When you get engaged people bombard you with questions. Some are annoying, when are you having children? Some are typical, have you picked a date? The other day I got hit with some really odd questions. one being, do you like your fiance? After this question was asked I must of been standing there with a dumb look on my face because my dad piped in and said, “I like him.” At that point i finally spit out, “I would hope that I like him I am marrying him.” I wanted to say who would marry someone they didn’t like. Why would you ask such a stupid question! Then again as strange as this sounds it was at the end of a business meeting and didn’t think it was appropriate.

Second questions, Is your relationship magical? If those of you out there that know me, know that I am a fairly blunt person. My reply: No, my relationship isn’t always magical and if it was I think we would have some problems. I honestly don’t know what else I said. The conversation is kind of a blur at this point in time. I don’t understand why someone would ask them. it is just odd.

So, this got me thinking of why people ask these odd questions. I have decided that there is no good reason and the next time I am just going to make something up.

As a bride I will admit that I have been wrapped up in planning for months. As much as people hate theKnot, I have found it to be quite entertaining. I have been on the message boards and the women there will really knock you back in to perspective if you loose sight of what a wedding really should be. So I took a poll of the brides, to see what they like at a wedding from a guest perspective.

- A seat for every guest, one girl said she got up to get a drink and there were so few seats that someone had taken her’s so he could sit and eat his dinner.

-Recommendations for restaurants and things to do for out of town guests. This doesn’t have to be much and you can normally get a lot of information for free from the chamber of commerce.

-Transportation from the hotel to the reception, This is not a necessity, but it does say you want your guest to have a good time.

-An established time line, you have to keep things moving or it can get very boring.

-Provide directions to the reception at the ceremony

-Seat guests at tables with people they know or have something in common with, I am normally the lucky person that gets sat at the table with everyone’s parents. I will tell you it is always a load of fun.

- Do not invite more people than your venue can hold, one girl talked about going to a wedding and the cocktail party was in a hallway where no one could move. I will say I have been to weddings where the room was way too small for the number of guests, it is very uncomfortable.

-seat guests of the wedding party with their dates. Normally the dates do not know anyone and it is noT any fun for them to be by themselves.

-Keep your toasts to a minimum and remind the people giving the toast that inside jokes are only funny to them.

-say hello and thank your guests from coming, numerous brides talked about going to weddings where the neither the bride or groom took a moment to say hello. I know I have been to wedding when I have gone up to the bride and groom at the end of the night and they basically told me I was not important enough for them to say hello during the night. If you invite someone to your wedding they are important enough to say hello to.

-don’t be rude to your guests. It really is not becoming and people will remember it for a long time. Unfortunately probably longer then you remember why you were rude to them.

A wedding is one day that changes your life forever. After the flowers have died and the dress is packed away in a box what is left but each other. Even though I love weddings and everything that goes with them the most important part is that you now get to spend the rest of your life as husband and wife. Planning a wedding can be stressful and sometimes I think people forget to see the bigger picture. The day isn’t just about you, it is about the joining of two families and celebrating with your friends.

I will admit that when the purple on the invitation is a shade off from the ribbon that is holding call the cards together I notice. Am I ashamed, no. Why because I love weddings. There are so many lovely details that go into coordinating this one special day. I would like to emphasize my use of the word one special day. This only happens once in your life. Maybe you get to have a vow renewal, but to me it is not the same. You don’t get the big white dress the second time around.

Down to the nitty gritty. There are so many details that go into a wedding which is why i love them. I also love what all the details represent. If a wedding is done right you really get a feel for the the couple. What they are as individuals and what they are as a couple. What food do the chose? Where is the reception held? Who was invited? What types of flowers did the use? Combine these with so many other details and they hopefully add up to a wonderfully spectacular day.

I will use my sister as an example because she just got married. Ed wore skull and cross bone braces and cufflinks. He opted to wear a different shirt and tie than the best men so that he stood out from the group. Corie wore flat because she is normally very practical. For their flowers they had wild flower which represented their whimsical, fun loving side. Nothing too structured. All of the the tables were named after bands that each of them loved, there were 43 tables so you know they must love music. They didn’t have a big wedding party because neither of the them are showy. They did invite over 400 people so you know that there are many people in their life that are important to them. Ed designed their invitation. He got inspiration from the iron work at the venue which he carried threw the invitation, programs and and table numbers. The wedding was at a place that used to host dances almost every weekend. It is a classic location that showed their love of Cincinnati, not a cookie cutter wedding venue where everyone has their wedding. Everything pointed to and represented them.

Hopefully I will get a chance to let you into some of Jess and I’s planning. The subtle details that link the save the dates all the way through the thank you cards. Weddings take a lot of planning and work. We hope that our wedding will turn out as well as so many others that I have gone to.

I have looked at wedding bands everywhere and I have yet to find one that works with what Jess has already gotten me. I talked to a local jeweler and have been able to get one made to match for a lot less than I thought. Here is the issue, my finger is naked! I had to drop my ring off when they were making the band. I picked it up a week or so ago, wanted to make sure I had it for Corie’s wedding, then today I dropped it off again. I am going to have to get a ring out to just wear there because it is a very strange feeling not having one one. Also, I have a crazy ring tan line, which makes it even look naked. At least in the end it will be worth it!

I never realized how hard it would be sum Corie up in a few words. I have come to realize that a few words can not do her justice. Corie surpasses what anyone can want in a sister. What really amazes me about her is that I am the lucky one that gets to call her that, but I know that I am not the only one she considers a sister. I am certain that tonight there are quite a few people here that would gladly stand up and talk about her with as much love and admiration as I have for her. I have always looked up to her in the way she has cared for her friends and made them such an important part of her life and family. I also thank her, for even though she might not have always wanted me tagging along, many times let me when when were younger.

I truly feel that one of the reason that Corie has been able surround her self with so many great people is how genuine she is. With Corie she is who she is, with no pretense. She is always honest, even if you don’t always like what she had to say. It doesn’t matter if you talk to her everyday or once a year it is like not a minute has passed.

Like all sisters we have had our ups and downs. As children I know we probably fought more than most and unfortunately for Corie she is the one that has the scars to show for it, but to her in the end it never matter. She was always there when I needed her. And I also hope she knows that I am always here for her if she ever needs me.

It is possible that I might be a little over protective of her but she is one of a kind. I remember the first time that i met Ed and I will admit that he might not have been the one that pictured for her. But then again who pictures their sister with a guy with shaggy long hair dressed all in black. But as I have gotten to know him I have come to realized that he loves her more than possibly anyone else could. When we were on vacation I was talking to Ed about Corie and at that moment I knew that he was the one that would be able to protect her for the rest of her life.

I know that I should probably raise a glass to corie, but I would now like to raise a glass to Ed. Tonight you are the lucky one. You now have many years with a wonderful women who many people here tonight are so grateful that you make more happy than we have every seen her.

I am paying bills at work, like I do a lot. I open a statement and on it it says that there is a 144.44 unapplied credit and then in the next line it says there is a 60 day old invoice that is unpaid for 144.44. So I think to myself, now wouldn’t it make sense that the 144.44 unapplied credit be for the 144.44 unpaid invoice. So, I look in my handy dandy vendor file and sure enough the check for 144.44 went out in June, which was a little over 60 days ago.

I call the company and say I think there has been a mistake because this statement you sent make no sense. The women was like whatever. No big deal. I was like why didn’t you just apply the credit. Her response, It happends. I was not happy and told her that I didn’t have the hour that it would take me to explain to her why this phone call was unnecessary. That I had talked to her company less than a month ago about why there was no need to have 3 separate customer numbers for one company, of course that didn’t make sense to them either.

I have to say that when you are having a day when you feel stupid. There is always someone out that makes you feel smart.

I have never had to give a toast at a wedding, but so far it is the most nerve racking thing I have done for my sister’s wedding. It is not that I don’t know what to say it was just deciding on what is appropriate. Talking about how she poked herself in the face with a straw when we were at pizza hut as kids, which she still has a scar from, is probably not appropriate. Discussing how her ex boyfriend had a lazy eye and how I hoped I didn’t have to look at that for the rest of my life, not appropriate.

Ok, now I am past what is appropriate and what isn’t. At least sort of. My mother has said that according to the toast books she has been reading that referring to yourself more than three times is inappropriate. So, now i am just resigned to be inappropriate. How do you talk about your relationship with someone without talking about yourself. I do think i have come up with something heartfelt and meaningful. This was one of the times that I wish i could have been funny, as my friends know i have funny stories coming out my butt, but nothing came out right. Oh, well if everyone cries through it at least i know i hit some sort of emotional cord.

Now i am to the execution part. If anyone out there has a recommendation on talking in front of 350 people that you know let me have them. Please don’t say picture them all naked. It is gross to think of my grandmother who will be front and center naked! I have been practicing nonstop. By the time I actual give the speech next weekend my fiance and friends are going to be so sick of it. I will say this morning as I was saying it in the shower I only forgot one line. I felt like I had scored.

Wish me luck! After the wedding maybe I will post it so everyone can read it.

Last Saturday we threw Jess’s brother and his fiance an engagement part. I have to say, it was absolutely lovely. It was in Lexington, KY at a little place called Wines on Vine. Jess and I happened upon it in the spring and just fell in love with the staff and their very nice wine selection. Also, their food is really good. The first time we were they we could smell the chef smoking salmon outside. Lucky for us we got some almost right off the grill. For the party we just had basic apps that everyone seemed to love. Jess and I were happy so I guess that’s what’s important.

Now, to the crazy party. That night we went to dinner at a nice little french restaurant. There ended up being 7 of us, which is more people than we normally like to eat out with, but it is not like there were 20 of us. Some of us got there and we ordered wine and a couple apps for the table. We were probably there 45 minutes by the time we ordered our dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary for us.

Well, I don’t know what this place’s problem is but everything went down hill from there. First, I didn’t get my tartar. Which upset me but I was able to straighten it out. Then we waited and we waited and we waited. Finally I got up and spoke to our waiter about our entrees and he assured me they were coming. I was like ok. So, we waited and waited again. It was crazy! From the time we ordered our entrees and actually got them was at least an hour! I actually think it was an hour and half, but it has been a week my memory is going. i would love to say that we ate all these wonderful course in the mean time, but no. One person had a salad and that was it.

We are all starving, or a good portion of us, because it took so long. The food comes out and it looks great for the most part. Then the steak people start to cut in, not one, but three steaks were over cooked. All of them went back. One person ordered a salad so that mean 50% of our entrees were sent back. I mean seriously who is working your grill that you can’t cook a filet to medium. This is elementary in my book.

I ordered duck for dinner. I am very particular about my duck. It better be medium if it is over medium it is going right back to the kitchen. I asked our server how is it prepared. He told me “pink.” I clearly said to him if it is not pink then I will not eat it, I was nice about it. At that point I was still in a pretty good mood. Luckily for me I switched seats in the middle of dinner with the other person that ordered duck. Her’s was grey and gross mine was a little over medium but doable. She is nicer than I am because she ate it.

As I am sitting there pissed off because only half that people at our table our eating. Our waiter comes up to me and says, the manager is sending out free desserts for you if you would just wait a few more minutes. My response, We do not want free dessert. We at this point in time what our check so we can go home and get our guests food that have not eaten dinner. Who in their right mind would have thought we wanted dessert when only half of us ate in the first place! It just baffles me.

I also should have said that after we sent the steaks back the waiter came back to the table. He was attempting to take the blame off himself and put it on the kitchen. If there are any service people reading this, do not do this. It makes you look really bad. I know it is unfortunate that your tip gets cut, but lets be honest. We sent back over 60 dollars worth of food. No matter how much you plead I am not tipping you for food we didn’t eat.

I don’t think I have ever had such a bad dinning experience. Also, just to cap the night off. As we are walking back the Shane and Jarah’s apartment I guy is speeding backwards out of this parking lot and comes with in inches of hitting me. I actually had to scream at him. I am ever so grateful that that day is over.

Hopefully my next post will be something uplifting and light hearted. We will see, who knows.

My life currently revolves around weddings, mine and my sisters. Then there is always talk about Jess’s brother’s weddings. I love weddings for so many many different reasons. The love that fills the room, the flowers, the colors, getting dressed up. How everything is coordinated (I will post more on this later). There are some things that I don’t love so much, majorly bridal showers or anything that has shower after it.

Maybe it is the fact that I am not a girly girly girl. I know I will hear from my friends on me saying that, but it is true. I have a foul mouth, I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut and I hate small talk. I am pretty sure it is the small talk thing that bothers me the most. Ok, maybe it is the games that bother me the most, but small talk is pretty bad too. I never know what to talk about and I find asking people shallow questions very difficult. Maybe I am the only one that doesn’t like spending my sunday afternoon talking about nothing is a room full of women, but i have a feeling that I am not.

As for the games, who invented these games. Making a veil out of toilet paper or guess what the next gift is going to be. Heads up to cheaters, just look and see what is off the registry and write it down before you go. Ok, maybe you don’t need to cheat because if you have been to one you have been to them all, it is going to be flatwear, sheets and towels.

To be honest I would prefer to send a gift and call it a day, but I understand that sometimes you just can’t do that. So far this month have been to two showers. I have one more to go this weekend and then another next month and then I get to take a small break. Wish me luck as I once again have to sit in a room full of women with nothing to say. Maybe I should put a flask in my purse for this one. Ok, maybe not such a good idea I would probably be know forever as the bride’s sister with the drinking problem!