OK, I'm crazy

In my last entry, I mentioned an extra “final detail” for the save the dates.

Just wanted to let you know how that was working out...

The photo here shows the supplies I’m using to create our stefana, or wedding crowns.  I haven’t made much progress since the first initial burst (I’ve beaded about 1/4 of the way around the first ring), and that mirrors how the whole process feels lately.  We’re in a bit of a holding pattern.  Luckily, whenever negotiations are close to breaking down, we break out laughing at ourselves.

We’ve decided on a florist--Janene Puca of In Full Bloom.  Her website is nice, but to be honest, it doesn’t do justice to the enthusiasm and expertise she brings to the table.  Of all of our vendor meetings to date, I was least excited to meet with the florist.  Because I have some very specific (and non-traditional) ideas about what I want, I assumed an “if you want something done right, do it yourself” attitude.  When we sat down with Janene, though, she was quick to expand on my ideas and add her own knowledge to take things to another level.  She’s also a straight shooter, which means a lot to me and George!

George and I are in the process of finalizing our decision about the venue.  We had been dead-set on Erini, but another option presented itself and I’m enthralled with it.  We’re not sure whether the Sayen House and Garden will accommodate our group, so we’ve reached out to them and there’s a possibility that we’ll go down to NJ again in the next week or so to make a final choice.  We’re also finalizing our choice of photographer soon, after reaching out to several exciting options.

I do find it hard to believe how difficult some vendors can be.  At this point, I’m basically putting money on the table.  We haven’t committed to a vendor for X, we’re considering giving you a substantial amount of money to perform this service for us, please give us information.  Amazing how some folks don’t return calls or emails, make up excuses, or just generally flake out!  Real encouraging sales work, there.  That’s how you win customers.

Maybe because of my line of work, I find the exchanging of money to be a very personal affair.  If I want to win someone’s business, so to speak--to guide them toward directing their philanthropy to Emerson, to my cause--I’m not only responsive, but I try to anticipate their needs.  I want that person to have all of the information they need, when they need it, to make the best decision for themselves at that moment in time.  It’s a wonder that some of these commercial operations stay running with such poor customer service--and, in at least one case, a wonder that I haven’t been able to convince George to run far, far away from the waving red flags.

In happier news, I’m also almost done with our save the date cards!  Envelope liners are all prepped and ready to be adhered, and there’s a final detail I’m going to try this afternoon on the cards themselves (which I thought were done until inspiration struck).  The envelopes are addressed and stamped and we’re nearly ready to roll.  Excitingly, I learned that you can ask the Postal Service to hand-cancel the stamps, avoiding that big mechanical mark across the top of the envelope.  I started planning our custom stamps for the invitations themselves, too...a very G+K detail, if I say so myself.

You know, I sat down to write this entry feeling pretty down about the whole thing.  Not the marriage part, of course, but the planning.  As usual, though, once I started to write out where we really are--and more importantly, think through where we’re headed--I feel much better.  Our small wedding will be a wonderful one, and I know that our long life together will be even better.

Until next time, friends.  Thanks for listening!

Saving Our Date

Taking some time to reflect on one of the small details that turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and an unexpected meditation on our future together.

This weekend, I started working on our save-the-date cards.  This was made slightly more complex when George and I realized that, after some (ahem) internal miscommunications, we didn’t have final confirmation from the church for our wedding date.  I wisely held off on printing the cards themselves.  We’ll keep you all posted on that front...hopefully it will be resolved tomorrow and I will have been a stress-ball for nothing.

Rather than fret about what I couldn’t control or didn’t know, I cut out all of the pictures for our cards, turned them into stickers (which was a lot of fun--try making a scarf out of long strips of pictures of yourself!), cut the backing, mounted them, and decided to conquer the envelopes.

I had planned to print all the addresses onto the envelopes; maybe get a stamp made for the return address for the invitations.  It seemed easiest that way--the fonts could match; it would be convenient; it would be fast.  All that until I noticed, in the bottom of my Paper Source bag, the calligraphy pen I had picked up along with the blank cards.

As a kid, and I couldn’t have been older than nine, I would practice calligraphy in a little book.  I have no evidence now of the hours I spent laying out on my bedroom floor, changing nibs and attempting various lettering styles.  I don’t remember whether I was any good; I don’t remember what I ever used it for beyond the practice books.

During the year we spent in England, I wrote in my journal for all but three days (I think I had the flu).  My mom gave me a beautiful glass fountain pen which I’d dip in ink to write sometimes--especially entries that felt especially important or dramatic--but I wrote in my own hand, having forgotten those calligraphy lessons already.

Back to this weekend, when my impulse-buy brought it all back.  I picked up the pen thinking I might add a scroll here or there, perhaps monogram some thank you notes for myself--but then all those calligraphy urges rushed to the surface.

Yes, calligraphy urges.

After practicing on a few scrap cards, I decided to take on the return addresses on the envelopes.  What better way to get back in the swing of things than by writing the same five lines 60 times?  It’s not perfect, and it’s not any precise lettering style I’ve ever heard of, but I did it myself and I’m extremely proud.

I know that the folks getting these cards won’t mind that I didn’t wrap up the flourishes on my As, because I liked the way they looked left open; no one will judge my Ms for being too soft and rounded.  Few people, honestly, will probably give these envelopes a second thought.

Years from now, though, I’ll show my children my wedding album, and tell them about how their dad and I would spend our time before getting married.  Weekends mean fresh coffee, football on tv, and a few good hours of calligraphy here and there until the coffee table is covered in perfectly imperfect envelopes--that extra touch of effort for the people with whom we share the most love.  

It occurred to me, writing our address time and again, that our invitations will be the last time that our two separate last names will be paired.  I think that justifies an extra flourish, don’t you?

Honeymooners

It seems like most couples we know have their sights set on the tropics--not us.  Spa for me, golf for he!  Mix in some sun and we’re good to go.

This Friday night is just what I needed--pizza, candy bar, and an action movie that doesn’t require my rapt attention (Quantum of Solace, in case you’re wondering).  We’re all in our usual spots--George in the armchair, I on the couch with my feet on the table, even though my legs could be out on the chaise lounge if I moved 16 inches to the left, and Willow perched on the arm of the couch within perfect petting distance of that future husband of mine.

Such a lovely-lazy night has me thinking about another series of perfect evenings (and mornings and days, for that matter).  That’s right, I’m thinking honeymoon!  Early on, we Greece was the natural choice.  George has family there, I’ve never been, and we’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful destination.  Don’t even get me started on the feta...

Thinking about it more, we decided that Greece is a perfect vacation destination--but not quite what we want for our honeymoon.  We would put too much pressure on ourselves to see and do everything, meet everyone, and make the most out of every minute.  “Agenda” is not a word we want to utter in the few days after our wedding.  No schedules for us; no regrets when we get home that we didn’t pack enough in; no alarm clocks beeping early to get a jump-start on the day.

We agreed that the only requirements for our honeymoon are sun and quiet.  Arizona fit the bill perfectly!  I fell in love with the area on a business trip last January, and its wide-open spaces seem like the perfect place to relax and reflect on our future as a married couple.  Now we just have to find the right resort.