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…But really, it was over a month ago that we started our registry…
Despite having gone to the stores and shot the gun-thingy at all the pretty presents, we were nowhere near done with our registry because a) I didn’t want overlap between our two stores b) not everything I wanted was in-store and c) there were randomly, like, 5 coffee-makers and 3 cuisinarts on our Macy’s registry (that coincidentally are in the same section of the store where the woman tried to steal our registry gun - INTERESTING).
So, because I can’t just let anything be easy, I…
1. Made Mr. BG go through the list of “wants” we’d created in excel and add a column of links to our online registries.
2. Procrastinated for about a month, whimpering at the thought of finishing the lists.
3. Devoted 3 solid evenings to checking the links, adding new items, replacing old items, cross-checking the two stores, checking the links, adding new items, replacing old items, cross-checking the two stores, adding new – OKAY, I’ll stop. But the point is, it was a royal pain in my… bum.
Since my last venue post, I’ve had a few seacoast brides asking for more venue information - and y’know what? You have to give the people what they want! So here goes!
When I got engaged (gosh, it was like, almost a year ago now), the very very very first thing I bought was the 2007 edition of Seacost Bride:
I felt soooo special that they made a whooole magazine just for us wacky brides wanting to get married in the seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. And the best part is, it’s just CHOCK full of local vendors.
Before I start my rant, an interesting tidbit from wikipedia (who knew?? I thought they were just for looking pretty):
“An occasion on which a Western woman is likely to wear a veil is on her wedding day, if she follows the traditions of a white wedding. Brides used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolise their virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this.”
That said, I never ever ever thought I would wear a veil. I’m not even sure why. I think veils are beautiful. I have spent many an hour gazing in awe at veils. Yet for some reason, I had no doubt in my mind that I was not a veil-kind-of-bride.
So, as you can imagine, it took me by surprise when Mr. Bubblegum expressed interest in a veil - meaning, he seemed like he would be disappointed if his bride came waltzing down the aisle, hair exposed. Since it’s rare to see Mr. Bubblegum express any strong wedding-planning-opinions, I thought maybe I should entertain this one.
Before I reveal the dress that won, I’d like to take this time to give an honorable mention to the runners up.
Dresses #1 and #6 - I’d like to thank you for being beautiful, yet simple. You were the favorites of both my mom and SIL. In fact, you both made the final 3. Unfortunately, #6, you made my back look icky (juuuuust trust me), and #1, you did not fit me as well in the waist as the winner. But a valiant effort by you both.
Dress #2 and #3 - I am really into the idea of lace overlays, and you both exhibited them beautifully. In fact, the more I look at the pictures, the more I think I love you - especially the lace train of #2 and the corset back of #3. But, alas, you were very heavy to wear, and again, you could have fit me better.
Dress #5 - My mom said you made me look “innocent.” Well, since I will be coupling you with hot red shoes, “innocent” wasn’t really the look I was going for. But you were breezy and comfortable and will make some bride very happy.
WHICH LEEEEEAVVVVVESSS - DRESS #4!!!!!!!!
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For today, we’ll stick with story #1: I bought my dress!! I mean, litttterally bought it. Meaning it is currently hanging beautifully in my closet! That’s right, I am HARD CORE.
And honestly, it was FUN. It took under two hours, I tried on about 8 or 9 dresses (there’s really no way of knowing for sure), and I walked out with the one dress that I had been looking at since the day I got engaged. The whole experience was really a lot cooler than I thought it would be - you get to wear a corset bra, a petticoat, EVERYTHING!!! I felt like Scarlett O’Hara!! Who knows, maybe tomorrow I’ll have a southern drawl???
Really, the biggest problem was that I liked too many. Even now, I’m sad that I can’t have them all. And here they are (please excuse the weird “mirror face” I seem to be making)!!!
(Mr. Bubblegum, nNNNNOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Oy.
Yesterday, I heard the question combination I had been dreading:
Question #1: How long until the wedding? <Just under 5 months>
Question #2: Have you gotten your dress yet? <No, I haven’t even looked>
Honestly, I’ve been putting off going dress shopping. I know this might seem un-bride-like, but it’s just not something I’m looking forward to. First I said December. Then I said January. Now, it’s January, and I just plain don’t want to go. I am a bad bride.
But it didn’t stop there. In the past two days of work, FOUR – count ’em, FOUR – coworkers have asked me if I have my dress / when I’m getting my dress / why I don’t have my dress. Silence for the last 11 months of my engagement, but as soon as 2008 hit, BAM – everyone wanted the scoop on the dress.
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
For Christmas SLASH Mr. Bubblegum’s birthday (born on Dec. 28… can you believe the nerve?), I decided to get Mr. Bubblegum a Wii (photo includes our newest kitten, Baby Boy Bubblegum, or B^3).
Before being engaged, I would not have considered myself to be particularly crafty. I’d made a pillow here and there, but for the most part, I felt that I was willing to pay a premium to have a professional do the crafting for me. I would look at Martha’s ideas and scoff, “who has the time?”
Aaaand those were the days. What I’ve learned from being a DIY bride is that – crafty or not, time or no time – it’s just plain fun to make your own stuff. And with the holiday season upon us, I thought I’d take a minute to reflect on the five signs that you may be turning into Martha:
1. You make your own holiday cards
Common excuses include…
a) “There was extra decorative paper lying around!”
b) “It’s cost-effective!”
c) “I can think of better wording than Hallmark can!”
d) “I reeeeeeeeally want a snowflake punch!”
Evidence…
Saturday was the day we had earmarked for registering at each of our two stores. However, Friday night, when the holiday season filled up all the parking at the movie theatre, Mr. Bubblegum suggested we get our Macy’s registering out of the way.
All in all, I must say, it was a pleasant experience. They were very accommodating, despite the odd hour at which we decided to register (is it odd? I’m not sure. We started at 7:30 on a Friday night). However, we met quite the cast of characters, not all pleasant.
Woman Who Signed Us Up - Very nice and very helpful. Was rather upset that we weren’t planning to look at fine china and insisted we do so. Gave us our free gift (w00t!) which, as she pointed out, is made by the people who make Swiss Army Knives:
When we first started the venue search, I came down with a severe case of sticker shock. Medics were flown in, tests were run, surgeries were scheduled, and eventually, I recovered enough to make a sensible plan.
Step 1: Email
I created a blast email to send to the venues I was scouting. It was verrrrry long, but to summarize, I asked:
-Available dates for May 2008?
-Room capacity… minimums, maximums?
-On-site catering? If so, is it on-site exclusively?
-Suggested menu with prices?
-Bar service and options? Can we provide our own alcohol?
-Fees for the use of the hall and what does that include?
-What linens are included, and are chair covers available? Can we rent linens elsewhere?
-Any decoration restrictions?
-Ceremonies offered on-site? And what’s the fee?
-Time frame for an evening wedding? How much set-up time can we have?
-Any other costs not already addressed?
Step 2: Excel
Our First Date
Mr. Bubblegum and I have conflicting stories on how we met. In fact, we don’t really agree on how we started dating. But because I am the one writing this, I have the advantage of telling my side of the story (i.e. I win).
In my mind, Mr. Bubblegum was a wonderful friend but no one I had particularly considered dating. In fact, years later, when I found a list that my friend and I had compiled in high school detailing (literally) 400 qualities that made “the perfect man,” Mr. Bubblegum did not score well. However, at the time when he asked me out (and yes, regardless of what he says, he asked me out and he wanted to, dag nabbit), I was in an “I should try anything once” phase – romantic, no?
I should also mention that Mr. Bubblegum had never had a girlfriend before.. so at the very least, I expected his “game” to be minimal to none.
Our next big item on our “To Do” list is registering. To me, this is horribly daunting task, as:
I figured there’s not much I can do about #1 (aside from altering time and biology, but I don’t like to show off), so I’d just have to suck it up and get it done.
For #2, I did some research. Here is what I found out about some of my big questions:
a) How Many? I think the general idea here is that more is better. The more gifts you include on your registry, the more your guests will have to choose from (you don’t want to force Grandma to buy a spoon because she waited too long). The rule of thumb seems to be 2-3 gifts per invited guest. Obviously, you won’t get them all, but sometimes stores give you a discount on items that weren’t purchased after-the-fact, so why not get more discounts? Also, if you want to make the list appear smaller, split it up between stores.
What’s the integral of one over cabin??
It’s log cabin + “c” = HOUSEBOAT!!!
Tee hee. If you just laughed at that, then:
a) I have a million of those, don’t you worry,
b) You will understand my need to incorporate some true geekiness into my wedding, and
c) Yes, you need to make the assumption that it’s log base e or natural log, and yes, it was an indefinite integral. Gimme a break, it’s a joke. 
After much thought, I decided that the best way to do this would be through wedding favors… and when someone suggested to me the idea of personalized Rubik’s Cubes, my head exploded with glee.
(via personalizationmall)
I posted about my weird color scheme earlier. I feeeel as though I did not do my color scheme justice. Therefore, in the name of my color scheme, here is my 10-minute inspiration board:
Okay, so I have to be the first to say it: my color scheme is weird. In fact, it’s mostly based on our couch:
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Mrs. Bubblegum, Exeter, NH Age and Occupation: 24, Actuarial Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Ressearch & Development Engagement Date: February 9, 2007 Wedding Date: May 2008 Blogging Since: November 2, 2007 Venue: Dunegrass Golf Club About Me: I can be summed up by the four things I love most: kitties, cheese, math, and Mr. Bubblegum. I am knee-deep in DIY projects to keep wedding costs low but quality high for the special day when I get to marry my bestest friend.
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