Sunday Figurings

So, I 'd like to think that I haven't become this totally wedding-absorbed bridal beast, but I must admit that I do subscribe to some blogs from gals that have done this thing before, because frankly, I am clueless. I haven't gotten married before. I wasn't the type of little girl to play "pretend wedding" nor did I stare up at my ceiling at night deciding what I wanted my dress to look like or what music played; I was more concerned about the killer robots that hid under the bed. So I am a babe in this bridal world thus the reading of others' blogs.

Both of these blogsters (A Practical Wedding  and 2000 Dollar Wedding) are still writing even after the fact of their own weddings and are dispensing advice to thousands of clueless readers like me (well, they are probably less clueless than me). Sometimes I have to step back and think, whoa there Nelly, this is a lot of thinking going into a day that most likely will fly by, and later, I will have forgotten all the little details that are on my centralized task list (because I tend to forget little details all the time) that according to the blogosphere make a wedding personal and memorable for the guests.

Nathan and I were going over our ceremony script that I threw together from others' idea (again, I had no idea where to start). He was very adamant about not including poems (I like poems--I'm a literary geek), because he doesn't want other people's words to take place of what we feel and want to say. I think that was the best wedding advice I have heard so far. We are back to the drawing board on that one. I am actually glad that he has an opinion about this if not anything else. It seems like the ceremony part, the whole exchange of vows and promises, is the most important part of all. From our ceremony, you can expect scientific ramblings about the autumnal process of the forest and how that ecology is metaphor for our lives. Or, something to that affect...

So, this is what I figure:
I figure that while advice is a helpful starting point, it is just a starting point. I figure I should take it, leave it, mold it, build on it, stomp on it, kick it in the air, embrace it, absorb it, or walk through it.

And the planning begins!

I'm back from my out-of-country vacation and have come to the realization of how much work I have to do. Besides painting my house this summer, there is of course the typical yard clean-up, vegetable tending, rose dead-heading, etc. that usually takes up my summer hours, but now I have to get things in gear!

My "wedding planner" (my aunt) went shopping while I was gone and has purchased plates for the reception among other things. She is also my officiant, and we have yet to sit down and organize the ceremony with her. I actually sat down yesterday and generously copied ideas from all over the world wide web and wrote up a ceremony which feels appropriately ceremonious.

I have also been officially measured for my dress, so my mom can get started on that. Of course, these measurements came in after the croissant-binging trip in France. Ha! At least, I don't have to worry about gaining weight. Shoes are proving to be problematic...details, details, details. I guess I'm wearing flip-flops.

My mother and I did some shopping and purchased more vintage plates for the reception. I did pause and question myself about this particular idea. What will we do with 50 some plates after the reception? Give them away as mementos? Return them to the charity organizations we purchased them from? I don't know. They are at least more eco-friendly than purchasing paper plates, right?

Last night, I nearly completed my veil, so I feel ready to marry Nathan. Who knows? Maybe I'll win that trip to Vegas and we'll surprise everyone! Constructing a veil was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I am pretty sure it doesn't look like I have a flower pot on my head, but I'm a little worried that it might look a little like that...

Boy, I sure wish all my aunties were here to join in the planning fun. You know you want to...

The Wedding "Party"

(So, it is a good thing that this whole "to-do" can be something to occupy and focus my brain; otherwise, I'd be bouncing off the walls, because I only have 8 more days with 8th graders...not that I don't love my students, but I need a summer break!)

I just finished reading a blog about the sticky wicket of selecting a wedding party. I really hope no one out there is offended, but Nathan and I opted not to pick one at all. Pretty much, if you are there with us, consider yourself part of the party. Why do people create this middle school situation for themselves? OMG! I wasn't picked! I guess I am not her BFF after all!

Beyond the legal fact of needing two witnesses, what is the purpose of an actual wedding party? Is it to get back at your "friend" who made you wear a poofy olive green dress at her wedding? Is it to belittle your cousin by not asking her to be the maid of honor? I don't get it, so I'm going to do a quick Google search for "history of wedding party".

***time elapses...about 5 seconds***

Well, this is what I found out. A wedding party is an ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition in which your "knights" would protect your bride from harm and insure that she made it safely to the wedding. And, the bridesmaid is basically, literally a maid who dressed the bride, etc. Seeing that there are no dragons about, and I can dress myself just fine, I don't believe we need a wedding party.

So, if you want to be more than the party of the wedding party and want to specifically help me slay some dragons, just let me know. I am accepting any and all help. BYOJL - Bring your own jousting lance.

The Location

Total cost: $100

A few years ago after a fall excursion to the coast, Nathan and I took a side trip to an old growth trail attached to Clay Creek Campground. I didn't know at the time that it would be the location of our own fall wedding. Of course, I must admit that in a back corner of my mind, I did comment silently that leaves falling on the bridge to the trail would be a beautiful spot for a wedding photo.

Today, myself, Nathan, and our fearless wedding planners (my mother, my aunt and uncle) took the hour drive out to see the site, count parking spaces, picnic tables, and figure out how to have a classy wedding at a campground with no electricity. Despite the intermittent rain, I still found it to be a beautiful spot in which to be married. (Thank goodness.)

We have reserved the two picnic shelters that are adjoined by a baseball field (more of a meadow really) that I think would be a perfect spot for bocce ball, croquet, and badminton. The site has its own horseshoes courts. And, if it does rain, the picnic shelters have enormous stone fireplaces to keep us toasty while we toast and play Scrabble.

There is a sandy beach with bleacher style seating that seems to be the obvious spot for the ceremony. There is even a waterfall playing in the background which means of course, we'll have to speak up. Yet, the river will have less of a flow by the fall and may not be as raucous. I like that I get to make an entrance down a staircase...yes, I do like a bit of drama.

I am excited that all agree (even through the rain) that it will be a lovely spot.