Bridal Brain

Tangent alert.

Why didn't anyone tell me we have less than 150 days til W-Day?

I'm beside myself with excitement, anxiety, and fear.  Maybe double-fear.  From my copious amount of wedding-blog reading (here, here, here, and also here.) I've learned that apparently after day 100 is when your event becomes together.  It becomes something more than the sum of it's parts--you see where it fails, and where it shines.  It nearly becomes a living, breathing thing.

If mine were alive I think it would be the equivalent of a blond Tina Fey, dressed like a hipster, so hyper on pixie sticks she can't really focus on the huge office birthday she's throwing.  And she may or may not have had a three-cocktail lunch.

Yes, I have gotten a lot done.  I should focus on that.

But I just read the most interesting article in the latest edition of Brides.  The next time I change the subject from sports to wedding pumps mid-sentence or text you about chocolate fountains at 11pm, think of this.  A lot of what happens to a bride has to do with brain chemistry.  Turns out, almost all brides share the same five symptoms: Indecisiveness, Irritability, Shortened attention span, Insomnia, and Low sex-drive.  Almost all of these have to do with the amygdala and flight-vs-fight response.  During times of stress (i.e. getting married, planning the wedding, et. al.) cortisol hormone levels go way up, which aggravates the amygala--your "reptile brain," a teeny nubbin in your brain that processes fear.  Who knew that widdle thing had so much clout?  It can cause all of those symptoms brides suffer from most.  My favorite part?  Dark chocolate has proven to reduce cortisol levels.  Other good ways to fight back include journaling, which lets the cortex (another section of the brain) handle the stress for a while.

Looks like I'm gonna start self-medicating.  If you can't find me, I'll be eating chocolate and journaling in the bubble bath.

Now if only Winter would vamoose, I'd be golden.

-L

Scrap everything

Look at this.

Good eats

And we're not talking Alton Brown.

For people who are close with me--or eat with me frequently, you'll already know two things about me:

1) I am a gourmet.  There is really no use denying it that I get uptight and finnicky when it comes to food quality.

2) I am meat-avoidant.  Yeah, I eat meat--but I usually feel awful about it and always try and go for free-range, sustainably farmed or fished whenever humanly possible.  And I still feel bad about it.

With that said--I really have no idea what real people eat, anymore.

As much as I've love to have cocktail hour consist of muhamara, gazpacho, and greek salad skewers... well, more than a few people I've talked to about it have shrugged and said "It's your day."

But I don't want to be the only person enjoying the food at my reception!

The main menu will stay for now--I think it will be great and familiar enough for everyone.  Don't worry Carnivores, it will have meat, but it's socially-responsible.  And there will be plenty for vegetarians and vegans alike.  But I'm heretofore revising the appetizers and want some advice--LOTS OF COMMENTS PLEASE!

As it stands, the cocktail hour will feature dolmades, olives marinated in harissa (a spicy North African tomato-paste), and my own recipe hushpuppies with a saffron aioli dip on the side.  Will you guys eat those?  I think everyone will like the hushpuppies--they're just fried corn bread.  But do people know what dolmades are?  Do people like olives?  What is good BBQ appetizer fare that isn't deep-fried or meat?  I'm kinda at a loss.

But I can always go with my first inclination--a french fry bar with three different potatoes and ten different dips.

P.S. If you haven't already voted for drinks--please do so!  Also, how would flavored margaritas be received?  Mango anyone?


Out,
-L

Yes, quite

Since falling off the "recently-engaged" section of Cloud Nine, things have been for the first time--going quite swimmingly in the wedding planning department!

 *A wedding palette has been formed.  Is it weird to anyone else how often one is questioned about one's "colors"?  Not to mock anyone in particular, it just seems like the strangest question!  The first thing I want to know about weddings must differ wildly from the norm.  But hey--I've never been to an open bar I didn't love.  And oh yeah (and brace yourself, Martha Stewart) it's coral, tangerine, cherry, butter and all manners of green.  But I do gesture defiantly when I say--anything I like will be included regardless of it's color.  Palette be damned.

*We're negotiating with the caterer.  I'm currently working with Kasey, head chef from g2 Gallery to make a scrumptdiddlyumptious reception menu for you guys!  I'll sit on the details for now--but trust me, you're gonna love it!  Especially the dessert we have planned!

*I'm seemingly collecting band kits.  But we should have someone soon!  I'm aiming for anyone who can play Hugo, The White Stripes, and Black Keys without sounding like they're selling out.  If you can help you'll be rewarded handsomely.

*The drink poll is up.  I need to know what you guys want to drink!  And back off, the Bud Light is for my Grandma (and it's cute that you think I'm kidding).

*I continue to obsess over shoes.  Nothing else really needs to be said.


Oh, and one more thing!  I even hesitate to mention it (because it could get so wildly out of hand) but could some of my homies in Missouri kindly keep some stuff to "upcycle" into wedding decorations?  I'd love to save money on shipping.  What I'm looking for are aluminum cans (no tiny ones, especially large ones), glass jars (of all persuasions, but especially mason jars).  When you have ten of one category--DO STOP COLLECTING.  The last thing I want is to inconvenience anyone!

And I'm literally dying to use a canoe in photo shoots.  If anyone knows of one we can kindly borrow for the weekend--please report!  It would only be used for photos...


Love,
-L

No, seriously

Well, who is really embarassed about all her previous venue announcements just to see them all fall through?

This girl.

BUT NO SERIOUSLY THIS ONE IS PAID FOR AND IT'S HAPPENING AND WE HAVE A DATE AND EVERYTHING.

So get your sun-dresses and bring your A-game.  There will be a croquet tournament and I will not mess around.

The weekend of July 16th, 2011 we will be having a destination wedding at Cedar Creek Resort just outside Columbia, MO.  Friday will be arrival day, and everyone should feel free to trickle in at their leisure.  The details aren't solid yet, but there will be plenty to do--including unlimited fishing, swimming, and planned activities like billiards, or a drive-in movie, or a buy-in poker night. ( For all you Bridal Party maniacs, this will probably be the night of the Rehearsal Dinner, too.)  Saturday will be an absolute throw-down, with the ceremony in the early evening followed by rockin' barbeque, a dessert bar, live music and (in all likelihood) fireworks.  Sunday will be nice and chill with clean-up, the wrap of the croquet tournament, activities, brunch, etc.  If you have late departure tickets (or you just don't want to head home yet) you can even stay until Monday, with a late check-out at 2pm.

Now, how frickin' excited are you?

Dress code at this point is nice, but comfortable--it'll be sweltering.  If you are an out-of-towner (you are almost 80% of our guest list!) please contact me for details on accommodation--the resort has a set number of rooms (we've booked them all!), and after bridal party and family accommodation, rooms will be first come/RSVP, first serve.  We regret to say that we don't have the budget to just give them out--but trust me, you'll get a crazy smokin' deal (and a lot of food with it).  We recommend flying into Columbia to save on rental car fees, but if you want to fly into St. Louis (which is closer) or Kansas City, that's cool too.

We'll be sending out really neat (if I can say so, myself) e-invitations in a few weeks.  So if I haven't already contacted you about your most recent email addy, please let me know so you recieve one!  From there, everyone can RSVP on our wedding website.  My fantastic wedding planner, Erica of Bella Sera Designs and I are in the middle of devising a system for accommodation reservations and I'll get back with you on it soon.

Ok, so you have some real information now.  Hooray!

Out,
-L