Wedding Mania

This could be solely about me. Or it could be about Kate and William. As in Kate and William and the Royal Wedding. Both are fairy tale stories. One in a very royal manner, one in a happy little second chance in life manner.

True, I don't have multiple dresses just waiting for the big day. I'm not trying to keep the details of my wedding as secure as a state secret. Actually, the state doesn't do well with that either. Obviously, there won't be a mad rush to do a knock off of my gown, like there will be Kate's gown. Frankly, that all sounds like a royal pain in the arse. I'd rather not know my dress is fashioned just like someone elses. But I digress.

I have to wonder what Kate's stress level is about now. If she is so done with the process, if she longs for some solitude, and if perhaps she would envy the intimate little event we are planning.

I will be watching her celebration. Part of me will be in awe of the pomp and circumstance, the fairy tale magic of it all. But the rest of me will be content with our personal ceremony. Too much mania is not a good thing for cherished moments. That is what we will have, cherished moments, hopefully sans the mania.

Threads

Nice threads, new threads, picking up loose threads, the threads that hold us together. So many threads that sew our lives together. One often thinks of wedding dresses as a symbol of purity, well at least 30 years ago when I was a bride they did. Now it's a different story.

Still, it is a dress to remember. I hope I am being more deliberate with my choice (choices) this time around. I bought fabric yesterday to have my dress made. It's lovely and colorful, and while I can't visualize the finished product as well was I'd like, I trust my seamstress. Isn't that reminiscent of how we live our lives? We choose one part and build around it. Sometimes we alter the plan, other times we rip out and start again. In the beginning, and all parts of the process, we trust the maker.

I am certain, as a first time bride, I neglected to celebrate the dress. And the bride, for that matter. I'm working on that. We put on our wedding dress to look beautiful. When, in fact, we are beautiful, and then we put on our wedding dress.

Who What When Where How

Or, Invitations 101.....

When you consider of all the excitement, the feelings, the information, the love that leads up to sending an invitation it really makes you think. Okay, it makes me think. It almost needs to be an animate object rather than paper and envelope.

It contains years of the relationship growing and developing. It contains hopes and dreams. It contains pertinent information. It reflects your personality. For us, it should come with a little dog fur stuck to it, some bling, and something to toast with. Maybe we should send out wine glasses or dog bowls, I'm not sure which.

At the very least it should be stuffed with confetti, enveloped with love, sealed with faith, sing, dance and do the wave. Of course, it's a challenge to pack all this great stuff into one envelope.

Maybe I'm thinking too hard. Or maybe every step of this journey needs to be celebrated. Ya, always room for celebration...let's start today.

Count Down

Let me say I love that Reno has a countdown going on his computer until the big day. Maybe it's because he's a numbers guy, he's counting his last days of freedom, or maybe because he's as excited as I am.

We are making progress on planning. Granted we are doing this planning while trying to get a house ready to sell, while phasing me out of my job, and with him immersing himself in learning a new job in a new city. No pressure here. Not at all.

Just like life in general, and our relationship specifically, blessings are rolling our way. We selected one location for a wedding, the big guy upstairs had a better plan. My way is decidedly limited in vision, and that is okay.

We have the venue and we've ordered the alcoholic beverages. Yes, I think our priorities are in order. I have a seamstress and a pattern. And, we have friends stepping up to the plate to grace our day.

I am the most sporadic member of a bible study group. I rarely get the reading done for the group. Often I can't attend because I work some weekends. And yet, they embrace me just as I am. Even more wonderful I found out these same ladies have a tradition. A food ministry of sorts. They prepare and serve the prenuptial dinner for those in this wonderful little group of faith filled women. They offered to assist us in this lovely way.

All this gives me pause to be thankful and to enjoy the process. Counting down and counting blessings - all good things.

New Appreciation for Indecision

I work with brides on a daily basis. But, now I have a better appreciation for them. For someone "in the industry" I am exactly as clueless as many of those brides I encounter. I mean that in the nicest possible way, and in the most humorous way.

What colors are you using? When is the wedding? What would you like? What are you doing for centerpieces? Who is the photographer? What is the plan for music? At this point I can safely say I have a dress pattern, seamstress, a ring for both of us, and a groom-to-be I adore! The rest is still sorta, kinda, mostly up in the air.

Many others know what I want way more than I do. I find this rather frightening! They know what I should do, how I should do it, and why I want to do that way. Wow! That's pretty impressive.

A dear friend of mine told me I can't have silk flowers for my wedding. Oh, he may have a point. However, I have the best silk flowers out there in my department. It would be a shame not to use them! On the other hand, if it weren't for fresh flowers I wouldn't be in the silk flower business. Stay tuned for more on that detail.

The other question that came up regarding the venue we are about to nail down is if dogs could attend. I wonder if it would be tacky to set up an Exercise pen and bring the boys to the reception. I have looked at the fine print on the rental agreement. No where does it say you can't bring dogs - lol. If I put them in their pet therapy service vests will they be more welcome? Some stressed guest may just need a little puppy loving.

So I will be more understanding of the brides who have more questions than answers. Frankly, I can totally relate.

Venue Schmenu

Well, alrighty. We had a venue all planned. But then we discovered the University adjacent to the park we were getting married in was having their annual Shakespeare on the Green the same weekend as our nuptuals. Our guest list numbers about 65. Their guest list numbers several thousand. We're thinking we'll just let them have the park.

Of course, that sends us back to the drawing board. I will say, being a second time bride, I'm less inclined to fuss over every little detail. While we are 111 days away from the celebration, I figure it will all sort itself out. We do have a lovely backyard. At first I wasn't gung ho on ceremony there. Now it has distinct possibilities. Plus the dogs could attend that way.

I've also discovered I have many friends willing to help if only I ask. That is something I need to embrace. I don't know about you, but I get used to doing for myself. Sometimes I do those things with minimal effort, because hey, it's for me. How nice to discover I can lean on others during this process, and afterwards too.

So to that I say Venue Schmenu. All will be well and the celebration will be blessed. I have no doubt.

The Date & The Venue

Nobody said it would be easy.....but we have nailed down the date, the venue and the guest list. That pretty much sums it up doesn't it?

But even I have to question why I described it as "nailed down". Perhaps because it took a fair amount of deliberation, back up by decisive choices. That goes for the groom and for this bride. I once had someone describe me as an optimistic realist. I like that definition. I believe that means I'm positively delusional, in the nicest possible way.

So many of the choices the first time around don't even make the list to consider. While I am more spiritual that my first time around, I am less comfortable marrying in a church. That is a good thing because the Catholic Church wouldn't welcome me anyway.

We are opting to marry in an old grotto in a park. I like that idea. Life began in a garden, so will our marriage. Gardens grow and evolve, so will we. Gardens are unpredictable, so are relationships. Gardens grow by faith....so does marriage. Gardens have weeds, so does marriage....oh wait...marriage has lots of opportunities for growth...ya...that's the ticket.