Satisfaction

I'm sitting here, not able to sleep, watching Satisfaction. I loved this movie when I was younger. Its kinda fun watching it now:). I took, essentially, three naps between 6am and 12:30am after being up for about 18 hours. I got home and went to bed at 6am. I had a long night of fighting alarms and paperwork at work.

The best part of the entire day: pulling up to my apartment and seeing Frank in the window of my apartment looking at me. He has been sleeping on, with, or near me all day! I love it! Princess was happy to see me too though.

Well Satisfaction is done and I should try this sleep thing again.

The Case of the Relucant Bride

So next Monday, Labor Day, is my shower. I know its coming up and have talked to people about it, including my amazing maid-of-honor, who is hosting it. But its not the top thing in my head. Tonight I was talking to a friend on the phone when we were getting off the phone I said we'd talk soon and she said "well for sure next Monday" and it took me a bit to realize what she was talking about.

Its almost like I'm the reluctant bride. 48 days left and its still not clicking. Although I did just order my first item with my new last name: my name tag for work.

Princess's mom is coming tomorrow night and is staying through the week. I'll only be home for a day of her visit but I'm excite because her presence will motivate Princess to get some of her task list done.

I'm been trying to get a start on my vows...Princess doesn't want to hear them before the wedding but they can't been cheesy or funny. I'm not sure she's ever actually met me, since that pretty much sums me up. I'm kinda approaching vow writing like I would a reflective paper for school. Signs of an academic...too bad I'm not the best student.

Dances and Daddys

The hardest part of planning our wedding to this point has been the fact my Dad isn't here anymore to be a part of the wedding. I've been trying to find ways to incorporate my dad in ways that won't make me cry like a baby on my wedding day.

My favorite book when I was growing up was Roses for Mama by Janette Oke. In this book Angela's parents have died and in the end she's getting married and is missing her parents. It seems so odd now that I am getting married and my Dad isn't here, and yet he read the book with me when I was younger.

My mom hasn't really been involved with anything, in part because we're paying for everything and I don't want her to feel guilty that she isn't paying for anything. Also, because I don't think she really knows what to say or do. I'm not sure if its because her youngest daughter is getting married to a girl or if its because she misses my dad and can't believe he's not here to come to my wedding with my mom.

Either way, I want to find ways to honor my Daddy. I have considered carrying my Dad's Bible down the aisle. I think I'm going to have the candle from my Dad's funeral burning at the wedding, it has my Dad's obit or prayer on it. The biggest challenge though:

The Father/Daughter Dance. Princess and her dad are going to be doing one but I'm not sure I want to do a Mother/Daughter Dance but I don't want to just breeze over it. I've also considered to have a family dance with my 3 brothers, sister, and Mom, but I'm not sure I love that option either.

To top it off I'm not sure my Mom really wants to walk me down the aisle. She has been exceptionally non-committal about most everything including this. I'm not sure if she doesn't want to who I will have walk me down the aisle. Its between my middle brother, who I'm closest to, and my best friend, Luigi.

53 Days and counting...I'll have answers soon enough!

Slowly but Surely

At least that's what my Dad would say if he were still alive.

Wedding planning is coming slowly yet at lightning speed. We changed our minds about the invites several times but eventually found one we could both agree upon. I'll be doing a post just on that in the following weeks. Invites are out or will be out depending on what part of the list you're looking at:)

We ordered cupcakes from a local catering company after going back and forth on cakes and bakers. We are doing three flavors and my mouth waters just thinking about them! I can't wait to see what she does. We also ordered a smaller cake so we have something to cut, as that is one of the few "traditional" parts of our wedding. Its going to be two flavors and two tiers and will be white, pink, and black:).

I'm sorry I'm so slow lately. I just changed jobs and now have a second apartment and don't have internet there, yet.

Cupcakes and Pictures

It seems we have most of the big stuff planned except for our baker and our photographer.

I have made several contacts with bakers to see if they do cupcakes. We thought we had a baker when we wanted a cake but then Princess changed her mind and decided she wants cupcakes. I still want to cut a cake so we're looking at cupcakes for our guests and a small cake. No fondant though. We don't like fondant. So I've gotten pictures and quotes from several bakers in the area who do cupcakes, unlike our original baker.

As far as a photographer, I've started to get sample pictures and quotes from several. We really want someone who is still building a portfolio because we want to help further someones education.

Ok time for a chick flick and kitty time.

Plans

So far we have started the invitation list. We're considering inviting a smaller group of people to our wedding and then a larger group to the reception later in the evening.

We do have a reception site booked and the caterer comes with it:) We have the menu picked for the most part but we're still working on some of the details. We just have so many people who we want to celebrate with but our venue can only hold about 100 for dinner.

I contacted a friend of mine who does scenic photography and he has passed on my info to some students who do photography.

My amazingly organized Maid of Honor picked up bridal gown catalogs for me and has already set a date for when we're going dress shopping. I'm really hoping that she'll do all the leg work and get the appointments set up. She and my attendant will be going and trying on dresses. I'm excited!

Plans

Its amazing how the decision of seven individuals can change my whole life in one action. On Friday, April 3rd, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously voted that not allowing same sex couples was against the Iowa Equal Protections Clause of the Iowa State Constitution. With that said, since we can get married in the state we live in, we've decided to move up our wedding date since we won't have to pay for all of the travel...so we're getting married October 17th, 2009! 6 months!

Exactly one week from when it was announced we could get married in the state we live...we have paid our deposit on our venue where we'll be married and have our reception.

It all seems to be happening fast but at the same time it feels right.