Monday, July 03, 2006
woolarina gets hitched
So.. the wedding! I am sure everyone is sick and tired of hearing me go on and on, and I am really tired of talking about it! Really- this is the last time I will mention it! I promise!
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, I was just a mess. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't not eat! So much to do always, so much excitement, too much drama. Work was nuts, we were trying to put the finishing touches on the remodeling of my dad's house before guests actually arrived.. we both just wanted to be done. with. wedding.
Then, the guests started arriving. We had a couple of old friends staying with us for several days that really just rocked! We didn't nearly manage to do much that was on our "entertain the guests" list, but they seemed to be content enough to sit around our pool and sleep, among trips to DC and Baltimore and a running club race.
Thank goodness! And thank god for the help they provided! Assembling programs, table numbers, lanterns, coloring in numbers, etc. All sorts of crazy things!
The real wedding weekend activities started Friday morning.. I got most of my flowers from a farm in upper Montgomery County- mostly asiatic lilies (pink and white) and a bunch of Sweet William. The farm was gorgeous and all the flowers perfect! Bridesmaid #1 and I got a little lost on the way out of there, and ended up taking a somewhat disorganized driving tour of Montgomery and Howard Counties while trying to find the road that takes you to BWI airport (Anne Arundel county was county #3!)... We drove for quite some time, but it was perfect, as Bridesmaid #2 stepped out of the terminal just as we pulled up at arrivals! We bundled her in amongst the lilies and headed back towards DC. We made a stop at my dad's house in Laurel, where we attacked my neighbor's house and took a VERY LARGE trash bag full of ivy for garlands. I wanted more color in the flowers, so we stopped at Trader Joe's before we got home... poor #2 really couldn't move in the backseat at this point so we just left the windows down for her!
We get back to the apartment and start with the assembly... basically I came into this with no clue what I was doing, but had 5 or 6 library books on flowers. We just laid several strands of ivy together and tied the heck out of it for the garland, adding flowers the next day. Turened out raelly well. Not so super were all the freaking ants that came out of the ivy, and the bugs that came from the flowers. Into my living room! :( Ew! Also not super was the leaking A/C in my living room- at least it wasn't hot out that day! The repairman came after we'd done most of the flowers - trimming the lilies and adding to vases, and a completely random arrangement of lilies, sweet william, gerberas, roses, carnations, etc. for our bouquets. He stunk. Shower, anyone? He was there for AGES and didn't seem to know how to do anything. We had to go, and he didn't seem to have a key to get back in.. totally sketchy, but he managed to "fix" our A/C after we'd left. (Note: no actual fixing took place, merely reassembling!
Friday night we had the bright idea to invite over a hundred of our closest family and friends and coworkers to a cookout at my dad's house. It was so great, but man, what stress! I meant to be over there early to start decorating, but what with the AC and the finishing flowers and all, I only left late.. and had to pick up guests staying by me without a car. Then of course nothing was in logical spots so I spent the first hour or so looking for utensils, meat, soda, etc. My dad was stuck driving more guests up to his place, so wasn't there to help! Somehow my boss got drafted into manning the grill, so I spent a lot of time feeling guilty at him not being able to enjoy the evening. Also, it started raining an hour or so into it. Eeeek! It wasn't hard, and it ended quickly, but phew! A lot of people didn't bother to come because of that, but sooo very many did show up, including some I hadn't seen in ages. Super nice, and we did have a lot more time to chat Friday night as opposed to the wedding.
Friday night I escaped rather early and crashed at home. I hardly noticed when the Mr. came home... was up again bright and early Saturday morning. We only had nail appointments at 10... we decided to go tot he nail place by my apartment- just a typical asian neighborhood salon. Eek! My only other experience with mani/pedi-cures was at a fancy pants salon in annapolis, so this was a bit different. First of all the chairs? this wierd bar literally moved my back SIX INCHES forward as part of it's "massage"... ??? wierd. The ladies were nice enough, and excited that I was having a wedding... but kept trying to get me to get my armpits waxed. WTH? First off, I'd shaved that morning. No hair to get off, really! Second? I dunno- I am not the waxing sort! I cannot deal with the thought of it on me without getting woozy! She did get my permission to take out a few eyebrows... I thought she'd pluck, but no... she was too fast with the wax. Ugh. At least they weren't too red for the wedding. :( My little cousin was a bit late joining us to get our nails done, but they managed to slap a coat on her nails in about 30 seconds. Yeesh. My nails had a french manicure, and... I am just not a fan of it. Toenails looked a bit creepy I think! Ah well.
After that, I ran around in circles in the apartment for a while, getting all the last minute things ready to go. My girls put flowers into the garland and made the boutteniers and whatnot. Then we gathered up the dress and went off for hair and makeup. The salon was as usual super behind... and my hair took longer than usual to do. of course. We were going to try and be at the hotel to get ready and take photos at 3:30, but I was still getting my hair done at 3! Oops.
Then makeup took some time. Sooo glad I went for the makeup! The guy was so great... it was totally a whole different me! Very worthwhile. Red eyebrows? Bags under my eyes from not sleeping? Vanished! :) Princess tiara a resounding success!
Finally get to hotel at around 4:30. (When we are supposed to be at the restaurant already for photos!!) Call the boys, who proceed to freak out a little! Forget to call dad, who I was going to meet at restaurant. Takes about 10 minutes to get up to freaking hotel room, as hotel has 15+ floors and 3 elevators and a wedding starting at 5. Boo. Finally get up to room, change, get lovely photos done, feel pretty, etc.
Head back down to leave, this time in gown, insisting to all in way that I MUST GET ON ELEVATOR RIGHT NOW as I am off to MY WEDDING! People are super nice, and gush about how lovely I am. :) Doofy man in elevator stepping on my dress apologized- it was pretty crowded. Meantime: dad calls the boys in a panic wondering where the heck I am. He also says he's the father of the groom when asked by the minister whose father he is! ;) Poor dad!
We see my cousin's (ring bearer and flower girl) briefly downstairs before we all head to the show. We hide out in a room upstairs for a while to wait for it to begin. Entertaining an 8 and a 9 year old for a good half hour in a small room, wearing fancy outfits? Uhhh... there was a bunch of burping the ABC's. Much talent! More photos were taken, including of the little bees I stuck into my flowers! Super cute! The men arrived, and I heard we had to start late, as we were still setting up for the recpetion.. everyone seemed to have a different view of how we were to walk down the aisle (in spite of many specific instructions, grrr!) so there was a bit of back and forth apparently. I hid out through all this and blissfully heard nothing, and came out as the groomsmen were walking out. The kids were apparently super great, with the almost 3 yo nephew (ringbearer junior) actually walking down the aisle himself, with only a bit of assistance at the end from ringbearer senior towards the end! Awww!
The girls walked, and then it was just me and my dad. I was fine til this point, really! But all of a sudden it hit me! My dad was a wreck as well, so I tried to zone that out. Christina straightened out my train and we set out.. I was trying SO HARD not to cry, and I don't think I actually shed a tear, but my eyes were pretty darn moist! I had this awful smile on my face because I was trying SO hard to keep it together! Then the ceremony started and speakers spoke. I couldn't look at the Mr. as it made me tear up so I stared at what people were wearing and tried to not lock my knees! We had bought extra roses just for a rose ceremony but noone thought to bring them up front, so we had to tear two roses out of my bouquet (a challenge, with all the tape we wrapped them in!)... the rest went mostly as planned.
We hadn't wanted to waste too much time on formal photos after the ceremony, but it ended up taking forever, so we missed out on some mingling and even tasting our yummy appetizers. Lots of smiling and photos!
We were introduced, and had time to eat some salad and a few bites of meat before we started making the rounds. I remember a toast, and we apparently ate cake (though many people seemed to miss that)...
A little too late for us, we had the first dance. We were so excited about this actually- we'd taken two private lessons and argued about leading/being lead and practiced SO much for this... we chose a cha-cha. The dance teacher seemed skeptical really (it was the easiest of three song choices, but SO VERY HARD in two lessons!) but it turned out great I think. Only one or two mis-steps, and I was actually fine dancing in the gown.
We seemed to wow the crowd with our fancy spins and our triple-chacha moves! :) We didn't get the dip at the end right, but the fotog had moved to the wrong spot by then anyhow! It was so much fun! Unfortunately, there wasn't much time for dancing afterwards! Oh well...
We were supposed to be out of the place around 10 pm, but were there til at least 10:45.. people just sitting around chatting. I really wish we could have stayed there later, but the restaurant is rather "old"... they just wouldn't let us stay. And a lot fo friends are getting up in years, so were too tired to come out drinking with us after the wedding.. sigh! Haha... no, just kidding.. It took a while to go back to the hotel and get out of the dress nad give my mom all the wedding stuff so we didn't have to carry it home the next day. I think we actually lasted a drink or so before we were just too tired to stay any more. But drinking at the local pub in a tiara? Great!
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, I was just a mess. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't not eat! So much to do always, so much excitement, too much drama. Work was nuts, we were trying to put the finishing touches on the remodeling of my dad's house before guests actually arrived.. we both just wanted to be done. with. wedding.
Then, the guests started arriving. We had a couple of old friends staying with us for several days that really just rocked! We didn't nearly manage to do much that was on our "entertain the guests" list, but they seemed to be content enough to sit around our pool and sleep, among trips to DC and Baltimore and a running club race.
Thank goodness! And thank god for the help they provided! Assembling programs, table numbers, lanterns, coloring in numbers, etc. All sorts of crazy things!
The real wedding weekend activities started Friday morning.. I got most of my flowers from a farm in upper Montgomery County- mostly asiatic lilies (pink and white) and a bunch of Sweet William. The farm was gorgeous and all the flowers perfect! Bridesmaid #1 and I got a little lost on the way out of there, and ended up taking a somewhat disorganized driving tour of Montgomery and Howard Counties while trying to find the road that takes you to BWI airport (Anne Arundel county was county #3!)... We drove for quite some time, but it was perfect, as Bridesmaid #2 stepped out of the terminal just as we pulled up at arrivals! We bundled her in amongst the lilies and headed back towards DC. We made a stop at my dad's house in Laurel, where we attacked my neighbor's house and took a VERY LARGE trash bag full of ivy for garlands. I wanted more color in the flowers, so we stopped at Trader Joe's before we got home... poor #2 really couldn't move in the backseat at this point so we just left the windows down for her!
We get back to the apartment and start with the assembly... basically I came into this with no clue what I was doing, but had 5 or 6 library books on flowers. We just laid several strands of ivy together and tied the heck out of it for the garland, adding flowers the next day. Turened out raelly well. Not so super were all the freaking ants that came out of the ivy, and the bugs that came from the flowers. Into my living room! :( Ew! Also not super was the leaking A/C in my living room- at least it wasn't hot out that day! The repairman came after we'd done most of the flowers - trimming the lilies and adding to vases, and a completely random arrangement of lilies, sweet william, gerberas, roses, carnations, etc. for our bouquets. He stunk. Shower, anyone? He was there for AGES and didn't seem to know how to do anything. We had to go, and he didn't seem to have a key to get back in.. totally sketchy, but he managed to "fix" our A/C after we'd left. (Note: no actual fixing took place, merely reassembling!
Friday night we had the bright idea to invite over a hundred of our closest family and friends and coworkers to a cookout at my dad's house. It was so great, but man, what stress! I meant to be over there early to start decorating, but what with the AC and the finishing flowers and all, I only left late.. and had to pick up guests staying by me without a car. Then of course nothing was in logical spots so I spent the first hour or so looking for utensils, meat, soda, etc. My dad was stuck driving more guests up to his place, so wasn't there to help! Somehow my boss got drafted into manning the grill, so I spent a lot of time feeling guilty at him not being able to enjoy the evening. Also, it started raining an hour or so into it. Eeeek! It wasn't hard, and it ended quickly, but phew! A lot of people didn't bother to come because of that, but sooo very many did show up, including some I hadn't seen in ages. Super nice, and we did have a lot more time to chat Friday night as opposed to the wedding.
Friday night I escaped rather early and crashed at home. I hardly noticed when the Mr. came home... was up again bright and early Saturday morning. We only had nail appointments at 10... we decided to go tot he nail place by my apartment- just a typical asian neighborhood salon. Eek! My only other experience with mani/pedi-cures was at a fancy pants salon in annapolis, so this was a bit different. First of all the chairs? this wierd bar literally moved my back SIX INCHES forward as part of it's "massage"... ??? wierd. The ladies were nice enough, and excited that I was having a wedding... but kept trying to get me to get my armpits waxed. WTH? First off, I'd shaved that morning. No hair to get off, really! Second? I dunno- I am not the waxing sort! I cannot deal with the thought of it on me without getting woozy! She did get my permission to take out a few eyebrows... I thought she'd pluck, but no... she was too fast with the wax. Ugh. At least they weren't too red for the wedding. :( My little cousin was a bit late joining us to get our nails done, but they managed to slap a coat on her nails in about 30 seconds. Yeesh. My nails had a french manicure, and... I am just not a fan of it. Toenails looked a bit creepy I think! Ah well.
After that, I ran around in circles in the apartment for a while, getting all the last minute things ready to go. My girls put flowers into the garland and made the boutteniers and whatnot. Then we gathered up the dress and went off for hair and makeup. The salon was as usual super behind... and my hair took longer than usual to do. of course. We were going to try and be at the hotel to get ready and take photos at 3:30, but I was still getting my hair done at 3! Oops.
Then makeup took some time. Sooo glad I went for the makeup! The guy was so great... it was totally a whole different me! Very worthwhile. Red eyebrows? Bags under my eyes from not sleeping? Vanished! :) Princess tiara a resounding success!
Finally get to hotel at around 4:30. (When we are supposed to be at the restaurant already for photos!!) Call the boys, who proceed to freak out a little! Forget to call dad, who I was going to meet at restaurant. Takes about 10 minutes to get up to freaking hotel room, as hotel has 15+ floors and 3 elevators and a wedding starting at 5. Boo. Finally get up to room, change, get lovely photos done, feel pretty, etc.
Head back down to leave, this time in gown, insisting to all in way that I MUST GET ON ELEVATOR RIGHT NOW as I am off to MY WEDDING! People are super nice, and gush about how lovely I am. :) Doofy man in elevator stepping on my dress apologized- it was pretty crowded. Meantime: dad calls the boys in a panic wondering where the heck I am. He also says he's the father of the groom when asked by the minister whose father he is! ;) Poor dad!
We see my cousin's (ring bearer and flower girl) briefly downstairs before we all head to the show. We hide out in a room upstairs for a while to wait for it to begin. Entertaining an 8 and a 9 year old for a good half hour in a small room, wearing fancy outfits? Uhhh... there was a bunch of burping the ABC's. Much talent! More photos were taken, including of the little bees I stuck into my flowers! Super cute! The men arrived, and I heard we had to start late, as we were still setting up for the recpetion.. everyone seemed to have a different view of how we were to walk down the aisle (in spite of many specific instructions, grrr!) so there was a bit of back and forth apparently. I hid out through all this and blissfully heard nothing, and came out as the groomsmen were walking out. The kids were apparently super great, with the almost 3 yo nephew (ringbearer junior) actually walking down the aisle himself, with only a bit of assistance at the end from ringbearer senior towards the end! Awww!
The girls walked, and then it was just me and my dad. I was fine til this point, really! But all of a sudden it hit me! My dad was a wreck as well, so I tried to zone that out. Christina straightened out my train and we set out.. I was trying SO HARD not to cry, and I don't think I actually shed a tear, but my eyes were pretty darn moist! I had this awful smile on my face because I was trying SO hard to keep it together! Then the ceremony started and speakers spoke. I couldn't look at the Mr. as it made me tear up so I stared at what people were wearing and tried to not lock my knees! We had bought extra roses just for a rose ceremony but noone thought to bring them up front, so we had to tear two roses out of my bouquet (a challenge, with all the tape we wrapped them in!)... the rest went mostly as planned.
We hadn't wanted to waste too much time on formal photos after the ceremony, but it ended up taking forever, so we missed out on some mingling and even tasting our yummy appetizers. Lots of smiling and photos!
We were introduced, and had time to eat some salad and a few bites of meat before we started making the rounds. I remember a toast, and we apparently ate cake (though many people seemed to miss that)...
A little too late for us, we had the first dance. We were so excited about this actually- we'd taken two private lessons and argued about leading/being lead and practiced SO much for this... we chose a cha-cha. The dance teacher seemed skeptical really (it was the easiest of three song choices, but SO VERY HARD in two lessons!) but it turned out great I think. Only one or two mis-steps, and I was actually fine dancing in the gown.
We seemed to wow the crowd with our fancy spins and our triple-chacha moves! :) We didn't get the dip at the end right, but the fotog had moved to the wrong spot by then anyhow! It was so much fun! Unfortunately, there wasn't much time for dancing afterwards! Oh well...
We were supposed to be out of the place around 10 pm, but were there til at least 10:45.. people just sitting around chatting. I really wish we could have stayed there later, but the restaurant is rather "old"... they just wouldn't let us stay. And a lot fo friends are getting up in years, so were too tired to come out drinking with us after the wedding.. sigh! Haha... no, just kidding.. It took a while to go back to the hotel and get out of the dress nad give my mom all the wedding stuff so we didn't have to carry it home the next day. I think we actually lasted a drink or so before we were just too tired to stay any more. But drinking at the local pub in a tiara? Great!
