I Won a Bouquet! But Have Mixed Feelings About It...

I won a free bouquet from a wedding event I attended. I'm not exactly sure *how* I got entered to win said bouquet, but I was happily surprised to hear my name called for free shit regardless. I mean, who wouldn't, right? But there's a BUT.  Many months ago I had resigned myself to the fact that we will NOT have any live flower bouquets. At all. I was going to make 7 bouquets by hand with various new and recycled materials. I was going to personalize all the bouquets with items that go along with each of our personalities.  I don't want to give too much away, because these "bouquets" are going to be a lil bit different... think beautiful from afar, but hilarious up close.  I got so excited about this idea, that I was totally and utterly waaay cool with not having live floral bouquets.

And then I won a bouquet. More specifically, a rose-dominated bouquet. Which is awesome don't get me wrong, but how am I going to personalize it like I had originally planned? I have my WristieLove Brooch that I wanted to adorn the handle with. And I even bought little Bowie pins to put in my homemade bouquet ball of pretty.* I was pretty balls-excited about my potential homemade ball of pretty.  But now I don't know what to do.  Do I cash in my free live flower bouquet? Or do I get the bouquet, but use it for a centerpiece instead?  Or should I go for the ultimate compromise and incorporate some of my own pieces in the flower bouquet (hoping that the company will cooperate)?

Am I a flower bouquet bride? Here's a pic of me holding one:

Photo Credit: Desi Baytan Photography

Yay? Nay? Don't give a shit?

I'm torn.

And seriously... Feel free to tell me these are an asshole's problems and that I shouldn't have any qualms about free shit, and to just be thankful I don't have to pay for my ball of pretty. Go ahead. Let me have it. I can take it.

*A bouquet is something you carry in your hands or on your person that serves as an accessory. It can be made out of whatever. It's a ball 'o pretty. That's it.

Repeat After Me: I Am A Machine

4.5 months til the wedding. And I'm runnin' out of gas. I need a power chant. Who's with me? I find that saying said chant whilst listening to something hardcore like W.A.S.P. is what is going to get me through the last haul. The homestretch. The third trimester. The no-abortion zone.* It's a scary, hectic, insane time filled with having to juggle real life shit and wedding shit.  So somewhere between work, writing, and home life, I have to make time for "homemade bouquet crafting." It's almost laughable when you say it out loud, right? *Ridiculous* ...But also important. On some level.

So I came up with a chant to help get me through this crazy time. And I think it may help you out too. So feel free to Rebel, Rebel yell it with me loud and proud. I promise it will make you feel at least a tad better...And sometimes a tad's all it takes.**

I Am A Machine

I have a fuckload on my plate right now.
And my To-Do List is a mile long.

But it will get done.

Because I am a Machine.

If I have to work from sun up til sun down,
through the night even,
I will. 

Because I give a shit. 

And, Because I am a Machine.
Work.

Career. 

School.

Partner.

Pets.

Finances.

Home. 

Family. 

Friends. 

Wedding.

I have many obligations. And many goals.

And half the time I feel like my head is going to explode.
But in the end, I am thankful to be busy.

And I know in my my heart, to the very core, that I am more than capable.
I will balance it all.
I will succeed.

Because why, bitches?

BECAUSE I AM A FUCKING MACHINE.

[INSERT LION ROAR]

W.A.S.P.

Did you say it out loud? 

Do you feel a little more badass?

*Abortion joke on a wedding blog: Too much? Even for me?
**"A Tad's All It Takes" = Awesome movie title.

If He Doesn't Care What He Marries Me In, Fine.

Then I'm putting him in this:

 

 image 

Still cool with whatever I pick, darling...?  I know ice blue isn't your color, but you said you didn't care, so, here ya go! Ain't she a beaut? Wait, what's that? Do you have to wear ghostface makeup and grow a mullet? Why, yes, dear. Yes you do. The look just wouldn't be complete without it. Kisses!

Love, B*

SUIT UPDATE:

We have not attempted to shop again. Surprise, Surprise.  And you know what? It's not like I'm dyyyying to spend my day-off shopping with a crankypants a-hole. I have shit to do. And I don't think Mike realizes that spending an afternoon of shopping with him is *just* as tortuous to me as it is to him.  And another factor in play here is the fact that suits aren't cheap.  So it's gonna take some time to try on different fits and find the right price. So here is my final plea and compromise: I will be as positive and as chill as you want to go about doing this. We can do one store at a time on different days, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Whatever it takes. I just can't do this suit thing alone. As much as I'd like to be able to. I Can't. With a capital fuckin "C."

*GoodGodIamUptoMyEarsInWeddingAndGoingToExplodeJustFuckingCooperate

Wish Upon a Wedding [ROCKS]

Wedding Bloggers of the world are joining forces this week to raise awareness about a truly amazing organization called Wish Upon A Wedding. 

Wish Upon A Wedding aims to "produce weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the USA for terminally ill individuals, regardless of sexual orientation."

I read those words and said, "HELL YES." And then I read Michael & Florence's story and started to tear up... Michael and Florence are Wish Upon a Wedding's first recipients. Here's a piece from their amazing tale:

"Michael told Florence he’d found his other half and wanted to be her husband. When Florence was diagnosed with cancer, she worried Michael might leave. But he was always there for her, supporting her throughout the entire experience, including a double mastectomy. Michael proposed to Florence by saying “I want to make you my wife” and “make our family official”. He let her know that no matter what happens, he loves her and wants to be with her unconditionally.
 

 

Unfortunately, the wedding plans had to be pushed aside... until one fateful day...


"In December 2009, as Wish Upon a Wedding was holding one of its first board meetings, we received the following fateful email from a wedding planner named Nastasha Verkest of Tave Weddings & Events.

“I am a Professional Bridal Consultant out of the Sacramento, CA area. I volunteered at a Charity Wedding Gown Sale for Making Memories this past summer. At that event, I had an opportunity to meet an amazing Bride named Florence that unfortunately has lost both of her breasts to cancer, and is now at stage 4 cancer. She came to the event basically to “window shop” for a dress (as she had been putting off her own nuptials for obvious medical and financial reasons). When the director of the event learned Florence had Breast Cancer; Making Memories immediately decided to donate a gown of her choice to her. I was so inspired and captivated by this phenomenal woman, that I donated my services to her free of charge.”

This story honestly moved me.  It's refreshing to see an organization such as this emerge from the often shallow waters of the wedding industry. Thanks to Wish Upon A Wedding, On March 13th, 2010, Michael and Florence will get the chance to celebrate their partnership in front of the people who love them most.

If you are a wedding blogger, or a blogger who's down with this cause, then I urge you to participate in Wish Upon A Wedding Awareness Week.  You still have today and tomorrow to spread the word. Blog it, Facebook it, Tweet it, Make love to it, whatever form of communication gets you hard, USE IT.

Find more info, here.
Apply to be a Wish Granter, here.

I'm Getting Drunk at My Wedding. So Back Off.

Someone once told me that it's not "classy" to get loaded at your own wedding.  I'm not even going to waste my time explaining why I think that statement is the biggest CROCK I'vc ever heard. Because if you're reading this blog, you probably are having the same, "are-u-fucking-kidding-me" reaction to that as I did.

Who the EFF is going to spend an entire YEAR planning a party for themselves and not party? Well. Not this bitch.  In fact, I'm planning the entire schedule of this wedding around the booze.

1. Pre-ceremony & Ceremony: White Wine
2. Cocktail Hour: Same + Red Wine, Homebrew, Keg of PBR
3. Dinner: Same + Mead tasting
4. Toasts: Same + Champagne
5. First Dances: Same + Gin n Juice
6. Dance Party: Same + Shots of Patron

I've also heard horror stories about not having *time* to drink at your own wedding... that the couple spent most of the reception talking to their guests. Which is lovely, don't get me wrong. I will of course want to talk to as many guests as I possibly can, but I'll be double-fisting drinks while I'm doing it. And when the dance party starts, don't even *think* of starting a conversation with me... unless you can communicate in the language of DANCE. Like so:

So I have two questions for you:

How loaded do you plan on getting at your wedding? And if you're married... How loaded did you get at your wedding? On a scale of 1 to 10... 1 being "stone cold sober" and 10 being "Drunk off your balls." I'm really curious...

I am Faux-Sho a Faux Bob Bride

 

Hair. I've got a ton of it. Long, thick, wavy, crazyballs, big hair. I have always enjoyed wearing my hair in funky styles. I've never really been into "just wearing it down" and forgetting about it. I'm a hairdo person.  My hair is the only thing I'll blow the big bucks on beauty-wise. So naturally, I am going to focus hard on making my hair hella fly for the wedding.

Recently, I got my hair done in a faux bob updo and I fell in love with it.  Because my hair is so big and wavy, I've never been able to have an actual real bob. It would be total frizz overload, annoying as balls on the upkeep and overall not a pretty sight... Which makes me sad because I LOVE the Marylin Monroe bob and have always wanted to cut my hair like hers, but alas... the faux version will have to do....

Here are some inspiration pics for my wedding hair. I want to make it a little more whimsical, more messy, and more high-fashiony than these, but you get the idea.

 

As for the ever important veil/no veil/hair flower question.... I have decided to NOT wear a veil.  And instead I am getting a hair-piece custom made by the amazingly talented Nic from Tiaras and Fascinators.  She specializes in the most gorgeous couture pin-up, retro hair-wear. I am currently coming up with a design that would work with my faux bob... something likely made of feathers and sinamay... Below is a shot of my hair in a faux bob from an event I modeled a bridal gown at (more on that later):

So what kind of hair piece do you guys think would look good with this hairdo? And if you have time, (and love me enough to do this), check out Tiara's and Fascinators and tell me which one you think would look the best.  I'm clueless as of right now.  Below are pictures of the designer modeling her own work. Isn't she gorgeous?!  I can't wait to wear one of her designs. Let's just hope my hair looks as fly as hers does in these pics.

 

Thanks for your advice on the hair, loves!  How are you guys doing your hair for the wedding?

Can We Squeeze "Throne Rental" Into the Budget?

One of the fun things about living in the heart of Los Angeles is coming across random prop houses - basically warehouses that rent props to movies, TV, and events. There is a prop house near our place that peddles the weirdest gaggle of shit. Need a giant birdcage? CHECK. How about some life-size Simpsons statues? GOT YOUR ASS COVERED.  And trust me the odd doesn't stop there. Having walked past this place many many times, Mike and I decided to venture inside on one fateful Saturday morning after brunch.  And this is what we found:

A throne rental, bitches.

A six-foot tall monstrosity complete with lion-face carvings and a red velvet seat perfectly designed to cushion our royal asses.

Look. I know this is ridiculous. RUUUUH-DICULOUS. But it's also be amazing. AHH-MAZING.  And whenever I can describe something as "ridiculous and amazing" all in the same breath, you know it's gotta be a pretty rad idea. 

I know "throne rental" will be a last minute, do we have skrilla left in the budge, kinda decision. But I wanted to talk about wedding "fluff"... aka...Wedding related purchases that are ridiculously awesome and amazing but totally impractical.

Throne rental is mine. What are you "wedding fluff" desires?