We almost didn't register for wedding gifts, because we didn't want to buy into the materialism surrounding weddings.  We didn't want to invite guests as an implied exchange for gifts.

In the end, we did register. Because, we can't make it all on our own, and we didn't want our friends and family to feel it was our aim.

And can I just tell you - we are so glad we did.  Planning becomes overwhelming, and you can easily start to feel you are doing a terrible job, especially if you are two perfectionists who really love so many people and hate hurting other's feelings.  A midst those cycles of thoughts, conversations and feelings, we'll often open the door to find some box sitting on the front steps, or the chair next to the door, or right out in the middle of the front walkway like it snuck inside the gate all on its own.  It feels magical.  It feels frivolous.  Gifts just appearing at your door from all sorts of friends who have never bought you a birthday gift or a Christmas present.  And you've never before received a gift "with someone".  But here we are, us two, getting all sorts of fun surprises from all these fun people, like a three-week long scavenger hunt constantly lifting our spirits, making us laugh and dance and celebrate getting married and building a home together, and all the special people we will get to see on that life-altering day.  It's exciting.  I'm so glad we didn't skip this part of the lead-up.  We would be just fine without all the amazing serving trays and copper bar wear.  We'd still get married.  And we'd still have dishes and forks and glasses like we do now.  But this process and lead up - we wouldn't have that - this increasing excitement, ongoing celebration of not just our decision, but our community, we might have missed.  It's such a blessing you guys.

And it isn't only the gifts - last night, our friend Erik brought over his amazing new girlfriend, and they helped us with house chores for an evening and ate pizza and drinks with us around a messy table. This girl I've spoken two twice before, grabbed a paint brush and sat beside me for hours laboring on my new home.

Last week, my life-long best friend Elise picked me up at my house at 5something AM, with a homemade latte and drove me to the floral shop, where I wandered and strove to make decisions for hours.  She then dropped me off at work and invited herself back over to the house to help in a few more nights.  She helped cut runners, make decisions, sort through the missing details, and encourage me.

Two mornings ago I had a voicemail.  Aunt Linda, my neighbor for the past 20 some years, my elementary teacher at times, one of my best friend's mom's, eventually one of my friends had just called to tell me how she felt about me, to express her excitement and encouragement, and to let me know she was praying.  "No need to call back."  The voicemail lifted me up that day as I worked through another painful day in the office.

Esther dropped me a beautiful card in the mail that I love! My sisters have both written cards, sent emails, texts and calls. Elsa spent a morning with me touring the venue and dreaming about decor.  Her and Ty threw us an amazing party along with my parents, and the whole neighborhood it seemed. My parents painted for hours, unbeknownst to John and I at premarriage.

My mom has come back many times, laboring for hours and hours on our home and yard, running errands trying to get everything ready for the wedding and family visitors.

Today, I feel incredibly blessed by these people. I'm so happy they will be with us on our wedding day. I'm just so blessed by each of their gifts.

Thank you.

I will never again.

I know they tell you not to use those words, but I think it's safe in this instance to say.  I will never again:

• Plan a wedding
• Be in the first year of owning a(n older) home 
• Work a crazy stressful/demanding more than full-time job
• Work a second, weekend job (because, hey, it'll be fun! shut up, Kati.)
• Play on a weekly rec soccer team.
• Buy four, unconventional pets I've never owned before.
• Have said, older home with three units (that's three kitchens, three bathrooms, two water heaters, two roofs, etc.)

On top of the rest of life things, like family members in the ER and moving a sister and flying to John's hometown for a memorial service and family reunion all in a week...


I will never again do all of these things - at the same time. 

Never again.



[But if I had to do it again, I'd pick John to be my partner again.]

Happy Anniversary Mumsy & Dad!

Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad, who've taught us what it means to love one another for better or worse, through thick and thin. You've shown us a real (stubborn) love.  And, you're a whole lot of fun!

Thank you. xoxo.

Just to warn you - my blog might become obnoxiously wedding-spattered in the coming months. I'm in one, helping with another, and surrounded by others. I've got wedding on the brain.

How great is this shot?

And this one! Not going to lie - I've thought once or twice of getting married in Montana - it's beautiful! Not to mention, it would be a simple way to weed out the not-so-dedicated folks from the friends. (Did I just say that?)  I'd love for my wedding to be a half-day drive away... where people got away to enjoy it, and stuck around for the night perhaps.  Not exactly a "destination wedding" but something that was given a day or weekend.  I love the idea where people go away and all camp for the weekend - stay up all night dancing and laughing and eating and drinking - and then the next morning they make breakfast together before packing up and heading their ways. I don't know if that is realistic AT ALL.  But I'm drawn to the idea. :)

Since so many of you are in the throws of planning your wedding... :)  Here's a sweet reminder.  And if you need someone to buy you an ice cream and sit with you and talk about planning, or NOT talk about planning... give me a call.  So exited for you ladies in my life who are in this process now - and that at the end of the day, you will be married to the one you love.

PS - I think each of you are handling all the planning beautifully. :)

Just realized I have 5 weddings before mid-August. 

Dang.

'tis the season to wed.

Things you shouldn't ever (ever) say:   Oh my gosh, my friend had that SAME wedding dress! [smiles]

If you say that.  The bride will be thinking terrible things about you in her head.  Fact. 

So will her sisters.  

.

Imagine it's night. The sky looks like the work of VanGogh, white lights strung out from side to side. Jazz music filling the spaces between smiling couples swaying out in peristylium. Families and loved ones inside talking and eating and enjoying the night. Wouldn't this be a cool venue for a wedding?

The best part of this picture is the kid next to the bride!! Yep. Been there, felt that.

I love this photo: the light, the reflection, the symmetry, the pose, the placement,

 and especially the vaulting. 

What an elegant wedding photo.

And what a nicely waxed floor.

Speak to me in Italian and I'm pretty sure I'll be yours forever.  :)

Wouldn't it be cute if that were their vows in Italian?

Incredible shot.

These three dresses are so lovely. As I was looking at them, I started thinking back on dress shopping with my sister Kim, and then Elise. The fact that Elise brought me along on such a special day still touches my heart deeply and remains one of my most treasured memories. I just realized for the first time a fun detail: Kim brought along Tina with us girls and my mom when she went in search of her dream dress. Kind of fun when you see families tied in many ways.