wedding check in

June 11th, 2010

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We kept saying “ok, we’ll think about the wedding when we get back” while we were in Vermont and now it’s “OK, we’ll freak out when I get back from Paris”  but holy cow, we are totally dropping the ball on this one. My wedding countdown says we have 120 days left. Whoa. Step it up, self!

Every time I think about the wedding, I just kind of get panicked and don’t want to think at all. I think primarily this is money worries. I’ve been jamming on the Etsy listings, and have so so so much more to keep adding, so that’s helped a lot. Thank you to everyone who’s bought something / shared the link!

We do keep entertaining the idea of eloping. But I kind of NEED to get all my people together for a weekend – my best friends have all moved far away, & my very best friend in the world I haven’t seen in TWO YEARS. I want my dang chosen family together and if this is the way to do it, so be it.

So, long, rambly post – some thoughts for me, some questions for you, organizing my head and getting back on track!

Things accomplished in Vermont

My brother snagged a huge wooden platform floor, and he has a vision of creating a deck that looks out over the stream, with trees coming through the deck. Initially I wanted more of a picnic feel, but in October it’s likely that the ground will be damp. We’ll set up tables and cushions on this deck (it’s 24 feet round) & string a tent from the trees above it.

We cut log benches for the ceremony area, which will probably be right in front of this rock outcropping – it’s about 8 feet up from the clearing. We thought about doing it up on top, but falling over & everyone looking up my dress seems like poor planning.

ceremonyspotMaybe Eli can be my wedding handholder. I do want to find roles for these goblins – ringbearer is a no brainer, but what other kinds of things can the kids in your life do for a wedding?

We got some lovely English tiered cake trays, a milk glass cake plate, figured out plates, glasses, etc. One thing I love love love about Vermont (and sometimes Oakland!) – when you explain what you need and the little old ladies working the thrifts run all over and pull out things you’d never have found for you. YESSSS.

Got a few things for the invites, we need to get working on those ASAP!

Victorian lace from mama. This is so so so gorgeous in person. It’s about 5 inches wide, and will trim the dress.lace

I also grabbed some family rings to wear while my engagement ring is mended.

ring1My ring, from the 1880s. The prongs keep pulling away from the pearls, and snagging EVERYTHING, both ripping up clothes and hurting my finger. We’re thinking about replacing them with teeny old diamonds, but also – do people keep wearing engagement rings? It seems sad and weird to stop, but I don’t like wearing a lot of rings & we’ll have matching wedding rings? If you’re married and your engagement ring doesn’t stack on your wedding ring, what did you do?

ring2This one was my grandmother‘s in the late 1920s. It’s basically my ideal ring – pearl with 2 diamonds, GORGEOUS deco setting when you look at the side. It needs to be resized to fit my chubby hands – my grandma was lanky! I kind of want to wear this one on my right hand, forever. I miss her so much.

ring3This is my great-nanas, from 1917. It’s what I’m wearing now. My coworker called it “dainty” in a way which made me feel that it wasn’t big enough. Hey, I’m not a GIANT ROCK kind of girl. Anyway, we can’t afford to get the other 2 fixed for now, so this one will do! My real one is my favorite of course, but they’re all so special that it doesn’t feel super weird to me. Has anyone else swapped engagement rings? Is that strange?

To Do

Menu. I have a million ideas for sweets (though need to write them down) – but we need more ideas for the savory food. It’ll be an afternoon vintage picnic feel – tiny quiches, finger sandwiches – nothing that has to be scooped up. Stand alone food, simple and classic. Ideas?

Rings? Angeliska is making them – but I haven’t even thought about it! Stones? Ethical stones? We know we want rose gold. Ahhh! This one panic-induces me.

Make invites. I need to order some supplies asap. This one I am oddly less panicked about, though I need to find a designer to barter with to give the text a once over.

Lose the EIGHT POUNDS I gained eating ice cream 5 times a day in Vermont. Seriously, I want to cry, nothing fits. My goal is to lose 15 lbs before I make my wedding dress, so um. yeah. I haven’t had any sugar since I got back, and have been eating super healthy. 10 mile bike rides a day to work, & the gym is going to become my friend. RAWR. I say this all the time, right? Well, I mean it this time. Anyone in the East Bay want to go to the climbing gym?

milkshake
Farmer’s Diner homemade ice cream milkshakes, you are the devil!

Make a dress. Start patterning and draping. Buy cream silk. Buy a minimizer bra. And spanx. Full body spanx.

Shoes!! Fall shoes should be coming out soon. Looking for black, 1920s inspired wedges.

Find a suit for S. -  do you know how hard it is to find a fall suit in the summer? Especially when we don’t want to spend $1500.

Find a suit for my dad. This should be fun.

Plane tickets – keeping an eye on Virgin & JetBlue.

Tents for people who need to – I really want to rent a bell tent. Look into this, self. Or send this as tasks to Karie?

Activities – find archery sets, croquet sets. What else?

Honeymoon plans – Gala just posted this great Kayak link, and flights to Shannon (Ireland) are way cheaper than flights into Cork. YES. Looking possible! Holy cow!!

Music for procession? Maybe my dad could play the accordion as he walks me down the isle. LIKE A MONKEY.

Vows? As much as we keep joking about Kate Bush interpretive dances, it’s probably good if we actually sat down and figured out the ceremony. I don’t want toasts, but I do want some people to speak, etc.

Check with Jennifer about her photographer needs.

Ok, that’s enough for now. Just thinking about this is head-aching me. What am I missing? Those wedding checklists don’t really apply to casual woodland encounters without catering or, you know, electricity.

Tags:  wedding