Monday, December 14th, 2009
1:03 am - More photos!
These are a handful of albums that various people posted to Facebook--I LOVE ALL OF YOU WHO DID THIS! These photos are really amazing!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
2:44 am
...I know some of the best people ever, and am incredibly lucky to have the friends I have...even when they're scattered across the globe :-) This is a painting done by my friend Amanda as a wedding gift :-D
http://savita-alexander.net/art/index.h
How astonishingly amazing is that?
Also...pro wedding photos :-D http://missmooseart.com/weddings/lindsa
The thank yous have been done for weeks, and now I really just need to sit myself down and address them so I can get them out, finally!
current mood:
content
Monday, October 5th, 2009
10:21 am - Post-wedding...
This post is not even CLOSE to dial-up friendly. Around 30 of my favorite photos so far from family and friends at our wedding on Saturday in Kalamazoo. I really can't believe that it's finally come and gone. The day was insane.
( Oh the pretties! )
current mood:
happy
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
12:00 am - Welcome to our wedding blog!
Note: This is a sticky entry; scroll down for new entries.
Welcome to the blog for Dan and Lindsay’s wedding. Here Lindsay will babble incessantly about silly wedding-planning related things. Feel free to follow along on the journey from now until October 3, 2009!
For those of you who don’t know us already or didn’t find your way here through the website feed, feel free to visit Lindsay’s home on the web at WanderingChild.org. You can also visit us at our wedding website, here.
Please introduce yourself (or just let us know that you’re reading if you happen to know us) and don’t hesitate to share your opinions and ideas. Happy reading!
 |
current mood:
creative
(3 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
3:07 pm - eek!
Melissa is boarding her plane, and my parents just left with a van-load of goodies that I won't have room to transport, and I still have to finish mine and Melissa's flowers and some checklists/timelines to hand out at the rehearsal, and the tablecards, and pack! Dan and I are leaving tomorrow morning, and I can't believe that just minutes shy of three days from now we'll have started!
We have a tent rental set, so if it does rain at least it will be on the tent and not us. You may want to bring your jackets, though!
We can't wait to see everybody!
current mood:
excited
Monday, September 28th, 2009
6:24 am - Almost there!
So with less than a week to go, here is some random new information:
A) We are opening the gates at the ceremony venue at 2:30pm. The ceremony starts promptly at 3pm.
B) The weather can't make up its mind. I have two different sites giving me two different forecasts. I currently best like the one that says 67 degrees and partly cloudy/partly sunny. The other currently says 61 degrees with chances of showers. I guess we need to wait and see a little closer to the day.
C) Rehearsal is the night before at 5pm at the Inn. If you are a member of the bridal party we need you there (this includes ushers and attendants).
D) I was thinking pizza and beer at the hotel afterwards for dinner, but we're still tossing that up in the air. I totally still want pizza, but maybe we'll actually go to Bilbo's or something instead and sit down? Dan and I will figure this out by tomorrow so we can reserve tables and let you know. I wish I could transport Dewey's Pizza to Kalamazoo for the night...rofl
E) Open bar reception. PLEASE tip the bartenders and play nice with your liquor. Taxis and DDs are your friends in Kalamazoo. It is a college town, so on a Saturday night you won't want to take chances.
F) There is NOT a lot of parking at the ceremony venue. I suggest meeting up at the hotel (maybe request early check-ins, or just drop cars off and meet up?) and then carpooling. There is overflow parking at K College (aka Kalamazoo College) across the street on the other side of W. Main. I will try to have detailed maps available at the hotel front desk, but I'm not promising.
G) Bridal party, immediate family, and grandparents should be at the ceremony venue between 1pm-1:15pm. We are doing the family and bridal party photos pre-ceremony (First Look photos in the Sunken Garden! I'm so excited about those!).
H) Touch my car and DIE. It's enough of a disaster already...lol
I think that's about it. If you need anything, either drop us an email at LJL dot DRB at gmail dot com, or drop us a Facebook message/text. I love mobile Facebook and texting.
We can't wait to see everyone!
current mood:
excited
Monday, August 24th, 2009
12:26 pm - 40 Days!!! Eeeeeee!
So two quick updates. I figured out table placecards/favors! Yay! They involve the fact that I ordered 200 two inch wine corks on eBay last night. I'll let you be surprised from there...lol They won't be terribly fancy, but they'll be personal :-D
Also, I figured out the sort of idea I want for Rheanna to carry down the aisle. It won't look like these exactly, but it's the idea:
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
12:11 pm
I did some major updates to the wedding website. I added more accommodation information, and registry information for those asking to the info page, etc.
http://wedding.wanderingchild.org
http://wedding.wanderingchild.org/weddi
current mood:
busy
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
12:52 pm - *headdesk* Address snafu...
I must have been sleep deprived when I designed and proofed and printed out all of the reception inserts (I probably was, actually...that sounds like my last three months...ha). The address of the reception venue is 402 E KALAMAZOO Ave, not E Michigan ave. Bah. I guess I'll be adding a note to the ceremony programs and making a mention at the ceremony.
This really is not an issue unless you're using a GPS system, though. You only have to drive a little further down E Michigan than the Mapquest/Yahoo/Google directions tell you to, as there is entrance to the parking area from both Kalamazoo and Michigan Avenues. I have a map with the correct location noted on the Directions insert (and I make it clear that it is PAST Pitcher St, and I note which way the Kalamazoo/Michigan one-ways run, and that there is parking from both roads if you end up turned around, so I hope it's clear enough even with the "wrong" street).
current mood:
busy
Monday, July 20th, 2009
12:09 am - Some more updates!
I have photos of the reception space, just not edited for posting yet.
Settled this weekend:
-Reception venue (half of rental going out tomorrow)
-Catering (two-thirds of total going out tomorrow)
-Photographer (deposit already down)
-Dan's tux
To settle soon:
-Dress alterations
-Officiant (have one in limbo)
-Cake
-Hair stylist
-Finish invites (the final pieces have been ordered, and I'm picking up a new ink cartridge today)
-Last details with the ceremony venue
...my mind is blanking. We're doing well :-D
Hotel block info:
Baymont Inn and Suites - 269.372.7999
2203 S. 11th St., Kalamazoo, MI
$65/King or $70/Two Queens
Laubenstein - block code 406858717
Reserve by September 2nd, 48 hours to cancel
Other Recommended Accommodations:
Stuart Avenue Inn
http://www.stuartavenueinn.com
Hall House Bed & Breakfast
http://www.hallhouse.com
Kalamazoo House Bed & Breakfast
http://www.thekalamazoohouse.com
Hope all is well!
current mood:
busy
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
1:23 pm - Some updates!
Okay...I meant to do this a couple of days ago, on the three month mark, but the 90 day mark works, too! I can't believe it's finally so close :-)
Flower pieces! Now how to put them all together into something pretty... Also, have to figure out which color we want to use for Dan's bout., etc.
Oh the envelopes!
Not-completed invitations. We still have a couple of inserts for the pocket once we finalize some more information (accomodations, and then a rough directions map):
The pieces so far laid out:
A recent one of us...just for fun :-)
current mood:
busy
Saturday, July 11th, 2009
2:17 pm - Yay!
I'll post some photos tomorrow, I just felt like a quick update.
We have one hotel block set, and we'll be setting another within the next two weeks. Info on the website!
I have a lot of flower supplies...now to figure out what exactly to do with them...lol
I have the invitations about half done. Half=completely designed (except for the Accomodations and Directions inserts) and the mats tacked onto the pocketfolds, and the RSVP envelopes and the main envelopes addressed. Still need to actually print everything out and put it all together, and then buy stamps. ETA to you? Very early August.
We pretty much have a caterer booked. We're doing a tasting when we're in K'zoo over my birthday.
Still need dress alterations and somebody to do them :-P Still need Dan's tux, and all attendants' clothes.
Still need an officiant.
Ideas for things set, but not the actuals: guestbook (engraved Moleskine :-D We need to come up with the design), iPod reception music (don't worry--we aren't subjecting you ENTIRELY to our personal musical whims...there are a few "must have" songs traditionally at his family's weddings that we are working on, and I'm giving everyone an opportunity to do a song request on the RSVPs...we get final say, though ;-)), and some other stuff.
Okay...like I said, some teaser pictures tomorrow, but off to work for now!
Have a great afternoon!
current mood:
busy
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
2:21 pm
We have finally set up registries for those of you interested in purchasing gifts for the wedding. The greatest gift you could give us, however, is simply the gift of your presence at our wedding.
All links open in new windows:
Bed Bath and Beyond
Macy's Home
An amazing deluxe picnic basket
Also...we've been in contact with the STAR*Building (formerly Kraftbrau Brewery). We're waiting to hear back on their price quote for the reception. ALSO, I'm about halfway done with invite designing :-D Next to order the materials and start getting them put together...it seems like we just put together and sent out Save the Dates yesterday! Time flies way too quickly. Four months minus a day left!
We also found out that Dan's company has a couple of hotels in Kalamazoo...we're going to look into if we can get some special employee group pricing since he works for the company before we announce room blocks...
Now...off to job-work (rather than wedding work, lol)!
current mood:
busy
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
1:52 pm - Long time no post!
Okay...so to answer the question most of you have been wondering--yes, we are still doing the wedding in Kalamazoo on October 3rd, even though we've moved and have had way too much going on over the past few months. We're waiting to hear back from the site we want our reception at, and that will really seal everything. Once we have that we'll have the places at the time, and all will be well. We are looking at the Star Building (formerly the Kraftbrau Brewery) in downtown Kalamazoo, maybe a mile from the ceremony location (pending availability and pricing...if they ever email me back...).
And now...time to get ready for work!
current mood:
busy
Friday, March 13th, 2009
8:07 pm - Dress!!!
( I'm such a dork--more photos under this cut, of course... )
Invitation pseudo-mock-up. The first one is a truer representation of the colors. I think the dark envelope would look cool with gold pen writing for the addresses. The envelope/pocket color is Persian Blue and the matting is Sand with beige inserts.
current mood:
ecstatic
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
8:50 am
Whee! My dress is finally in, and I just happen to be in Kalamazoo to see it and pick it up, and Mom just happens to be visiting! Yay! Pictures forthcoming.
Also, my blank invitation samples came in, so I'll post those at some point, too.
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
7:08 am - Umm....
I forgot what I was going to post...oh! Wait! I remember...
So I ordered a couple of sample kits from Cards & Pockets. I will see how the colors I like (Persian Blue and Sand) look together along with the style I like. Since the wedding is out of town for pretty much all of our family I figured the pocket style would be easiest to give information and keep it all together in one place (instead of lots of loose papers with the info). I figure that I can get the size info from the samples, order the pockets from the site for roughly $1 each (and maybe the mats if I want to use one of those colors for the matting), and then get the normal paper and envelopes at a hobby store and do it myself.
Sooooooo sick. My head hurts, and lots to do today :-( I hate body flus.
current mood:
sick
Monday, February 16th, 2009
10:44 pm - Shoes...
I'm kind of surprised I haven't posted this yet, as I've had this idea for a while now.
I really really really want to match my Grecian style dress and hair with sandals like these:
I can live with those (they are from a dance shoe company--I actually wore an identical pair in a musical I was in once upon a time, but the shoes have disappeared over the years), but I'd love something a little sleeker and chic-er. I'd kill for something like these because I adore stiletto heels:
*drools*
...but Dan is hardly taller than me, and it's an outdoor wedding so I'd prefer flats anyway (and was considering barefoot).
P.S. This color is so perfect I don't have words, and the style is PERFECT if not for the butterflies and heels:
...and the fact that they're designer and probably hundreds of dollars. If any of you have seen anything I might like for them, let me know, pleaaaaaase!
Edit: Somebody on one of the communities found a great pair! Guess Akiyo, color Platino. http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/485231
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
2:16 am - I can't belive I haven't posted this yet!
...our attendants, of course!
My attendant is my dearest Melissa (
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.7){kind=small}
amneria)
Dan's attendant is Erin (not on LJ)
And how would it possibly be my wedding if my darling cousin Rheanna wasn't my junior attendant?
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
10:41 am - Pretties!
This is probably my necklace. I haven't gotten the dress yet (they're saying around mid/late February), so I'll know for sure then, but part of Swarovski's warranty is that I can trade it in for something else for up to two years if it doesn't fit the dress and I see something more suitable.
So pretty!
hmm...I wanted to use my Only Revolutions icon, but something is glitching and I'm getting somebody else's icon with a baby when I try to use it. ha.
(2 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
2:05 pm - Random...
Since I have internet access right now I did a couple of small updates to the website--mainly the photos of us with some from this year. No, we still don't have a reception site--I just wanted to clear that up.
My dress should be coming in some time in January, and then I'll be setting up an appointment for a hair trial probably in February. I can't believe the wedding is in less than 300 days! The past year and a half has gone by so fast. Our 7th anniversary is less than a week away, and I can't believe seven years has gone by so quickly, either.
I hope you all have been having a wonderful holiday season, and I hope 2009 is wonderful for us all!
current mood:
content
Friday, November 14th, 2008
3:04 pm - Small update...
Photos of the bands we bought...
Also, we have most of the Save-the-Dates addressed and stamped and put together and ready to be dropped off at the Post Office. There are a few addresses we still don't have, but we're mostly set on them.
current mood:
accomplished
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
1:10 am - Rings!
Exciting week! We picked out our rings this week, and Dan paid for them and picked them up today :-D They are exceptionally similar to the icon on this entry: very very simple, matching, plain, white gold Comfort Fit bands. Mine is 2mm (I liked the wider ones best, but they didn't look right with my engagement ring, and I've grown too accustomed to wearing my engagement ring where it is, so it will stay there) and his is 6mm.
Now it's bedtime. I'm full of yummy yummy sushi from a lovely place (Beluga) in Hyde Park (still in Cincy) :-D
current mood:
sleepy
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
1:20 am - Dress!
Well, I'm in Cincinnati at the moment for work, and right before I came out here I put a deposit down on my dress:
Full length
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
Back
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
Bodice
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
http://www.brides.com/images/vendor/dre
Thought you'd all appreciate the official update ;-)
current mood:
sleepy
(3 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
2:43 pm - So it keeps going...
This summer there was something really silly, but really intriguing to me, being built between campus and downtown. I couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be for the life of me (I see it driving to work every day), and even less why they were building it in the middle of a median across from the Munchie Mart. A couple of weeks ago I realized that they must be finished because there weren't anymore people working on it. This is what it ended up being (I wish I could find better photos of it from the side view...it looks connected here, and it's not at all):
http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/200
http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/200
http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/200
The whole thing is terribly funny to me, but I think it would be an awesome backdrop for some wedding photos, especially given the Grecian style of the dresses and style I'm looking at.
Also, speaking of that, the girl from work gave me her hair stylist's phone number. I'll call him sometime this week, probably.
Friday, September 26th, 2008
12:07 am - HA!
So...there are finally photos online of the Swarovski Vanity Fair ad I was talking about. This is what I want my hair to look like. This also means Lindsay will have bangs again for a while...albeit long bangs...but still. Also cool, the headwait tonight said that her hairstylist is looking for wedding hair models for his portfolio. I told her I'd be interested! She can get me his card, and then maybe I'll go ahead and get a test done soon. This could also equal "free."
( Another view of the pretty! )
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
1:53 pm - One more today...
Except this entry will be bouquet inspiration. Obviously, from this, I don't want real flowers.
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
1:38 pm - Hair stuff...
So my aunt was apparently very sad I haven't updated in here recently (my laptop hates me! I need a new motherboard), so I thought I'd make that up a little bit...
These are some hairstyles I've come across that I really love. Since that Pallas Athena dress I'm looking at is very Grecian, I'm looking at Greek goddessesque hairstyles. I love these!
There were also some really gorgeous styles in the Swarovski "Three Graces" ad spread in this month's 25th anniversary issue of Vanity Fair.
Also, a couple of jewelry pieces I love:
Except, I'd want something very similar to this in gold
And speaking of the Three Graces, I think I'd like a pendant/Cameo like this on my bouquet or something
From this link: http://www.homestyle-arts.com/Wire%20Wr
(2 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
1:33 pm
So, for those of you who don't know Melissa, she's my best friend and will be my sole attendant for the wedding. She tried on some pretty dresses! She doesn't like having her photo taken, and feels silly in fancy dresses, so she's making silly faces ;-) I love you, Melissa!
( Melissa in dresses! )
I actually reallyreallyREALLY like the first one, and it looks very similar to a dress I liked in a magazine (and have photos of somewhere in here), so I'm actually going to try it on for me. I would get it in the beige color of the last one if I decided I wanted it.
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
3:53 pm
Random pieces of updates...
We have our Save-the-Dates sitting around the apartment, and the cards/envelopes that we need to throw together before putting them out. We also need lots of addresses yet :-P
I think I may have found my wedding dress. It is from the Venus Bridals Pallas Athena line...go figure, right? ;-) I didn't even know the brand/line until after I tried it on and thought to myself, "Oh my god, I think this might be it." The only downside is that the train is cathedral length, which is far more than I wanted. The rest of the dress is worth the hassle, though, I believe ;-) Dress number two in my eyes was tried on before that one and is also from the same line. Ha. No deposit down or anything. It's the Spring 2008 line, so I'm not horribly concerned about it being discontinued in the very near future.
Full length
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
Back
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
Bodice
http://venusbridal.com/images/pallas/89
http://www.brides.com/images/vendor/dre
Next seems to be reception venue/catering. It may very well make me want to tear my hair out by the end of it. Food budget appears to be right around $20 per head.
I'm also attempting to get organized. I downloaded some random things (programs and spreadsheets/databases) online to see if any of them are worthwhile (some free, some free trials). We shall see.
I found out last week that my 19-year-old cousin is engaged to his 17 year-old-girlfriend. Congratulations to them, and I can't even imagine being a 17-year-old or her parents attempting to put something like this together! Eek! It's bad enough being 26 and putting it all together!
current mood:
busy
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
10:55 pm - Details details...
Okay, a slightly extended "progress" post involving all the other random details after my dress post, I suppose.
Colors I liked for our scheme from Cards and Pockets. I really really really liked the Persian and the Sand in person, but the Persian is being discontinued :-( Also, I really like the pocket invites, but my fiance isn't so sure yet:
The invites I love, also a sample on the site from Cards and Pockets:
Cakes I love. He's thinking he really likes the cupcake towers, but I just think that they look tacky for weddings. I've seen some that are a little bit elegant, but they still don't seem right to me. My mom and aunt agreed today when we chatted about it. I understand that a full-sized version of the below might be a bit difficult and expensive to actually pull off, but we could always do the opposite of a Groom's Cake...
Cake toppers I love so far, but I doubt I'd actually use the second--it just makes me giggle, and I love it:
Centerpiece ideas I think are cute:
Bouquets! I was inspired by an article in a Michigan Brides magazine about a boutique in the Detroit area called Emplume. I found a couple on Etsy (thank you all for introducing me to Etsy...ha) that are absolutely lovely and a little bit what I'd like. I wanted my bouquet to be deep red roses, but I think something like the below in a deep indigo and pale gold would be lovely, too; or the deep red roses with pale gold and white feathery accents. I've also decided that I'll have a single peacock feather in my bouquet as tribute to Hera and her role in marriage. I also think I want my attendant and junior bridesmaid in a lovely burgundy, even though it's not technically one of our colors. We'll see, I suppose:
Finally, my aisle inspiration--the opera scene from Hannibal. I'll also be walking down the aisle to Vide cor meum, which is from that scene. I looooooooove Dante. Anyway, I absolutely love the candles lining the aisle...I'll probably use small oil lamps with hurricane glasses around them (I know the venue doesn't allow uncovered flame inside, so I'll have to check about outside since it will be an outdoor ceremony):
We've decided to have a local "amateur" do our photos. We don't want the expensive and typical wedding photos, we want something unique and a little bit artsy. We haven't chosen anybody yet, but that's what we want. I'll also have somebody local make my dress. I'd also be all over letting a local-ish culinary student make our cake if we could find somebody creative and interested in attempting something like the above.
current mood:
thoughtful
9:24 pm - Dress babble...
Tried on more dresses today in Saginaw with my mom, my aunt, and Rheanna. Found one ultra-pretty Maggie Sottero dress for an EXTREMELY reasonable price that we all loved, but it wasn't right. The fabric was too heavy, and it was just too much dress. This has pretty much resolved me to having my dress made. The following are all my inspiration photos for dresses. I'm thinking the under fitting fabric in a pretty gold color, and an over sheer fabric in a very very pale gold.
( dress photos )
I'll separate these entries into categories so that there's not too much in one...
current mood:
thoughtful
Sunday, June 15th, 2008
9:03 am - Save the Date?
So VistaPrint is having another amazing sale--large magnets for a very very reasonable price--and I figured what better time to work on designing the Save the Dates?
So what's your opinion on which one to use?
Off to work!
current mood:
creative
(2 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
11:47 am - Randomness
So, I've decided that I don't want a big dress. I knew from the minute I started looking that I didn't want a big dress, but they're so pretty and so much fun to try on, and with my shape and bust they have the best structure for me and look very awesome with my figure. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, and I've decided that I want to walk down barefoot in a very simple, pretty, halter-style dress (think similar to my NYE dress...only floor length with a tiny train of sorts...and white...and not sparkly). I just posted an entry in a local community to try to enlist the help of a local seamstress for the task. I actually saw a nearly perfect style in the Inside Weddings magazine this season. They don't have the weddings from that issue online yet...it's Amy Michelson, very similar to this one.
Also posted about local non-professional photographers. Traditional is a little too much (both stylistically and price) for us. We like a little more artsy and interesting styles. I know more than a couple of people scattered throughout my friendslist that want to break into the wedding industry and people ultimately won't hire them because people are obsessed with having everything "perfect" for their wedding.
I think we've decided to do the ceremony around 3:30, reception starting around 5:30 or 6 at the ceremony site, and we have to be finished with music and such by 10. That is fine with me because we'll probably be exhausted anyway, and we can trek downtown if others and us feel like extending the party. As far as rental and convenience goes, this is the best solution. We'll only have to rent one set of things. Yes it's outside, which is a little scary predictability-wise, but early October is usually great for little to no rain and decent weather...even in Michigan. Just make sure you bring a jacket or something ;-)
I haven't brought this up to Dan yet, but I'm thinking that setting the tables up around the ceremony area would be great. There's lots of space, and people can sit at their tables throughout the ceremony. I think it gives a nice, less formal feel. Of course, we could always move the chairs between the ceremony and reception. We'll see.
current mood:
busy
(3 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Friday, April 18th, 2008
2:32 pm - *catches breath*
It's...official. Deposit down, contract will be in the mail shortly.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at Stuart Avenue Inn in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Officially.
Wow. I can't even describe how I feel right now. It's kind of amazing.
Everyone dreams the Dream
but you are it.
I won't help being. Your tears can't ever stop me.
We take nips of a saltier equity. Mixed. Our honey. Sticking on our lips, our fingers. Our Leftwrist Twists of Gold too. Sticking US together. Sticking US to the World. Everlasting Whims & Everlasting Loss. Against Horrors passing with Love's passing. Love and Horror's impermanence forever against Loss and the Caprice of endurance. Leaving US to the World. Leaving US together with our Leftwrist Twists of Gold. Our sticky fingers, our lips. Our liquidity. Sweetest mix of all we sip.
Here's to deciding. So glad. Allready welling up.
Everyone dreams the Dream
but we are it.
current mood:
amazed and enthralled
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
12:28 am - Let me die still loving, and so, never die...
So...something very interesting just triggered. I was reading one of my communities, and somebody mentioned a ring that was made for them based on the Baucis and Philemon myth (the couple who gave shelter to a disguised Zeus and Hermes, and who were so generous and giving to others and to each other that Zeus offered to give them one thing. They were so in love with each other and absolutely couldn't fathom ever being without the other one, so they asked to die at the same moment. Depending on the version, the gods blessed them with many gifts throughout a long life before granting this one wish. When it came time for their deaths, they started turning into trees--she into a Linden and he into an Oak. Their hearts stopped at the same moment, and the limbs of the trees grew entwined together. I've been in love with this story for years, and Mary Zimmerman's interpretation is just breathtaking).
Anyway...I happened to re-notice the entry with the photo of the area from Stuart Ave Inn that I said if we were to do the ceremony there that I would like to do it...
I didn't notice it before, but it just struck me. I think that's two trees growing together! Now I'm absolutely breathtaken, of course, and I think that we should put a deposit down and secure our date there. It seemed lovely before, and now it just seems right.
All: Let me die the moment my love dies.
Narrator One: They whisper:
All: Let me not outlive my own capacity to love.
Narrator One: They whisper:
All: Let me die still loving, and so, never die.
An old icon of mine...
(2 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
11:07 am - Comment settings...
Oops...thought I had enabled anonymous comment posting when I started this journal, but my mom tells me otherwise. It's fixed now, though! Just make sure if you don't have an account you sign your name with your comment so I know who you are, please!
Friday, March 21st, 2008
10:43 pm - Venue hunting: Day 1
Yesterday we had appointments at two venues: The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (heart of downtown) and the Stuart Avenue Inn (near downtown, about two blocks from our first apartment together).
First, we went to the KIA. I adore the KIA. Some of you may remember me babbling incessantly about the Chihuly glass exhibit they had there a couple years ago. The lady we talked to was very nice and I love that there are no regulations about photography. She suggested doing the ceremony in the lobby...we kind of liked that idea! Even if we don't end up doing the ceremony there, I think I would love some photos there. I would love to get one involving the line of people out front, and one in front of the entrance with the Chihuly chandelier in the entrance hall. The following photos are of the front of the building, the lobby area, and the auditorium room:
( More KIA )
Next, we went to the Stuart Avenue Inn.
leandra_nyx was married there, and seemed to have had a good experience, plus the idea of it being in the same neighborhood we had our first apartment in appealed to the romantics in us ;-) Since our wedding will be so large we would have to have an outdoor ceremony, and the reception somewhere else (because it can only last until 10pm there, and Dan is set on a late night thing :-P Obviously the anti-social in me disagrees ;-))
This is a view of the area I think I most like for the ceremony:
( More Stuart Avenue Inn... )
Did I mention all of these were taken yesterday, and now we have about a foot of snow outside? Yeah. :-P
current mood:
accomplished
10:20 pm - More dresses!
Today I went to Memories Bridal & Formal Wear in downtown Kalamazoo to try on more dresses. They were stunning. There was only one I wasn't fond of, and I didn't even bother to take photos of it. The lighting and such may look strange in some of these photos...it's because I adjusted the photos in photoshop to show the dress details better.
So, without further ado, this set of five:
Dresses 1&2
Dresses 3&4
Dress 5
( Dial-up beware! )
SO MANY PRETTIES!!!
Venue pictures are next, as we also looked at two places yesterday ;-)
current mood:
accomplished
(7 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
11:03 am - Dress photos
I decided to make my first attempt at dress shopping last night at David's Bridal. I also ran into one of my newest LJ friends there! *laughs* Talk about small world! Be warned that this is a very photo-intensive post:
Dresses 1&2
Dresses 3&4
Dress 5
( Detailed shots behind the cut... )
I'm certain that none of those are the one I'm going to end up buying, but it was good for a first effort. Really, I seem to have fallen in love with Demetrios dresses. There is a Brides by Demetrios up in Troy, so I'll probably make an attempt to get an appointment there some time when I can visit my parents next month.
So. Gorgeous. Fitted tops, and ethereal bottoms. Perfect. I have large boobs, large hips, and a moderate waist. I need something that emphasizes and hugs my wonderful hourglass figure.
http://www.demetriosbride.com/us/in
http://www.demetriosbride.com/us/in
Sunday, March 9th, 2008
12:42 am - Fleeting thought...
I wanted to jot it down before I forgot...I just came across somebody in a community mentioning doing literary readings rather than bible readings at their ceremony. Since neither of us are of the Bible-reading type, and our ceremony is going to be non-religious, I suddenly had this flash of an idea...
I want to do my vows from Only Revolutions, of course, and I think I've got it completely set. Dan mentioned something about possibly doing his from the Penelope chapter of Ulysses, but I'm not sure if there's anything really really appropriate for that. For those of you who don't know either of those novels, the author of Only Revolutions loves James Joyce, and there are many Joycean/Ulysses nods in OR. Of course (bad Lindsay!) I still haven't actually read the entirety of Ulysses, so I don't know (for those not aware, Dan has "Yes" tattooed on his arm--bonus points for those of you who get it, and mass confusion for those who don't ;-)). I am thinking, however, that it might be a really really cool idea to have one of our more literary-minded friends (it has to be somebody who gets it) read a passage from it between processional and the start of the ceremony! Given the subject matter, it could be brilliant!
the sun shines for you he said the day we were lying among the rhododendrons on Howth head in the grey tweed suit and his straw hat the day I got him to propose to me yes first I gave him the bit of seedcake out of my mouth and it was leapyear like now yes 16 years ago my God after that long kiss I near lost my breath yes he said was a flower of the mountain yes so we are flowers all a womans body yes that was one true thing he said in his life and the sun shines for you today yes that was why I liked him because I saw he understood or felt what a woman is and I knew I could always get round him and I gave him all the pleasure I could leading him on till he asked me to say yes and I wouldnt answer first only looked out over the sea and the sky I was thinking of so many things he didnt know of Mulvey and Mr Stanhope and Hester and father and old captain Groves and the sailors playing all birds fly and I say stoop and washing up dishes they called it on the pier and the sentry in front of the governors house with the thing round his white helmet poor devil half roasted and the Spanish girls laughing in their shawls and their tall combs and the auctions in the morning the Greeks and the jews and the Arabs and the devil knows who else from all the ends of Europe and Duke street and the fowl market all clucking outside Larby Sharans and the poor donkeys slipping half asleep and the vague fellows in the cloaks asleep in the shade on the steps and the big wheels of the carts of the bulls and the old castle thousands of years old yes and those handsome Moors all in white and turbans like kings asking you to sit down in their little bit of a shop and Ronda with the old windows of the posadas glancing eyes a lattice hid for her lover to kiss the iron and the wineshops half open at night and the castanets and the night we missed the boat at Algeciras the watchman going about serene with his lamp and O that awful deepdown torrent O and the sea the sea crimson sometimes like fire and the glorious sunsets and the figtrees in the Alameda gardens yes and all the queer little streets and pink and blue and yellow houses and the rosegardens and the jessamine and geraniums and cactuses and Gibraltar as a girl where I was a Flower of the mountain yes when I put the rose in my hair like the Andalusian girls used or shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down Jo me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.
God I love James Joyce. Why have I not read this novel yet?
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
11:52 am - Ceremony musings...
oooh...I wonder how much it is to rent the front ballroom/auditorium at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I remember when I was going through sorority rush in Fall 2001 that AOPi/AOII (because I don't feel like going through the symbol font to figure out Alpha Omicron Pi :-P) had their final event there (because my final two were Delta Gamma and AOII). Now that would also be a great and unique place to have the ceremony!
I asked Amanda on her LostJournal (because LiveJournal is banned in China *pout*) about it because she used to intern there. I'm not sure if she'd know or remember, but I figured it was worth a shot until I had a chance to personally ask them myself.
current mood:
thoughtful
(1 make it easy | Go, you restless soul...)
Friday, February 29th, 2008
6:25 pm - Houston, we have a number!
I finally got Dan's list of invitees, so once we add in mine we're somewhere between 100 and 110 for the ceremony alone (and that's only parents and siblings, grandparents, first aunts and uncles, first cousins, and close friends...we have monstrous Catholic families).
This is really nice because it means that we can start figuring out a budget and find a location. Things actually feel like they're moving now!
Also, I did a lot of work on the website today. I feel like I actually accomplished something on my vacation. Nice :-D
current mood:
pleased
Saturday, January 12th, 2008
2:53 am - "Pre-show" music
Did I mention how much I hate the fact that I can't set anything in stone until I know where on Earth I'm going to be? No idea where until I know, and that's what really sets the ball rolling. *glares at work*
One thing I thought of perhaps doing (it's still so early in the planning phases for me...the wedding won't be until October 2009) is a burned CD of the music we want to use for "pre-show" with some custom CD cover for a wedding favor for the ceremony. Yays or nays on the idea?
The track listing so far is (order not set, still waiting for his song recs and final approval...plus we still have nearly two years to hear more perfect songs that may change this):
Hey Pretty (2001 Drive-By mix) - POE
Samain Night - Loreena McKennitt
Naked As We Came - Iron and Wine
Amazed - POE
China Roses - Enya
No One Like You - Sarah Brightman
Go - Sparklehorse (with The Flaming Lips)
What Sound - Lamb
You Make It Easy - Air
Storybook Love - Princess Bride soundtrack
Gorecki - Lamb
Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space - Spiritualized (a modern revisioning of Pachelbel's Canon in D, his "Must be on there" track, and what the wedding party will walk down during)
Vide cor meum - Hannibal soundtrack (what I will walk down the aisle to)
Never-ending Road (Amhran Duit) - Loreena McKennitt (first song after ceremony walking back down aisle to)
Lifesize - A Fine Frenzy (possibly switch with Never-ending Road...not sure...depends on what we want for the mood, and given we don't find something else)
I also want to do an aisle similar to Hannibal's opera scene--with the aisle runner and tea lights and dim lighting and lots of candles/candelabra. So gorgeous. The colors we've been considering are a deep indigo with hints of palepalepale gold, which I think will look absolutely stunning with dim lighting and white candles. I was looking at wedding photos today and I think I've resigned myself to the fact that deep down I want a pretty white dress and a bouquet of red roses with a few white ones thrown into the center as homage to Phantom...and the fact that white is my favorite color of roses.
current mood:
artistic
Sunday, January 6th, 2008
1:53 pm - Not done yet, but getting there...
This is what I want to do for my side of vows. Those of you who know the book, let me know if anything sounds particularly strange or out of place. Most people there won't know the book anyway, and hearing something out loud for the first time doesn't ever register completely anyway, so I'm not horribly concerned about people being too confused and lost (because let's be honest...that's easy to do with that book)--so long as they get the general idea of what it all means. I cut a lot out, and anything in parenthesis I'm not sure if I want to use or not--any sentence end marks in parenthesis I'm not sure if I want to alter to another way of saying it. I also jumped just a bit--I also used pieces from both sides of the same chapter (the chapter is almost identical on both sides anyway). I'm not going to do any of the formatting because it's just tedious and silly for something that will be out loud (and I'd be saying it in my own formatting anyway, which you can get a hint of in this). The misspellings are all straight from the book, though. I want feedback! Lots of it! I have practically two years to sort it out, but this I know, and I would like to have something else done and out of the way.
--
New allways. And pacific too. How'z life? Taking forever. Let's dance. And take forever with US. Yes. Let's go. We'll work it out.
I want you just this way. To never have to go away. From you. From US. Allways kissing, adored. The rest. And smiling. To hold you when we're happy, we're lazy. Sad. When you're stubborn. When you're brave. When you're mad. When you're scorned. But allways beside me and my moods. Too when you arrive. When you're allone. When I go. When I'm allone. But allways beside you wherever we roam. We're allways at once.
I hear you hearing me.
I'm not content. I want you more and more. I feer more and more. I'm so strange now. We're impossible to dismiss. To be apart of this? Whirls of ours. By something wide which feels close. Open but feels closed. Lying weirdly across US. Between US. Where we're closest, where we touch, where we're one. Somehow continuing on separately. Hold me tighter.
Everyone dreams the Dream
but you are it.
I won't help being. Your tears can't ever stop me.
We take nips of a saltier equity. Mixed. Our honey. Sticking on our lips, our fingers. Our Leftwrist Twists of Gold too. Sticking US together. Sticking US to the World. Everlasting Whims & Everlasting Loss. Against Horrors passing with Love's passing. Love and Horror's impermanence forever against Loss and the Caprice of endurance. Leaving US to the World. Leaving US together with our Leftwrist Twists of Gold. Our sticky fingers, our lips. Our liquidity. Sweetest mix of all we sip.
Here's to deciding. So glad. Allready welling up.
Everyone dreams the Dream
but we are it.
Somehow now, here, we're one, while allready somewhere nearer we go on apart. Untouched. Our between. Our across. US.
These Worlds of ours. United if unforgiven. We're various. We're extremely dangerous.
Don't be afraid. I want you more and more. Now. Everytime and everyway. Let's just do it all at once. Because except for US everyone goes away without US. Wherever we roam be beside me. When you're allone. When you go. When noone comes along.
And for all we Wander, Encounter and Open allways curl up with me. Give me Pain, Past and Fury. Betray my way. I won't abandon you. For US. For me. Until all's away and our Love is clutched by no one. And the World works.
Let US go gently. Taking our time. Dancing on. How is forever? Taking everyone. Except US...peaceful still. Before the passing World.
--
Edit, 2/7/08: And I think it's done. I finally went over this with both sides of the audio, and I think it's tweaked right to where I want it. *grins*
current mood:
thoughtful
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
10:25 am
hahaha...
Last night dinner at Saffron...
Dan: We could always just elope?
Me: I thought you didn't like that idea at first.
Dan: *thoughtful look on face*
Me: No...it's just that the more you think about everything involved the better an idea it sounds, right?
Dan: *nods vehemently*
Me: *laughs* No, if we're going to do this at all we should at least do it somewhat right.
Dan: Yeah...
So, without further ado, the first attempts at planning:
Date: So...October 3rd, 2009 (as of now). The weather is a little less tricky around then, and it would be warmer than Midsummer probably would be. Also, initial reason for contemplating the date, it's the first day of the full moon cycle, it's a Saturday, and it's in a month we both like the idea of. The Greeks considered the full moon an auspicious time for marriage, as it represented all possibilities present. I've always been particularly drawn to the full moon, too, and so I'm more inclined personally to feel that sentiment towards it rather than the astrological "It's a bad idea to get married on the full moon because it's a culmination, a high point, everything's downhill from there" (not a direct quote, but close enough). Technically the moon is still waxing, anyway, on the first day of the full moon, so :-P
Place: Neither of us want conventional, but we want space enough that immediate extended family (I told him his family is his prerogative, but I don't want anybody beyond grandparents/immediate aunts and uncles/cousins there from mine--I'm just not close enough to any of the others) and close friends can come. Dan brought up The Depot, which is brilliant. There are no photos or contact info for The Depot which I can find by googling, so I'm just going to have to drive by and take some photos and find a number. I believe there's an art gallery inside one section of it, so that may help if I can figure out the name of it. We both know The Depot because when I was involved in The Lysistrata Project we performed our staged reading there. It's very much a "found space" for those of you who know anything about theatre terminology. It's an old train depot, so it's long and cavernous and lovely. A little decrepit, too, but wonderful. It should be warm enough that time of year to not have to worry about space heaters, and if we do it in the afternoon we shouldn't have to worry too much about extra lighting. Besides, I want lots of candles.
Time: In this instance, the space largely determines the time. That time of year, probably around 3pm is a good bet. Plus, I'm so not a morning person, so I really can't imagine anything earlier than that.
Reception: No idea. Dan suggested a hotel banquet area, but I quickly shot that one down. Usually rental of those runs about $300 for just the space, and then you also have to go through them for food and liquor. It wasn't so much the rental price, but as soon as he heard we'd have to rely on them for food and liquor he decided absolutely not. Ha. We want to buy our own liquor and have a bartender acquaintance or co-worker of sorts or something bartend an open bar. I imagine similar for food--involve people we know/hospitality contacts. Reception NOT just for those at the wedding. Preferably some private space. I guess the space would depend on whether or not we'd need a temp liquor license for the night, but those only run about $80. You may only need those for outdoor-in-public-places events.
current mood:
calm
Sunday, November 25th, 2007
10:19 am - Here begins a new life...
I absolutely hate that I now have an obscene amount of wedding ads on my Facebook with my status as "engaged." Evil. Amusing, too, though. I couldn't resist clicking on this particular link:
http://weddingsongs.weddingwire.com/wed
I suggest you comment with the most out-of-place song on that list. It's a tough call. You've Got A Friend in Me and Thank You for Being A Friend definitely rank high on my personal "out-of-place" songs, but they're by no means the only ones.
So far as entrance songs go, however, when I very first saw Hannibal in the theater, there was no question from the opera scene on that if I were ever to get married (I wasn't even dating anybody at that particular time) that this Vide cor meum from Dante's La vita nuova would be the song played as I entered. Period.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vide_Cor_M
The opera scene from the movie
The song in its entirety with clips from Hannibal
Oh Dante and Beatrice...the penultimate unrequited love. How can one not adore this...
In that book which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words, "Here begins a new life."
current mood:
amused
