J Rocks

One rock is missing because J is labeling the backside of each in marker so the groomsmen in charge of laying out this heart will get them in the right order. :-)

Hooray for Beer and Wine

Hooray for Chopsticks

Test Run with Cranes

Flowers Ordered, Hair Colored, People Seated

In the last few days, some other items were checked off the list of To-Do's. I got my hair colored and cut at Urban Soul in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco (on Chenery St). The woman is really friendly and I've been really happy with the results the two times I've been there. I plan on going to her for haircuts in the future as well. I also ordered my wedding day flowers. After debate about longevity of cut flowers in heat, I decided on the calla lily. Boutonnieres will be small white calla lilies and corsages will be spray roses. The bridesmaids will hold a single white calla lily stem wrapped in ribbon, and my bouquet will be a bunch bouquet of medium sized white calla lilies. I had wanted to mix in some other flowers, but Andre at French Tulip (24th St./Sanchez) advised against mixing flowers if I was going to make the bouquet myself. I can see his point: I could get stressed on the wedding morning as I am trying to arrange flowers if something falls out of place or doesn't look properly spaced, especially with so much else to do.

Last night J and I worked on a draft of the seating arrangement. I bought little wood frames for the table numbers and cut the table numbers out of the "decline" postcards. So in some way those who could not be at our wedding and returned their reply card, will in fact be at our wedding. Now I have to "patiently" wait for the favors I ordered to arrive. I keep checking the website and it says "processing". Does that mean they are being made or the order hasn't even begun yet? I'm procrastinating (which got us in this spot in the first place) on calling and putting a rush on the order. I'm holding out for the miracle for another day I think.

Eight Months Ago Today

Today marks eight months since I got engaged. We have 12 days until the wedding in Berkeley, California, and 16 days until we leave for our Tahitian honeymoon. The summer has flown by with chores and wedding tasks to be done every weekend since mid-July. And looking back, the year has also flown by in general. It is all pretty spectacular and exciting. I am trying not to get overwhelmed with stuff (people making suggestions, I don't want to hear them) but it is hard when you have a vision in your head and fear something won't work out to match that vision. I feel like we made quite a few compromises on our initial vision (or at least MY initial wedding vison). As the day draws near I can relate more easily to the show "Bridezillas" and as I watch the TV I feel as though it is therapy in order NOT to become like them. I can try to take things as they come all I want, but I know some things will penentrate my skin. Being a Taurus and a Tiger, if the Bridezilla does emerge, you better watch out.

Wine, Wine, Everywhere There's Wine

Over the last week we checked off some items on the list. All of the cranes are folded and if they are going to hang somewhere, they are strung and waiting on paper bags. We left some free so we could place them on tables randomly.
I picked up my dress and my veil. We met with our ceremony musician, Bryan Olson, to go over the songs to be played before the ceremony and during the processional and recessional. We arranged for the parking at the event (although the numbers are wrong and our contact is currently on vacation which makes me nervous). Now we have to let folks know which other guests they should meet with to discuss carpools.
Also ordered the cupcakes for the reception (5 flavors!) and we tasted wine and ordered that for the cocktail hour and lunch (slightly over budget). We didn't order any bubbly though, which I didn't think about until this morning. We need some bubbly!
What else... made my hair cut appointment for Saturday and will also be ordering the flowers then, too. Not at the salon. :-) Made the reservation for a manicure and pedicure at Glamour Salon in SF for the Friday evening with three of the bridesmaids.
Oh, and the biggie! We got our marriage license a few days ago! We bought into the system. And in a few weeks I'll have a new last name (at least on one piece of paper).

Taking Time for Us

During this whole process we haven't really taken the time for ourselves, to love and do what we love together. At the beginning we said we would but we haven't. And now that there is about three weeks until the big day, we need to really keep the promise. For some bridal shower gifts I received cash from my bridesmaids. I used the money to buy tickets to a music festival in our city of San Francisco. Music Festival tickets as a bridal gift? Yes. Technically, I spent the money on something that we will need when we are married--happiness and connection with each other. Music festivals and shows have been a base in our relationship. We met because of music. Our first vacation was to a music festival, and subsequent vacations have revolved around festivals in other cities. So I'm taking time for myself this Sunday to reconnect with the man that I love and enjoy what we love doing together. :-)

Santa Cruz Wine Tasting and Boardwalk Bachelorette Gathering

Post-Wedding Cake Ordered

Most of my birthday cakes when I was growing up in New Jersey came from this bakery. Most of my birthday cakes also had images of cats on them. While my post-wedding cake for our ceremony in NJ will not be adorned with felines, it will come from my childhood sweet spot. Half chocolate, half white cake with buttercream frosting. :-)

Atlantic City Bachelorette Gathering

Atlantic City Bridal Shower