Rehearsal Day!

Well friends, this is it!  The second-biggest big day, Rehearsal Day!  At 6pm tonight, we’re going to practice for our ceremony, and then its off to The Cornerstone for our big rehearsal dinner with all 22 members of the bridal party, and their significant others.  And, of course, our parents will be there (sibs are actually all in the bridal party, so they’re coming too).  We are so fortunate and so thankful to have so many of those who are near and dear to us, to celebrate with.  I know its going to be an incredible day.

And so off I go! 

Love me and the world is mine.  ~David Reed

image by Jessica Morrisy

A Soundtrack For Getting Ready

This may sound cheesy to some people, but hey, I love cheese.  Which is why I decided that as part of my wedding day preparations, I should put together an itunes mix of music that makes me feel really good.  Something to listen to while eating breakfast, driving to the hair salon, or waiting during photos.  I admit, these songs are basically all pop with pop-country mixed in.  Music snobs will think I am oh-so-lame.  But its my special f’ing day so I don’t care what they say!

Here’s the songs most likely to appear on my list (click the link to hear the song):

(1) That’s Where It Is (Carrie Underwood)

Makes me feel warm and fuzzy, kind of like J.

(2) My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)

Well, it would.  Matronly attire at the VMA’s aside, Kelly Clarkson is definitely my favorite american idol. 

(3) One Step at a Time (Jordin Sparks)

Lil’ sis B. says this song is for 10 year olds.  And me.  :)

(4) Forever (Chris Brown)

All I can think about is that wedding party who danced to this coming down the aisle.   And it makes me smile just thinking of it!

(5) Party in the USA (Miley Cyrus)

I’m embarrassed that I love this song so much I made it my cell phone ringer.  But it’s true!

(6) You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)

If you don’t love Taylor Swift, you probably also don’t love America.  Or apple pie.

(7) When Love Takes Over (David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland)

The most talented of Destiny’s Children has it going on in this song.  LOVE her.

What do you think- got any other good suggestions for me?

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Thanks Mr. Postman!

Last Friday I came home to the most wonderful surprise in my mail.  A package from my bridesmaid S.’s mother, who made our wedding boutonnieres.  I had initially considered making these myself after seeing so many great non-floral bout’s on etsy, but when S. suggested her mother might be able to help out I jumped at the chance.  S’s mother did the floral elements for S.’s sister’s wedding, and they had been gorgeous, so I knew she’d do a much better job than I ever could.  And she really did deliver!

Just look at these delicate fabric roses which she handmade- and the amazing lace “leaves,” not to mention the extra touch of bling.  I am in love!  And who knows if the groomsmen will actually keep these as a keepsake but it sure is nice to know it’s an option.  J. and I will, of course, be keeping his.  This is just so personal and special, I am so excited about how they came out!!

oooooh

ahhhhhh

Thanks S.’s mom!!

Pre-Wedding Bliss!

Today my mom is coming in for the big day!  Purportedly, the plan has been that she will help me with all the last minute details.   And I absolutely know she will.  But frankly, I’m a neurotic, obsessed organizational freak very good planner, and most of the “to do” list is already done.  So mostly I’m going to ask my mom to do things like make me breakfast.  And today we’re going to do something New York does quite well- we’re hitting the spa!

Now anyone who knows me at all knows full well that my favorite spa is Bliss.  Their marketing is adorable, but that isn’t why I love them.  Nope, I heart their treatments- my favorites being the 75 minute “blissage” and the triple oxygen facial.  They have an amazing Bliss buffet in the relaxation room where you can eat cheese and brownie bites, and drink tea or cucumber water.  And the ladies who work there are magical.  They might actually be otherworldly, they are that good. 

As soon as la mama gets in, we’re going to grab a bite to eat and then hit Bliss early so we can change and relax.  Mom is getting the “scrub n’ color” (read: best faux self tanning treatment ever because they use a formula that won’t look orange, and because they paint it on), and I’m getting a massage.  Whee!

image source: Bliss

I’m so excited!

And I just can’t hide it! 

My last day of work is going too slowly, and I’m too excited to be very productive.   So instead of trying very hard, I’m just going to enjoy the feeling.   And then go tanning.  And blog about it.

Mmmmkay bye!

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Seating Logistics- Who Knew?

One of the very last things I’m doing for the wedding is making escort cards.  The reason I’ve waited for this: I wanted to wait until the last possible minute so that any late changes in our guest list would be included in our work.

Of course, all of the materials for the escort cards have been long ready.  I have had a general plan for tables for months.  But deciding who will sit at each table has been harder than I expected!  After all, where guests sit (and who with) often dictates how much fun they will have.  And as host and hostess, J. and I certainly want to encourage conversation, mingling, and also comfort for our guests!

So here’s my anecdotal list of things I thought about when determining a seating plan; I will have to let you know how it works out!

- Spouses always sit together, but I often sat their kids separately (we have some teens attending) if I thought different groupings of people made sense.

- I tried very had to put even numbers at tables (under the theory that conversations happen in pairs) but if it didn’t work out, this was one criterion I sometimes ignored.

- As the child of divorced parents, I had each parent host their own table.  Knowing they are comfortable will make me a more comfortable bride!

- Attendants were split up.  We’re not doing a head table, and there are so many different worlds where my friends come from, so I sat them according to where I thought they would have fun and not necessarily together.

- I tried to make sure singles were never sat in a way that might make them feel uncomfortable.  This means no “singles table” and it also meant I did not sit singles with people who would be so “in your face” couple-ish that it would get old for the single person.

- I tried to be sure that everyone knew at least one other person at their table.  In a few instances where the guest will know nobody else at the wedding, my fallback was to seat them with gregarious, fun people who would be inclusive (I hope!)

- I also tried to distribute the really good conversationalists throughout the room.  In fact, I specifically identified my “social chameleon” friends before I even started.  I sat those folks last, since I had the most options for them.

- After doing my best, there were certain instances where I couldn’t follow all my rules, and it wasn’t quite perfect.  But it seemed I had done things in the best way… so I decided to cut myself some slack and move on.  All you can do is your best, right??

Do you have any good tips for seating wedding guests?

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Getting My Ladies Photo-Ready!

With ten bridesmaids, one of the things I’ve been thinking about is how they might look best in photos.  I’ve asked them to all choose different dresses from a list of eight potentials in the same fabrics and colors.  So they’ll all look a bit different.  Plus, they’ve each been asked to do their hair however they like, get whatever shoes they like, wear whatever jewelery they like.  I actually want them to look different.  They’re all gorgeous ladies with unique styles, so shoehorning them into matchy-matchy madness was absolutely not acceptable to me.  Can you imagine: ten ladies looking like green, wind-up toy soldiers?  Notsomuch.

I’m hoping that by giving them the space to find their own looks, the end result will be cohesive but interesting- and more importantly, will yield me a happy group of ten ladies (woe to the bride with ten unhappy peers on her hands)!  I’m thinking we should do some group photos a la Annie Liebowitz in Vanity Fair?  I LOVE those fashion spreads, where everyone is fascinating and lovely in their own right, and the group as a whole is also incredibly striking.  Knowing my ladies, we’ll be less serious and more silly, but that actually sounds good to me too!

click for image source

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Are you loving the Annie Liebowitz as much as I am?  And PS, special props to Ruffled Blog for bringing this idea to my attention!

The Warehouse in Our Guestroom

Dear Guest Room,

Thank you for putting up with the nonsense of the past 9 months.  You’ve been such a trooper. You used to be so lovely- so thoughtfully eclectic, an homage to my love of antiques and J’s love of his man space.  And yet, we’ve used and abused you.  You’ve had to sit for countless hours while I made my craft messes on your bed.  You’ve suffered through hours of phone calls and conversations that could have been had elsewhere.   Instead of guests, you have housed towers of boxes, boxes, and more boxes.  You’ve had to look at bags of delicious candy and not been able to eat any.  You’ve had to look at wedding gifts that could have been put away, but hadn’t yet been addressed.  That must have been annoying for you.  I’m sorry.

But this weekend, guestroom, I promise things will change.  We’ll take all those boxes somewhere else, and when we get back from the wedding, we really will put all those presents away.  Guest Room, I swear, you will once again be a Guest Room!  I know that typical abusive relationships usually involve a fair amount of flowers and apologies, but I am different than those brides, I swear!  I will restore you to your formal glory, and then hopefully, I will sell you to a high paying buyer!

xoxo,

Sarah

Oh Guest Room...

... you are the best room a girl could have!

Euphoria!

Today I had my last dress fitting.  And it went well!  But in order to fully share the experience, I must first channel my favorite wedding film of all time, Muriel’s Wedding.  This movie’s soundtrack is all Abba, and so I suggest you listen to this music as you read…

Ok.  So.  In the movie, Muriel is kind of a nerd, like me, and she has these “friends” who are significantly cooler than her but not very nice.  Kind of like these Spice Girls I went to high school with- you know the type.  And one of these friends gets married and is a super brat about it.  So at the brat’s wedding, said brat finds out her new husband has been cheating on her with another brat bridesmaid.  And so she starts crying hysterically and screams in her Aussie accent, But I’m a BRIDE!  I’m suppposed to be EUPHOOOORIC!

Best.  Movie.  Line.  Ever.  So you know that as soon as I got engaged I started saying it all the time!  But the odd thing is, even though I was only kidding most of the time, there were a few moments where I really thought I was supposed to feel euphoric, such as when I found “the dress.”

I did not have that moment for a long time.  I love my dress but when I found it I didn’t faint or cry or have anything other than a genuine feeling that I liked it.  Which at the time, I was ok with.  I know lots of people who have told me they too did not get that feeling- because let’s face it- its just an article of clothing.  It’s not going to change my life.

But over time, it started to worry me.  What if I wasn’t getting that “feeling” because chose the wrong dress?  Or, more importantly, what if I was displacing anxiety I have about something else on this dress issue?  What if I was ignoring something really important?  That nagging feeling eventually turned into full-court pressure, and later panic.  And I had a full on meltdown after my last fitting.  I may or may not have called my friend C. and cried that I was going to look mediocre on my wedding day.  I may or may not have been told by my mom that I was being completely irrational.  It may or may not have been because I had kind of stopped eating, and when I am very hungry I am super emotional. 

So after my little panic attack, I decided to slow the heck down and be nicer to myself.  I decided it was time to stop pressuring myself and start eating a little more.  A glass of wine here and there, some tanning bed time, and a little less time in the office.   And not only have I not gained any weight, I actually feel 1000% better.  And I’m again refocused on what is most important- not the dress, the dress is just a symbol (thanks for that reminder, mom!)- on the fact that I’m getting married and it is awesome!

And guess what else.  When I went to my fitting today, I had my MOMENT!  I totally felt that feeling you’re supposed to feel.  Like it all is coming together and it is all exactly right.  AND I LOVE MY DRESS!!  I guess sometimes you have to let go and stop trying so hard to find a moment, so that the moment can find you!!

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Something Old: My Hair Flower

When my mother was married, she wore a very cute halo-styled hairpiece made from a lovely ivory silk tafetta.  It didn’t quite work with my dress, but the color and fabric were spot on, and so I literally jumped for joy when she said I could take some flowers off of it to wear in my hair on my wedding day.  The perfect “something old”!

So here’s what I started with…

My momma's hair piece.

I decided that two hair flowers would be just right.  They were, fortunately, hot glued on and so they were easy to remove (and after, will be easy to put back).  At my hair trial, my stylist suggested I put them on a comb, so I did exactly that.  I had to cut some of the fabric from the back of each flower to take out some of the “poufiness” so that they would lay flatter against my head, and then I took ivory ribbon and sewed it to the bottom of the flowers to hide the raw fabric edges.  Then I stitched them onto a clear comb (purchased in a package of 12 at the craft store for $1.99).  The end result will be absolutely perfect with my veil and dress.  And in less than two weeks, I’ll get to wear it!

My "something old"!

Detail of the sewing on the comb.

Thanks Mom!