So much to do

Emily and are constantly making little to do lists. Today it was cupcake recipes, iPod playlists, grocery shopping and ceremony service research. We've had a difficult time finding a ceremony template that we like. Neither of us are religious and we both tend not to go in for overly flowery or sentimental language. We had a couple of breakthroughs in this department in the last two days though, so we're closing in on something I think we'll be happy with.

We've also discovered that while we have a large and diverse collection of music to choose from for the reception, we don't have as much up-tempo stuff as we thought. Our dinner/mingling playlist is all set, but the later on, "gittin' jiggy" part of the party is where we're falling short. You know, we're, like, trying to keep it real up in the feel and stuff, but our musical tastes tend to run toward the slower, sadder, darker, weepier side. It's okay though, we have friends who are not so rythmically challenged that we can call on for help.

Our first out-of-town guests start arriving on Tuesday. Much left to do, but soon the fun begins....

Two more weeks

It's September! Emily is having a little impromtu bridal shower at our friend Galandrielle's place tomorrow. We picked up our wedding bands yesterday and I almost left them on the counter at the Borders cafe!

This week we are going to start thinking about seating at the reception but I'm wondering how necessary that step is. Every wedding I've ever been to has assigned seating and I assume there's some practical reason for it but I'm not sure what that is. We know who's coming, we have enough seats... why can't people just figure it out on their own? I guess it might be kind of fun to force different people to sit near each other who otherwise might not...

Also on our agenda this week: picking music for the reception. We'll have a few playlists ready for the iPod. Any suggestions? Mo Macarena or Chicken Dance at this wedding.

Less than a month to go...

We're starting to receive some RSVPs back in the mail. We're dealing with rental hassles and wedding bands and vows and... holy crap! We're getting married! :)

wedding weekend events

If you're coming here for the first time because you just received your invitation, then welcome! Be sure to skim the posts below and remember that in a blog (like this one), the top posts are the newest ones. The really important information we've tried to keep over in the sidebar (on the right side of your screen) so you don't have to spend an hour reading all of the posts (unless you want to).

So we're honing the schedule of events on the big wedding weekend. Here is the preliminary list...

Friday September 15th

12:00pm - 5:00pm: Emily and Bill receive arriving out-of-town guests at their home, drinks and snacks and video games abound.

8:00pm - midnight: bachelor/bachelorette party at VCAM studio - BYO whatever. All are invited.

Saturday September 16th

12:00 pm: Rehearsal at the UU Society with Roddy and wedding party.

2:00pm - 5:00pm: The wedding party and friends do preliminary set-up and decoration of the Flynndog.

7:30pm: Wedding party and families depart for the rehearsal dinner in Stowe.

Sunday September 17th

11:00am - 12:30pm: Dim sum at Five Spice, baby!

1:00pm - 2:30pm: Final set-up of Flynndog and UU Society by Bill, Emily, and wedding party.

3:00pm - 4:00pm: Pot luck dish drop-off at the Flynndog.

4:00pm: Emily marries Bill.

5:00pm - 6:00pm: Guests arrive at the Flynndog, mingle, drink, etc.

6:00pm: Dinner.

7:00pm: Relax.

Monday September 18th

Simmon family reunion day. Events TBA.

Let me see your license and registration

Yes, Emily and I went to City Hall and procured our marriage license. The license included questions about our parents' birth places, so we had to figure out where our parents were actually born. It turns out we are REALLY the products of midwestern culture. Our parents' birth towns were...

Clinton, Iowa (Bill's dad)
Middletown, Ohio (Bill's mom)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Emily's dad)
Watertown, South Dakota (Emily's mom)

I like to think Emily is somehow descended from Al Swearengen's line.

We have also added links to our official wedding registries in the sidebar of this blog (on the right - scroll down a bit). These are meant as suggestions. If you are planning on buying us a gift, feel free to purchase off-registry if you are so inspired. We'll just be happy to see your smiling face (but you'd better get us something good!).

need some printing done?

I just want to jump in here and put in a plug for Hard Copy on the corner of Main and Battery in downtown Burlington. We brought our wedding invitations to them and they were professional and did a great job and it was one third the cost that I figured it would be. We just dropped off a disk with some photoshop files and they did the set-up and printing and cutting to size for us. Easy peasy. Invitations go out tomorrow!

a potluck reception

So we are having a potluck reception, meaning we will be asking our guests to bring a little somethin-somethin' for others to munch on. Those guests who are local will bear the brunt of the responsibility as far as actual dishes go and we'll ask our out-of-town guests to bring easily-obtainable drinks and snacks and such. Emily and I will guide you to whatever extent we can (so there aren't 50 desserts and no casseroles) but we want guests to make stuff that they are good at making, so we are open to your suggestions. If you're a really good baker, maybe you can bake a cake. If you're a pasta whiz, whip up some carbonara. If you are a vegan chef, impress the carnivores with your favorite vegan feast.

Let us know what you'll be bringing or ask us for some guidance. Email Emily here.

it's getting real

Yesterday Emily and I did several wedding-related things and it was clear to both of us that the day is fast approaching. We met with Roddy, our presider/officiant, and made some decisions with her. Then we went and looked at wedding bands. I've never worn a ring and it turns out my fingers are HUGE. I'm like a size 14 or something. Then it was off to City Hall for the license, but we got there too late and we'll have to return another time. Finally we stopped in at the printers to drop off the invitation files and popped ever so briefly into the florists to ask about flowers.

Invitations are going out this week. Then you should notice the activity of this blog picking up slightly as more people will be coming here for info. Stay tuned....