Weddings!

I love weddings (which is convenient because next month we'll be going to three weddings, three weekends in a row). It's always so great to see a couple taking that plunge and making those vows. Since we've been married, I also like to hear those vows again and mentally answer yes. The homily (or sermon) also usually geive some good take-away nuggets of truth. Yesterday, my good friend Nicole married Gavin. The Deacon performing the ceremony, highlighted the need for kindness in relationships. So simple, but so important.

The wedding day was rainy, but we made the best of it swapping the outdoor photo location for a bar (fitting for the couple!). Nicole looked beautiful and Gavin was a beaming bridegroom. It was a great day and it was an honor to be part of it.

Six Months

About this time six months ago today, I was nervously and excitedly waiting to walk down the aisle. I should have eaten something (and maybe laid off that prosecco), so I wouldn't have had that unfortunate blood sugar crash later in the day. But should have, would have, could have. Other than eating breakfast or lunch, I wouldn't change a thing about our wedding day, overall it turned out to be a great day and the perfect wedding for us. Some parts of the day are kind of a blur, but I know I'll always remember the happiness we both felt that day. All of our wedding pictures feature me with a huge smile on my face and Chris looking thrilled. Several people said I was the happiest bride they had even seen. I was living the princess fairytale with the added bonus of getting to live with the prince for a lifetime. We both felt so blessed and lucky to have such a beautiful wedding and to be able to share our special day with our family and friends.

In the six months since we married, the leaves on the trees have finished changing color, fallen, made it through the winter, flowered and are now in brilliant green once again. Likewise, we've fallen into the comfortable rhythm and cycles of married life. Lazy weekend breakfasts, yard work, dinners at home with a bottle of wine. Waiting eagerly for Lost each week and cuddling on the couch. Talking each other down from work crises (okay, really, Chris talking me down). We're enjoying this marriage partnership.

Today we are celebrating with more of the same, really. A small cookout tonight, cleaning up the house and yard today. We did find an overlooked wedding present that somehow made it's way to the garage (thank you card is in the mail now!), so that was kind of fun. I'm also listening to the mix cd my brother made for the wedding, which is such a great mix. It must have pained him, but he included some of my favorites - Madonna, Jimmy Buffet and Jack Johnson. The songs bring back all the wedding day memories for me and it is a favorite of mine.

Today

Little Holes are Good

I was reminded today that Swiss cheese isn't only a tasty addition to a Reuben or a cheese tray, it is also helpful in problem solving and ultimately in stress management. In grad school, preparing for my thesis, I was introduced to the Swiss Cheese method of project management by a professor. We were told all about this method the first day of grad school and while I kind of used it to complete my graduate work, I haven't really much thought about it since.


The gist of the Swiss Cheese method is that when faced with a large project, to nibble off small sections and soon the whole assignment is complete. They somehow connected this to the holes in the Swiss cheese, but I have to admit the reason escapes me right now.


Anyway, since getting the invitations out to the guests of our upcoming wedding was beginning to overtake us all; I devised a plan with specific tasks and due dates which makes it seem manageable. When the goal was get the invitations out by next week, we all flipped out. Now, today's goal is to finalize the guest list, tomorrow's goal is to finish inputting addresses, this weekend's goal is buy stamps, etc until the happy day of October 5 when they are in the capable hands of the USPS.


Grad school actually was good for something! If only one of the lessons would have included ordering more wedding invitations than you really think you'll need.

Stuff I Didn't Know I Needed

I've been told there are not enough "nice things" are my wedding registry. I'm rather confused by this because when I first started my gift registry, I was afraid I was asking for too many nice of things. I feel like I am the lucky one to be getting married to a great guy, and as much as I would like the $350 Le Creuset round dutch oven, I don't expect anyone to buy it for me just because I am beginning a new chapter in my life. Is this wrong of me?

I also think, "nice things" is code for "what the hell are you thinking registering for all green cookware" and "why don't you register for something flowered". Not so much me, but in trying to appease all my new aunts, I have spent the last 30 minutes randomly adding items to my Macy's registry. If they won't be happy until they buy us ridiculously expensive crystal, then I have picked out some beauties (who knew Kate Spade is now designing home goods as well as purses). I also wasn't aware that Robert Mondavi is now "designing" wine glasses as well as crafting the wine to pour into them. Speaking of, I could use a glass now. I hope those glasses hurry up and get here.

Wedding Planning Update

My friend Brian today told me I didn't seem all that stressed about wedding planning...I must be hiding it. I'm doing a good job of hiding it from Brian anyway, but poor Chris and my parents are getting the brunt of the wedding stress. As of Saturday, the wedding is only 7 or 8 months away (depending on how you count). Either way, the countdown is on! I've stopped visiting theknot.com because it likes to annoyingly point out to me how many things I have left to check off of their list (169). I have to visit it, though, because this is where the guest list is currently residing (and growing by the minute). To make me feel better and to keep you all filled in, here is what I have done so far:

1. We have a date, a church and a reception site.
2. We've met with the Priest and he's on board (even though we live together and Chris isn't Catholic).
3. We went to pre-Cana (marriage prep) class and got the certificate. Actually, this was a really good experience for both of us. (I'll try to do a future blog on that later).
4. I bought my dress and it is gorgeous.
5. I'm pretty much 100% decided on the bridesmaid dresses and have changed the color scheme of the wedding from brown / green / pink to cranberry / green / pink.
6. We hired a photographer who I absolutely adore and feel confident he will be able to capture not only the events of the day, but the emotion as well.

And that's pretty much it. Yes, I'm a little stressed, but am so looking forward to my marriage with Chris that I'm dealing with it. However, if I snap at any of you or randomly start crying while discussing the menu, you'll have to excuse me because I have 169 things to do and 242 days in which to do them.