becoming the gassetts

Moving Time

2010-07-26T12:09:00.002-05:00

I don't blog here anymore. Which, you probably noticed by the lack of my, well, blogging.

So, I'm moving. To here: http://mightycourage.blogspot.com/ I'd love for all of you wonderful people to keep up with me, because I definitely love keeping up with you.

2010-03-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

Oh ceremony. You're so bittersweet to write about. Bitter because I don't have professional photos. Sweet because you were by far my favorite part of our wedding. Since I don't really have photos, I'm going to post our ceremony here (as best as I can remember it) along with the few pictures from friends and family.

Note: I wrote our ceremony but stole pieces from all over the interwebs. I cannot recall where I found pieces, what I've changed or how I changed it. This was lovingly crafted for Chet and I over the entire engagement period, with pieces of it finished the Thursday before the wedding, in our typical style. If you're really super interested, send me an email and I'll send you the word document. It's spaced and formatted better than this will be.
___________________________________________________
Processional to “Every Morning” by Keb’ Mo’
We just used one song for everyone to walk in with.

Welcome and Gathering Words

Jeff: Throughout the memory of humanity the founding of a new family has been noted as an act of high and holy order. It has been celebrated with a service of marriage in sacred groves, in humble meeting houses, under vaulted arches, in temples with ancient rites, and in makeshift spaces with hurried words. We gather here today in this place because of what we share; a desire to affirm and support the relationship of Chet and Nicole. Marriage requires a commitment to care for another person, to show concern for the life and growth of those whom we love. Marriage requires a commitment to respond to another person, to help meet their needs. Marriage requires a commitment to respect the unique individuality of that person, to help them grow and unfold for their own sake. Marriage requires a commitment to transcend our own egos, to use reason and humility to understand another person; and by doing this, we discover ourselves. All these commitments require that we give ourselves to another person; by this giving we experience our strength and our vitality. We experience ourselves and overflowing and alive. Today we affirm and celebrate the wedding of Nicole and Chet.

Ring Warming:

Jeff: Before Chet and Nicole exchange rings later in the ceremony, they have asked that the people before them participate in a “warming of the rings.” If you are unfamiliar with this practice, take the opportunity to wish them health, happiness, and all that is noble and good in life when the rings pass to your care. Hold them for but a moment and warm them with your love, making a silent wish for the future this couple will share. When returned, these rings will contain that which is all the more precious--your love and pledge of support for their union.

We really wanted a ring warming. We ordered a little bowl from a lovely etsy vendor with our names and wedding date printed on it. Then, we tied ribbon through the said bowl and our rings and had that passed around. It made it through the everyone and was just perfect. Many commented that this was their favorite part of our ceremony.

Quilt Wrapping:

Jeff: In the Jewish tradition, marriages take place under a huppah, which can be constructed from the fabric of friends and family. In some Hispanic cultures, marriages are bound together by a lasso, symbolizing the beginning of a new life together. In other traditions, a unity candle or sand may be used to represent the blending of two families. Chet and Nicole have decided to do a quilt wrapping. In this symbolic gesture they will be wrapped in a quilt which has been signed with love, from all of you.

Here, Carol and Sissi will wrap the quilt around Chet and Nicole. The 6 of them will continue to stand together until they’ve said “We do”.

Jeff: This quilt signifies the warmth and support of family and friends that are needed to sustain a healthy relationship. It signifies the bond between them and the closeness that will continue to develop day after day. And, it signifies the comfort and beauty they bring to each other and will continue to bring to each other. Chet, Nicole . . . take a moment to just breathe, and simply enjoy your friends and family who gathered here to spend this day with you. This group of loved ones may never be together in the same place again. Take some time to think about how they have touched your lives, and why they’re here with you today. Marriage isn’t just the joining together of two lives, but the joining together of two families. Let me draw special attention to the families who have cherished and loved Chet and Nicole all their lives. Today you look with love and affirmation on the faces of your children, whose independence you’ve nurtured with your love, guidance, and support. Notwithstanding all the challenges of their upbringings, they now represent the fullness of your lives. Each one of you is an enduring part of who they are, having made an indelible mark on their characters. May you be for both of them now, what you were to the one: accepting, supportive, caring, and with a generosity of spirit that always includes them both.

So I ask you now, Nicole’s family, do you welcome Chet as a member of your family, and grant your blessings, love and acceptance?

“We do.”

Chet’s family do you welcome Nicole as a member of your family, and grant your blessings, love and acceptance?

“We do.”

Chet and Nicole’s families go back to their seats at this point.

The intimate, yet public, nature of this ceremony reminds us all that none of us exists in isolation. We are social beings. Our identities, even our very existence, is nurtured and defined by our family and friends. It’s through community that we call into being the power of love to build bridges, to make us feel whole, to allow us to feel at home in the universe. (To the guests) Your presence here tonight is a visible expression of your love and respect for Chet and Nicole’s decision to marry, and reminds them that they don’t belong to one another alone, but to a larger community of friends and relatives who wish them well. As a part of that community, I invite all of you to play your part - by lending an ear, a hand of kindness, a voice of experience, an encouraging smile, and the gift of your company. Stand beside them, and never between them. Offer them your love and your support, but not your judgment. In sum, support their union with your friendship. Will you, as Chet and Nicole’s friends and family lend your support, love, and experience? Please answer “we will”

“We will”

Oh. Our quilt wrapping. This was another incredible part. My aunt made our quilt and then we asked everyone to sign it as our guest book. We also used this to replace "unity candles" or sand. Those felt trite to us (and that's just us!!) and we wanted something else. We also wanted a way to incorporate our families being up there with us, and this worked beautifully for that.

Vow Exchange:

Jeff: Now, before Chet and Nicole share their vows with you, I would like to read from Romans 12: 9-18 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

We originally had something in here but Jeff, who stepped in last minute, opted to do a little mini sermon, most of which I cannot recall (oh how I wish I had been more present!). However, I do recall him discussing that marriage is meant to be 90/10, the amount of work versus easiness.

Now, if anyone in their community knows of a reason for these two not to be wed, keep it in your hearts. Pray that God may show them kindness and joy with one another, and grant peace in your heart and their relationship. Remember that worrying brings no good, only prayer may satisfy our troubled hearts.

This was unique and questioned by Jeff, though he said he really liked it. I had hear it at a friend's wedding many years ago and fell in love with it. I find it so much simpler, and happier than the "Speak now or forever hold your piece!". Jeff told us that he no longer does that at weddings because one time someone spoke....

Jeff: Do you, Chet and Nicole, pledge to create a life of mutual respect, compassion, generosity, and patience towards each other as you grow together in years?

-We do.

Jeff: Do you pledge to recognize each other’s individuality and celebrate each other’s uniqueness as a strength in marriage. While at the same time, will you guard one another’s weaknesses with understanding, support, and inspiration?

-We do.

Jeff: And do you pledge to share the love you have for each other with all living beings? To be a couple that lets their marriage radiate into others , making their lives more beautiful because of it?

-We do.

Jeff: Chet/ Nicole, If you will face each other and repeat after me:

Chet, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.

Nicole, I give you my life. With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.

So here, we did something a bit different. We shared "secret vows" which were like the ones we would have said out loud, but we wanted to share them together, privately, with eachother. Odd, I know, since we had a public wedding, but the idea was still there.

Hand Blessing:
Jeff: The hands have a physical connection to the heart, and a hand blessing symbolically brings two hearts together. As Shakespeare said, "now join your hands, and with your hand's your hearts." Doug, will you please begin the hand blessing.

Doug: Nicole, please turn to face Chet and hold his hands, palms up, so that you may see what a gift they are to you. These are the hands, young, strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day. These are the hands that will work beside you throughout life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through a lifetime of joy and sorrow. These are the hands that will wipe tears from your eyes: tears of pure happiness, laughter, pain and sadness. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or sorrow may rack your mind. These are the hands that will cook for you. These are the hands that will give you support as you chase down your dreams. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin, and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that are filled completely with his love and his desire for you.

Ashton: Chet, please hold Nicole’s hands, palms up in yours, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will play games with you. These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck in the evenings after a long day. These are the hands that will hold you as you struggle through difficult times. They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick and console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love and cherish you through the years. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, which will give you support and encouragement, as together you build your future and share your innermost hopes and dreams.

Jeff: God, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them strength to hold on during the storms of stress and dark of disillusionment. Keep them gentle and tender as they nurture each other in their love. Help use these hands to continue building a relationship founded in faith, hope, caring and joy. Let Chet and Nicole see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide.

I found this in March 2009 and fell deeply and madly in love with it. Chet's hands are my favorite part about his body, and so the thought of looking at each other's hands this way was beautiful. We changed some of the words for us (cooking, games etc.) but some was kept the same.

Exchange of rings:

Jeff: The rings you will give and receive this day are the symbols of the endless love which you enter into as husband and wife. You are each the beginning and the ending, each the giver and the receiver. To marry the person you have set your heart upon is a joy unparalleled in human life and these rings mark the beginning of a journey together. Wear them proudly, for they are symbols which speak of the love that you hold for each other.

Today, Chet and Nicole offer each other a ring, which most of you have held and warmed with your wishes—these circles represent the timeless nature of your love and commitment for them; their empty spaces represent the limitless possibilities of your hopes and dreams for their future. With your wishes, you have guaranteed to be a community of support for them as they enter into a lifetime commitment of love and friendship, joy and sorrow, trials and successes. You have said that you will be there when they need counseling or a friendly voice to speak too.

Heavenly Father, we call for your blessing for these rings, both as symbols of love and union between Chet and Nicole, and as tokens of their hopes and dreams fulfilled in their commitment to each other this day and every day of the rest of their lives together. We ask that these rings hold and carry these dreams, remind them of the endless circle of their union to each other, and to be a beautiful reflection of their sacred vows to each other, now and always. We seek this blessing of love not only for Chet and Nicole, but also for all those who are now married, or have in the past made vows of love to someone they cherished. All this we ask, as is our divine right as children of God, through Christ in us, Amen.

Nicole, please take Chet's hand in yours and repeat after me: As I place this ring, I choose you to be my husband -- this day, and every day. May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love and a symbol of my commitment to you

Chet, please take Nicole's hand in yours and repeat after me: As I place this ring, I choose you to be my wife -- this day, and every day. May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love, and a symbol of my commitment to you.

I'd like it to be known that we haven't removed our wedding bands since this day.

Pronunciation:

Jeff: You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you have made are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you have said a few words that have taken you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after this day, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.

Chet, you may now kiss your wife.

We choose this reading by Robert Fulgham for our pronunciation. It was just perfect.

One of our friends recorded the pronunciation, and as soon as I find it, I'll stick it up here. It's on Facebook, if you're my friend...

Recessional to "When I'm 64"
Because who doesn't want to walk out to a Beatles song?!

A memo about my marriage

2010-02-19T00:22:00.001-06:00

Let's pause for a moment. I know I promised the ceremony but I'm going to break so that I can rant about something that is beginning to upset me.

Just because Chet and I are young, does not mean that we aren't committed to our marriage, jumped into this irrationally, don't know what we're doing, irresponsible, careless, or less self-aware than our older newlywed counterparts.

Let me reiterate that: just because we are young, does NOT mean we are stupid.

So please, stop telling me (us) that we are. I'm very protective of our marriage, and I am likely to snap soon. And that won't be pretty, I promise.

I do understand that statistics are against us, but statistics are such a fickle thing by the time they reach the public (funny example).

And, have you ever met us? I mean, we're not your typical early twenty year olds, in many ways.

We didn't get married because we're "in looooooove". I mean, yeah we're in love but c'mon. Give us a bit more credit. We rationalized it out. No, we don't have the same life experiences that a 45 year old couple has, but we do know that we can change with each other, and that's huge.

We do know that divorce is not an option for us.

I know that Chet can't sit still for the life of him while I am grateful for any moment of silence and stillness which I can get.

Chet knows that it takes me 45 minutes to fall asleep and I know that he can be asleep in 30 seconds flat (I've timed this).

I know that Chet will never, ever, ever, get out of bed happily before 11 am, while I could be up at 6 and have the Greatest. Day. Ever.

Chet knows that I pick fights whenever I'm pissy, and that means I probably need food or sleep.

I know Chet will never argue with me.

Chet will never notice that the toilet paper roll is empty, and I will always put it on upside-down.

Chet knows that I have a tendency to be a needy attention whore, about as bad as any Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan out there.

I know that Chet will always be more frugal than I am.

Chet knows that I will disappear into my own world while reading, and it's best to leave me alone.

I know that Chet needs touch to be reminded of my love, while he knows that I'm a total words person and would be fine without touch.

We both know the other's faults, but that's the beauty of this. It's super easy to marry someone when you think that they are perfect.

It's much harder to marry someone who I know will never have the same idea of clean as I do and probably miss my hints about EVERYTHING, even when I just tell him. Just as he had to marry someone who gets annoyed when the music is too loud, can't cook, and probably drinks a bit too much when it comes to long islands and shirley temples.

We looked past the perfect parts and married the dirty underbelly of each other.

And that's why we're going to work.

We're also going to work because we know that marriage takes work. It doesn't just happen.

Chet and I make a choice, every morning, to love the other for all of their faults, quirkiness, nuances, and being.

We promised to stand by that choice when we exchanged rings.

We know what we're in. We're happy to be here. So stop judging.

Waitin' for the ceremony to begin

2010-02-10T22:33:00.000-06:00

So, we've, made our way to the site. I'm all glamorous and Chet's looking good. Now... we have to wait.

Bride's maids

This is why I love these women

{insert awesome caption here}

And... don't I look great in that chair? And that dress?!

It is my professional opinion that every bride needs to blow bubbles prior to getting hitched.

Lindsey fixing Doug's.. button?

Meeting our DJ for the first time... about 10 minutes before the ceremony (one of many complaints)

I has a tie!

This looks like an intense conversation, though I have absolutely no idea what it was about.

Groomsmen entertaining themselves. We blew bubbles, they played with toobers and zots.

Ta-da!!! or "YMCA!"

At this point, my bridesmaids were missing, my groom was gone, and the pastor wasn't there...

Next up... we're married.

Gifts, gifts, gifts

2010-02-04T15:30:00.001-06:00

So I forgot to post this yesterday, so you get a twofer. :)

As I said before, The guys were given cuff links that Chet made (no really, he made them) as well as unique ties.

Chet showing off his cufflinks... and his bad ass tie.

The girls were given these shawls...

as well as some earrings that you can kind of, sort of see on them, and then see for reals below.

Chet and I decided to partake in the tradition of giving each other gifts. However, we opted to keep them on the more cost effective side of things... which I think made it more creative.

As I said before, I "embroidered" a pocket square the night before the wedding for him. I put on there:

love is enough
11-21-2009

Ask him about it, he'll show you.

Charlotte helping him into it.

Chet, got waaaay more creative though. He created a secret book thingy to hold my gift. He used the book "Greatest American Love Poems" or something like that. He hollowed out the book, put a poem which I love in the back and then put my gift inside. It was fabulous. I bet you want to know what he got me, eh?

He bought me a swallow locket. And inside the locket (because this is just cool) he put some of his favorite love song lyrics. Like I said, awesome.

Almost all of these things were purchased through etsy.com. That place is amazing. And it's your best friend.

Getting dressed or how you know I’m not a normal bride

2010-02-02T17:23:00.000-06:00

So! The place is as decorated as it's going to be, and it's 12:30. We are supposed to be back at 2:00 for pictures, breathers etc. since the ceremony was to begin at 4:30.

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem. However, there was one bridesmaid, all the groomsmen, the groom... they were missing. Like literally, no-one-knew-where-they-were-missing. That's not what I was looking for at the time.

Fine. Take a breath. Move on. I gathered up the bridesmaids I had and headed over to my parents. Did I mention I forgot to feed them?

DON'T DO THAT!

First, it's just rude.

But, it also lead to people getting hungry (reasonably so, I'm not daft). Which lead to eating really, really quickly at my parents place before getting ready. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but remember that two needed showers. Plus hair, make up, dresses... Yeah.

Well, we made it upstairs and into the bathroom to begin the process.

Now, this is how you know I'm not a normal bride. Well, I'm sure other brides do this, but you don't hear of it.

I helped with hair and make up on one of my 'maids before doing my own. And might I say... she looked hot!

"Now, shake your head like this!"

We also don't believe in privacy.

While we were upstairs, Chet was downstairs with his groomsmen. I have no idea when they showed up, but they did, and they got ready. They were also at the venue way before we were too.
Cursed make up.

Once all the ladies looked like their glamorous selves, they went in and signed the bottom of my shoes. I loved it!

(Obviously)

Then, it was my turn. By the way, it's about 1:45 now. Whoops.

I chose to do my own make up and hair out of frugality.
I also wanted something simple. (I looked gorgeous, by the way!)

Close ups of the dress... Our poor photographer had hell with the dress. It's white, and all he had to work with was a white background, so there aren't really any great shots of the full dress -- until it's on me, duh!

I'm sure she had said something snarky here.

And into the dress I go.

"Shake your head" and "shower curtain" are credited to Lindsey Speights.
All other credit goes to Thomas Boydston

Day of prepping or what the hell was I thinking?

2010-02-01T16:07:00.001-06:00

Honestly, the day of prepping wasn't all that terrible, for me. I finally fell asleep around 2 in the morning because we first had to locate the wedding band... that was fun, and then I had to finish his gift. Whoops.

Part of Chet's gift was a pocket square that I had bought everything for back in August. However, I never ended up working on it, and found myself at 1:30 a.m., the night before the wedding working on it. So anyway, I nestled my head away and slept until my alarm went off at 7:30.

See, my girls and I were staying in one hotel, but getting ready at the house my parents had rented across town. This created all kinds of logistical nightmares, some of which involved showers, hair, dressing, forgetting stuff... nightmares. I opted to shower at 7:30 as did another bridesmaid. The other two decided to shower at my parent's place, and the fourth... she just came ready.

Then, my bridesmaids did something fabulous for me... they took me to get my nails done. See, there are a couple of things that make me feel really, really pretty. Part of this is hair and make up, and the other part is having my nails all done up. So, Ashton paid to have that happen.

(I'm the one in the white :)

After my feet and hands were all pretty we headed over to the hall to finish decorating.

Finishing the seating chart. This was a pain in my side.

Partly because I didn't want it, thus I didn't care.

Partly because we forgot a way to tell people where they were to sit.

Partly because I didn't want to mess with it day of.

It rained. And it was 40 degrees. That's not the ideal for a wedding that was supposed to be outside. So, everything was moved inside where the dancing was to take place. This kind of became logistically a pain in my ass, but it was what it had to be. My dad looks like he is directing, Doug is doing as he should be, and that blur there was one of the day of coordinators.

Let me pause and tell you this: I would not have been able to make it without those day ofs'. The end.

Even the bride was working. Don't hate.

Next up: Getting dressed, and how you know I'm not a normal bride.

http://www.brickwoodevents.com/

Night before

2010-01-31T08:00:00.003-06:00

So! Getting ready!

On Friday, we had our rehearsal, dinner, and then spent 4 hours decorating for the wedding. Phew.

Since our pastor had to back out on us for personal reasons, we had to find a new one. We were directed to Jeff Ganz at Willis UMC. He met with us Thursday to go over the ceremony which I painstakingly wrote, then came down Friday to do the rehearsal.

After our rehearsal, we went to the Stardust Room for dinner. It was one of our favorite hang outs while in school, and one of the first places we decided to have anything at.

The rehearsal dinner was where we handed out gifts to our bridal party and families. The groomsmen all received hand made cuff links from Chet and ties from Toybreaker.

The bridesmaids received earrings, shawls, hand painted knick knack bowls and hand written letters from me.

Our parents each received a photo frame that was engraved and had one of our engagement photos in it.

And Charlotte got a little canvas print.

After the rehearsal, all of the bridal party plus some headed back to the venue and we decorated, decorated, decorated. For some reason, no photos were really taken during this, but man was it fun/intense/crazy/emotional/....

And, my friends are incredible. We had groups putting together our programs, re cutting some of the corks, ironing table runners, decorating table numbers, and helping me re design the down stairs for the ceremony (which had to be moved inside).

Once all the decorating was done (well, that we could do for the night), we left to go our separate ways. Chet and I decided to not stay together the night before because I wanted some alone time with the gals. And that was the perfect decision for us, well for me anyway.

Oh! Story! I lost his wedding band the night before the wedding. I literally had had it in my possession for about 12 hours when I lost it. That was AWESOME! At two in the morning my girls and I are running around town looking for it. Turns out, the box had wedged itself in the trunk...

Next up... day of preparations.

Recaps

2010-01-31T00:25:00.001-06:00

Starting tomorrow, I will be posting recaps from the wedding. I'm expecting maybe 3 or 4 posts? Not totally sure. Some will be photos from our photographer at the wedding, and others will be photos from friends, our planners, etc. I will do my best to give credit to all photos, and I will do my best to not drag this out. :)

From there, my plan is to talk about the whole wedding process, more for a cathartic experience for me than anything else.

After that, I don't really know. :/

Hope all is well with my lovely readers!

Hi...

2010-01-28T10:19:00.001-06:00

My name is Nicole, and I'm a bad blogger. It's been two weeks since my last post. Oops.

But, my wedding was featured on A Practical Wedding (you know, the place I spent most of my time reading during the planning process and now still.)

So, you should go read. It's about not loving your wedding. And it's awesome, if I do say so myself.

And, I promise to blog. Cross my heart and hope to die. K?

Read the Printed Word

2010-01-15T12:02:00.002-06:00

A Practical Wedding (whom I still love to read -- she's just a nifty lady) wrote about reading the printed word.

If you know me, you know that books are like air to me; if I'm not reading, I just feel like junk. So, now I'm pledging to read the printed word more... it may not always be fun reading (blugh, journal articles) but it will be fabulous.

So, go take the pledge, and get a button -- isn't mine cute!?

Ode to Marriage

2010-01-14T10:22:00.003-06:00

I know I promised honesty, and I will. But right now, I must focus on the good in life.

Anyone who tells you that living together is like being married is full of crap, in my humble opinion. There's a sense of being married yes; you have joint bills, animals, responsibilities blah blah blah. But once you cross that threshold into being legally bounded (bonded?!) together, there is something more. Right now, my husband and I are experiencing that something more. We're invested in each other, and that means that is he is going through a rough spot, then I need to be there for him. That means my other stuff (blogging, commenting, reading, writing, what have you) goes on the back burner.

So, that's where I am. I'm going to be doing recaps (with honesty) but the other stuff I had planned is just going to have to wait.

Ponderings on the event

2010-01-07T12:28:00.001-06:00

I haven't spoken much about the wedding, as I'm sure you've noticed. This is because I'm still trying to catalog all of my feelings from it. Some feelings good, some feelings bad, and some feelings in between.

This is the reason why my posts have been scattered and DIY and 365 rather than anything of meat. But don't worry. I'm coming out of my proverbial closet, and I'm going to be honest about all of the wedding stuff -- the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Hope you're ready.

Corks!

2010-01-04T21:49:00.002-06:00

I made corks for the wedding. Odd, eh? I wanted to use them as place markers for the family table (we didn't do a head table) but I was over-ruled. So, we ended up using them to label the food and the cakes.

© BrickWood Events

Pretty huh?

So, how did I do it? Well, very carefully.

First, you need a bag of corks. These can be purchased at any beer or wine making store. We got 25 corks for $4.00

You also need an exacto type knife (I used the utility knife from my tool kit) and something to cut on. I chose to cut on my wedding to do list, it was cathartic.

First step: cut about 1/3 of the way into the cork so that you can create a base. Basically, you have to cut the bottom of the cork off, and it's a pain. But don't be afraid!

This is what the bottom of the cork should look like.

Next: you'll want to sand down the bottom of the cork so it sits nicely. Just keep sanding until you're happy.

See? Pretty.

Now, the obnoxious part. It's a toss up of whether this is easier or harder than the other. The thing you have to focus on here is a) cutting straight and b) making it wide enough to be able to slip paper into, but not so wide that it won't tightly hold the paper.

Voíla! You have a pretty cork place holder thing. You'll notice they aren't perfect, but they were really nice. A quick google search shows that you can get about 8 corks for $12.00 that are like this, which is like 1.50 each. Ours were 25 for $4.00 or .16 a piece. My math may be wrong, you're more than welcome to correct. In this case, I felt like this was legit as far as a craft goes. (Unlike the invitations) One thing to be wary of is blisters, which I had after 25. Not the kind that can be popped, but little red ones. Just a warning.

On another note, I heard that someone is following my directions for the garter. That makes me so happy! If you do any of these, please send photos? There is absolutely nothing like hearing people read your blog to make you want to keep blogging.

#6

2010-01-03T22:46:00.000-06:00

12-27: Annnnnnd snow. I'm still loving it, Chet is wondering why he married me and agreed to this.

12-28: Jersey and I were in a very intense staring battle. I won.

12-29: Chet was rear ended on Tuesday and more than anything, it annoyed me. This is only because now I have to deal with 16 year old drivers and obnoxious insurance companies.

12-30: Books are like air to me. This was after two days in the apartment and reading the four I had already checked out.

"Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled 'This could change your life.'" ~Helen Exley

12-31: We spent a very mellow new year's eve with our friend, Ted. I missed the loudness of my godparents, but it was still nice. We didn't have any form of fireworks, since it was unbelievably cold. Chet made fireworks on the xbox for us.

1-1-2010: Ted and Jersey watching Star Wars. We're in the midst of my education.

1-2: Grocery shopping with Chet is always an adventure, and you should be jealous.

With this said, I have some posts coming up. :)

#5

2009-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Week 5 and I am now caught up. Now, my 365 photos will be published only on Sunday afternoons, for the week prior.

12-20 Christmas cards -- done. Only 15 were sent out, but whatev.

12-21 My sweet husband home from a job that involves data entry. I know he doesn't like it, but I appreciate beyond words the things he's willing to do so that I can follow my dreams. (sappiness is done, now)

12-22 Look what we got for Christmas! Total and utter shock, but we are grateful for it. Check out week two for a glimpse of the tv this replaced. Woo!

12-23 Ice on trees makes them heavy but beautiful.

12-24 You've already seen this, but, it was our picture for Christmas Eve. This was taken in front of the tree at church. We did the advent candles for that night, and it was really nice. Lots of compliments were to be had.

12-25 Merry Christmas! Chet had a gift with some ribbon which he found fascinating. I, of course, took photos.

12-26 Scrabble! One of my favorite board games. We occasionally play and more often than not use legitimate words and don't cheat. Ha!

#4

2009-12-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

Are we ready for week 4? No? Well, too bad.

12-13 So, now it's on to the last week of school. I headed off to Indigo Bridge to do work. There was lots and lots of coffee involved in my final paper -- which I made an A- on!!

12-14 Belated birthday present came in the mail, an Austin Firefighter's Calendar! It's my first ever, and you better believe it's going in my office.

12-15 Final project and paper handed in. I celebrate with Little Debbie cakes and milk. Nom!

12-16 presents from my parents under our tree. It was really, really nice to have those, and they were torn into come Christmas morning.

12-17 Chet's mom took some of the cranes from our wedding and turned them into Christmas ornaments. They are gorgeous.

12-18 Breakfast for dinner is another favorite of mine. And potatoes.

12-19 Our cat is the best, and you all should be jealous. Chet has cool boots, too.

#3

2009-12-28T08:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to week 3!

12-6 It started snowing lightly, so I made us our my favorite winter meal: tomato soup and grilled cheese. You can see our awesome (though dirty) kitchen.

12-7 I'm 22! Chet purchased a Beatles album for me, which I love.

12-8 As a birthday present, Mother Nature decided to give us a blizzard and cancel school for the week, essentially. Woo! Chet apparently does not like snow, but I talked him into going out in it for a bit.

12-9 We had to purchase a snow shovel, and this was the sunset on the drive home. I love sunsets.

12-10 That would be our snow, during the first blizzard. We've had two this month.

12-11 I went to dinner with some UNL McNair scholars. It was good, and strange at the same time to be seen as an authority on grad school now, especially since I feel far from that.

12-12 We went out to dinner for my birthday and it was so much fun. We really have some good friends here. They make it sane.

#2

2009-12-27T22:41:00.000-06:00

Week number 2 of the 365 project. Woo!

11-29 Put up the Christmas Tree! I wanted it up before we had our Thanksgiving with my cohort members, thus it was up on Sunday.

11-30 Thanksgiving with the cohort. Awesome.

12-1 I actually took the time to look at the ornaments we put onto the tree. This was from last year when a coworker made me an ornament to celebrate our engagement. We also have our ring bowl from the ceremony, our "first Christmas" ornament, stuff from my mom's tree, and lots of glitter.

12-2 Video games. You cannot reasonably tell me that you do not like video games. Everyone likes them.

12-3 Snow! I got a chance to get a picture of the snowflake shapes. Purty.

12-4 Annual (apparently) Holiday party at Dr. Scheel's. This would be my cohort: Brittany, Moi, Chelsi, and Ted (L-R)

12-5 Star City Christmas Parade! I drug Chet out to it and we proceeded to freeze our asses off. I didn't end up seeing Santa because I could no longer feel my fingers or toes and Chet opted to take me home. Oh well, we'll know better for next year.

Happy Christmas!

2009-12-25T11:51:00.000-06:00

Feliz Navidad!
Joyeux Noel!
Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo!
Froehliche Weihnachten!
Kala Christouyenna!
Mele Kalikimaka!

Happy Christmas my friends!

Chet and I are hanging out in our apartment watching the blizzard, eating yummy food, and just enjoying each other's company. I hope you are enjoying your holidays from wherever you are, and are surrounded by people who you care for.

Love, Chet and Nicole

ahhhh.

2009-12-19T18:10:00.000-06:00

I finished the semester!! I finished, I finished, I finished!

Phew.

It was an interesting couple of weeks, but it's done and I'm excited.

How am I going to celebrate? By starting with my first "picture a day" post. (There really needs to be a catchier name.)

Rules to this: Take a photo a day. It can be of anything, anywhere, and it doesn't have to be a photo that I took. I will normally put these on the blog on Sunday afternoons, once I catch up.

Let's start this!

Week: 11/21 thru 11/28

11/21 Out of all of the non professional wedding pictures, this is probably one of my favorites. It's just lovely. This was from the end of the night as we were walking away.

11/23 In Jefferson at dinner. This was our first Honeymoon stop.

11/24 At lunch in Jefferson eating some fo' real bbq

11/25 We conned some strangers into taking our picture on AR-7 on our way to Eureka Springs, AR. Pictures just don't capture beauty for some reason. Well, my camera doesn't.

11/26 A picture from our treehouse in AR. *Swoon*

11/27 On our way to Kansas City. We played road bingo and I kicked Chet's butt, twice, while driving.

11/28 We got back into Lincoln and decorated with all of our gifts. Love, love, love it!

Phew, our first week as a a married couple. As a note, these will probably be the only honeymoon pictures you see unless you come visit us. I'm just not up for sharing them with the world. ;)

I'm still working on finding where to take this blog. I know, I know, I should probably have an idea, but I really don't want this to become somewhere that I write about decorating and cooking and all of that stuff. So, we'll see. Stay tuned!

Sorry

2009-12-09T18:18:00.001-06:00

I'm being crappy about posting, but that's mainly because we're at the end of the first semester.

Give me another week, and I'll be back on the ball.

Let's Talk About Terms

2009-12-03T22:19:00.003-06:00

I am in a doctoral program as most of you know. This program is dedicated to multicultural issues and maintaining a very PC atmosphere so as to make everyone comfortable. I want to say that I think this is an incredibly important goal that my program attempts. I just want that out there.

Now, with that said, I want to discuss the term "partner" as it refers to a significant other.

I don't like it... anymore. I had absolutely no issues referring to Chet as my partner. And then, I said 'I do', and now he is my husband.

2000 Dollar Wedding spoke to the idea of heterosexual marriage guilt when planning a wedding. She presents this argument:

"If heterosexuals all refer to their significant others as "partners" rather than "hubands" and "wives,"--the argument goes--then gay people don't have to automatically out themselves every time they want to refer to the significant person in their lives."

Basically, if someone says partner, then you typically assume they are gay. If you normalize the term, then it won't be an automatic assumption. I completely understand that argument. I do. But, as a friend said, why is it outing themselves? I think society has a problem when they are still referring to it as "out[ing] themselves." Until society reconciles these problems, the law can't. (That is a whole other discussion)

I think that's a very interesting take on this whole thing. As Chet has said, "I was okay with you calling me your partner until I became your husband...maybe I just like hearing you use it." And I think that has a very valid point. There is just something inherently beautiful in calling Chet my husband, and he calling me his wife. It's just... better.

To both of us, partner brings up images of a business. We are each others partners, but we are also something more to each other as well. We're husband and wife.

I understand that everyone views this differently. But to me, to use the term partner, I feel like its cheating this beautiful tradition. And it's something that I would love to hear a gay couple's thoughts on. Do you feel more comfortable with other couples using the term partner? Do you care?

I want to leave you with this video from Ellen and Portia on Oprah. You can watch it on the Huffington Post . You should watch it in it's entirety, but you can fast forward to about 3 minutes to get what I'm saying.

Portia made an argument (a beautiful, wonderful, totally makes sense kind of argument) for gay marriage, but I think also for using the term of wife and husband rather then partner. And, it's one that would never have meant as much to me as it did once I crossed this age old threshold into marriage.

"She's my wife, I get to say that she's my wife and that's just the way it is," said Portia.

"Anybody who's married knows there is a difference," said Ellen. "It feels like you're home. There's an anchor, there's a safety. I'm going to be with her until the day I die and I know that."

Becoming the Gassetts

2009-12-02T16:22:00.007-06:00

So, I've changed the title of the blog. I don't particularly know if this is a name that will stick but I think it's appropriate.

It's not about changing names --mine, Chet's or both of our. But it is about being a unified couple. Yes, names are a part of that, but more importantly it's about being companions, lovers, friends, confidants, partners, accomplices... husband and wife.

Becoming us. Becoming the Gassetts.

P.S. We still don't what's going down on the name front

Phew

2009-11-29T21:53:00.001-06:00

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

We're married. And it's lovely. The ceremony was beautiful and we're getting all kinds of compliments on it. The reception had ups and downs, but it too was lovely.

We spent the Honeymoon working our way back up here, staying in Jefferson at the Delta Street Inn, in Eureka Springs in some amazing treehouses and hanging out in Kansas City.

And now... it's over.

We're happily back in Lincoln and have finally put up and away the last of the wedding gifts. We're preparing to host a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night at the apartment and just enjoying each other.

So, what's next? I'm not ready to quit blogging; I'm enjoying it way too much. I've thought about a few things -- like doing a year in pictures, working my way into a wife-ly role, and just updating about stuff. Chet and I have discussed what we're going to be doing as a couple, since we're not having kids rightthissecond, despite the demand from some too. I refuse to blog about all the things we're doing in our house as "nesting". It'll be fun figuring this out, and I hope you'll keep reading along.

And no... I do not miss wedding planning. Nope.

The Meaning of Wife

2009-11-21T16:30:00.000-06:00

As this blog is posting, I am walking down the aisle to marry Chet. Sitting here, a few days before, typing this I can only imagine what my feelings are, what's running through my head, how the butterflies feel. But, I know, our life is going to be amazing.

In the last few weeks, I've been contemplating what the meaning of wife is.

It's such a unique term that brings with it all kinds of patriarchal connotations. But, I'm trying to figure out what it means to me.

Part of it is trying to figure out who my new identity will be. Some of that is wrapped up into my name, but some of it is trying to place my new role. Trying to figure out how becoming a wife changes me, just as Chet is working his way around becoming a husband. It'll be interesting to see what happens on the other side of all this wedding planning business.

I'm excited for the wedding and for the marriage. The planning has been a roller coaster, but I think it will be worth it when it's all said and done. All I wanted was the be married to this man, and I will be, and that is what is important to me. All the drama, all the fanfare, none of that matters. I am not naive enough to expect it to not effect how everything works, but, in the end, it won't matter.

I am married.

I am a wife.

Wedding Weather, take 2

2009-11-20T11:37:00.000-06:00

Dear Wedding Gods,

It's tomorrow. Oh geez. I have tons of things to ask you, but I'm going to narrow it down to one. Please just stop the rain for tomorrow. K?Thanks. See, we've talked about this once, but I just wanted to reiterate my opinions.

I know, I know. It will be beautiful no matter what and blah blah blah, but I really really want it to not rain at all. Especially while we're trying to set up. I know, it's autumn in east Texas and it's a lot to ask for, but it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Thoughts on my last day

2009-11-20T11:30:00.000-06:00

That sounds a bit morbid. I just mean my last day as a single person.

To be honest, I have no thoughts.

Everyone insists on asking me if I am nervous, scared, worried, etc. And I'm not. Is that strange?

Honestly, I feel ecstatic. I feel that this is probably one of the single most right things I have ever done. But for some reason, I guess I am supposed to be nervous.

Obviously there are things I'm stressed about. Like paying for it all and maintaining peace with certain people. But overall? I can't control if people are enjoying our wedding. I can't control their feelings.

What I can control is me. And I am in love. I am making a choice that feels amazing. And I can't wait to begin.

Seating Plans

2009-11-16T13:43:00.002-06:00

I'm a big fan of this:

via: once wed

My parents had some windows like that, I'm wondering if perhaps they may come in handy with the new, fancy seating chart we're doing. And, I have a bridesmaid who has some amazing handwriting.

hmmmm.....

I want a videographer now...

2009-11-16T09:37:00.002-06:00

Broke-Ass Bride put up her wedding video

Awesomeness in its truest form.

You must go watch it. I'll wait. It's fabulous.

And it really makes me want someone to take video of ours.

Chet's aunt is filming the ceremony for us, mainly because without that, I won't remember anything. So, at least, we will have that, and we will have photos! Yay!

Making your own garter is...

2009-11-15T23:05:00.001-06:00

Originally, I wasn't going to have a garter. I didn't want to do a bouquet and garter toss. I don't like them. They make me uncomfortable. But, Chet and I were doing something and I mentioned we weren't having one and he was broken hearted. Damn. Fine. Well, I didn't want to spend $30 on a frilly, fancy garter that would just be uncomfortable. So, I though, "Pssssh! I can make one!" That was over a month ago. I sat down last night a worked on it. I'm a bit of a procrastinator.

I found no good tutorials online on how to do this. I kind of picked up bits and pieces, but most just sucked, no matter how they tried. Granted, I'm not the tutorial reading kind so that could have been the problem.

Anywho... I'm posting my tutorial if you want it. Let me know if there are any questions.

First, pick some fabric you like and cut it to your desired length. Who knows what that is. Everyone says something else. I have a 17in thick thigh, I cut mine to 23 inches and it fits lovely. Yes, it's crooked, don't worry.

Then, lay out the ribbon or fabric you want to put over the base fabric. See, it's already getting confusing.

Next, sew said ribbon onto the base fabric. The difficulty of this really depends on how good of a sew-er you are. I didn't have much of a problem with it, but I'm a decent sew-er.

When you're done with the first part you have smiley face basically. I think it's cute.

Both sides of the ribbon are sewn down. Please note, the ends should not be sewed. You must feed the elastic through there. It's looks bad, but it's okay.

Now, it's time to scrunch it. I'm sure there is a waaaay more professional way to do this, but I chose just shoving it onto a screwdriver. Actually, Chet figured that out.

Then, we taped the elastic to the screwdriver and pushed the fabric over it. Again, I'm positive there's a more professional way but this worked for us.

Feed the garter over the elastic... be careful not to loosen the tape.

Alright! Now your garter is over the elastic! You deserve a pat on the back. At this point, Chet held onto one end while I held the other.

This gets really scientific now. Scrunch the garter up to your liking. THE ELASTIC SHOULD BE SHORTER THAN THE MATERIAL!!! Thus, if you cut your garter material to 23 inches, do not make the elastic the same length. This is what allows it to be all scrunchy. I think I cut my elastic to about 15 inches.

Now... very, very, very carefully pin the ribbon, material, and elastic together to hold it in place. Do this on both ends. Preferably put it about an inch away from the end so you can sew the ends and not be worried about the elastic falling.

Sew up the ends. Hold the ends together and stick it around your thigh where you want the garter to go. Make sure you're still happy with it. If you're not, well, I don't know what to tell ya, but I'd check just to be sure.

Now... carefully sew the two ends together.

Now you have a very pretty pretty garter. I've added a giant button over the seams 'cause I wanted to. If the material is fraying (like mine) make sure to have some fray check or something on hand to fix it if you care too.

I made two garters, one to toss and one to keep. Not sure why I'm keeping one but whatev.

Next up... Table Runners!! Wooo!

Music Music Music ♫♪

2009-11-15T22:30:00.001-06:00

Music for the wedding has been an adventure, to say the least. Well, not really for the reception, we covered that pretty quickly deciding that a DJ was important to us and thus throwing a huge chunk of the budget to that.

However, the ceremony has been a wild ride.

A friend of ours was going to handle the music for us. He is in the music program at the University and thus was willing to help put together a brass quintet and it was going to be amazing. Then, the guys had to play at an away game in the marching band. Ugh.

So then we tentativly set up with another friend of ours and his string quartet. About two weeks later something else came up and they couldn't do it. Ugh.

Then, we said, alright, we'll just pay the extra for the DJ to handle that music.

Phew. Settled. Ha! You just thought it was. We realized we would be paying close to $1600 for wedding music and couldn't do it. That's all of our bills in a month. Nope. So we cancelled. Back at square 1.

We've decided to go forth with a playlist and a speaker and an iPod. Maybe. My dad is apparently in cahoots with the university looking for a string quartet.

If we get it... AWESOME!! If we don't, well, we have a back up plan.

In one week...

2009-11-14T13:41:00.001-06:00

... I will be married to this dude.

Weeee!

My Vows

2009-11-12T21:38:00.000-06:00

I lost my vows last week -- oops. So, I've decided to use these.

O hai. We here before all dese ppl and Ceiling Cat sos cat 1 and cat 2 can has marriage.

cat 1 and cat 2, marriage iz commitment and all about luv, so if u marry wifout thinkin hard about it, ur doin it wrong.

Anyone has visible reason they shud no marry? No? Gud.

cat 1 and cat 2, LOLCat Bible sez, “Luv is pashient an kind and stuff, luv no has jelusy and no shows off. It not rude, it not say UR DOIN IT WRONG. It no aligned wif basement cat but only ceiling cat. Luv protectz, trusts in all teh stuff, hopes in all teh stuff, sticks wif u in all teh stuff. FAIL? Not luv.” Dis what luv shud be for u.

cat 1, what u here for? (cat 2’s paw for marryin)

What u promis for cat 2? (I can has u, cat 2, for bein all wedded an stuff. I can has, I can hold. We can has riches, we can has no riches, we can has helf, we can has no helf, I still all luv u until ded.)

cat 2, what u here for? (cat 1’s paw for marryin)

What u promis for cat 1? (I can has u, cat 1, for bein all wedded an stuff. I can has, I can hold. We can has riches, we can has no riches, we can has helf, we can has no helf, I still all luv u until ded.)

Marriage no jus two cats, it needz other cats for supports and luv. Srsly, all u be there for them? (Yes.)
I can has bukkit wif rings?

Rings are all round, they has no end jus like your luv. cat 1, place ring on cat 2’s paw and say: I maed u a ring and I no pawn it. Wif this ring, I are wedding u. cat 2, u do same and say: I maed u a ring and I no pawn it. Wif this ring, I are wedding u.

U both now all married. Ceiling cat will now watch u kiss.

Here is cat 1 and cat 2 all married. Kthxbai.

via: Stephen

Relief

2009-11-12T10:59:00.001-06:00

"It was a hard summer in a lot of ways, but we focused on the joy for a day. The only tears shed during the day were by my sister during her awesome speech, who claims that she's "allergic to microphones" (she did the same at her wedding). No happy tears even, as far as I saw -- we were all just laughing, like we were finally relieved."
via: A Practical Wedding

Not to be melodramatic, though I occasionally have a flair for that, but this makes me feel a bit better.

There will be tears though, but the good kind :)

When is it okay?

2009-11-09T15:37:00.001-06:00

I have a question.

When is it okay to become a bridezilla? Is it ever?

via: The Durtty Bride

I feel like I have stayed incredibly up beat during the planning process. I've had two maids of honors step down, familial issues on both sides, a dress that disappeared then re-appeared only to not fit me at all, mailing issues, money issues and on top of all that I moved to Lincoln Nebraska and began a Doctoral program.

I have maintained a great attitude through it all. I really have, don't judge me.

But now, now I feel like perhaps I should be a bridezilla.

Why? Because our pastor has recently called us to let us know that he can't do our wedding.

Honestly, I feel bad for the guy. He's taken over as a head pastor, and as such has stepped into a messy problem. And the church is telling him he can't leave for a Saturday to do our wedding.

Have I mentioned that we are 12 days out? I didn't? We are.

So, my question comes in because I feel like a doormat. I don't know what else can go wrong. Well, I do, and it probably will go wrong. I suppose what I really don't know is how to handle it anymore.

A friend of mine was just in a wedding the past weekend and she recounted to me the horror that this bride was. Ignoring birthdays, not providing enough food, being a jerk for the most part.

But her dress showed up. She didn't have anyone step down. Her pastor was there.

I get that this is an incredibly irrational train of thought, but I would be lying to say it's not there and present in my head.

So, would it be okay for me to fly off the handle yet?

Just as a side note, another friend of ours, in response to this newest conundrum said: "Why can't you believe it? It is exactly the sort of thing that would happen to you guys."

Touché my dear friend, touché.

Hair Hair Hair

2009-11-08T20:53:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it for the wedding. I'm not paying to have my hair done because I have full confidence that I can make myself look beautiful without the help of a $60 hair do.

Options:

I have this great bun thing that I do a lot. It's comfortable, easy to do, and cute.
I've also been playing with curling my hair, since it's so stinking long.
I've seen some really cute braid like up do's recently too.

Perhaps I'll do something with all three?

I'm just playing with my hair currently trying to come up with something. My guess is I won't have a decision until you see me walking down the aisle (or the pictures hehe).

Yay Flags!!

2009-11-08T14:45:00.001-06:00

If you'll remember, I really wanted Yay Flags for the wedding send off. Our venue won't let us use rice, confetti, sparklers, birdseed, or petals. And, frankly, I like the pom poms, but I'm seriously doubting they would let us use those either. :o)

via Flickr Image

via: a $10,000 wedding
via: once wed

So, I wanted Yay Flags. When I made this decision, I promptly ordered flags from Oriental Trading. They were a great price, 5.99 per dozen. You can't really beat that.

Now, flash forward to about a week ago. They have been happily sitting in their boxes since we purchased them. They made their move up to Nebraska and were quickly tucked away in our ever growing wedding corner of the house. Chet looked at me and said, "so, are we making the flags or not?" Ugh.

The directions for the yay flags call for printer/iron on paper and an iron (duh) that preferably works well. And a printer that isn't a jerk. Oh, and maybe some patience.

We had none of that. So what was our solution?

Make stamps!!

This would be our dear friend Brittany who helped with the flags.

We purchased paint, laid out a few newspapers on the dining room table, poured paint onto said newspapers and Chet and Brittany began stampin' away.

Alana and I were in charge of gluing the sticks to the canvas, becuase the sticks very easily would just slip out and I was worried about someone poking their eyes out. Much like if we were giving Red Ryder BB Guns out at the wedding.

Then, Ted showed up! Bless him! He cut the tags off the back since they were bothering me.

We ended up with 80ish I believe.

Currently, I am debating about writing on the back of them

"CHET AND NICOLE EST. 11/21/2009"

Because, you know they're flags. One must have an established date with flags. ;) And, without a flag, you are obviously not a country. Or an entity.

We have some other fun projects to show you with only 13 days until the wedding!!

Cynics

2009-11-03T11:31:00.000-06:00

We all know one. There's someone who doesn't believe in marriage because of X-Y-Z. Daddy issues, failed relationships, failed marriages they've known.

I get that these are legitimate issues. I'm training to be a psychologist for God's sakes.

But seriously? Leave my marriage alone. You don't know me, at least not as well as you think you do. You don't know why we chose to get married. You don't know our beliefs about marriage. You don't know if we struggled to make the decision to wed or are just jumping in. You don't know our relationship.

So let it be.

I understand that marraige is a patriarchial establishment. I understand that often times, women get the short end of the stick. But, you have no idea who I am marrying.

Love is a greeting card myth? Perhaps, in some ways. But you know what? My love isn't. Our love has stood tests that you have no idea about. We've seen healthy relationships in our lives. We understand that marriage is work, because our relationship has been work. Because our parents have worked at their marriages.

We've made an incredibly adult decision, and we know that divorce is not an option. And we're committed to that. Are you?

And my wedding will sure as hell not be the best day of my life, thank you very much.

Balloons!!

2009-11-01T21:52:00.002-06:00

I'm a firm believer in balloons. They're cheery, colorful, and just plan happy.

And recently, they have become popular in weddings. I'm actually thinking it has a lot to do with an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings (which I own). No matter the reason, I think it's fun.

I'm not sure where I found this. If you know, or are the owner, please let me know so I may credit you.

via Boutwell Studio

via anna jarske
These are an engagement, but still adorable.

via 100 Layer Cake

Bridesmaids carrying them down the aisle!!!

I think it's all fun and cute. :)

Sleeves? No sleeves? Who effing cares?

2009-10-31T11:33:00.001-05:00

Apparently, Ivanka Trump got married last weekend. She wore lace sleeves with her wedding gown. And her hair down. This has the wedding world in a tizzy and brides returning wedding dresses that are strapless in favor of dresses that have sleeves.

Okay, that's a little bit intense. But now people like Vera Wang and NYT Fashion critic Cathy Horyn are criticizing strapless dress wearing brides. New York Magazine has an opinion too.

Blogs are weighing in. And the comments are screaming I WANT A DRESS WITH SLEEVES!!!

This bothers me. As if brides don't have enough pressure to look absolutelyperfectfortheirbigday, we are now telling them that they HAVE TO HAVE sleeves. And how dare you consider wearing a sleeveless dress.

I thought Ms. Trump looked sensational in her lace dress. It was the sleeves. We’re so used to seeing brides in strapless dresses that Ms. Trump’s gown made a fresh statement. Maybe she’ll have an influence on brides.

I'm glad she looked stunning. I'm so glad that look worked for her. I don't think it works for everyone. Just like strapless doesn't work for everyone. I don't think you need to be worrying about what other brides wear becuase they are comfortable. I don't need your influence.

Ugh.

For the record, her dress was quite pretty.

See?

As a side note: it's being passed around that the sleeves were added becuase the happy couple was married in an Jewish Orthodox tradition. In which you have to have sleeves. There is no choice.

My Ladies Dresses

2009-10-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

So! All of my ladies have their dresses purchased and ready to rock them come November 21!

Which, incidentally is 22 days away. [insert panic attack.... here]

Let me tell you, they picked such lovely amazing dresses. And I feel so unbelievably confident in my decision of letting them do that. I'm not going to lie to you, dear readers, for a while there I was a bit nervous. Especially when we were a couple of months out and no one had purchased their dresses.

Each of them are probably going to quite happily kill me when they see these up, but I don't particularly care. I'm the damn bride.

Pros to letting them buy their own dresses:

Without sounding too 27 Dresses-esqe it is legitimately something they can wear again because they picked out something that they felt flattered their bodies.
It's a great little party black dress, and every girl needs one of those.
They bought within their price range.

Cons

My inner control freak died a bit letting them pick out their own dresses.
I didn't get to help anyone pick out a dress, which was something I had really looked forward to.
There isn't a lot of uniformity, outside of the black tea length (or is it cocktail?) dress.

Take what you want from that list. I am so pleased with how it has turned out. I know they will all be stunning when it comes, just as they are on a regular basis.

Now, I need to find my dress...

Don't be rude.

2009-10-30T01:47:00.003-05:00

Chet and I have decided that for the guests who RSVP'd yes, and then didn't come, we are going to bill them*.

Yup.

They will receive an invoice which will be mailed out on 11/30. Recognizing that normal mailing turn around time is 4 days, we will allow 2 weeks between re-billings before we send their information to a collection agency.

Bet you didn't know that RSVP was a contract huh?

;)

An example of the proposed invoice:

Please click to enlarge.

*Please, dear God, know we are joking. Though, if you're not able to make it, a call would be greatly appreciated.

lalalalala

2009-10-29T23:26:00.001-05:00

I have many things to post about. And this will all take place over the weekend. Please be prepared for a lot of reading on Monday. K? Thanks.

For now, I will leave you with this lovely song. I'm trying to convince Chet we should dance to this, as our first dance. It's pretty.

If I caught the world in a bottle
And everything was still beneath the moon
Without your love would it shine for me?

If I was smart as Aristotle
And understood the rings around the moon
What would it all matter if you love me?

Here in your arms where the world is impossibly still
With a million dreams to fulfill
And a matter of moments until the dancing ends.

Here in your arms when everything seems to be clear
Not a solitary thing would I fear
Except when this moment comes near the dancing's end.

If I caught the world in an hourglass
Saddled up the moon so we could ride
Until the stars grew dim
Until...

One day you'll meet a stranger
And all the noise is silenced in the room
You'll feel that you're close to some mystery.

In the moonlight when everything's shadows
You'll feel as if you've known her all your life
The world's oldest lesson in history.

Here in your arms where the world is impossibly still
With a million dreams to fulfill
And a matter of moments until the dancing ends.

Here in your arms when everything seems to be clear
Not a solitary thing do I fear
Except when this moment comes near the dancing's end

Oh if I caught the world in an hourglass
Saddled up the moon so we could ride
Until the stars grew dim
Until the time that time stands still
Until...

Please, please, please ignore the terrible video. I really hate music videos made from movie clips. Ugh.

Oscar Wilde has a great quote...

2009-10-24T16:43:00.002-05:00

“With an evening coat and a white tie, anybody, even a stockbroker, can gain a reputation for being civilized”

The ties for the wedding came in!

One of my favorite things about ordering from Etsy.com is the packaging. Everything is uniquely wrapped, and I love it.

Chet was really excited about his tie.

We think that these ties totally don't suck.

This is what we ordered:
1 groom tie Peacock: crimson tie/butter ink
6 groomsmen microfiber neckties, Peacock: butter tie/crimson ink

Now, Chet just needs to make the cufflinks for his guys, and they will be set!

Photos in Libraries

2009-10-22T15:19:00.002-05:00

Apparently, there is a new trend of having photos taken in libraries.

This amuses me to no end.

Mainly because most of our engagements were taken in the library on campus.

Evidence:

Just sayin' -- we're a trendy couple. :)

Charles Darwin on Marriage

2009-10-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

I read somewhere that Charles Darwin's Reasons to Marry was used in a ceremony. I found that interesting and wanted to find what he had to say on it. Turns out, when he was considering marrying Emma, he formed two columns: a 'To Marry' column and a 'Not to Marry Column'.

Below is what he said.

Under the title "This is the Question," Darwin wrote in the "Marry" Column:

Children — (if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow. — Home, & someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. — These things good for one's health. — ~~Forced to visit & receive relations~~ but terrible loss of time. —

W My God, it is intolerable to think of spending ones whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, & nothing after all. — No, no won't do. — Imagine living all one's day solitarily in smoky dirty London House. — Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music perhaps — Compare this vision with the dingy reality of Grt. Marlbro' St.

... and in the "Not Marry" column:

No children, (no second life), no one to care for one in old age.— What is the use of working 'in' without sympathy from near & dear friends—who are near & dear friends to the old, except relatives

Freedom to go where one liked — choice of Society & little of it. — Conversation of clever men at clubs — Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle. — to have the expense & anxiety of children — perhaps quarelling — Loss of time. — cannot read in the Evenings — fatness & idleness — Anxiety & responsibility — less money for books &c — if many children forced to gain one's bread. — (But then it is very bad for ones health to work too much)

Perhaps my wife wont like London; then the sentence is banishment & degradation into indolent, idle fool —

He concluded that he should marry, and wrote:

Marry - Marry - Marry Q.E.D.

I found it fairly interesting. What do you think?

Wedding Weather

2009-10-19T11:28:00.001-05:00

Here's to hoping we get the 64 high. I'd be okay with it being cold that night.

Just please, Wedding Gods. Let it be a lovely day with no rain.

Hold On.

2009-10-19T10:01:00.001-05:00

This post isn't about the wedding. But, I'm okay with that. I just need somewhere to get this down in writing.

Chet and I are very stretched financially right now. I know we're not unique, and I count our blessings that currently we have a roof over heads, food in the refrigerator, and we just payed our bills for the month.

But both of us are jobless. See, that comes as a shock to me even typing this, though I know it in the back of my head 24/7. "Nicole, why is that a shock? This is a shitty economy. You're both new college graduates, who have moved away from all of your connections!"

Well, dear reader, it's a shock because I am in a Ph.D. program. And a lie that I was told when applying to programs was that "ALL DOCTORAL STUDENTS ARE FUNDED! YOU'LL HAVE A STIPEND AND YOUR CLASSES WILL BE PAID FOR!!!!" Lies.

I graduated with no student loans. Chet did the same thing. I did everything I possibly could to become an ideal candidate for a Ph.D. program. And I have no funding. We're living on a student loan. A loan that I figured would be plenty for this semester. $10,000 -- pssh! That's more than we've been making in a year for the last 3! We can do this!

Well, $6,500 of it went to pay tuition.

So, that left us with 3,500. That's not enough. It should be, maybe. That's debatable. But, it's seeming to not be enough.

This is not a post asking for money. Or to make anyone feel guilty for having money. Or any other possibilities. This is just a frustration.

And a note to say that Chet has a job interview for a temp. agency. It's today at 2. Please pray he gets it.

What about the kidlets?

2009-10-17T19:58:00.001-05:00

Kids.

I like kids. Chet likes kids. However, we had not intended on kids coming to the wedding. There a multiple reasons for this, some being that we're having the whole shebang in a historic building with historic, expensive, breakable things. We also felt that it's hard to have an intimate ceremony when kids are running around and being kids.

Hear that: they are just being kids! We just didn't particularly want that at our wedding.

Well, we were over-ruled. And, that's okay I suppose. This was one of those things that it was easier just to say bring the kids and we'll get over it.

So, now I am trying to figure out how to keep the kidlets occupied.

One bride posted some great pictures and ideas:

1. Cover their tables in butcher paper so they can color on the table.
2. Coloring books (to be used with colored pencils – must not ruin your dress!)
3. Fun stickers
4. Pipe cleaners
5. Puzzles

via: landlocked bride

Minus the "must not ruin your dress" comment, these are some good ideas. And cheap, because that is really important to me currently.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Wedding Dress Saga

2009-10-17T19:35:00.001-05:00

Well, today, I found a dress.

It's lovely. It needs no alterations. It fits like a glove with no need to purchase special undergarments.

It's $507.18.

God, I want it.

Here's to hoping I can get the money together or find another, better dress.

Sanity

2009-10-15T15:01:00.001-05:00

"You, out there in Brideland, you sweet thing: Are you planning your wedding so that it will be perfect in every detail? Do you expect it to be the happiest day of your life? Miss Manners sincerely hopes not. Few of those who prattle about that "happiest day" seem to consider the dour expectations this suggests about the marriage from the second day on. At any rate, someone whose idea of ultimate happiness is a day spent at a big party, even spent being the center of attention at a marvelous big party, is too young to get married." - Miss Manners

"Engaged women don’t need another voice telling them they’re failing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a voice of tradition telling them they’re wrong for wanting to have their wedding in the round, or a voice of nontradition telling them they’re wrong for wanting to wear a white dress — brides need encouragement and support. This is all to say, your wedding isn’t a race, and there’s no need to win — the only prize you need is the commitment of your partner (aww) and you get that no matter what." - Ariel Stallings

Houston* We have a problem

2009-10-14T11:28:00.000-05:00

My wedding dress is missing.

Oh no. ohnoohnoohnoohnoohnoohnoohno

My aunt very kindly made it for me and shipped it out to me two weeks ago. TWO WEEKS AGO!

It's not here, and we aren't totally sure where it is.

This is not good.

I'm actually not freaking out that much currently. On Saturday I am going to hop over to David's Bridal and see what I can find and figure out if I can pay for it.

And hopefully my handmade, lovely dress will show up.

*erm, Huntsville would be more fitting

My Love

2009-10-11T02:14:00.002-05:00

Dear Chet:
More than anything, I want you to know how excited I am to marry you in 41 days.

I also want you to know what I mean when I say I love you, and what I promise you as we take this new step together.

When I say I love you, I mean that I feel a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a you. I am filled with a feeling of intense desire and attraction towards you. I feel a sense of underlying oneness with you that fills my heart with joy.

I give my love to you freely, as an expression of my own passion, and I do so without any expectation of your feelings toward me.

When I say “I love you” it doesn’t mean that I feel ownership over you, or that I have expectations for your behavior, or rigid ideas of our future together.

I love you for what you are now, not for what I hope you will someday become. I have no plans to change you. I do, however, support your own desire to grow.

I respect your right to you having your own feelings, and to your need to learn your own lessons in life. If I can help, I will wait to be asked, and otherwise will allow you to go through the experiences that you need and choose.

I will do my best to be in touch with my own feelings and desires, and communicate them to you without any expectation that you will act on them.

I am happy with or without you. My bliss is my responsibility alone.

I leave you free to be yourself: to think your thoughts, indulge your tastes, follow your inclinations, behave in ways that you decide are to your liking. I have no right to judge or change your behavior.

I desire that you be happy. If your time spent with me is not joyful, then you are welcome to go on your way with my love and support still with you.

I recognize that we are two separate whole people, who have chosen to walk side-by-side through life for a time. I rejoice in the ecstasy of the present-moments we share together.

Via: Joy is Now

Whoa There...

2009-10-09T20:00:00.002-05:00

Let it be said that this post will contain too much information. More than most anybody wants to know about anybody. So why am I posting it? Because I want to, and I'm not embarrassed too. So there. But, if you don't want to know a lot of information about me, don't read this. (That means you, dad.)

Okay. Seriously.

You've been warned.

My period is sporadic. It's been this way for the past 2 years or so and that's because of the hormonal birth control that I was on for 3 years. I eventually got an IUD, which I highly recommend, but my hormones were basically screwed from hell and back. I mean, I was like clockwork regular until I went on that birth control. Down to the hour regular. Ugh.

So, why am I writing about this?

Because I have been so nervous that I would get my period while we were at the wedding/honeymoon. I"m sure y'all who are reading this can imagine why this would be disappointing.... but you have no idea.

See, Chet and I live together. Shocker, right?

What I bet you didn't know is that we gave up sex in May.

That's even more of a shocker huh? Yeah well, it started as joke, and then it became a challenge becuase no one thought we could do it.

Well, my friends, we have. We are 5 weeks out from the wedding, and we are still celibate.

Take that bitches.

So, this bring us to my period. I have been paranoid. I want to have sex. No, I mean really. Really, really, really, really.

Recently, though, my period has become a bit more regular, as in the past two months, I have gotten my period on the 7th. Which, hopefully, means I will have it on the 7th of November.

Which, for those who are dense, means aunt flo will not be chillin' with us over the wedding and honeymoon.

**DOES THE HAPPY DANCE**

Phew. Who thought one could be so paranoid?

via: xkcd

Us minus an elliptical dish. (We won't need it)

I love Weddings

2009-10-09T16:20:00.001-05:00

I have a TMI post coming up here soon (probably tonight). I haven't done it yet because I'm not totally sure how to word it so that I don't sound too bat-shit crazy or gross, because it could easily go both ways.

But, for now, I am going to blog about a blog who blogs about wedding. Heh.

That blog is A Practical Wedding written by the wonderful Meg. Meg and her partner were married two months ago in what seems to be a lovely wedding. She just did her wedding recap over this past week.

The Welcome Picnic
Getting Ready with Lots of Grins
Ketubah Signing
The Aisle Walk
And On Transcendence
With a love like that, you know you should be glad
A Really Great Party
The end, or really a beginning

Even if you don't read through those posts (though, in my humble opinion, I think you should!) just look at those pictures. That wedding is beautiful. I know, I know. That's said about everyone's wedding because pictures are just amazing.

But "watching" this woman go through her wedding process has been a joy.

Chet has touched on the 'Indie Bride' movement in a blog once. He basically did that blog because I was complaining how now I feel like there is a new standard (the indie bride) and it's just flat out frustrating.

I love that Meg, and her blog, represent brides of all kinds. Some who are traditional, some who are budget weddings, some who are just weddings, some who are crafty, and others who aren't. She takes a bride who is going crazy with planning, and brings them back to earth.

Well, she does that for me at least.

Anyhow, go read some of her sanity. I'm really excited that there is someone who makes me feel comfrotable about my wedding.

Also, that conversation she has with her partner about her aisle walk... that will totally be me. I am scared sh*tless about getting married. I know, right?

It's just so cute!

2009-10-07T17:46:00.001-05:00

Our ring bowl came in!!!

We've decided to do a ring warming, which I think will be lovely. However, we didn't want to just have people take our rings from us, and I didn't want to use little fake gold bands. So... we opted to purchase a ring bowl for merely $10 and have it customized. It's lovely really.. and I have yet to see it in person!!

Bonus: We can use it as decoration on a Christmas Tree, or hang it in the house. That's what those two holes are for.

Watch me do my excited dance!!

From: SayYourPiece

Dear Wedding Gods: To Do List Prayer

2009-10-06T09:31:00.001-05:00

Dear Wedding Gods:

Just how are you doing up there? Was it a crazy wedding season? I still think you should be quite happy that my wedding is in the off season. Just sort of a blip on the radar screen, so to speak, as far as weddings go.

I need your help again. I love autumn, and that's why we chose it for our wedding. The downside to that is that I am in school. I'm actually in a Ph.D. program (thanks graduate school gods!). That means I am crazy busy and have lots to do with that. But I am also needing to be crazy busy with this whole planning a wedding business.

See, I have a to do list a mile long. And it's not big things, but it's stuff like send emails, print stuff, purchase last minute things -- you know pretty small stuff that I doubt people will know if they're missing it. However, it's all become quite big to me and as such I avoid it. That's my unhealthy coping skill. I gave up the chocolate, most of booze, and the cigarettes, so now I just avoid. I think it's a healthy trade...

...unless your wedding is 6 weeks away.

So anyway, if you could please help me to remember my to do list, that would be great. Preferably when others are awake so they can respond to me. Oh, and make sure there's ink in my printer when I do remember. That was a bit obnoxious.

Thanks!
Nicole

Obligatory Invite Breakdown

2009-10-05T22:47:00.002-05:00

So. Our invitations. They went out about a month ago, much to my amazement.

We used Budget Savvy Bride's idea and turned it into our own, much like we've done with everything else. While I don't always agree with her ideology, she is super creative.

Anyhow, here is our finished product:

I am super proud of them. See those birds? Those are hand-stamped, by moi! As are those vines, but that was a bit easier. They were also cut and glued by hand by myself and my maid of honor, as well as Chet. Chet did the labels, see that thing in the back?

Man, that was hard work. But I think they ended up being worth it.

We started out on Thursday night rolling the RSVP's. See those vines? That actually took about an hour to do for the 80 or so we did.

Then, on Friday, we started stamping birds.

This is the Darth Vader trick. It's patented, taught to me by Charlotte. See, when you color the birds red, you have to wipe off the feet and the beak and color them yellow. By that point, the red ink has dried a bit, so you must blow on it. That's right. Blow on it. The heat from the air re-wets the ink and thus, you get to stamp them. By doing that, you get these adorable invites...

Tell me those aren't adorable! If you don't like them, well, don't talk to me.

Now, onto the envelope wrappers. I wish I could remember where I found them, but I can't currently. Shoulda bookmarked it. Anyhow, we ended up doing these becuase my wonderful friend Charlotte, who had volunteered to do calligraphy had something come up and she couldn't do it. Well, I can't do calligraphy, and neither can Chet. So, we opted to use our great stamp as well as my handwriting. It was a pain in the butt, however, it turned out lovely.

Charlotte also paid for the paper as well as the bird and vine stamps plus ink. That obviously was a huge cost reduction for us. In total, we paid for the stamps to mail out (and purchased them when they were only .42!). We also bought the sticky paper for the envelopes and I paid to have them printed in the design center by my office.

Let me pause here: stamps. Sara, over at 2000DollarWedding at one point in time said that she was upset because they couldn't afford photo stamps for their invitations. When I read that, I thought to myself "Are you crazy? That's what you're worried about?!" I was definitely quick to judge. Then, I had to send out our invitations. I had these beautiful things, gorgeous, really, and I had to put those ugly forever stamps on them. While they weren't panther stamps, I still was not please, at all. It was kind of like the brown lace. However, this time, I couldn't change it. It's still driving me crazy.

Moving on....

Personally, while I think it was cheaper to do them myself it was a pain in the butt. Honestly, if I had to do it over again, I would set aside more money for sending the invites out to be printed. It would just be better. I am not a crafty lady, so this was just too much for me. Yes, they are adorable. No, I would never, ever, ever, do it again.

But then again, should something happen to me and Chet... I wouldn't plan another wedding. Nope. Sure wouldn't. But that's for another post.

Sources:
Envelope Mall for the RSVP envelopes and the mailing envelopes. We had originally intended on doing postcards, but the font was too small. Oh well.
Stampin' Up! for the stamps and the paper.
For printing, cutting, and gluing, we used stuff around my parents house. My mom is a super crafty lady so she has lots of neat things.

Phew. That post is done.

I have a lot to say... but I'm going to talk about shoes.

2009-10-04T21:57:00.001-05:00

I'm being terrible at updating right now. It's not for lack of stuff to write about; I have plenty of that. I have invites to recap, I have the crazy-ness of planning while being 4 states away, money/budget problems... I have plenty of fodder. I'm just not feeling it currently, which is kind of sad.

Anyhow, I want red shoes. I'm not really sure why. I haven't seen the completed dress or anything else. I'm not sure where my veil is. Or my hair piece. I don't have any of the jewelry I want to wear. I just have the shoes I bought.

These, actually:

But, I want red shoes.

Like these

or these. I really like these.

Sadly, I cannot afford said shoes. They're $50 and I have no coupons or anything. But, if I did... oh, if I did. I would totally buy them. :)

The dress.

2009-09-29T10:38:00.001-05:00

Oh...

Oh dear...

This is lovely. And that color is fabulous.

I wish I had found this before I told my bridal brigade to pick their own dresses.

Sigh.

From: JCrew

My Inspiration Board

2009-09-20T23:06:00.000-05:00

In exactly two months*, I will be Mrs. Something or Other (I'm not sure about this whole name things). So, in honor of this once-in-a-lifetime, momentous occasion, I decided to share with you some pictures that keep me sane during the wedding planning. These are also photos that are kind of an inspiration board to me, of what I want to be like on my wedding day.

Just wait, you'll see why.

via: Academy Bedlam's Knottie Page

A classic pose, one of which I'm sure will happens lots.

via: MakeLoveReal

This groom, is totally sticking his tongue out at his bride. Are you kidding me? This is uh-mazing. I would laugh my head off, and it would be so real for us.

via: A Practical Wedding

via: A Practical Wedding's Inspiration Board

via: Melissa Rudick

via: MakeLoveReal

Chet and I have talked about this. One (or both) of us will cry. I will probably bawl if my dad tears up.

via: Putting the R in Mrs.

via: {frolic!}

via: I'm not sure. I'll find it again, eventually.

via: A Practical Wedding

Doesn't she just look amazing? So happy, and ... fill in the blank. It's amazing.

via: A Practical Wedding

Their abandon is fabulous. I want it.

I'm having a hard time caring about the little things at this point. Okay, that's a blatant lie. However, rationally, I know that no wedding is perfect. And it is absolutely crazy, CRAZY!, for me to expect it to be. Come the day of, I will just be glad to be married to my love. And that is something that I cannot wait for.

*We may not be marrying. Chet just told me he's never seen Karate Kid. Ugh.

A Simple Reading

2009-09-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

The young couple first married on August 5, 1744, when Joseph was eight and Sarah six, and first ended their marriage six days later when Joseph refused to believe, to Sarah's frustration, that the stars were silver nails in the sky, pinning up the black nightscape. They remarried four days later, when Joseph left a note under the door of Sarah's parents' house: I have considered everything you told me, and I do believe that the stars are silver nails.

They ended their marriage again a year later, when Joseph was nine and Sarah seven, over a quarrel about the nature of the bottom of the river bed. A week later, they were remarried, including this time in their vows that they should love each other until death, regardless of the existence of the riverbed, the temperature of the river bed's bottom (should it exist), and the possible existence of starfish on the possibly existing riverbed.

They ended their marriage one hundred and twenty times throughout their lives and each time remarried with a longer list of vows. They were sixty and fifty-eight at their last marriage, only three weeks before Sarah died of heart failure and Joseph drowned himself in the bath. Their marriage contract still hangs over the door of the house they on-and-off shared-nailed to the top post and brushing against the welcome mat:

"It is with everlasting devotion that we, Joseph and Sarah L, reunite in the indestructible union of matrimony, promising love until death, with the understanding that the stars are silver nails in the sky, regardless of the existence of the bottom of the river, the temperature of this bottom (should it exist) and the possible existence of starfish on the possibly existing riverbed, overlooking what may or may not have been accidental grape juice spills, agreeing to forget that Joseph played sticks and balls with his friends when he promised he would help Sarah thread the needle for the quilt she was sewing, and that Sarah was supposed to give the quilt to Joseph, not his buddy, ignoring the simple fact that Joseph snores like a pig, and that Sarah is no great treat to sleep with either, letting slide certain tendencies of both parties to look too long at members of the opposite sex, not making a fuss over why Joseph is such a slob, leaving his clothes wherever he feels like taking them off, expecting Sarah to pick them up, clean them, and put them in their proper place as he should have, or why Sarah has to be such a pain about the smallest things, such as which way the toilet paper unrolls, or when dinner is five minutes later than she was planning, because, let's face it, it's Joseph who's putting that paper on the roll and dinner on the table, disregarding whether the beet is a better vegetable than the cabbage, putting aside the problems of being fat-headed and chronically unreasonable, trying to erase the memory of a long since expired rose bush that a certain someone was supposed to remember to water when his wife was visiting family, accepting the compromise of the way we have been, the way we are, and the way we will likely be. May we live together in unwavering love and good health. Amen."

I wish there was a way to incorporate this into our ceremony. It's so lovely, and paints a much truer image of marriage, and love, and life as a couple together than most other readings do.

Alas, we don't have anywhere to add it.

via Peonies and Polaroids, from a Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Quotes and Invitations

2009-09-14T23:17:00.000-05:00

"An invitation to a wedding invokes more trouble than a summons to a police court". --William Feather

Okay, see, I love that. I'm not sure why, but it's a pretty brilliant quote.

Anyhow, invitations are done! And they are in the mail (thanks Chet!!), and on their marry [it's a pun, get it?] way to their new homes. Because, God Bless it, they are out of mine.

So, you may want to see photos of them, right? Well, I'm opting to not show them until I know that some people have gotten them already. This is mainly because I want you all to be shocked at how amazing they are!!! ;)

But, I will leave you with these goodies:

This is from Thursday night; the RSVP cards are done, kind of, and I'm preparing myself for the real work.

This is from Friday night before I figured out how to streamline everything. Notice how hard Chet is working...

All done and ready to be mailed out.

Okay, so, in total these invitations took about 11 hours to do between stuffing, stamping, addressing, stamping, sticking and it could go on. I like them. I think they turned out quite lovely, though I think if I were to ever do wedding invitations again I would spend the money to get someone else to do them. Or do a view master invitation.

So, when you get your invitation that I(we) worked hard on, please, do not do as Chuck Palahniuk suggests. I would not appreciate it... at least don't take pictures.

"What I did was pour out about a gallon of Chanel Number Five and put a burning wedding invitation to it, and boom, I'm recycling". -- Chuck Palahniuk

Updates, Updates

2009-09-09T22:51:00.001-05:00

Hi!

So, I'm not really even totally sure where I left off. I suppose it was about &'s, yes?

Yes.

Okay, so where are we now? Well, everything has basically become a crap shoot. Funny, as I am no longer in Texas, but I suppose that is how it goes.

Alright, alright. I'm being dramatic again. But we've had a couple of things go wrong. First, our band which was going to play the ceremony and then during the mingling time is no longer able to play. WHAAAA!? Well, apparently they have to march, at the only away game that they go to, which, is of course, that weekend.

So we went for plan B, asking our friend who plays in a string quartet to play for the wedding. He agreed, and then promptly remembered another commitment to which he could not back out of. To his credit, he diligently tried to get out of it, but it just wasn't happening. He gave us the number to some friends of his, but couldn't guarantee any prices for us -- which is just terrifying.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. That is about the mode my brain has been on for the last few days. Okay, so see, our DJ also has a wedding package in which they'll help us choose songs, set up, play and all of that glorious stuff. Only problem was that it adds an extra $395. And then add an extra $150 for the hour to play. When e-mailing out DJ, he very kindly bumped the price down to $475, since this is a completely unexpected expense. It really was kind of him.

We just don't know where we're getting the money from.

Also, we can't locate our pastor who is to marry us. Sam, if you're out there... please, for the love of God, contact me? k, thanks.

Oh, and invitations need to go out like, tomorrow if we want people to come. Apparently it's good to have people show up when you're putting on a wedding.

Ohno. ohnoohnohnohnohnohnohnohno.

&&&&&&&

2009-08-31T21:58:00.001-05:00

Despite no one really understanding it, Chet and I love ampersands. Don't ask us why because you won't receive an answer that you consider satisfactory.

Please just accept that we're odd, and we love them. We love them so much that I have one tattooed behind my ear:

and Chet has one on his chest:

So anyway, I found these fabulous designs through Google images:

I'm loving these ampersands. Maybe when I go to have my tattoo touched up, I'll switch it up some? I really like the first one and the last one.

Anyway, what led me to looking at ampersands was that one of my maids of honor (I'll tell you about that later) left this image on my facebook.

Found here

See, she adores balloons. She loves making balloon animals and such. And we've talked about balloons in some form or fashion at the wedding... and this would be perfect. It won't happen, and you can see why in the video on the website, but it is a lovely thought. :)

A journey of a thousand miles...

2009-08-30T23:35:00.001-05:00

...must begin with a single step.

found here

So, I just bought our plane tickets for the wedding.

We will arrive in Houston on November 19th (our 3 year anniversary!!) at 1:30pm.

Oh my goodness.

It's only 83 days away.

Pretty Pictures

2009-08-22T23:19:00.002-05:00

I just think that this is awesome.

Cakes and Bridezillas

2009-08-19T22:43:00.001-05:00

They just don't mix.

For example, there is a show on TLC called Cake Boss. I happened to stumble across it while working the other day, and lo and behold, one of the pieces to it was about a wedding cake.

And a bridezilla.

Now, I have been called a bridezilla. And, after seeing this, I call BS.. I am not a bridezilla.

Back to the story: this bride and her mother walk into the shop. The bride is surly looking and the mother is as giddy as can be. All the bride can do is sit there and pout and tell the guy that she wants a black cake with calla lilies -- in her words "funeral".

Carlo, the baker, tells them that he will make a cake that is 4 tiered, ivory, with draping and calla lilies.

The above was his creation. And boy was he proud of it. Though it's not my style, I can appreciate the cake. It seems as if it took a long time to create and everything.

Well, Bridezilla comes into the bakery the day before the wedding because she wants to see the cake. He obliges.

She walks in and tells him how horrible it was. That it was dull with no color and just terrible. I mean, it was bad -- she was horrid to him. He walks out to go take care of something else going on in the bakery, leaving her alone with the cake.

We all know where this is going, don't we?

Well, she turns around to grab all the pretty colored icings and goes to town on this cake. You can see the result above.

Talk about going ballistic. Carlo was not pleased and kicked her ungrateful butt out of that bakery. Now, please remember that this was the night before her wedding day. He calls the mom, who was a good friend of the bakery, and tells her what happens. You can hear the mom on the other end crying and apologizing etc. She begs him to create another a cake saying she'll pay him for both as well as the over time for the bakery, whatever it took.

He gave in! He said he would do it because he wanted "to be the better man".

And boy did he create her a gorgeous cake! 5 tiered, with a quilted pattern and sugar flowers placed onto it.

Now, the show leads you to believe that she wouldn't look at it and was just a total b**ch about all of it. The mother loved it.I don't know what she is like in real life. I have no idea if it was scripted or whatever. All I know is that she looked like a tool on national television.

Oh, and I am not a bridezilla.

You can see photos from the wedding here.

We're here!

2009-08-17T14:22:00.003-05:00

So, I"m here. I'm in the apartment, and it's lovely. The weather is beautiful, and the town is wonderful. Still nervous, but here we are.

Thought I would give you a peek into the journey and first night here. My advice is to begin at the bottom of the post and read up. I updated on twitter during the trip; I wanted to have something to remember it by. :)

______________________________________________________________

Thank God for eye masks and my own bed after three months
2:12 AM Aug 15th from txt

It's awesome, really. I went to go to bed, turned out all the lights and.... the light to the building is directly outside of my window. ARGGGGGH!

I'm such a dolt. All laptops are in Austin... Not Nebraska.
6:20 PM Aug 14th from txt

That was a lovely revelation. They were peacefully sitting next to the chair in my bedroom. Awesome. Chet is mailing me my small netbook to use until he gets up. Still a bit frustrated with myself.

@TxChetG i know where a Buffalo Wild Wings is
6:08 PM Aug 14th from txt
Oy vey... It's hot but the truck and Kia are all unloaded. Now, perhaps food? and definitely unpacking
5:44 PM Aug 14th from txt

We hadn't eaten since breakfast at 8 that morning.

I'm here!! I'm tired and hungry and a little bit worse for the wear but the apartment is wonderful
3:30 PM Aug 14th from txt

The apartment really is gorgeous. I'll post pictures eventually.

Twenty five miles!!!
1:46 PM Aug 14th from txt
Passing by Waco
1:34 PM Aug 14th from txt

This amused me to no end.

Lots and lots and lots and lots of corn fields. And gorgeous blue skies with white wispy clouds :)
1:03 PM Aug 14th from txt
Toto... I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Nope! We're in Nebraska :)
12:41 PM Aug 14th from txt

We pulled over and took a picture under the Welcome to Nebraska!! sign. We thought that they would have a visitor's center since Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas did, but Nebraskans are apparently to good for that.

I am in Republic county after crossing Republican River. Wonder if they'll kick me out?
12:07 PM Aug 14th from txt
Kansas is pretty its own quiet midwestern way. Absolutely perfect to listen to the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack.
11:40 AM Aug 14th from txt
Passing by Central Christian College, a place I seriously considered for undergrad.
10:28 AM Aug 14th from txt
You know you're in Kansas when they say 'Harvest the Good Life!'
10:10 AM Aug 14th from txt
Only an hour behind.
10:06 AM Aug 14th from txt
Good Morninggggggggg Kansas!
7:43 AM Aug 14th from txt
I need sleep...
10:15 PM Aug 13th from txt

Went to bed around 12:30

And we have arrived. The cat is settled in and we're searching for food. And oh so glad to be out of the car.
8:10 PM Aug 13th from txt
Only 16 more miles... Words cannot describe my feelings :)
7:14 PM Aug 13th from txt
Kansas is really really flat. Like woah flat.
6:44 PM Aug 13th from txt
We be in Kansas - 60 miles from our resting place
6:04 PM Aug 13th from txt
Oklahoma why must you make me so sleepy?
5:48 PM Aug 13th from txt
nom nom. Last Whatburger for 98 days.
4:19 PM Aug 13th from txt
@TxChetG amen dear sir.
3:37 PM Aug 13th from txt

He said something about bankers I think.

Sooner Spirit is alive and well in Oklahoma
3:30 PM Aug 13th from txt

via a billboard: Sooners, are you ready? Kick off in XX days

Should've gotten more sleep. . .
3:02 PM Aug 13th from txt

See, we brilliantly went to see Wicked the night before. I was up until 1 and woke up at 5:45. Not a lot of sleep.

Oklahoma is actually quite pretty
2:09 PM Aug 13th from txt

That was true, until we crossed through Oklahoma City.

I gots the monies! Yay for funding!
1:59 PM Aug 13th from txt

Amidst the drive, I received word that I would be given a position as a GA. It's not paying my tuition, but money is money.

And we're in Oklahoma. The Red River is dry :( peace out Texas for 98 days.
1:27 PM Aug 13th from txt
Apparently, DFW, the Dallas airport, is larger than Manhatten.
12:22 PM Aug 13th from txt

via a billboard we passed.

I will be a married woman in 100 days @TxChetG
10:25 AM Aug 13th from txt
It's just not a road trip without vomit
9:49 AM Aug 13th from txt

Cat puked. Stopped to get towels. Ugh.
9:33 AM Aug 13th from txt

Says it all.

Peace out 79 I won't be driving down you for a very long while
8:44 AM Aug 13th from txt

79, is obviously, the main road we drove down to get back to Huntsville. It will be a very long time before I travel down that again.

______________________________________________________________

So, that was the drive! Talk to y'all soon!

Thank you, thank you soooo much

2009-08-10T18:19:00.001-05:00

I've been scourging the web for THE PERFECT thank you cards, but I'm finding that while they exist, they exist for a very pretty penny. I assume it's a pretty penny, because I am lacking them.

Anyhow, I'll show you the ones I've fallen in love with, and then know that I must back away... slowly..

I loooove these. They would be so absolutely perfect. But, they are about $1.25 a card, and that my friends, is just too much for me to spend on Thank You cards.

These are just adorable. We may go with these, maybe, if we can't find anything else that we like. These are $75 for 100 ... is that good or bad? I don't know, but they're cute!

I like the twisty vines on this one. And the basic drawing/ prettiness of it.

This I think would make a great thank you/christmas card. See, I'm terrible at the whole 2 week etiquette thing: I have graduation Thank You's to still be sent.

I love this one too. It's so simple and elegant.

This = adorable. Probably not (at all) appropriate for a wedding thank you, but I love it!!

Oh etsy, You often get me into trouble.

Oh Man

2009-08-09T23:48:00.001-05:00

I'm 3 days from leaving the state which means I am three days from needing to have everything done.

I'm pretty sure that I am not even close.

In other news, Chet successfully graduated yesterday! We are now official alums of SHSU, and both very pleased with that situation.

To do:
Create a list for my mom and Lindsey so they know what to bring for the wedding
Pack
Find that damn envelope stamp
Get envelopes weighed so I can figure out the stamp situation
Create programs
Do yay flags... {because those totally got forgotten about!!}
Buy ties
Find shirts
Determine a place for the rehersal dinner since no one is happy with our choice

And I know there is more.. I just know it. Ugh.

In other news, the invitations are done! There will be a post to come about that. Hope you had a lovely weekend.

Wedding Cake

2009-08-05T22:07:00.001-05:00

Oh my goodness. This is hilarious.

And unbelievably true. If I learned anything from this wedding planning, it's probably that you should never, ever, ever, ever mention you're purchasing something for a wedding.

Unless you're buying fabric. Then it's okay. :)

Currently...

2009-08-02T23:32:00.001-05:00

I am printing RSVP cards. Spent an hour and half trying to get them to print, and then another 30 minutes re doing the design.

Erg.

Pictures to come soon, I suppose. :) :)

I've waited my whole life, for this one night...

2009-07-28T17:42:00.004-05:00

Okay, this just makes me feel all giddy and wonderful inside.

This is what I want my wedding to be like.

DJ's and a Menu

2009-07-28T16:50:00.001-05:00

So, a few weeks ago, Chet and I made the trek out to College Station/Huntsville to set up a menu and pick out a DJ.

First stop was the DJ: We've decided to go with LiveWire Productions. And they are basically awesome. First off, the owner met with us when he had other events going on that day. That showed Chet and I that they took an interest in their clients, which was spectacular since the other DJs we spoke with wouldn't really get back in touch with us. Double ugh.

Wade, the owner, sat with us for an hour weaving this beautiful pattern of all the things that they could provide for us. Unfortunately, we can't afford their most premium package, but we can defintely go with their "Romance Package", and we sure did. This provides music for 4 hours along with a professional DJ, lighting etc. We both agree that music is a huge thing at a party like this, and are more than willing to pay more than what we had expected. In total, with mileage, the DJ will be about $1100.

Our next meeting was with Aramark. You remember our issue with getting a meeting, correct? Well, we had a few more issues, however we did get a meeting with an assistant manager and went for it. So, we choose our menu (Champagne Chicken, London Broil, Roasted New Potatoes, Green Beans Almondine, Rolls, Iced Tea and Water service -- yum yum yum!!) We talked about drink tickets, setting up the building, all of that stuff that we needed to.

After a few kinks with the bill, we got everything squared away and now have catering done. We'll be spending about $2,500 on food and drinks. Not too shabby, I believe.

So, $3,600 will be going towards the food, drinks, and music. Way more than we had planned, but is still worth it in the end.

:)

Creative Memories

2009-07-20T23:44:00.002-05:00

Tonight, my guest book dilemma was solved, and that made me unbelievably happy. Over the past few months, I've toyed with multiple ideas on how to do a guestbook. I've toyed with wish-trees, time capsules, memo books and finally settled on a photo guest book. I loved the idea of doing Polaroids of guests as they walk in, set them in a basket, and then, at dinner have them glue their photos into a book and sign best wishes.

Well, first problem: Polaroids are effing expensive. Like, really really expensive.
Second: Polaroid cameras are effing expensive. So, I moved on.

My next idea was to get a couple friends of ours to take the pictures, immediately print them out with a portable printer glue them in and let our guests sign away!
First problem: ummm who would want to miss our incredible ceremony to print them out?!
Second: printer ink for those printers is expensive (see a trend?)

Okay, well, tonight I went with my mom to a creative memories consultant*. And they have this thing called a Milestone Book. Now, the pages in a milestone book look like this:

Those are places where you get to slip in paper and photos. Okay, so is it starting to come together? No? Well, I shall continue on then.

And this is the paper.

Alright here's what we're going to do {imagine mission impossible music in the background now, please}: We're going to get two or three friends to stand at the entrance to the ceremony. These friends will take pictures of the guests arriving however they may be arriving. Then, they (our friends) will dump those pictures at our 'dump station' (more on that later). When guests are seated, they will see the lovely paper pictured above at their seat. There will be some announcement or something telling them to use this to write their well wishes, words of wisdom, what have you on. As they leave, we will have a basket for them to stick the paper in.

Then, while Chet and I are honeymoonin' it up, we will have the pictures printed and go through the best wishes etc. and stick them in the scrapbook. There will be room for extra photos, cards, and memories.

And I am totally stoked by all of this. This is the perfect balance, and it will make life easier, and more fun, in the long run. I think we may also use extra paper on a table for people to make predictions about us in 1 year, 5 years, 10, 15 & 20; like in 20 years y'all will ________________. That could be a lot of fun too. :) :)

What do you think?

*My mom is a huge scrapbooker. When I moved out, she turned my room into something all scrapbookers envy with walls of paper, cutters, books, designs... you name it, she probably has it.

I have a lot to write

2009-07-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

and at this point, I’m not really sure where to start.

We’ve picked a DJ and set a menu.
All paper is cut.
I’ve got about half of the invitations printed out and need to order envelopes.
I think my bridal party is all set pending any mishaps.
My bridal shower is next week.
My bachlorette party is the week after that.
And we’re almost 4 months out from the wedding.

These, are all things I need to write. And I will. Promise!!

Quick Update

2009-07-08T08:41:00.003-05:00

4th of July? Pretty cool. I was a little disappointed about no fireworks, but that's life. It was rally neat to meet the other side of Chet's family -- and the people that he doesn't see that often. Last night, my mom put together a typical family 4th for Chet and I, and that was fabulous. She scrounged up fireworks, made pies, bought fried chicken and we went swimming. Yummy! She's pretty spectacular.

Not doing a whole lot of wedding stuff this week. I started working again, and while I definitely have time too, I'm just not. I know, I know, bad idea.

This Saturday, we're driving in to College Station/Huntsville to meet with our (hopefully) DJ, speaking with catering, hopefully cake testing, and maybe a concert. It'll be good. :)

I am pleased, however, that I believe we have solved two conundrums that we were having.

First, about the rehearsal dinner. I bought Martha's yesterday because it had pretty pictures, and I cannot resist pretty pictures. However, it also had a nugget of wisdom that I was pretty excited to find: For the rehearsal dinner, she suggested selecting a menu that you give to your guests. Duh!! So, I think we're going to have a choice of 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, and then a signature drink that they can order a limited number of. And then down at the bottom we'll have something that says "should you like a different menu or different drink, please be advised that you will have to cover the difference of your meal". That's how we roll.

Second! Alcohol! We were going to put a cap on the drinks. See, we're not serving liquor, we're just doing beer and wine. And my dad, when we were asking for opinions, piped up with the brilliant! idea of using tickets. I know people have done this for parties and such, but I think it's a great idea for multiple reasons.

Keeps costs down. I'm a bottom line kind of girl.
Keeps alcohol consumption down. Since we're not having the reception in a hotel, everyone has to drive, and we can all see the potential for disaster here. But, with drink tickets, there isn't as high of a chance.
Another DIY project!!

That's what I've done. Maybe after this weekend I'll have more fodder for ya.

Wow...

2009-07-02T15:42:00.001-05:00

..we're in July. I have about 7 weeks until I leave for Nebraska. 8 until I begin classes. 142 days until the wedding. Phew.

This week has been busy with purchases from Etsy making their way to my house. I often wonder what the mailman thinks of these packages. I received my bridesmaids gifts, and I am so pleased with them. Really, I am pleased with everything I've received, but I am really excited to gives these out. Sadly, you do not get to have photos as I am trying to keep them under wraps from now. You'll see them in about 160 days, have no fear. :)

I also received the shoes that I was considering using for the wedding. While they are adorable, I just don't think that they are what I am going for. So, I headed over to DSW and looked for a pair. This wonderful young lady helped me try on shoes, and didn't laugh too hard when I almost busted my butt in front of her by tripping. Despite that, I found them!

Try to tell me those aren't cute! And they are perfect for my dress, trust me, I checked. ;-)

Finally, my veil came in today! And it is just as perfect as I thought it would be. Would you like to see?

See, you can see the facisnator and the veil. That, too, looks great with my dress. I checked.

If you're wondering, I am planning on wearing my glasses for the wedding. I feel naked with out them, and am not a fan of contacts, though I own them. So, glasses it is.

Trying it all on today felt so good, and so real. I just twirled in front of our mirror and smiled. Despite everything else, I will be marrying the man of my dreams, and I couldn't be more excited.

I would also like to tell everyone how much I have spent on my wedding ensemble.

Fabric for dress: $117.29
Veil and fascinator: $50.00
Shoes: $43.25
Wrap: $15.80
Total: $226.34

I am so proud of that. I really am. I had set aside $300.00 for the dress, only, so to spend $230 for all of it makes me happy. Now, I will say that I am very lucky that my aunt is creating the dress for me, so I won't be paying for labor, and that is a huge help. However, I think that I deserve every right to be proud of how little we spent on this. :) :)

Now, I am off to pack for the weekend. I am meeting Chet's father's family... and I'm a little nervous. Wish me luck!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend, and gets to celebrate the fourth however they want!!

What a Week

2009-06-25T10:20:00.002-05:00

So, I'm back. I'm back in reality, and that means juggling wedding planning with everything else in my life. One truly amazing thing for me has been the fact that it seems that I am almost required to worry about nothing else but wedding planning. Not so much required too (as I have about 8 million other things on my plate) but expected too. It makes me want to scream at people to shut up, this wedding is not my life.

Why do I feel alone in this?

Anyhow, this week, has been a good one on my end. I blocked off rooms at the hotels for UH-MAZ-ING rates, as well as getting comp rooms at one. Go me... see, I learned some haggling skills in El Salvador.Haha.

I also have been doing a lot of work with Etsy.com. Let me tell you: the people who sell their things on that website are fabulous. I worked with AClassyWedding, MissHissy, BellezzaJewlery, and JadeRoseDesigns.

MissHissy is allowing me to purchase my new shoes through her, and if they don't work (because my feet are ridiculously wide) she is graciously allowing me to send them back.

Cute, no?

I worked with AClassyWedding and BellezzaJewlery on gifts for my bridesmaids (y'all don't look, okay?).

And JadeRoseDesigns has by far been the best! She is creating my veil, and has been wonderfully patient with me as I worked with her. And guys, it is going to be gorgeous. I'll post pictures later.

We have also picked out the ties for the guys over at toybreaker. I first saw them here, and decided to check them out. We were planning on going with the oak tree, but after seeing it on someone, I decided that I was not a fan of them and have opted for something else. I made Chet sit down and decide on one. He picked this:

I love it because I love peacock feathers.

I think we're going to do the silver on black for him (which is just down right sexy) and we're trying to figure out what to do for the groomesmen. Perhaps the same? Anyone have opinions?

That's it for now, my friends. I am off to write a talk that I am giving on Saturday. I really should have done that about 4 months ago.. oops.

And, I'm back.

2009-06-19T13:29:00.001-05:00

Oh my.

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.

El Salvador was amazing. It was beautiful. The country, the people. Probably one of the best service trips I have been on.

I realized a few things while I was away. I suppose there were realizations and rememberences.

First, I'm getting married! I'm marrying my best friend. Someone who knows me better than I know myself most days. Someone who can bring me back down to earth when I'm going crazy. And so many other somethings.

Second, I'm getting married... I'm going to become a second half, which is so cool, but a little scary sometimes, too. It means that I have to stop being selfish about some things. Realize that there are some things I won't do: like join the peacecorps or travel to Africa and work in clinics. But, that's okay.

Third, I'm getting married. I remembered that the wedding doesn't matter. It's just a giant celebration of us. And that's it. It's making a commitment in front of our nearest and dearest friends and family, and that's all that matters. The dress, the flowers, the food, the booze, the dancing.. I don't care. I got swept up in all of it, but I don't care. I just want to marry him.

Fourth, I didn't miss my wedding blogs. I really, really didn't. They are great for ideas, but I was way too swept up in all this wedding mumbo jumbo. There's WIC and then there is Indie WIC... and I'm tired of it. I'm remembering that my wedding is not a contest.

Finally, I am a lucky, lucky girl.

I'm going to do a post about El Salvador soon, but for now, I am going to enjoy the AC, and pack to go party in Huntsville with mi amigos.

Love!

Hey Kids

2009-06-08T07:47:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to be hanging out here...

... for 10 days.

See, I'm going to El Salvador. I know, right?! I'm going to be working in an orphanage down there for the next week and a half, and I am so excited about it. However, my friends, I will not be having internet access, so that means no wedding planning!!!!! (That was a little excited, huh?)

Anyhow, Chet and I are going to use this time to reconnect -- through letter writing. We are going to (maybe) relish in this time apart to think about how much we love eachother, and want this marriage to take place, more so than any wedding.

And it's going to be amazing.

So... see you later, alligator!

One Week

2009-06-06T14:39:00.002-05:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been a week since I last posted. I totally am in awe fo people who post every single day (and maybe even twice) about their weddings or stuff they found. I mean, I probably could but I just don't think about this blog that often. Signs that I could never be a "professional" blogger with lots of readership. I'm cool with that.

Anyhow, this week was literally dedicated to relaxing here and flowers. Jessica (my origami queen) drove up on Monday to hang out with me through Wednesday. That was pretty amazing. You never realize how much you miss people... until they aren't there. We spent the majority of our time in Michael's, since she likes it as much as I do and driving around Austin and enjoying each other’s company. I had pictures, but they're locked on my camera, so you don't get to see them. Sucks for you.

Anyhow, remember those pretty flowers I bought? We'll, I've been tracking them down. I bought all that they had at Michael's on Saturday for $3.99 each. When we went on Monday to a different one... they had them, but they were 7.99. Uh.. WHAT?! Sorry, they are pretty, very, very pretty in fact, but I am not about to pay 7.99 for them. No go. Well, I remembered I had two 40% off coupons and used those to buy 2 of them. And then figured I would just wait and see if they went on sale again.

Well... on Thursday I went to Michael's to pick up some arts and crafts stuff for my trip to El Salvador. And they had more of the flowers, but they had left up the sale sign from last week.

Dun dun dun.

I brought the manager over and he looked at me, looked at the sign, looked at me again and said I could get whatever I wanted at 50% off and then he ripped the sign down. So I bought 11 of them, all that they had! That brings me up to 12. I know, you're wondering what on earth am I going to do with all these Ranunculus'. I mean really, am I going to have a bouquet of 15 bunches?

Okay, no.

We’re using them for centerpieces! Remember our dilemma. You may not, I don’t know if I ever discussed it here. With the size of the vases, our centerpieces were in that obnoxious spot of tables that was right in the eyeline. I hate that. I truly do. So, we had to find something else.

Take a look.

Pretty huh? Now, imagine them sitting in the midst of an 8ft round table with a champagne table cloth and a black table runner. The table runner will cover the awful battery pack. The candles will probably all be ivory, and they will all be lit. And unscented, just so you know. The ribbon will be replaced with a light yellow and black… just to tie it all together.

Won’t that be pretty? And all for 87.00 ... oooh yeah

Thanks! My mom helped me come up with the idea. They’re just mason jars we have lying around, battery operated lights and candles. Oh, and my flowers I am totally in love with. I’m pleased.

Okay, so I’m sure you recognize this, but you’re wondering why I have a picture of it. We’ll, we’re planning on using them outside. I’m trying to convince my dad to make cheap little shepherd hooks and we’ll hang these on them with candles inside to add more uumph to the night.

I am super pleased with how it’s all coming together.

Flowers and Invites

2009-05-30T23:28:00.002-05:00

Phew... busy day.

Aren't they pretty? These are going to be for my bouquet, bridesmaids, boutonnieres, etc. I found them at Michael's for $3.99 a bunch... !!!!They're silk Ranunculus' which I think are my new favorite flowers. I also bought two bunches of roses and other stuff to help add more for the attendants.

We're still going to buy flowers through The Flower Exchange for the centerpieces. I just didn't want to mess with live flowers for myself and the attendants.

This is actually what my bouquet will look like. We're going to do a pearl wrap on the bottom, like the one above. :)

###

I also worked on the invitations tonight. Mainly printing them out. Remember, we used this for inspiration. However, I didn't realize just how small those dimensions were. I really should have measured it first. The actual paper that we print on is 4.25 x 6 .25. Go measure that.

No really, I'll wait.

.... did you measure it?

Okay, see how small that is?!

This is a picture of my attempt to get the sizing right. Because, at first print, you couldn't even read the invite... and that's no bueno. No bueno, at all.

So, I finally got the sizing right and then had to print it out. That was a whole other ballgame. I was printing from photoshop, which I have no experience in. It also was highly unhelpful that Chet isn't here this weekend. But, I finally figured it out...

... and printed up a bunch for Charlotte, for her to practice stamping. Here's the problem... there is virtually no room for our little birds. :(

See, I love those birds, and I really, really don't want them to go away. She said she's going to practice and we'll see what we get.

We've considered changing the size of the front card to 4.75 x 6.75 which would still allow us to use regualr postage (we hope), and let us use the birds (we double hope).

All in all, I feel like I am making progress, slowly but surely. See, the catch is that while our wedding is 175 days (O EM GEEEE) away, we really only have until August 15th to do the projects. Why?, you may wonder. Becuase I start school on the 21st, in Nebraska. And that means that I must be moved up there, and ready for the wedding as we aren't driving to Texas and as such can't bring anything with us really.

Lame.

But, that's how it goes. At one point we totally considered moving the wedding to July 25th. I'll tell you about that at another point in time. :)

Disaster Thwarted

2009-05-25T10:05:00.001-05:00

Take a deep breath... I have purchased the black lace. And didn't wake up in a panic this morning. Ah... bliss.

Things that wake me up from a deep sleep

2009-05-24T14:55:00.002-05:00

My cat stomping on my face, and if it's a good night, there will be some drool involved
Chet, knocking me out of bed
Dougs' toilet flushing
Diesel trucks starting way too early in the morning
Realizing that my shoes, my perfect, perfect shoes don't match my dress.

Uh huh. You read that right. Saturday morning, I woke up from a deep, deep sleep realizing that my dress won't match my shoes. I was so ticked.

I then went on to realize that if I have this beautiful chocolate brown lace, it won't match the black that I've asked my bridal brigade and grooms men (and groom) to wear. And, on top of that, if the shoes don't match, what kind of shoes will I find to wear?!

AhHHHHHHhhhHHhHHhHHH!!!

Okay, not even kidding, I have had some serious stuff go wrong in this wedding planning, none of which I have written in this blog, so keep that in mind.

But, I am freaking out over lace? Over lace?! Are you kidding me? Well, yes, I am. I don't know why, but this is what my brain has decided to be stuck on. The fact that I am wearing brown lace, which doesn't go with black or my shoes... (Again, I have no idea...)

So, we're going back to the store today, I believe, to purchase black lace and take back the brown.

I feel so special. No, really, I do.

And... we have fabric

2009-05-22T23:32:00.002-05:00

Phew. What a crazy couple of days.

When I first e-mailed my aunt about my wedding dress she was very reluctant.

In fact, the conversation went something like this:

“Hey Aunt Jan! I was wondering if it would be possible for you to make my wedding dress.”

“I can’t believe you would have that much confidence in me… I will have to look at the pattern… I’m honored you would ask, but, I made Kari’s attendants dresses and don’t know about this…” (Keep in mind that Jan lives in Indiana and I am in Texas, soon to be Nebraska)

I then convinced her she could do this, especially after I showed her this. She felt a lot more comfortable when she realized we could do a muslin mock up (and should) before putting together the dress.

It also took a lot of me saying “this is just a dress. don’t think about it as a ‘wedding dress’. It’s just a dress.” See, I have this very laissez-faire approach to our wedding. In the end, all that I care about it Chet and I being married. And we will be. It doesn’t matter what we’re wearing, who’s beside us, what is served at the dinner, if my hair is done by a professional, if we have centerpieces, if we 1000 cranes; it doesn’t matter. We will be married, and that is all that I care about. The end.

But, it’s been awesome working on this dress.

In total, we’ve* done 4 mock up tops. And now, she has perfected the top, and got the size(s)** right and fitting. Today, she added the skirt to it.. and it’s amazing!! Oh, I am so excited about this, and know that it was the absolute right thing to do.

So, this evening, we picked up her daughter for a girls night and made our way to the fabric store. I picked out the material we’re going to use, the lace we’ll use to decorate, and everything else.

Total? $130.00

Yeah, that’s right. That is my wedding dress, which cost me $130.00. How amazing is that? And the best part is that we’ve designed it so that I can wear it again; it doesn’t scream “I AM A WEDDING DRESS!!!!”.

Now, you want pictures, right?

Well, too bad. I’m going to keep the dress a secret from Chet. I’ve wrestled with this idea, of whether to do it or not, but I think I’m going too. I think it’ll be fun to surprise him with it’s beautiful-ness on our wedding day. So there.

However,if you would like to see pictures (and promise not to tell Chet) I will send them to you. E-mail me at nmlozano {at} gmail {dot} com. But, since I know you’re dying for a pciture, here’s one:

My future in-laws. Chet’s in the tie, Sissi is next to me, Reid is behind me and Chet’s brothers are on the end

My family. My aunt (who’s making the dress) is behind my mom in the tan dress. Charlotte, my dear, dear friend is next to Jan in the back.

All from my graduation!!

*Please know that when I say “we” I mean, she. I haven’t done a dang thing except keep her company.
**Those effing sizes are bs. According to them, I range in size from 16 to 28. Fo’ real.

In Indiana

2009-05-20T20:10:00.003-05:00

Look at these lovelies my grandmother gave to my aunt to give to me for my wedding day:

Reads: "Something Blue" Necklace worn by Kit, Jane, and Carol Staley. Given to their mother by her grandmother

Reads: Cake figurine used by Kit, Jan and Carol Staley and on the wedding cake of their parents.

I'm not 100% sure what this is for... any ideas?

How cool are these things? These were used by my two aunts, my mom, and my cousin, Kari as well. Aren't these just awesome?

I'm really excited to have these. It's a great way to bring my grandmother, who passed away last December, into our wedding. It's a bonus that Chet likes them too.

What I Want

2009-05-18T19:44:00.000-05:00

On Saturday… I graduated.

I am now an official alumna of Sam Houston State University. I’m going to miss it.

So, of course with graduating, we had parties all week long that we went too. And from each of these events, I took something away that I want for our shin-dig.

At all of these places, we realized how much we wanted to just relax. At these parties, it was achieved (and brilliantly, might I add!). At the Stardust Room it was cheap drinks and good friends to laugh with. At Doug’s graduation party, it was a picnic with his family and Chet’s family. Lots of wonderful DIY stuff that made it special. At mine, it was casual and lovely.

My parents (and Aunt and Charlotte) rented a lakehouse and decorated it in a beautiful way. When we walked in, there were candles and family waiting to surprise me.

And all of these atmospheres are what we want to accomplish… somehow.

Don’t know how, but we will.

For now, I am in Indiana with Jan, and we are working on my dress over the next two weeks. Yup, she is creating my wedding dress. I am just avoiding being stuck by pins and making her laugh so much she’s losing her voice. It’ll be a great vacation.

Where to begin...

2009-05-16T00:47:00.002-05:00

I posed a question to one of the wonderful blogs I read, and the author very graciously posted it.

And, I am so glad she did.

There ended up being about 30 comments on it, all of which have wonderful ideas.

See, Chet and I are about 6 months out from the wedding. However, we've hit this lull of we're too far out to do a lot of the stuff, but we're far enough in that we've done all the major stuff. What do we do now?

And I got answers! Yay!

Some awesome ones were:

Enjoy your engagement/lull time
Do a brain dump of everything you want and go from there
Find a time line and make it fit you
Figure out the mood/clothes/accessories you want
DON'T LOOK BACK (after making a decision... stick with it)

It's all wonderful really. And I am so lucky to have found such a savvy, wonderful group of people who have a lot of the same idea/goals for their wedding, as I do mine.

Now... I am off to bed so I can walk the stage tomorrow!

Lookie!

2009-05-14T21:18:00.002-05:00

Look as this super easy way to make a cake stand!

She went to IKEA and picked up clear plates, dessert wine glasses and museum gel and put 'em together.

How cool is that? You could find colored plates or glasses, whatever. Different sizes... I think this would be perfect for our cake table.

Edit: This is even better. Same basic idea, but she recomends using candle sticks or those little rose vases to change up the sizes. :) Adore this.

Flowers, Catering and the end of my undergraduate life

2009-05-14T09:54:00.002-05:00

Currently, there is a lot going on. But, it's not that bad unless I think about it, so I choose not too. That's okay, right?

First topic of the post: Flowers.
These are still a bit up in the air. I'm not really into flowers. They make me sneeze and cost a LOT of money. And, like everything else, we're planning on DIYing the flowers, just because it helps cut the cost down some. Since we were going to handle it ourselves, I had considered scrounging the craft stores for pretty silk flowers that look would good in the center of the table(s). And then, like with everything, I started thinking about having to cut the wire stems and shape them and... my head began to hurt.

But, eureka! Sometime this week, I found this post by A Backyard Wedding. I can't remember how I found it, and I don't really care, at all. I'm just stoked I did.

"Nicole, why on earth are you 'stoked' you found that post?", you may be wondering. Because, dear friend, I get all of my inspiration from blogs. And her wedding = uh-mazing! It was a backyard shin-dig (which you might have guessed), the kind that I would love to have if we had a house, or knew someone who had a house big enough.

But! Within this little treasure of a post, she provides links to The Flower Exchange and to a video on how to create bouquets. Now, the flower exchange seems pretty awesome, and legit. Both of which are good things. She said her experience was good with them and the flowers lasted forever. Yay!!

Centerpiece inspiration:

So, I began browsing. And they have these wedding combos. For example, the one I think we may go with is this:

-100 Roses (your choice)
- 60 stems gerberas (any color choice)
- 10 stems of hydrangeas (only blue or white available)
- 5 Salal Tips
- 5 Bear grass
30 bunches per box
$253.00

We're still trying to figure out the "bunches per box thing". I've sent them an e-mail and am waiting for a reply. But! I think this is awesome.

They also sell Baby's Breath for $10.00 for a bunch of 6 or sixty stems. For this, of course:

via: Once Wed

Next up: Catering
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH. That's about all I can say about that. Actually, it's not.

Since we're going through the university, we have to use the university catering. No problem. When they want to, they're food is delicious. Absolutely delicious. We're not talking about any kind of cafeteria-food-that-I-have-to-eat-as-a-freshman-which-makes-me-gain-45lbs*. No, this is good stuff.

If you could ever meet with them. No joke, we've been trying to meet with the catering director since March. She canceled our date in March because she was too busy. She said she would call in a week, and never called. So we called her in April. Set up an appointment, she was too busy, canceled. Said she would call. Never called. (See a pattern evolving?)

So, I called her yesterday and said look, "I'm graduating, we're leaving, we can't be back before July, and then on August 10th, we're leaving the state and won't be back until November... for the wedding." Her response? Oh, well, let's meet at 10. Great! Perfect.

Not even an hour later, she calls us back, and guess what?! She's too busy. But, she can squeeze us in between 4:30 and 5 but closer to 5 because she has another meeting. Are you effing kidding me?

She then asks us if we've looked at their menu online. Online?! (Side note: they have a fantastic option to order your food online and then they verify it and whatever, it's great, when you're planning student organization stuff. Or minor events.) My response, which was a bit curt, was along the lines of: this is a wedding, we need to discuss what we want, alcohol service, set up, our cake service, etc. I cannot do that online, we have to talk to you, in person; is there anyone else we could meet with? She said that it had to be her because she didn't know who would be there in November.

So then she gets all nosy and asks why we can't be back in Huntsville before July, don't we live here. And I explained that we do, but we're graduating and moving, so it's not possible. And then she said well, you're moving back in August? NO!!!!!!!! WE'RE MOVING OUT OF STATE! Oh, well why are you having your wedding here.

I was speechless. But, I persevered. However, we're not meeting with her until July I guess. Whatever. Chet suggested calling someone we know who is higher up and having her tell us what to do. Despite how annoyed I am with the catering director, I don't want to get her into trouble, which that very well may. Any suggestions?

Edit: she called us back and said that we could meet Friday or Saturday. Really? She made it sound like it was so difficult for her to meet with us, and she's such a martyr for doing it with commencement. Yeah, well lady, I'm graduating with family coming in. I can't meet with you. Perhaps we should have done this in April, no?

Finally: Life as it it.
Y'all can skip this part. It's just me being sentimental, a bit. No really, just go comment and don't worry about this part.

I'm officially done with my undergraduate work.... and I don't know how I feel about it. I've been waiting for this moment for about 4 years, but now that it's here, I'm nervous! I don't know what's coming up next or what to expect. I am going to miss my friend severely. It's going to be so strange to have to write a new script for my life, and I don't know how ready I am to do it. I try not to get all sentimental, but still... oi vey.

And besides that, I'm packing, and dealing with moving and everything. We've just about sold all that we wanted to sell, which I am so happy about. Now we have to put our lives from the past three years into carefully marked boxes so they can being their journey to my parent's home and then Lincoln. It's all just very, very weird. How do y'all cope with big life changes?

*Yes, it really did. Bastards.

Dear Wedding Gods

2009-05-09T16:01:00.003-05:00

Hello again,

How are you doing up there in all your wedding gods glory? I'm sure you have a lot to do with the beginning of the wedding season. I know it lasts through August, but, I hope you'll take pity on me since I am very kindly planning my wedding for November. I did that out of kindness for you... oh, and so you could focus on me only. See, how nice I am?

Anyhow, I would like to thank you for taking care of those dreams. You don't know how appreciative I am of that. It's nice to get some sleep that doesn't deal with weddings. Since you did such an incredible job with the dreams, I have another favor to ask of you.

See, I need help. Particularly, I would like a fairy godmother who knows my every dreams, wishes and desires to swoop in and take care of planning this wedding and all the DIY crafts to boot. But, if you don't think you can handle that, could you give me some friends who will be living near me over the summer to do that? See, Chet isn't really into this. And he's owned up to that and I can't get him into it. Happens. And Lindsey will be living in Austin (yay!) but she also works mostly evenings... when I'm free. And Jessica, Ashton and Lindsey live in the Houston area... which isn't close to me since I am so blessed to be living in Texas. And Charlotte will be doing our invitations.

Anyway, I just need help. I really just need someone to talk to about the wedding... someone who could lovingly say "um... not a great idea, but here's what we could do to make it better".

Please?

Otherwise, this process just might kill me.

Thanks,
Nicole

Hi... my name is Nicole

2009-05-09T00:44:00.002-05:00

...and I have a dress problem*

See, it all started when I saw this image from Julie Ke and Jonny's wedding:

Tell me, is this not beautiful? I fell in love with her dress... and then I saw the bridesmaids dresses.

All pictures can be found here (including pictures of her gorgeous wedding!)

Okay, seriously. Aren't these gorgeous? I love them. But there are two issues:
1.) I do not have bridesmaids that I can tell to purchase these dresses thank-you-very-much
2.) I can't find them anywhere! Seriously. I have looked and looked and looked. Which is what has created my problem.

So, I thought that I would share with you pictures of dresses I like and would probably order my 'maids to where, if I had had formal ones. Enjoy!

This is nothing like the ones above, but it's still purrrty.

Now we're talking. Isn't this and this gorgeous?And all for less than $100!

Here

This one is my favorite. I would love to have all of my girls dressed in it...
(all dresses [and more!] can be found at: Nordstroms)

See, here's my problem with telling my girls that they have to wear certain things. One reason is because I can't justify asking my wonderful college friends to spend about $100 on a dress they may or may not wear again. The second is because I don't know if they will be hanging out with us during the ceremony. And if they aren't.. well, why tell them they have to wear something?

But, my inner control freak is screaming "tell them what to wear! you must be in control! this is not right!!" But, I tell her to shut up, drink a martini and let go.

Because in the end, Chet and I will be married, and that is what really matters.

(Sidenote: I am telling them to all wear black cocktail dresses though. hehe. My justification is the fact that they can choose something that they , and as a bonus, they will wear it again.)

*please note: as a counselor to be, I am not mocking any type of AA, NA or Al-Anon traditions.

Eep.. We're in May.

2009-05-03T23:02:00.002-05:00

Hi there. It's been a while, hasn't it? And by a while, I mean approximately a week. But, that's okay. Why? Because I am in graduating in 13 days. Uh huh.

That means that I am packing up our house (not really, though I should be), writing papers, studying for exams, reading books, and altogether trying to forget the fact that we are preparing to leave our very comfortable life in Huntsville, to move somewhere we don't know anyone and start afresh.

In some ways, this is awesome!

In other ways, not so much. It's a little nerve-racking. A little unsettling. A little terrifying. But, here we are.

Weddings aren't really on my mind, because I am focused on graduating (again, 13 days!! Oh.. em.. geee!).

My only concern at this point is the above. Oh, and getting the wedding dress made! That process will begin on May 19th. :)

So, if I'm a bit gone for the next couple of weeks... sorry. I'm graduating!!! :)

Marry us, Please?!

2009-04-28T15:41:00.001-05:00

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one." --C.S. Lewis

So! Chet and I now have someone to marry us — which is really good, obviously. But, as with everything there is a great story behind this. However, we’re not going to make it privy to the internet world. :) But, if you ask us, we’ll tell you!!

Instead, I am going to tell you a bit about our history with Sam, the wonderful man who will be presiding over our ceremony.

Chet and I first found Sam over the internet. It was summer 2007… this is sounding terribly cheesy already. Anyway, we were trying to find a church, and I happened upon one that also did podcasts of their sermons. Thus, we found Sam. When we finally made our way to the church in person, we hit it off with him. He and Chet share a common love of music, even if I have no idea what’s going on.

We met with him yesterday, and the meeting was golden. He is totally what we want in an officiant. We walked into his office, sat down, and he says, “So, any ideas on how you want to do this ceremony?”

Chet and I just looked at each other and smiled. We showed him the ceremony we have created. Sam looked at it and said that he loved it. He told us that the most important thing about a wedding is that it represents us.

We asked him if we needed to add scriptures or if there was anything that he wanted to see from it. He said that it was all up to us. He did say he would like to say a prayer over our life, but ultimately what matters is us.

We were also concerned about premarital counseling. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to do it, we just didn’t know where we would make the time. We have a lot going on this summer and our officiant being based 3 hours from us did not make it convenient for us to go through counseling with him. But, we knew we would do what we had to. Toward the end of the meeting, we asked if there was anything that we needed to do, specifically imagining the counseling. You know what he said?

“I’m not a marriage counselor, and I don’t pretend to be”.

Love it! He preceeded to give us some advice from his own life, and that was it. The meeting last about 30 minutes and it was wonderful.

I’m so glad we have decided to go with Sam. His spirit is much like mine and Chet’s, and I think that it is going to be marvelous.

207 days.

Pretty, Pretty Pictures

2009-04-26T19:35:00.003-05:00

I spent the morning not preparing for finals but searching Once Wed for pretty pictures and inspiration.

Totally found some.

Let me share:

via: Once Wed

Tell me this is not the most awesome photo you've seen of a groom and his men? For real. Look at the love there between them. Chet and I saw this and were like... "yeah!"

via: Once Wed

This = Gorgeous. I have no idea how they did that, but it is beautiful. It creates such an elegant atmosphere. And it looks like a giant pillow. Love it!

via: Once Wed

Isn't this couple just the sweetest? I love the one of him dipping her. There is just something about this photo that make me happy to look at it.

I also got some great inspiration for my bouquet (yes, I am doing one!) and potentially another way to set up our invitations ( I realize that I am never happy with anything).

Oh, and I got a great idea for a wedding gift for Chet. But that won't be posted here :-p

Have a happy week, y'all!

2009-04-25T11:42:00.001-05:00

Dear Wedding Gods:

'ello there,

I'm Nicole, and I have yet to really sit down and talk to you through this wedding planning process. However, I'm feeling it's time to speak to you. We need to have a talk about the dreams I"m having. I realize that I think about the wedding about 23 out of the 24 hours of the day... but in my defense I sleep a good 8 of those. I feel that those 8 should be wedding free. There are so many other things to dream about. I really don't think that I need to add to that list cupcake tins filled with flowers. (side bar: that was a legit dream lastnight.)

Okay, so I would really appreciate that. Among other things, but that will be fodder for later prayers.

Love, Nicole

DIY Projects for the Wedding

2009-04-24T23:40:00.003-05:00

So, we're doing a lot of DIY stuff for the wedding. Mainly because a lot of it is cost effective, and it totally adds our own special touches to stuff. Want a list? Here ya go:

Invitations
Programs
Bouquets: This is one idea. Having your guests bring flowers and they create your bouquet.

There are also ideas with peacock feathers, or buttons, or that super cute one from earlier this month.

Garlands: cute no? Now, in your head, replace the birds with cranes. Voila! We shall use about 100 more cranes on 10 of these! Yay!