getting lost in stupid stuff

[vc10um]

I am changing. I think I'll feel a little sad/weird to give up my current last name, but it will also be liberating because I'm estranged from my father, and so it will be nice to get rid of HIS name.

I have plenty of friends who haven't changed immediately...one who waited 7 years, until they were buying their first house, to change her name to her husband's. So it's not unusual! I also know women who have kept their married names through their graduations with their graduate degrees because their parents helped them so much through college and grad school that they wanted to graduate with their given name.

Ever thought of hyphenating? Your name with your FI's wouldn't be too cumbersome!

 

[merilenda]

That makes total sense to me! For me, my dad died last year, so there's something comforting to me having his name. Plus I was really close to my uncle, who died 4 years ago now. And having their name makes me feel kind of close to them still, I guess. I never thought I was that attached to the name, but I guess those things have kind of made it harder for me to give it up!

I've thought about hyphenating, but I don't know...my first name & last name together would be 8 syllables if I hyphenated. Seems like a little bit of a mouthful! I'm going to put off deciding for a while.

 

[vc10um]

That makes total sense to me! For me, my dad died last year, so there's something comforting to me having his name. Plus I was really close to my uncle, who died 4 years ago now. And having their name makes me feel kind of close to them still, I guess. I never thought I was that attached to the name, but I guess those things have kind of made it harder for me to give it up!

I've thought about hyphenating, but I don't know...my first name & last name together would be 8 syllables if I hyphenated. Seems like a little bit of a mouthful! I'm going to put off deciding for a while.

You could also take your maiden name as a second middle name and use it on all of your official documentation, or always throw in your initials! I do that with work now because I LOVE my middle name, so everything I sign always has either my full middle name or my middle initial. I think that's another reason I'm so willing to give up my maiden name...I've always felt much more attached to my FirstName MiddleName than FirstName LastName.

 

[blacksand]

I've always felt pretty strongly about taking my husband's last name, though I understand many woman's reasons not to do so. For me, it's just an outward sign that we are family now. Our kids will have the same last name that we both share. That's important to me. I understand the feminist objections to it, but, meh. I don't have time to be all indignant about centuries-old traditions. They're just traditions. No one really thinks, today, that I am my husband's property. They just think we're united as a family, and I like that. I do understand a lot of people have particular reasons to keep their maiden names due to their careers, academics, relatives they want/don't want to be associated with, etc, and I definitely respect that. But I'm looking forward to changing my name.

The only thing I don't like is that my FI's name begins with the same sound that my first name ends with. So it kind of runs together. But oh, well. FI's last name is pretty badass, actually. I think it will make me cooler.

 

[slg47]

VC you look totally gorgeous in that dress!!! the belt look awesome with it!

I am definitely taking the last name...I want our family to all have the same last name. I actually have a similar problem to blacksand, my first name ends with the same sound that his last name ends with. I don't think it's a very attractive sounding name but I will be happy to take it

 

[merilenda]

VC, I sign my name with my middle initial as well, probably because my dad did and I just picked it up from him at a young age. FI and I actually have the same first and middle initials, so if I take his name, we'll have the exact same initials, haha. I think I probably will end up adding my maiden name as a middle or second middle name. I don't have any particular attachment to my middle name - it's one of the super generic middle names that EVERYONE has. I'm really used to having that middle initial though.

Blacksand and slg, I definitely get what you're saying about feeling like a family. That's why I'm torn about it really, and also why I plan to change my name before having kids if nothing else. FI doesn't have a complicated name, but almost every person ever unintentionally inverts the 2nd and 3rd letters of his name, adding an extra syllable and, umm, making it a different name. So I'll probably have to just get used to that.

 

[rosetta]

I'm not taking his last name but I sure as heck will feel like a family with him!

 

[vc10um]

My back is sore!!! I've spent the last two days hunched over my paper cutter and stacks upon stacks of cardstock.

BUT!

I now have completed escort cards, nearly completed programs, and menu cards that are ready to print. The programs won't get completed until we get to KC because they'll pack much better without the ribbons.

So I took pictures for you!

 

[slg47]

VC those look great!!!

 

[sillyberry]

Yeah yeah yeah vc!!!

Everything looks GREAT and I particularly love the trio of corner punches on the programs!

I think you should make FI give you a backrub.

 

[vc10um]

Yeah yeah yeah vc!!!

Everything looks GREAT and I particularly love the trio of corner punches on the programs!

I think you should make FI give you a backrub.

Already done, SB! But I think I'm due for another round!

Thanks for the compliments, ladies! I'm pretty stoked about how the programs turned out. I love when something actually comes out looking like it did in my head. Also, forgot to mention that I have a ridiculous number of self-adhesive rhinestones that will be used to fancy up the table numbers and escort cards...but again, for packing and traveling purposes, that'll have to wait until we're in KC.

 

[vc10um]

First instance of bridal brain! I just sent my bridesmaids a barely-started email instead of hitting "Save Now" in gmail.

WINNING!

 

[merilenda]

Vc, when I first got my smart phone & started using it for email, I did that a bunch of times! Luckily I only did it with friends, but I kept having to reply to my own emails with "sorry, I hit send in the middle of a sentence...here's the rest of it!"

 

[merilenda]

Also, I realized that I haven't posted a pic of my wedding ring yet! I've had it for a few weeks now, and sometimes I cheat and wear it on the weekends. I can't help it! So I snapped a phone pic of my set today.

 

[vc10um]

I LOVE your set, J! I am a sucker for those round/baguette stackers! Or any kind of stacker, really! But the round and baguette ones are just so fabulous! I'm hoping if I drop enough hints, FI will get me one for an anniversary prezzie or push prezzie sometime down the road...or several times down the road!

I love your e-ring, too!

OMG ONE WEEK!!!

 

[vc10um]

FAVOR DILEMMA!!! ...actually 2 of them...

1) Our guest list breaks down like this:
60 adults
4 teen/tweens
5 kids under 10
9 kids under 4

The plan was to give the adults and teens the adult favor (the BBQ rub tins) and the U10 and U4 little paper sacks full of stuff from the dollar store. The problem I'm having now is that 2 of the teen/tweens are older sibs of 2 of the U10s and 1 of the U4s. I don't want the older kids to be jealous of their sibs, but I also don't want them to feel like we didn't treat them like adults. WWYD?!? Give them them rub? Or make them a bag? HALP!!!

2) We have little tags to put on the favors. I can print them double-sided. On the back, I'm going to print at least the ingredients, if not the recipe. I need something cute for the front. I can't decide if I should name the rub, thank them for attending, put on some sort of cutesy phrase, or just put "V & A; 6.26.11" in some variation. Thoughts???

 

[merilenda]

OH MY GOODNESS, ONE WEEK!!! Wow!

Thanks, I love those stackers, too! I want pretty much all of them from IDJ. I'd love to have some different ones to stack with it. Actually, I'm thinking about picking up one of those twist rope bands that several people have to throw into the mix. I'm also panicking this weekend though, because I was wanting to upgrade the stone in my ering in the next year (just getting a bigger AVC, since I can't even begin to imagine my life without an AVC). And all this price increase business is stressing me out.

 

[merilenda]

Hmm, that's a tough call on the favors. I totally don't relate well to kids, so I'm not the best person to ask...but are the teens/tweens old enough to use the adult favors? If so, I'd stick with it. If you think they wouldn't use/appreciate them, you could just give them the dollar store favors. Depending on what they are, I can definitely see that age group having fun with stuff like that.

For the front of the card, I like the idea of naming the rub something cutesy. Or something simple like your names & the date.

 

[vc10um]

J, I don't really have any advice on your upgrade, since I haven't looked into diamonds really since we picked out my e-ring a year ago!

But, I do have an answer on favors!
I decided I was being overly complicated...here's the new plan:
Adults: BBQ Rub
Teens, Tweens, Kids over 4: same tins, filled with M&Ms.
Kids under 4: age-appropriate dollar store toy.

All the other stuff from the dollar store (matchbox cars, coloring books, playing cards, etc.) goes on the rumpus table and they can take whatever they want at the end of the night (I'll even put colorful paper bags on the table).

 

[sillyberry]

merilenda, that's an awesome stacker! It looks great with your AVC! I'm getting so tempted by stackers these days. Wearing the ring pre-wedding is so tempting, isn't it, but if I may be obnoxious, might I suggest avoiding it? There is something really special about getting the ring on your finger at the wedding. Okay, I'm done butting in.

vc, ONE WEEK INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think m&ms for the younger set is the perfect compromise. Unless you're doing them at everyone's seat, just make sure someone is assigned to make sure they get them!

As for your label...hmm. I might just name them something like "V&A's Hot and Spicy BBQ Rub" (or Sweet and Spicy, depending on the type of rub you did).

I cannot wait to see the finished product!!!

 

[vc10um]

::snip:: Wearing the ring pre-wedding is so tempting, isn't it, but if I may be obnoxious, might I suggest avoiding it? There is something really special about getting the ring on your finger at the wedding. Okay, I'm done butting in. ::snip::

I'm going to be obnoxious and ditto...that's what I had FI hide mine. It's also engraved and this way we won't know our inscriptions until after we recess down the aisle and take a look. And now I'm done and butting out, too.

As for your label...hmm. I might just name them something like "V&A's Hot and Spicy BBQ Rub" (or Sweet and Spicy, depending on the type of rub you did).

The 6 pounds of light brown sugar I bought today certainly suggest Sweet and Spicy, LOL!!! I was thinking something like "Something Sweet and Spicy From the S****** Smokehouse" (S****** = FI's last name) Thoughts?

 

[sillyberry]

As for your label...hmm. I might just name them something like "V&A's Hot and Spicy BBQ Rub" (or Sweet and Spicy, depending on the type of rub you did).

The 6 pounds of light brown sugar I bought today certainly suggest Sweet and Spicy, LOL!!! I was thinking something like "Something Sweet and Spicy From the S****** Smokehouse" (S****** = FI's last name) Thoughts?

Oh, that's super cute! Do that!

 

[vc10um]

As for your label...hmm. I might just name them something like "V&A's Hot and Spicy BBQ Rub" (or Sweet and Spicy, depending on the type of rub you did).

The 6 pounds of light brown sugar I bought today certainly suggest Sweet and Spicy, LOL!!! I was thinking something like "Something Sweet and Spicy From the S****** Smokehouse" (S****** = FI's last name) Thoughts?

Oh, that's super cute! Do that!

Oh yay! Okay! We'll call that decided and print them tomorrow.

All the tins are full, and let me tell you, mixing 18 cups worth of spice rub takes some MUSCLE.

 

[slg47]

merilenda I love your wedding band!!

VC sending you lots of *dust* for the big day!

 

[happybear]

Ladies, please tell me how to calm my nerves so that I can sleep better.

My wedding is THIS FRIDAY!!! And I've been having trouble sleeping for the past 2 nights..... if this goes on, I'll look like a panda on that day

And when I do sleep, I have the weirdest dreams....... e.g.
1. I fell in a pond while I was in my dress and it was ruined
2. I lost my purse and had no identification cards to proof to the Registry of Marriage who I am

I don't know how you gals do it.... juggling so many things! Mine is just a simple ceremony with 20 guests and here I am, freaking out....

I.need.sleep....

 

[sillyberry]

Ladies, please tell me how to calm my nerves so that I can sleep better.

My wedding is THIS FRIDAY!!! And I've been having trouble sleeping for the past 2 nights..... if this goes on, I'll look like a panda on that day

And when I do sleep, I have the weirdest dreams....... e.g.
1. I fell in a pond while I was in my dress and it was ruined
2. I lost my purse and had no identification cards to proof to the Registry of Marriage who I am

I don't know how you gals do it.... juggling so many things! Mine is just a simple ceremony with 20 guests and here I am, freaking out....

I.need.sleep....

WOOHOO for you happybear!!! I think no matter the size and scale, you're still getting MARRIED and that's a big deal! I would try warm baths, soothing teas, and getting into bed plenty early so you have time to fall asleep.

A Tylenol PM never hurt anyone, either.

 

[happybear]

WOOHOO for you happybear!!! I think no matter the size and scale, you're still getting MARRIED and that's a big deal! I would try warm baths, soothing teas, and getting into bed plenty early so you have time to fall asleep.

A Tylenol PM never hurt anyone, either.

Thank you, SB!

I hope I can be as radiant as you are on your wedding day
You look absolutely gorgeous and happy!

Yes, will try to get into bed earlier these few nights.... But the more I try, the more alert my mind becomes!

 

[rosetta]

Happy bear


Usually I don't advocate sleeping pills, but I think you really need one or you'll be soooo tired on the big day.

Jus' sayin'

 

[rosetta]

anyhoo....

paid the photographer.

we got permission to set off a huge firework display on government land (the private land our venue is on was too small for guests to be at a safe distance)

my escort cards are finally at the printers, we ended up with 130 guests in total.

my one bridesmaid finally has her dress yay!

my final dress fitting is tomorrow and here is what it looks like at present (my sleeved jacket is still being made)

 

[rosetta]

here my tailor is making the loop for my bustle while i stand. he was very quick too!