Wedding day run-through continued

Note - I sincerely apologize for my gramatical errors.

Hmmm so where did I leave off....

4:1o-ish pm: Ralph and I are taking pictures. The limo arrives and my brothers come in the lobby only to see me stretched out on the chaise lounge taking bridal portraits. I try and look serene. Ralph and I leave to take pictures in a dirty stairwell, while the limo and my family wait.

4:30-ish pm: I leave in the limo with my family. Shockingly, it is only very lightly sprinkling. Meanwhile, Ralph and my big brother Dave drive together in our sexy getaway car.....



4:35 pm: In the limo, I down our water bottle and eat a melting chocolate energy bar thanks to Janet. I can't believe that I did not get chocolate on my dress. I still have a terrible migrane. Phone calls go back and forth about whether we take pictures at the dock behind our venue or not.



4:45 pm: We arrive at the dock behind our venue to take more pics only 15 minuutes late. I get out and the rain and crazy wind make me change my mind. I get back in the limo and we are driven to the venue entrance. We arrive to see our new ceremony space. I think it looks just fine given our situation. I later learn that Ralph was so terribly disappointed with it. There is lots of talk about still trying to move it outside between me, Ralph, Esther, our DOC, and staff at the venue. I put all the desicions on Ralph's head, since my brain left like it was going to explode.

5:00 pm: We take family portraits. I can't believe that Ralph and I forgot to make a list of pictures we wanted. Our photographer does really well considering our oversight. All our family was on time and fully coorporates - I have a great time seeing everyone looking so cute and happy. I think my eyes stayed open during the picture-taking.

5:30-ish pm: Ralph and I try and take some outdoor portraits. We run into a zillion people coming to another wedding right across the way from us. They are surprised to see a bride that they don't recognize. It is still drizzling so we take some pics under covered areas, except when Ralph wasn't looking I posed for one in some great foliage getting slightly wet in the process. As we begin our return to the VIP room, we run into some of our early arriving guests. They are pretty surprised to see us.

5:45-6:15 pm: I hang out in the VIP room; I am standing not sitting, as the families come and in out. Head is absolutely killing me. My mom is trying to make thank you cards and divvy up tips. I sip on some Sprite and Coke. Why is there no water around????? Bass music is pulsating through the room, and I ask Ralph to take care of it. He does and gets them to also tone down the steel drums from the wedding I ran into (I had no idea). I cannot belive that all 3 events are going on at the same time in the same location, as they promised that it would never happen, but tell myself to save the angry for later. I do exactly that.

6:30 pm: Showtime! I walk in, or more like stumble. My footing was really off especially with both my parents by my sides. Our officiant signals for us to slow down, since the aisle is ridiculously short in our new space. My feet are KILLING me for standing up in the VIP room for so long. What was I thinking? I manage to cry gracefully (I think) , but facing our friends and family and not completely bawling out of such happiness was really hard. As we say our vows, I remember to bend my knees so I don't faint or anything. I try hard to listen to what our officiant says. But I am so distracted by Ralph and being ridiclously happy to remember it all. I snatch my ring by accident - whoops. I put Ralph's ring on him exactly how I was instructed NOT to do. We have no problem kissing each other, which was a problem at the rehearsal. Then we disappear to the VIP room.

7:00 pm: Picture time in the park. But first we go down another dirty staircase. It is still too windy for the dock. We take pictures on some bridges and by some waterfalls. A server offers us some appetizers, and I force one down, but I still feel ill. We walk into the mulch to take some shots under a huge Banyon tree (Ralph can't believe I can do this in heels and in a wedding dress). We go to our original ceremony site and cocktail site for some pics.

7:49 pm: My veil taken is off and we return just to catch the end of the cocktail hour. We are greeted by a claps and cheers. I couldn't be more happy. Flavia gets Ralph a beer and gets me some water (begrudgingly, I might add). I eat another appetizer or two, but I just feel too ill to eat. I hope the water kicks in to help my headache.

Okay, all the rest in one more post.

"My husband"

I just love saying that. I went to a shindig (yes, I used that word) tonight and got to introduce Ralph as what he really is. It was cool.

But, I still don't have weddings completely out of my head since I am currently trying to unearth all our leftover wedding stuff.

Anyway, as I was talking to one of my moms today, it occurred to me that I perhaps I should recount what my wedding day was like...

All pictures are from my amazing girl Jade of Uplift Photography.

7:15 am: woke up 30 minutes early. Immediately begin making boutonnieres in bed. I remember how much I hate to wire orchids. Am somewhat stressed at how non pretty they are.



8:15 am: Meet Ralph in lobby for quick breakfast. We are pretty relaxed.

8:45 am: Start making corsages, which go by really quickly. Very relaxing.



9:20 am: Jade comes by to keep me company and take some shots. I start making Donna's and my bouquet.





10:30 am: My mom picks me up for my 11am hair appointment.

11:00 am: I am waiting and waiting with people ignoring me at the salon.

11:20 am: Finally meet my stylist, who immediately pegs me as a bride. I lie and say my updo is for my mom's b-day gala.

12:50 pm: Stylist finally finishes my updo after rushing through the end. I have to repeatedly tell her to do something about my frizzies. I wish that she knew I was a bride, so she would know that my hair is really important. Why did I bother saving a buck? Then I remember that it is a $100 hairdo. I am not cheap, it is just an overpriced hairdresser!

1:00 pm: I get to my makeup appointment just in time. Filberto is totally ready for me and has everything laid out for me.

1:10 pm: I notice how crappy it is outside and it starts raining. I think it will pass.

1:30 pm: I get THE call. The venue calls my cell to determine if we should move the ceremony indoors. I have 15 minutes to give them an answer. I immediately call Ralph, who is miffed at having to give our decision so soon. Many phonecalls occur about this (Filberto is super cool and understands). Ralph then calls in a panic as he gets kicked out of his hotel room. Massive headache sets in.

2:55 pm: I get back to the hotel, a little over 3o minutes late. I am completely unshaven and have NO time to take a mini shower. I dry shave my underarms. I am totally mortified that I have forgotten to take care of this simple task, but know that Ralph will not be surprised or upset.

3:15 pm: Photographer and videographer arrive in my room. I tie the ribbons on the bouquets. I have a hard time with mine and tie it over and over. I am trying to stay calm. I think I get a few more calls about moving everything inside.



3:40 pm: Jade comes over and helps me put my dress on. I didn't even think I would need help with this - duh!



4:10 pm Ralph and I take pictures in the hotel and wet garden. I feel better with him by my side, but still with massive headache. I need to drink water desperately.

I'll wait to detail the rest of the day tomorrow or so....

Second dress fitting sneakpeak

My awesome friend at Uplift Photography took these amazing shots at my second fitting. I wish I could share all of them, but I don't want to ruin any surprises. I just had to post these, though. She is so talented!!!!

(credit)

(credit)

Just an update

I love my dress. They really do wonderful work at Amy Kuschel and have just been awesome. My lovely girl Jade took a zillion pictures and it was obvious to everyone there at the store that she is a pro photographer - they were loving her pictures. There was even an exchange of business cards - too funny. Anyway, Jade helped us out so much in so many ways. She is in arts and crafts pro herself and was great to have my friend by my side. Thanks so much Jade - YOU are the best.

Tiiiime AIN"T on my side...

no it ain't!!!!

Yep, my workload has finally crashed in on me, which means no posts. I have also been doing a fair share of wedding stuff, with a heavy dose of help from Ralph and family, but some of it just has to stay a surprise.

Anyway, I just had to share this.

This is a slideshow from a wonderful South Florida photographer Stephan Maloman (yeah we couldn't get close to affording him). He shot this reception at Jungle Island. Not many couples have their reception outside, preferring to stay in the climate controlled ballrooms, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Enjoy the pics!

Planning is HARD yo!

As much as I told myself that I wouldn't lose myself in wedding planning, I have! Part of the problem is that we (or should I say I) want to get married in March next year. Normally, this would be no big deal - you have 14 months and it is in the off season. But nooooo, in Miami, it is high season. See, February and March are the cooler months and have the least probability of rain. The other brides caught on to that - damn! Anyway, all the cool, not crazy expensive places are starting to get booked. So I need to get on it and find a place asap.

I have 8 days to find a venue. While I am in crazy ass MIA, I decided that I might as well interview photographers, caterers, and cake bakers since I won't be able to come back until June. So in the meantime, I am doing the legwork to find good affordable vendors, getting preliminary proposals, and scheduling meetings. Yikes!

Places up for consideration:
The Deering Estate- a gorgeous historical park that was the home of one of Miami's early prominent businessmen. It is located on the Palmetto Bay and has beautiful tropical hardwood hammocks. The place couldn't be more perfect, except that we could only afford to invite 75 people. Beyond that and the price jumps up 3 fold.


The Ancient Spanish Monastery - A true Spanish Monastery built in Segovia in the 1100's, it was brought to Miami brick by brick and rebuilt. William Randolf Hearst commissioned it in the 1920's. It is beautiful and has lovely gardens and is a little out of our price range.

Cauley Square- A funky collective of historic homes, now serving as a artisan village, surrounds a tropical hardwood hammock. It is a bit of a drive and maybe a tad too rustic.

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden - What can I say it is a garden that we can afford (Fairchild is sooo out of our budget). It isn't as lush as I would like and the reception room is pretty bland. But its location is great for our out of town guests - they will be happy to stay on the beach.

Jungle Island - A pretty new location that was the old Miami tourist attraction Parrot Jungle. It is now located on its very own island on the way to South Beach. This place is all inclusive, and does the catering for you. It is all new and shiny pretty and very Miami-ish, but is a theme park at the end of the day. They have a damn LIGER - yep as well as crocs, monkeys, and their ubiquitous parrots. It is shockingly in our budget, but the Fiance isn't up for the theme park business.

So I am headed to Miami soon enough and will check out all these places. Hopefully the one I decide on will be free for the dates we are interested in.