Some fun from a wedding forum.

THE GEMINI BRIDESMAID (May 22-June 22)

Prepare to have your wedding Tweeted to an audience of millions. Unless you physically remove this woman’s mobile from her body, she will live update your nuptials on Twitter, Facebook and Myspace by the minute. This is a fun, witty gal to have on your team on the big day. She’s a fabulous connector and contact-maker, and will take over the introductions at the reception. Put her in charge of invitations as Miss Gemini has a way with words, and stationery. She’s your woman if you want a website too, or an events page online. She’ll use her nickname, or yours, on the card.

THE LIBRA BRIDESMAID (September 24-October 23)

She loves to be in love, and she also loves a lover – so this is a wonderfully romantic woman around to have on your special day. Nobody else will enter into the spirit of your wedding with more joy than a Libran. Just don’t expect her to make up her mind on anything. She doesn’t want to hurt people’s feelings, you see. Never consult her about the pantyhose (white, flesh or fishnet) or you will still be shopping for it while your fiancee arrives at the altar. Little decisions are just as hard for her as big decisions, so try to delegate them. She’ll cry when she throws the confetti though. Aaah!

THE SAGITTARIUS BRIDESMAID (November 22-December 21)

This lady has great travel experience or a wide range of friends in other regions, states and countries. So before you book your honeymoon destination, make sure you ask your Sagittarian bridesmaid about flights, hotels or miracle-working travel agents; she’ll typically have wonderful tips to pass on. The actual wedding could make her a little uncomfortable. At heart she’s not totally sure about the domestic commitment thing, and the big day gives her mixed feelings if she’s typical of her sign. She’ll take a particular interest in the vows, though. And the spiritual meaning behind them.

Shakespeare knew just what to write!

When I saw you, I fell in Love.

And you smiled because you knew

- William Shakespeare.

Brides' Hair

Over at Green Wedding Shoes, Kelli and Toby's wedding provided me with a big SMILE!

Kelli has her hair exactly how I want mine. Only I am lacking the length (and hairdresser) and my fail attempt at growing my hair (got just past shoulders and I chopped it off back to just above shoulder length) has made me consider extenstions. Not like $1000 real ones but just a clip in piece to finish it off. I think it is nice and easy, yet with the fascinator would class it up a little.

Love it!!

Actually I love alot about her wedding.

It's MY Wedding.

I really am planning my wedding.

H2B rarely has any opinions, hardly knows what is going on other than the date and I think is because he wants me to plan "my day" perhaps out of a hidden guilt. Which would be fine if I had "my day" planned out since I was 8 and knew everything I wanted from napkin fabric to the colour of my bridesmaid's underwear.

But I am not that person.

As much as I plan stuff and love to organise things, I always had it in my mind I wouldn't be getting hitched here. I never walked through the city and decided that church or garden would be "awesome to get married in someday". I did for other people, "Oh Ms Smith would suit that dress" or "Fred and Ginger would look lovely with a red carpet surrounded by white roses aisle in that park".

When we first got engaged, my first thought was check out the registry office and australian laws in regards to getting married over seas or interstate. I downloaded Vegas brochures, I saw 101 images of women in wedding dresses and men in suits with the eiffel tower behind them and planned a world trip (or 3) with the idea we'd get hitched and use that as our starting point to do some travelling and honeymoon so when we come back we'll be surprise we're married, have a nice party with nearest and dearest at our house and have a slideshow of our holiday snaps. Our parents and H2B's brother would be invited and told of course.

But H2B wanted none of that. "You'll regret it later" he says. That's his reasoning and he sticks by it. I doubt it. In fact I hate him for it and I don't think that is the best way to start of a marriage but I am sure when I finally get to Europe I will get over it. I hope. Otherwise it will be brought up (like it does now) in every arguement we have for the next X years.

I guess the wedding kind of shows the root of my planning plant. It's location is 2 hours away from home. As far away I could manage, keeping it somewhere nice I like and in the state as he also disagreed with a wedding in QLD, VIC, SA and TAS. I don't know why I have the urge to get married away from WA. Maybe it is my hate for Perth or the fact I am not a big fan of family and this way could escape it all. I don't think he is 100% on Down South either but puts up with it since he has disagreed with so much already.

No point, just a little rant as I am impatiently waiting the venue co-ordinator to reply to my email about the appointment I had with her a couple of weeks ago and emailed her about last Friday.

And also on how I have had to comprimise so god dam much with so many aspects of this stupid day. I've changed theme. I'm fighting with myself about bridesmaid (lovely argument though any psychic's nearby.. stay out of my head cause this shit is nasty), I have settled for my wedding dress in more ways than one, I have a feeling while still on the keep everyone happy bandwagon I may end up in Bali for a honeymoon, I can't find a god dam pair of perfectly amazing special wedding shoes for me!!!!

End rant.

Tiffanys Want

Letter to Bridesmaids.

While browsing over a particular dilema I am facing, I came across this from Lazy Brides Blog. I love it.

_______________


Dear Bridesmaid,

Thank you for agreeing to stand up for your friend/sister on what is likely the most special day of her life. It's a huge honour as it means she cherishes your friendship and believes that she can rely on you to support her in all her wedding preparations. It's an exciting, emotional time not only for her, but for you as well. She's relying on you to be there for her in more ways than one.

Being a bridesmaid is a lot more than just showing up in a pretty dress and holding some flowers for photos. A LOT more. If you're not up to the task, do everyone a favour and decline. Seriously. An unsupportive attendant is the last thing a stressed-out bride needs. Your job is to reduce her stress level, not add to it.

Your #1 job is to support the bride. The wedding is not about you so don't try make it so as you'll do nothing other than tick everyone off and look desperate for attention (not flattering).

Being a bridesmaid has costs associated - yes, you are expected to pay for the dress, for the shoes, the jewellery and accessories as well a shower gift and a wedding gift. If you cannot afford it, let the bride know upfront. Open communication is the key to friendship. Moaning about the dress pricing down the road just plants seeds of discontentment in the garden of friendship.

That said, do NOT complain about the bridesmaids' dresses/color/decorations/flowers. If the bride asks you to go along during initial scouting sessions to give opinions, then do so but if it's a done deal, smile and suck it up, buttercup. The bride is happy with her choice and you should be too. Snide, catty comments from you, her gal pal, about something she has spent countless hours planning will only make the bride miserable. Keep your thoughts to yourself and be gracious. Make "WWJD" (What Would Jackie Do) your mantra (ahh, Jackie O, you are missed).

Offer to help out. Don't just say 'what can I do' or expect the bride to come out and ask. Be proactive and offer specific tasks (ie. "Can I help you stamp and stuff the wedding invites?"). Remember, you are expected to pitch in and lighten the bride's work load.

Plan a bridal shower and bachelorette party. Doesn't have to be a girls gone wild weekend in Vegas but something that everyone involved can afford and will enjoy. Attend as many pre-wedding parties as possible.

Help keep track of who gave what shower gift so the bride can send out the thank you notes.
At the rehearsal dinner and wedding, be the hostess with the mostess. You are representing the bride to her guests so be charming, be nice and smile.

Be ready on time. Again, this is not about you so don't hold up the day 'cause you couldn't get it together or are playing some passive/aggressive game.

Help with set up/tear down of decorations, etc. Expect to be the last person to leave the wedding, not the first. Your job is to make sure everything is squared away at the end of the night so the bride and her groom can enjoy themselves.

If there is a wedding planner, play nice. She is not there to usurp your position nor is she there to take on your bridesmaid's duties. You're all on the same team and are all trying to make the day the best possible. Leave your ego and any latent resentment at the bride for hiring a planner at the door.

Get up and dance. Once the floor opens, be the first to kick up her heels. The rest of the guests will follow your lead. An empty dance floor is the kiss of death to any party so make sure there is always someone on it.

Don't drink like a fish. Remember the wedding where the 'maid ended up under the table and people are still laughing at her? 'Nuff said.

During the wedding, be aware of what's going on. See something that needs fixing, do it. Try to minimize asking the couple to make decisions. Be proactive (within reason) and take care of small issues. If a decoration is falling down or the buffet is needing more food, talk to to the appropriate vendor.

And most importantly? Have fun. Smile and make an effort. Be there for the bride and show her all her hard work and fretting over the blue or the green napkins was all worth it.

Thanks
Lazy Brides the world over

Flower Fail.

So me being as proactive as I am, starting to play around with the flower wholesaler I was hoping to use for the centerpieces. I did a biiiig collage up of what I was thinking, mainly focusing on the setting below. I wanted it in a tiffany blue box and we are gonna put damask tape around the middle to tye it in with the damask tiffany thing I am now set with.

Yet this is what I was offered......

Fail Flowers are Fail.

Box setting ..... BIG TICK!

Flowers. Fail.

It looks like a bunch of weed flowers. So they are trying again for me.... Lets see shall we?!

Shoes. The never ending saga.

When Lovely and Sprinkles went to Melbourne they brought me a present. A present so wonderful I took 101 photos of it. Here are 3 of those.

Pink Sparkly Soled Ruffled Top Heels.

These come in an ivory. But they were also way more than either of them should have spent on me.... and more than I want the girls to spend on shoes. Maybe I could subsidize some of the cost as part of their thankyou presents for being bridesmaids?

That said, Pony will most likely be unable to wear them, so guess I just wasted time thinking about it.

I had also considered letting them go and just choose their own shoes but unless I tell the photographers no full body shots or later crop the shoes out, it is just going to annoy the bajesus out of me! All matching and pretty and the same..... then....

Where I would much rather this, so much maybe we will ALL have matching shoes?!

Puppies vs. Babies

Being anti-child/baby, I have never really understood the Mums of the world.

I love my own mother dearly - as you do, but when people fill their face book full of bowel movements, constant hospital/doctor visits and rants of sleepless nights – I wonder why people do it to themselves. Babies take up not only time, with their playgroups and need for attention but also money and seem to be a never ending pit of causing your income to become completely disposable. 100’s can disappear a week on ‘formula’ and ‘nappies’. Diet and nutrition is also high on the topic list as people try their kids with various foods, seeing what is eagerly consumed and what ends up splattered all over the wall and carpets and what will cause another trip to the ER.

I could go on but I’ll be here all day.

Anyway, then we got Ella.

I spent months calling and emailing possible breeders. H2B and I went to numerous shows, meeting and greeting possible parents and carers, to make sure we were getting the right one for us. We wanted a breeder who was knowledgeable, willing to help any frantic midnight calls we may have during that first week home and we wanted parents that would produce a wonderful, healthy pup for us to adopt as our own.

We found all that, plus much more with our girl.

But now that I have been thinking about things, I find I have become a parent.

They do say get a puppy or another living thing before children to like prep you for it. In the weeks leading up to bringing her home we spent hundreds buying bedding and toys, I read 5 different “bringing home your puppy” books and others of that genre. We went through and puppy proofed the house to protect the curious little one. I have spent hours reading through diet blogs and plan to feed her only a natural raw diet.People parents are now all about "organic".

And now that we have her, to keep her socialisation up we are constantly having play dates with people and dogs, we send her to day care, she goes to “school” and has a boyfriend, whom thankfully we approve off. We went through toilet training and were blessed with no sleepless nights and at least 5 times before 8 am my fingers have to go down her throat to retrieve something she shouldn't have in her mouth.

I don’t see the differences these days between that of a mother with a toddler and me with my dog.

And that has never been more apparent than when I take her to Day Care. She has only been 3 times, and each time as I drop her off, I can feel my heart strings pulling. I think of her all day until I go and pick her up after work. You would think this would be easier than the usual of leaving her at home alone. But no. She loves it as well. They take her behind the gate and I no longer exist to her as she meets the other dogs and the people that will be looking after her that day. Her tail doesn’t stop wagging and her happiness is very obvious. And then at the end of the day, after all that playing and fun, I have a worn out little pup that when she comes home is every parents (human or dog) favourite.

So really they’re not that different at all. I know I have learnt a new respect for Mums when they freak out over facebook that it's their babies first day at school or kindy and day care. I understand now.

That said, I would still rather ruin my carpets than my life with a human baby!!