Category Archives: wedding planning

Wedding Wednesday

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Well, the stress dreams seem to have left me…at least for the time being.

I’ve been thinking a lot about wedding traditions lately. Everyone seems to have such strong opinions about them, and it can be very difficult to buck tradition. Here are some of the things Rand and I are thinking about doing (and not doing).

The garter/bouquet toss

I stopped being amused by the bouquet toss approximately ten years ago. Plus, there won’t exactly be hordes of single people at the wedding. It’s a dwindling group…the last thing I want to do is humiliate my remaining single friends and family.

Okay, I’ll admit that it was sort of cute when Rand and I caught the respective objects at my brother’s wedding…but still…

The Chicken Dance

Is this really a tradition? Ah well. I must admit that I actually *enjoy* the chicken dance. It stays.

The Dollar Dance

I know that the dollar dance is a regional/cultural tradition, and those who didn’t grow up with it tend to find it appalling. I don’t want to do it, but not because I think it’s tacky…I don’t want to do it because it takes freaking forever. The bigger your wedding, the more people lining up to dance. Augh.

Can anyone tell me why the “girly” shot for the dollar dance is always Peach Schnapps? Blergh.

The Bridal Party

This is the one I think I might take some flak over. Rand and I have discussed this one at length…and we’ve decided not to have a traditional bridal party. Many of our friends and family will be involved in the wedding in important ways, and we’d rather have them doing important things than wearing matching clothes and posing for pictures.

And my friends, the ones I will turn to for advice, the ones who will be holding my hand and keeping me sane through all of this, will be doing that regardless of what they’re wearing.

My cousin Brandy will be my sole “attendant”–in charge of holding my flowers, etc. We’re also going to get Rand’s nephews involved in some way.

The huge, towering cake

Haven’t quite worked out what we’re doing here…but I’m thinking of a small ceremonial cake for Rand and I to cut, and some other (less expensive) option to serve our guests…perhaps sheet cake, or cupcakes made and decorated by family if that’s logistically possible.

The DJ

Already been discussed. No DJ.

I think I’m forgetting some things, but that’s good enough for now, I think. What are your favorite/least favorite wedding traditions?

Thursday Thoughts

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Gonna be a short one tonight…it’s been a long day. Here it is, in bullet-point form.

A couple of wedding-related things, first:

  • My Skechers came yesterday, and now that I’m seeing them in person, I think they’re too dark. They’re more beige than the off-white they appeared in the picture. They do come in white…not that my dress is white, either, but I think the white might be a better match. I dunno, thoughts?
  • Also, I was browsing etsy yesterday for jewelry, and I found these pretty things. (That sort of mauve-rosy color is what I’ve been thinking about…)

Let’s see…what else…

  • The first marking period ended on Friday, so the last couple of days have been busy with entering grades and report card comments and the like. Report cards allow us to give up to two comments. There were one or two kids I wished I could give about ten. 😉
  • Lately, I’ve been completely addicted to the Italian Wedding Soup from Wegmans.
  • I’ll be attending the World’s Largest Disco next week, and I have secured myself an appropriately heinous dress to wear. What I do not have is appropriately heinous shoes. Any suggestions? (the dress is silver)

Thursday Thoughts

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So, what’s on my mind this week?

I dunno. I’m seriously dragging today. The kids were…well, loopy today. I was sure it had to be a full moon, but no. It’s a new moon. But not on Monday. 😉

Bought myself a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks and put some upbeat dance tunes on the iPod. That’s helping, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. I just want to go home and crash. Thankfully, I don’t really have to *teach* tonight…just lead a peer editing workshop.

Other than that? I’ve been thinking a lot about DJs, and why I don’t want one for my wedding (Rand and I are going to go the iPod/computer route. We have a friend to serve as emcee when necessary, and we have or can get all the necessary equipment). Ninety-five percent of the time, I leave a wedding talking about how crappy the DJ was. He played inappropriate music. He mispronounced people’s names. He made lame jokes. Etc. If you’ve known me for any amount of time, you know that I have a huge beef with inappropriate wedding music. (not talking about the first dance songs, of course. that’s the fault of the bride and groom…)

For example, I’m not sure why you would ever play “Jesus Take the Wheel” as a slow dance at a wedding. Or “American Soldier.” The huh? I mean, I just think the slow songs at a wedding should be, y’know, about love. And the happy love kind. Not the “I’m crazy for lovin’ youuuuuuuuu…” kind.

And now for some audience participation…what’s one song you think absolutely *must* be played at a wedding (slow or upbeat) and one that you think should be banned forever?

Wedding Wednesday

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The plans are chugging along, so there’s really not much for me to talk about there. The reception is booked, and the deposit has been paid. My dress has been ordered. I ordered these shoes yesterday. (I figure that gives me plenty of time to make sure they’re what I want…plus, I know that I love the shoes, so chances are I’ll wear them regardless.)

Things I haven’t really thought about yet…colors. We’re not doing the full-on “wedding party” thing, instead involving our friends and family in other ways. I love them dearly, but I really don’t see any need to ask them to buy matching dresses. We are going to involve my goddaughter and Rand’s nephews…so Brandy will need a dress, and I need a coordinating color anyway. I’ve considered going with red…or maybe a mauve-y or rose-y color. I dunno…I just want it to look good with the dress. And then there’s flowers. Lots to think about, of course, but I’m not really freaking out. I’m just kind of taking it as it comes.

I got to thinking about this post, written way back in February 2006, prompting many people to ask if there was news they didn’t know about. No, no news. Just the random meanderings of my brain…recalling the past and musing about the future. I ended that post with this:

I couldn’t care less about being a princess for a day. What I do care about is being his wife…his love…his partner…for a lifetime.

I’m glad to know that now, with the ring on my finger and the plans steadily moving forward, that this hasn’t changed. There was a small amount of freaking out while we were trying to find a place and set a date…but once that was done, I calmed down considerably. And now, every now and then, I look at Rand and think to myself, “We’re getting married.” (Sometimes I even say it out loud…I’m such a dork.)

And I smile.

hugs

Oddly intriguing

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I’m kind of intrigued by this whole idea…Vintage Magpie bouquets. (The actual website is here.)

vintagemagpie

Hotel advice?

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I’m looking to book a hotel room block. I was looking at downtown, but I’m pretty frustrated with the rates they’re offering.

Advice?

It’s not Wednesday…

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And I’d really like to know why.

It feels like a Wednesday.

Tonight is yoga (yay!) and grading (boo!). Oh, and also getting the Toasted Cheese newsletter out. Bad editor.

Watched last night’s Chuck, and I continue to enjoy. Haven’t watched Heroes yet, but I saw Kristen Bell on the cover of this week’s TV Guide with Hayden Panettiere and Ali Larter. Whoo!

I ordered my dress on Saturday. It’s pretty early, but I wanted to get in while the shop was still having the sale. The shop I ordered from is Bauer’s Brides and Belles in Wilcox, PA. They were very nice to me, and I’m happy to give them my business.

And that’ll do it for me. Later!

Quick update (mostly wedding-related)

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Well. Life is just a regular whirlwind of activity here at erin-go-blog. One of these days, I might get to sleep. 😉

On Saturday, I met up with Jen so she could come with me to see the dress I want. (Yes, folks…Rand has seen pictures of the dress. But he has not seen ME in the dress, so it doesn’t count. I don’t necessarily think pictures of me in the dress would even count, but that’s not important right now…) The photo hardly does this dress justice. We had a pleasant girly lunch, and then headed off to the shop.

Cutting now, in case you want to skip the gratuitous weddingstuff. Annoying bridal shop dealings follow.

Continue reading →

What I did today

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I drove to Ohio and tried on this gown:

very serious

I don’t know why I look so serious…but it’s a better shot than the one where I’m smiling. 😉

Oh, and I’m standing on a stool.

Update: I thought a little more info might be in order. 😉

The dress I’m trying on above is this dress…the one I’ve been eying since I found the designer copies on eBay. I found the designer (Maggie Sottero) and style (Eleganza) by poking around online. I found local shops that carry Maggie Sottero dresses, but I learned that Eleganza had been discontinued.

With the help of Google, I found two people who were selling the dress on craigslist. One of them was in Ohio, just over three hours from me. I decided that it was worth my time to drive out and see it in person. Unfortunately, no one was available to accompany me, so I had the woman who is selling it take a bunch of pictures for me. It was kind of a strange (but not bad!) experience, and I felt goofy doing my big smile in all the photos. My expression has nothing to do with my feelings about the dress. 😉

It is absolutely stunning in person. It really is. And it’s a great deal. The woman is selling it for her future daughter-in-law, who bought the dress and then decided to have a much more casual wedding.

It would need some alteration. The girl who bought it is only an inch or two taller than me, and she was assured that it could be shortened without losing any of the detail. It’s also a teeny bit big (but not much) in the bodice area.

I know I don’t need to make this decision yet. I’ve loved many of the dresses I’ve tried on and can see myself wearing several of them. I’m just waiting for one to say PICK ME!!

😉

More things I’ve tried on…

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michelle

I tried this on in “diamond white,” which is slightly whiter than ivory, but slightly less white than white. The color pictured is light gold. It comes in a reasonable-priced version with glass beads, or an expensive version with Swarovski crystals.

barcelona

(ignore the fugly hair thing)
I liked this one a great deal. However, it only comes in white and diamond white, and I’m liking the deeper, more champagne and gold colors. It’s also a bit more expensive than the others.

So far, my mom and her friend both like Grace Kelly the best.

I did make a brief venture into David’s Bridal. I hated it. I felt like cattle, and I got a superpushy saleslady. Ick.