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....

We are married...

and are currently eating our way through Hawai'i. The food here is AMAZING! We are about to head to see some volcanoes, but here we are enjoying Waikoloa....

Updates!

1. We did get caught with the cat, feigned ignorance and paid the $100. We were even asked to see our receipt while boarding our connecting flight. Oh well! The monster is very content right now.
2. We booked our ceremony musician. She is awesome. Ralph is the best for encouraging me to keep looking and not settle for muscians I really didn't want and obviously didn't need the work. I think she will be worth the wait.
3. My mom rocks for being my DIY helper extraordinaire. She surprised me with some stuff and helped me out a ton today with more craftiness. M-LEE, she loves the runners and your handiwork!
4. Our venue... ah our venue. Yes, they managed to throw some more curve balls my way. They have 3 events booked on our wedding date with one event (of over 1000 people!) practically colliding into ours in not just one but two occasions. It took over two hours, but Ralph and I worked well together and compromised with them. In the end, we will actually be benefiting from this, but I will never again trust anything they say that isn't in a contract (not that they could read one anyway). It is all about $ and our measly 85 person wedding that booked first, means nothing to them in comparison to the 1000 person corporate retreat or whatever.
5. That crazy woman was a b$&ch again to my mom over the phone - she better not be to me. I am ready for that throwdown.
6. Yes, I know that in the end all will be great, but they are certainly making us work for it!

T-minus 16 hours...

until we leave for the airport. Yes, I should be finishing up writing my own recommendation letter right now (gosh I really hate that BTW), but I am going to relieve some stress online. Here are a list of my random thoughts...

1. I tried on my dress last night after I took a shower. I still need to buy some Hollywood tape so my bustier doesn't show - I forgot to pick that up at the bridal salon. I can SO not lose anymore boobs. I also can't gain any pouch (just say no to the cabbage). Makes me wish I didn't go for such a form fitting dress.
2. I can sit in my dress. Yes, I was stupid and didn't try that. It is probably one of the first things my mom taught me about shopping for clothes.
3. I am chancing it at the airport tomorrow and am not paying the $100 to reserve my cat a spot underneath the seat in front of me. American Airlines has NEVER checked for my receipt (but United has). If they do, I will feign ignorance. I am hoping that the big white bag that Ralph is carrying on will be my diversion.
4. Still don't have a contract for ceremony music. I have a tentative meeting date, but that is it. Apparently musicians are doing just fine in this economy and don't need gigs.
5. Our venue cracks me up with their lack of detail orientation. It makes me feel like I am crazy picky. For instance, don't tell me what my appetizers are - in our contract it is written that WE get to choose 10 out of the 30 appetizers - not you. WTF? If I was crazy picky about this stuff, I would have a ceremony musician by now.
6. If that crazy woman from the venue that raised her voice at me is anywhere near me on my next set of visits, I swear she will regret it.
7. I forgot to mention that I can't wait to be married (FINALLY) and go on our honeymoon.

Off to Miami (er Fort Lauderdale)!

I got me some talented friends

I can't believe that I am blogging right now, since we leave in 24 hours and I still have lots of work to do. But I had to share so more awesome-ness that my friends have helped me with. Dear Emily (which Ralph and I pronounce M-LEE), kindly sewed us some table runners for our extra banquet tables. Oddly enough, it was her that gave me the 10 yrds of lime green fabric about 2.5 years ago. The blue fabric was salvaged from curtains that I picked up at Ikea in the clearance section when we first got engaged. Here is what she did with them....

And here is what they look like in contrast with our table overlays.

M-LEEEE you rock! Thanks a ton! The rest of the Thunder Snow Ho's think so too...

OMFG!

There is really no classy way of putting it - sorry. I am addressing this to my venue catering manager - for the umptenth time, can you PLEASE read my contract and get the time of our wedding right? Pretty please!!!!! No she doesn't read this blog, but I just had to vent this out.

Leaving to Miami in T-minus 50 hours. Zillions of work-related things to do in between now and then. Must remember to eat or dress will not fit. Ralph tells me I should try to load up on calories now. He he, I love this man!