tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22569253382207853942024-02-07T03:32:59.454-05:00Wedding Planning in ExileI'm a Colorado native trying to plan a wedding from my place of exile, the East Coast. (No offense to East Coasters, but I miss my Rocky Mountains and the big blue skies!)Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-48549401897676976352009-09-04T10:13:00.004-04:002009-09-04T10:53:01.354-04:00PS: Things Will Go WrongA. at AccordionsandLace wrote a great post yesterday on the things that went wrong at her wedding, and how she simply could not be bothered to give a shit. I was sincere when I signed off in my last post, but I couldn't resist the chance to spread the word: Things Will Go Wrong. There will be mistakes. But you can choose not to dwell on them. You can decide that today you just aren't going toBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-7027630267916022092009-08-28T09:27:00.000-04:002012-08-29T14:41:12.713-04:00So long, and thanks for all the fish!*After kicking around a few different ideas, I've answered that difficult question of what to do with my wedding blog after the wedding.
My answer is: move on.
I've loved writing this blog -- it let me rant about my dislikes and squeal over things I loved without inflicting yet another call about weddings on my poor bridesmaids. And I can honestly say that wedding blogs often kept me sane -- Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-48517294507621857412009-08-27T12:49:00.002-04:002009-08-27T13:13:01.385-04:00One more little storyAs my husband and I look through our photos, it occurs to me that I'd really like to tell the story of my mother's dress.It begins back in November of '08. I had ordered my bridal gown from a store on the East Coast, and on a visit out to see us, I took my mom to the bridal salon to take a look.We walked through the first floor of the bridal salon, and the owner, seeing a potential sales Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-38914906511059164362009-08-20T14:25:00.000-04:002009-09-02T12:51:34.500-04:00Denver Vendor ReviewsNow that I’ve finished wedding “recaps,” I’ve decided to write another semi-obligatory post-wedding post: vendor reviews. The business side of the wedding is not nearly as much fun as the wine or the dancing or the food or the wonderful pictures of your family members hugging post-ceremony. But at the same time, I know how helpful local recommendations were to us in our wedding planning (Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-39463077833854674672009-08-20T10:15:00.004-04:002012-08-29T14:42:21.625-04:00Photos!Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? A DVD with our photos! Naturally I ran right upstairs to put 'em on my computer, and then surfed the web right to Blogger to show off ... er, I mean share ;-)
Let me say before I continue how highly I recommend our photographer, David Wegwart of Photocraftz. The shots here barely scratch the surface of his talent, and he was absolutely wonderful to Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-17226108552374493622009-08-19T13:54:00.003-04:002009-08-19T13:54:00.735-04:00Wine Wednesday: Booze breakdownA while back, I promised a reader that I'd do a breakdown of how much alcohol we ordered, and how much we had left over. And I like to keep my promises, so, here we go!BiE and Econo Boy's Alcohol BreakdownEstimated number of guests: 150Actual final guest count: 137Bar time: 4.25 hours (as specified in our contract with the venue)What we ordered:* 12 cases of wine (6 red, 6 white)* 2 cases of Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-47961841335392165122009-08-17T09:55:00.003-04:002009-08-17T15:21:20.852-04:00Post-wedding wisdom: advice to future brides and groomsMuch of the best advice Econo Boy and I got while planning our wedding came from those who had been there -- whether in person from friends close by, over e-mail or phone from friends far away, or via blogs. So what advice would I personally pass on? Why, I'm glad you asked! (OK, you didn't ask. But I'm going to tell you anyway. It's a habit of mine and a key reason my chosen career is that Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-12417504806560880182009-08-14T09:00:00.003-04:002009-08-14T10:11:42.530-04:00Everyone's got an opinion!We're waiting a bit longer for photos -- the DVD with our images is on its way! And wow, are the ones I've seen amazing.Just about everyone's got an opinion on wedding planning. Before the wedding, it's hard enough to brush off the people who insist that you HAVE to do things a certain way, or who passive-aggressively comment about how gee, they wish they had the guts to be so "unorthodox," or Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-28477579076042267792009-08-13T11:18:00.002-04:002009-08-13T11:28:30.612-04:00Vignette 10: The getaway!I was shocked when Econo Boy told me it was only 15 minutes before the dancing ended. Where had the time gone?!After the last dance was danced, I went back to the bridal suite to throw my things in my suitcase and came downstairs to find Econo Boy's groomsmen waiting with eager smiles on their faces. I knew immediately they'd done something to our car.I should say now that I'm not a huge fan ofBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-70984057416901485662009-08-12T11:30:00.000-04:002009-08-12T11:30:00.153-04:00Wine Wednesday: Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-ViognierI've really been into white wines this summer, which is unusual for me. But darn it, they're refreshing and delicious on a hot, humid East Coast day! This Saturday, at the wine tasting run by our local liquor store, we were introduced to this beauty: Pine Ridge 2008 Chenin Blanc-Viognier, on sale for $11 (down from $14).Image from wine.comThis is a rich, almost exotically floral white wine (theBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-50438421610532606112009-08-11T10:00:00.001-04:002009-08-11T10:00:00.347-04:00Vignette 9: I could have daaaaaanced all night, or, BiE's insane shoe quest is vindicatedAfter I finally scored my pair of David Tates, I started to feel a little silly about the whole shoe thing. I had a perfectly nice pair of wedges -- why on earth had I gotten so obsessed with finding "dancing shoes?"But my craziness was vindicated on the day of the wedding. Because while the wedges were perfect for walking on grass, at the end of the ceremony? Those thin plastic soles on the Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-39787638253158004562009-08-10T10:32:00.002-04:002009-08-10T10:32:00.294-04:00Vignette 8: The aftermath of the rainThe ceremony had ended, the marriage license was signed, and our families assembled on the porch for those dreaded posed shots. Meanwhile, our guests started the outdoor cocktail hour. Hors d'ouevres were passed, and the lovely caterer brought a plate of them to the bride and groom, who scarfed them down gratefully. Those empanadas did not disappoint.And then? Just as the last family shot wasBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-56860686684685218352009-08-09T10:00:00.000-04:002009-08-09T10:00:02.495-04:00Vignette 7: In which BiE realizes something has gone astrayThere was but one little hiccup in our otherwise perfect ceremony. When Econo Boy's father got up to read the prayer we'd selected ("Wedding Prayer" by Robert Louis Stevenson, an author dear to both Econo Boy and his dad), I looked out at our loved ones and realized something: no one had programs! With the rain, they had simply never made it out to the chairs as planned.At the time I brushed itBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-76673050803802955352009-08-08T10:55:00.000-04:002009-08-08T10:55:00.531-04:00Our ceremonyI don't think I can attach the word "vignette" to our ceremony. It was too weighty, too beautiful, too perfectly imperfect to think of as just another little story. Talking about it still gets the two of us choked up. This was due in no small part to our officiant, Katie, a family friend and socially progressive minister. She opened with a welcome, including the following words:As we celebrateBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-6432243863482222842009-08-07T11:00:00.000-04:002009-08-07T11:00:00.386-04:00Vignette 6: The processionalPictures were taken. The rain had lifted. Our awesome DOC said the ceremony was a go. And so we all lined up at the side of the house to process down the aisle, up to the front steps of the mansion.The processional began with Katie, our officiant, followed by Econo Boy and his parents, then the groomsmen, all to the strains of Vivaldi's "Largo" from the "Winter" suite of the Four Seasons.As myBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-26880792066567591832009-08-06T10:00:00.002-04:002009-08-06T10:00:01.057-04:00Vignette 5: Rain, rain, go awayWhen Econo Boy and I decided to have our ceremony outside, we of course made sure we had a contingency plan for bad weather, but we never thought for a moment that we'd actually *need* it. Colorado is bone dry in the summer. Rainstorms in the summer are short, few, and far between ...... except, as it turns out, in the summer of 2009, the wettest Colorado summer since 1882, when they began Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-13001268975932768512009-08-05T10:00:00.002-04:002009-08-05T10:00:04.161-04:00Wine Wednesday: Ironstone Vineyards ObsessionWe interrupt our recaps to bring: a return of Wine Wednesday, and a brief rant on the liquor laws in my new state.I don't think it's telling you too much to say that Econo Boy and I have relocated to the Boston area. (We're American academics, it's sort of inevitable.) There are many things I like about our new home, including the beautiful wine and liquor store that's literally just around theBride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-13956684796451175072009-08-04T09:00:00.002-04:002009-08-04T09:00:07.741-04:00Vignette 4: Tree PoseThe morning of the wedding, I woke up feeling rested and happy. My bridesmaids, who were staying next door, came over for breakfast (mmm, leftover brunch muffins), and a lovely, lazy morning began.But despite getting some exercise and eating some snacks, the nerves began to build. I had to force down the light lunch of tuna salad and grapes my mom prepared. And so every half hour or so, I Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-72824504233285398652009-08-03T16:00:00.000-04:002009-08-03T16:39:36.131-04:00Vignette 3: In which BiE truly begins to enjoy her wedding weekendMy mother-in-law completely outdid herself with the rehearsal dinner. It was western-themed, with BBQ food, adorable table settings, wildflowers everywhere, and 75 chocolate daisy lollipops, hand-made by Econo Boy's mom.And they were yummy, too!It started with a cocktail hour outside, then moved in for BBQ food and fun. I got to meet Econo Boy's aunts, uncles, and cousins, and he got to meet Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-78505152740278643352009-07-31T14:00:00.000-04:002009-07-31T14:00:01.368-04:00Vignette 2: In which BiE inadvertently makes life very difficult for her bridesmaidsThe rehearsal, on Friday afternoon, was brutally hot. It was 90 degrees outside, and at 3pm, we were standing more or less in direct sun. But the bridal party pulled through like champions, and when it was all over, Econo Boy and I were looking forward to hanging out with our buds for a while before the rehearsal dinner.Not to be. The groomsmen departed to fix a tux situation, and the Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-92059996267076050562009-07-30T21:12:00.003-04:002009-07-30T21:30:21.189-04:00I'm back!Whew. Now that? That was quite a week.To be honest, I'm not even sure where to start with a recap of our wedding weekend, so I'll start by saying this: it was fantastic. We had a blast, felt incredibly loved, and we think (we hope!) those who attended had almost as much fun as we did! There was also some last-minute wrangling of details, a few minor stressors, and a slightly annoying Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-29303867215659045432009-07-23T10:00:00.000-04:002009-07-23T12:18:44.841-04:00The shoe situationPreviously: My frustrating search for shoes moved online, and I ordered two pairs, which arrived 4 and 3 days before my wedding respectively.Contender #1: Coloriffics Knotty, sold by DSW.com. Price: $29.95 plus $15 for two-day shipping.Image from www.DSW.com A little plain, but the knot in the front saves them from being totally boring. At that price, I couldn't pass up the chance that they Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-14995034232255376652009-07-22T10:00:00.000-04:002009-07-22T10:00:08.282-04:00Wine Wednesday: A big-bottle buyEcono Boy's parents are also regular readers of the WSJ Tastings column, and when we came to their house for a few nights, they had this lovely wine waiting for us: the Frontera Sauvignon Blanc, recently recommended by Dottie and John.Image from ConchaYToroUSA.comFrontera is sold in large, 1.5L bottles for around $9 (for those keeping score, that's the equivalent of $4.50 per regular bottle!), Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-90295572878219116272009-07-21T10:00:00.001-04:002009-07-21T10:00:05.803-04:00On gratitudeOne of the things I've struggled with this week is gratitude, and how to balance the appropriate amount of gratitude with the appropriate amount of sanity-saving alone time and appropriately saying "no, I'm so sorry, we won't be able to do that." Let me elaborate.Weddings that turn into "wedding weekends" get a lot of flack from the indie bride community. But now I see how they happen. Econo Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256925338220785394.post-15073850208448895912009-07-20T18:00:00.003-04:002009-07-20T18:09:41.249-04:00This is a message from the Office of Ceremony Program Quality ControlThe little inkjet printer in the room is whirring, whirring, whirring, working its heart out to print the inside of our programs! It has already given us the front of the programs, our wine lists, and drink menus, plus name tags for the rehearsal dinner. Next up: place cards, color-coded according to meal choice. (Number of ink cartridges depleted thus far - 1, at $50 a pop. HP, hats off for Bride in Exilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842191847941847564noreply@blogger.com2