First off--greetings from the Netherlands.
Last week at approximately noon, local time--me and my completely devastated cat touched down in Amsterdam after a 24 hour or so set of flights and lay overs. They were drama filled (as things usually go when I fly internationally) and some blood was spilled. But I will spare you the details--if only to save some humiliation on my part.
Mostly, things are settling down over here. We move into "married housing" next week. Dennis and I are both trying to get back to a healthy eating and exercise routine. Gizmo is enjoying her new and (apparently) delicious wheat/barley grass.
I'm back to wedding planning.
So yeah, it's been a while. And as most of you know, there is little over a couple of months now to what I'm calling W ("dub") Day. The vendors are settled, some of them are even paid (gasp). The ceremony is almost done. Invitations are happening (and yeah, we know--they're late). Plans are being laid. This leaves me in a place where, mostly, I'm just making final decisions.
Now, if you're reading this--you may or may not know me very well so I'll give you the benefit of a doubt. I'm hyper, weird, extroverted. Sassy and loudmouthed even with more than a little fondness for potatoes and scotch. But indecisive I ain't.
Let me tell you, readers. Planning a wedding makes you do crazy stuff.
This is a ballpark, mind you. I only wish that I had had enough foresight to actually log all the hours spent in the search of my bridal accessories. So I'll guess. And that guess is probably around--50 hours.
Veils? Necklaces? Earrings? Barrettes? Bracelets? Combs? DIY, buy it, or Etsy? Who the hell knows? I couldn't tell you the first thing about what I'm wearing aside from my big white dress and my birthday suit. I've had loads of ideas and the second the next cool idea wafts by my unsuspecting bridal nose, my mind is changed. All ideas are scrapped (unless I've committed money, and sometimes not even then...). New idea is go. Etsy browsing resumes. Amazon and Google Images are once again scoured.
The worst part is the shoes.
Ariel knows. It's practically a mental illness. First it was red dress sandals--a pair I saw in a magazine. Well, they don't make them in that color anymore. It only went downhill from there. Coral pumps, yellow chucks, rain galoshes with strawberry print--up to the latest fascination with cowboy boots. Can I make a decision to save my life? No way. I can't find the perfect pair of anything (which is now back to red satin... flats). Every shoe I find has something tiny and wrong with it, that makes it less than stunning to my messed up brain. Like all the dresses before mine (who I affectionately call "Addison"), they just weren't right. When I tried them on/found a picture on Google/stalked them on Etsy they didn't whisper "You're getting married in these."
But today, I think I get it.
That's because the perfect pair of shoes doesn't exist. They're a unicorn. And best of all--they don't even matter.
NO ONE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT MY FEET EXCEPT ME.
And probably Jakub. Because he likes shoes.
I have got to get over this.
And by that I mean, I need to give the rest of the decisions to Dennis (who is still capable of liking A over B or D over C, at this point).
He's already helped me sort of invitation madness (which is now being passed on to Ariel--BLESS HER HEART). You also have Dennis to thank for choosing our specialty cocktails--which I debated almost as much as shoes.
What's left? Largely table decorations, rentals, and votives. Though I'll have a lot to do at the last minute once I get back to Missouri.
In other news, bridesmaids Nasreen and Andreya have picked up their projects! Nasreen will be in charge of the DIY photobooth (woo!), and Dreya is brewing limoncello/orangcello as we speak. Yum!
-L
04 April, 2011
Pieces
Stuff is still getting done.
1) Catering contract: Drawn up (by me), signed, finalized, done.
2) Searching for the flower girl dresses.
3) Still searching for a band.
4) Overhauled my DIY calendar--which will explode into action as soon as I move.
But I'm not gonna lie, I'm hardly thinking about it.
I'm gonna miss Missoula so much.
1) Catering contract: Drawn up (by me), signed, finalized, done.
2) Searching for the flower girl dresses.
3) Still searching for a band.
4) Overhauled my DIY calendar--which will explode into action as soon as I move.
But I'm not gonna lie, I'm hardly thinking about it.
I'm gonna miss Missoula so much.
28 March, 2011
Ode to my Other Mothers
Moms are the veritable shit.
Sorry for swearing, but ladies, you're awesome. You know it. Work it. Yeeeeeeah.
Obviously, my Momma--the other L Minton--truly stands unopposed. She fed and dressed me for years, she's still paying off my student loans, she's supported almost any goal or crazy-ass dream I've come upon. Ever. She loves my almost-husband and my cat almost as much as I do. She's smart, funny, gorgeous and I could swear the sun shines out of her butt. To put the cherry on that sundae--she birthed me. Like, grew me somewhere under her kidneys and pushed until a doctor slammed a needle in her spine, threw her intestines onto a nearby table, and presented me, squealing and bloody, to the world.
Hat's off to you, Marm. They don't come better than you.
But I am writing to you, tonight, Dear Reader--as a woman fortunate enough to have been shaped, and continually supported by an entire network of women I like to call my "Othermothers" (because if you say it just right--it kinda rhymes). Not only did I solicit their beauteous presences for my wedding--I actually tried to enlist their help. And these gracious, goddess-like ladies are pulling out all the stops! I thought I'd take a moment to tell you a little about each of them and update you on wedding progress at the same time. Cool huh? (Don't answer)
In chronological order via "acquisition" aka The-day-I just-started-calling-them-Marm-and-it-didn't-feel-weird
Cyndi: I can't remember a time in my life when this femme warrior-bard wasn't in my life. I grew up alongside her two daughters, Ali and Emily and call myself fortunate enough to always feel at home in their fam. As a woman of higher education--and feeling bound for it myself--for many years she was the academic standard to which I held myself accountable, and her previous interest in Anthropology was completely invaluable to me once the discipline became my career path. (Now if only I could find where it went...) This glib and gorgeous Othermother will be the Celebrant of the ceremony! Can you believe it?! I'm beside myself excited to have someone I know, love, and trust tie Dennis and I into brand new family.
Connie: Stunning, and soft-spoken with a glorious laugh, Connie and my Dad got married when I was nine. Although I never lived with my Dad and Connie, I always felt like a member of the family--and Connie always let me know how much she cared and loved me. Connie owns her own events company and has graciously agreed to lend me a whole-slew of rental-quality equipment FOR FREE (more than quartering that part of the budget) and help arrange it to make it perdy. I simply cannot thank her enough for her generosity in this arena!
June: I'm pretty sure that June is actually the definition of 'sassy.' June is actually my Maid of Honor (Ariel!)'s madre and one of the most rockin' people on the planet. With her funky style, eye for detail and awesome skills, I was super-stoked when she offered to help me DIY the wedding flowers! Hat's off to you, June. We're gonna get our blooms on. I'll bring the champagne!
Out,
-L
Sorry for swearing, but ladies, you're awesome. You know it. Work it. Yeeeeeeah.
Obviously, my Momma--the other L Minton--truly stands unopposed. She fed and dressed me for years, she's still paying off my student loans, she's supported almost any goal or crazy-ass dream I've come upon. Ever. She loves my almost-husband and my cat almost as much as I do. She's smart, funny, gorgeous and I could swear the sun shines out of her butt. To put the cherry on that sundae--she birthed me. Like, grew me somewhere under her kidneys and pushed until a doctor slammed a needle in her spine, threw her intestines onto a nearby table, and presented me, squealing and bloody, to the world.
Hat's off to you, Marm. They don't come better than you.
But I am writing to you, tonight, Dear Reader--as a woman fortunate enough to have been shaped, and continually supported by an entire network of women I like to call my "Othermothers" (because if you say it just right--it kinda rhymes). Not only did I solicit their beauteous presences for my wedding--I actually tried to enlist their help. And these gracious, goddess-like ladies are pulling out all the stops! I thought I'd take a moment to tell you a little about each of them and update you on wedding progress at the same time. Cool huh? (Don't answer)
In chronological order via "acquisition" aka The-day-I just-started-calling-them-Marm-and-it-didn't-feel-weird
Cyndi: I can't remember a time in my life when this femme warrior-bard wasn't in my life. I grew up alongside her two daughters, Ali and Emily and call myself fortunate enough to always feel at home in their fam. As a woman of higher education--and feeling bound for it myself--for many years she was the academic standard to which I held myself accountable, and her previous interest in Anthropology was completely invaluable to me once the discipline became my career path. (Now if only I could find where it went...) This glib and gorgeous Othermother will be the Celebrant of the ceremony! Can you believe it?! I'm beside myself excited to have someone I know, love, and trust tie Dennis and I into brand new family.
Connie: Stunning, and soft-spoken with a glorious laugh, Connie and my Dad got married when I was nine. Although I never lived with my Dad and Connie, I always felt like a member of the family--and Connie always let me know how much she cared and loved me. Connie owns her own events company and has graciously agreed to lend me a whole-slew of rental-quality equipment FOR FREE (more than quartering that part of the budget) and help arrange it to make it perdy. I simply cannot thank her enough for her generosity in this arena!
June: I'm pretty sure that June is actually the definition of 'sassy.' June is actually my Maid of Honor (Ariel!)'s madre and one of the most rockin' people on the planet. With her funky style, eye for detail and awesome skills, I was super-stoked when she offered to help me DIY the wedding flowers! Hat's off to you, June. We're gonna get our blooms on. I'll bring the champagne!
Out,
-L
22 March, 2011
Another word for time, power, and melted cheese
That's right: MONEY.
Now, before I dive in--what I want to know is... how did the subject of money and weddings become so taboo? I already hesitated on the title, the opening sentence, and now this one. Bridal-brain says You shouldn't be blogging this.
But in the spirit of trail-blazing (HA), and my penchant for social transparency I defiantly shake my fist to the sky.
And I say: Who did this?
Who turned one of the best days of my life into a several thousand dollar ordeal? Was it the credit card companies, bridal boutiques, the Russians or all of the above? I really don't understand.
Thus far, I've been able to surmise that for some time there have been a couple extremes in the wedding world. Introducing...
The Broke-Ass Bride: Anywhere from $100 to $6,000 to spend on the big day. Most of this falls on credit cards. Most of this comes out of the couple's own pocket. A lot of ramen is consumed. A lot of favors are called in, and lots of friends are invited over to help (literally) construct a wedding. Tears are shed. But ultimately the twin goals of 'wedding' and 'marriage' are accomplished. (This is not to infringe on the actual Broke-Ass Bride whom I love and adore)
The Well-Off Bride: Who knows where their budget is? Sure, they get stressed--but usually are able to throw money at the problem without too much of an issue. Sacrifices will be made, sleep will still be lost. But at the end of their nuptials they are usually able to look around themselves and be quite content with everything they found and purchased. I love you Well-Off Brides, make no mistake. But I envy you entirely.
Because a new type of bride is emerging. And at once she is glorious and not so pretty.
The Broke-Ass Bride 2.0.
To be entirely up front, yes, I do fall squarely into this category.
Before I began my own wedding planning odyssey, I would never (ever) have thought in my wildest dreams that the kind of laid-back and casual wedding I had in mind could not possibly be done for $10,000. I would never (ever) have thought in my craziest nightmare that I could be considered on a tight budget or as a "low-end Bride" (wtf does that even mean?). But here I am, folks! In all my target-clearance, noodle-scarfing splendor.
The BAB 2.0 is really an emerging demographic, but is serving to offset the polarity between the Well-Off and the previous Broke-Ass. All of a sudden the costs of weddings are skyrocketing. Brides (and grooms!) that want a truly touching, gorgeous, and personal wedding are on the ropes. In this market, you have to do three things to have a wedding that even comes close to your dreams:
1) Put your thinking cap on and get seriously scary smart/ruthless
2) Get your gardening gloves out and get ready to get dirty and work hard
3) Get lucky
Lots of Brides and their Maidys and their menfolk have to bust a move on their weddings--doing a lot themselves, making steep sacrifices and doing tons of research. But a seriously dark side is lurking in the shadows. "One-down-manship" is at an all-time high. How am I supposed to have a great, photogenic wedding when I simultaneously understand that I a) Can't do everything myself and b) Don't have the money to have other people do it for me?
Why is all this stuff so expensive?!!!
***Editor's Note: I'm sure the Ohio couple with their glorious wedding are awesome people. I sincerely mean it. But I have never been so down on my Brideself as when I saw that wedding, it's price tag and starting comparing it to mine.
Now, before I dive in--what I want to know is... how did the subject of money and weddings become so taboo? I already hesitated on the title, the opening sentence, and now this one. Bridal-brain says You shouldn't be blogging this.
But in the spirit of trail-blazing (HA), and my penchant for social transparency I defiantly shake my fist to the sky.
And I say: Who did this?
Who turned one of the best days of my life into a several thousand dollar ordeal? Was it the credit card companies, bridal boutiques, the Russians or all of the above? I really don't understand.
Thus far, I've been able to surmise that for some time there have been a couple extremes in the wedding world. Introducing...
The Broke-Ass Bride: Anywhere from $100 to $6,000 to spend on the big day. Most of this falls on credit cards. Most of this comes out of the couple's own pocket. A lot of ramen is consumed. A lot of favors are called in, and lots of friends are invited over to help (literally) construct a wedding. Tears are shed. But ultimately the twin goals of 'wedding' and 'marriage' are accomplished. (This is not to infringe on the actual Broke-Ass Bride whom I love and adore)
The Well-Off Bride: Who knows where their budget is? Sure, they get stressed--but usually are able to throw money at the problem without too much of an issue. Sacrifices will be made, sleep will still be lost. But at the end of their nuptials they are usually able to look around themselves and be quite content with everything they found and purchased. I love you Well-Off Brides, make no mistake. But I envy you entirely.
Because a new type of bride is emerging. And at once she is glorious and not so pretty.
The Broke-Ass Bride 2.0.
To be entirely up front, yes, I do fall squarely into this category.
Before I began my own wedding planning odyssey, I would never (ever) have thought in my wildest dreams that the kind of laid-back and casual wedding I had in mind could not possibly be done for $10,000. I would never (ever) have thought in my craziest nightmare that I could be considered on a tight budget or as a "low-end Bride" (wtf does that even mean?). But here I am, folks! In all my target-clearance, noodle-scarfing splendor.
The BAB 2.0 is really an emerging demographic, but is serving to offset the polarity between the Well-Off and the previous Broke-Ass. All of a sudden the costs of weddings are skyrocketing. Brides (and grooms!) that want a truly touching, gorgeous, and personal wedding are on the ropes. In this market, you have to do three things to have a wedding that even comes close to your dreams:
1) Put your thinking cap on and get seriously scary smart/ruthless
2) Get your gardening gloves out and get ready to get dirty and work hard
3) Get lucky
Lots of Brides and their Maidys and their menfolk have to bust a move on their weddings--doing a lot themselves, making steep sacrifices and doing tons of research. But a seriously dark side is lurking in the shadows. "One-down-manship" is at an all-time high. How am I supposed to have a great, photogenic wedding when I simultaneously understand that I a) Can't do everything myself and b) Don't have the money to have other people do it for me?
Why is all this stuff so expensive?!!!
***Editor's Note: I'm sure the Ohio couple with their glorious wedding are awesome people. I sincerely mean it. But I have never been so down on my Brideself as when I saw that wedding, it's price tag and starting comparing it to mine.
21 March, 2011
A Hit and a Miss
***Edit: Sorry for my momentary loss of sanity, but Kat Williams just does that to me.***
Sooooooo--this is no secret: I love weddings. I love talking about my wedding--writing about my wedding. And very very mostly, I love blogging about my wedding
.
So the decision to apply as a blogger at the amazing, splendiferous Wedding Bee was met with zero hesitation. For the past three weeks I have entertained some of the most ridiculous "Bee" fantasies imaginable. From what my first post would be titled ("Ready to Rock") and my Bee handle ("Mrs. Jackalope").
But I didn't get in. Rats!
BUTGUESSWHATI'MBESIDEMYSELFABOUT?
Everyone EVERYONE needs to go here and vote for us!
WE'RE FINALISTS IN A CONTEST.
BECAUSE MY WEDDING INSPIRATION BOARD IS NOW ON A WORLD-FAMOUS WEDDING WEBSITE AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA DIE OF EXCITEMENT.
I SERIOUSLY FREAKED OUT IN MY YOGURT THIS MORNING.
Enough caps! Just go! I can't even type about it more!
-L
Sooooooo--this is no secret: I love weddings. I love talking about my wedding--writing about my wedding. And very very mostly, I love blogging about my wedding
.
So the decision to apply as a blogger at the amazing, splendiferous Wedding Bee was met with zero hesitation. For the past three weeks I have entertained some of the most ridiculous "Bee" fantasies imaginable. From what my first post would be titled ("Ready to Rock") and my Bee handle ("Mrs. Jackalope").
But I didn't get in. Rats!
BUTGUESSWHATI'MBESIDEMYSELFABOUT?
Everyone EVERYONE needs to go here and vote for us!
WE'RE FINALISTS IN A CONTEST.
BECAUSE MY WEDDING INSPIRATION BOARD IS NOW ON A WORLD-FAMOUS WEDDING WEBSITE AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA DIE OF EXCITEMENT.
I SERIOUSLY FREAKED OUT IN MY YOGURT THIS MORNING.
Enough caps! Just go! I can't even type about it more!
-L
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)