I have to apologize for the lack of recent posting. The last few weeks have been a holiday whirlwind, but it’s been a wonderful time full of family and friends. I need a few more days to get back into the swing of things and then it’ll be full steam ahead on the wedding planning, seeing as we’re getting close to the nine month mark (Yikes)! Until then, Happy New Year! I’ll see you in 2009!
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…to us! One year ago today The Fiance asked me to be his wife! So, I thought for a change of pace, we’d get his side of the story today. Here’s the Fiance’s take on getting engaged and a photo of my ring!
What a long strange trip it’s been. Crazy to think that it was 365 days ago that I signed up to spend the rest of my days with the Mrs. Alright, technically speaking I asked her if she would spend her days with me, but I digress. AJ asked for the man’s take on getting hitched and it is along that journey that we will be concentrating our attention. As the male authority here at IDYDWD I will share this; thus far, getting engaged was the hardest part.
I’m certain that little bit of intel won’t be a surprise to most of you. In the whole of the marriage process, this piece falls entirely on the man’s shoulders. There is a lot of pressure to get it right. Fortunately, we’re able to turn to the wonder that is the internet for ideas. In reality, this is a blessing and a curse as regards the act of getting engaged. On the plus side, there are a lot more ideas out there for you to steal. On the downside, she’s seen them. Every one of them. Which means that the bar has been raised. This is the very reason why I chose a bar as the location of our engagement.
I wracked my brains for months trying to figure out how I was gonna pop the question. I went through all sorts of ideas, from stopping up traffic on Market street to cornering her in Washington Square park and presenting her with a boccie ball case full of mozzarella. The latter stemmed from a dream I had after a hard night of drinking, which likely came about because I was stressed about the engagement. Vicious cycle, I tell you. At any rate, most of what I came up with required good timing, the right weather and a multitude of other factors that I’d have no control over. Which meant they were all out. I didn’t want stress. I didn’t want to coordinate a strike force to bring about the most epic engagement of all time. I wanted to get engaged with comfort and expediency with nothing left to chance.
The pressure was mounting. It was days before Christmas and my bonus had just come through. I had promised her that we were going to be engaged before the end of the year. The Mrs. had forbade me from popping the question on a holiday, so that meant 4 of the next 11 days were off limits. I finally had the key that would allow me to ask that most important of questions. I didn’t want to wait any longer. But where should I do it? How should I do it? What would make it right for us?
Then it hit me. There was a cozy little bar/restaurant around the corner from us. Up scale, but not posh. The owner was an old acquaintance of mine. We’d been trying to go there for years, but never managed to. Now would be the perfect opportunity. So it was on December 22nd, 2007 I walked into Southwark at 4th and Bainbridge with my girlfriend. A few hours later I walked out with my fiance.
{Image by me. I have to say, I have a new found respect for photographers who photograph rings. That shot was the best I could come up with in regards to lighting and clarity! Any tips on photographing your ring so it sparkles like it does in person? Not that I make a habit of photographing my ring or anything…}
Check this out!
Two weekends ago, the boy, the fiancé and I decided it was high time for some Gingerbread action at our house. Our original intention was to create a Gingerbread House, the usual Christmastime cookie craft, but then, after further discussion, we decided a Gingerbread Dragon was more our style! I mean, who doesn’t love a Holiday Dragon? Anyone can make gingerbread men and gingerbread houses, but how many households would welcome the chance to host a gingerbread dragon for the holiday season?
The boy’s only request? It had be a nice Gingerbread Dragon.
So, after we created our friendly holiday dragon, with m&m scales, spearmint leaf spikes and spice drop toe nails, the fiancé decided to post a photo of him on GeekDad, (he’s a regular contributor) where you can read about the fate of our dragon.
Make: then picked up the story of our GingerDragon and he’s been making his way around the internet, spreading holiday cheer all the way!
Thanks for your enthusiasm about having Julio Loor photograph our wedding! I took your advice and… we booked him! One more thing we can check off our list!
This past Saturday the Fiance and I attended the wedding of good friends of ours, Allison and Dan. Their venue was gorgeous, it was completely decorated for Christmas. There were scattered cranberries, tree ornament favors/place cards and a red and green candy bar! It was also snowing, a light fluffy snowfall, which made the party that much more festive!
For weeks before hand, Allison talked about how excited she was to work with her photographer, Sarah Schulte, and judging from this sneak preview, it’s easy to see why.
Sarah was so stealthy! I didn’t even know she was around! But, obviously she was there, snapping gorgeous shots of this beautiful day! You can see even more on Sarah’s blog.
Congratulations you guys! Hope Vegas is great!
Since we closed the door on our dream wedding in Germany (we’re going for our honeymoon, instead) I’ve been searching for a photographer state side. I’ve emailed/called/stalked countless photographers but thus far none have been just right. They’ve been booked already (over a year in advance, crazyness!) or too expensive or gave me too much attitude or, upon further investigation, just didn’t have what we were looking for. Besides, with so many photographers out there with incredible style and a million gorgeous photos to prove it, how do you pick just one?
The answer is, you don’t.
As in, you don’t pick. You start a blog and let the photographer pick you!
Ok, so maybe it doesn’t always work out that way. But in my case, that’s exactly what happened. After I wrote about my experience with that uh, less than nice photographer back in October, Julio Loor of Loor Photography contacted me about shooting my wedding. His photos are fun and beautiful, which is exactly what the fiance and I are after! And Julio could not be any nicer! I talked with him for over an hour the other night, about all aspects of our wedding, and though he did tell me I sounded like I had potential to be a Bridezilla (ok, he was joking!), he listened and was genuinely interested in every detail.
Tell me what you think! Is Loor Photography the photographer for us? You can check out his blog too, which has some really cute engagement sessions.
Morning! I hope you had a great weekend! Last week, per the typical lately, was crazy! So, sorry for the lack of posting… I cannot believe it’s already the second week of December! It just sneaks up on you! One minute you’re making Halloween costumes and next thing you know a one horse open sleigh is dashing across your living room before you’ve even finished your pumpkin pie. I need at least another month to finish all my shopping/crafting for Christmas presents!
Lately, instead of sugarplums, I’ve had visions of guest lists and invitations dancing through my head. And rightfully so, look at these!
Etsy seller unlesssomeonelikeyou created these wedding posters to be used in lieu of invitations! They’re 11 x 17 works of custom art! Just roll them up, stick them in a mailing tube and they’re off to your wedding guests. What an incredible keepsake these would be to commemorate your big day. I’ve seen this trend before, but most recently Jen from Green Wedding Shoes posted about them. Definitely go check out her blog if you have some time… she always has tons of eye candy!
AAAAAH! I can’t believe there are only ten short months until I become a Mrs.! Scary (because of all the planning left to be done) and exciting (because we’ll be married!) all at the same time.
Last night, the fiance actually sat down and went through his part of the guest list, which I’m sure was inspired by yesterdays post. I also poked through mine… a smidge.
I have this question though: How do you decide whether or not someone gets the old heave ho? I can understand not inviting that guy you were “best” friends with in 5th grade and haven’t seen since grade school, or even someone you shared hours with in the studio at college but have been out of touch with since graduation. But, hypothetically speaking, what about those second cousins on your dads side whose first name you’re not even sure of but who were invited to your sisters wedding last year? Or, again, completely hypothetical, that girl who you haven’t seen in 8 years who invited you to her wedding?
I’m stumped! I don’t know how to make the cut without hurting some feelings (mostly those of the fiance) but I can’t afford to host everyone we’ve ever met at my wedding, nor do I want to.
I put it to you dear readers, how did you (or how do you plan to) widdle down the guest list in a reasonable and sane way? A rousing round of Rock, paper, scissors is the best I can come up with!
{image from flickr}
I hope every one’s holiday weekend was as wonderful as mine! As my little sister (and bridesmaid) so sweetly pointed out, I’m slacking… I can’t seem to snap myself out of vacation mode.
Being surrounded by friends and family this weekend undoubtedly led to multiple renditions of the infamous question “How’s the wedding planning going?” Which always has a tendency to jerk me out of relaxation mode and remind me of all the things I should be doing, instead of nibbling on the last of the crumbs left on the apple pie plate, the first of which being to finish our guest list!
I’ve been avoiding the guest list. The fiance has been avoiding the guest list. I don’t know why it’s so hard! I think we have guilty consciences about cutting people from the list. I know this is part of the process… we definitely cannot throw a wedding for 300 people on our 10,000$ budget, but that doesn’t make me want to do it!
Although, when I see invitations like these…
I’m suddenly itching to get out my guest list machete and start work on our own invitations!
