Holy cow, I found one.
It isn't anything like what I thought I would choose. Not like I
was going for a scarlet red or a blush and bashful kind of a setting,
but I really didn't think this dress would be the one. ("Kind of
like the groom." the bridal consultant said.) I would have never
had selected my fiancee if we had been dating years back. (Thank
God)
I can't give away too much here as my finacee does read the blog.
The dress is elegant and simple. It doesn't need one ounce of
alteration. I even bought a veil. I was dead set against a
veil. I was dead set against white. I was dead set against
beading, lace, a train, etc etc etc. It was everything I thought
I didn't want and yet it suits me. Ironically I found it at a
store called The Perfect Dress.
One more thing checked off my list, 20,000 more to go...
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Dressing to the Twos
They say that when you find "The Dress" you just know it. You
won't want to take it off. For me, I just need to get past the
panic attacks of getting one on.
I began shopping for wedding dresses backwards. I started in the couture stores (unknowingly) and then scaled back. It was a drastic mistake.
Today I went to David's Bridal, where I should have gone in the first place. I have heard either fabulous stories or awful ones out of this discounted store. My mom and I began by having to register. Apparently there was a sale going on so the wait was long before you got a chance to work with a "wedding coordinator." I use this term lightly as they were all females, aged 18-21, in belly tees (with large bellies) and stacked heels. As we waited, we were instructed to go through the book (not the racks) and turn down the corners on the pages with the dresses I wanted to try on. We ignored them and began to go through the racks. My mother cringed when she felt the fabric. Taffeta vs. silk, tulle vs. organza, lace that looks worse than the neighborhood little old lady's curtains. Believe me, there is a difference. However, we both took our tarnished silver spoons out of our mouths and put on a new attitude.
We sat on the bad teal leather couches in front of the mirrored doors/dressing rooms and flourescent lighting. Brides-to-be pranced around in the dresses as the coordinators placed ribboned veils and tiaras on their heads...most of the time, both, at the same time. Not my choice of style, but whatever. The brides were all a good 6-10 years younger than I was, most had tatoos on their shoulders (ever so elegant with a strapless dress), and a few had mothers in either cowboy hats or missing teeth. We sat there for about 45 minutes watching the costume changes and offering our Statler and Waldorf impressions from the peanut gallery. There were some good dresses for some of the brides, I will say that. However, they were all barely 21, a size 2, and looked like they swapped a prom dress for a wedding gown.
As our time drew closer, my Mom and I began to re-evaluate our motives. We finally decided that our time would be better spent doing taxes or budget reports. The best thing about the day? How close it was to Costco so I could get some gas.
I began shopping for wedding dresses backwards. I started in the couture stores (unknowingly) and then scaled back. It was a drastic mistake.
Today I went to David's Bridal, where I should have gone in the first place. I have heard either fabulous stories or awful ones out of this discounted store. My mom and I began by having to register. Apparently there was a sale going on so the wait was long before you got a chance to work with a "wedding coordinator." I use this term lightly as they were all females, aged 18-21, in belly tees (with large bellies) and stacked heels. As we waited, we were instructed to go through the book (not the racks) and turn down the corners on the pages with the dresses I wanted to try on. We ignored them and began to go through the racks. My mother cringed when she felt the fabric. Taffeta vs. silk, tulle vs. organza, lace that looks worse than the neighborhood little old lady's curtains. Believe me, there is a difference. However, we both took our tarnished silver spoons out of our mouths and put on a new attitude.
We sat on the bad teal leather couches in front of the mirrored doors/dressing rooms and flourescent lighting. Brides-to-be pranced around in the dresses as the coordinators placed ribboned veils and tiaras on their heads...most of the time, both, at the same time. Not my choice of style, but whatever. The brides were all a good 6-10 years younger than I was, most had tatoos on their shoulders (ever so elegant with a strapless dress), and a few had mothers in either cowboy hats or missing teeth. We sat there for about 45 minutes watching the costume changes and offering our Statler and Waldorf impressions from the peanut gallery. There were some good dresses for some of the brides, I will say that. However, they were all barely 21, a size 2, and looked like they swapped a prom dress for a wedding gown.
As our time drew closer, my Mom and I began to re-evaluate our motives. We finally decided that our time would be better spent doing taxes or budget reports. The best thing about the day? How close it was to Costco so I could get some gas.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Puppy Power
Puppies are marvelous creatures.
Just when you are having a terrible week at work, they yield perspective. Their infactuation with the smallest things in the world gives them sheer joy and reminds you that there is more to life than your tiny experience. This week, Edgar has been a Godsend.
On Thursday morning we woke to 8 inches of snow. I opened the door for him to go out. He saw the wall of white almost as tall as he is and he backed up with a look on his face like, "Are you crazy, lady? I don't need to pee that bad." In my bathrobe I grabbed the snow shovel, donned my clogs and began to create a path for him on the deck. He thought this was nifty. It fell into the same category like vacuums, mops, and other fun things that run along the floor he can chase and attack. I literally have bite marks on my Hoover.
He got to the end of the deck and thought this wasn't a big deal. That was until he fell off the steps with a graceful head plant. I couldn't help but giggle. Poor thing. However, he then figured out he could bound and bound around in the powder! I decided to take him outside while I shoveled the rest of the driveway and sidewalk. For 45 minutes my neighbors could hear Edgar growling at the shovel, me yelling his name and then the scrape/dump of the snow off to the side. It was interrupted every so often by him bounding around. He finally stopped only because of the immobilizing snowballs gathering on his underbelly and armpits. (Do dogs have armpits?...well, you know what I'm talking about.) I did the defrosto dog routine in the sink to melt them after carrying him inside.
It set a nice tone to my Thursday.
Another thing I love about Edgar is him dancing for his dinner. He is the happiest dog I know. Every night I take a bath as a ritual of self-care. He usually hangs out in the bathroom with me and curls up on the mat or the pile of clothes. His newest thing is to chase the drops of water that fall down the sides of the tub. He paws at them, licks them up, and just watches them intently as they crawl down. I've begun to enable this behavior and just let the drops fall from my fingertips at the edge. It makes me smile and the puddles are easy to clean up.
The last thing that I love about him is his ability to cuddle. He will sleep on top of my chest while I'm lying down on the couch or he'll curl up beside me in bed. His backbone lining up against my chest and his head on my pillow. Sounds weird to say that you spoon with your dog, but I'm a brave woman to admit it! I like his warmth, soft sighs, and mini kicks/barks as he dreams his doggy dreams of finally getting the elusive squirrel (or at least that is what I imagine it to be.)
Edgar reminds me that there is joy when life is simple.
Just when you are having a terrible week at work, they yield perspective. Their infactuation with the smallest things in the world gives them sheer joy and reminds you that there is more to life than your tiny experience. This week, Edgar has been a Godsend.
On Thursday morning we woke to 8 inches of snow. I opened the door for him to go out. He saw the wall of white almost as tall as he is and he backed up with a look on his face like, "Are you crazy, lady? I don't need to pee that bad." In my bathrobe I grabbed the snow shovel, donned my clogs and began to create a path for him on the deck. He thought this was nifty. It fell into the same category like vacuums, mops, and other fun things that run along the floor he can chase and attack. I literally have bite marks on my Hoover.
He got to the end of the deck and thought this wasn't a big deal. That was until he fell off the steps with a graceful head plant. I couldn't help but giggle. Poor thing. However, he then figured out he could bound and bound around in the powder! I decided to take him outside while I shoveled the rest of the driveway and sidewalk. For 45 minutes my neighbors could hear Edgar growling at the shovel, me yelling his name and then the scrape/dump of the snow off to the side. It was interrupted every so often by him bounding around. He finally stopped only because of the immobilizing snowballs gathering on his underbelly and armpits. (Do dogs have armpits?...well, you know what I'm talking about.) I did the defrosto dog routine in the sink to melt them after carrying him inside.
It set a nice tone to my Thursday.
Another thing I love about Edgar is him dancing for his dinner. He is the happiest dog I know. Every night I take a bath as a ritual of self-care. He usually hangs out in the bathroom with me and curls up on the mat or the pile of clothes. His newest thing is to chase the drops of water that fall down the sides of the tub. He paws at them, licks them up, and just watches them intently as they crawl down. I've begun to enable this behavior and just let the drops fall from my fingertips at the edge. It makes me smile and the puddles are easy to clean up.
The last thing that I love about him is his ability to cuddle. He will sleep on top of my chest while I'm lying down on the couch or he'll curl up beside me in bed. His backbone lining up against my chest and his head on my pillow. Sounds weird to say that you spoon with your dog, but I'm a brave woman to admit it! I like his warmth, soft sighs, and mini kicks/barks as he dreams his doggy dreams of finally getting the elusive squirrel (or at least that is what I imagine it to be.)
Edgar reminds me that there is joy when life is simple.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
White Rabbit Mad Hatter Date Setting
The adrenaline has officially worn off. It was a quick euphoric
state for me with the engagement before my panic set in about getting
things in place. The date. Is it determined by choice or by
what is available? Try the latter.
I began thinking September would be nice. I checked out the church. The first hurdle with the Catholic church is all of requirements! Natural family planning class??? A weekend away for engaged couples??? I doubt my roommate will be my fiance, which in my opinion is a complete waste of a weekend with him. Nope, I'll get to house with another bride to be. Good hell.
Ok, so then onto the reception sites. We began with the 23rd floor. www.23rdfloor.net My mother and I began the adventure by first getting lost in the parking garage. What was even better is that it was the WRONG parking garage (already this place was losing points). We were at the Utah One Center vs. the Wells Fargo Building. No worries! A quick jaunt through the Gallivan center while avoiding the KUTV offices, and we made our way up to the elevators. We met Ashley, the coordinator, who proceeded to show us the space. The atrium looks out over lovely industrial west Salt Lake! Nothing like showing the out of towners a beautiful smoke stack! Oh, and they also mentioned that since it was facing west it tended to "get a little warm." Ok, that's an understatement. The following rooms looked like places to hold board meetings or seminars, not weddings. We sat in her office after with the caterer while they proceeded to overwhelm us with questions: plated or buffet? colors? signature cocktail? type of linens? valet or validations? We left, without a validation and $4.00 poorer.
We then went to Red Butte Gardens. www.redbuttegardens.org Beautiful. However the hills would be brown in September and it was where my future sister in law got married. I'm not into repeats especially when her's was so spectacular. However, the parking was free!
The following Sunday I took my mom and to-be-mother-in-law up to Log Haven. www.log-haven.com It was quaint, close to nature, elegant, and intimate. So far it was my first choice, but they had limited dates left. We began to ponder October.
Memorial grove was next. www.utahheritagefoundation.com/memorialhouse/index.php All I can say is that it was a historical building with a domed roof and poor foliage due to the tornado of '99. The wedding coordinator was a trip. She kept saying things like, "The ceremony is all about the love, but the reception is all about the cash and prizes." We left.
I had already decided against Park City venues simply due to logistics, but my love was interested in Alta. Seeing that it was an emotional spot for us and he was in Indy, I took our mothers there yesterday for a site visit. I have no idea what they were selling him over the phone but what I saw was a 1950's nightmare. Think asbestos ceiling tiles, canned lighting, tacky curtains, and wood paneling covered by Indian rugs. The vistas were amazing. But as I toured the lodge I could only think of the Shining.
We spent the next few hours over wine, my fiance on speaker phone, and lists of pros, cons, and finances. My love is not known for his decision making ability. He is options man. His step father was the one who called the decision about an hour before it was made.
September 16th, Log Haven. :)
I began thinking September would be nice. I checked out the church. The first hurdle with the Catholic church is all of requirements! Natural family planning class??? A weekend away for engaged couples??? I doubt my roommate will be my fiance, which in my opinion is a complete waste of a weekend with him. Nope, I'll get to house with another bride to be. Good hell.
Ok, so then onto the reception sites. We began with the 23rd floor. www.23rdfloor.net My mother and I began the adventure by first getting lost in the parking garage. What was even better is that it was the WRONG parking garage (already this place was losing points). We were at the Utah One Center vs. the Wells Fargo Building. No worries! A quick jaunt through the Gallivan center while avoiding the KUTV offices, and we made our way up to the elevators. We met Ashley, the coordinator, who proceeded to show us the space. The atrium looks out over lovely industrial west Salt Lake! Nothing like showing the out of towners a beautiful smoke stack! Oh, and they also mentioned that since it was facing west it tended to "get a little warm." Ok, that's an understatement. The following rooms looked like places to hold board meetings or seminars, not weddings. We sat in her office after with the caterer while they proceeded to overwhelm us with questions: plated or buffet? colors? signature cocktail? type of linens? valet or validations? We left, without a validation and $4.00 poorer.
We then went to Red Butte Gardens. www.redbuttegardens.org Beautiful. However the hills would be brown in September and it was where my future sister in law got married. I'm not into repeats especially when her's was so spectacular. However, the parking was free!
The following Sunday I took my mom and to-be-mother-in-law up to Log Haven. www.log-haven.com It was quaint, close to nature, elegant, and intimate. So far it was my first choice, but they had limited dates left. We began to ponder October.
Memorial grove was next. www.utahheritagefoundation.com/memorialhouse/index.php All I can say is that it was a historical building with a domed roof and poor foliage due to the tornado of '99. The wedding coordinator was a trip. She kept saying things like, "The ceremony is all about the love, but the reception is all about the cash and prizes." We left.
I had already decided against Park City venues simply due to logistics, but my love was interested in Alta. Seeing that it was an emotional spot for us and he was in Indy, I took our mothers there yesterday for a site visit. I have no idea what they were selling him over the phone but what I saw was a 1950's nightmare. Think asbestos ceiling tiles, canned lighting, tacky curtains, and wood paneling covered by Indian rugs. The vistas were amazing. But as I toured the lodge I could only think of the Shining.
We spent the next few hours over wine, my fiance on speaker phone, and lists of pros, cons, and finances. My love is not known for his decision making ability. He is options man. His step father was the one who called the decision about an hour before it was made.
September 16th, Log Haven. :)
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