Doc Hop

It’s becoming abundantly clear that Addam and my biggest issue with planning this wedding is not only going to be our lack of funding but our lack of motivation.  Don’t get me wrong — we want to get married and we’re excited to make plans.  It’s just that we are both procrastinators, and it’s almost a year away.  We’re hoping a lot of people can make it, so we have to start setting things in stone.  To keep my head clear, here is where we’re at:

Location:  Crandon Beach on Key Biscayne.  It’s cheap, and we can have a reception right on the sand, which is exactly what Addam and I were going for.  As this isn’t a package deal sort of thing, we’ll also be able to pick our own menu, colors, table design, etc. — another factor that was really important to us.  Hopefully we’ll both only be doing this once, so we want every detail to be our own.

Menu:  This one, I’m leaving up to Addam.  Obviously, there will be at least one vegetarian option as well as plenty of sides, but the food matter is much more important to the husband than me.  We’ve talked a bit about it, and it’s looking like he’s pushing for steak and crab legs, which I guess is kind of fitting for a beach wedding.  Although it’s expensive, we both want an open bar — so even if you don’t like the food, there will be drink.  The cake is the most important part to me anyway.  I want a decadent masterpiece with vanilla and chocolate layers.  Something that really stands out and sets itself apart.

Colors:  This one, Addam is leaving up to me.  He doesn’t care what colors we go with as long as yellow isn’t included.  I’m thinking a Tiffany’s blue.  I’ve always liked it, and it will go really well with an ocean backdrop.  At the same time, is this possibly a bit cliche?  I want my wedding to stand out, and I feel like this may be a popular choice, especially in recent years.  I’ve played with the idea of going with orange, as it’s my favorite color, but we’re getting married in August, and it is really an autumn color.  I wouldn’t mind a bright light blue or a deep teal, so I guess I’ll spend the next few months narrowing down my choices.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Dress:  No idea.  I’ll admit, I’m not the typical bride.  I don’t want to feel like a princess; I don’t want anything froofy.  At the same time, I’m kind of particular.  I guess my biggest issue is, I’ve never, ever, seen a wedding dress that I’ve really liked.  I mean, let’s face it — this is the most important piece of clothing a girl will ever buy in her life.  I don’t want to look back at the photos and feel the same way I do when I look at images from my senior prom.  (What was I thinking?)

I guess what I’m going for is something simple and classic.  I don’t want a bunch of beads or prints or glitz or glam.  I hate strapless anything, so I know I want little, off the shoulder sleeves.  I want something full length, most likely without any sort of train, and I don’t think I want a veil.  But that could be because it doesn’t go with my chosen hair-do, which is the one thing I have my mind set on.

Hair:  I want this.  I love the style, I love the flower, I love the slight curl.  I love that it’s kind of a relaxed up-do, a little bohemian, if you will.  Before I found this photo I was going back and forth about wearing my hair up or down, and I feel like this is a decent compromise.  Not to mention — doesn’t it kind of scream beach wedding?  I’d feel a little like Ariel.  And if you know anything about my childhood, that’s kind of huge.

I also love the necklaces.  I know that I need to pick out a dress before I even consider jewelry, but I love the layered look.  It’s not too overdone, yet it adds a little something to the overall composition.  While I usually prefer silver, based on this photo I think the gold works.  I may be a bit of a liar, but I will be wearing white, and the gold seems to compliment it nicely.

Guests:  The more the merrier?  Addam and I really need to get a grasp of how many people are actually going to come to this shindig.  I know that if we were getting hitched in Virginia or Chicago we’d have a much bigger turn out, as we have many more close friends in those locations.  The date is set for August 20th, and we’re trying to give notice so people can make plans early, but times are hard.  I can’t guarantee that anyone outside of Addam and my immediate family will make it.

Wedding Party:  Again, who is actually going to be able to make it to this thing?  I’m pretty much counting on both Emily (my future sister-in-law) and Heather (BFOTB — Best Friend Of The Bride), but other than that I’m crossing fingers.  Of course, I have asked Katie and Courtney, two of my life-long friends,  to be bridesmaids, as well as Regina and Krysti — but again, I don’t know which of them will be able to make it.

Addam’s just as stuck as I am.  Ben, his brother, will be his best man, and I know that he wants his two best friends, Chris and James, to be groomsman.  But unless some of them are going to walk twice, he’s going to have to find a few more people to walk my maids down the aisle.

More importantly — however, is who will be walking me down the aisle.  Most everyone who reads this knows that my father died when I was a kid, so while the choice is a no-brainer for other girls, for me it was a little harder.  I’ve asked my Uncle Scott to give me away.  He’s been the closest thing I’ve had to a father figure since my dad passed, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have at my side.  I just hope it means to him what it will mean to me.  While I wish my dad was here, it means the world to me that my Uncle Scott is.

I think that’s about it for the time being.  I’ll take all the tips I can get, especially from those of you who will either be involved with or attending the wedding.  Experienced pros — send me your stories.  I need all the help I can get.  Even though, in the end, all I need is Addam.  We’ll make it work, even if it’s just us and a justice of the peace.

I’ve started a wedding Web site.  It’s not complete, and I have a lot of holes to fill in, but I think it should be a pretty good resource for those looking to keep up to date on our plans.  You can find it here, but I’ll make sure to provide periodical updates on this site as well.

“Love one another, and you will be happy.  It’s as simple and as difficult as that.” — Michael Leunig, singer/songwriter.