Quick and easy

Here's a few more updates I thought I'd share with you to keep me consistent in trying to blog more lately :)

In July, we went to a concert called Jack's Fifth Concert held by a local radio station.  It was AH-MAZING!  The bands were:
Night Ranger
Skid Row
Modern English
The Fixx
The Cult
Steve Miller Band
Young MC
Vanilla Ice
and a couple more I don't remember. 

Me, Mr Fix It and my sis and bro-in-law spent a good 6 to 7 hours there taking in all the amazing acts.  Vanilla Ice and Young MC were the two that totally got the entire crowd up and dancing.  Here's a fun shot of my sis being silly dancing behind some chicks shakin' it in the aisle at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Irvine:

FUN WEDDING FACT:  If you ever watch WE TV's My Fair Wedding With David Tutera, this past Sunday's episode featured our wedding venue, Rancho Las Lomas!!!  Check your local listings to see when it reruns and look for the episode with the Zebra bride who wanted a Passport to Africa wedding :)

Did your wedding have some vendor, venue, or other aspect that made it 'famous' somehow?

Wed Recap: Processional - do whatever the heck you want!!!

Today's recap is all about our processional.  Ya know?  That part where your wedding party gets to the altar and then you make that famous walk down the aisle to your honey?  Well, I had a clear cut vision of how I wanted our processional to play out.  I wanted it to be a perfect blend of tradition (a nod to the classical music normally played at this part of the ceremony), but also reflect a modern twist and an upbeat fun tone that would be a great kick off to the evening and event.

If you remember, my processional included the video montage/spoof that would play at our ceremony just after the wedding party arrived at the altar and just before I walked down the aisle.  If you don't remember, here's the blog post showing the video

No one thought the video would work or be a good idea.  It would be too long.  It would be boring.  It would make it hard for the bridal party to stand through for 20 minutes.  It didn't make sense that it would end and the song playing at the end would be the one I would be walking down the aisle to.  They just didn't get it like I saw it in my head. 

The song may have been faster than what most brides walk to, and it may not have been sung or played by live musicians as many brides do, but it was the perfect thing for me.  So here is my recap of our processional:

The song the parents and bridesmaids walked down the aisle to was Phil Collins' "Groovy Kind of Love" but performed in a classical version by the Royal Philharmonic Symphony.  I got the idea from the episode of Friends where Monica and Chandler married.

The guys made their way up to the altar and looking back at the video I realize that they entered from the wrong spot and also came in after the song started playing.  They were supposed to come in BEFORE the song played because I had timed it perfectly for the parents and bridesmaids only.  These mistakes were all a result of the 'rehearsal that wasn't.' 

Mom & Pops Beever

My mom and brother-in-law

After watching the raw footage of the ceremony, some of the bridesmaids sprinted down the aisle as you'll see and some walked slower...in the end, the song actually finished perfectly with all the ringbearers and flower girl making it to the end just as it was ending.  :)

My nephew (one of our 4 ring bearers) walked with his mom (my sister, the MOH) because he just wasn't doin' it alone. 

The eldest made it down fine (you'll see him in a future recap).  And these two youngin's (our nephews) helped each other:

The girls were smart.  I had told the wedding party to sit on the steps during the video so they wouldn't be standing for so long and I made sure our audio/video rental guy set up one of the tv's so the wedding party could see it from the altar.  The girls sat, the boys didn't for whatever reason.

I was tucked away in my bridal cottage just outside of the bridge that you walk across to the ceremony area.  I pulled a chair up right next to the door with it propped open and peeked out so that I could watch/listen to the guests as they watched the video.  It was so great...and I am so glad that I didn't have to be totally alone somewhere out of range of this because I would have been an even *worse* nervous wreck!  :)

I told you yesterday about the moments leading up to the ceremony...well, when the video was almost done and the song began that was for my walk, my dad and coordinator came over to have me get ready.  I told them that it still needed to get halfway through the song before it was my turn to get up and walk down the aisle.  So I wanted to sit as long as possible since I knew I'd be standing in that monstrous dress for a while and I was already feeling suffocated, strangled and like I was going to pass out!

Just as it got to the moment before the break in the song for my entrance, I stood up and began to walk to the bridge with my dad...and then we were off! 

Disclaimer:  This video was created using raw footage courtesy of Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills. 

It was created by me strictly for recap purposes and therefore will not necessarily be great quality. 

There will be things you probably shouldn't hear and shaky footage in certain places. 

Thank you for your understanding.

I love the conversation in the beginning of the video between Mr Fix It and our pastor, Lyle as they make their way to the altar. Even then they were in doubt of the video being played.

As my coordinator, Amanda fluffed out my train at the very last moment, I remember her saying:

"Ok, Stacey - Flowers low, smile BIG and walk SLOW! This is your moment, soak it all in!"

I just said 'Yep' right then, but when I replay that line in my head, it totally makes me cry now!  How I wish I would have remembered everything she said and put it into action...but I totally didn't!

As a matter of fact, at the time, I totally didn't even hear the song as I was walking down the aisle.  I listened to it right up until the moment when I knew I needed to take my first step and then it was all about seeing my guests, hanging on to Dad's arm and looking up the aisle at Mr. Beever as I made the turn to walk towards him.  I remember right as I got to that turn that I paused very briefly...my other coordinator tried to quickly fluff my train again and I remember one thing, clear as day in my mind:  In that brief moment, I took the biggest, deepest breath of my life and had a huge smile on my face.  I was fighting back the tears and totally contained them because as soon as I started walking, I just tried to keep my eyes on my groom.  And then we got to the end of the aisle...
 
TODAY'S WEDDING TIP:  After the ceremony, my officiant told me he had 'a lot of doubt' about the video when I was describing it to him.  But he said that it was totally perfect and worked so great for how I wanted it to be introduced.  I definitely listen to people when they raise valid points about issues or concerns with plans I want to enact...but in the end, if you have a vision and you know it will work out, then don't let anyone deter you from the plan!  My processional was anything but traditional and I loved it!!!  And so did the guests as you'll see soon in the next video recap :)

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos by Robert Mullins Photography

Need some advice from fellow creative brides!

Ok, so after the ceremony and the cocktails and once all the pictures have been taken and the formalities of the evening are mostly over, it's time for the party to begin - the reception!

Of course, the big kick off to the reception is the grand entrance and introduction of the bride and groom and their wedding party.  You can always go the traditional route and just get the crowd (your guests) up on their feet and cheering and clapping for everyone.  We did this at my sister's wedding and it was super fun.  Lots of excitement in the room. 

Then you have the silly wedding parties who maybe like to dance their way in as each couple (bridesmaid and groomsmen) is announced and enters the room.  A friend had their wedding party line up on one side of the dance floor and when the bride and groom entered, they ran down the 'line' of the wedding party high fiving them all.  Kind of like when football players or basketball players enter onto a field or court.

These are totally fine (and fun) ways to come on in.  But many brides/grooms opt for a low key mellow entrance - some even only have the bride and groom announced instead of the entire wedding party.

We definitely want something fun and big and different.  Something exciting and to get the crowd pumping.  But we also really want something that speaks to our interests and who we are personally.  So I actually came up with an idea that Mr Fix It fell in love with - FINALLY!  Another win - something he was excited about.  :)

We've shared the idea with our DJs who will be announcing our grand entrance and they are on board.  But we still need to fine tune some things and so I thought I'd ask to see if any of you ladies (or guys cuz this one's for you for sure) had any suggestions or ideas to throw my way?

What we're doing:  We love to watch mixed martial arts (MMA) fights...you know, like the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).  The stuff you see on pay-per-view or Spike TV.  We have several friends who will be at the wedding and share this love with us - we hang at each other's houses having 'fight nights.' 

So we decided that we wanted our wedding party introduced the same way that fighters are introduced when they enter the stadium (or ring, octagon, whatever).  If you've ever watched a fighter enter it's kind of funny.  Some act all tough and mad dog faced and have hard core metal or gangsta rap songs playing while others are all crazy and full of energy dancing around and singing to some song.  Here's a good one:

The songs they enter to are supposed to represent their personality, toughness, or just who they are.  So we are having each couple enter as if they're entering the ring for a match.

How we're doing it:  The DJ will play a different song for each couple as they're announced.  The guys will all enter from one side of the room and the girls from the other (one couple at a time).  So they will make their way through the tables and end up meeting each other on the dance floor in the center of the room.  We're telling our wedding party to go crazy with this and act all tough and like they're going to fight each other, or to just have fun and maybe dance or whatever.  Whatever they feel comfortable with.

The DJ will announce each couple a la Bruce Buffer.  Here's a sample of what we're trying to achieve:

We'll have our DJ change the words so that it goes something like this:

"And now, the moment of truth, wedding fans around the world have been waiting for!  Live, from the incredible estate of Rancho Las Lomas in Orange County, California - it's time!  Coming - out of the groom's corner - weighing in at 200 lbs and hailing from the beautiful city of Laguna Niguel, CA, it's the Electrifying Todd Baxter!"

Then for the girls we'll do the same thing but say "Arriving out of the bride's corner - stepping onto the dance floor at a height of 4' 10" and proving that big things DO come in small packages - it's Debbie the Diva Pelichowski!"

We know ladies don't want to share their weight with the world.  Anyway, we're trying to come up with some fun songs for each couple to enter to - upbeat stuff - maybe hard core for the 'fighting' spoof part of it.  And we also need some great nicknames for each person. 

So that's where you come in - any ideas for some silly or fun nicknames or for some song selections?

For the songs, remember that only the best (appropriate) parts of the songs will be used, like the chorus or intro or the part that goes with what we're doing.  So it will only be like 30 to 45 seconds per song and the DJ will cue it up to the right part and mix them all together.  So far, we're thinking of these for our playlist:

My daughter wants to use the chorus from the New Boyz song "Tie Me Down"...it's kinda fun:

The other songs we have so far are:

Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolph (My personal fave)

Bodies by Drowning Pool (a total fighter's song for sure and Mr Fix It's first choice)

And for me and Mr Fix It, when it's time for us to come in, the DJ will announce "And now, for the main event of the evening!"  And we will most likely use Queen's "We Will Rock You".  The DJ said our venue has this great thing about it (because of how old it is) to where if we start this song and get all the guests clapping their hands and stomping their feet to the beat, the whole room/floor will shake!  Kinda fun, right?

We also want to get the DJ to have the lights darker with lots of strobe lights and flashing lights and such as we all come in.  I am even thinking about getting a cute boxers robe and gloves to wear over my gown - since I have a feeling Mr Fix It might do something silly like rip his shirt off!

So girls - straighten me out...are we crazy to do this?  Should I go for the boxer's robe or will it look silly over my big ball gown?  Do you have any suggestions for nicknames or songs that we can use? 

Have you given any thought to what you'll do for your grand entrance or are you going the simple traditional quick intro route?

Here comes the 'unexpected' bride...

As I have said before, I am really hoping to surprise my guests with lots of things they have never seen/experienced or never would expect at a wedding.  I love the 'formality' of a wedding, but I don't love the stuffiness of weddings...does that make sense?  Like, I don't want to be massively against all things traditional, but there will hopefully be traditional elements with modern or fun twists to them.  So let me walk you through a little bit of what our guests will go through as they arrive for the wedding day...

Guests arrive:  gather in 'cocktail' area, bar is open.  No appetizers yet.  Sample of our cocktail area from another person's wedding:

And here it is with no setup...

Invitations say 5:00 pm wedding start time, guests are encouraged to arrive early and stroll the zoo:

Once all guests arrive, they're escorted down toceremony area where junior groomsmen and a second cousin hand out programs and little kleenex packs.  (I got the idea for this little wonderful guest convenience from Bee over at her and Patrick's blog.  While mine are not nearly as beautiful as hers (I didn't have the extra funds for more ribbon or perfect labels - nor the patience to cut and assemble), I love the simple idea behind the thought and threw these together in like 5 minutes.  They incorporate our wedding colors and our graphic and I had extra sheets of labels laying around so I just had my sister design them real fast and then bought the travel kleenex packs and glassine envelopes for like $25 total...we made about 125 of them.)

To assist ushers (groomsmen) with seating guests, we'll have chair seating cards reserving front rows for specific family members.  Something like these (but we will have them for our parents as well as have whole rows marked off for the 'Campbells,' 'Beevers,' etc.):

Courtesy of Serendipity Designs

After guests are seated, DJ plays music until processional begins.  The last song before the processional will be "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.  I love that song (even though it is on massive overkill) and think it's the perfect way to let guests know, the fun is about to begin!

Side note:  If you have not seen this yet, seriously you need to watch this video of them performing this song on the Oprah show - AH-MAZING!  There is also a higher quality version right below it if you prefer, but the first video shows the best view :)

So anyway, back to my plans...right after Black Eyed Peas song plays (and no, the video will not be shown), processional begins.  DJ plays instrumental / orchestral version of Phil Collins' "Groovy Kind of Love" performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.  (I have always loved this song but got the idea to use the instrumental version when Monica and Chandler had a violinst perform the song for the processional during their wedding on "Friends."  :)  You can hear a portion of it by clicking here.)

Officiant (our pastor) leads groom and groomsmen out to altar.  (There is a special little room for the guys to change in just behind the altar and it also lends itself to a perfect entrance for the guys where they are out of sight and then suddenly appear.)

Moms are seated.  Bridesmaids, ring bearers, flower girl and finally bride (ME) make our entrance from a patio outside of the bridal cottage / preparation area.  We walk across this pretty bridge:

Something like this:

And then through the 'aisle' created by the chairs set up in the outdoor teatro area:

Once my 6 girls walk down the aisle, the four, yes *FOUR* ring bearers will make their way down the aisle.  We are sending them down two by two.  Now here is where things start to go the 'unexpected' way.  What were we going to do with four ring bearers?  I wanted to give each of them a task and since we aren't sending the 'real' rings down the aisle with them, I only wanted one of them holding a ring pillow.  So I searched the net and found some great ideas.

The oldest of our four nephews (5 years old) will be paired up with his youngest cousin (22 months old).  I will have him hold his hand so there is no problem getting the young one down the aisle.  The older one will carry the ring pillow and then the younger one will be given a bell and will be the 'bell boy.'  He'll ring the bell signaling the bride's entrance and the ceremony is about to begin.  Our ring pillow is actually not a real pillow but rather a pillow that will be made out of kermit mums - a flower I love that we are incorporating throughout the bouquets and will use for the ring bearer's boutonnieres.  It will be like this but with a ribbon in turquoise probably to match our colors.

The next two nephews (3 years old and 2 1/2 years old) will walk together carrying a small banner.  This is a big surprise for Mr Fix It as he is not aware that I have planned this for the boys.  The banner looks like this:

The little gray border you see inside the banner is not really on the real thing.  This is the proof I received from VistaPrint.  Seriously, this is a fun little thing you can do for super cheap!  I got this banner for about $13 total including tax and S&H.  They had a template in my colors which I was so excited about so I just picked their pre-designed template and added the words.  I showed it to 2 of the ring bearer's dad, Mr Fix It's brother, and he totally laughed and said John will love it!

So the ring bearers make their way down, and then comes my cute little flower girl.  I opted for her not tossing petals down the aisle since we are going to have the guests toss petals at us as we make our way back down together during the recessional.  So instead, she'll carry a little FG wand, something like this:

Only hers will be a little more done up hopefully and more like a round ball of flowers at the top.

So that's the processional...sort of.  Of course, the bride (me) is supposed to follow the FG down the aisle with her father.  But I won't be making my entrance just yet.  After the entire wedding party is at the altar, all except for me, I have one last 'unexpected' surprise for my guests!  It is my favorite thing about the entire wedding.  I am still trying to finalize this project and cannot wait to share it with all of you.  So stay tuned, I am hoping to share the bride's walk down the aisle and my grand entrance soon...but this is a massive DIY project that is taking much more time than I expected.

So what about you, ladies.  Have you given any thought to your processional or how your wedding party will make it's way down the aisle?  Are you doing anything out of the ordinary, silly, fun or unexpected? 

More blog love!

So thankful to Bicoastal Bride, Miss Pug, New Mexican Bride and NuFlaiir for recognizing me on their blogs with a lovely new award.  I hate to admit I received it a while ago and have not gotten around to posting it, but here goes.

Rules: list 10 things that make you happy. Then, pass it on to 10 bloggers that make your day a better one!

1.  My daughter, Jordan Kaylie. 

That is a horrible pic of me but a super cute one of her from when she competed in the National American Miss Pageant this past August.  She's 14, a freshmen in  high school (God help me) and super athletic and smart.  I am so blessed and so proud to have such a beautiful, fun and talented daughter who loves Jesus!

2.  My fiance, Mr Fix It.

I am so blessed to have this man in my life and am thrilled beyond belief that he has chosen to make me his wife just four short months from now!  It's so crazy to think that after 37 years, I have finally met someone who is everything I ever needed but never would have expected for myself.  :)  Funny how the Lord works in mysterious ways.  I can't imagine my life without him...the thought of that just makes me nauseous. 

3.  My family.

 

My mother and my baby sister are daily parts of my life.  If we do not see each other, we speak on the phone.  We live within 15 minutes of each other and are constantly together.  My sister keeps me laughing always and my mother makes me feel grounded and established.  The three of us 'Campbell' girls have been a strong unit for our entire lives and happiness just isn't the same without them contributing to it.

4.  My job (and my boss).

No pic for this one...just the recognition that I am truly blessed by an unbelievably amazing boss and a job I have been at for 7 1/2 years now.  This job came to me via some serious hardships but God was so good in how He worked everything out for the best for me.  Because of this job, I was able to finally gain financial independence as a single mom, pay for this wedding without going into debt, take family vacations for the first time each year, work only 4 1/2 days a week and have the freedom to leave when I need to so that I can be at my daughter's school and sporting events and just overall live a stress free life without the worry of overtime and anxiety.  This job is what allows me to blog and read all day long and to plan our wedding without the stress of not having enough time for everything.  :)

5.  Jesus and the Bible.

Ok, this one should be number one, but God knows that without Him, nothing would be possible in my life.  For all of my fears and failures and faults, Jesus has been right there through every one of them correcting me, encouraging me, loving me...I am by no means perfect but I am perfect in His eyes.  I thank Him daily for what I don't deserve but am blessed with and remind myself daily to live my life in a way that honors Him.  My biggest hope for our wedding is that it will overflow with the name and love of Jesus and that our guests will know Him more personally through the ceremony and elements of our marriage and vows.

6.  The blogosphere

When I found my way into the blogosphere just a few short months ago I never would have dreamed of having 74 fellow blogger friends following along with me as I spill out my thoughts and ideas.  I am so grateful for this new medium and how happy it makes me to know I have 'someone' out there who can relate to me on some level. 

7.  The internet.

What would I have done without the internet?  Thanks to my job, I am able to browse online all day long and have made almost every one of my bookings and purchases for the wedding based on web sites I found.  I do all my Christmas shopping online and have everything come to me!  I am able to keep track of everything with e-mail and come up with all kinds of inspiration and ideas just from typing in a few words into Google.  Love it!

8.  TV.

I hate to admit I am a tv addict in many respects.  The funny thing is, I don't really watch a ton of tv when I am at home.  I actually watch it mostly at work!  Isn't that bad?  But my job (my amazing dream job as I mentioned above) is not really a full time job even though as an executive assistant my boss requires me to be in the office for 4 1/2 days a week.  So most of the day, I am just sitting around by myself in an empty office without anything to do.  Therefore, I do most of my tv viewing from the internet thanks to the networks new web sites that offer full episodes online.  I admit that I watch shows online I would normally never watch at home.  Things like the City, the Hills, Desperate Housewives, etc. But my absolute faves that I *do* watch at home are probably Lost, the Colbert Report, How I Met Your Mother, anything wedding related, and Bones.

9.  Cooking.

I love to cook and am a self taught chef thanks to the Food Network!  With the internet and cable in today's day and age, just about anyone can learn just about anything and DIY.  Cooking included.  My fiance thinks I'm a great cook and my mom refers to me as a 'gourmet' cook...that's a little overboard.  She's just shocked because I cook with mostly fresh ingredients and not things out of a can like she did when we were growing up.  :)

10.  Sleep!

Sleep makes me SO happy...unfortunately, in my late 30's, my body has decided it doesn't need much sleep and I am usually not in bed until 11 pm or later and then I usually cannot sleep past 5 or 6 am regardless of whether or not I set an alarm! UGH!  How I miss the days of my twenties when I could sleep until 11 am!  That is until my daughter was born of course.

So there you have it...10 things that make me truly, utterly happy.  As far as passing this award on, I would like to give it to my 10 most recent followers as every single follower makes me so so happy!  I love finding new blogs to stalk and knowing there are some out there who find I have something worth reading as well.  :)

Music Monday #6: Ceremony songs: My friend, Charlie Chang

Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Charlie Chang.  I met Charlie through our church and let me just say, he is the nicest guy and ever so talented.  Being involved in my church, I know many talented singers who I could have asked to sing at my wedding.  Heck, I lead a group of girls in my bible study who have almost all sang in their school choirs or on our church worship team!  But when trying to figure out how to personalize our ceremony and find the perfect song to incorporate at just the right moment, I was really struggling.  Until one day when I was watching an episode of Scrubs and during this scene where Carla tells everyone that she's pregnant, they play this amazing Christian song by this band I love named Kutless. 

The title of the song is All of the Words and I love it because it is perfect to play as a worship song during the time that the hubby and I will be taking communion and saying a family prayer while the guests are just sitting there.  But the song also has several parts that sound like a love song between John and I.  And immediately I thought of Charlie to sing the song because his voice would be so perfect with it and he plays the guitar which will make a perfect combination of acoustic performance.

So check out the songs and Charlie and tell me what you think!

Charlie's Video:  Waltz for You

Charlie's Album on iTunes  (click the iTunes button) 

The Kutless song All of the Words 

Music Monday # 5 (Cake cutting option?)

So I mentioned several weeks ago that I am still struggling to find a song for my own cake cutting (as well as the garter and bouquet toss selections).  If you haven't figured it out from any of my posts or comments, I'm a Christian girl who has been pretty involved in my church for about 10 years now and it is important to me that there is no vulgar or obscene or foul language used in any of the songs we have playing for dancing or what not.  That said, I don't know why I keep finding myself drawn to this catchy dance song for a possible cake cutting option.  Honestly, I think it's a just a bit too risque for me to have playing at my reception, but what do you girls think?

I just love songs with the word 'sugar' in them for cake cutting options...just fits to me for some reason...and I think this is such a fun song...but when you listen to the words, well, hard for me to have that playing at my reception while my impressionable 15 year old daughter will be standing right next to me.  So I am leaning more towards something hard rock and upbeat like this (but probably the original Def Leppard version):

What are your thoughts?  Do you have any songs or genres that you are concerned about?  Or arguing with your honey or family members about to have played during your big day? 

Music Monday # 4 (First Dance options)

I am nervous about the first dance.  No offense to anyone, but I just don't like those first dances where the couple sways slowly (maybe a dip or turn or two) to some slow song that is really special to them.  The guests all ooh and ahh for about the first 30 seconds, if you're lucky, and then they turn to their tables and start drinking, eating and talking.  Argh...I want all eyes on me...not because I'm a diva who thinks I should have attention on me and my man at all times, but because I want to entertain my guests!  I want to get them excited, involved and jumping around with glee so that they can't wait til it's their turn to hit the dance floor!

Thus, I share with you my hope that my fiance will follow through on his original desire to want to take dance lessons and learn a swing routine for our first dance.  I say 'hope' because he has been sounding flaky lately when I mention looking into dance lessons as if he no longer wants to put in the effort.  I am hoping that I convince him otherwise and I am also hoping that I convince him that this is a great song for a first swing dance at our reception:  Crazy Little Thing Caled Love

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a couple who performed their own first dance to the song (I would actually use the Michael Buble version below and not this one):

And for the cutesy little Disney video for your viewing pleasure, here's the Michael Buble version we will actually (hopefully) use for our first dance:

Alright, spill it, girls...what are your thoughts and ideas for your first dance song selection?  Will you be taking dance lessons and go all out rock n roll or hip hop or will you keep it classic and timeless with a waltz?  Maybe jazz it up with a latin salsa or cha cha cha?  Or do you have that one special song that you will play while you simply basque in a single private (sort of) moment with your honey whispering sweet words to each other about how amazing your day has been so far? 

Or if you're already married, what was your first dance like?

I was originally thinking Michael Buble's Sway to a cha cha cha, but now I have a special surprise in store in addition to the song above - again, hoping I can get Mr. Fix It excited about it like me!  :)

Music Monday # 3 (The Recessional)

First off, let me just say:  5 months to go today!  Woo-hoo.  I'm getting a little nervous but it's all coming together and whenever I share my ideas with vendors and others they say I will have a very fun and unique event.  :) 

Anyway, my fiance thinks about music and tells me has thoughts on things, but he won't share his ideas with me!  Supposedly, he has some 'surprises' up his sleeve for the wedding.  So frustrating!  Makes me nervous, too.  But I already have almost every type of song selection and music picked out for what I am hoping to incorporate into our ceremony.

For the recessional, I know I want something fun, upbeat and super duper lively to get the guests cheering, clapping, whooping and hollering and swaying to the music as we bounce with a jump in our step back down the aisle.  I also want to include some type of a throw back to the oldies as I really love the music of the 50's and 60's from Elvis Presley to the Beatles.  That's why I am hoping that this is the song we will have played right as we have our kiss!  The little intro gives enough time for us to kiss and our officiant to announce us just as we head back down for the recessional with our wedding party in tow.

With This Ring (the Platters)

Let's hear it, ladies...any ideas for what you want for your recessional?  Will you have a live song sung (as my sister did when 5 lovely ladies with an acoustical guitar sang All You Need is Love during her recessional) or will you have something played (like me) from a CD or .mp3 version?  Will it be lively and fun?  Or will it be traditional and romantic? 

To dance or not to dance? The Money Dance that is

So for the most part, Mr. Fix It has let me pretty much have my way when it comes to things we don't agree on regarding the wedding. He has been married before and I haven't and he knows how much thought and effort I am putting into everything so he usually gives in. :) But there is one area that I had logically got him to agree with me on and yet he keeps coming back to wanting his way: the money dance. You know...that thing where you and your groom stand all dolled up awkwardly in the center of the dance floor with no one else around while your guests stare at you and others line up in hopes of waiting to sway with you for 15 to 25 seconds just to stuff money in your pockets or purse after they've already brought you a gift? Well, at least that's the way I see it.

Source

Now don't get me wrong...this is just my personal opinion. Almost every single friend and family member's wedding I have attended has had a money dance...but it's just not *my* thing. In fact, my cousin received over $1,000 at hers while my sister barely made it to $200 at hers. And my sister's wedding was much bigger than my cousin's. But to me, it just comes across as awkward, begging, greedy and BOR-ING. I would much rather allow my guests to shake their groove thang on the dance floor than kill 10 to 20 precious minutes on the dance floor making everyone stand around. And God forbid, what if no one wants to get up and dance with us? Or what if it's all of my honey's friends that I have no idea who they are so I end up making uncomfortable small talk with them for 30 seconds? Oh, the horror!

Mr. Fix It thinks that in these economic times it would be helpful to have every opportunity we can to receive some extra funds for the honeymoon. He said with 200 guests, even if they gave $1, that would be $200 extra we have (of course, he's not thinking of our 5 year old cousins who have no apparent income at the moment). I told him *I'd* give him the $200 if it was so important to him. But honestly, we'd probably get more than that because we have very loving and generous friends and family. Besides, I told him it's the economic times we live in that make it all the more so why we shouldn't have it...because people can't afford it!

Anyway, recently he called telling me again why he really wants to do it. I told him that I would consider more creative ways of 'earning' money at our reception. For example, our DJ told us a story of how one bride and groom had their bridesmaids and groomsmen split into two teams and then sing for all the guests. Afterwards, they walked around with hats and such allowing the guests to give money to the team they thought was the better singers. All the money was given to the bride and groom and at least it was more entertaining and a performance that got the entire guest list involved in the idea. But John didn't like that idea either.

What do I do? I know that in some cultures this is a tradition and important part of a wedding...but not in my culture. So what about all you ladies? What are your thoughts and are you including this ritual in your own wedding reception?

Music Monday # 2 (the Bouquet Toss and Cake Cutting)

So since I started my first Music Monday with my baby sister's wedding playbook song selection, I figured I should follow up with 2 more songs from her big day 3 years ago.  Last week was the garter toss and so it is only fitting that this week I share her song for the bouquet toss for all the single ladies (which btw, if you use Beyonce's song for your wedding bouquet toss you're not being too original.  Don't get me wrong...I love it and would love to use it to because it is so fitting, but seriously girls, let's try to find things that are a little more original.) 

So, when they were calling the single girls (which was me at that time) onto the floor, this song began to play:

Lonely People (by Jars of Clay)

Again, I tell you that you have to understand my sister's silly sense of humor.  I particularly like the 2nd verse that specifically says "This is for all the single people, thinking that life has left them dry." 

I figured I'd throw in another fun one for you as a double shot on this fine Monday...so for her cake cutting...though not quite as silly, she used this song (start at about 1:00 where the chorus begins):

Lips Like Sugar (Echo and the Bunnymen)

Get it?  Lips, sugar, kisses - cake...cutting the cake, kissing after?  Too cute. 

So, got any great ideas for your own tosses at the reception or your cake cutting?  I still have no idea for my own so I would love to hear other's ideas!

Music Monday # 1 (The Garter Toss)

Ok, so I have seen several blogs where brides share songs they like for potential use in our weddings or whatever.  I thought that was kind of cool as I *love* all things music.  I even have a playlist in my ipod of all the songs I have selected to use in things like the ceremony, grand entrance, first dance, bouquet toss, wedding video, etc.  Yes, I unfortunately listen to it almost every day - and I still have 5 1/2 months to go! 

Since I love just about any type of genre (except for vulgar gangsta rap), you will find all kinds of things from pop, love songs, oldies, soft rock, classic rock, hard rock, techno, disco, hip hop, Christian and the list goes on.  But to start off with my very first music post, I thought I would share something from my sister's wedding playbook.  She is uber creative when it comes to song selections and we had so much fun with all the choices at her wedding three years ago. 

If you've got the funny bone for it, this is the song she played as the DJ called all the 'single' fellas out onto the floor for the garter removal and toss.  You can skip to 1:00 in as that is where the chorus begins and she had her DJ start the song at that point :)

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Even the Losers)

Now once the guys were on the floor and this song had been playing, it was time for the groom to dive under that dress and remove the garter...which he of course did with his teeth (and a little bit of a vulgar movement that I will not go into detail about - but you can see it in this post in the 3rd video down).  But when he finally emerged with the garter in his teeth, my sis instructed him to look hard at the garter.  She surprised him with a San Diego Chargers football garter in the team colors and with a football charm on it - it's his like lifetime favorite team!  To which, at that point, when this little tidbit was noticed, the DJ began to play this funny theme song (I threw in a little funny music video that some kids did to the song for your own viewing enjoyment):

San Diego Super Chargers Theme Song

So what do you think, fellow brides?  Is she funny or what?  What are your plans for your garter removal and toss song?  Anything?  Though I have selected so many songs for the other elements of our big day, the 3 songs I have not yet selected are the garter toss, bouquet toss and cake cutting (sigh).  I will definitely be enlisting the baby sis' help!

Tell me all about you and your fiance!

So Miss Mojito had this posted on her site and I just loved reading about her and the honey's details of their lives and such.  Thought I would do the same and post my own answers regarding our relationships.  Feel free to copy and paste into your own blog and let me know if you do so - I want to come check it out!

1. What are your middle names?

Lee Ann and David  (He's named after his grandfather, mine is sort of after my grandma's middle name - Lee)

2. How long have you been together?
5 1/2 years! 

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We met on match.com - talked on the phone for a week and then went on our first date...so we didn't know each other at all when we started dating.  :)

4. Who asked who out?
He found my profile and contacted me...then he asked me out to dinner.

5. How old are each of you?
I am 37 and he will be 47 soon...I preface this with the fact that no one believes he is 47.  He looks like he is in his late 20's early 30's and acts like he is a teenager.  He is super fit, active and young at heart.  :)

6. Did you go to the same school?
Actually, we went to rival schools!  My school (Orange High) referred to his school (Villa Park High) as the 'weenies on the hill.'  Villa Park bordered our city and was known as a snobby rich neighborhood.

7. Are you from the same home town?
I grew up in Orange and he grew up in Villa Park which borders Orange.

8. Who is the smartest?
Ha!  Depends on the subject.  Probably equals.

9. Who majored in what?
He didn't attend college.  Went straight into his trade after high school and now owns his own flooring/contracting business.  I graduated from Biola University with a bachelor's degree in business and organizational leadership development...basically a broad business degree.

10. Who is the most sensitive?
I am definitely the emotional one...he is a 'man's man'!  (Matter of fact, never once seen him cry - is that a good or a bad thing?)

11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Up to now, we've been to Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas and Yellowstone (Wyoming) and Northern California and Oregon together.  But we will be leaving the continent on our honeymoon - more to come.

12. Who has the worst temper?
Definitely him, but we both know how to push each other's buttons.

13. How many children do you want?
Up until 4 months before we got engaged (after 5 years together), we always thought we'd have two more kids (I already have a teenager from a previous relationship).  But right before we got engaged, he suddenly said that he realizes he is much older and doesn't want to feel like a 'grandpa' at his kids' high school graduation.  So now we are pretty sure that we will opt for savings and travel and enjoying our hopefully future grandkids one day.  Besides, we have 7 nieces and nephews all under 5 years old right now between the two of us and I am sure there will be more on the way.  So it's not like we don't have children to enjoy :)

Update:  Last night while holding my 6 month old niece on Halloween, he suddenly says he thinks we need to 'have one of these.'  (sigh)  I looked at him and said, I thought we said we weren't having kids...we need to talk about this.  :)

14. Who does the cooking?
I do most of the cooking...he can definitely cook but I enjoy it better and am probably a bit more 'gourmet' than he is.

15. Who is more social?
Absolutely him!  And that is saying a lot because I am pretty social.  But John is the type of guy who will talk to any single person he comes across whether in line at the bank or grocery store, at a restaurant, at a new friend or family member's house...the list goes on.  He is more like a girl who won't stop talking.  But he makes me people feel really comfortable with how friendly he is.  It's what I love about him.  We are sure to make friends wherever we go.

16. Who is the neat freak?
Um, duh!  Me!  He is in construction and is a boy bachelor...need I say more?  He drops socks, food, trash, mail, keys, phone everything anywhere and everywhere and mostly on the floor.  He is so busy he rarely cleans and he has a dog.  It is a nightmare and I can't wait to move in with him and keep our place clean finally.

17. Who is the most stubborn?
It's pretty equal...we're both really stubborn...but ironically tend to compromise a lot with each other.

18. Who wakes up earlier?
We are both early risers.  I can't ever sleep past 5:30 or 6 usually.

19. Where was your first date?
Cheesecake Factory at the Irvine Spectrum center.  We browsed around the shops after.

20. Who has the bigger family?
Kind of funny..he actually has 4 siblings and 8 nieces and nephews whereas I only have 1 sibling and 2 nieces and nephews.  But his family doesn't really have any extended family.  They are big about hanging out with mom, Pops and all the siblings and kids, but he doesn't have grandparents or aunts or uncles that they ever see on holidays or vacations.  I know he has some out there somewhere in the country but he does not speak to them or visit them.  Our family on the other hand has tons of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, etc.  And almost all of them are very local so we spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, etc. together.  On our guest list, my family is more than double his family. 

21. Do you get flowers often?
I am not big on flowers.  I love them, but I feel like they're just gonna die and then I'll have to throw them away and I don't like that part of it.  John has a large bush in his backyard that has plumeria flowers on it.  Sometimes when we are hanging out watching tv and he goes to let the dog in the backyard, he'll come back in with one or a handful of plumeria flowers for me.  I love it, it's so sweet and simple. 

22. How do you spend the holidays?
As mentioned above, with my extended family usually.  Turkey Day at Grandma's and Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncle's.  John spends the holidays with my family, or Turkey Day he goes up north to his dad's or brother's.  I assume once we're married I'm going to have to start alternating holidays and not getting to be with my whole family every year :(

23. Who is more jealous?
We don't believe in jealousy.  Our motto is, if you think I'm interested in or attracted to someone else, then I would just break up with you and be with them.  :)  There is not an ounce of jealousy between us.
24. How long did it take to get serious?
Funny - he had just divorced the previous year and was easing back into the dating scene.  He was still going on 'first dates' with other women he met online for several months after we had been dating.  But then about 6 months in, he finally called me his girlfriend and made it exclusive.  I don't ever feel the need to rush him.

25. Who eats more?
John

26. What do you do for a living?
He owns his own flooring/contracting business...installs any and all flooring, remodels kitchens and bathrooms, countertops, etc.  I am an executive assistant/bookkeeper to a multi-millionaire who invests in real estate.

27. Who does the laundry?
We live apart so we do our own...it will be interesting to see if he relinquishes this to me when we move in.  He claims I won't know how to 'fold' his clothes.  :)

28. Who's better with the computer?
DEFINITELY ME!

29. Who drives when you are together?
Usually him, but lately I try to drive more because he sucks at driving.  He is so social that he loves to look at people when he talks to them.  God forbid he is talking to someone in the back seat!  And he is a looky loo at everything but the street in front of him!

30. What is your song?
We don't have a song that is 'ours'.  I have a song that I will be walking down the aisle to that reminds me of our story...The Day Before You by Rascal Flatts

The infamous Wedding Dance video (and one you haven't seen)

By now, everyone has seen or heard about the bride and groom who had their entire bridal party dance down the ceremony aisle to Chris Brown's Forever.  Heck, they even made the rounds on the morning network news shows and talk show circuit.  For those who have their head in the sand and have not yet seen this fun loving beginning to Kevin and Jill's wedding here it is:

The sunglasses are a great added touch.  But what I really love is how the guests are totally into it.  Look at their faces...they are laughing, clapping, cheering them on.  What a way to start off your wedding extravaganza.

When the video first surfaced (before it hit the world), I e-mailed it to my wedding party and told them to start rehearsing :)  Once it made it's way across the internet, I even had a couple friends e-mail me telling me they knew I was totally going to do this at my wedding...because I want it to be all about fun and entertainment.  But at heart, the traditional side of me says that even though my wedding party would be totally into it, I still will have a somewhat traditional walk down the aisle.  However, I have my own plans for how to start off our ceremony that are totally me and our guests are sure to love!  I can't wait to show you  once I finalize the project.

But the real reason I wanted to share with you is because, as a YouTube enthusiast, I found the even funnier follow up spoof of the dance.  These people decided to show what happened to the same couple 6 months after...I laughed hysterically at both videos!

I particularly like the Ben Affleck look-alike attorney...but the entire thing makes me laugh every time I watch it.  What's your favorite part?  And do you have anything different planned for your walk down the aisle?