Planning a Wedding in One Day

7:00 a.m. While brushing teeth, decide with Mama that we will play "Lover's Waltz" by Jay Ungar (which we have on CD) during the ceremony.

9:00 a.m. Stop by bakery, order cake: two-tier (with Grecian columns!), all white, except a few deep purple roses with dark green leaves (purple for me; dark green for Mama). Chocolate cake for Sis, with strawberry jam filling for Bud--having kids changes how you plan a wedding. This takes about 10 minutes. Note to self: buy a cake topper. Remember my Vera Wang cake service set, one of our only civil union gifts--take that to church. Or not.

9:15 a.m. Stop by florist and discuss nosegay for Sis to carry.

10:30 a.m. Confirm pastoral visit with minister to discuss final plans. Mainly, that the ceremony will be sometime in the afternoon of Christmas Eve, before Vespers, but using the existing decorations which will be up by then (candles, flowers, lit tree). Just us, pretty much. Maybe someone from church to take pictures. With two 3 year olds as ring bearer/flower girl/attendants, the ceremony won't take long at all and will be very casual. Then Vespers, then potluck supper with congregation--the wedding cake is our potluck contribution. And then we have to do Christmas lights with the kids, finish off Christmas Eve, and get ready for Christmas. The honeymoon is over.

[parenting takes place the rest of the day]

7:00 p.m. Go wedding dress shopping with Mama Teacher (thanks a whole bunch!!), surprise staff with a). decision to wear a color, i.e. a bridesmaid's dress, and not white b). date of wedding in 13 days and c). wearing flats, specifically my tennis shoes--it's my wedding and I'll wear what I want to (we didn't even get to "there are two brides" but that would've surprised them too.). Choose the first dress I try on, though I tried on a few more, including a white merengue one. It's perfect, and since I'm not superstitious and have told Mama already, it's purple with a fitted bodice and a train!! (Bud will be disappointed when he realizes that word has two meanings, but he's wearing trains on his sweater that night.) And it was on super sale!!! Alterations cost more than the dress did. (Gommie it was even faster than buying my bridesmaid's dress this summer!! And cheaper.)

8:00 p.m. Head to craft store: buy ring bearer pillow and cake topper (two entwined silver hearts). Spot a few baskets for Sis's flowers. Will let Mama decide between nosegay or basket.

10:00 p.m. Get home. Talk with Mama. We need to find readings or vows. Or not. I realize I should've bought a wedding cake stamp to make a few invitations/annoucements. I did buy a wedding cake cookie cutter, in case the mood strikes me to make some cookies for the evening. Or the reception. Not sure about a reception yet, but that would be later in the spring anyway. Maybe a big picnic in May?? Something extremely casual, family-oriented, outside with things for the kiddos to do, even potluck??!! Who knows. As for registering, I'm just not sure that's us (though we laughed and said that we could register at the bookstore and be more than happy!).

11:45 p.m. In bed blogging about it all. Pretty much done. Good night.