tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14931890824394869232024-02-06T19:04:10.112-08:00Tying the knotStep-by-step instructions!A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.comBlogger354125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-86924037480330131052011-12-06T19:53:00.000-08:002011-12-06T21:14:26.762-08:00The Randomizer: SpanielLong time, no see, friends! I know I <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/11/11/being-a-wedding-blogger/">said good-bye</a> already, but when Mrs. Avocado suggested this series, I was excited to play along. Since I haven't really looked at our wedding pictures in almost a year, it was a lot of fun to revisit some pictures I'd forgotten about!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OZiCLIZnWoofdspQ_9yCSj1Eoo9R3uvacx7wUl2e0xP1OvJFfeRmS4oIR2NjOZjox9s8cmpcu-3bRxa9jxt4O2_l-buYkAweGrRbgymqHzlebcS0YvEogZkmlkm8UWEmYq9A8DGY3FI_/s1600/0897.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OZiCLIZnWoofdspQ_9yCSj1Eoo9R3uvacx7wUl2e0xP1OvJFfeRmS4oIR2NjOZjox9s8cmpcu-3bRxa9jxt4O2_l-buYkAweGrRbgymqHzlebcS0YvEogZkmlkm8UWEmYq9A8DGY3FI_/s1600/0897.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683236204107682546" /></a><br />I suppose there is no harm in <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/09/07/los-angeles-wedding/">starting at the end</a>, is there? My first random photo is from late in the reception. I was dancing with my brother and some law school friends, while one of the groomsmen was trying to pick up one of my girlfriends. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnqooynvbZvKu9Rux8OzXHpshdOJpiGGGkdle9fyc2ZLUpDEavXqqi3bS0eEVfAN842UAraBQ2v7Rgvb9E7lxm_EbuL0SryQxvGA2rFHKEttX-smlUkmsI6RI5ptkNLpiLGWzQ1LM3N2D/s1600/0083.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnqooynvbZvKu9Rux8OzXHpshdOJpiGGGkdle9fyc2ZLUpDEavXqqi3bS0eEVfAN842UAraBQ2v7Rgvb9E7lxm_EbuL0SryQxvGA2rFHKEttX-smlUkmsI6RI5ptkNLpiLGWzQ1LM3N2D/s1600/0083.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683236204568104562" /></a><br />We were on our way to get pictures taken with the bridal party when this one was taken. I have to laugh when I see it because of how high I was holding my dress to keep the dirt off of it. (But it worked!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg-v-NH7mIwLCG79bKjyRErePV8l_Z36aX15QwbEYpo_-80qoTwlyVkdiHcPhBTloqWK9a5ax56-o7AnmPfWBRUzwl8DtGTQrzcZz8Sjg2-RqTzlrkoSnhBIvzr6Q4iWqen5dwZ2_8Abj/s1600/0065.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg-v-NH7mIwLCG79bKjyRErePV8l_Z36aX15QwbEYpo_-80qoTwlyVkdiHcPhBTloqWK9a5ax56-o7AnmPfWBRUzwl8DtGTQrzcZz8Sjg2-RqTzlrkoSnhBIvzr6Q4iWqen5dwZ2_8Abj/s1600/0065.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683236208114909794" /></a><br />Self-explanatory, right? This was right outside of the bridal dressing room, taken before the first look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj8n1Vsh8q-26bUkgG8ts1KuFALIrxQwGY6bEjB5YFznOtL5EbMfQZ409WFVhk14qt6Yn0Mq9aOc1SU6dd_22ARle-JDujD9R6WVhn2iOsFTRO4uxhWQIGjNfqwuv3hatP3ZnRhJ8k6JZ/s1600/0766.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj8n1Vsh8q-26bUkgG8ts1KuFALIrxQwGY6bEjB5YFznOtL5EbMfQZ409WFVhk14qt6Yn0Mq9aOc1SU6dd_22ARle-JDujD9R6WVhn2iOsFTRO4uxhWQIGjNfqwuv3hatP3ZnRhJ8k6JZ/s1600/0766.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683236213258420418" /></a><br />Sneaking a kiss with my new husband during toasts. Or maybe it wasn't so sneaky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6U0uCMHD3IJ-tfFAo5HeBjewaWjTOCWWvxwVQ-RHaI2w2yQDi7Ya9Jrun2Srgu0dYbQLgo_gl5zLp-9aB5jHWEV1SKSpt28j_UPGiF2jqqchWvVzjvJIEF955G3npO2alhGA4ZJKZmhU/s1600/0206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6U0uCMHD3IJ-tfFAo5HeBjewaWjTOCWWvxwVQ-RHaI2w2yQDi7Ya9Jrun2Srgu0dYbQLgo_gl5zLp-9aB5jHWEV1SKSpt28j_UPGiF2jqqchWvVzjvJIEF955G3npO2alhGA4ZJKZmhU/s1600/0206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683236219120929970" /></a><br />I love this picture and how it focuses on Mr. Spaniel. Weddings (and photos, and recaps!) can be so bride-centric, and it's nice to have a shot of the two of us where Mr. Spaniel is front and center (or back and focused, as the case may be). (And don't worry; he was smiling in the next photo!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5xll9EmdXbcBWWQVic2tLH3USKnsfy7cU-nDNUuVqVKgu2EeCOTmSxVMnurWeLZy0SBAwKFY3rlBmlCsgjP5_jCxdJM026KlWWxVAsGcAvG_AgpeR9n_Yv0F-b-N350-rroRbe2fXKqu/s1600/0719.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5xll9EmdXbcBWWQVic2tLH3USKnsfy7cU-nDNUuVqVKgu2EeCOTmSxVMnurWeLZy0SBAwKFY3rlBmlCsgjP5_jCxdJM026KlWWxVAsGcAvG_AgpeR9n_Yv0F-b-N350-rroRbe2fXKqu/s1600/0719.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683244104882805506" /></a><br />I love how the dining room looked all lit up. We picked our venue because it was already so beautiful without our help or any extras; all we added were three pillar candles in hurricane vases and some scattered rose petals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9P95oi8NgaFRyH9hkKTtAxb6VJppv7h56KwPXtw96xSKzLpRpcPGrjF6413lGPx-rso7nJ4HIXYAbMsVnFWuFBRj6QLTOhf55l5t0FnD3gg8uuqXOy-bJlHO_D3GBC2E2S5U0eZ4K365/s1600/0791.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9P95oi8NgaFRyH9hkKTtAxb6VJppv7h56KwPXtw96xSKzLpRpcPGrjF6413lGPx-rso7nJ4HIXYAbMsVnFWuFBRj6QLTOhf55l5t0FnD3gg8uuqXOy-bJlHO_D3GBC2E2S5U0eZ4K365/s1600/0791.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683244098699150034" /></a><br />My older-younger brother (got that? I'm the oldest; he's younger than me but the older of my brothers) gave the last toast of the night. I asked him if he would months before the wedding, but I'm pretty sure he still pretty much winged it. No wonder he had that beer in his hand. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE82oVzqHyRQSVMOHuoQmcz6ohJaVvWvcqyshTbtszmPwK_UxxZPQpa7zld-wjUMmxUFwtial0RZuu0gwuAlOMz1xH4LcBzpucNSoaqsI6J9NMlP7hkiJg7oBoYJEh5E3kQIDjWdH44Ox/s1600/0626.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE82oVzqHyRQSVMOHuoQmcz6ohJaVvWvcqyshTbtszmPwK_UxxZPQpa7zld-wjUMmxUFwtial0RZuu0gwuAlOMz1xH4LcBzpucNSoaqsI6J9NMlP7hkiJg7oBoYJEh5E3kQIDjWdH44Ox/s1600/0626.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683244094819959554" /></a><br />We announced all of the people who preceded me down the aisle at the beginning of the reception. Papa Spaniel escorted Grandma Spaniel into the room first.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2WKH0MwgX8VhDajP4UHJLehi7VMid165P4IrnA_TZ9YD8Hi5YHnOZlVzqNV7awgZUJZM2s-Duivc235YWFhlKcOijpAUjTWff1jTfDHwL_H2c5znTPcgps1Qt8yCmO0_6b4VoHQj9s2L/s1600/0653.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2WKH0MwgX8VhDajP4UHJLehi7VMid165P4IrnA_TZ9YD8Hi5YHnOZlVzqNV7awgZUJZM2s-Duivc235YWFhlKcOijpAUjTWff1jTfDHwL_H2c5znTPcgps1Qt8yCmO0_6b4VoHQj9s2L/s1600/0653.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683244095859814722" /></a><br />This photo, taken during our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/20/wedding-rituals/">first dance</a>, is one of my favorites from the wedding. I loved dancing with my husband for the first time, I love seeing how beautifully my dress moved, and I love that MIL-Spaniel is taking a snapshot in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxNnSgYZHiJC_r1A0pTEHmXYtWbl3IivNGTSXot2wl8yt4X9CNTWINgOGNLcIeWAKO3v8OR6onH5-J-PMhmwQ1XviRFdvoePX8QKsKG0uL22v7ZuxvcZwGAftoFQsplO6_AP5t0JALrwF/s1600/0381.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxNnSgYZHiJC_r1A0pTEHmXYtWbl3IivNGTSXot2wl8yt4X9CNTWINgOGNLcIeWAKO3v8OR6onH5-J-PMhmwQ1XviRFdvoePX8QKsKG0uL22v7ZuxvcZwGAftoFQsplO6_AP5t0JALrwF/s1600/0381.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683244091398500210" /></a><br />Our programs totally didn't get enough screen time for <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/01/14/programs-get-yer-programs/">how much work BM-Noe and I put into them</a>. I will owe her many, many crafts when she gets married!<br /><br /><center><i>All photos by <a href="http://megperotti.com">Meg Perotti</a>.</i></center><br /><br />Well that was fun times. Okay, your turn!A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-76266282805558806812010-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:002010-11-10T06:30:01.779-08:00A Bee's Life: Spaniel EditionI've been wanting to write A Bee's Life post pretty much since I became a Bee, so it seems appropriate that I should finish my tenure here with my contribution to this series.<br /><br /><b>How did I find Weddingbee?</b><br />A few months after getting engaged, I started to think more about the cultural traditions that I hoped to incorporate into our wedding. You already know I had a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">non-traditional mehndi</a>, but you have to know the rules to break them! So I did some Googling on mehndis and came across <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/01/14/my-mehndi/">this archived post</a> by <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/author/jasmine">Mrs. Jasmine</a>. Jasmine and I go way back—to high school <i>and</i> college, so when I saw her picture on the blog, I got curious! (Fun fact: when I saw her picture and occupation on the side of the blog, I thought an impostor blogger was pretending to be Jasmine. Who knew I was so suspicious?!) I read through a few of her posts and some of the newer bloggers' posts, and got hooked!<br /><br />Before finding Weddingbee I garnered most of my wedding inspiration from sites like <a href="http://www.stylemepretty.com/">Style Me Pretty</a> and <a href="http://greenweddingshoes.com/">Green Wedding Shoes</a>, which I still love. My wedding had a different aesthetic, though, and seeing the great variety of bloggers here made Weddingbee my go-to site pretty quickly.<br /><br /><b>My application story</b><br />Unlike many of the Bees, who began blogging hoping to become Weddingbee bloggers, I've been blogging since before there was even blogging software. ;) I've had a blog for just about every subject I've ever been interested in, and with the engagement, I knew I just <i>had</i> to document the process, since it was the only thing that held my interest! I'd been writing for my own teeny-tiny audience for about six months before I found Weddingbee. I'd like to say that the rest is history, but it's not!<br /><br />I applied to be a Bee as soon as I got to the 8-month mark. I was rejected pretty quickly, but I thought I had a pretty good idea as to why: very little was settled in my wedding, and I was still hopping spastically from idea to idea without giving anyone an idea of what I was trying to do or who I was. The next time I applied, I had nailed down more vendors and wrote more thoughtfully about my plans and inspirations. <br /><br />But I still got another rejection letter. I'm not gonna lie; I felt pretty wounded that time! I was pretty sure I didn't have it in me to get turned down a third time, but rather than not face the possible rejection, I just decided to turn in a really kick-ass application. I started writing like I really was already a Blogger, complete with a sidebar blurb that became my profile cloud here. I posted more personal photos so that readers could feel like they knew me. And I kept trying to write quality posts and avoiding fluff. Third time's a charm, right?<br /><br /><b>On being a Weddingbee blogger</b><br />Because I had been blogging for so long before becoming a Bee, the first few months of blogging was easy-peasy: I edited a million posts to make them current and relevant, soaked comment love (I'm not sure y'all know just how much we bloggers <i>love. your. comments.</i> For reals), and slowly drafted the posts that would go live in the last few months of our engagement. I was also in school so I had a lot of free time, rather than working full-time, so blogging was not a huge burden (other third year law school students may disagree, but they probably enjoyed law school a lot more than I did, then! ;).<br /><br />But that said, blogging 3-4 times per week about your wedding takes <i>a lot</i> of time. A good post takes research and photo editing, neither of which are quick efforts. A ton of time got sucked into the Bee, whether blogging or contributing to the Boards, and I didn't get a lot of downtime during that period. I didn't realize just how much time I was spending on the blog until after the wedding—taking my time with recaps was a <i>tremendous</i> relief!<br /><br />Which brings me to my next point: GUILT. Weddingbee blogging comes with guilt in spades. ;) I knew my recaps would take longer than many just because I had to graduate and study for the Bar exam right after the wedding, which were obviously bigger priorities than blogging. But I still felt guilty knowing I was keeping the readers who made this whole blogging trip so much fun (have I mentioned comments?) waiting for me to finish!<br /><br /><b>Spaniel's tips for writing for the Bee</b><br />I think the most important thing is to be yourself. (Bee yourself? No?) I sort of hate that advice because we've all heard it a million times and it feels like it doesn't mean anything. But you can't fake your voice when you're writing about something so personal as planning your wedding: being genuine in your writing is the best way to blog!<br /><br />In that vein, I second all the Bees before me who said that you should only try to be a Bee if blogging is going to make you happy. Blogging and I had our share of tiffs over the past year, and when it wasn't fun? I took a break. If I had felt that way while blogging about the planning, I think it would have added a layer of stress to my life that I did not need at all.<br /><br />But if you do love blogging for its own sake, why not take the leap? I would have kept on blogging even if I'd never made it as a Bee (although I might have posted a lot less often in those last few wedding planning months!). Blogging because you love it is so rewarding, and blogging for Weddingbee has definitely been the most fun and communal blogging experience I've ever had. The ladies of Weddingbee are a great, supportive community—bloggers <i>and</i> readers—and I am so, so thankful that I've had the opportunity to share this part of our lives with each other. What a great experience this has been!<br /><br />And with that, I sign off from my last official post for Weddingbee. I know I've been putting this off an awfully long time—I've been blogging here for just over a year!—but thank you all for your patience, your support, your advice, your suggestions, and your attention. :) Wishing you all beautiful weddings and wonderful married lives!<br /><br />Good bye, from Mrs. Spaniel!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIO0__plYXDJv4FyB9TwIoKcV8VBgekkZUCTUwZFbRCBwmPQKoJLHjSyExNJ4Vq0owsRReDWEK9V7XkhoOB7QUA4BNnMRvxKcAJ92Hf7sWe5xWfHxxGNd6UddqZB5GQ3jMfnYCq6jhTzj/s1600/goodbyefromspaniel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIO0__plYXDJv4FyB9TwIoKcV8VBgekkZUCTUwZFbRCBwmPQKoJLHjSyExNJ4Vq0owsRReDWEK9V7XkhoOB7QUA4BNnMRvxKcAJ92Hf7sWe5xWfHxxGNd6UddqZB5GQ3jMfnYCq6jhTzj/s1600/goodbyefromspaniel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537806899712230514" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">Meg Perotti</a></span></center>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-13892009885166761842010-11-09T12:23:00.000-08:002010-11-09T12:24:14.768-08:00Checking Your SourcesPeople who have been there and done that will warn you that things <i>will</i> go wrong on your wedding day. It's probably true, and you're wise to accept it. But that doesn't mean you can't do something to prevent some disasters from ever taking place by doing just a little bit of research early on. I signed contracts with and gave deposits to at least three vendors that I would never do business with or recommend again, and I did it because I did not do my homework!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjdn7amIgU4jvv_UjewaQGz1SwQ74ViLP0pPcVD6QiWrqsGABFtTAZ4lVODAv0Ruv4tzLVweIyn_kOEnX3jyX6WVyl4zNoYdTEMc_5qhu3X1Xn7_SzzwnFu6QHrWOVI7hKxaDTxx8gBne/s1600/research2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjdn7amIgU4jvv_UjewaQGz1SwQ74ViLP0pPcVD6QiWrqsGABFtTAZ4lVODAv0Ruv4tzLVweIyn_kOEnX3jyX6WVyl4zNoYdTEMc_5qhu3X1Xn7_SzzwnFu6QHrWOVI7hKxaDTxx8gBne/s400/research2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469864913003118098" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://www.soton.ac.uk/law/research/interest.shtml">source</a>)</span></center><br />Let's say you are budget-hunting and found a potential wedding vendor through a Facebook ad or on Craigslist. You don't have any local bride-friends who have used the vendor, and a Google search doesn't yield much that is helpful. Neither does a check of Yelp or the usual wedding review sites. This isn't a red flag in and of itself, because the person you've found may be new to the industry and without much of a portfolio. Maybe this is why he or she is willing to offer you such a tempting deal! But before you commit, there is one site you should search if you are in Canada or the United States: the <a href="http://www.bbb.org">Better Business Bureau</a>.<br /><br />There are two reasons that I think the BBB is a great place to stop before booking a vendor. One is that you may find reviews that you were unable to find elsewhere. I've already written about <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/09/fixation/">one vendor, The Pros, that everyone in the world knew was disreputable except for me</a>. As an even stronger example, if I'd checked the BBB before booking my videographer (not associated with The Pros; PM me if you are worried you're about to book the same guy and I'll tell you who he is), I'd have known that he had an F rating. This F rating has nothing to do with the quality of his artistry (in fact, that was never mentioned at all), but rather the timeliness of his delivery. Had I known, I would not have found myself a teary mess five weeks after the wedding, because I wouldn't have thought that his failure to respond to a single message for over a month meant that we were never going to get our wedding video—I would know instead that it might just take a long, long time. (He did eventually get back to us, though we are back in limbo. I had truly hoped to show you all our highlight video before I finished my recaps, but that is not to be... and he is back to not responding to me! Trust me, you do <i>not</i> want to be in this situation almost eight months after your wedding!)<br /><br />The second reason is that checking with BBB can help you to know whether your vendor is actually running a legitimate business. In Los Angeles County, businesses are required to obtain operating licenses. The licenses aren't very expensive, but if you have a fictitious business name (i.e., a company name), even for a sole proprietorship (i.e., a one-person business), you need a license and there is a fine for not having one. Companies operating without licenses, at least in L.A., are operating outside of the law. Maybe you are one of those small government types with an anarchist bent that is thinking EFF THE MAN, but this can cause a problem when your vendor flakes on you and you have very little recourse. The chain of logic runs thusly:<br /><br /><center>Vendor operates without a license required by law »<br />Your vendor probably doesn't have much respect for the law »<br />Your vendor is a shady person »<br />Shady vendors often don't have much respect for YOU.</center><br />Not enough? Well!<br /><br /><center>Your vendor runs away with your deposit and doesn't deliver the promised service »<br />You try to take your vendor to Small Claims Court »<br />Your vendor, who doesn't have much respect for the law, doesn't show up to court »<br />You win! Default judgment! BUT! »<br />Your vendor isn't claiming income because your vendor doesn't have much respect for the law »<br />There is no way for you to collect »<br />You lose after all.</center><br />Okay, this might be fanciful. Let's try again.<br /><br /><center>Your vendor does what you've contracted »<br />But your vendor is stiffing the county, and might still be under-reporting income to avoid taxes »<br />All honest people paying for your vendor's shadiness.</center><br />I am kind of a proponent of following the law and I don't take kindly to tax cheaters. If I checked up on <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">my no-show MUA</a> before she no-showed me, I would have realized that she was not listed with the BBB and wasn't operating with a business license. I wouldn't have trusted her, nor would I have paid her a (cash) deposit (another red flag of a tax cheat). I either would have found someone else <i>earlier</i>, or I would have been more prepared to take care of my own make-up, saving myself some unnecessary day-of stress either way.<br /><br />In any event, I highly recommend using Craigslist to find budget vendors when traditional avenues fail. But before you write anyone a check, check the BBB first!<br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/13/elegant-wedding-details/">All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat Ugly</a><br />(This Will Be Our) <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/19/real-wedding-budgets/">Budget Recap Post</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/20/wedding-rituals/">Wedding Rituals</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/09/07/los-angeles-wedding/">This Is Not Good-Bye</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/11/09/los-angelesmalibu-vendor-reviews/">Los Angeles/Malibu Vendor Review</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-65240103724345754902010-11-08T20:34:00.000-08:002010-11-08T20:35:43.582-08:00This Will Be Our Year: Los Angeles/Malibu Vendor ReviewWell <i>hello</i>, Hive, remember me? I already told you that <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/09/07/los-angeles-wedding/">I wasn't ready to say good-bye</a>, but now that I'm nearing on <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/10/with-a-yip-and-a-yap-and-a-short-bzz-bzz/">one year of blogging for Weddingbee</a> (holy crap; that's coming right up!), I thought it was time to start wrapping things up with my last few recap posts. *tear*<br /><br /><i>For the sake of brevity and fairness, I'll only be review the vendors that I would recommend—those that I'm neutral or negative on I'll either leave in the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/reviews/ca-california/los-angeles">Vendor Reviews</a> or in my head. :)</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw04MgJ_ripe7J-GpfxP43qrhnHgE7cAAzbMGwzbgmYc7-Fm037sz495GQyXEV_73aag4xGLt9SK7EAlUbk7ZfQe-NmpzEDp3hHeZ03NmsFdO9kPWiiqgMrXq8dzbKDbiKh4AECvHYtcX0/s1600/weddingpartycalamigos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw04MgJ_ripe7J-GpfxP43qrhnHgE7cAAzbMGwzbgmYc7-Fm037sz495GQyXEV_73aag4xGLt9SK7EAlUbk7ZfQe-NmpzEDp3hHeZ03NmsFdO9kPWiiqgMrXq8dzbKDbiKh4AECvHYtcX0/s1600/weddingpartycalamigos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476039947871742226" /></a><b>Venue: <a href="http://www.calamigosranch.com">Calamigos Ranch</a><br />Highly recommend</b><br />The venue was the one truly <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/19/real-wedding-budgets/">budget-busting item</a> of the entire wedding, but I believe that we got what we paid for in numerous ways. Included in the per-head costs were an absolutely beautiful (outdoor) ceremony and (indoor) reception space (which rendered big decor expenses unnecessary!), dinner service with <i>very</i> good food, three hours of beer and wine bar, cake-cutting, an excellent ceremony coordinator (ask for Claudia! She was great!), and complimentary valet service for our guests. We upgraded our chairs from white wooden ones, and had passed hors d'oeuvres, which were delicious. (They offer options for bar upgrades and draping fabrics from the ceiling—we didn't expect or pay for the white ones we had, so I'm not sure if they are standard or not—as well as heat lamps for the ceremony in case it gets cold, which we didn't end up needing.) We were able to save a lot of time looking for vendors because most of our needs were provided by the venue.<br /><br />It's true that Calamigos hosts a lot of weddings—sometimes 4 or 5 at the same time—which I know is a deal-breaker for many brides. We never saw anyone from another party, though; the sites are pretty isolated from each other.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuDNyapJnQt_uIqCyr8TwD0D4puyadxV714eJ1lv_vW2rIy01CDFOZnJa-UrsFIFpN2n2XiYlQEDZeZWLamKYdKXKc-BeNBS1smqmqTiZaKOFgQ7G-t_4Y0oKR3esta83n28Hg6lZbR-F/s1600/weddingphotog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuDNyapJnQt_uIqCyr8TwD0D4puyadxV714eJ1lv_vW2rIy01CDFOZnJa-UrsFIFpN2n2XiYlQEDZeZWLamKYdKXKc-BeNBS1smqmqTiZaKOFgQ7G-t_4Y0oKR3esta83n28Hg6lZbR-F/s1600/weddingphotog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537398983463096354" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%">(guest photo)</span></center><b>Photographer: <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">Meg Perotti</a><br />Cannot recommend highly enough</b><br />Meg was an absolute blast to work with, and she took absolutely beautiful photographs, to boot. Sometimes I like to think of the wedding I would have had if I got a do-over (i.e., if MIL Spaniel had let us have the wedding in her backyard! ;). On the one hand, I'd change almost everything. On the other hand, there is no way I would have hired anyone other than Meg to photograph the day for us. We received over 900 images from the six hours she and <a href="http://www.regisphotography.com">Regis</a> shot, and they are all beautiful! Meg was very professional, fun, and had amazingly fast turnaround. I had a lot of vendor hiccups, but I never for a moment was worried about my photographer, and she did not disappoint!<br /><br />Sadly for us Southern California brides, Meg has moved back to the Bay Area, but she travels! ;)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B43g4PThu7gWPlDpYj2LAN7VOSaTt_v5U0zLaIq43cUxvidFya6bfPMvdE3U6nfp3J0P2Mm0VPAad7Z0mqeU6L2PayHtoSCnUCJ0lfBNznEVa_AxP1xCsEXv2a0N_1Vx7SPzKu0lpuSP/s1600-h/invites3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B43g4PThu7gWPlDpYj2LAN7VOSaTt_v5U0zLaIq43cUxvidFya6bfPMvdE3U6nfp3J0P2Mm0VPAad7Z0mqeU6L2PayHtoSCnUCJ0lfBNznEVa_AxP1xCsEXv2a0N_1Vx7SPzKu0lpuSP/s400/invites3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426077374728962546" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(personal photo)</span></center><b>Invitations: <a href="http://invitationsbyajalon.com">Invitations by Ajalon</a><br />Highly recommend</b><br />I loved my letterpress invitations. I found the design I wanted from their gallery, but they also do custom work (or will print your designs), and they often have really great specials, which was the only way I could afford letterpress! The quality was excellent, and Trish was great to work with.<br /><br /><b>Coordinator: <a href="http://www.tinamolinaevents.com">Tina Molina Events</a><br />Recommend</b><br />Out of an abundance of caution, we hired Christina to ensure that someone was running the show and looking out for our interests, rather than just relying on the coordinator provided by Calamigos. Christina was extremely helpful in developing our timeline, keeping track of vendors so that I didn't have to, and setting up all of the decorations that we brought. She also took care of all the logistics and much of the clean-up at the end of the night, a headache I was happy to pass to someone else!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7W_-HpfPyc4jfl21Ko6OlaO5Ymj4aJ0Vl3g9XyvBKfHgxcbucP6LAvo9e6NFN2R1bb1U1Pmb05StGP3lwrDabx8OCnrBlqugpPcIIlpqjKtYAOyhzzr0AMFDcwDEYFRe4QJafWoUbJwN/s1600/fleurdevieweddingflowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7W_-HpfPyc4jfl21Ko6OlaO5Ymj4aJ0Vl3g9XyvBKfHgxcbucP6LAvo9e6NFN2R1bb1U1Pmb05StGP3lwrDabx8OCnrBlqugpPcIIlpqjKtYAOyhzzr0AMFDcwDEYFRe4QJafWoUbJwN/s1600/fleurdevieweddingflowers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537401010536746466" /></a><b>Flowers: <a href="http://www.lesfleursdevieofla.com/">Les Fleurs de Vie</a><br />Recommend</b><br />Devi was another low-maintenace vendor: we met in person a few months before the wedding, I showed her some pictures of what I wanted, and she delivered, at a very reasonable price.<br /><br />Stay tuned for next time, wherein I share the (hard-won, and I don't wish them on you) lessons I learned in selecting vendors!<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/13/elegant-wedding-details/">All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat Ugly</a><br />(This Will Be Our) <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/19/real-wedding-budgets/">Budget Recap Post</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/20/wedding-rituals/">Wedding Rituals</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/09/07/los-angeles-wedding/">This Is Not Good-Bye</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-44487475682811078292010-09-06T18:14:00.000-07:002010-09-06T18:21:30.610-07:00This Will Be Our Year: This Is Not Good-ByeWhen people get frustrated with you and your crazy planning ways, they'll condescendingly tell you that "it's just a party" and you shouldn't get all caught up in it (not that this happened to me, oh no... actually, I'm really not being sarcastic; I just hear it happens to a lot of brides ;), you can tell them: Mrs. Spaniel says you're wrong. Actually, don't tell them that, because then they'll really think you're crazy. <i>Who is Mrs. Spaniel?</i> In any event, I know now that a wedding is <i>not</i> just a party, and I know that because it's the part of the wedding about which I have the least to write.<br /><br />I can honestly say, in hindsight, the most important part was the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">ceremony</a>—it was the whole point. The most rewarding parts were <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/20/wedding-rituals/">the speeches our friends and family made</a>—we had a wedding because we wanted to share this momentous occasion with our community, and feeling their love coming back at us made it worth it. The party? It was fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZTUsLawsnCU65ysp77Pm9DQ81D-n2Wy1pG8pxIcXhwTi03H3RNPXDEsQL_62QjAKu64-kcG-7P4xBOeO6PkNMAieuEvO12BRyb2p1Qc0uaeN3mC6UoNCy9RW2oomzzgCxSKlUf6f6KAL/s1600/dancing1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZTUsLawsnCU65ysp77Pm9DQ81D-n2Wy1pG8pxIcXhwTi03H3RNPXDEsQL_62QjAKu64-kcG-7P4xBOeO6PkNMAieuEvO12BRyb2p1Qc0uaeN3mC6UoNCy9RW2oomzzgCxSKlUf6f6KAL/s1600/dancing1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968787374138754" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8ONG53-pxfZbw83OyI9whNZNxq0s2UZM5bd0xoFQxcs8KNTrzqWn6h0al_ngJsCdYU8ERKBlLwkrCtXwGFIBIMQZk_MeyEH8CWJcdBQ_bIZLSSt9wLytrvUFNURoca8cVApVypzAM12e/s1600/dancing3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8ONG53-pxfZbw83OyI9whNZNxq0s2UZM5bd0xoFQxcs8KNTrzqWn6h0al_ngJsCdYU8ERKBlLwkrCtXwGFIBIMQZk_MeyEH8CWJcdBQ_bIZLSSt9wLytrvUFNURoca8cVApVypzAM12e/s1600/dancing3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968779125468002" /></a><br />In fact, it was a lot of fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6QRStp3bv25FVF-ToMfYk0nXHnxy_9ZLCbkzC5LwDpkv-t9cf1EcfXcTuYYA8IwI8mVotvdTqfV6jlKL-CQv6v1wl4Y8EC17PlY2tKNUsALkdkjZZ4JNA9FakgMNM-VjeVkjsF9hU9JT/s1600/singing1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6QRStp3bv25FVF-ToMfYk0nXHnxy_9ZLCbkzC5LwDpkv-t9cf1EcfXcTuYYA8IwI8mVotvdTqfV6jlKL-CQv6v1wl4Y8EC17PlY2tKNUsALkdkjZZ4JNA9FakgMNM-VjeVkjsF9hU9JT/s1600/singing1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513969424975947618" /></a><center>(I think Mr. S was singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5OyXmHD0w<br />">Jai Ho</a> here, which is a few kinds of awesome.)</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPou2WdRIcI08RPHEMr2aDEoVGWwGp9LnbAj5W1sT6LnkdUpnZzEXxy8wePg9WYDhyM0xPPQOYuAqgiMkMDiLHQzyaNwT0gUhI4pGjFjVKFxA5Bz8_d_qCAu-0K79RqC_NuR0VgzrCibh/s1600/dancing2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPou2WdRIcI08RPHEMr2aDEoVGWwGp9LnbAj5W1sT6LnkdUpnZzEXxy8wePg9WYDhyM0xPPQOYuAqgiMkMDiLHQzyaNwT0gUhI4pGjFjVKFxA5Bz8_d_qCAu-0K79RqC_NuR0VgzrCibh/s1600/dancing2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513969430319617730" /></a><br />But then it wound down, and then it was over. Eighteen months of planning, three days of activities, and eight hours of event... done. So fast!<br /><br />It was a wonderful day and I'm so grateful that we got to have it, to share it with our friends and family, and that I was able to share it with all of you. I'm ready to say good-bye to our wedding, but not to Weddingbee... I still have a few nuggets of wedding wisdom I want to share before I sign off as Mrs. Spaniel for good. So, for the moment, I'll let Grandma Spaniel say good-bye instead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aoU-Ar6f12KV0Km6E865mlSJrGdGxA2-sYnXBjeGF5BNAVmq6RuBxr1PCqaU_9m-H1KuIi_ny5oGpPeeQVZjPacVRXM6A2UTrpmqb1OEXKgNzJat2ezlE_tnCsUiu2gHSUBRD3YxKsMO/s1600/dancing4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aoU-Ar6f12KV0Km6E865mlSJrGdGxA2-sYnXBjeGF5BNAVmq6RuBxr1PCqaU_9m-H1KuIi_ny5oGpPeeQVZjPacVRXM6A2UTrpmqb1OEXKgNzJat2ezlE_tnCsUiu2gHSUBRD3YxKsMO/s1600/dancing4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513970989941768706" /></a><center>(Guest photo)</center><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the terrific Meg Perotti</a> unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/13/elegant-wedding-details/">All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat Ugly</a><br />(This Will Be Our) <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/19/real-wedding-budgets/">Budget Recap Post</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/20/wedding-rituals/">Wedding Rituals</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-37512481727920092162010-07-20T08:46:00.000-07:002010-07-21T12:22:56.757-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Wedding RitualsAfter <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">a few pictures and a chance for guests to grab a drink</a>, the DJ called everyone into the reception area to continue the cocktail hour inside, while we made our way onto the dance floor for our "grand entrance" (we boogied into the room to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn1IjjvA9fI">Wilco's Hoodoo Voodoo</a>, which was the only adequately celebratory song for such an occasion, I think!), from which we would go straight into our first dance.<br /><br />So let me tell you a little about this first dance business. I mentioned before that we were going to attempt <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/25/hey-everybody-look-at-us/">a Danish wedding waltz</a>, but we were really nervous about how it would play out on the wedding day. So in addition to our two private lessons, we practiced twirling around our living room almost every night for a month, sent the video to our wedding party, our DOC, our photographer, and our DJ just to make sure everyone was prepared for the awesomeness that was going to happen on the dance floor. And in case that wasn't enough, we practiced with most of our wedding party in the hotel suite the night before the wedding.<br /><br />And then we rocked the hell out of it. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9QoIVYUg-9-aSQUXE0AHLnW0VmEFLrv03wApYF9h4iLi7yJ2rW1x53PNI1IhZacAdojvBYMhf71I1BmojPb-MvQnkBFB6je-KmZ6ZXu8Iym7zlF5Pazjvbe-1ZyP6oSx4xWZdEMP8Hun/s1600/firstdance1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9QoIVYUg-9-aSQUXE0AHLnW0VmEFLrv03wApYF9h4iLi7yJ2rW1x53PNI1IhZacAdojvBYMhf71I1BmojPb-MvQnkBFB6je-KmZ6ZXu8Iym7zlF5Pazjvbe-1ZyP6oSx4xWZdEMP8Hun/s1600/firstdance1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492342594778171090" /></a><br />We waltzed around the dance floor long enough to prove we are much better dancers than <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/25/hey-everybody-look-at-us/">Frederick and Mary</a>, when our wedding party started moving in on us (followed by directions from the DJ to the rest of the crowd to take "one giant step forward").<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzkmCjLvlu-lhxjeXcEGT1GIHUxku3SHn8fqz_9pCXG_j1kBBxAjbreEj4J_Kz5cMgwpXHbJicptQLNAd_7BRuqy-I-G5KLKeYMwQp0lrL1oBlW_cDkzsbJ3r88L62-T1WwbDGJIgarw7/s1600/firstdance2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzkmCjLvlu-lhxjeXcEGT1GIHUxku3SHn8fqz_9pCXG_j1kBBxAjbreEj4J_Kz5cMgwpXHbJicptQLNAd_7BRuqy-I-G5KLKeYMwQp0lrL1oBlW_cDkzsbJ3r88L62-T1WwbDGJIgarw7/s1600/firstdance2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492342589724895762" /></a><br />This couldn't have been more fun, and it left us in a great position to be able to see and talk to many of our guests before dinner. Win!<br /><br />As the cocktail hour wound down, the DJ announced that dinner would be served soon and that everyone should find their seats. As salads were passed, Papa Spaniel took the opportunity to speak.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7EGvkk5Hdbo40sJqZvIOLRsJchXau8rG2PHeiOqpTju5CxDzLwhTlYDWs9qGWI6zdRLxy03G3ak8nY-93XSLaKv8Muh6_FcdcDfgkZ88Ks68N2rCw8smVhpeDtNTs2qgKFufB-UesuC8/s1600/dadstoast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7EGvkk5Hdbo40sJqZvIOLRsJchXau8rG2PHeiOqpTju5CxDzLwhTlYDWs9qGWI6zdRLxy03G3ak8nY-93XSLaKv8Muh6_FcdcDfgkZ88Ks68N2rCw8smVhpeDtNTs2qgKFufB-UesuC8/s1600/dadstoast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492347770659071890" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(I love my dad :)</span></center><br />After dinner (which was <i>delicious</i>), we heard from Mr. Spaniel's Best Man and both of our brothers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblJvvZgxGttEfXMK9OnxsWBnpTlvC3Ax1iDmBDLSCgR9O2t71GZ8L8EgZ9hLsvDWUMvjpak9ScBndBnzHxOm0EC51SqZCjRhr_w5NWZJ3F1NcwrBiml0JKkBDib0p81JlB7RUoDvD3_Lh/s1600/bestmanbrothertoast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblJvvZgxGttEfXMK9OnxsWBnpTlvC3Ax1iDmBDLSCgR9O2t71GZ8L8EgZ9hLsvDWUMvjpak9ScBndBnzHxOm0EC51SqZCjRhr_w5NWZJ3F1NcwrBiml0JKkBDib0p81JlB7RUoDvD3_Lh/s1600/bestmanbrothertoast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492348994749301394" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDtflj6UgSSD23yM4DCwbYeVy3AR8GURLRL7A-T0n7ljOOFi0sJZQCTaGIsA4z6vsw-LHftyhILCoTwKC_icteM7XaJ-rV7DPYwCKUxPgm8WrOuHRbfF_ExZzUvoG6NSwSwwlo9p8oVDS/s1600/brotherstoast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDtflj6UgSSD23yM4DCwbYeVy3AR8GURLRL7A-T0n7ljOOFi0sJZQCTaGIsA4z6vsw-LHftyhILCoTwKC_icteM7XaJ-rV7DPYwCKUxPgm8WrOuHRbfF_ExZzUvoG6NSwSwwlo9p8oVDS/s1600/brotherstoast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492348991136728306" /></a><br />I can't wait for our wedding video so that I can remember all of what was said! But I do remember that we laughed, I cried, and have teased Mr. Spaniel mercilessly and endlessly following his brother's mini-roast:<br /><br /><blockquote>My brother Mr. Spaniel is, and has always been, a careful chooser... If you have ever been to a restaurant with Mr. Spaniel, you know what I'm talking about. That's because Mr. Spaniel isn't a person that can be characterized as a quick orderer, or an average-speed orderer, or even a slow orderer. Mr. Spaniel falls into the category of the slowest orderers that have ever lived.</blockquote><br />(It is 100% true.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv67ocJ0PPJWjgKCqkYKAWrebXMP853qgsAXbTs9-FZjY0-GfF_5Ibl26BEz3A43p5z-wfp8gWfzaycqD35gE5Sx7Evk8ZpdXavTC5YI4WR2qfk5rBM1oSGqNaAGha74d0hlXrYKtkFuN/s1600/weddingcheers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv67ocJ0PPJWjgKCqkYKAWrebXMP853qgsAXbTs9-FZjY0-GfF_5Ibl26BEz3A43p5z-wfp8gWfzaycqD35gE5Sx7Evk8ZpdXavTC5YI4WR2qfk5rBM1oSGqNaAGha74d0hlXrYKtkFuN/s1600/weddingcheers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492350014552086226" /></a><br />Cheers!<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the superb Meg Perotti</a> and <a href="http://www.regisphotography.com">Regis Photography</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/13/elegant-wedding-details/">All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat Ugly</a><br />(This Will Be Our) <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/19/real-wedding-budgets/">Budget Recap Post</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-36419110219154551072010-07-16T15:58:00.000-07:002010-07-20T23:18:47.110-07:00This Will Be Our... Budget Recap PostWay back when I was a wee 'bee, I promised I'd share my final <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/12/an-actual-real-life-wedding-budget/">budget numbers</a> at the end. I don't want to say good-bye on a budget post, though, so you're stuck with me through a few more recaps. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYsAQMyZGTI0TwQY5Ict2N7H0zDEkORFFJN7ogwx3NyulXi7LzxFQG1VZba_EJa1Vf1v3HZBa1sCDh5HiRTG3gVKaEK9AQ6d3v6di7nmemT9ulveHAqxzhjBVK1xdcdhuW6PE0MX_RHAn/s1600/goofybride.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYsAQMyZGTI0TwQY5Ict2N7H0zDEkORFFJN7ogwx3NyulXi7LzxFQG1VZba_EJa1Vf1v3HZBa1sCDh5HiRTG3gVKaEK9AQ6d3v6di7nmemT9ulveHAqxzhjBVK1xdcdhuW6PE0MX_RHAn/s400/goofybride.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492394569293927986" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Yes, that's what you're stuck with (guest photo)</span></center><br />So without further ado...<br /><br /><table border="1" valign="top"><tr><td width="60%">Category</td><td width="20%" align="right">Budget</td><td width="20%" align="right">Actual</td></tr><tr><td>Ceremony (location fee, officiant)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$400</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$150</td></tr><tr><td>Reception (venue rental, food and service, beverages and bartenders, cake and cutting fee)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$17,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$24,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bride's attire and accessories (including alterations, hair and make-up)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$2,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$1,750</td></tr><tr><td>Groom's tux and accessories</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$250</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$0</td></tr><tr><td>Flowers and décor (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony decorations, reception decorations and centerpieces)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$2,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$1,015</td></tr><tr><td>Music (ceremony and reception musicians)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$2,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$1,100</td></tr><tr><td>Photography</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$3,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$3,200</td></tr><tr><td>Stationery</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$750</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$750</td></tr><tr><td>Wedding rings</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$2,000</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$1,440</td></tr><tr><td>Gifts (bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents)</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$600</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$660</td></tr><tr><td>Videographer</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">---</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$1,100</td></tr><tr><td>Day-of Coordinator</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">---</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$350</td></tr><tr><td>Transportation</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">---</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$125</td></tr><tr><td>Ketubah</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">---</td><td valign="bottom" align="right">$620</td></tr><tr><td><b>Total</b></td><td valign="bottom" align="right"><b>$30,000</b></td><td valign="bottom" align="right"><b>$35,600</b></td></tr></table><br />Ouch. So, it's pretty obvious where we got into trouble: when we put our budget together, way back in the long ago days of 2008, we had assurances from our family that the guest list would not exceed 150, that we could plan on 130 people celebrating with us. In the end, we had a guest list of a whopping 205 people, and put on a party for 162. Add in a few extras, like upgraded chairs and passed appetizers, and you can kiss your budget good-bye! The lesson of the day is: get the list from your parents EARLY, and don't trust them when they just give you a number! They almost certainly have an additional 50 guests up their sleeves. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39fOfwJHr-ntygRpNFSzmFiBu1-cuA1xtkIo_4sk1mmwQXPuSHaA2vhEvWkXs6S095j96-iTtUyJngnQRlmFZdzgVW7ClqEMI7yv35rn9jnVMFpNh0TEaCMG9UrTdx-4RexcPUKV8N2Y1/s1600/passedapps.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39fOfwJHr-ntygRpNFSzmFiBu1-cuA1xtkIo_4sk1mmwQXPuSHaA2vhEvWkXs6S095j96-iTtUyJngnQRlmFZdzgVW7ClqEMI7yv35rn9jnVMFpNh0TEaCMG9UrTdx-4RexcPUKV8N2Y1/s1600/passedapps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492364815837941490" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">I didn't try the prosciutto, but everything else was delicious!</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_ysBjms3lO-S1W5wHsfegJgB_yEggiLyCCze4Xhtk-DAEmDGDy_Q4HQvu5GtYlzH1EKT1fgutpKRTaS5uFcG9MJOZdnS6OI8wCke3jCe-8idE8bEJQOfjlumvB2qZ8g8fmTJ6pyY5VIs/s1600/extraguests.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_ysBjms3lO-S1W5wHsfegJgB_yEggiLyCCze4Xhtk-DAEmDGDy_Q4HQvu5GtYlzH1EKT1fgutpKRTaS5uFcG9MJOZdnS6OI8wCke3jCe-8idE8bEJQOfjlumvB2qZ8g8fmTJ6pyY5VIs/s1600/extraguests.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492364787134785506" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Would it have been such a party if the room weren't so full?</span></center><br />I'm just going to go ahead and say that, in the main, there is very little we could have done differently without the benefit of hindsight. Every new thing we thought of (video, DOC, ketubah, a ride home at the end of the night), we took out of somewhere else in the budget—I wore <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/30/accessorizing-on-the-cheap/">won and low-cost accessories</a>, we got a free rental on Mr. Spaniel's tuxedo from the Men's Wearhouse, chose a hotel that would give us a free suite for reserving a large block, and hired a freelance florist instead of an established shop, for example. We also took every precaution we could think of on the reception costs by hammering out our guest list early. Unfortunately, just because Mr. Spaniel and I were all wedding all the time does't mean our parents were, and I guess a year beforehand they did not have their wedding caps firmly on their heads... leading to last minute invites that came too late to have chosen a less expensive venue after all!<br /><br />Admittedly, if this were all coming out of my own pocket, I would have put my foot down more firmly on the last-minute guests. Nearly 20% over budget is no joke. But our parents thought inviting more of their friends was worth it, and no one at our wedding was a stranger. Mr. Spaniel and I spent only what we could afford, and no one went into any debt for our wedding. <br /><br />And since I can't think of a better way to close this post...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK0eluBsHoHHPA5S5XoB7kxXWrFYLK61rqKVslAc3KN1dqzEx83qmlrlokFctG4pGm2lYDfZLp2fw7AgFCTCYgTBHOyYRGErIIxgVkXNMkPQl6uiuQW0YLHzfTwx53jtzjzPwcHp18Xv8/s1600/cakecutting1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK0eluBsHoHHPA5S5XoB7kxXWrFYLK61rqKVslAc3KN1dqzEx83qmlrlokFctG4pGm2lYDfZLp2fw7AgFCTCYgTBHOyYRGErIIxgVkXNMkPQl6uiuQW0YLHzfTwx53jtzjzPwcHp18Xv8/s1600/cakecutting1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492406576409378306" /></a><br />Meh.<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the wonderful Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/13/elegant-wedding-details/">All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat Ugly</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-20484984252626605472010-07-13T08:44:00.000-07:002010-07-20T23:20:53.360-07:00This Will Be Our Year: All Kinds of Pretty and One Big Fat UglyI would like to take full credit for how beautiful the dining room looked, but I can't—we picked Calamigos Ranch because we wanted something that was nearly finished already, and it was beautiful before we added a thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GghyG8EGETuLwgMs6PrhyphenhyphenX8RrbivXxTyz-ottDPWBZSiGwIHpjxjZq_d7sicit4LdVErX-nfPBiV90RwUPyYVumokfz0fqONKcEA14wKrwh7M1I7mOgc2qWi1Me51NAIPPXDhxddfK6/s1600/reception1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GghyG8EGETuLwgMs6PrhyphenhyphenX8RrbivXxTyz-ottDPWBZSiGwIHpjxjZq_d7sicit4LdVErX-nfPBiV90RwUPyYVumokfz0fqONKcEA14wKrwh7M1I7mOgc2qWi1Me51NAIPPXDhxddfK6/s1600/reception1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491707225493593522" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPct7QtyeeB96QNuNPINvAtb0a5mZjsnpYgx8EXktOBySv1G7Idu1DSZsfjbYqxUlKxCxu0ixnTYyCmdgjv9XhI0upeX_DMUuBQYflKgYVjMbVbIhabJo7Z3MbgnEX5WeIkiTGOeq5Ya8a/s1600/reception2.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kf384tHUXDkf3-PatQo_TZYY8HFBse0KhwpFf7p3PEwiE3x4McLUEfPU_zT23GYMTtVnfqZSrCnKjPj27TEFhCJclWmpW2GCgyyOAViTyqtjEq2q5guW6B2LAK50eTs54iEFNRv0vH3P/s1600/reception3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kf384tHUXDkf3-PatQo_TZYY8HFBse0KhwpFf7p3PEwiE3x4McLUEfPU_zT23GYMTtVnfqZSrCnKjPj27TEFhCJclWmpW2GCgyyOAViTyqtjEq2q5guW6B2LAK50eTs54iEFNRv0vH3P/s1600/reception3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491710546369237122" /></a><br />Aside from the centerpieces and menus, I didn't really bring much—a couple of chair signs for me and Mr. Spaniel because I had leftover paper and ribbon, and none for anyone else because I didn't have leftover time.<br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPct7QtyeeB96QNuNPINvAtb0a5mZjsnpYgx8EXktOBySv1G7Idu1DSZsfjbYqxUlKxCxu0ixnTYyCmdgjv9XhI0upeX_DMUuBQYflKgYVjMbVbIhabJo7Z3MbgnEX5WeIkiTGOeq5Ya8a/s1600/reception2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491709203816925378" /><br />But it's not real life if something doesn't look just plain-out ridiculously awful, <i>somewhere</i>. Behold, the Hideous "Henna" Cake!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_LdKE_1CgC9v0WpPceiQsXZMKsXXPkDl49fC2Rq48OfjXd5IXcA4evsllo7_06_PBTWHpHh7JkFAmdv89huHemqrnr_FKstgz9ECODdVJjOP-KIfway1IngEprQ9fLgekUHLKvqZoccb/s1600/uglyhennaweddingcake1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_LdKE_1CgC9v0WpPceiQsXZMKsXXPkDl49fC2Rq48OfjXd5IXcA4evsllo7_06_PBTWHpHh7JkFAmdv89huHemqrnr_FKstgz9ECODdVJjOP-KIfway1IngEprQ9fLgekUHLKvqZoccb/s1600/uglyhennaweddingcake1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491719721308642610" /></a><br />Do you remember my <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/09/cake-spiration-2/">inspiration cake</a>? No? I'll show it to you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx1eRSxWJQwcDbVS4YwAaScJIHBGZWesRUKfV6avCi_13GoD6HfMLtEYAW8zyhMclRx5uj6lgrsqM5oWtLW6JlG9p4iTh6zXhIizY3UPnRj-MJV4zd6XiLD3ocMU4smXqzW12ECcg6iGA/s1600-h/hennacake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx1eRSxWJQwcDbVS4YwAaScJIHBGZWesRUKfV6avCi_13GoD6HfMLtEYAW8zyhMclRx5uj6lgrsqM5oWtLW6JlG9p4iTh6zXhIizY3UPnRj-MJV4zd6XiLD3ocMU4smXqzW12ECcg6iGA/s400/hennacake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434916790773329890" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://www.thecakecorner.com/red_album_004.htm">source</a>)</span></center><br />And just in case math is not your strong suit...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOZo-PNEhbLyPw_xP-Cp7XCkZ4S6_RCvGwJh22T-yCxR2Z0t2oFrcLQZ-DtuxbuH7lvDi-iC4W7f0O-x4Sr6CC7ilEIg53BTl0kjFgYuqGH85GIp9nZgoZa5yIpO7toJ8JG_OosNwgx6i/s1600/uglyhennacake2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOZo-PNEhbLyPw_xP-Cp7XCkZ4S6_RCvGwJh22T-yCxR2Z0t2oFrcLQZ-DtuxbuH7lvDi-iC4W7f0O-x4Sr6CC7ilEIg53BTl0kjFgYuqGH85GIp9nZgoZa5yIpO7toJ8JG_OosNwgx6i/s1600/uglyhennacake2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491723373298520290" /></a><br />You can tell that whoever was working on the cake was looking at the inspiration picture. What you can't tell is what they were thinking. Or why they didn't start over when they got those giant blobs of fudge smeared across the bottom tier.<br /><br />I have to say, I thought it was pretty funny when I saw it. But I also wish I would have known just how bad it was going to look, so I could have saved the money on a "pretty wedding cake" and put together a much prettier and more cost-effective cake buffet instead. At least it tasted good!<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the magical Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/07/09/outdoor-cocktail-hour-decor/">Organized Chaos</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-76493345098892822582010-07-08T19:02:00.000-07:002010-07-20T23:25:04.034-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Organized ChaosAfter the ceremony, the cocktail hour began. Mr. Spaniel and I didn't want to miss our entire cocktail hour with our guests, and had planned our entrance to the reception area and first dance for only fifteen minutes in as a result. While we waited for our cue, Mr. Spaniel and I took a few minutes to sit and reflect on the huge step we had just taken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hklqQB_fP_wJjygrhwByNJ9RNjaMh7fZEOdSuB8Uf0Kiw0aN2fcre6RxfODAHJhUz7Xxc7QkTR0jbhrdQDcdKjopfUmTd3RWVg5cCfv1NS_vc9I4YFmUDV5ehOx-0xT18g8MTim-b3sR/s1600/weddingbench.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hklqQB_fP_wJjygrhwByNJ9RNjaMh7fZEOdSuB8Uf0Kiw0aN2fcre6RxfODAHJhUz7Xxc7QkTR0jbhrdQDcdKjopfUmTd3RWVg5cCfv1NS_vc9I4YFmUDV5ehOx-0xT18g8MTim-b3sR/s1600/weddingbench.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491684269573948498" /></a><br />Just kidding. We sat and took directions from about seven different photographers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85r9pcYQo6aQDqGK5cKF6of-ZW1s6w17kIvYNctq_9vWHmofjpUKULIM0dDD-b-3aiNIo250SYaEfU589jk24yIBiNSFkIlNOERhpL7mUpDByu_sghs9PLU7dl4Sb0SSNkHr-Fm7YBnQO/s1600/bench1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85r9pcYQo6aQDqGK5cKF6of-ZW1s6w17kIvYNctq_9vWHmofjpUKULIM0dDD-b-3aiNIo250SYaEfU589jk24yIBiNSFkIlNOERhpL7mUpDByu_sghs9PLU7dl4Sb0SSNkHr-Fm7YBnQO/s400/bench1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491688549101546754" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Mr. Spaniel points out one camera, while looking at another (guest photo)</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oqGhBngL1W4TR24lIanLm3TRDiksBCB5637PGf7NVa_ssTqZiT6G3aw5M9AvuXSQeuMQhlbit5a01dKLcVEWbMZp3lLGZyO9pXvsp6lYg8Z383ZyKlXwfy_PS6cS5XbBfOHDk-IP65H2/s1600/bench2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oqGhBngL1W4TR24lIanLm3TRDiksBCB5637PGf7NVa_ssTqZiT6G3aw5M9AvuXSQeuMQhlbit5a01dKLcVEWbMZp3lLGZyO9pXvsp6lYg8Z383ZyKlXwfy_PS6cS5XbBfOHDk-IP65H2/s400/bench2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491688539783437506" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">I don't actually remember what this face was for, but I sure look flustered! (guest photo)</span></center><br />I didn't have much time to stress, though. The bridesmaids fixed my bustle, Mama Spaniel fixed my lipstick, and then we were ready waltz into the reception area!<br /><br />In a parallel universe—that is, out front on the patio where the cocktail hour was starting—the venue staff was serving champagne and strawberries to our guests.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPmWSGWQ2qjems_9hqVqttxV5vyPB_D6-hlp8kb0lQjlRYLHuuHYLfHA-AesRFcRq_W1ON-j-l1x8Yqyu-PL-t2MoX2nGYSXltPaQoqPXsZM1o1EdQEKpgpi3jkqrPloCSXwkLI5F1k5a/s1600/champ1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPmWSGWQ2qjems_9hqVqttxV5vyPB_D6-hlp8kb0lQjlRYLHuuHYLfHA-AesRFcRq_W1ON-j-l1x8Yqyu-PL-t2MoX2nGYSXltPaQoqPXsZM1o1EdQEKpgpi3jkqrPloCSXwkLI5F1k5a/s1600/champ1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491682296325309330" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL9rVXIW0q0lPqqRulppk4ezQVa9Rg2SBgna7G01NnjwzGRz32bDYRb_cwRMxFApHG-oS5_ShMSv-QZc8DGkexWmSROwPSKqPwwv3dnVabjGLyH9RnGe1-3_0MIo541v3ZnGOKPe84Wkh/s1600/champ2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL9rVXIW0q0lPqqRulppk4ezQVa9Rg2SBgna7G01NnjwzGRz32bDYRb_cwRMxFApHG-oS5_ShMSv-QZc8DGkexWmSROwPSKqPwwv3dnVabjGLyH9RnGe1-3_0MIo541v3ZnGOKPe84Wkh/s1600/champ2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491682287771169618" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM80bPOaB76BCm2BndQWHciy_8_qd7ubXTkHuVBeoF473ymh4juqNpqn1wTVfkd-O7F6xUM1mV0arz0CNr_ChnK527tMfzSIwTuavXAPoTIRlIMvERU8qEDnPjGAO48QknaswEOVDkZ31p/s1600/cocktailhour3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM80bPOaB76BCm2BndQWHciy_8_qd7ubXTkHuVBeoF473ymh4juqNpqn1wTVfkd-O7F6xUM1mV0arz0CNr_ChnK527tMfzSIwTuavXAPoTIRlIMvERU8qEDnPjGAO48QknaswEOVDkZ31p/s1600/cocktailhour3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491695713769306658" /></a><br />I love how relaxed and happy everyone looks in these close shots... but back up a little, and you can see that it was a madhouse!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpQjJLSvQRHXByl7E-P4-G1Js643Q_hDQgN_DXl_HB7E90ROicoMjfx-OQIsgx72FPQ3q9dGYCwvo8zDI0QNvH2SSIM4z-EHNhU4_dRa4yyysjy-cpn_TgyU8ra1IM9PT1_ROTp8Eh7RQ/s1600/cocktailhour1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpQjJLSvQRHXByl7E-P4-G1Js643Q_hDQgN_DXl_HB7E90ROicoMjfx-OQIsgx72FPQ3q9dGYCwvo8zDI0QNvH2SSIM4z-EHNhU4_dRa4yyysjy-cpn_TgyU8ra1IM9PT1_ROTp8Eh7RQ/s400/cocktailhour1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491692384925254626" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ssWQzYTdGO8J-SxXHuqrIV6XhW1ZnwcltwUkkl3vzApGtkP5smZxoxvWEM7QbTduq5Qhe8EuP2bQDrswz8puKt0STdoSwfdo5j4Ha30uK8abV_PxeFodnQPztsPuHlwdVW5Cx_PwXnsC/s1600/cocktailhour2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ssWQzYTdGO8J-SxXHuqrIV6XhW1ZnwcltwUkkl3vzApGtkP5smZxoxvWEM7QbTduq5Qhe8EuP2bQDrswz8puKt0STdoSwfdo5j4Ha30uK8abV_PxeFodnQPztsPuHlwdVW5Cx_PwXnsC/s400/cocktailhour2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491692373276049490" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(guest photos)</span></center><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the talented Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel: The First Look</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies! (The Wedding Party)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Marriage Is a Process...ion</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/22/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-ceremony/">We've Only Just Begun (The Ceremony)</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-31377134550733500162010-06-22T07:36:00.000-07:002010-07-20T23:27:35.801-07:00This Will Be Our Year: We've Only Just BegunIt was time.<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Akmdejcd8CM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Akmdejcd8CM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(This was our recessional music, and the unofficial "anthem" of our wedding, because we married on the Persian New Year... and it's one of the happiest love songs I know. :) Play it while you read!)</span></center><br />Surrounded by our closest friends...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DnT2JjxP8BLbzs53tdHCUEM0q7nNX9ZVpNifH_5IOzSaQkKbSf_ofLq0Dex40ZcbxoQeBxPzxOvwoFYtX5oIqOxCqKK1SgMWjb2h5uXDnShNZZTyK6T7sbYmonzZItzimN-d-zUngppX/s1600/ceremony2bridalarmy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DnT2JjxP8BLbzs53tdHCUEM0q7nNX9ZVpNifH_5IOzSaQkKbSf_ofLq0Dex40ZcbxoQeBxPzxOvwoFYtX5oIqOxCqKK1SgMWjb2h5uXDnShNZZTyK6T7sbYmonzZItzimN-d-zUngppX/s1600/ceremony2bridalarmy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484655154326864434" /></a><br />...by our families and our support systems...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVN5_95TtjnFaQsGWaVwfclAmc2NAJM9urtjhGBefpJZHeNJq7XGp7IH5OeV5Ol2FXKictzPbAS3Jbd1OC-VGsDwDbWiDKWQT3twKwWaWIGRpIsSwsfxEoJzUrwF2seIZwkpfVCuT6PDc/s1600/ceremony4lotofpeople.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVN5_95TtjnFaQsGWaVwfclAmc2NAJM9urtjhGBefpJZHeNJq7XGp7IH5OeV5Ol2FXKictzPbAS3Jbd1OC-VGsDwDbWiDKWQT3twKwWaWIGRpIsSwsfxEoJzUrwF2seIZwkpfVCuT6PDc/s1600/ceremony4lotofpeople.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484655169874970626" /></a><br />...we listened to the words of wisdom of our officiant (married 50 years!)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qmbHBvkihunqLFOHuR9Y0sgnW-JZDxUArSNTAj81b_Fs2pIno0X5rRiQR_17VzyxTX_fotJWFPL6iYGF-URxKqGnyZ33Ik9Wo7vOiy9Vl_MsaxnLj9dq58U8Osyj60jgcfxB5YWhJWBI/s1600/ceremony3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qmbHBvkihunqLFOHuR9Y0sgnW-JZDxUArSNTAj81b_Fs2pIno0X5rRiQR_17VzyxTX_fotJWFPL6iYGF-URxKqGnyZ33Ik9Wo7vOiy9Vl_MsaxnLj9dq58U8Osyj60jgcfxB5YWhJWBI/s1600/ceremony3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484655161619121890" /></a><br />...and to the words of "The Prophet."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzYi8XTmLNtE0xzeFng_ANQF_EfQQ14JfDhtjHgMXxSCSsE3NX7MLTmILHOzMrvL4vTxv8kYv98z9Y9yYwNXnH0iqpRI5_yPNMAbZk5AP5LT1EBVBJCWKrGDh4QmoZ6CRSnDv_M6FluRG/s1600/ceremony5reading.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzYi8XTmLNtE0xzeFng_ANQF_EfQQ14JfDhtjHgMXxSCSsE3NX7MLTmILHOzMrvL4vTxv8kYv98z9Y9yYwNXnH0iqpRI5_yPNMAbZk5AP5LT1EBVBJCWKrGDh4QmoZ6CRSnDv_M6FluRG/s1600/ceremony5reading.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660020066473122" /></a><br /><blockquote>You were born together,<br />and together you shall be forevermore.<br /><br />You shall be together when the white wings<br />of death scatter your days.<br /><br />Aye, you shall be together even in the<br />silent memory of God.<br /><br />But let there be spaces in your togetherness,<br />and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.<br /><br />Love one another, but make not a bond of love.<br />Let it rather be a moving sea between<br />the shores of your souls.<br /><br />Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.<br />Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.<br /><br />Sing and dance together and be joyous,<br />but let each of you be alone,<br /><br />Even as the strings of a lute are alone<br />though they quiver with the same music.<br /><br />Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.<br />For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.<br /><br />And stand together, yet not too near together.<br />For the pillars of the temple stand apart,<br /><br />And the oak tree and the cypress<br />grow not in each other's shadow.</blockquote><br />(I tried not to cry.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfY6OQDW5jzfRZVsezc_-FPIQQu7Fyv7JVvK9MInC8HRvyjYe7ps3A1plgZDwllmNJ5FgT9CKquew5uNuec6pFHYiihSjqNpA-OOmpYADAFAhtKDvXJo4YpRLjv3M759_tHwvNYzMKMmh/s1600/ceremony6reading.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfY6OQDW5jzfRZVsezc_-FPIQQu7Fyv7JVvK9MInC8HRvyjYe7ps3A1plgZDwllmNJ5FgT9CKquew5uNuec6pFHYiihSjqNpA-OOmpYADAFAhtKDvXJo4YpRLjv3M759_tHwvNYzMKMmh/s1600/ceremony6reading.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660026051455202" /></a><br />We exchanged vows...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9neQsrC9harLou5Fs5xjTvfwrZcjxo2OD5OIbC9z8UZ_T0d4jQjiFaPd68EK-djDIkxvgvXcL-jn2svbucPsfmz84587tA5yFi1-Jq0K9awecibZWQlZsIhD2M4Bpp-gh3KJRA8t_DPG-/s1600/ceremony7vows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9neQsrC9harLou5Fs5xjTvfwrZcjxo2OD5OIbC9z8UZ_T0d4jQjiFaPd68EK-djDIkxvgvXcL-jn2svbucPsfmz84587tA5yFi1-Jq0K9awecibZWQlZsIhD2M4Bpp-gh3KJRA8t_DPG-/s1600/ceremony7vows.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670270076006514" /></a><br />...we exchanged rings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPORyLdCYSyXsArXyULBhUlIM7nI871d04QZXBe7n0Z0-7S8OiLK8HzbMJtUtQ2twJiQZ2_fXIPV_ysItd5NSTiNB4xEOpPKtpiMx4vEk0B2dKh5pTnJRLFEBavEz3r0Dp3iuDXJZ6pAZ/s1600/ceremony8rings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPORyLdCYSyXsArXyULBhUlIM7nI871d04QZXBe7n0Z0-7S8OiLK8HzbMJtUtQ2twJiQZ2_fXIPV_ysItd5NSTiNB4xEOpPKtpiMx4vEk0B2dKh5pTnJRLFEBavEz3r0Dp3iuDXJZ6pAZ/s1600/ceremony8rings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670279740061826" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOHIDIfrp583Vm1MZhcvCh0Q8MePRUdrJfVuslOC-BkG8n7QvTmK47snYfqnuJ6-Lo7d_GqUCQa3DDabRMFNd6JwzNF93nMhBkQfLRL4NaI1__-lHmgYz9kpblfWQ2DAV2e6Wcug3dWA5/s1600/ceremony9rings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOHIDIfrp583Vm1MZhcvCh0Q8MePRUdrJfVuslOC-BkG8n7QvTmK47snYfqnuJ6-Lo7d_GqUCQa3DDabRMFNd6JwzNF93nMhBkQfLRL4NaI1__-lHmgYz9kpblfWQ2DAV2e6Wcug3dWA5/s1600/ceremony9rings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670288838370130" /></a><br />We were pronounced "Dr. and Mrs. Spaniel."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWYjOVbhpL29VCsF4Vzfm-oEUrDsObH3dWkqtTFs5fw8C-yT_w-IdGGXhwkmyDc66y0Y1c_tSy4hWl_8W6-j9D0OZ0FEjV2pKiDVl_FwRfufj7iucpsFWuaxrqI4irR__ox-PZ3j2MWrK/s1600/ceremony10married.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWYjOVbhpL29VCsF4Vzfm-oEUrDsObH3dWkqtTFs5fw8C-yT_w-IdGGXhwkmyDc66y0Y1c_tSy4hWl_8W6-j9D0OZ0FEjV2pKiDVl_FwRfufj7iucpsFWuaxrqI4irR__ox-PZ3j2MWrK/s1600/ceremony10married.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670296020606706" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0oo8KuYbOfKZfFkOvGaZsXuEZiFI4WwBugNZrjoID6G-Q76ECcByrvkstLF_rXPtozvZUoHSXkkCKP2_5nxan0rgCz_t51ilYr7c6rEHGUIh9UjLtUWEWl8XVX2NbpgPjos5h9WT2Obf/s1600/ceremony11kiss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0oo8KuYbOfKZfFkOvGaZsXuEZiFI4WwBugNZrjoID6G-Q76ECcByrvkstLF_rXPtozvZUoHSXkkCKP2_5nxan0rgCz_t51ilYr7c6rEHGUIh9UjLtUWEWl8XVX2NbpgPjos5h9WT2Obf/s1600/ceremony11kiss.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670300319508274" /></a><br />Mazel tov!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRTeTCvYGCxJwTxJb3DG7qTeaA1Ny83XjH2EBNjuhz-aXAud4TYfI8Epk-J7leBfuTxAI83N1nGfSG9J1tB-fDs3H1YhzvuRGWImvmoQdgI_eNh7SGtIuzk0XXgho10YGztqqbRJoWlCj/s1600/ceremony12groombreaksglass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRTeTCvYGCxJwTxJb3DG7qTeaA1Ny83XjH2EBNjuhz-aXAud4TYfI8Epk-J7leBfuTxAI83N1nGfSG9J1tB-fDs3H1YhzvuRGWImvmoQdgI_eNh7SGtIuzk0XXgho10YGztqqbRJoWlCj/s1600/ceremony12groombreaksglass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484669681280280834" /></a><br />Yeah, this will be our year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdbV4ve-BcDiwmBzVgV7qc_-jp-NJAxErarAG-PfGhtu4bzK_aFdtzi-uXS8uSPDnmqUA85MpgNn5ozdBlLejEcVN5D3HPseDiVOGi4thfYKuLWpuH6ggxhOtfxSKpD2AV-SycqFHRwy3/s1600/ceremony13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdbV4ve-BcDiwmBzVgV7qc_-jp-NJAxErarAG-PfGhtu4bzK_aFdtzi-uXS8uSPDnmqUA85MpgNn5ozdBlLejEcVN5D3HPseDiVOGi4thfYKuLWpuH6ggxhOtfxSKpD2AV-SycqFHRwy3/s1600/ceremony13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484671212720333618" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircuoWowuTd3CGQZSg2bl3g8C_WmKUGm1BlsC24io0I7S6yRfCScIQ9YTU6caKQgheEmW1eox4UJsoohk8jTyMA1vDxJKfsqVEjY03-ZTIs1qZDHCHiOAOT9MGTa98UoRtWvuSKBSOSte8/s1600/ceremony14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircuoWowuTd3CGQZSg2bl3g8C_WmKUGm1BlsC24io0I7S6yRfCScIQ9YTU6caKQgheEmW1eox4UJsoohk8jTyMA1vDxJKfsqVEjY03-ZTIs1qZDHCHiOAOT9MGTa98UoRtWvuSKBSOSte8/s1600/ceremony14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484671203795238162" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSDflr2_vDQenICfJFW7ni01MJzPfHSDeNvjRMDqKBVGI4kcYoFCLHESPlbVJVv1n603q1bHzi8z5hvh9JRpeFTZPQ7Vg_6uRZAHxWdnlkEgMlJ-Tg6hTQRtcq7X6bA2f7BYXzXbzm2uk/s1600/ceremony15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSDflr2_vDQenICfJFW7ni01MJzPfHSDeNvjRMDqKBVGI4kcYoFCLHESPlbVJVv1n603q1bHzi8z5hvh9JRpeFTZPQ7Vg_6uRZAHxWdnlkEgMlJ-Tg6hTQRtcq7X6bA2f7BYXzXbzm2uk/s1600/ceremony15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484671199523546418" /></a><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the marvelous Meg Perotti</a> and <a href="http://www.regisphotography.com">Regis Photography</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br />The Spaniels Are <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel</a>: The First Look<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies!</a> (The Wedding Party)<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing</a> Our Lives Away<br />Marriage Is a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/19/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding-2/">Process...ion</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-27399298839062523702010-06-18T10:02:00.000-07:002010-07-21T17:02:27.227-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Marriage Is a Process...ionAnd the first step in that procession is getting down the aisle. :)<br /><br />First the groomsmen and Middle Brother Spaniel took their positions...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVehTfNAY9IDNzcwvpuriCMzy3NUDu4l3jTw6Fjq5tqEcvcVO_RqbHNKVi_nwsK1NfUWVh9W9WnfRQ_BYHSEoDSNzB3TuReSDYqAYxUbBJrJt7vNOrlpq59VSD8MZNQnISwUlczp2f6Li/s1600/processional1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVehTfNAY9IDNzcwvpuriCMzy3NUDu4l3jTw6Fjq5tqEcvcVO_RqbHNKVi_nwsK1NfUWVh9W9WnfRQ_BYHSEoDSNzB3TuReSDYqAYxUbBJrJt7vNOrlpq59VSD8MZNQnISwUlczp2f6Li/s1600/processional1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483143139804584994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qLUBlczbn0KWYfSIpE2IvNqtC9UX2ABiKpkfajmovO8IaYEa3RifYBcGWxEXhnilBs5XYL2DfJXLRmht9VfwQmbVPdvDNoEzclZtyePNxvNWQ1AloG25Fz5sgPgTM2cu-jOQWh4Uv0T2/s1600/processional2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qLUBlczbn0KWYfSIpE2IvNqtC9UX2ABiKpkfajmovO8IaYEa3RifYBcGWxEXhnilBs5XYL2DfJXLRmht9VfwQmbVPdvDNoEzclZtyePNxvNWQ1AloG25Fz5sgPgTM2cu-jOQWh4Uv0T2/s1600/processional2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483143127862848626" /></a><br />Then Younger Brother Spaniel walked Grandma Spaniel to her seat and took his place...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEFeMgQErsMZFvIxR-eLff6XWWUe-4vzElctLKw3AkkmdxVLVI_gyDSOfTiolRUYUsNs2Cppsh4jvLYklNkSqRX-ok_w6JbnZ8gznikqFruP8HwIufJzjvlePIwSUVT_qjyX9BeDIGDz_/s1600/processional3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEFeMgQErsMZFvIxR-eLff6XWWUe-4vzElctLKw3AkkmdxVLVI_gyDSOfTiolRUYUsNs2Cppsh4jvLYklNkSqRX-ok_w6JbnZ8gznikqFruP8HwIufJzjvlePIwSUVT_qjyX9BeDIGDz_/s1600/processional3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483145669116160722" /></a><br />The Spaniel-in-laws...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRD0H4A_yamHWqBOHXKyxMKUGOTy_y6rIiTg_B6zdo4Lzij2OrT4FLaEUPHphBJM3ahe3bAC6BkZIichRqKijYcISsWip7OVM0_hrZnGSeoQouqHB1wgbP5eIrXtUZFPyE-WjP_W3be0q/s1600/processional4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRD0H4A_yamHWqBOHXKyxMKUGOTy_y6rIiTg_B6zdo4Lzij2OrT4FLaEUPHphBJM3ahe3bAC6BkZIichRqKijYcISsWip7OVM0_hrZnGSeoQouqHB1wgbP5eIrXtUZFPyE-WjP_W3be0q/s1600/processional4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483147793599665298" /></a><br />Mama and Step-Dad Spaniel...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ9zVMGmEN7PpkCbT0GxZA2xoySI1sRN3XLEW7BU8nyOKcz3234B0g6szQC23bp-W2HEzA0Kapcy79lMkX2fHHVBxrdCjKu4yQfg-uu97dqUgXhVeDZ4XgeQLKGJaHKzKzdXEHSCu_UOj/s1600/processional5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ9zVMGmEN7PpkCbT0GxZA2xoySI1sRN3XLEW7BU8nyOKcz3234B0g6szQC23bp-W2HEzA0Kapcy79lMkX2fHHVBxrdCjKu4yQfg-uu97dqUgXhVeDZ4XgeQLKGJaHKzKzdXEHSCu_UOj/s1600/processional5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483148283016828930" /></a><br />And my bridesmaids. I still love their dresses every time I see them. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc0t67nAkFX4rzDx2JKSIBpvZW2RcRSk1tBYEVl-hckQkGwWunA4b71EMKCK54wegpHRp86Z3fGxrxKwlYpbvFkDJtaBNuD3P2Y4GuroGd1wxQbHnOjFCLyiFHIc6MLkk6PhoB_Ziu522/s1600/processional6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc0t67nAkFX4rzDx2JKSIBpvZW2RcRSk1tBYEVl-hckQkGwWunA4b71EMKCK54wegpHRp86Z3fGxrxKwlYpbvFkDJtaBNuD3P2Y4GuroGd1wxQbHnOjFCLyiFHIc6MLkk6PhoB_Ziu522/s1600/processional6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483150792572038098" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i1S8iS8MIN_cdmZ_KxAJmUkMoxKZRDnNnb209BXuw7KlN9wNL0pKP2ekkVpSguBLlxzdHeUjg0yLK4XkeEyn5JZ8Ghe-iT3qVhAJ2q-_eQZ8V9BCLYV2CyXFoSGUJD0ukvx5G3kwIIcL/s1600/processional7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i1S8iS8MIN_cdmZ_KxAJmUkMoxKZRDnNnb209BXuw7KlN9wNL0pKP2ekkVpSguBLlxzdHeUjg0yLK4XkeEyn5JZ8Ghe-iT3qVhAJ2q-_eQZ8V9BCLYV2CyXFoSGUJD0ukvx5G3kwIIcL/s1600/processional7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483150790260254066" /></a><br />The music changed, and my nerves went haywire. <i>OhmygodI'mgettingmarried!</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnZJVILuYAgNqMuHL_Z1GFDwl1eWKu4AbNvmsHLcTbzndfo-BZtqUVNa5jPRb8oroKwJrXirD0NCmQYZl4nofRxNLleb0_Xjt6n0k46OeXJFt6SEGONaiYgeKnVSLchV37ak2D3W75zC3/s1600/processional8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnZJVILuYAgNqMuHL_Z1GFDwl1eWKu4AbNvmsHLcTbzndfo-BZtqUVNa5jPRb8oroKwJrXirD0NCmQYZl4nofRxNLleb0_Xjt6n0k46OeXJFt6SEGONaiYgeKnVSLchV37ak2D3W75zC3/s1600/processional8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483155727715137442" /></a><br />Papa Spaniel walked me to the bottom of the stairs before he took his seat, as I'd planned to walk up the stairs to meet Mr. Spaniel alone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIQMlPdXfH0hqmClRdmcXfCUSqnqVQ6hc-ORuY22HWemXfX25wOFTS3LTdcSQnDSsNwN-JV7jTwoiS9EV4T93k6jt8GD6CwJlnqSDR2lMhnLLyTpFhBAf1B6gdgDae0Tf99hsvRBYzkPM/s1600/processional9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIQMlPdXfH0hqmClRdmcXfCUSqnqVQ6hc-ORuY22HWemXfX25wOFTS3LTdcSQnDSsNwN-JV7jTwoiS9EV4T93k6jt8GD6CwJlnqSDR2lMhnLLyTpFhBAf1B6gdgDae0Tf99hsvRBYzkPM/s1600/processional9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483157668499956258" /></a><br />But after Papa Spaniel gave me a hug and started to step away, the processional music abruptly stopped. Suddenly, I became very conscious of my sharp heels, the cracks in the ground that I couldn't see beneath my heavy dress, and the eyes of 150 people on my back. <i>I was absolutely terrified,</i> but somehow I made it up on my own!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4K66kTiJ3uurDQq7M8OtCCPsSR8pzXkHgzMOkPqQgpFFRpGxt3jOfs7KrG9tGuWPbq2PzV_erVRRUIOv5Vz9UWldpgAxfNOcIDRL-IPC0bowUOfaelXE-5ANTa2aKAPPhldi_5dAL5i7/s1600/processional10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4K66kTiJ3uurDQq7M8OtCCPsSR8pzXkHgzMOkPqQgpFFRpGxt3jOfs7KrG9tGuWPbq2PzV_erVRRUIOv5Vz9UWldpgAxfNOcIDRL-IPC0bowUOfaelXE-5ANTa2aKAPPhldi_5dAL5i7/s1600/processional10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483159514151077986" /></a><br />It must not have taken forever, since I'm the only person I've talked to who remembers the music getting cut early, and I made it to the top, grabbed my mister, and was ready to get married!<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the stupendous Meg Perotti</a> and <a href="http://www.regisphotography.com">Regis Photography</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel (The First Look)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/16/ketubah-signing/">Signing Our Lives Away</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-76767936120607991832010-06-16T10:26:00.000-07:002010-07-21T17:04:35.030-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Signing Our Lives AwayThe portraits finished with fifteen minutes to go before the wedding ceremony(!!!). Mr. Spaniel grabbed the ketubah, and we were off to sign our lives away!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvlHJ4W2PFSwaAKj_F44UQjoJYaNBV-XEmqwSD6bZPNcsl7BZuyN4MoKPxNdN5xMzPqxxbeOZKKV7H5vgrLujd7W5RaXPdNIkaSbxpmJ3DlY1VBF8G2BgDaZRoniKVJVnVyPpSfWgxuSM/s1600/readytosign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvlHJ4W2PFSwaAKj_F44UQjoJYaNBV-XEmqwSD6bZPNcsl7BZuyN4MoKPxNdN5xMzPqxxbeOZKKV7H5vgrLujd7W5RaXPdNIkaSbxpmJ3DlY1VBF8G2BgDaZRoniKVJVnVyPpSfWgxuSM/s1600/readytosign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481991566471226130" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">I love how excited we look here. :)</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oAxTdNxpGmSDYyhQOqXd6T4ekQ8vfJbbuu4M3R0A1N_xo84mKwYighG5wdeV_8LJAXZqrVr9AsgYoXEI8_eyXS9k8EhC7OFMH3LGIZS_vtAIEsZ9QJYBoLQT2U50PzuD8qSFoF7yj6X3/s1600/signingketubah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oAxTdNxpGmSDYyhQOqXd6T4ekQ8vfJbbuu4M3R0A1N_xo84mKwYighG5wdeV_8LJAXZqrVr9AsgYoXEI8_eyXS9k8EhC7OFMH3LGIZS_vtAIEsZ9QJYBoLQT2U50PzuD8qSFoF7yj6X3/s1600/signingketubah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481997167759385154" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22n5BbdCAenC1QOUtd45cqO1zlRQ7iVi8RtxEj3P58KtYaqgtGFzcYU9uAeqmDPVLz25LKwOmRmEYg5jTfK4kt-jntuUQVWncmXXtFzIn9vd3vInczAiH7SBOV9ABkb60ERy3PkOWUjBe/s1600/witnessofficiantsignketubah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22n5BbdCAenC1QOUtd45cqO1zlRQ7iVi8RtxEj3P58KtYaqgtGFzcYU9uAeqmDPVLz25LKwOmRmEYg5jTfK4kt-jntuUQVWncmXXtFzIn9vd3vInczAiH7SBOV9ABkb60ERy3PkOWUjBe/s1600/witnessofficiantsignketubah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481998224504764306" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuyGHk5x4DOmzM3say9GYVc-41Od7mLu9sNXh5KeWwM5Gaz0S2sUzD37jMvxgKvm6JfQK-W7MpZfNp1uI2ibSCdezwePsHyHpkXggM24Y1eGWikdb4Od1j_x12IDn-ATwuwQQwPv_SWxl/s1600/signedketubah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuyGHk5x4DOmzM3say9GYVc-41Od7mLu9sNXh5KeWwM5Gaz0S2sUzD37jMvxgKvm6JfQK-W7MpZfNp1uI2ibSCdezwePsHyHpkXggM24Y1eGWikdb4Od1j_x12IDn-ATwuwQQwPv_SWxl/s1600/signedketubah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481999503681593122" /></a><br />The ketubah was not in our original budget, but it was worth every penny: our framer/officiant framed it for us right after the wedding, and I love looking at it on our wall. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15gyUVwuSlyrDTczYkSH8S1tb_Bn38Yz6qaXgwzXCy0O_Ok79vtQ9-hcVzx98t06GenjNRiHbXADuD2asie7Io4Uu3VvtTHR2eOeRO0CekBzKPiz9pGL3g6pwg5KPA3vUbmzOnmc9g8AY/s1600/framedketubah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15gyUVwuSlyrDTczYkSH8S1tb_Bn38Yz6qaXgwzXCy0O_Ok79vtQ9-hcVzx98t06GenjNRiHbXADuD2asie7Io4Uu3VvtTHR2eOeRO0CekBzKPiz9pGL3g6pwg5KPA3vUbmzOnmc9g8AY/s400/framedketubah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482766756056238114" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Personal photo)</span></center><br />While we <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/01/choly-smokes-the-ketubah-is-chere/">promised to love and respect each other <i>in writing</i></a>, our guests were doing some signing of their own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGuMIhdb5NPE_isIj6DkfjaHrzvVOymZ0lgkMv7xDAN4qXK7vOQ_hBrSEC7zCoOoldfxoWMO7mY6KSfdII0vGx9oqXmSd7vigmzmbi0TjjaYCQ1ItxbkV-DXft6MBmrxH03INhVGQsKu4/s1600/guestbook1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGuMIhdb5NPE_isIj6DkfjaHrzvVOymZ0lgkMv7xDAN4qXK7vOQ_hBrSEC7zCoOoldfxoWMO7mY6KSfdII0vGx9oqXmSd7vigmzmbi0TjjaYCQ1ItxbkV-DXft6MBmrxH03INhVGQsKu4/s1600/guestbook1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482000545303198994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP1yu79qwohPJZFseq_jiM8SZXHbPlci6uDa9UHmSPkTWALLfj-el0PKmilcIQMhV8HPVUH1wsIRrfzTbkkZUL4yf2DW9XJVR7MnOELIuChVT0QS9W5BmnyLdKPHvnS4IdBuo-y8kcsd0/s1600/guestbook2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwP1yu79qwohPJZFseq_jiM8SZXHbPlci6uDa9UHmSPkTWALLfj-el0PKmilcIQMhV8HPVUH1wsIRrfzTbkkZUL4yf2DW9XJVR7MnOELIuChVT0QS9W5BmnyLdKPHvnS4IdBuo-y8kcsd0/s1600/guestbook2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482000540046696258" /></a><br />I'd planned to print a guestbook from our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/01/26/we-have-e-pics/">engagement pictures</a>, but I panicked and asked <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">Meg</a> to print one for us instead. It's another favorite wedding keepsake of ours!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_tzxRNhvt5pkenURsx4fLYXg-dCMEXzqV7YXEvT5tYVkuQ7pbBen5uT_reS6F-TxUUMWS9wx0AsHFK8lxZPNWXjT1Orfd_VYSUVCLoy7z1-3jmcUD5LW748lIr6wapbmpOu9vIgdeAsq/s1600/guestbook4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_tzxRNhvt5pkenURsx4fLYXg-dCMEXzqV7YXEvT5tYVkuQ7pbBen5uT_reS6F-TxUUMWS9wx0AsHFK8lxZPNWXjT1Orfd_VYSUVCLoy7z1-3jmcUD5LW748lIr6wapbmpOu9vIgdeAsq/s400/guestbook4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482764835059046706" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUHmir86dDFjsJfqu3a9myVkAdQwJVNThcubKDjvVJSTTPj2kDacdB5YNw-H0_CHk7ctUcL2EXtyCfFuP_KBql0M2zQmBuN6i1MpwvY902rXUNIgiSX6qLIQau4e1TX9KwlSsFPXT3_bO/s1600/guestbook3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUHmir86dDFjsJfqu3a9myVkAdQwJVNThcubKDjvVJSTTPj2kDacdB5YNw-H0_CHk7ctUcL2EXtyCfFuP_KBql0M2zQmBuN6i1MpwvY902rXUNIgiSX6qLIQau4e1TX9KwlSsFPXT3_bO/s400/guestbook3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482760619393819506" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Personal photos)</span></center><br />To make sure our guests knew that it was a guestbook and not just a collection of pretty pictures, we made sure to include some helpful signage. To do so, we pulled more mileage out of our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/02/the-proof-is-in-the-pudding-or-the-email-attachment/">invitation proofs</a>, as I used the fancy "baroque" frame around the invitations to frame a cute little guestbook poem I found online (I didn't think of blogging about this when I did it, so I didn't save the source... sorry!).<br /><br /><blockquote>We thought this photobook<br />would make a great souvenir<br />So if you have a wedding message,<br />please write it in here<br />Some words of wisdom,<br />encouragement, or a joke<br />A poem, a drawing, an anecdote<br />We'll look through it fondly<br />in years to come<br />So thanks for making<br />this book a special one!</blockquote><br />We printed it out on a piece of card stock, cut it down to 5x7", and put it in an inexpensive acrylic frame from Target.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDhPrSUOx4ZIisLqtTexE6nDbkf9MIV3YAKmlF4IkhEWLBAkxC3Cuh9dJwwexQ6aerDtAWTKQvv68i588R7Hn6NhNJEQk4pcHYkNoKoLjb2xIW5e0cUM-KvRJPFKgY0eGj8Kz4-M2LAp6/s1600/guestbooksign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDhPrSUOx4ZIisLqtTexE6nDbkf9MIV3YAKmlF4IkhEWLBAkxC3Cuh9dJwwexQ6aerDtAWTKQvv68i588R7Hn6NhNJEQk4pcHYkNoKoLjb2xIW5e0cUM-KvRJPFKgY0eGj8Kz4-M2LAp6/s400/guestbooksign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482763126830236658" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Personal photo)</span></center><br /><i>Probably unnecessary</i>, but I was all about last minute projects (and I have a few more to show you before I'm done here!).<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the astounding Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel (The First Look)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/15/this-will-be-our-year-hey-laaadies/">Hey Laaadies!</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-53719629456987875232010-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:002010-06-15T15:20:28.165-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Hey Laaadies!Okay, and dudes, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw04MgJ_ripe7J-GpfxP43qrhnHgE7cAAzbMGwzbgmYc7-Fm037sz495GQyXEV_73aag4xGLt9SK7EAlUbk7ZfQe-NmpzEDp3hHeZ03NmsFdO9kPWiiqgMrXq8dzbKDbiKh4AECvHYtcX0/s1600/weddingpartycalamigos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw04MgJ_ripe7J-GpfxP43qrhnHgE7cAAzbMGwzbgmYc7-Fm037sz495GQyXEV_73aag4xGLt9SK7EAlUbk7ZfQe-NmpzEDp3hHeZ03NmsFdO9kPWiiqgMrXq8dzbKDbiKh4AECvHYtcX0/s400/weddingpartycalamigos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476039947871742226" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Hey, a barn! We had an accidentally rustic wedding!)</span></center><br />We had (what I think was) a really large wedding party. I liked the idea (in theory) of asking just a few people who were especially important to us, but it just so happened that we couldn't think of any less than enough people to make up a small army. Still, how awesome to have such a troop stand beside you on one of the most meaningful days of your life!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvQ7TWsBbdSQTeUILY_UhSdTtzAAQDqR-4hhU-dY3I5OVdF5LeVTdwenMgjs0I2_kXKj3sFQDymqrtGmOJgSE913nEt1Ivu0S_pEPS00CMqr3pCkgmC3DlPGuXYuqqJblL3iUYUwVZJm6/s1600/bridalparty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvQ7TWsBbdSQTeUILY_UhSdTtzAAQDqR-4hhU-dY3I5OVdF5LeVTdwenMgjs0I2_kXKj3sFQDymqrtGmOJgSE913nEt1Ivu0S_pEPS00CMqr3pCkgmC3DlPGuXYuqqJblL3iUYUwVZJm6/s400/bridalparty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476040818361047634" /></a><br />...or, you know, <i>sit</i> beside you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhOE01eCgY_MoqIao17FwVr9TyT_-aDaOJRf9wMZppPiFBskPtZniqfxF2Z1zVU5tmbM7Cto7ZN-TQyxz1_dQq3xYrxz4TV-6bVusLuwMFgG53EI9Z5Wpv0zm_g3QzGWZo4HAYbCKiy1/s1600/tuxedogroomsmen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhOE01eCgY_MoqIao17FwVr9TyT_-aDaOJRf9wMZppPiFBskPtZniqfxF2Z1zVU5tmbM7Cto7ZN-TQyxz1_dQq3xYrxz4TV-6bVusLuwMFgG53EI9Z5Wpv0zm_g3QzGWZo4HAYbCKiy1/s400/tuxedogroomsmen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476042547165130338" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo by <a href="http://regisphtography.com">Regis Photography</a>)</span></center><br />While there were some minor downsides to such a large wedding party (gifts got really expensive by the time we were done, and do you have any idea how difficult it is to get thirteen people to stand in the same position for long enough to take one good picture with no one blinking? ;), I can't imagine having done it any other way.<br /><br />Mr. Spaniel asked his brother and five of his closest friends, who are all people I love dearly as well, to stand with him, while I asked three of my best friends, my two step-sisters, and my two (not-so-)little brothers to stand with me. We didn't worry about "balance" or aesthetics (or where they would stand at the ceremony or how they would recess up the aisle—which, as it turns out, is probably a good thing to think about at <i>some</i> point before the rehearsal!) when deciding who to ask. I absolutely think this was right for us, for the following reason:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPyksqDJm0guJMMpRs0v5Tujcjp2BvQW8lXRIm3xNPLS_Ly2UI0LSk-843RaLs3mD37scSL5QVLiRUnpFwMwRPpKfl0FA7bGB5IZFdD2PfRx-w7GKsanRv3mKGqfD5-Q0IfgrkSifctY0/s1600/brotherbridesmen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPyksqDJm0guJMMpRs0v5Tujcjp2BvQW8lXRIm3xNPLS_Ly2UI0LSk-843RaLs3mD37scSL5QVLiRUnpFwMwRPpKfl0FA7bGB5IZFdD2PfRx-w7GKsanRv3mKGqfD5-Q0IfgrkSifctY0/s400/brotherbridesmen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476047604453691938" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Younger Brother Spaniel and Middle Brother Spaniel</span></center><br />I love my brothers. :) Sure, Mr. Spaniel likes them, too, and they seem to think he's just spiffy, but these are my people. If they'd spent all day with the groomsmen, I would have missed one of the most emotional moments of the day for me.<br /><br />After my lovely bridesmaids <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">helped me into my dress</a>, my <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">freshly-boutonniered and be-socked</a> brothers came to join us for bridal party portraits. Seeing them in their tuxedos, all spiffed out for <i>my</i> wedding? It was all I could do to hold it together. It was the first of a few waves of incredibly strong emotion I felt that day: people will remind you, over and over again, to "be present" on your wedding day. I could NOT! But it was one of the powerful moments of the day that I doubt I will ever forget. <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">A no-show vendor?</a> A dress that doesn't fit? Insignificant. Your little brothers in fancy tuxedos, all dressed up for your wedding, with eyes misting at their sister in the full bridal get-up? WHOA! You're present. Even if it only lasts for a moment before the day starts rushing by you again.<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the phenomenal Meg Perotti</a>, unless otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Have you considered an uneven (or otherwise unorthodox!) wedding party? What were your reasons?<br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel (The First Look)</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/09/this-will-be-our-year-something-borrowed-something-blue/">Something Borrowed, Something Blue</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-29158023950991917422010-06-09T09:20:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:05:16.748-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Something Borrowed, Something BlueI haven't talked much about our flowers other than a tangential post of <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/16/theme-what-theme/">my "inspiration" bouquet</a>, and I'm pretty happy I didn't over-think it. Instead, I asked Devi of <a href="http://www.lesfleursdevieofla.com/">Les Fleurs de Vie</a> for a green, cream, and lavender bouquet in muted tones (with a more monochromatic green scheme for the bridesmaids), and decided not to get too particular about the details. The end result was soft and lovely, and perfect.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00whPwPAwLV8M9DX8QajQWv_pjFgEcd5XEV79F5wdavyFCUZEmFd3gtu78bZqImpgHQkNV28JK-bm53FeVtxtx0uRHL3hpP1R-HJYFkydjh0FD2ejVUiAZ3cPAUImv8xXAyobN7cpeGYh/s1600/bridesmaidflowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00whPwPAwLV8M9DX8QajQWv_pjFgEcd5XEV79F5wdavyFCUZEmFd3gtu78bZqImpgHQkNV28JK-bm53FeVtxtx0uRHL3hpP1R-HJYFkydjh0FD2ejVUiAZ3cPAUImv8xXAyobN7cpeGYh/s1600/bridesmaidflowers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472342500912984642" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(BM-Noe models the bridesmaid bouquet)</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvz7kVrCs4KXQNCZBTJH02Xh3I9xAo_OFEomwMUXXJgWzDTAVf5cYLySeUlT-9w7X4D96g6TQd6YFxkuXZEukG-wHJ0WhHGHIvw80Tb8n5NvUZ3s4t3stDfbb7YGGDRAL-fE0_nsugob-/s1600/bouquet1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvz7kVrCs4KXQNCZBTJH02Xh3I9xAo_OFEomwMUXXJgWzDTAVf5cYLySeUlT-9w7X4D96g6TQd6YFxkuXZEukG-wHJ0WhHGHIvw80Tb8n5NvUZ3s4t3stDfbb7YGGDRAL-fE0_nsugob-/s1600/bouquet1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472342513949067330" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(My tri-color rose bouquet)</span></center><br />Wait, does something seem... familiar? My something borrowed <i>and</i> blue came courtesy of the lovely <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/08/24/ya-mon-flowers-diy-details/">Mrs. Quiche</a>—a wedding gift to her from <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/author/perfume">Mrs. Perfume</a>! I like to think that I took a piece of the 'Bee with me on my wedding day. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo-D5qK1K1yz1hn6PeUl39lTHf2kRShc48STMDYF1Pq1ZfrC2ijLjRbEmka2fjmEJXPUGdvSmIueyJjfo0YVb_LnkaSu1hAKhzEjemv_jaYzAzOPC8vgMqadTzRbSTiTiJJGm4-hBm6P_/s1600/bouquet2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo-D5qK1K1yz1hn6PeUl39lTHf2kRShc48STMDYF1Pq1ZfrC2ijLjRbEmka2fjmEJXPUGdvSmIueyJjfo0YVb_LnkaSu1hAKhzEjemv_jaYzAzOPC8vgMqadTzRbSTiTiJJGm4-hBm6P_/s1600/bouquet2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472342518619817090" /></a><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the spectacular Meg Perotti</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/06/03/los-angeles-outdoor-wedding/">Sneaky Spaniel (The First Look)</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-78921288821055504142010-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:002010-06-03T15:33:13.305-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Sneaky SpanielThere was never a question that Mr. Spaniel and I would do a "first look" before the ceremony. We wanted to sign our <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/01/choly-smokes-the-ketubah-is-chere/">ketubah</a> together, and we wanted to get all of our formals done before the ceremony so that we could enjoy the cocktail hour with our guests!<br /><br />But we also wanted to be able to focus on each other and have a special moment the first time we saw each other on our wedding day—I was really worried we wouldn't have a chance to actually connect, so to speak—so we planned for it to be (mostly) private before heading into group and family pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_YR1Hj3qFNc3C3rbTD8J1zJz6UVFoQMN4Nhniz1O78aE-jkGSBaMslgoTmyJ5ScPVwq_LcjSryceMSmjkWXo0cAu_ntowOi2-wDYc4pQL8qJpdAegJRKuCgXslNz7hdD5_DtxuC5IUCE/s1600/firstlookgroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_YR1Hj3qFNc3C3rbTD8J1zJz6UVFoQMN4Nhniz1O78aE-jkGSBaMslgoTmyJ5ScPVwq_LcjSryceMSmjkWXo0cAu_ntowOi2-wDYc4pQL8qJpdAegJRKuCgXslNz7hdD5_DtxuC5IUCE/s400/firstlookgroom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472353780906104626" /></a>Mr. Spaniel, waiting and looking handsome...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-HawDw3rpFJG5hSTlK_AuNevYL0LQBy96OCxfdZqx6p4mE3CBuRBJUJLgMGC9mBXLFq3b-7AsTN-fuAVtiSgIcw_b0Fb9JZjGDZjhZX8F0th7gCCfLcnwstkGG7Ra5QUCVmWPBukC0KK/s1600/firstlook1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-HawDw3rpFJG5hSTlK_AuNevYL0LQBy96OCxfdZqx6p4mE3CBuRBJUJLgMGC9mBXLFq3b-7AsTN-fuAVtiSgIcw_b0Fb9JZjGDZjhZX8F0th7gCCfLcnwstkGG7Ra5QUCVmWPBukC0KK/s400/firstlook1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472356009306820786" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1VvkFZMiW4jY44JksByhO0YugLOanmy9RZ60ZGvAJL9n42gpdjw4yjWZIe35lOJNm1c1uc2GrdNPo4R6hAohdshTGs26KeTnDyeBZDtoxUHi7nTTujYZT6goojJXueOh6_xoMUJwbby0/s1600/firstlook2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1VvkFZMiW4jY44JksByhO0YugLOanmy9RZ60ZGvAJL9n42gpdjw4yjWZIe35lOJNm1c1uc2GrdNPo4R6hAohdshTGs26KeTnDyeBZDtoxUHi7nTTujYZT6goojJXueOh6_xoMUJwbby0/s400/firstlook2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472355497488308914" /></a><br />It was so surreal seeing each other for the first time that day! I'm so glad that we had the chance to do this before the ceremony, because my fears were well-founded! Everything happened so fast and furious afterward—this way we actually had a few uninterrupted minutes to let everything sink in. (And also: a chance to check each other out!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUBO4AKxjfBcq8IP1r4OH2SjD3WcAyBx17QXRpXO8tL8cOaYJ9ClTKxqvEJks1mQSvW4mIIpvqivjgicqV3GAyGa5ir4VoOY-HF3m6qwnChD3-bkl_x1H_uAsxz23IGSsGdFzDG_qtCOb/s1600/firstlook3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUBO4AKxjfBcq8IP1r4OH2SjD3WcAyBx17QXRpXO8tL8cOaYJ9ClTKxqvEJks1mQSvW4mIIpvqivjgicqV3GAyGa5ir4VoOY-HF3m6qwnChD3-bkl_x1H_uAsxz23IGSsGdFzDG_qtCOb/s400/firstlook3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472360160402860578" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-T2iXO2Jia7h79UqWGVwvPwNCYjw4gyXbbQJfgGmyXAlbCIWMWw8YgtRPUykcLy15nsi8mroBUWTPPwDN0yfsIZP8EACV1bZB0Y45mMfBT47QjKRJLvZaGK49J6ioKy6qBKVQfBe4rRe/s1600/firstlook4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-T2iXO2Jia7h79UqWGVwvPwNCYjw4gyXbbQJfgGmyXAlbCIWMWw8YgtRPUykcLy15nsi8mroBUWTPPwDN0yfsIZP8EACV1bZB0Y45mMfBT47QjKRJLvZaGK49J6ioKy6qBKVQfBe4rRe/s400/firstlook4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472360154513422754" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDf-RrBmresbPWivJUBAd_k5isFQ5SvGO3l541PzhTcLR2JdFLDZueklMrSMdkTUs464kIoAoKnd-HhceDnK6ToIPSeWzuiHhuCyzI_fVHzxVcqVpnt15FxikfIPK_RJXX2zw54cRMW2u/s1600/firstlook5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDf-RrBmresbPWivJUBAd_k5isFQ5SvGO3l541PzhTcLR2JdFLDZueklMrSMdkTUs464kIoAoKnd-HhceDnK6ToIPSeWzuiHhuCyzI_fVHzxVcqVpnt15FxikfIPK_RJXX2zw54cRMW2u/s400/firstlook5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472360150192496338" /></a><br />Did you opt to do a first look?<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the amazing Meg Perotti</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/27/this-will-be-our-year-boutonnieres-and-tuxedos/">Boutonnieres and Tuxedos</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-7213844950648329712010-05-27T08:29:00.000-07:002010-05-27T12:27:03.078-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Boutonnieres and TuxedosThe wedding day sure looks different from the other side of things. While my bridesmaids and I spent hours "in" <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">hair and makeup</a> (leaving us no time for anything other than room service), my groom and his men were able to head to the hotel restaurant for a long, relaxing brunch buffet. Hmph. On the other hand, they had to arrange their own transportation to the venue (we got to take the hotel shuttle, because we delicate flowers can't be bothered drive), and get way fewer pictures of them getting ready. ;)<br /><br />We can draw the story out by starting when my brother-in-law (HA! I GET TO SAY THAT NOW!)'s girlfriend walked in with the guys' boutonnieres.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXITAN4Qn2ivcNkk3VMKP6F2M0sfFY9WqD69V1DJw4K_t98bDA1UrQBE9sdh9sIndLkLQD5RrL8fjJ0nazuBakCsiy7mJ3C_PZ8TOma543BcM37XAF2Y7LhYPToDzTeZzQ4lPz8w7Lb_tt/s1600/boutdelivery.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXITAN4Qn2ivcNkk3VMKP6F2M0sfFY9WqD69V1DJw4K_t98bDA1UrQBE9sdh9sIndLkLQD5RrL8fjJ0nazuBakCsiy7mJ3C_PZ8TOma543BcM37XAF2Y7LhYPToDzTeZzQ4lPz8w7Lb_tt/s400/boutdelivery.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472126201620109394" /></a><br />They were already dressed in their tuxedos when they arrived at Calamigos, so there wasn't much left to do but put on the finishing touches!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7fhBm0QlU-P4kzk_teYvDG4DWYC0EZeQJFwBvpSh_70Tl-AuuxboSRlqgaucAgmAJq9EKaUpebG2qHVz56eJXnXQFXDzDsht8doRFPJZx_s0B0mA5QaCFU41d_5iWgMokdoRbzNscFb-/s1600/finishingtouches2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7fhBm0QlU-P4kzk_teYvDG4DWYC0EZeQJFwBvpSh_70Tl-AuuxboSRlqgaucAgmAJq9EKaUpebG2qHVz56eJXnXQFXDzDsht8doRFPJZx_s0B0mA5QaCFU41d_5iWgMokdoRbzNscFb-/s400/finishingtouches2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472127778006578050" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2xfCMomCZLFJahAjzGnVUyeSHKp09EmTTel-6YlIpctKD7qL-DWiWNFuB0LR-Mgsaa9w7HmAJxnNLfjcfzaUxwVzV6LP0rum1EFc4bo_6WLdiGLlJ3wYIrJzVCkt00SJsoYu2yBcjUlx/s1600/finishingtouches1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2xfCMomCZLFJahAjzGnVUyeSHKp09EmTTel-6YlIpctKD7qL-DWiWNFuB0LR-Mgsaa9w7HmAJxnNLfjcfzaUxwVzV6LP0rum1EFc4bo_6WLdiGLlJ3wYIrJzVCkt00SJsoYu2yBcjUlx/s400/finishingtouches1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472127779318827346" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0rvNzzezU5mU1E-Gd6SAYo1E85exWFFoVeWkJn8FtExfT_dwZB5VO8JIvCHrYmJ6_dr3sYNWmfY8pyrFSNhhryKCS0_gn7a0rElzc4T1g7zYl7NEizNaCZ9g6zE9hweHA3g9Tw6N5QNm/s1600/finishingtouches5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0rvNzzezU5mU1E-Gd6SAYo1E85exWFFoVeWkJn8FtExfT_dwZB5VO8JIvCHrYmJ6_dr3sYNWmfY8pyrFSNhhryKCS0_gn7a0rElzc4T1g7zYl7NEizNaCZ9g6zE9hweHA3g9Tw6N5QNm/s400/finishingtouches5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472127758602831090" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Apparently that last one was problematic, judging from Middle Brother Spaniel's perplexed face, and the fact that two different people attempted to do it!)</span></center><br />Once the boutonnieres were safely attached, it was time for the glamor shots...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW2BaSEgllPiQS4xpfQYoC1fadvT56b0bVukS4grbDtrETClAWr5VVEcv2httsnzC7yAmtW-rJle_MaitIXF0kvciJmEAWe-FZpFH3ZtHE5Be6efVo6lSdiiAPpINHzM8kMXy-TUn37Nh/s1600/groomargylesocks2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW2BaSEgllPiQS4xpfQYoC1fadvT56b0bVukS4grbDtrETClAWr5VVEcv2httsnzC7yAmtW-rJle_MaitIXF0kvciJmEAWe-FZpFH3ZtHE5Be6efVo6lSdiiAPpINHzM8kMXy-TUn37Nh/s1600/groomargylesocks2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472129699087486850" /></a><br />...or should I say, glamor SOCKS?<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.regisphotography.com/">Regis Photography</a> and <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the incomparable Meg Perotti</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/26/gold-wedding-shoes/">Something New</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-46724375686787197342010-05-25T08:08:00.000-07:002010-05-26T16:50:26.330-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Something NewWe arrived at the venue half an hour early (<i>three hours</i> before the scheduled ceremony time), but there were already guests milling about the property. GASP! Claudia, our ceremony site coordinator, quickly whisked us away into the bridal dressing room so I didn't get waylaid by the early birds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ia_Cy2jpuU8RdZYStWzsVlqj05OpjylrM5t8yqBYYRFacIrAuLC-ElLQjPg2koisK70Y8RU1WgiO6ID7a5phnSv09-ZmRhAVmI0eCrFZOmiOooLr5pZ87ihWkxr-pU5f3_7Lh94446J/s1600/gettingready1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ia_Cy2jpuU8RdZYStWzsVlqj05OpjylrM5t8yqBYYRFacIrAuLC-ElLQjPg2koisK70Y8RU1WgiO6ID7a5phnSv09-ZmRhAVmI0eCrFZOmiOooLr5pZ87ihWkxr-pU5f3_7Lh94446J/s400/gettingready1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472136006648960882" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<i>Puh-leez.</i> There will be no hugging the bride until my wedding dress is on, thank you!)</span></center><br />And speaking of my wedding dress, I'd like to show you my "something new..."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54maIZB0Nv0xSQ_A4e0PWPSbHBw7JnNQNkuFl5Wo5gMhwdb3pqoI3_Xejirdtn-WDJQgSbGXSdtG1stQ62tJP482lGFpIGHYPHdJDiSTJ8S9tnCtQn1YSPQrGpF7wiuFXenhmUmodNLFx/s1600/alluregown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54maIZB0Nv0xSQ_A4e0PWPSbHBw7JnNQNkuFl5Wo5gMhwdb3pqoI3_Xejirdtn-WDJQgSbGXSdtG1stQ62tJP482lGFpIGHYPHdJDiSTJ8S9tnCtQn1YSPQrGpF7wiuFXenhmUmodNLFx/s400/alluregown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472141423255630978" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACTinyyMRwgtfceZUSAukxzcMRON6g2cLRvViCZ1uwcfbK3AfQCbKmJqoleb9iCLnNBkSErGLAtSsk1BNH5T8o4cuCbvwGglh0luqVPjlDahgJKeKT3dOeD_JbJXKcv1_WG6RhYBH7VQQ/s1600/ninewestweddingshoes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACTinyyMRwgtfceZUSAukxzcMRON6g2cLRvViCZ1uwcfbK3AfQCbKmJqoleb9iCLnNBkSErGLAtSsk1BNH5T8o4cuCbvwGglh0luqVPjlDahgJKeKT3dOeD_JbJXKcv1_WG6RhYBH7VQQ/s400/ninewestweddingshoes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472141429983143010" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(They might not be <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/19/the-bride-wears-prada-2/">Prada</a>, but they were still pretty! And comfortable enough to dance in all night!)</span></center><br />And speaking of my wedding dress being <i>on</i>...! Remember how I <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/15/juggling-my-stress-balls/">failed to feed myself before the wedding</a>? I wasn't able to turn it around: my dress was too big!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZaiCNp5AYIvgOoaDQOHbrjpeJ7gwVg8KG8WWtFjk2MyTQYVC7ilj9UJCsmYJB_hWE6y_nU87ZjlMP5Wpg5Ro4KKPpWyS5H6m-cg1oYHmGd9d7LUZLwys2OJrMxQ4mHle6LAqWGnq4Sgj/s1600/pinningdress2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZaiCNp5AYIvgOoaDQOHbrjpeJ7gwVg8KG8WWtFjk2MyTQYVC7ilj9UJCsmYJB_hWE6y_nU87ZjlMP5Wpg5Ro4KKPpWyS5H6m-cg1oYHmGd9d7LUZLwys2OJrMxQ4mHle6LAqWGnq4Sgj/s400/pinningdress2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472145376929939138" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">How many bridesmaid does it take to dress a Spaniel?</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnMNXB4X34xG2OYogqxpD6vY3jQA86I1963OVDpI8XziCnxtNSGU5rwNZk0mykcbpnVW5uI1QSzVccwzAlEHgU_Q0IC8Qx-C45UtguEOq2sPZRDDOPjW_qZf0_3eiMlErocvw9AcXL3O7/s1600/pinningdress1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnMNXB4X34xG2OYogqxpD6vY3jQA86I1963OVDpI8XziCnxtNSGU5rwNZk0mykcbpnVW5uI1QSzVccwzAlEHgU_Q0IC8Qx-C45UtguEOq2sPZRDDOPjW_qZf0_3eiMlErocvw9AcXL3O7/s400/pinningdress1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472145386888126546" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(No joke; that dress was sliding right down my torso!)</span></center><br />Thanks to some quick thinking and a safety pin or two, I did not flash the wedding guests that night. Soon, all that was left to do was to get into my shoes before heading out for portraits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n5OnwqizlbxxFgETgA1pUO_16E-E_lIBSf4M320nrrIoimugzueOPgpTHLalalf5C4-aDELlyrmPOkMTBugMiiN0718mx3VOwDaERHf_O6YDaVweQnrpuDQ7z2gkUjVnzikLVFx_9-tz/s1600/intoshoes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n5OnwqizlbxxFgETgA1pUO_16E-E_lIBSf4M320nrrIoimugzueOPgpTHLalalf5C4-aDELlyrmPOkMTBugMiiN0718mx3VOwDaERHf_O6YDaVweQnrpuDQ7z2gkUjVnzikLVFx_9-tz/s400/intoshoes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472148984976792450" /></a><br />I really like the juxtaposition of these two images. In both pictures, I can see my closest friends supporting me on my wedding day—in the first picture, you can see it pretty literally, as BM-Y basically held me up while I got my feet into those shoes. ;) The second picture is still part of the Spaniel-shoeing process, but it looks a lot calmer, doesn't it?<br /><br /><i>All photos by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">the fabulous Meg Perotti</a>.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/20/los-angeles-wedding-makeup/">Putting Our Faces On</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-39045032892782844942010-05-20T14:59:00.000-07:002010-05-20T15:49:53.439-07:00Economics of name-changingI'm always interested in how people reveal their preferences and values by how they spend their money—that's why I <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/12/an-actual-real-life-wedding-budget/">shared my budget</a> early on. (I'm still planning to share the outcome with you, but I'll probably save that for the end.) And since I just completed the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/18/did-you-change-your-last-name-when-you-got-married/">dreaded</a> <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/11/24/one-family-two-names/">name change</a>, I thought I'd share with you the process and the cost.<br /><br />The order and prices may be different in different jurisdictions, but here's what I went through in Los Angeles County.<br /><br /><b>1. Get a certified marriage certificate from the County Registrar/Recorder. Cost: $14.</b> This is the necessary first step pretty much everywhere, and one of the most annoying part of the process for me. I spent two hours in line at the Van Nuys office, so I'd recommend trying a different time of day (Tuesday at 12:30 appears to be a bad time to go in).<br /><br />Before you get your copy, you'll want to make sure that your marriage license has been recorded, otherwise they'll take your $14 and you'll have to come back later and pay (and wait in line!) again. I don't know how long it takes after the wedding for the document to be recorded—our officiant mailed the license in on March 22, and the date of recording on our certificate is listed as March 26—so I'd probably wait a week or two weeks at least before attempting the first step.<br /><br /><b>2. Change your name with the Social Security Office. Cost: $0.</b> You can find your local office <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp">here</a>. I went to the Office in Glendale right after getting our record from Van Nuys, and there was no wait at all.<br /><br /><b>3. Change your name with the DMV and get a new driver's license/state identification card. Cost: $31 AND YOUR SOUL.</b> (Mr. Spaniel just renewed his license and had to pay more than me, so this may or may not be an accurate amount.) I visited the DMV in Pasadena, which was ridiculously busy—I tried to sign up for an appointment online, but couldn't get one until the middle of June! I hear you can get appointments more quickly at the DMV in Lincoln Heights. Anyway, I walked in, waited in line for an hour just to get a number, and then was immediately called to a window. I got a temporary license with my new name, then was directed to another line to take a new picture (and oh my goodness am I glad I went home in between steps 2 and 3 to fix my hair and put on makeup, because I wasn't sure if they'd take a new picture or not and five to ten years of an ugly ID would just be upsetting!). And since my license was up for renewal soon anyway, I had to come back the next day, wait in a line again, check in for a written exam, wait in another line to take a written exam, actually take the written exam, and then wait in two more lines before I could get my updated interim license. Seriously, the guy ahead of me told me he'd been at the DMV for 4½ hours. Budget <i>lots</i> of time for this step.<br /><br /><b>4. Renew (or apply for) your passport. Cost: $110.</b> This step can actually cost closer to $150 or more depending on your travel plans and whether or not you already have a passport, but I included the cost of the actual renewal application (you need <a href="http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html">Form DS-82</a>) ($75); the cost of passport photos; paying for overnight return shipping (suggested by the State Department at $14.96 extra), a weather-proof, padded mailer and priority mailing with delivery confirmation (also suggested by the State Department). You'll need to include your marriage certificate, so make photocopies in advance.<br /><br />If you're in a hurry, expedited processing costs an additional $60, and you'll probably want to overnight your application (about another $15). If you haven't had a passport before, there is another $25 processing fee. And if you're <i>really</i> in a hurry, you should make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency.<br /><br /><b>5. Notify any professional or licensing agencies you belong to. Cost: $5.</b> Lucky you if this doesn't apply to you, but I had to notify the State Bar of the name change right away via certified mail.<br /><br /><b>6. Notify your creditors and banks. Cost: $5.</b> The cost of notifying your creditors really depends on how many you have—I only included the cost of postage here. My student loans have been bought, sold, consolidated, whatever over the years, and I discovered that I needed to send notice to six different lenders. Yikes! I made my own form letter and just merged the account information into each one, enclosed a photocopy of the marriage certificate, and mailed them off. I am waiting until I receive my new driver's license from the DMV (about four to six weeks, I'm told) to mail the notices to my bank so that I don't have any trouble with my ATM or credit cards not matching the name on the picture ID that I actually have.<br /><br />All in all, my name change cost me $165, half a tank of gas, half of one day and a quarter of the next in line, and extreme mental anguish. ;) I guess that is how much Mr. Spaniel's desire to share a family name is worth to us! The funny part (to me) is that, because of a glitch in the system when we got our marriage license which caused Mr. Spaniel's new name not to be recorded correctly, Mr. Spaniel gets to do all of this again himself in a month or two once the amendment is processed! At least then we'll be even!<br /><br />And with that, back to recaps!A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-35839271218805350122010-05-20T07:12:00.000-07:002010-05-20T14:00:51.767-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Putting Our Faces OnWhile MOH-S and BM-Noe did the dirty work and made phone calls when we found out that <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">make-up artist was canceling on the day of my wedding</a>, the hair stylist arrived. After chiding me for not calling her sooner so that she could bring her make-up and help me out (I have no idea why I didn't think of that), she got to work making me look pretty.<br /><br />I wasn't sure exactly what I had wanted my hair to look like, so I brought this picture of Emmy Rossum during our earlier trial and told her, "like this, but lower on top and curlier on bottom."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXYanpvPNWAxVImz8veGIJXZ0FzSakLVMc7XVCTulvD3PWPVGHWF7FeDGNubXQVeqkD8TDvwFdklAF-GFIxf6mYcFPrOd125vHgUmQdOa-bMk2Jnho7hKXQx0DhoND52Wg0vb_eJX0MdR/s1600/rossum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXYanpvPNWAxVImz8veGIJXZ0FzSakLVMc7XVCTulvD3PWPVGHWF7FeDGNubXQVeqkD8TDvwFdklAF-GFIxf6mYcFPrOd125vHgUmQdOa-bMk2Jnho7hKXQx0DhoND52Wg0vb_eJX0MdR/s400/rossum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469841519297621570" /></a><center><span stlye="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://www.ruggedelegantliving.com/a/003835.html">source</a>)</span></center><br />Since Febe is my regular hair stylist, we'd had several chances to practice my 'do for the big day. The first time, we learned that my hair extensions hold curl much better than my natural hair does, so she used a holding spray on my hair the second time. The second time, we learned that my natural hair with holding spray holds curl better than the extensions do, so we used it on both the extensions and my own hair on the wedding day. Trial and error, right?<br /><br />Also, because she is a magical hair mind-reader, Febe seemed to know exactly what I was talking about with my vague description, ignored my constant style-waffling, and got to work on pinning my curls and styling my extensions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRu9Z_VF-qymYH_6_3dLGy9Uo-rWyOBBGzp4j81_0hgtr308e83H-zMyoreC307w2vHlwvhfddRcOxir3LM6jk2AxAZTyZdhjnPnU7_GK-hV8Dl0or3J54MvK2LztTZl8SD1Hekdif8Fq/s1600/hair1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRu9Z_VF-qymYH_6_3dLGy9Uo-rWyOBBGzp4j81_0hgtr308e83H-zMyoreC307w2vHlwvhfddRcOxir3LM6jk2AxAZTyZdhjnPnU7_GK-hV8Dl0or3J54MvK2LztTZl8SD1Hekdif8Fq/s400/hair1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469844120067385986" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(She found my extension hanging system... amusing)</span></center><br />Outside of the bathroom, however, a miracle was occurring—or, rather, a miracle worker arrived. One of the many calls that MOH-S made during the morning was to Image Resorts in Camarillo. The receptionist placed a call to Aliona at home, who called us back to quote us a reasonable emergency makeup price, get hired, get directions and save the day. While Febe was curling my hair, Aliona prettified MOH-S and BM-Noe (who I hope will forgive me for posting these ridiculous pictures of her!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hHY2jG93Rb7wmU_gt_w_25A7UqbpbNyHxBqlrXBzAAoRtWhirsK7yOQsLpLrlT6L6PbbUl_QkXUqLQae9p963giwoJfEzAibnotW8G00HEnqn75ijbe1uh-vAL6Txm66n0AhhmU08gzv/s1600/makeup1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hHY2jG93Rb7wmU_gt_w_25A7UqbpbNyHxBqlrXBzAAoRtWhirsK7yOQsLpLrlT6L6PbbUl_QkXUqLQae9p963giwoJfEzAibnotW8G00HEnqn75ijbe1uh-vAL6Txm66n0AhhmU08gzv/s400/makeup1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469850601212131394" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mT9Rig5T_19PhKUzpCip43BRgEqqWiqL8CrehlxVjwAU1YXX-DobnWz6JfuPdf5U2S_X6Joz02zOM4-gOOBtPFeVUua4IJpAxLbf-X3Il8a58942Ev3AgvPP9kpIjZMJNHw49oOFCfVb/s1600/makeup2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mT9Rig5T_19PhKUzpCip43BRgEqqWiqL8CrehlxVjwAU1YXX-DobnWz6JfuPdf5U2S_X6Joz02zOM4-gOOBtPFeVUua4IJpAxLbf-X3Il8a58942Ev3AgvPP9kpIjZMJNHw49oOFCfVb/s400/makeup2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469850598072691762" /></a><br />When it was my turn, I showed Aliona <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/03/make-me-over-trials-and-tribulations-of-a-brunette-bride/">the same picture of Penelope Cruz</a> that I showed the first MUA.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzSoMSjDEiRn5GNJTLIoPNL2vMze-g7Ny7QGFVZThmzXDotnVLF_LumAJVyH91WuvaREXZG05c8jTEi6n_K8X7ptwqgbUPv7MTD8yfQC9YxaAbGAb68jOLhX2ZF95x98zbqwyzbToiGI6/s1600-h/pen-drama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzSoMSjDEiRn5GNJTLIoPNL2vMze-g7Ny7QGFVZThmzXDotnVLF_LumAJVyH91WuvaREXZG05c8jTEi6n_K8X7ptwqgbUPv7MTD8yfQC9YxaAbGAb68jOLhX2ZF95x98zbqwyzbToiGI6/s400/pen-drama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442999251117378738" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://stylefrizz.com/200807/penelope-cruz-w-magazine-august-2008/">source</a>)</span></center><br />And like the first time, <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/04/spaniel-in-the-shower/">I didn't look like Penelope Cruz in the end</a>. DAMN IT AGAIN!<br /><br />Aliona insisted that dark eye makeup was not "bride-appropriate" and that I had to go lighter. She also wouldn't put on fake eyelashes, telling me that, without a trial, they might fall out and it would be a disaster. I was not exactly in a position to find a new makeup artist with only a few hours left to go until the wedding, so I relented and figured I could ask her to change anything I didn't like when she was done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefPxtI-XpgaBeeTm8NdFKztO8_2Wfcfog3nR7eCJvCqV0OqQJiLlFDLg8eozEi6K2-UsuoRr_1mFAF1SAOFELcftd-1OV_C_raPNkgmb1Nm0ZMgIYhklkjTl24qcE2TwzVtIYWfa-4Ui6/s1600/makeup3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefPxtI-XpgaBeeTm8NdFKztO8_2Wfcfog3nR7eCJvCqV0OqQJiLlFDLg8eozEi6K2-UsuoRr_1mFAF1SAOFELcftd-1OV_C_raPNkgmb1Nm0ZMgIYhklkjTl24qcE2TwzVtIYWfa-4Ui6/s400/makeup3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469854025713598354" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Primed and incredulous)</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtBBv9SUPi3E_sAd8LKb1mLh9SW7JqQicYZ-yNSVaT7S9UVcxhIJwf-MoYmY_AA3CATpgDGm2lRObSZdPikoQVKDinU2DPxQQJP9b6Xieu4sZ4Pn_DDVS0Ooly2vFBVEackWjjLrIhBT3/s1600/makeup4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtBBv9SUPi3E_sAd8LKb1mLh9SW7JqQicYZ-yNSVaT7S9UVcxhIJwf-MoYmY_AA3CATpgDGm2lRObSZdPikoQVKDinU2DPxQQJP9b6Xieu4sZ4Pn_DDVS0Ooly2vFBVEackWjjLrIhBT3/s400/makeup4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469854016758119234" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(What's with all the purple?)</span></center><br />Luckily lavender was one of my wedding colors, because I felt a little like <a href="http://www.mauribernstein.com/images/grimace___mo_smallest.jpg">Grimace</a> when I looked in the mirror at first. Still, I was starting to warm up to the lavender eye shadow (but was definitely pretty iffy on the purple lipstick) while Febe finished off my hair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvAxkmfeR5lTJ5zKa1RQpR89mdzBGz2_s_OY8_8NYUiDL3JF6znEwzUWLiL4I3Ip5HDbFW3cCeTLNaq8cC1HE631csJj_0cqfUVUZXM85bW_QNwIUFdjLe5IkYXJtNXV_ouoU5zDOuC_6/s1600/hair2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvAxkmfeR5lTJ5zKa1RQpR89mdzBGz2_s_OY8_8NYUiDL3JF6znEwzUWLiL4I3Ip5HDbFW3cCeTLNaq8cC1HE631csJj_0cqfUVUZXM85bW_QNwIUFdjLe5IkYXJtNXV_ouoU5zDOuC_6/s400/hair2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469856903843818610" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJISJVl5fmFl0OjYipfLwxz5U5V7iUJ3PbatJMdWYfARfEYOSchfGaMapTnZ8-u5nTZ0pVd270qY0WrM0_bFpVPFqFibt4d-ec9VTHFn_2lPRttLPAHJdYnTFXNVCxrwZhQ7ifnntcgh5/s1600/hair3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJISJVl5fmFl0OjYipfLwxz5U5V7iUJ3PbatJMdWYfARfEYOSchfGaMapTnZ8-u5nTZ0pVd270qY0WrM0_bFpVPFqFibt4d-ec9VTHFn_2lPRttLPAHJdYnTFXNVCxrwZhQ7ifnntcgh5/s400/hair3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469856893366441026" /></a><br />When my hair was done and I got to see the look mostly completed, I decided I was on board with the purple Spaniel after all. The purple lipstick still looked weird and unnatural to me (of course, being a wearer solely of clear lip balm only would have made <i>any</i> color weird and unnatural), but I got positive feedback and I ended up really liking the way it came out in pictures. But I <i>really</i> loved the eye makeup. My eyes are on the dark side of brown, and they tend to look black in pictures. Even in these simple snapshots, I feel like my eye color looks much warmer and brighter. And in the pro shots? I HAVE EYELASHES!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSIFHdZoitIeiPOodyMYAAAw39yXUInC_qy4p-ecvP-IOJR_jTQBCLDsowqtfqe3AnwuW6sFOyMBm9tw6P9mG498-Dg6MkjEGDPr6IT0diH8lsKHKxFDEYYeuEGMlSbUW4lQBMFLOaw8V/s1600/0027_2153_AD.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: nnnpx; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSIFHdZoitIeiPOodyMYAAAw39yXUInC_qy4p-ecvP-IOJR_jTQBCLDsowqtfqe3AnwuW6sFOyMBm9tw6P9mG498-Dg6MkjEGDPr6IT0diH8lsKHKxFDEYYeuEGMlSbUW4lQBMFLOaw8V/s1600/0027_2153_AD.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469859212844033858" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo by <a href="http://www.megperotti.com">Meg Perotti</a>)</span></center><br />After my hair was done, we had just enough time to clip my veil in, get the bridesmaids into their dresses, and hop into the shuttle to get to Calamigos and get me married!<br /><br />Did anyone else find themselves doing their makeup trial on their wedding day? :)<br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/18/missing-wedding-vendor/">Vendor FAIL</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-48888423269624182412010-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:002010-05-18T06:11:00.740-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Vendor FAILI can be a bit of a worrier at times, and like <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/04/07/contingencies/">Miss Cola</a>, I allay some of my anxiety by making back-up plans. This came in handy when <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/09/fixation/">I had to find a new DJ</a> with less than two weeks to go before the wedding, because I had a list of phone numbers ready, our ceremony music all burned to a disc, and most of our other songs already downloaded should an iPod reception become a necessity (though where I would get the speakers, I hadn't figured out yet). Luckily, I didn't have to, because we found another DJ within two days who only charged <i>a little</i> more than our original, and who we trusted to <i>show up</i> (at that point, we hoped for little else).<br /><br />Thanks to the-until-recently-<a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/author/rainbow">Miss Rainbow</a>, I taught myself how to do somewhat decent wedding makeup—more than I would normally wear, but still not enough to totally save my face from disappearing due to camera flashes—and had most of the necessary tools in my big makeup bag. But for whatever reason, the worrier in me decided to relax—maybe I thought the DJ fiasco would be my only wedding crisis?—and I left the big bag at home—I only packed my everyday makeup, what I would need for the honeymoon (a "kit" that includes only tinted moisturizer, bronzer and mascara). After all, I'd confirmed the location and arrival time the night before with the artist I had found on Craigslist who did my makeup for <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/04/spaniel-in-the-shower/">my bridal shower</a>, and even though I didn't fall all over myself about the job she did, I felt at ease since she'd been so accessible and I could see my eyelashes in the pictures with the help of the fakies she applied.<br /><br /><b>What in the world was I thinking?</b><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY1vP4JNu4FPj_x9SZikg9XX7IYATbw5JuJZlJVYYrlzjAF3U1-tkyaK6xl5x1A08z92sTIYW0Xc0AMlCvFyqu0v-BBkgPNkyxKnIxIvnFzdUs9Vwg8vnScXi1p9lUOxifq0VhNpCxW5R/s1600/vader-fail1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY1vP4JNu4FPj_x9SZikg9XX7IYATbw5JuJZlJVYYrlzjAF3U1-tkyaK6xl5x1A08z92sTIYW0Xc0AMlCvFyqu0v-BBkgPNkyxKnIxIvnFzdUs9Vwg8vnScXi1p9lUOxifq0VhNpCxW5R/s400/vader-fail1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461319142674590642" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://socialmedialawstudent.com/web-20/comment-fail-for-76-171-45-218/">source</a>)</span></center><br />I woke up at 7:45 on Saturday and hopped in the shower while waiting for breakfast to be delivered to the room for me, BM-Noe, and MOH-S (my other bridesmaids planned to meet us later in the morning). When it arrived at 8:30, I decided take a quick look at my cell phone just to make sure there were no last minute questions from my vendors that I needed to refer to my Day-of-Coordinator. What I found instead was a text message from my make-up artist's "neighbor":<br /><blockquote>This is [No-show]'s neighbor. No-show was just taken to the hospital with a fever of 104 and is covered in a rash. She gave me your number so I could contact you and let you know she's not going to be able to do your wedding. She was literally more concerned about that than herself but she is very sick.</blockquote>Funny how No-show's neighbor was able to send me a text message from No-show's phone, isn't it? Or how No-show was able to post new ads on Craigslist and continue to post to Facebook and Twitter, but not respond to my phone calls in the following weeks about returning my deposit for a month and a half afterward?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXLsW11gLs2Dp8AGhx0xQ4RArdxQAL6bLFJwt0nFwuaAdgnblU-Icy-t-Y2MfJOWcMRhnsnUpCRsrkEzuPL1gnZsJ_u-Kyb3NUNivJMsa8kOLuVTYwAZyjEzbXDeDDLuajmcCMdIGwMZp/s1600/shipmentoffail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXLsW11gLs2Dp8AGhx0xQ4RArdxQAL6bLFJwt0nFwuaAdgnblU-Icy-t-Y2MfJOWcMRhnsnUpCRsrkEzuPL1gnZsJ_u-Kyb3NUNivJMsa8kOLuVTYwAZyjEzbXDeDDLuajmcCMdIGwMZp/s400/shipmentoffail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461320095099457986" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(<a href="http://www.readthesmiths.com/articles/humor/50_Photos_Full_of_Fail?page=7">source</a>)</span></center><br />When I finished reading the message, I definitely started to panic. <i>I barely had any makeup with me; what was I going to do?</i> I'll tell you! I was going to sit back and let my amazing bridesmaids save the day!<br /><br />MOH-S got right on the phone with her mother, who lived near the hotel where we were staying and had the number of <i>all kinds</i> of salons. She started calling them as soon as they opened, while BM-Noe talked me through our other options, like heading to the drug store to pick up the (many) items I was missing, or calling up the nearest MAC counter at a mall a few minutes away and getting us all in for some emergency wedding make-up. She also called my most stylish bridesmaid, BM-Y, to stop by a little earlier either to help us with our application (seriously, yo, we are clueless), or to make some phone calls herself since she had friends in beauty school (some training > no training!).<br /><br />Many, many (<i>many</i>) phone calls were placed in the span of a half-hour... but did we find our miracle worker?<br /><br />Were you stood up by a vendor? Were you able to resolve it?<br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a><br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/14/this-will-be-our-year-watching-paint-dry/">Watching Paint Dry</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-65936067711145774092010-05-14T01:33:00.000-07:002010-05-16T15:27:19.985-07:00This Will Be Our Year: Watching Paint DrySo last time, I told you about my <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/05/10/wedding-during-law-school/">super busy month and a half after the wedding</a>, but now that that's <i>all</i> over (yeah right), it's time to get into the wedding preparations!<br /><br />The day before the Spaniel wedding, we gathered together in our home with a few of our closest friends for a <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/02/08/a-non-traditional-mehndi/">non-traditional mehndi party</a>. BM-Noe, an out-of-town-er, had spent the night since our rehearsal dinner was the evening before (two days before the wedding), so we decided to start our morning with a greasy homemade breakfast (the best kind). While Mr. Spaniel cooked and I did some frantic last-minute vacuuming, Best Man Fan (our photographer for the day!) and his girlfriend arrived.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OwdQ9LH9LRsL0EiZNlV54wN9f6pNlE8-uFujOEZrT6D9xyQJrRcB1_71IBo969cwUMwXEX7ftxq13CDibn4_xDbmHuLjqWZu4N__FuwCrRR3grL8pIlg3zDFpEJq5u4PffU9nEyFr2vk/s1600/henna1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OwdQ9LH9LRsL0EiZNlV54wN9f6pNlE8-uFujOEZrT6D9xyQJrRcB1_71IBo969cwUMwXEX7ftxq13CDibn4_xDbmHuLjqWZu4N__FuwCrRR3grL8pIlg3zDFpEJq5u4PffU9nEyFr2vk/s400/henna1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456824675807407458" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48Kpx3MtbV5DsT-4uYdUdOhfLXsiEXu6SYdUGZsqPfVr5UAQvXnsB2ACBFdT937C6ilZHYC00Y7qn19aU2j0oKAW6ZIW6zekZJMB_gkq6PsC5jKHAsZJka3Hzq442-ZAWtzAlEuP06Jn6/s1600/henna2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48Kpx3MtbV5DsT-4uYdUdOhfLXsiEXu6SYdUGZsqPfVr5UAQvXnsB2ACBFdT937C6ilZHYC00Y7qn19aU2j0oKAW6ZIW6zekZJMB_gkq6PsC5jKHAsZJka3Hzq442-ZAWtzAlEuP06Jn6/s400/henna2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456824666167800402" /></a><br />We'd planned to keep the party <i>really</i> small for the first few hours so that the henna artist, Paula (of <a href="http://www.lotushennaonline.com/index.html">Lotus Henna</a>), would have some room to work in our teeny-tiny apartment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0A1wm0d_WIYk6gN5jHssKbu8Q7Ot6FLNct8lVuJHp4BVNTQPYZ18GE_aLVuYBJy1nY3zzcqNTSxtYYEtFSk8UkaA1r6NFqN-04dXaXFC7jyfsBXq3rdAypHnMK464m3dXMfuMqZYxJw/s1600/henna3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos0A1wm0d_WIYk6gN5jHssKbu8Q7Ot6FLNct8lVuJHp4BVNTQPYZ18GE_aLVuYBJy1nY3zzcqNTSxtYYEtFSk8UkaA1r6NFqN-04dXaXFC7jyfsBXq3rdAypHnMK464m3dXMfuMqZYxJw/s400/henna3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459009785588174258" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Reviewing the patterns we picked earlier</span></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcQNEuGwaT41wYdITa22oDKTAW65GP1EQzZl5YM07RrHioaxbHmk0ZBEbi_aKNnxi-L1RCRsHisbBd5BEnf0LPEVyB_aRtW8vUqBw94knDP7mmTUf-lQBSlFyVL6zXVrcjoZPWUWlNRcG/s1600/henna4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcQNEuGwaT41wYdITa22oDKTAW65GP1EQzZl5YM07RrHioaxbHmk0ZBEbi_aKNnxi-L1RCRsHisbBd5BEnf0LPEVyB_aRtW8vUqBw94knDP7mmTUf-lQBSlFyVL6zXVrcjoZPWUWlNRcG/s400/henna4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459009785159411266" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyqyomvYjX8k1Ao_fbijs_MQ2ulGM0Lf4UhKkjQ9k55ujyE1gTotxyFmmqhShmUsis7XyS0fyxJ_p1kYpPQH-BmQjwNunFmTIjHpIFPsXodtlQYmW_lSG57K_VDk2MDk2hkn4P-68dIoK/s1600/henna5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyqyomvYjX8k1Ao_fbijs_MQ2ulGM0Lf4UhKkjQ9k55ujyE1gTotxyFmmqhShmUsis7XyS0fyxJ_p1kYpPQH-BmQjwNunFmTIjHpIFPsXodtlQYmW_lSG57K_VDk2MDk2hkn4P-68dIoK/s400/henna5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459011120101120626" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Setting up materials</span></center><br />For the next three hours, Paula diligently labored over my mehndi, while I froze like a little unprepared popsicle. Apparently henna sucks the heat right out of your skin, and a smarter Spaniel would have maybe worn a little longer of a sleeve. (A smarter Spaniel also would have done her hair or put on some make-up before taking pictures that would be plastered all over the 'Bee, but, um, oops.) But at least I didn't have to ask people to pull my sleeves up all day—they already had to feed me. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRhCL0v318xxsZ4bAuOSwKWUYtozhpRXY64CMNvv-TW4atEaB0u5zMdHhEjIuqVWRqnUYCLTb7FrApOpS58UuOl4s9ES3GP2jaFRjtu-vrbu0SCGAxFPjKn2l89Nu8nWIJCvAvf8T6LuZ/s1600/henna6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRhCL0v318xxsZ4bAuOSwKWUYtozhpRXY64CMNvv-TW4atEaB0u5zMdHhEjIuqVWRqnUYCLTb7FrApOpS58UuOl4s9ES3GP2jaFRjtu-vrbu0SCGAxFPjKn2l89Nu8nWIJCvAvf8T6LuZ/s400/henna6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459022592499653954" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY4pVs2Gy8oNOPjBq6dDT6ccvQqnACKIjseYXPddOybVmfgch4SN0yToGULOuID558qoOZ5lnM-CORADXKo5t2TRV2WKNbM2MN0BkUvCPlzCWfZrdRdrQpvPwjG5BmgRwm26OKAWahP5A/s1600/henna7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY4pVs2Gy8oNOPjBq6dDT6ccvQqnACKIjseYXPddOybVmfgch4SN0yToGULOuID558qoOZ5lnM-CORADXKo5t2TRV2WKNbM2MN0BkUvCPlzCWfZrdRdrQpvPwjG5BmgRwm26OKAWahP5A/s400/henna7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459021537333371154" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKJElmHPMauh-Ivnvwm45b2H2-NgEiFJpGi-eNPQUXLRdRqehIMbueSjqP0plrs03ALQ2KR1lbWZawuNfM59IzeQfxaCnZqY773GPvAYeUxQaEr1C05RCgLq5CIjKBaeO3iBV6aHc7XzA/s1600/henna8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKJElmHPMauh-Ivnvwm45b2H2-NgEiFJpGi-eNPQUXLRdRqehIMbueSjqP0plrs03ALQ2KR1lbWZawuNfM59IzeQfxaCnZqY773GPvAYeUxQaEr1C05RCgLq5CIjKBaeO3iBV6aHc7XzA/s400/henna8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459021535925973106" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAQMIlbqJANVyGfw358ZWgvJxJcNvp9pJNnA7Gu8EkIkeYlAqMRzfQzbKqcPtVLElTysGBHzxZXQO94Gaq6bJbp30dSYkxh-NuMvvR3-9trG1kKh6zsiYXOJxlCeECmzugp2hPNN0wnhY/s1600/henna9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAQMIlbqJANVyGfw358ZWgvJxJcNvp9pJNnA7Gu8EkIkeYlAqMRzfQzbKqcPtVLElTysGBHzxZXQO94Gaq6bJbp30dSYkxh-NuMvvR3-9trG1kKh6zsiYXOJxlCeECmzugp2hPNN0wnhY/s400/henna9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459021529429988610" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0AFBIG9F6-nQGAFrgD4c1BQD2vHEH_VCWVgxqUNxQI2mSv5lrFlhThBC8Q-05TNROp-zRg1ktPiUvZ-HPiMJqihX1uzrqI2IOaZ38q7wetVw4o7440X27vZKuEi0V2gmEqK2_EqqiuQ_/s1600/henna10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0AFBIG9F6-nQGAFrgD4c1BQD2vHEH_VCWVgxqUNxQI2mSv5lrFlhThBC8Q-05TNROp-zRg1ktPiUvZ-HPiMJqihX1uzrqI2IOaZ38q7wetVw4o7440X27vZKuEi0V2gmEqK2_EqqiuQ_/s400/henna10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459021523298310546" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq-AcQq7u9DHUcA50GCfWTKrHYEPFq-it2u1mTVcQLd4vd1YCxtyJLh4Pb4LElNBmPtn2VYhyJ2eKoXEiFVXOcUOjI12csICXHOYiS9_QMKcr8FV7Vj07WxW1I_hVmFwwJYSH74_IXIWM/s1600/henna11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq-AcQq7u9DHUcA50GCfWTKrHYEPFq-it2u1mTVcQLd4vd1YCxtyJLh4Pb4LElNBmPtn2VYhyJ2eKoXEiFVXOcUOjI12csICXHOYiS9_QMKcr8FV7Vj07WxW1I_hVmFwwJYSH74_IXIWM/s400/henna11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459021518210437154" /></a><br />I won't bore you with the process twice; here are both hands covered in wet henna paste.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hDJTiVH3V7XokhZPBOHqZwOVXRwXGLCFD720n44qDZSIv65-Uu8HGZ28HgwVw0hgzBDSMq6HidWFJkKT9tB_wQjmfCjBztjNUkbmyvm6SU_VHY31f3g_NOT20YU1YUuVepFRJ7Xv2iSA/s1600/henna12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hDJTiVH3V7XokhZPBOHqZwOVXRwXGLCFD720n44qDZSIv65-Uu8HGZ28HgwVw0hgzBDSMq6HidWFJkKT9tB_wQjmfCjBztjNUkbmyvm6SU_VHY31f3g_NOT20YU1YUuVepFRJ7Xv2iSA/s400/henna12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459022593112541186" /></a><br />Of course, we did my feet and palms as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-_Iql2jndoSZyhX_h19LXebi6Hz7-oMcr4FPwrVR3dMcGm9cbv8J-m-11dSsSOca92_2QWFaFNJs2zcafAbTENSb1yWU8WNTzWK6d00C4y42Hg78HApgAzuIao8DyCerKFKWiCpmrc_o/s1600/henna13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-_Iql2jndoSZyhX_h19LXebi6Hz7-oMcr4FPwrVR3dMcGm9cbv8J-m-11dSsSOca92_2QWFaFNJs2zcafAbTENSb1yWU8WNTzWK6d00C4y42Hg78HApgAzuIao8DyCerKFKWiCpmrc_o/s400/henna13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459038856426989506" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYX6l6RcKpI38vmNRMA4njlEWNxXAtbbOtp50bMvU9XwH0uTptUYmbrT2ibt1jzpxBVSJ5zMdrqVXC5qbVwysESk6Zakwc8AaA1whc_wZHU19f5i1qQw6WU6oZvrkvPmaBXBcKkk5rPAy/s1600/henna14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYX6l6RcKpI38vmNRMA4njlEWNxXAtbbOtp50bMvU9XwH0uTptUYmbrT2ibt1jzpxBVSJ5zMdrqVXC5qbVwysESk6Zakwc8AaA1whc_wZHU19f5i1qQw6WU6oZvrkvPmaBXBcKkk5rPAy/s400/henna14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459038852895988898" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPh0wEooUztm1kkPsp-ClOcAud7yD9kHpqWgiiddW-qsJ-aTuDz5E8hXCOiT98g4_C-qOapplyCz5TV1XJ8rZXvnqRQw7vewgSDxCOZr6z8CmjfsbHnYXKkHADg5t1mnXSOp3PQXOVKia/s1600/henna15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPh0wEooUztm1kkPsp-ClOcAud7yD9kHpqWgiiddW-qsJ-aTuDz5E8hXCOiT98g4_C-qOapplyCz5TV1XJ8rZXvnqRQw7vewgSDxCOZr6z8CmjfsbHnYXKkHADg5t1mnXSOp3PQXOVKia/s400/henna15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459038844801462482" /></a><br />In some parts of South Asia, men are also hennaed for weddings, though it's not common where my family comes from. But I couldn't leave Mr. Spaniel out of the fun when he wanted his own little paisley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qkAXrNDu_dNpUpbeF5swp67JtTC47rk3Hd5Hcw1e7DsX4Huy7hcDSyUBovFSK98rNXBRV587ym-rQxNA8EAlgjyRstf0INw64Br1WB0u4FlchdCFhQ3IlMHymmTL81FNk_MPpYB1Et9h/s1600/henna16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qkAXrNDu_dNpUpbeF5swp67JtTC47rk3Hd5Hcw1e7DsX4Huy7hcDSyUBovFSK98rNXBRV587ym-rQxNA8EAlgjyRstf0INw64Br1WB0u4FlchdCFhQ3IlMHymmTL81FNk_MPpYB1Et9h/s400/henna16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459042818616247730" /></a><br />BM-Noe got into the action, too, and got a little ladybug of her own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z3JpPfyX-v_EdsYQvBuIxOAwChII_8KF-8tSUq2Ojhs-SJbmPtyErvogBRvA8Ruci7ZK2lnR2_1IMSk1QcC4mnfX_YifBA_azUylfNM4CJj_cqF2r5lsMp73YDDRR9xfkdzGuLNFoAYo/s1600/henna17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z3JpPfyX-v_EdsYQvBuIxOAwChII_8KF-8tSUq2Ojhs-SJbmPtyErvogBRvA8Ruci7ZK2lnR2_1IMSk1QcC4mnfX_YifBA_azUylfNM4CJj_cqF2r5lsMp73YDDRR9xfkdzGuLNFoAYo/s400/henna17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459044214397981234" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by BM-Noe</span></center><br />(I suggested a paisley ladybug, but no one seemed to know what one would look like and I couldn't draw it for them with my wet henna-hands. Apparently, I can't draw it in Paint, either!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmvstrnwNfU25_zoZGvUoK7H0O9rEzXwezqYgZJIWu1y_IU7wyz_Bb1P3ECTm4A9OMr5EJYNmDq7iWXdCLams_RoYr98PASNHVnnZ1dvCcHNaGPPDPc4cZtEvGgXehU4OK89P1JKGuFvl/s1600/paisleyladybug.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmvstrnwNfU25_zoZGvUoK7H0O9rEzXwezqYgZJIWu1y_IU7wyz_Bb1P3ECTm4A9OMr5EJYNmDq7iWXdCLams_RoYr98PASNHVnnZ1dvCcHNaGPPDPc4cZtEvGgXehU4OK89P1JKGuFvl/s400/paisleyladybug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459068135884455586" /></a><br />Before she left, Paula instructed us to dab the henna with lemon juice mixed with sugar to keep it moist so that it didn't crack and fall off (allowing the stain to set for longer so that it would be darker), so I took the opportunity to be the laziest bum in the universe, letting Mr. Spaniel and BM-Noe take turns patting sugar-lemon juice onto my hands and feet. In the meantime, Mr. Spaniel mixed us up some mango lassi, while our friends picked up our delicious feast of naan, papadom, samosas, lamb, chicken, and lentil curries (ZOMG I was so full afterwards! Good thing, though; it was practically the last thing I ate all weekend!).<br /><br />Meanwhile, a few other wedding party members arrived to have lunch and hang out. We ended up passing the time watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433416/">The Namesake</a> (a must-see, I think, for anyone from an immigrant family or an interest in the Diaspora, but maybe not at your mehndi party!) and just chatting.<br /><br />All in all, though it was nothing like the mehndi I'd originally hoped for or the one I later envisioned, our little henna party was one of the most perfect experiences leading up to the wedding. It was after seeing my henna done that it really started to sink in—<i>I'm a bride! I'm getting married tomorrow!</i> It was a surprisingly emotional event for me, and I'm so glad we were surrounded just by a small group of people who care about us, wished us well, didn't add to our stress and jitters, and were just plain fun to be around. It was a truly wonderful day!<br /><br /><i>All photos taken by BM-Fan, except where otherwise noted.</i><br /><br />Miss anything?<br /><a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/03/29/this-will-be-our-year-the-spaniels-are-married/">The Spaniels Are Married!</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-65827201545034642702010-05-13T06:36:00.000-07:002010-05-13T06:36:00.445-07:00Spaniels' California Adventure: You Can (Sort of) Go Home AgainBefore we knew it, it was Sunday morning and time to go home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPancOe1fi3JNLyPA8Hd5c6teV_OFnIFqIDo47bqLBz7iTkIIhFyFOodBh3IqESUqaFLIT84SuwIvIrMkiEATKl7sl02p3To9OC1M3ePAFAF0w7klxufgrfQHdoZ4dtoWkZo47yXm7HyT/s1600/putyourfeetup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPancOe1fi3JNLyPA8Hd5c6teV_OFnIFqIDo47bqLBz7iTkIIhFyFOodBh3IqESUqaFLIT84SuwIvIrMkiEATKl7sl02p3To9OC1M3ePAFAF0w7klxufgrfQHdoZ4dtoWkZo47yXm7HyT/s400/putyourfeetup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459063409518723778" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">On the road again</span></center><br />It was back to the grind of 5:00 AM alarms and commutes across the sprawl of Los Angeles; back to homework, studying, finals, and not drinking all the fabulous wine we came home with. I wouldn't exactly say I suffered from "post-wedding depression"... but <i>man</i> did reality hit hard after the honeymoon! Folks, if you can take an extra day or two readjusting your sleep clock before returning to real life, I highly recommend it!<br /><br />I did have a few amazing things to look forward to when I got back though. Not only did I graduate law school just five short weeks (okay, five <i>intensely long</i> weeks) after we came back home from the honeymoon...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEXieJqSVoOgHWkCoEsleC6iFQP81niUA3asoD6lPmq6FD4yynmm5PiX1URGT6l7eGVYw-vnxiyVL9PFkDv2HNSxL5nROKpZIbc_w8iRA2tOzIYA2DUB8vQVQXzWiFDDcGLZihetn8G9q/s1600/gradpic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEXieJqSVoOgHWkCoEsleC6iFQP81niUA3asoD6lPmq6FD4yynmm5PiX1URGT6l7eGVYw-vnxiyVL9PFkDv2HNSxL5nROKpZIbc_w8iRA2tOzIYA2DUB8vQVQXzWiFDDcGLZihetn8G9q/s400/gradpic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469736338398518194" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Yes! I did graduate!)</span></center><br />...but I also knew I had the wedding recaps to look forward to! So while I wait for image files from my photographer and figure out how in the world I am going to write these recaps (why did no one tell me how hard they would be? Where do I even start?!), I have one more (huge, gigantic) thing keeping me entertained...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1fuuL3JbwsofUr6cG8oT5_O0W1xBMvNh-luWGxhV4eQk9VGjhi2PdSM6Hh7FH24osfgkzdT4U5pC8k3Rp2ey_cNE6ZO1YKoiVjpa9PuiAWcL48MkcfqY1j32APL3VbF2Mi_ECmN7fH84/s1600/barprepbooks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1fuuL3JbwsofUr6cG8oT5_O0W1xBMvNh-luWGxhV4eQk9VGjhi2PdSM6Hh7FH24osfgkzdT4U5pC8k3Rp2ey_cNE6ZO1YKoiVjpa9PuiAWcL48MkcfqY1j32APL3VbF2Mi_ECmN7fH84/s400/barprepbooks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469738552807486274" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">I was supposed to learn all of this during law school. I tell you, I did not.</span></center><br />So help a sister out! What do you find most helpful or interesting in wedding recaps?<br /><br />Want to see where the adventure began?<br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure-honeymoon.html">Honeymoon Roadtrip</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure.html">Sebastopol and Occidental</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-timber.html">Timber Cove</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-happy.html">Happy Cows Come from California</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-carmel.html">Carmel and Big Sur</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-cambria.html">Cambria</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-34681521142419228752010-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:002010-05-11T06:00:06.966-07:00Spaniels' California Adventure: Cambria or Bust!After our <a href="">disappointment at Hearst Castle</a>, we Spaniels drove the lengthy and arduous six miles to our final honeymoon destination, the <a href="http://www.fogcatcherinn.com/">Fog Catcher Inn</a> in Cambria.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHlJpVQvMgBuPrDUCVmAsvtJ58W8j-SlGw8krRZhw_7mGTM7KtlL05rCnKoKoR2362XXCuq8A0UZIqq7xSGKnb5vGBjs7-7j1YWD80Iak18qbw4lXAZBSDRYjzAWn2TVNnKomIGHizY4L/s1600/IMG_2243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHlJpVQvMgBuPrDUCVmAsvtJ58W8j-SlGw8krRZhw_7mGTM7KtlL05rCnKoKoR2362XXCuq8A0UZIqq7xSGKnb5vGBjs7-7j1YWD80Iak18qbw4lXAZBSDRYjzAWn2TVNnKomIGHizY4L/s400/IMG_2243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456809776708377730" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-aoN8MADmFmZ0dc8CQxK_-nbevLECnVLZgbgZpenWQAkKw8JOHQMn1wr4v4s9CSmlH9QbLHIxN3vLHVh2s98jETjvEYJvs7ce2EFVCw2uUb7Mn-T4S-_luydqvalgl94LU-FNVLMCpfG/s1600/IMG_2246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-aoN8MADmFmZ0dc8CQxK_-nbevLECnVLZgbgZpenWQAkKw8JOHQMn1wr4v4s9CSmlH9QbLHIxN3vLHVh2s98jETjvEYJvs7ce2EFVCw2uUb7Mn-T4S-_luydqvalgl94LU-FNVLMCpfG/s400/IMG_2246.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456809766613299250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aTWs8HrDqeJ8Ke9N8mNyDVIc_sKrEP6rliQfGmX3uPSPyadD74TmpOpQPRah8xu5KKjrpPmNGFCrUc-jlggvxjanKxxSF-9-2AMPQd0SEwV8hYowr-sW_uLI-MxEzbqIW-gjbkS4fmym/s1600/IMG_2247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aTWs8HrDqeJ8Ke9N8mNyDVIc_sKrEP6rliQfGmX3uPSPyadD74TmpOpQPRah8xu5KKjrpPmNGFCrUc-jlggvxjanKxxSF-9-2AMPQd0SEwV8hYowr-sW_uLI-MxEzbqIW-gjbkS4fmym/s400/IMG_2247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456809757847068498" /></a><br />But don't let the view from the front of the property fool you: we had a fabulous view of a retaining wall from our room. It can't be all panoramic ocean views all the time, now can it? :)<br /><br />We only had one night in Cambria, and since it was a pretty familiar spot for us (if you remember, we took <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/10/and-i-do-my-little-turn-on-the-catwalk/">our first set of engagement photos there</a> with Mr. Spaniel's family), we didn't do much other than sandwich crapping out big-time with dinner and breakfast. We did manage to get a pretty awesome vegetarian dinner at <a href="http://www.robinsrestaurant.com/cm/Home.html">Robin's Restaurant</a> and a delish breakfast with <a href="http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/">ollalieberry jam at Linn's</a>, and to take some really silly pictures for you, but that's about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Blmlj-_Ae-xIveVeN9kjvxgdXKTmDRYo_1k-pqQD47hov9KTuSnyjgXgslR5jVyFpZPrsrqycH4dN8Hn4opFTrW2qEoo9Bzs-PyhbqcS1pY_KthVrNOFylbc1GRZjxwel6msSlWyun3x/s1600/cambria.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Blmlj-_Ae-xIveVeN9kjvxgdXKTmDRYo_1k-pqQD47hov9KTuSnyjgXgslR5jVyFpZPrsrqycH4dN8Hn4opFTrW2qEoo9Bzs-PyhbqcS1pY_KthVrNOFylbc1GRZjxwel6msSlWyun3x/s400/cambria.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456811680461548226" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Aforementioned silly pictures</span></center><br />Our only goal in Cambria was to relax enough to brace ourselves against coming back home by relaxing as much as possible. We pretty much achieved it.<br /><br />Want to see where the adventure began?<br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure-honeymoon.html">Honeymoon Roadtrip</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure.html">Sebastopol and Occidental</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-timber.html">Timber Cove</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-happy.html">Happy Cows Come from California</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-carmel.html">Carmel and Big Sur</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-61412793351952411882010-05-10T12:49:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:50:52.985-07:00Spaniels' California Adventure: Carmel and Big Sur: THWARTED, and THWARTED AGAIN!On Thursday morning, we started to make our way down to our next stop, the <a href="http://www.ticklepinkinn.com">Tickle Pink Inn</a> in Carmel. This leg of our trip was a wedding gift from the Spaniel-in-laws, who stayed at the same hotel on their own honeymoon thirty-five years ago!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iCJA5Dqy-hEt4BjgAdAx5F1PUmX3ToklaF58yxoB9YaGek-8-xdBGFu4YJLto5UTtA5NKS0iVpr-uuSWCtQX9xGejAhcSHJLKQHYKYnq2l0Yfigt7kAsQdzB3_f-iu1RI2ISIqD3mkSw/s1600/routecarmel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iCJA5Dqy-hEt4BjgAdAx5F1PUmX3ToklaF58yxoB9YaGek-8-xdBGFu4YJLto5UTtA5NKS0iVpr-uuSWCtQX9xGejAhcSHJLKQHYKYnq2l0Yfigt7kAsQdzB3_f-iu1RI2ISIqD3mkSw/s400/routecarmel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456801936795119170" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Day 5 route (<a href="http://maps.google.com">source</a>)</span></center><br />As beautiful as it was, though, going to Carmel and Monterey was a little bittersweet: our trip was more than half over! It also marked the end of our beautiful and amazing sojourn in Sonoma County, which is absolutely one of the nicest places I've ever been!<br /><br />But it's hard to feel bad for too long when the view out out of the full-wall of windows in your hotel room looks like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_OPCsXSh4Ttjr7YiAYFc-TuVseSqP9qVWkTaeUBa0LYXbGXNvZBwF9T8Y6KTAXMhtynPX-qAEUEhYfPFpdWuHrGX3YF4tGBnC2SIdt4ajxdCePmR_c1XXB30fRWv6-No43irLiXu-C9j/s1600/carmel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_OPCsXSh4Ttjr7YiAYFc-TuVseSqP9qVWkTaeUBa0LYXbGXNvZBwF9T8Y6KTAXMhtynPX-qAEUEhYfPFpdWuHrGX3YF4tGBnC2SIdt4ajxdCePmR_c1XXB30fRWv6-No43irLiXu-C9j/s400/carmel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456801923370143906" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">(Taken from different corners at different times of day)</span></center><br />We actually were able to see whales from our window the first morning! They were too far away and moved too quickly for me to photograph, though.<br /><br />Most of this leg of our trip seemed to be spent eating, but we also took the <a href="http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_17_Mile_Home">17 Mile Drive</a> after hearing some of the other guests at the <a href="http://www.ticklepinkinn.com">Tickle Pink Inn</a> raving about it.<br /><br />It. Was. Boring. As. Hell. And the biggest waste of $9.25 and our time I can imagine. I don't even have a good picture of it, it was so boring. Maybe it's worth it if you actually want to golf at Pebble Beach, but I saw much more beautiful scenery for free driving to Carmel from Jenner.<br /><br />Still, there were some beautiful things other than our hotel room in Carmel; we did manage to take in some gorgeous scenery on a walk at Point Lobos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DtSJDg8tFpqECqzPCMJ41ZdKA6fQ8R0MwYmk5zXLpGzlGfoWTvjkXkfAWyzmUo1TQugpXKlahqqqhYSQJPFblBi8bWZTCNDMoPDM-5XTdlHOc70FYvmattjUTaP3AUWts39k0d4pmKEN/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DtSJDg8tFpqECqzPCMJ41ZdKA6fQ8R0MwYmk5zXLpGzlGfoWTvjkXkfAWyzmUo1TQugpXKlahqqqhYSQJPFblBi8bWZTCNDMoPDM-5XTdlHOc70FYvmattjUTaP3AUWts39k0d4pmKEN/s400/IMG_2150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456803812560442706" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeFMdMpnTmadi-GEX2oPlPrYRLaK5Z_XmWgQ4_b99tW8rXlYdumBUBUk1cyKiu9Fhyyxm7gNFAsr10uh3Yz2MLDTxn4fW676fkuacJocRGpLMyq4lwXigHe5AoH1Fb3PeZcgOLRkc2HeR/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeFMdMpnTmadi-GEX2oPlPrYRLaK5Z_XmWgQ4_b99tW8rXlYdumBUBUk1cyKiu9Fhyyxm7gNFAsr10uh3Yz2MLDTxn4fW676fkuacJocRGpLMyq4lwXigHe5AoH1Fb3PeZcgOLRkc2HeR/s400/IMG_2187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456803828362317154" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-_d1s4TA6uhZ1gHMzEfTVI2A80JZO3YdZQbGXJgLwmAD10AUYl1bu4Mh-6nqAN3RJ9RFq8tFxb9cX6BAK4mRnHkYTQGVdAVb7BsQ1If0kHlivieyWHtE3pdI5KoOmFxhf_Wt1QmBq1T-/s1600/ptlobos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-_d1s4TA6uhZ1gHMzEfTVI2A80JZO3YdZQbGXJgLwmAD10AUYl1bu4Mh-6nqAN3RJ9RFq8tFxb9cX6BAK4mRnHkYTQGVdAVb7BsQ1If0kHlivieyWHtE3pdI5KoOmFxhf_Wt1QmBq1T-/s400/ptlobos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456804120090978946" /></a><br />A note: if you come to Carmel in March and want to go hiking, bring something warmer than a sweatshirt. :) We left pretty quickly before I froze to death. THWARTED!<br /><br />We left Carmel early on Saturday to give us time to soak in Big Sur down the PCH, and make a stop at Hearst Castle before our last destination before the honeymoon was over.<br /><br />I had high expectations for Big Sur, I'm not going to lie. And if we'd started our trip in Los Angeles and gone gradually north up the coast, it probably would have met them. But after seeing the amazing views further north—rocky cliffs next to the wild Pacific, with redwood and fir forests on the other side of the road—most of Big Sur just couldn't compete!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ofL-RrYxJb5_gpFOGVXU3Fw7rfX8tpa06GRVfvIonw4uPjMmdLwbw8C_kk5DjtKzoiYPOwJJU69CGRO8782lnuVRB2Ike-X70zm_qYNyP43KRkgKGx1_sQx8mDMfD1Bpb_WYcyr71LQt/s1600/routecambria.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ofL-RrYxJb5_gpFOGVXU3Fw7rfX8tpa06GRVfvIonw4uPjMmdLwbw8C_kk5DjtKzoiYPOwJJU69CGRO8782lnuVRB2Ike-X70zm_qYNyP43KRkgKGx1_sQx8mDMfD1Bpb_WYcyr71LQt/s400/routecambria.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456805870571673058" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Day 7 route (<a href="http://maps.google.com">source</a>)</span></center><br />It <i>was</i> still pretty gorgeous, though... I definitely will be back, someday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bOnwcNtKmiBg2iYwnBeAei6j8H0GYluLZNyPiGM68j1BSplBFmBO4aVCd6C3cRG7jI1bSpwjQ4XN-hBNly03UHdnJE0TaVo8c8oCAYbC9xS159vcqdSCl41T3OUe5EmUh4SIqdb0PiuB/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bOnwcNtKmiBg2iYwnBeAei6j8H0GYluLZNyPiGM68j1BSplBFmBO4aVCd6C3cRG7jI1bSpwjQ4XN-hBNly03UHdnJE0TaVo8c8oCAYbC9xS159vcqdSCl41T3OUe5EmUh4SIqdb0PiuB/s400/IMG_2221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456806878604493698" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SY07mfKGPWD06ZkbVMcRplVdrNrYIYPJX1ZC46XemjCeZfxbYLnN_WY6QwsuzZ18eRbqAZJHkorsOWIOWwq2IpLFgVSPx-XiC84qcjUJr3_5lshy4gwViGhJ0ERBx7sJrpT3U_UYLI0Q/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SY07mfKGPWD06ZkbVMcRplVdrNrYIYPJX1ZC46XemjCeZfxbYLnN_WY6QwsuzZ18eRbqAZJHkorsOWIOWwq2IpLFgVSPx-XiC84qcjUJr3_5lshy4gwViGhJ0ERBx7sJrpT3U_UYLI0Q/s400/IMG_2223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456806894031558034" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OS46iwJH7eQGIJ5YRE2wwUiO5SqJo-tikY-rpNDpXkQFnY0GV4FxBgF6Bzt5jlcXdVU-ZlgpLvHPK4HKjWQMFFv80Cd9ku0yEvV2FSSsvN2Yt2922UgD2NVeWE11DWCdo9hTT8AwAmTr/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OS46iwJH7eQGIJ5YRE2wwUiO5SqJo-tikY-rpNDpXkQFnY0GV4FxBgF6Bzt5jlcXdVU-ZlgpLvHPK4HKjWQMFFv80Cd9ku0yEvV2FSSsvN2Yt2922UgD2NVeWE11DWCdo9hTT8AwAmTr/s400/IMG_2224.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456806887440872322" /></a><br />After a few hours in the car, we passed the elephant seals at San Simeon before getting to the visitor center at Hearst Castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqoV6GY7LoRQknlioCIZqGHR7Hbk7D_1jL0G87JvxOGzjrp-3GI-1O6-ruHh1zW5mwLDbZRtkiTifFhRbsqcWy_ZLcc3lwaTf9SgvqIPm1ADUla9ATRh0m6fFGiD9T1gZFjp7zG7UAy8P/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqoV6GY7LoRQknlioCIZqGHR7Hbk7D_1jL0G87JvxOGzjrp-3GI-1O6-ruHh1zW5mwLDbZRtkiTifFhRbsqcWy_ZLcc3lwaTf9SgvqIPm1ADUla9ATRh0m6fFGiD9T1gZFjp7zG7UAy8P/s400/IMG_2238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456807496994399970" /></a><br />Sadly, this is the only picture you'll see from us here, because when we got inside, we discovered that <i>every tour had sold out</i>, for the entire day. THWARTED AGAIN!<br /><br />Luckily Mr. Spaniel and I had been there before so it wasn't the end of the world, but if you're planning on stopping by on a Saturday, it's probably a good idea to know what time you'll be there and reserve your tickets in advance!<br /><br />Want to see where the adventure began?<br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure-honeymoon.html">Honeymoon Roadtrip</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure.html">Sebastopol and Occidental</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-timber.html">Timber Cove</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-happy.html">Happy Cows Come from California</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493189082439486923.post-44528455633942975102010-05-05T05:49:00.000-07:002010-05-10T12:53:21.701-07:00Spaniels' California Adventure: Happy Cows Come From HereWe saw a LOT of cows driving around the coast. Between Guerneville and Timber Cove we actually found a whole herd just hanging out on the Pacific Coast Highway, with a nearby rancher on horseback watching over them. Word to the wise: when you see cow crossing signs on PCH? Drive slowly. They mean it, and you never know what blind curve has a big cow waiting on the other side for you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6r87COZ6_vAZZa-RH4Qxv-nX1KRVnjdWoHtqHFG2s4B0P6GyO7TkkJnQAxDjdRQuhRBnOxebI-PnFnln6LH8Xij9TvLldG2uLXAR67KLKtQ20UHhAAOxUnfmHaOKZdn5K_Imtp0aFdnS/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6r87COZ6_vAZZa-RH4Qxv-nX1KRVnjdWoHtqHFG2s4B0P6GyO7TkkJnQAxDjdRQuhRBnOxebI-PnFnln6LH8Xij9TvLldG2uLXAR67KLKtQ20UHhAAOxUnfmHaOKZdn5K_Imtp0aFdnS/s400/IMG_1937.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456797802172946354" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfrXH8B4fGTADHkUJJ7TH7UqVvZ_o0iWw7zg6rCjbQXtPcZl-9YaWjUigt_lawSGd5L9TpPYH59ZAQhaD2-GFGwebYo3Nakhl8LUoRy9xZp8QeW61OLhXJVw5Lyh0QBkPQIOpJe2H_fS0/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfrXH8B4fGTADHkUJJ7TH7UqVvZ_o0iWw7zg6rCjbQXtPcZl-9YaWjUigt_lawSGd5L9TpPYH59ZAQhaD2-GFGwebYo3Nakhl8LUoRy9xZp8QeW61OLhXJVw5Lyh0QBkPQIOpJe2H_fS0/s400/IMG_2063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456797810194973346" /></a><br />I imagine this is what the commercials are rerferring to when they say that "happy cows come from California"—there was lots and lots of room to roam around, the grass was green, and, seriously, can you beat the view these cows had?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2q94QkLYvz8ydQb79c3UDaWi3nIW5rZbJ8j_DCmfBaFO8w51cgo9GUdrf40WECvkAnsJpWkR5QgHsjJ3kDsTzH3BDc4nCcpGZd3i85w6irZ44FsrgrFJfvoV7vShfcw371csdcRpyHZa/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: nnnpx;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2q94QkLYvz8ydQb79c3UDaWi3nIW5rZbJ8j_DCmfBaFO8w51cgo9GUdrf40WECvkAnsJpWkR5QgHsjJ3kDsTzH3BDc4nCcpGZd3i85w6irZ44FsrgrFJfvoV7vShfcw371csdcRpyHZa/s400/IMG_2068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456798178368169938" /></a><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Cows with a view!</span></center><br /><br />Want to see where the adventure began?<br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure-honeymoon.html">Honeymoon Roadtrip</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/04/spaniels-california-adventure.html">Sebastopol and Occidental</a><br /><a href="http://howtotieknots.blogspot.com/2010/05/spaniels-california-adventure-timber.html">Timber Cove</a>A. Marigoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17250396680228283382noreply@blogger.com0