lose my Mexico pictures, mostly the Frida 100th Anniversary trip Fred and I took to DF last year.  That particular trip is of huge significance to me because it wasn't just any trip, it was Fred's first out of the States, and our first real trip as a couple together. I can almost cry...  I'm so happy to have recovered these.

 

 

Kill Two Birds With One Stone (why kill?)

I will share what progress has been made, and what has yet to be made as the months/weeks/day wind down to the day when I shall be wed.  I mean, we shall be wed (I try to include "we" in everything so that Fred has no excuse to say that this wedding is all me.)

Venue- check
Date -check
Caterer- check
Mariachi- check
DJ - check
Dress - check
Save the Dates - check.  DIY project courtesy of my lovely, lovely, somewhat patient and forgiving husband-to-be FRED (muahhh!)

Next in the list:
Photographer
Officiant
Invitations (another DIY project)
Bridal accessories (bouquet, shoes, veil)
Decorations (flowers, centerpieces, etc. etc.)
Program


There.  I made a list of things I have yet to do, and I shared my progress with you all.

I'm officially less than 7 months away from the wedding day.

The elusive photographer

... I thought no one would notice that I stopped sharing my bridal travails, but as it turns out, at least my fellow co-workers have noticed.  I don't really know where I am in this wedding process except that I still need a damn photographer.  The problem being that I'm  not all that impressed by all the one's I've seen or reached out to so far.  I'm a photog. snob.  Yes I am. 

Why?

Because I love photography, I took photography courses in college, one of them was Photojournalism, and I believe I have a discerning eye for talent. Not only was I a great photography student, but  my prof. liked my work so much that he offered me an internship as an assistant photographer for the Newsday paper.   But, I needed to have a car to drive around, and I didn't even have a license at the time, so I had to pass on what at the time seemed like an awesome opportunity (especially for a media student).

Or maybe fate had it so that I would work in advertising instead.

Regardless, i'm a photog. snob and I am afraid of hiring the wrong person to record this most highly important event in my/fred's life.  You only get one shot at it, and if it's not the right shot, there's no do-over.  I also saw some portfolios of those that charge a lot and the reality is that their style is not that different from those who charge less.  You really have to look at the style and skill involved, price is irrelevant. 

This is the toughest decision yet.  But one that I will not let get to me.

Stay tuned for the outcome...

D

C'est Love

It's the spontaneous, unscripted, during-commercial-break moments that hint at true love.  they don't scream.

The Engagement Ring. A Vintage and Modern Expression of Love

My engagement ring is inspired by a vintage setting with filigree in the band and small diamonds around the crown in what resembles a cupcake (that's what I've been told).  This is the ring that jumped at me from the lot and the one that felt like "me".   But, two of my friends through work got engaged this year and received actual vintage engagement rings.  Marnie's has a really nice stone with what's called an Old Mine Cut.  I did a bit of research and found that this cut was very common in the 1800's and that it was mostly mined in India, whereas most of the other diamonds today are mined in South Africa.  What makes this cut different from other more traditional and "modern" cuts is that it's flat at the bottom versus the pointed kinds, it's squarish but with rounded edges. 

On a similar vein, I also found that this same year two other girls (one of them my friend Melissa) decided for non-diamond engagement rings.  Another way to make a statement!  One chose aquamarine as the center stone and Mel's is a beautiful pear-shaped amethyst with two side stones. 

Overall I think it's a breath of fresh air to see that the engagement ring, as traditional as it is, is being interpreted and adapted to each bride's unique taste.

Trigger Happy A.K.A The Wedding Registry

There are two schools of thought regarding the infamous and not-so-famous Wedding Registry.  Macy's, Sears, Bloomingdales, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, etc. all thrive from couples listing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise for their weddings... all on someone else's tab.  The notion that people actually create these "wish lists" is appaling to some; how can people actually ask for things, that is just too materialistic and shallow.  Then there are those who think that not having a wedding registry makes it harder on your guests, those who want to give you a gift that's not cash, because not only will they have to wonder what you guys would want or enjoy, but you will most like end up with 5 blenders, 3 toasters, and 2 ironing boards (do they still sell those?)

I think in this regard we have to be aware of one thing: we are after all throwing a big party to celebrate a marriage A.K.A a wedding.  The minute you decide to spend thousands (which is the norm) of dollars on a celebration that will require the presence of many a guest, you are essentially already setting the expectation that if they are to be good guests they should not arrive empty-handed.  And that would imply "asking" for something in return for the invitation.  So personally, I think that if you're going to move forward with a wedding in the tradional sense, then you might as well have a registry.  Tell it like it is.  Don't put a blusher on it.

Fred is of the belief that you shouldn't "ask" for things.  I agree.  But, it's also common for people these days to expect to see a wedding/gift registry.  And there are ways you can go about it without feeling like you're "asking".  One such way is to not tell people of your registry, let them find it on their own if they're interested in knowing what you have in your "wish list" (I guess I already ruined that option with this blog entry).  If they don't want to contribute a gift from a predetermined registry then they don't have to feel bad about not doing so either.   I have a friend who would never give something from a predetermined list.  He believes that part of the excitement is to come up with a gift that is as unique as the giver as well as the receiver.

Fred and I don't always agree on things, and that's fine.  In the end, these sort of things are irrelevant, and he knows that not arguing over it is more important than having or not having a list.  So I appease his distaste by adding two coffee percolators to the registry... just for him (he loves coffee, I don't drink it).

Wedding Magic Ebbs and Flows

I just realized as I sit here telling Fred that all I have is $7 for takeout tonight for the sushi order (yep, I was home all day and I did not cook) that I haven't been doing much upkeep with this blog here.  Is it wedding-planning-magic all along?  I wonder if this is normal.  There are days when i'm truly into this and in full planning mode, and enjoying it, and then there are days like today when all I can think about is lounging around and watching movies all day.  Then I realize that I'm just being lazy and super unproductive and that I should at least say "hi" to the blog.

Well here I am, and the funny thing is that as soon as I begin to write I start thinking of a zillion things to discuss, but then I realize that I should save some of them and not give them all up one-shot.  You know, is like trying to get that sudden brain juice stored away somewhere for use on future low-juice" days. 

I shouldn't be so hard on myself however.  There have been several things that I have accomplished in the past weeks.  Here's my list:


1.  When in "the mood", I have actually been browsing the heck out of etsy in search for inspiration and wedding ideas.   I have a folder in my computer where I save screengrabs of things that catch my interest including hand-made wedding bouquets that do not include real flowers, and custom shoe paint jobs- it's like graffiti for shoes.

Here's a pair of shoes from CocoPunkz.  This particular style is called "Obsessions".  Now that's what I'm talking about.  I haven't decided on a design for my shoes, but you bet I'm counting on a snazzy pair made just for me, for my big day!  Is it possible to adjust the saying to "wear your heart on  your feet"?

2.  Wedding Gown.   This matter has been taken care of.  I found a fabulous dress through The Cotton Bride that I cannot wait to wear!  Yep, when I wore that dress I knew it was right because I didn't want to take it off.  That's just what it feels like.  All you want to do is stand in front of the mirror staring at yourself in that dress.  Shallow, perhaps.
(wedding bell rings...  I mean door bell rings, sushi is here)
 My only fear is that I was told not to GAIN weight.  A lot of brides LOSE weight either through dieting or simply from stress.  In my case, I think I have been this size/weight for years now, but what if all of a sudden my metabolism fails me and I end up putting on a few pounds?  Then what?  I've never had to worry about gaining weight, in fact it has been encouraged.  This is the first time I'm actually worried and realize... shit, what if I don't fit into my dress?

3.  Wedding couples meet and greet.  Our caterer (The Raging Skillet) organized a soiree for about 5/6 wedding couples this past Friday and treated us to nice wine and hors d'ouvres.  I got to talk to other couples that like us, are in full wedding planning mode.  Overall, it was nice to be able to talk JUST WEDDING TALK without feeling guilty (because your friends don't always want to hear about your wedding planning actually) or being obnoxious.  Everyone was on the same page,and it seemed that almost everyone had relevant information to share with at least one other couple.  We found that one of the couples is getting married at our same venue, the day before us!  I was telling Fred: we should make conversation with them and try to talk them into leaving their table centerpieces and flower arrangements behind for us to re-use the next day.  Haha.  Ghetto.  But, the table was long, the wine was flowing, and we were too comfortable talking with those directly next to us, and that possibility got away.  But, before the night was over I did get a contact for a Photographer from one other couple.  I'll be checking out her portfolio pretty soon.

Bottom line is that I shouldn't be so hard on myself.  Woman does not live from wedding magic alone.   Oh no, that's why I have a mantra to keep me in check:  "the day this wedding becomes a chore, it will cease to be fun".  I won't let it get to that point.  It's like a relationship, you need time apart once in a while.  Otherwise you'd suffocate.