The bachelorette party is an interesting concept. Its roots are in the bachelor party, which used to be a night of testosterone-y debauchery. I suspect the girls realized that it wasn't fair for the boys to have all the fun and wanted to get in on the action.
This weekend I am attending a bachelorette party for a fellow engaged gal pal, but I suspect debauchery will not be an issue. Consider the following: When we were out for a girls' night at a piano bar, we were mocked by the performers for being too quiet (in our defense, it was early in the night, and we didn't each have a gigantic pitcher of "punch" in front of us like the "ladies" at the table next to us did). Then the performers sang, "I'm too sexy" for/about us, substituting, "I'm too sexy for my glasses" for one of the verses. Nothing says wild like 4 girls in glasses.
Anyway, we're going to a casino and staying over at a nearby hotel to make a partial weekend of the event. We have dinner reservations at 9 PM, which is far later than any of us regularly eat, and I have concerns about us falling asleep in our risotto. Normally, caffeine would be the solution, but 4 of us cannot or do not drink caffeine, so I'm not sure what we'll do--perhaps we can all schedule naps before we leave. I'm really painting a wild picture here, aren't I...
I would say that I'll have a full update of the weekend on Monday, but there is that rule--what happens at the bachelorette party stays at the bachelorette party. :)
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
The post about nothing
I haven't had a lot to say in the blog this week quite simply because there isn't much going on in the way of wedding plans--and not because I've been sitting around eating bonbons and ignoring pressing demands. Well, I haven't been doing the latter, anyway. There simply isn't much work to be done. We've finished all of the big stuff, and now we just have to think about the smaller stuff, and some of those tasks can't even be done yet. For instance, we need to figure out our favors/placecard holders, but it's hardly a pressing demand. And we need to do the sticks/centerpiece prototype, but if we paint all of the sticks now, we risk that the paint and glitter will fall off before the big day. We still have to decide on the types of cupcakes we want and the music we want played, but we don't have to make those decisions until a month or so before the wedding.
The most challenging assignment so far has been deciding upon the readings for the wedding. We were hoping to find something from the world of fiction, but so far, we're having trouble finding anything appropriate. If you have any ideas, please send them along.
Oh--I haven't been slacking off entirely--I've been planning our honeymoon! I'm currently working on the itinerary for Paris. I read that grape harvests for wine usually take place during September (though it can vary depending on weather conditions that year), so I'm trying to figure out a way to fit in a visit to a vineyard. The Champagne region is day-trippable from Paris, and several vineyards are within walking distance of train stations. I was concerned that with our trip focusing primarily on Paris and Nice (two cities), we would miss out on the opportunity to see the countryside--day trips to the rescue!
The most challenging assignment so far has been deciding upon the readings for the wedding. We were hoping to find something from the world of fiction, but so far, we're having trouble finding anything appropriate. If you have any ideas, please send them along.
Oh--I haven't been slacking off entirely--I've been planning our honeymoon! I'm currently working on the itinerary for Paris. I read that grape harvests for wine usually take place during September (though it can vary depending on weather conditions that year), so I'm trying to figure out a way to fit in a visit to a vineyard. The Champagne region is day-trippable from Paris, and several vineyards are within walking distance of train stations. I was concerned that with our trip focusing primarily on Paris and Nice (two cities), we would miss out on the opportunity to see the countryside--day trips to the rescue!
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Trousseau shopping?
B and I have a one-page checklist (nabbed from one of my bridal magazines) hanging on the fridge, and we've been checking off items as we complete them. The list isn't comprehensive--for instance, "Cut sticks from your parents' yard" is noticeably absent, as is "Paint said sticks and assemble prototype centerpiece to make sure it doesn't look like garbage." And there are a few extra items, like "Hire a videographer" that don't apply since we're scared of what we might look like while dancing and would rather assume the best than know the worst. But overall, it's been helpful and useful and reassuring--we know that we won't forget anything big.
Most of the items on the list are self explanatory, like "Buy your wedding gown" and "Order your cake," but there is one item in particular that has me stumped--"Begin shopping for your trousseau." I've heard the word "trousseau" before, but I assumed it was one of those things that had fallen out of fashion, like corsets and hoop skirts. In fact, I wasn't even sure of the exact definition, so I checked m-w.com, and here's what I found:
"The personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares."
Knowing the definition has not helped me understand the necessity of having this item on a wedding checklist--it seems sexist. Why is the bride's wardrobe, which is obviously perfectly adequate for her work life and personal life (and likely played a role in attracting her future husband), suddenly no longer acceptable for a married woman? And why is the bride responsible for fitting the house with household linens and wares? I'm not sure if I even know what a "ware" is.
I don't get it, but I think the trousseau checklist item is getting a big black line through it.
Most of the items on the list are self explanatory, like "Buy your wedding gown" and "Order your cake," but there is one item in particular that has me stumped--"Begin shopping for your trousseau." I've heard the word "trousseau" before, but I assumed it was one of those things that had fallen out of fashion, like corsets and hoop skirts. In fact, I wasn't even sure of the exact definition, so I checked m-w.com, and here's what I found:
"The personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares."
Knowing the definition has not helped me understand the necessity of having this item on a wedding checklist--it seems sexist. Why is the bride's wardrobe, which is obviously perfectly adequate for her work life and personal life (and likely played a role in attracting her future husband), suddenly no longer acceptable for a married woman? And why is the bride responsible for fitting the house with household linens and wares? I'm not sure if I even know what a "ware" is.
I don't get it, but I think the trousseau checklist item is getting a big black line through it.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Bands of gold
Tomorrow, B and I are going shopping for 2 critical elements for our wedding--our wedding rings.
One of the justices of the peace we met asked if we wanted to do ring exchanges during the ceremony. We both hesitated before responding because we weren't sure if there was some other ring element (besides the obvious one) to the ceremony that we didn't know about. But no, she was talking about the traditional ring exchange, as if it is an optional component. (It isn't.)
I looked at www.bluenile.com to get an idea of what different size platinum bands cost, but there is a sizable difference in price between "regular" bands and "comfort fit" bands. The bands look almost identical, but the comfort fit rings have a smoother curve between the metal that touches your finger and the metal that is on display to the rest of the world. But surely there must be more of a difference to justify the large price difference. (Or is it yet another unnecessarily large wedding price mark-up? You never know...)
We won't be buying from bluenile, though--we're going to a jeweler. One reason to buy jewelry from a jeweler rather than an online source is the option to "upgrade" at a later date. When B bought my enagement ring, he was told that he could upgrade it at any time. I am opposed to the idea of an engagement ring upgrade, but I am ok with the idea of a wedding band upgrade, and I'm not sure why one upgrade is reasonable in my mind and the other seems out of the question. Maybe because I will be picking out (and paying for) my wedding band myself? I'm not sure.
Anyway, I am open to the idea of upgrading our rings at some point in the future (maybe our fifth wedding anniversary), but when I mentioned it to my friend LS, she couldn't imagine wanting to do such a thing. Is it weird to "upgrade" your wedding band? Does trading in your symbolic commitment to each other for a newer, shinier model say something about your level of commitment? Or is it simply a sign that you've reached a point where you're ready to get the bling-bling ring that wasn't a smart decision when there were so many other items to be purchased?
I think what will probably happen is we'll love our rings so much that we won't want to change them. Then again, the lure of diamonds is a powerful force... :)
One of the justices of the peace we met asked if we wanted to do ring exchanges during the ceremony. We both hesitated before responding because we weren't sure if there was some other ring element (besides the obvious one) to the ceremony that we didn't know about. But no, she was talking about the traditional ring exchange, as if it is an optional component. (It isn't.)
I looked at www.bluenile.com to get an idea of what different size platinum bands cost, but there is a sizable difference in price between "regular" bands and "comfort fit" bands. The bands look almost identical, but the comfort fit rings have a smoother curve between the metal that touches your finger and the metal that is on display to the rest of the world. But surely there must be more of a difference to justify the large price difference. (Or is it yet another unnecessarily large wedding price mark-up? You never know...)
We won't be buying from bluenile, though--we're going to a jeweler. One reason to buy jewelry from a jeweler rather than an online source is the option to "upgrade" at a later date. When B bought my enagement ring, he was told that he could upgrade it at any time. I am opposed to the idea of an engagement ring upgrade, but I am ok with the idea of a wedding band upgrade, and I'm not sure why one upgrade is reasonable in my mind and the other seems out of the question. Maybe because I will be picking out (and paying for) my wedding band myself? I'm not sure.
Anyway, I am open to the idea of upgrading our rings at some point in the future (maybe our fifth wedding anniversary), but when I mentioned it to my friend LS, she couldn't imagine wanting to do such a thing. Is it weird to "upgrade" your wedding band? Does trading in your symbolic commitment to each other for a newer, shinier model say something about your level of commitment? Or is it simply a sign that you've reached a point where you're ready to get the bling-bling ring that wasn't a smart decision when there were so many other items to be purchased?
I think what will probably happen is we'll love our rings so much that we won't want to change them. Then again, the lure of diamonds is a powerful force... :)
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Engagement photos are here!
They arrived in the mail tonight! Below is my favorite (so far--I'm sure my fav will change daily) and a few more are along the side. Can't wait to get them printed!
A problem no more
The hotel problem has been solved. I tried lots of configurations of points and dollars and decided that the best (or at least the easiest) option was to book only Starwood hotels (with cash reservations for the stays for which we don't have sufficient points yet) and to apply points to the hotel costs as soon as B earns them. This way, we're guaranteed rooms and can apply as many points as B accrues at any time before we leave. And, if he is close to the number we need for an additional night, we can always buy points (it's generally not cheaper to buy points rather than pay for the room straight-out, though depending on where the dollar goes, it might be an option to consider). For the hotel in Nice, we got a 50 percent discount off the rack rate for spending just 1,000 points (a no brainer), so even if we do end up paying cash for all 5 nights, it will still likely be cheaper than the 3 nights at the pricier hotel I booked in Paris (and now need to cancel).
In other honeymoon news, I received the Lonely Planet France guidebook in the mail yesterday and have already read most of the Paris section and a significant portion of the Cote d'Azur section. I'm amazed at the number of museums that are in each city. I'm not a big fan of museums (I get museum fatigue within 2 hours of setting foot in a museum), but they're a good way to fill a rainy day, and there are a few must-see museums that you can't not go to. I'm going to start on the itinerary soon but need to buy the Rick Steves France book first--his ratings of tourist attractions are much more helpful than LP's descriptions, which frequently don't even say what the attraction is.
In other honeymoon news, I received the Lonely Planet France guidebook in the mail yesterday and have already read most of the Paris section and a significant portion of the Cote d'Azur section. I'm amazed at the number of museums that are in each city. I'm not a big fan of museums (I get museum fatigue within 2 hours of setting foot in a museum), but they're a good way to fill a rainy day, and there are a few must-see museums that you can't not go to. I'm going to start on the itinerary soon but need to buy the Rick Steves France book first--his ratings of tourist attractions are much more helpful than LP's descriptions, which frequently don't even say what the attraction is.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Sad dollar, happy euro
The honeymoon reservation process has begun!
We'll be in France for 13 nights, and we're planning to spend the first 3 in Paris, the next 5 in Nice, and the final 5 in Paris. In France, there is always the risk that train workers will be striking, so it's best to include a cushion around all train travel--just in case.
Our plan is to use B's Starpoints (from Starwood hotels--Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, and similar) to pay for the 5 nights in Paris and the 5 nights in Nice, but that still leaves us 3 nights in Paris to figure out on our own. I found a top-rated (on tripadvisor) and not-eye-bulgingly-expensive Parisian hotel for the first 3 nights and booked it, a transatlantic telephone call involving one person speaking very bad French (moi) and one person speaking English with an incomplete understanding of subordinate conjunctions. I think we sorted out the details via email.
Almost immediately after I booked, I started rethinking the cost. With the dollar-to-euro conversion rate getting more and more desperate, I was concerned that we'd get stuck paying a huge sum of money for a not-that-great hotel. I decided more research was necessary.
I found a great deal on the Starwood website--for $60 and 4,000 Starpoints, you get one night's stay--perfect! Even if we had to buy Starpoints, we'd still come out ahead. Unfortunately, a telephone call to Starwood revealed that Starwood hotels in Paris aren't accepting that deal during our honeymoon. Swell. And further doom and gloom was revealed--the availability for the first three days at the hotel was limited already--no standard rooms, only suites available. Not good! I decided I had better book the other 5 days in Paris then and there, and shockingly enough, they let me, even though I didn't know B's Starwood number. Such tight security.
We can't book the Nice hotel until B earns a few more Starpoints, though that shouldn't be too difficult with all of his travel, and he's going to transfer his AmEx points to Starpoints, so we'll be there in no time.
I'm still trying to figure out what to do about the first 3 days...I've found some alternative hotels that are more reasonably priced but need to do further research on tripadvisor.
We'll be in France for 13 nights, and we're planning to spend the first 3 in Paris, the next 5 in Nice, and the final 5 in Paris. In France, there is always the risk that train workers will be striking, so it's best to include a cushion around all train travel--just in case.
Our plan is to use B's Starpoints (from Starwood hotels--Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, and similar) to pay for the 5 nights in Paris and the 5 nights in Nice, but that still leaves us 3 nights in Paris to figure out on our own. I found a top-rated (on tripadvisor) and not-eye-bulgingly-expensive Parisian hotel for the first 3 nights and booked it, a transatlantic telephone call involving one person speaking very bad French (moi) and one person speaking English with an incomplete understanding of subordinate conjunctions. I think we sorted out the details via email.
Almost immediately after I booked, I started rethinking the cost. With the dollar-to-euro conversion rate getting more and more desperate, I was concerned that we'd get stuck paying a huge sum of money for a not-that-great hotel. I decided more research was necessary.
I found a great deal on the Starwood website--for $60 and 4,000 Starpoints, you get one night's stay--perfect! Even if we had to buy Starpoints, we'd still come out ahead. Unfortunately, a telephone call to Starwood revealed that Starwood hotels in Paris aren't accepting that deal during our honeymoon. Swell. And further doom and gloom was revealed--the availability for the first three days at the hotel was limited already--no standard rooms, only suites available. Not good! I decided I had better book the other 5 days in Paris then and there, and shockingly enough, they let me, even though I didn't know B's Starwood number. Such tight security.
We can't book the Nice hotel until B earns a few more Starpoints, though that shouldn't be too difficult with all of his travel, and he's going to transfer his AmEx points to Starpoints, so we'll be there in no time.
I'm still trying to figure out what to do about the first 3 days...I've found some alternative hotels that are more reasonably priced but need to do further research on tripadvisor.
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