Recently in Wedding! Category

Second in the wedding memories series... the dress story.

Yes, I really did pick out my wedding dress in less than an hour.
The story starts in 2003, when Alexa and I were looking a bridemaids dresses for her wedding.
We stopped by Madison Town&Country, and while we were looking I found, quote "the dresses my bridesmaids are going to wear when hell freezes over and I get married." Fast forward a year....
When Dan and I made the "informal" engagement announcement, the first thing I did was call my two best friends and take them to get fitted for their dresses. And well, since we're all in a bridal shop anyway, why not go ahead and try on bridal gowns? I mean, it's going to take weeks to find the perfect dress, right? The first two were very traditional; poufy, lots of sequins and beading. Pretty, but to quote Alexa, "You look like Dolly Parton." I really hadn't intended to buy a "foufy" dress, I really wanted something simple, but not many wedding gowns actually have zero decoration. While talking with one of the shop girls I happened to mention that I liked historical and theatrical costuming. Her immediate response was, "I have this dress you will appreciate, the top is a functional corset!" It also happened to have almost zero decoration, except this funny drippy crystal thing on one side. After being carefully laced in, I looked in the mirror and thought, "Wow. I really like this." Then I looked at the price tag. "WOW. I REALLY like this!" And that was it.
I paid under half of what I had budgeted for a dress, and since the floor sample fit perfectly, got a discount too. All while Alicia and Alexa were groaning over the English Gray color of their dresses.

I wish everything else associated with the wedding had been so simple.

A year ago today I was in the throes of hating my job, loving Dan and planning our wedding.
I have many fond memories of the wedding and it's planning, despite what the rumors may say. :) And since I can't remember anything to save my life, I thought I'd record them here, for posterity. Heck, maybe I'll even write them down on paper someday.

Today's edition, favorite quote from someone not directly involved in the wedding:

The wedding flowers were not delivered by our "flower guy." He couldn't make it so he sent another guy from the shop. This guy had never seen us, and knew nothing about our wedding, except that he had a box full of calla lillies and white alstroemeria. When he arrived I had just finished putting on my dress. The girls called me to come out so I could verify the order. When I came out of the restroom the flower guy was still walking down the hallway. He stopped, did a "take," and said,

"Wow - you really are beautiful."

Everyone always says brides are beautiful. But the tone of his voice was, surprised. As if he couldn't believe that it was true. It was one of the most sincere compliments I've ever received.

Um, so, Dan and I are married now. The wedding is over with. I'm sitting on our couch, surounded by really neat stuff, with worn tuxes, a wedding dress waiting to be cleaned, and a plate of leftover cake in front of me.

Reflections on stuff (deep thoughts come later):

-There is no such thing as perfect. (no matter how well you plan things)
When we arrived at the Lodge, both rooms were set up backwards (and had to be re-set),and the florist was an hour late (at least he had been scheduled obnoxiously early) but the worst part was the Lodge not having an easel, after they told me that one would be provided. Ugh.

-People actually like you.
Besides giving us cool gifts, our 40 closest friends and family stood outside in 30 degree weather (20 degrees with windchill) and held sparklers so we could have a cool exit. And it was really cool. (pun intended?)

-It takes about 10 minutes to get married. Not including party. :)
Seriously, we thought we had about a 15-20 minute ceremony alone, plus entrance and exit time, so total time = 30 minutes. Total video length for ceremony + entrance/exit = 16 minutes. And I think that includes some of people being seated. Eh, we said all the important stuff.

-The weather will cooperate - for someone else's wedding.
It was 65 here until the week of the wedding. Everyone from out of town commented that they expected a break from the cold weather. And the continental weather didn't cooperate either. Most of my extended family is sleeping in airports tonight. Of course, it's going to be warm here for the rest of the week...

-People like chocolate.
In the process of gathering together all of the stuff from the wedding aftermath, we couldn't account for the "extra" 15 or so wedding favors (chocolate truffles). We thought the catering staff might have snagged them by accident. My mom solved the puzzle by saying that she saw a lot of people eating the truffles during dinner and suspected that the favor basket had been raided on the way out. At least we aren't stuck with 15 truffles? dammit. :)

-Just because a hotel room is expensive doesn't mean it's comfy.
Well, they did give us a good rate on the room, but yeah, the Radisson is not the Chase Park Plaza. I am spoiled for all other hotel beds forever. At least there was a nice cheese and cracker tray with the champagne. :)

-Get up early for breakfast the next day.
We did. From 7-9 we ate with anyone at the hotel who was awake. It was more relaxed than the night before, although we were dead tired, even after 2 cups of coffee.

So, deep thoughts coming later. I'm going to go enjoy my honeymoon.

Oh, and the new title is "Mrs. Thill." (pronounced Till with a silent "h")

NOTE! If you received an invite to the wedding and haven't RSVP'd yet - DO IT NOW please! Grrrr.....

Suggestions for those of you who are planning or will plan a wedding some day:
#1 - Do not *require* an RSVP.
#2 - Allow children.

Exposition:
#1 - When Dan and I were budgeting the wedding, we realized we had two options: invite everyone on the planet that we know and serve cookies and water or limit the guest list and serve real food. We are very serious about our food, therefore, we chose the latter, in the form of a sit-down dinner. Big catch we ignored - people MUST RSVP to have food! It's less than a week to the RSVP deadline, we only have half the number of cards vs. people who have told us they are coming. If you don't RSVP I can't know what you want for dinnner! (Also, make sure your caterer doesn't insist on seating charts. It appears that having people write their name by the entree they want is confusing. We're not sure how either.)

#2 - The most diffcult part of wedding etiquette is asking people not to bring children! There seems to be some confusion, that if an invitation arrives addressed to "John and Mary" it implies "all the kids" too???? In our defense, we have several reasons for requesting the absense children: catering fees; the Lodge where we are hosting the wedding is not "kid friendly"; 3 couples with children <6 months old; little cousins - some of whom are better behaved in public than others (guess which kind are most likely to be dragged to the wedding...) We have been upfront about this from about day 3 of wedding planning. To quote Dan - GAH!

Save yourself the hassle, just have your wedding at a church (with a nursery) and a buffet at the reception.

Or better yet, just go to Vegas. I hear drive-through Elvis weddings are all the rage now...

For my own sanity, and to feel like I've accomplished something in this giant mess called a "wedding;"
a comprehensive list.

What: Laura and Dan's Wedding
When: January 22nd, 2005
Where: Lodge at Monte Sano, Huntsville, AL
Time: 4:30 pm ceremony, 5:00 receiving line, 5:30 dinner
Dinner: by WildFlour bistro (chicken, beef and pork entrees. the groom suggests the pork)
Wines: by St. James winery (to be picked up during trip to Rolla, Nov. 5-6)
Cake: by Ellen's Creative Cakes (chocolate w/black cherry&raspberry filling, almond w/kahlua filling, amaretto buttercream overall)
Wedding party: yes
Bridesmaids: english grey tailored dresses with shawl (shoes TBD, need to buy jewelry)
Groomsmen: 2 button standard tuxedos, silver herringbone vests, winged shirt, black 4-in-hand-tie
Dads: 2 button standard tuxedos, same vest, flat collar shirt, black tie
Moms: whatever they want
Ushers: suits (with coat and tie mallen!)
Minister: Alan Weatherly, Asbury UMC
Ceremony: details TBD
Photography: Olive's Photography (ask about extra 2 hours for reception)
Flowers: need to order (boquet, white, calla lillies for girls, boutinners for men, corsages for moms)
Trees: evergreens and rosmary trees (get at christmas time)
Invitations: need to order (plain, black lettering, need silver tissue paper and RSVP cards)
Hotel: need to reserve block of rooms (Dan's to do list)
Directions: need to make maps
Registry: to do ASAP (bed,bath&beyond (kitchen gadgets, linens, cookware),Dillards(fiesta ware and glasses),Williams-Sonoma?(just because it's cool))
Shower: no clue, not my thing
Guest book: not yet. no clue who's going to watch it. and do I have to make them wear a flower?
Reception activites: yes (speeches by wedding party (Dan's request), dance(ours, parents), boquet/garter throwing, candlelight exit (no, you don't get to throw stuff at us))
Honeymoon: Harvest, AL
Limo: no.

What else have I forgotten?

Dan proposed to me tonight!!!!! See the first pics here !!!!! (yes, they were taken in our hotel room with a phone, but hey -this wasn't planned or anything!)

Short version - we are visting my Dad in Houston, I knew Dan was going to ask his blessing. What I didn't know was that Dan had picked up the ring but kept telling me it wasn't in yet... We were having dinner at the America's (my favorite resturant in Houston) and Dan asked Dad's blessing, then turn to me and starts into this long, beautiful speech! (more on this later when I can remember what he said!)

ok - I'm too happy to write anyting else! More later!!!!!!!!

DAMMIT! I'M THE HAPPIEST LUCKIEST AND MOST ECSTATIC WOMAN ALIVE!!!!!!

Note: The wedding category really does fall into the "ate potato chips and went to sleep" style of writing. I apologize, but hey, I'll get to do this once in my life, and I'm going to be as obnoxious as possible about it!

So my ring is on order. I tried to find a similar pic but couldn't - it's a cathedral style mounting, in a full platinum setting. The only other cathedral's I could find were modern looking - mine is very traditional. :) 90 pts. stone for those who care. I didn't bother looking at the inclusions and quality. I like the way it looks and that's what matters.

We had a list of jewelers, and antique stores (I had originally wanted an antique stone), but none had what we wanted. So we're driving around South Parkway, wondering what to do next since we don't have a phone book handy and "hey - there's a jeweler we haven't tried yet, lets just go in." 20 mins later we walk out with a quote, and come back an hour later to order my ring and be sized for bands! Again, another episode of "it only took us # hours to do this task!" Total time allotted...Hm. We went to the first store at noon, we pulled into the driveway at home at 4:30. And this includes a trip to the mall. Maybe this bodes well for the Lodge at Monte Sano being available Jan. 22?

And from Dan's notebook: things you don't often hear your fiancee say, especially when she NOT mad at you! "Read your aggregator, don't talk to me!"

Hi again! Yes, it's me. I'm still here. Well, my feet may be on the ground, but the rest of me isn't here most of the time. Oh yes, there's a very good reason. That being said, um...

We're getting married in January.

*pause* waits for general populace to pick themsevles up off the floor */pause*

The official photos

Yes, this entry is part of a new category. :) I think Mr. Thill has something similar. We have had some interesting experiences thus far, with 2 weeks of planning gone, so we figure it can only get more interesting from here. :)

*disclaimer* This is going to be a SMALL wedding! */disclaimer*

No firm date yet. I do have a dress and my bridesmaids do too! All found in 2 hours yesterday! And all within budget. :) This week: venues and rings.

And I could use a good crew to turn the hall from "ceremony" set to "reception" set... You'd have at least a 30 min curtain...
You know I'm kidding! Geez. :)