Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Our Spin on the Unity Ceremony

I have been pondering, quite a bit, how to get around the unity ceremony.  I like the idea of it, but it use to be something special that was added to the ceremony, and now it's become a necessity.  I don't want to do something just because its expected.  I believe deep down I am a traditionalist, but I really hate the idea of being a cookie cutter. How boring!


A few days ago, I was browsing my favorite wedding inspiration site The Knot and one of the girl had a link to her ceremony breakdown.  She is not having a traditional ceremony, and for reference had listed what would be taking place during the wedding.


As I was reading her program, inspiration struck.  In place of the unity candle, Will and I will have a Blessing of the Hands, which will be read to us by our mothers.  Since the mothers are the key components of the unity ceremony (generally, they are the ones that light the family candle) they can be the ones to gift us with this special moment.


The blessing goes as follows:


Blessing of the Hands (author unknown):
Megan and Will, please face each other and hold hands, so that you can see the gift they are to you. 

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

May these hands be blessed this day. May you both use these hands to build a marriage founded in love, and rich in caring.


I for one, predict that there will not be a dry eye in the house.  This just seems like such a special moment to remember that the hands you hold on your wedding day, are the same that you'll reach for the rest of your life.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Budget Bride Bliss aka VistaPrint

I couldn't resist introducing you to my inner discount diva! (thanks Grandma!) heehee  I can't wait to figure out all the cool ways to make this work out in my favor =)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Planning and DIY projects

This week was nuts in terms of the wedding planning! I received samples of the invitation that I chose (not with my customizations, but so that I could finalize color and cardstock options) so exciting! I also got my first estimate from a Baker (Sin Sweets) regarding our wedding cake!!! Can't wait to go do our first tasting.  I also got a call back regarding our FOCCUS test results, so we need to schedule that meeting with the Church. 

I also spent quite a few hours yesterday creating a map to show how to get from the church to the reception site.  I will need to go back and create the actual direction portion, and I'm still not 100% sure about when and how I will send these out, but it's nice to know I have a customized map that I love!  I do have to give a quick shout out to Will, would never have been able to finish it, if it hadn't been for his help I never would have figured out how to do those finishing touches!

And as a nice round out to the week I got in about half an hours worth of work on my shoes. =)  I don't have the capacity to put pictures of anything up at the moment, but I'll post them as soon as I'm able.  I know there's still 300+ days to go, and I may be jumping the gun on many of these projects, but it will be so nice when things start getting stressful to know that some of these small details are already taken care of (and paid for!).  

Hopefully some of the bigger things start falling into place and getting finalized.  Like musicians/dj, food choices, and the ceremony details, to name a few.   But if all goes according to plan I should have all the STDs, invites, Reply Cards, Escort Cards and potentially a few other things ordered and in hand sometime in August or early September.  Depending of course of whether I approve the customization work =)

I also hope Will and I get it together and go take these engagement pictures sometime before the wedding! =)

That's all for now, just a quick update and look into my week of planning!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A Little Help From My Friends

Steph came over this afternoon and we got to talking about the wedding, as happens... so we started listening to songs for the parent dances.  Here are some of our favorites:

Boys II Men "I Swear"
Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby"
Temptations "My Girl"
Van Morrison "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"

possibilities for me and gramps:

Judy Garland "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" -My grandma's favorite song
Ol' Blue Eyes "The Way You Look Tonight"
Ike and Tina "Twist and Shout" - Have you seen my grandpa twist?!?!

We also were trying to find (a) song(s) that could be sung during the ceremony.  We both got teary listening to this one:

Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) "I Do It For You"

When I Think About What Loving Will Feels Like... This Explains it Best:

[i carry your heart with me (i carry it in]
By: E.E. Cummings 1894–1962
 
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
                                                      i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

1930s Vintage Romance meets The Secret Garden... aka the Sepulveda Home

Can't stop thinking about our reception venue today! I have lots of wedding plans in the works and made lots of decisions (in concept) this week.  One of the main ones is the feel I want our invitations to have, and one phrase that keeps resonating in my mind is "the secret garden".

Ultimately, Will and I want nod towards the 1930s era.  This doesn't mean that everything has to be cookie-cutter 1930s, and I am taking liberties with how strict we are following this time period.  So instead of saying "art deco" (because anything not art deco would suddenly be "wrong") I am now saying "vintage romance."

Can you think of two phrases that go more perfectly together, or explain our wedding reception venue any more perfectly???? Yes, it's risky planning an outdoor wedding in April, but its a risk I'm willing to take.  From the chandelier in the trees to the bridge over the stream and the HUGE outdoor brick fireplace.  There's something so special about this venue.  Everywhere you look there's something to take your breath away, and you can't help but think of romance with all the beauty that surrounds you.

So, even though I may be fudging our time period in places, I have earned the right to say that my wedding is a 1930s vintage romance meets secret garden theme.  Once you see our invites you'll see why "secret" is an appropriate word to use.  There are so many mysteries that can be discovered and unlocked in a garden... and as our guests step up the stone stairs, past the ivy covered walls (and with a little wedding magic to help their little trip through time), to lay their eyes on the venue for the very first time.  If all of our details come together like I think they're going to, I think people will fall in love just as quickly as we did!

And while pictures don't do it any justice, here's a little taste of what's in store for April 14, 2012.





I am sooooo ready!