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On 10/7 my bridal shower and bachelorette both were held on the same one day (because that’s how I roll*).
On the way home from my shower, our vehicle packed to the gills with gifts (and bridesmaid/neighbor Lil’ E) and chauffered by Mr. Daisy, I called an audible and we stopped at Fab 208 so I could buy a bachelorette-ready top. Since the owner Jo is pretty much a fit and styling genius (and I’ve shopped there for about a million years), I was in and out with a fab top in under five minutes. Pleasing the double-parked Mr. Daisy and wowing E with my mad shopping skillz.
So, the long and the short of is, I live with a man who is part human, part ape. The ape part manifests itself in Mr. Daisy’s a) fondness of bananas; b) tree climbing ability and, most notably, c) general furriness. Indeed, since the day I met him, Mr. Daisy has sported a bit of “scruff” (think George Michael, late 80’s post-Wham years) in addition to some old school Burt Reynolds-style chest hair.*
One time, when we went to Mexico on vacation, Mr. Daisy shaved (his face) and I hardly recognized him sans scruff. So we are presented with quite the dilemma vis-Æ’ -vis the wedding. Does he shave the scruff that everyone he knows has come to know (and love?) in favor of a more technically “wedding appropriate look? Or does he keep the quasi-beard in a go with what you know mindset?
Avec fuzz:
Shaven off:
~~
* Which is neither here nor there. But I couldn’t resist the shirtless Burt photo op. Just because…
I’m off from work today (as I am for half of every week), which is usually awesome.
Today, however, is a whole nother story. In the above-pictured box is my wedding band. I cannot open said box until Mr. Daisy gets home from work.
Self-deprivation was never a strong suit of mine (see: my weight gain, my drunken college years, my closet full of shoes, ad infinitum) so not opening this package is actually causing me physical pain. Woe is me!
So Mr. Daisy and I have a big decision to make - how to structure our wedding. Because the Metropolitan Club is such a large space, it allows many permutations of the rooms. Now we just have to choose one.
Featured on Weddingbee
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
“Make an elegant invitation statement without the fuss. Stylish invitation sets with matching envelopes, reception and response cards included.”
Since I did such a scorched earth venue search back when I first got engaged (and before I was Miss Daisy, imagine that!), I thought I might share the fruits of my labor with those of you in the early planning stages and looking for a NYC venue. Admittedly, my list only contains venues in a specific vein (fancy and big) but still…
~~~
When my mom (briefly) dabbled in real estate, those three words were pretty much her mantra. After all, location is what it’s all about, no?
Well, come wedding planning time, my mother again took those words to heart, deciding that a wedding in New York proper was the order of the day. Now, you won’t hear me object to a Manhattan wedding–indeed, in my wedding dreams of yore, the Plaza and Pierre featured quite prominently–but the cost of such a wedding is actually appalling.
This was the weekend of both my bridal shower and bachelorette (held in marathon fashion due to my sister living way over West in California as she pursues her PhD there). Here is my uberlong summary of the shower to go with that marathon theme…
As previously discussed, the shower was held at Dos Caminos (on Park). But aside from helping choose the restaurant, I had no clue what else the day would hold. This was hard to swallow since I am an anal retentive and quasi-psychotic control freak love to help out with things. Happily, my help was not needed as my shower ruled the school, lack of my input notwithstanding.
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
Ok, I have taken on a huge endeavor.
I am set on making my programs, menus, and placecards by hand for my 250-odd guests. (Not to mention the rehearsal dinner and brunch invites and the out-of-town bags). Is this insane? Perhaps. But I’m owning my insanity and plowing ahead.
With a little inspiration from Martha Stewart, and absolutely zero rubber stamping (or crafting anything) experience, I went to Paper Presentation and bought more paper than a girl can carry (hence I brought with me my handy pack mule/beloved fiance) in the form of 250 of the following program covers (which fold into a matchbook-like shape), plus accoutrements (inserts):
“I don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day.”
Oh, Linda Evangelista, you sure knew what time it was. Taking engagement photos modeling is *tough* work, sister! I get it. That’s because last Thursday Mr. Daisy and I traipsed around the city for our engagement shoot, smiling and being casual and relaxed for hours on end. Try being casual and relaxed on cue. It’s not easy! I much more fully understand what Tyra goes through trying to school those bitches on America’s Next Top Model. For reals.
Anyway, morning of the shoot I a) worked out with my Bridal Boot Camp trainer Matt Hayes. Despite my knee injury, he has found alternative ways to torture help me workout; b) met my mom at Jimmy Choo to go over bridal footwear options, then; c) headed to Paul LeBrecque for a much needed haircut with my hair guy Adolfo (I didn’t want “styling” per se, just neat hair for the pics).
Yes, two weeks-ish ago, my invitations made their journey out into the world (or more specifically, to our guests since sociable as I am, I’m still capping my guest list at 300– sorry, world!). Since they were pretty simple–an invitation card, a reception card, a response card + envelope–it was not the most difficult thing for me to assemble them. (Not that such a trivial fact hampered me in my quest to make *everything* wedding-related into a complicated procedure, believe you me.)
After making him wash his hands multiple times (with soap!!) prior to any opportunity to touch the invites, I immediately relegated Mr. Daisy to stamp duty. Shortly thereafter, I benched him as I decided his stamps were not the exact perfect distance from the corner of the envelope (and weren’t exactly straight either, if I’m being honest. Which I am. Those stamps were crooked!)
Here is what my dining room table looked like as I assembled the goods:
I may be biased, but I am pretty excited about some stuff going on at the Wedding Library…! They just launched a new newsletter and have introduced some pretty convenient services (plus, they used a bee motif-how cute?):
And best of all-Free gift! If anyone uses the new styling, travel or bridesmaid services, they’ll get a free white wedding day umbrella. Not that any of us hope for a rainy wedding day, but you never know! (The promotion is good through the end of the year!)
And I completely admit that I get disproportionately excited when something has a “free gift.” Even if the gift is like, let’s say, return address labels with kittens on them. The whole something for nothing thing just gets me every time.
Well, this weekend was one of my more productive ones of late. Although my Friday engagement photo shoot was scrapped due to inclement weather, I was able to stamp, stuff and send out invites.
Saturday we hit AT Harris to select and order groomsmen tuxes, hit Barneys to have Mr. Daisy’s tux fitted (then realized it was a wee bit early to do so, and put that on hold). Then after hitting Saks, Jimmy Choo, Giuseppe Zanotti, Christian Louboutin and the Wedding Library, I even found and bought wedding shoes (I think– more on that to come).
As this week gets off to a busier than I expected start, I wish I were still in bed. Indeed, I will head there now, as soon as I spit out my hot and sexy teeth bleaching trays.
Oh, that’s so hot!
So yesterday was Martha Stewart and it was, how do you say, underwhelming. Joy Behar was the guest and she was funny, but the project she and Martha did together (papier mÆ’¢chÆ’©) was kind of lame, and not very Martha-y (i.e. entirely unattractive, uncharming result).
The other segment, with an “American Cook” was bo-ring. The interaction/chemistry/banter between Martha and the guest was nil. And, similar to the craft project, the recipe they made also lacked in presentation (a “Huguenot torte”).
But my real peeve? The complete lack of audience giveaways. I’m not asking for a handknit poncho here, but Martha is a freaking multinational conglomerate unto herself. And yet the audience couldn’t get a freaking bone? A Martha Stewart Everyday handtowel from Kmart?
One of my bridesmaids (the pregnant/married one, specifically) is now a bridesmom! That’s because she had a little boy yesterday and I am just over the moon! (Yes, I get very excited over babies.)
Add this great news to the following: my calligraphed envelopes are getting picked up today; I’m attending the Martha Stewart show tomorrow; Mr. Daisy made it safely home from his bachelor party in Vegas; I just finished with my other big commitment (captaining my Race for the Cure team); plus we just about finished furnishing our home office, and this week is looking like a banner one. Not to mention, as of yesterday, we’re T-minus two months (!!) to the wedding… so yeah, good times!
I quote Grease lyrics only because the pounds are coming off like Greased Lightning. Thank you, Nutrisystem!
As I posted before, I joined Nutrisystem to lose those last couple of wedding pounds the 25 some odd pounds I gained in the last couple of years, since I met Mr. Daisy (and simultaneously continued my illicit affairs with my true loves: cheeseburgers, pizza, bacon and mozzarella sticks).
And so far, so awesome. I started the diet just over two weeks ago, when giant boxes of food arrived at our doorstep. None of the food needs to be refrigerated since it’s all highly processed and vacuum sealed. (I try not to think too hard about what it actually is I am eating that can stay “fresh” at any temperature).
Anyway, the Nutrisystem plan works like this (at least it does for women, men get extra food. bastards!):
The secret of this diet? Keeping my daily calorie intake below 1200 calories. (I’m not really buying into the whole “low glycemic index hype.” It’s starvation, pure and simple.)
Is it torturous? Yes! Is it cheap? Ummm, yeah. At approximately $274/month for the Nutrisystem meals. (This doesn’t include the cost of salads, fruit, dairy products, etc. but still!) Is it realistic as a permanent lifestyle? Hells, no! (I will be able to keep this up until the wedding, at best.)
Does it work? Fuck yes– I am down 8 lbs. to date and that’s including the days I went “off plan” while upstate at a wedding and at various Labor Day events. I can’t even imagine where I would be if I had not had those departures. Insane!
No, I’m not proposing to the internet at large. But I am *desperately* seeking someone to perform our wedding ceremony. So far we have met with officiants near and far. It feels like we’ve considered pretty much everyone short of Father Guido Sarducci:
And still, no officiant.
This all stems from the lack of formal religion in my life. Though I was born and raised Jewish, as was Mr. Daisy, my upbringing also included a touch of Ethical Culture/humanism. However, I sort of renounced my faith moved away from that as time went on and decided to figure out what did work for me. To date, I still haven’t found what i’m looking for a religion to call my own. But enough about my boring vision quest, and on to the important stuff.
The wedding. The actual “Do you, Daisy, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” part. This can’t happen without an officiant. And I have absolutely no clue how I can find an officiant that meets the following (oh-so-specific and narrow) requirements:
Yep, that about does it. It seems that finding an officiant who meets those requirements will be about as easy as finding a unicorn*. So what do I do?
Does anyone know an officiant who fits the bill? And have any of you had trouble bridging the gap between your own familial traditions/religious beliefs and those of your fiance? Should I just decide to forego the marriage part** and continue to live in sin?
Help!!!
~~~
* A *real* unicorn, unlike the “unicorn” I saw at the circus back in the 80’s that pretty much was a goat with a horn stapled in the center of its head.
** Ok, kidding, because this is so not an option. I am getting me a new last name come November…
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Mrs. Daisy, New York Age and Occupation: 32, Attorney Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Finance Engagement Date: December 10, 2005 Wedding Date: November 11, 2006 Blogging Since: June 7, 2006 Venue: Metropolitan Club About Me: My favorite activities used to include knitting, cooking, doing the crossword puzzle and about a million other relaxing pursuits. Since my engagement, well, not so much. Wedding planning has become my primary hobby. So much so that I am downgrading my work schedule to part-time in order to more fully dedicate myself to my wedding (and reality tv, as well, if I'm being honest).
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