Update: 85 Days to Go

I know I haven’t been giving you a lot of updates recently. It’s not because Brad and I haven’t made decisions lately (we totally have; I’ll make a list for you below), it’s just that none of them really lend themselves to visuals. I mean, do you want to see a copy of my florist estimate? Trust me, you do not. Even I do not (wowzers!).

85 Days to Go (the list Formerly Known As What We’ve Done this Week)

• Purchased an address embosser (which will still apply after the wedding, unlike the bulk of our purchases nowadays)
• Received our paper for the invites in the mail
• Began printing tests
• Visited the florist
• Priced out and decided on a plan for the rehearsal dinner (big thank-you hugs and kisses to Brad for doing all this)
• Drafted wedding program
• Decided on ceremony  music
• Learned the Val Air was not exactly all we thought it would be (although the party will still be rockin’, I guarantee it)
• Went through our wedding budget (again)
• Changed one another to our emergency contacts (not necessarily wedding-related, but vital all the same)
• Donated blood (Just Joanna, and this has nothing to do with the wedding, I just like donating blood)
• Ordered paper lanterns and LED lights to test

And tomorrow I’m moving back to my parents. Busy busy.

Sneak Peek: Flowers

And the bridesmaids will be holding onto several of these beauties (yellow ranunculas). This is my standing favorite flower.

Image courtesy of Flickr user greenbeangirl74.

Sneak Peek: Flowers

I met with my florist for the first time today (shout out to Plaza Florists and Deb Chisholm for the recommendation!) and green dendrobium orchids are scheduled to make a big appearance. Love them. (Love them even more after I researched and found out they historically symbolize ecstasy. You betcha.)

image courtesy of Flickr user djfatphilly

Is This a Bad Sign?

Let’s say, hypothetically of course, that Brad and I were finalizing our wedding ceremony order of service and I was reading aloud all the different parts. (Declaration of Intent: “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to…”) And then, let’s say that, hypothetically, we got to the vows part and I started saying, “This is where we say, ‘I, Joanna, take you Brad, to be my husband…” Then let’s hypothetically say I started crying.

I’m a goner.

Married Traditions

I just had lunch with my bestie Rachel and she mentioned that she and her husband just formed a new resolution: From 9 to 10 every night is “Rachel and Josh time.” No computers, no homework (Rachel is in grad school), no cleaning or fiddling with stuff around the house, no TV (unless they pick something they want to cuddle up and watch together), just time to talk, flirt, tease, and laugh with one another. She said they’ve done it for two nights now and they both love it.

A few years ago when I visited my cousin Audrey after she had her first baby, she told me she and her husband always made a big Saturday breakfast to enjoy with one another. It was a huge deal that they looked forward to all week. They both planned the menu, made really good coffee, and just sat and enjoyed the meal and time together.

It got me thinking–what are other fun couple traditions? I’m sure Brad and I will come up with our own (recent contenders: the after-work walk, the Sunday afternoon work/nap combo–Brad works, Joanna naps, the making of any meal together). Does anyone have any others to give us ideas?

image courtesy of Flickr user ~VISTA

To Commune or Not to Commune?

Whenever I go to a wedding, I always love short, meaningful, short, emotional ceremonies. That are short. Brad feels the same way, so as we’ve been working on the order of our service, we’ve cut out several “traditional” elements to make the ceremony reflect our relationship, our union, and our desire to get everyone to the reception quickly.

Here’s what’s out: any readings, any solos, any stare-into-one-another’s-eyes-while-instrumental-music-plays moments, and lighting any candles (especially of the unity kind).

Here’s what’s in: opening prayer, short sermon, declaration of intent (this is the I Do part), vows, exchanging of rings, KISS!

Here’s what’s up in the air: communion. I don’t want to ruin what I think will be the best wedding message ever delivered (by one of my dear “fathers,” Bob Gibson), but part of his message will discuss communion. I think it might be neat to do this with Brad during our ceremony, both to acknowledge our faith and our dependency on Christ, and also to symbolize the importance that faith will have in our marriage. But…it will add a few minutes to the ceremony.

So…let the people decide! You’ll be the ones sitting (or standing if you’re a member of the wedding party) through it, so what do you think? Commune or not commune?*

*Disclaimer: Your vote is purely for entertainment reasons as Brad and I will make this decision on our own. Although we may consult our comments during decision-making, so make them interesting.

image courtesy of studioRSVP