Brain Dump

[lindsalicious]

I read Meg Keene's A Practical Wedding the other night. Yes. Whole book, one night. Because I found it fascinating. And I really feel like everybody should read that book before they start planning their wedding. It's done an amazing job of helping me sort things into categories: "I care a lot," "I care a little," and "Fuck it." So this is where things stand:

I care a lot

The venue. The Woods Chapel. It was the first and only place we saw and the deposit check was in the mail to them within the week. Typically they only do ceremonies, but we're going to take advantage of their outdoor patio for our reception as well. In the grand scheme of our budget, it was expensive. But it was worth it because it will save us a ton on decor and I'm honest to god in love with the place. I also like that we're doing both our ceremony and reception right there, so we don't have to worry about getting people from point A to point B.

Food. Brunch reception. (Following a short, 10am ceremony. Or at least that's the plan right now.) With everything you've ever loved to eat at brunch. A third of our budget has been allotted for food. I talked to the folks at Hell's Kitchen, but it's been two weeks since they last replied to an e-mail, so I'm over them. Instead, I called Tony from Backstreet Kitchen/Mainstreet Bakery and his enthusiasm was absolutely contagious. When I told him we were doing a brunch wedding with cinnamon/caramel rolls instead of cake, he was like, "You called the right place! We'll rock that out!" And I told him I know. Their pastries and breads are THE BEST. And he was completely willing to work with us on sourcing ingredients from our CSA, which is awesome. He said he couldn't quote us a price so far out because the cost of food fluctuates, which is fine, but when I said I needed to go back to The Woods to take pictures for logistics purposes once the snow melted, he gave me his personal cell phone number and told me to call him when I head out there and he'd meet me there. And THAT is customer service.

I care a little

Wardrobe. I've got two appointments to try on dresses locally at Luxe Bridal Couture. But I'm very drawn to this dress from Igigi. And I bet I'll prefer the price, too. Chris will probably just wear suit pants and a vest over a button down shirt. Maybe a tie. I'm thinking in a dark taupe-y suit with either a coral or dark magenta tie? Everybody else can pretty much wear whatever they want as long as it's appropriate. Maybe I'll ask Ali (my maid of honor) and whoever Chris' attendant ends up being to color coordinate somehow.

Photography. Chris and I both hate having our pictures taken, so I care in the sense that I want to work with someone who will appreciate that and creatively work around it while still doing their job. And we'll have to talk to the parents, but I'm very anti "formal" pictures. Candids just seem so much more in line with our vibe as a couple and what we're aiming for with the wedding. Also, between Chris and I we have at least four professional/semi-professional photographer family members and friends, so I'm kind of tempted to talk to our official photographer and as long as it's not stepping on her toes, maybe ask those people to bring their cameras and take their own photos. (And pay them, obviously.) Just to see all the different perspectives.

Decor. Easy on the flowers because they won't stand out against the venue anyway. I'm thinking lots of gigantic, perfectly round balloons, though. Tied with twine? They can migrate from the amphitheater after the ceremony to the patio for the reception. And I kind of described what I'm thinking for the reception tables in a comment in this entry.

Rentals/china/linens. I'd like things to not look awful and classless. That said, I am not above plastic plates and cutlery and stuff. In fact, Costco has some pretty decent looking stuff considering it's, y'know, plastic.

Officiant. Chris said he's going to see if Morgan Freeman would be up for it. Since THAT'S not going to happen, I don't know. He suggested a couple acquaintances of his, but I am only comfortable asking someone we'd have invited to the wedding anyway. Or a complete stranger. I don't know why there's no middle ground.

Music. Unless I can convince Jeremy Messersmith to come play "Someday Someone Will Love the Fuck Out of You" at the ceremony, I'm not that concerned. (So far he's being a jerk and ignoring my request.) We'll figure out a few songs for the ceremony, iPod DJ the reception, and call it a day.

Fuck it

Seating charts. We're all adults. People can seat themselves.

Save the dates. Anybody who is somebody has already been verbally informed of the date.

Party favors. Literally the last thing I will want to worry about.

Speeches at the reception. Awkward.

Bouquet toss. Awkward.

Garters. Awkward.

Dancing. I hate dancing. HATE. And I refuse to do it.

Guest book. I will have memorized the guest list by that point and nobody wants to sign the stupid guest book anyway. Our pictures will be the guest book.

Booze. The venue doesn't allow it anyway, but Chris and I are not drinkers, and given that both my mom and brother are alcoholics, I am perfectly happy to not have to pay for or worry about it/them.

Bridal showers. If anything, I want to do a couples shower/backyard barbeque. My mom has suggested we do it at their place. I just don't see why the bride is the one who is forced to play stupid games and suffer being fawned over. No games, no fawning. And no opening gifts in front of people.

Bachelorette party. Just no. A spa day with a few close friends, okay, but I am too old for the typical shennanigans.

I'm forgetting things.

Oh, and we've decided that we don't really need to keep track of every dollar we spend. We're both reasonable adults and we know where we should be saving and when it's in the best interest of our sanity to splurge. So while we have a number in mind, we're officially going no budget.