The first thing one must do is fall in love, court, date, meet each other's family, move in together, propose and have the proposal hopefully accepted. maybe I will talk about all that stuff but for now I am going to talk about planning a wedding from the male point of View.
April 17th 2008
Proposing -well that is not as easy as it looks either. The date was saved for April 17rh which happened to be the opening day of the Portland Timbers (our beloved local soccer team).
I was as expected nervous but I got the ring and all that stuff. I got in the car on my way to the soccer game and I showed Max the ring.
His response was "Who is the ring for"
We talked about the game and then again his response was.
So who's going to the game with us.
The plan was to propose after the Timbers scored the first goal of the night or at half time if they did not in fact score a goal before the half. I am glad I added that caveat as we may still be waiting for a proposal.
Well I did finally propose....Got down on my knee's at half time. She said yes, well that is how I understood it. Can you imagine the guys who proposes on the big screen at a big game. And the girl says no. Or she says yes proclaims the lemon law is in effect when they got home.
The euphoria still has not worn off, but then there is the real life stuff. We have a wedding in nine months and a the beautiful blushing bride who's going to be in Grad School for the next nine months. Which reminded me that I am going to be involved in this wedding planning rite.
The euphoria still has not worn off, but then there is the real life stuff. We have a wedding in nine months and a the beautiful blushing bride who's going to be in Grad School for the next nine months. Which reminded me that I am going to be involved in this wedding planning rite.
The Save the Date Card
I did not even know these things existed. Apparently we are required to send out Save the Date Cards. The sole intent is that people know it is coming and be prepared for it, May the 9th. Well from a project management perspective, other things had to happen first.
We had to decide on whom to Invite to the Wedding. I am not the best at keeping up on old addresses as we live in a email world. One would have thought I had a list of all my friends with their addresses. On a side note. Christmas Cards are more likely this year. Ironically, I got most of the addresses that were asked of me and headed into the task of save the date cards.
Seriously, I can not remember what the save the date cards looked like. The only thing I can remember was that all the cards had to go at once, sending them out as we got addresses was not an option. And I wonder what the mailman thought on that ill fated delivery day as I usually mail out one envelope a month and that is in a fast month.
I did not even know these things existed. Apparently we are required to send out Save the Date Cards. The sole intent is that people know it is coming and be prepared for it, May the 9th. Well from a project management perspective, other things had to happen first.
We had to decide on whom to Invite to the Wedding. I am not the best at keeping up on old addresses as we live in a email world. One would have thought I had a list of all my friends with their addresses. On a side note. Christmas Cards are more likely this year. Ironically, I got most of the addresses that were asked of me and headed into the task of save the date cards.
Seriously, I can not remember what the save the date cards looked like. The only thing I can remember was that all the cards had to go at once, sending them out as we got addresses was not an option. And I wonder what the mailman thought on that ill fated delivery day as I usually mail out one envelope a month and that is in a fast month.
Something tells me the mailman snickered to himself and knows that he will deliver mail that says Ms. McDorman instead of Mrs. Schofer for a long time because this household has never been on top of that change of address routine the postal sevice relishes.
The budget. -Ignore It....Love is Money Money is Love.
The Wedding Sight
This one is a no brainer- but it takes 2 brains to decide so this one can be a glistening low hanging fruit. You have common interests and favourite places so don't sweat this one. That is unless you are on a budget. I am not touching that one with a ten foot pole, but, please remember that you are going to remember this for the rest of your life. Please just remember that. We had a game plan and a list of places we wanted to see in Central Oregon.
The first place was Belknap Hot Springs and this place was pretty damn cool but something tells me it would be a sinkhole of money. Also the people trying to sell us on the place where way to busy to work with us. I called the remaining places we were going to see and one lady answered from her tractor. This impressed me to no end.
ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB - One rule I never wrote down (actually Jenna wrote down everything and I know she never has this in her calculations)
The first place was Belknap Hot Springs and this place was pretty damn cool but something tells me it would be a sinkhole of money. Also the people trying to sell us on the place where way to busy to work with us. I called the remaining places we were going to see and one lady answered from her tractor. This impressed me to no end.
ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB - One rule I never wrote down (actually Jenna wrote down everything and I know she never has this in her calculations)
Is stick with it. We looked at places all day and like many of my experiences in life the last one we looked at was just perfect. Patience is a Version of the truth.
I made phone calls all day long telling people we were going to visit them to look at their site for our enchanted wedding. ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB -(If they don't answer the phone or they don't call you back. Simply do not bother.
I made phone calls all day long telling people we were going to visit them to look at their site for our enchanted wedding. ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB -(If they don't answer the phone or they don't call you back. Simply do not bother.
The budget. -Ignore It....Love is Money Money is Love.
These are items you should contemplate skipping.
- Cumberbunds for the Groomsmen
- Concubines for the Groomsmen.
- Renting an Elks Club (Except if you are getting married in Pennsylvania)
- Having a Pot Luck
- Las Vegas.
The Friends of the Groom that Should go the bachelorette party?
I do not not know how I skipped all the way ahead with this one. You as guy have no clue on this one. You will be asked which one of your female friends would like to go this female bastion of "it is what it is IIWII".)
And of course you have never ever breached this idea with any of your female friends...
I sit at this precipice.
I do not not know how I skipped all the way ahead with this one. You as guy have no clue on this one. You will be asked which one of your female friends would like to go this female bastion of "it is what it is IIWII".)
And of course you have never ever breached this idea with any of your female friends...
I sit at this precipice.
Pictures Pictures Pictures
You are going to need plenty of these. According to time honored tradition, these are needed for the actual invitation. Please do not try to to do this in a way that works best, that would be using a perfect picture from all the photos you have amassed as a couple. No Mr Wedding Planner, that would be way too easy you must venture forth and seek a fresh new picture. You are already busy and something else has now been added to your now shrinking weekends.
