Father's day has inspired me to think about 'the walk' I am going to make heading down the isle. This walk will more than likely be by myself. Both my father and step-father will be seated when I make my grand entrance.
So many people these days grew up in a "non-traditional" (and I use that phrase lightly...) home. This custom stems from the days of betrothals and arranged marriages. The girl was the father's to give away - it was his undeniable job. Since this scenario does not apply to my life, and I do not need to symbolically show that my father approves of our union.
I don't mean to come off as bitter or resentful or sour in any way toward this tradition or my dad; it just doesn't apply to me, and I am making this wedding as personalized to us as possible.
I am really looking forward to walking up that hill on my own, walking past all of our friends and family, and up to Adam!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
All tied up
With all of my grand DIY dreams, I find myself crafting a lot in the evenings these days. The ironing board is out, the scissors, markers, sewing machine and embosser are scattered every-which-way, but I love it. I love the fact that I am having a huge hand in the final product of the wedding. I love how it's so 'me,' and comes right from my heart. As I stress over these projects and wish they were over ASAP, I think about walking around the farm on the wedding day and seeing the things I am making in action. Like my current project for example - I can't wait to see them out and about!
This project is one that hit me out of the blue - I am not sure at all what inspired me to do it. I decided I'd make the Groom's tie, then I decided I'd make all of our male officiant's ties, bringing the total up to six. Six ties!! Now, I've never made even one before, so this was a total shot in the dark, but I figured I can be a direction-follower and took myself to JoAnn's for a pattern.
They are coming along!
I have put in the interfacing and soon will start sewing the backs together...
Hopefully they'll be done in the next couple of days!
Love and interfacing...
This project is one that hit me out of the blue - I am not sure at all what inspired me to do it. I decided I'd make the Groom's tie, then I decided I'd make all of our male officiant's ties, bringing the total up to six. Six ties!! Now, I've never made even one before, so this was a total shot in the dark, but I figured I can be a direction-follower and took myself to JoAnn's for a pattern.
They are coming along!
I have put in the interfacing and soon will start sewing the backs together...
Hopefully they'll be done in the next couple of days!Love and interfacing...
Friday, June 11, 2010
One more thing...
One more thing...
I found this article this past weekend, and it is as much a part of the wedding as anything else, so I thought I'd share.
I am remaining calm about it, but it's taken some effort. In my defense, I have tried to be nothing but flexible, but my family talked me out of sharing the date or moving it. It's so upsetting to be portrayed as a bridezilla, when it was my own personal vendetta not to be. I strive for all wedding decisions to be made as a pair, and to openly communicate about anything involving it since it is our day, not just mine. Here we have an example of lazy journalism... not bothering to get a hold of me, and using their own personal biases just to get a story that people could get fired up about. When I wrote an email to the writer, the response was less than I wanted. Really an apology would have been nice, but all I got was curt defensiveness.
Luckily, when wedding drama occurs, usually that means scrambling must ensue. Scrambling for a new vendor, fixing something broken, etc. This drama will all be laughed at in the end, and at the end of the day, I still have the spot I want, I have the date I want, and the farm is doing nothing but supporting me. Overall, great success!
Love and caber tosses...
I found this article this past weekend, and it is as much a part of the wedding as anything else, so I thought I'd share.
I am remaining calm about it, but it's taken some effort. In my defense, I have tried to be nothing but flexible, but my family talked me out of sharing the date or moving it. It's so upsetting to be portrayed as a bridezilla, when it was my own personal vendetta not to be. I strive for all wedding decisions to be made as a pair, and to openly communicate about anything involving it since it is our day, not just mine. Here we have an example of lazy journalism... not bothering to get a hold of me, and using their own personal biases just to get a story that people could get fired up about. When I wrote an email to the writer, the response was less than I wanted. Really an apology would have been nice, but all I got was curt defensiveness.
Luckily, when wedding drama occurs, usually that means scrambling must ensue. Scrambling for a new vendor, fixing something broken, etc. This drama will all be laughed at in the end, and at the end of the day, I still have the spot I want, I have the date I want, and the farm is doing nothing but supporting me. Overall, great success!
Love and caber tosses...
OOO obviously not going too well
Oh, blogging - how I wish I was good at it! I love the idea of writing, and I do write in a journal from time to time. However, it seems like there is always something else to be working on!
That said, I have been busily working away at the to-do list. It was getting to be like a quagmire in my head, so I took a whiteboard and with teeny-tiny handwriting put it all in one place. It is extensive, and overwhelming to look at. However, with this I discovered it was easy to see that some things on this list could be accomplished with just a phone call! I have been able to get many things accomplished this week, including:
-calling Island County offices to make sure all of our plans for officiants are legal (more on that later)
-reserving a place for our wedding night
-making rehearsal dinner reservations
-Deciding on/purchasing our arbor for the hill at Greenbank
-starting in on making the ties for the groom and officiants
-visiting Zingerman's to figure out what type of snack should go with the cheese appetizers
- and discovering these are on their way:
Too cute!! I ordered them from a lady on Etsy and I think they're great.
I think I shall go work on more ties...
That said, I have been busily working away at the to-do list. It was getting to be like a quagmire in my head, so I took a whiteboard and with teeny-tiny handwriting put it all in one place. It is extensive, and overwhelming to look at. However, with this I discovered it was easy to see that some things on this list could be accomplished with just a phone call! I have been able to get many things accomplished this week, including:
-calling Island County offices to make sure all of our plans for officiants are legal (more on that later)
-reserving a place for our wedding night
-making rehearsal dinner reservations
-Deciding on/purchasing our arbor for the hill at Greenbank
-starting in on making the ties for the groom and officiants
-visiting Zingerman's to figure out what type of snack should go with the cheese appetizers
- and discovering these are on their way:
Too cute!! I ordered them from a lady on Etsy and I think they're great. I think I shall go work on more ties...
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Oh, the joys of ... free time!
For the last two years I have held down two jobs: a full, day-time job and a part-time evenings and weekends job. As I was juggling these two responsibilities, it was increasingly hard to get anything done at home. My house was a wreck, my laundry laid unfinished, my half-hatched DIY plans for the wedding lay strewn about the apartment, and I felt like I was never able to do anything because I was so tired all of the time. Turns out 65-hour weeks can be a problem...
When I requested the time off I'd need in August for the wedding and honeymoon, it was turned down by my part-time job. Granted, it was most of August, but it was frustrating that they expected me to alter wedding plans for my retail job. Therefore, I put in my notice, which ended last week. I didn't realize it, but working 40-hour weeks feels like a vacation!!
I have been able to get so many things done, and it's only Wednesday! Invites = done. Favor problem solving = mostly done. List for rehearsal dinner = made. I still have a lot to do, but for the last five months I've felt nothing but behind. DIY, here I come!
When I requested the time off I'd need in August for the wedding and honeymoon, it was turned down by my part-time job. Granted, it was most of August, but it was frustrating that they expected me to alter wedding plans for my retail job. Therefore, I put in my notice, which ended last week. I didn't realize it, but working 40-hour weeks feels like a vacation!!
I have been able to get so many things done, and it's only Wednesday! Invites = done. Favor problem solving = mostly done. List for rehearsal dinner = made. I still have a lot to do, but for the last five months I've felt nothing but behind. DIY, here I come!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The Venue: Greenbank Farm
Even though Greenbank Farm was one of the first places I thought of as a possible venue (perhaps even the first...), that didn't stop us from doing what we do best: waffling.
The first decision was so easy it practically wasn't even a decision: the state. Even though we are in Michigan, everyone that would be attending our wedding lives in Washington, or at least near it. Washington is still home for us, so it was assumed we'd be there.
Then, we thought about our passion out west: the water. We love being in it, near it, or just looking at it. Clearly this meant we'd need a location in western Washington. Baby steps, but we were slowly narrowing it down.
Washington is blessed with many islands in Puget Sound that are each beautiful and amazing in their own rite. When we were kids, both Adam and I would spend many summers on these islands as our parents rented cabins on the beach. Guemes, Whidbey, San Juan, Orcas... all of these islands had special places in our hearts. We thoroughly researched each one.
While each had venues that were breathtaking, each had their drawbacks. From ferries to distance to expense there was always something that made it less than ideal. Even our dear Greenbank had its issues: all beer and wine had to be purchased through their wine shop, and Adam and I wanted to make our own to share with our friends on our day.
However, when it came down to it, we picked Greenbank because of its practicality and ease. It is far less expensive that many other venues, it was available on the date we wanted, there are contingency plans for rain, and there is an amazing spot where you can stand and see both coasts of the island - even all the way out to Adam's parents' cabin. It's easy to get to, it's designed with weddings in mind (some of the places we looked at were chunks of beach in the middle of nowhere...), and the folks there have been more than accommodating.
Some pictures so you get the idea:
http://www.greenbankfarm.com/weddings.html
More on the way!
Love and alpacas - (I didn't mention Greenbank has alpacas? More on that later...)
Coffee
The first decision was so easy it practically wasn't even a decision: the state. Even though we are in Michigan, everyone that would be attending our wedding lives in Washington, or at least near it. Washington is still home for us, so it was assumed we'd be there.
Then, we thought about our passion out west: the water. We love being in it, near it, or just looking at it. Clearly this meant we'd need a location in western Washington. Baby steps, but we were slowly narrowing it down.
Washington is blessed with many islands in Puget Sound that are each beautiful and amazing in their own rite. When we were kids, both Adam and I would spend many summers on these islands as our parents rented cabins on the beach. Guemes, Whidbey, San Juan, Orcas... all of these islands had special places in our hearts. We thoroughly researched each one.
While each had venues that were breathtaking, each had their drawbacks. From ferries to distance to expense there was always something that made it less than ideal. Even our dear Greenbank had its issues: all beer and wine had to be purchased through their wine shop, and Adam and I wanted to make our own to share with our friends on our day.
However, when it came down to it, we picked Greenbank because of its practicality and ease. It is far less expensive that many other venues, it was available on the date we wanted, there are contingency plans for rain, and there is an amazing spot where you can stand and see both coasts of the island - even all the way out to Adam's parents' cabin. It's easy to get to, it's designed with weddings in mind (some of the places we looked at were chunks of beach in the middle of nowhere...), and the folks there have been more than accommodating.
Some pictures so you get the idea:
http://www.greenbankfarm.com/weddings.html
More on the way!
Love and alpacas - (I didn't mention Greenbank has alpacas? More on that later...)
Coffee
Friday, May 14, 2010
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