Many things...

I have a list in my head of what I want to talk about but for the last week, I can't seem to get it all on paper. So what did I do? I upgraded our wedding website to a family website (It really wasn't a transformation, I just made a brand new website and kept the wedding website, but changed the homepage name). After many hours of trying to remember html code, it slowly starting coming back to me. I know, coding? I'm a geek at heart where when I figured out how to move over a column I was stoked. Lame!

Anyhow, I've been busy on the nets fixing stuff that you don't really see or might not even notice but I'm around. Seeing as how I didn't get any questions I guess I talk about the honeymoon and finally post the photos I finally uploaded. :)

Waiting Patiently...

I have to admit, it's a little hard to post many reviews or details of the wedding without my pro pics. It's only been a few weeks so I'm not worried about not having them yet. So I have to admit when I said I'm back with a vengance, I slightly exaggerated that. I will be posting but not as often as I would if I had photos.

So I know open the floor to you... Do you have any questions or thoughts you want to hear about in particular about the wedding? Anyone? Anything?

With these hands...

Our Ceremony was far superior than what I had imagined. I pictured readings that were just read, not felt. I pictured the minister to rush through it and it be so impersonal. I pictured myself crying the entire time. I pictured a wedding that I wouldn't remember.

What I got was a smiling bride and groom at times, readers who read from their hearts and meant every word they said, a minister who made me feel like he was my oldest friend in the world. I got a dream wedding. A friend told me when she saw me for the first time, when the doors opened up, I looked serious. What she didn't know is that I was trying memorize everything I saw so I wouldn't forget it. An aunt came up to us later and told us she never saw two people enjoy themselves as much as we did during the ceremony. She noticed how we kept smiling at each other. It's these little things people told us that made me remember more of that moment. And as much as everyone says that your day is a blur, it can be true. I'd have to say that about our reception, but our ceremony, I remember it all! There even was one moment where we were knealing infront of the alter and Father Jim was giving his homily. At one point he picked up something that was shiny and you could see your reflection. I saw me in my dress and my husband in his tux. I saw people behind me but couldn't make them out. I saw us getting married and if I had to lose every memory from that day and keep one, it would be that one.

During our Engaged Encounters (our mandatory pre-marital counceling), our host couple read this to us and it really hit home. Right then, I realized I wanted it to be read at our ceremony. It hit home on so many levels that I felt like I needed to share it with everyone. We asked his father and my sister to read it for us. Now I can share it with you!

The Hands of the Bride and Groom
My Sister reads:
Bride’s name, please face Groom’s name, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. (Bride and groom should be facing each other, the groom’s upturned hands resting in the brides’.)
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.
These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

His Father reads:
Groom’s name, please hold Bride’s name’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. (Bride should now place her upturned hands in the Groom’s hands.)
These are the hands, smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it’s time to let go.
These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you’ve both had a long hard day.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child; that together you have created a new life.
Perhaps these are the hands that will comfort you when you are told you cannot have a child, and will convince you that together you will create new life in other ways.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Clergy reads:
Dear Father, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love.
Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Bride’s name and Groom’s name see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.
We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and forever. Amen.

So with all the heart ache and tears I had dealing with the church people, my ceremony was a dream come true!

oh Happy Day...

One of my favorite days of the year is upon us and so I am up late enjoying a beer! (Partly cause of the special day, but solely I am still on Bali time!)

It's my birthday! Little miss Planner has entered her last year as a twenty-something! :) Am I sad about that? HECK NO! I'm the happiest I've ever been and married to my best friend!

Total counts...

Something I did right was give a lower count than what we expected to the caterers. Below are our final counts:
Sent out 100 invitations...

* 80... RSVPs received
* 20.. RSVPs AWOL
* 126...Yeses
* 140... TOTAL Yeses (from RSVPs or just told us)
* 2... unknowns
* 15....Nos
* 31... Nos (from RSVPs or just told us)
* RSVP DATE has PASSED!!!

What was the real number who finally came? 130. There was about 10 people who RSVPed yes that didn't show up. Some I knew wouldn't make it cause of the fires in the area, others I have to admit I was a bit surprised about.

In the end, we ended up paying for 1 extra meal! :) Not too shabby!

Yummy vendor review Part 1

Since early on, we went with cupcake idea and wanted to find a local bakery. We found TC Bakery and everything fell into place. We even sent photos over of our ideas of what I wanted and I think they did a great job! Everyone LOVED the cupcakes and they were soo moist and tasty I was bummed after the reception I didn't get have more! Luckily someone packed some up and my wish for cupcakes were fullfilled!





Photo came from my dear friend Frank! Danke Frank-uh!

On a grading scale, TC Bakery gets an A!

May I present to you the Mr. and Mrs. Bobbleheads!

A few months ago I blogged about wanting bobbleheads as our cake toppers. We ordered them from a great company called Whoop Ass Enterprises! When they came they were a bit heavy so they decided put on the table!



Photo came from my dear friend Frank! Thanks Franks!

HOLLA....

I'm back with a vengeance, one thing people never really tell you about honeymoons is that you tend to have a lot of time to look back on your wedding day and depict it into a million little pieces!

Tomorrow I should be back up to my normal postings... about what happened, what I thought... blah blah blah...

Anyhow, until tomorrow... this little planner is going to catch up on some zzzz's!