The Registering Story

Even though I’m not savvy at this whole wedding planning process, I still have enough common sense to know a few basic things. For example, guys don’t like to help with much of the wedding planning, but there are three things the guys want in on:

1)      Registering. Every guy likes to have the gun and go scan every single item in the store. It’s like Christmas to them. Who wouldn’t want to scan everything they wanted in hopes that they get it as a gift?

2)      Cake testing. Guys are pigs. It goes without saying that they would want to taste every cake they could get their hands on.

3)      Bachelor Party. Strippers. Need I say more? Guys probably only get married so that they can have a “Hangover” experience at their bachelor parties.

 

Charles and I registered this weekend. We had a great time! It was cute to see the playful, childlike version of my fiancé as he raced up and down the aisles picking out everything “cool” to scan.  It reminded me of that old show “Supermarket Sweep,” where the contestants would get to go and throw everything they wanted (and could fit) into their carts in a certain amount of time and they would get it for free.  I’m pretty sure Charles thought that everything you put on the registry you got for free at the end, I had to explain to him “Honey, just because you put the $2500 70 inch television on the list does not mean that you will get the $2500 70 inch television.

We had our moments where we disagreed on what to scan. I didn’t want to look greedy putting expensive things on the list. One or two I thought might be ok, but when every gift we were scanning was 90+ dollars, I was thinking “Man, we need to calm it down, our friends will probably stay in the 20-30 dollar range.” I kept giving Charles “the look” when he would put the $300 dollar Dyson vacuum or the Rumba robot on the list. He thought I was telling him he couldn’t have any fun, so he got a little irritated with me, which I understand, so I had to calmly explain my reasoning, and then I think he understood my point.

Registering was extremely entertaining to say the least, but it was also a lot harder than we expected that it would be, and we didn’t register for nearly as many items as we have guests, and we thought that we had registered for too much! It literally took four hours to register at two stores, and we found items that we didn’t even know existed (which was extremely neat for me, as my love of shopping for clothes has switched to a love of shopping for household items / décor / kitchenware / etc.) I learned a lot more about Charles taste versus my taste as far as designs and style go, which was very eye opening.  We made compromises if, for instance, one of us liked a certain color of appliances or a certain design of plates, etc. Sometimes he would cave, sometimes I would cave. We luckily didn’t have any bickering over things like that. I was very scanner shy, and he was not at all.

It’s kind of bittersweet. Tomorrow we are going to register at one more place, and then we will be finished. I don’t want any of it to be over! I’m feeling nostalgic. I will only be married one time, and I’m trying to savor each moment, but time seems to keep moving, and at an annoyingly fast rate. At least at the end, I will get to marry my best friend, my “wabers.” I wonder what my next wedding adventure will be…Stay tuned.

 

Michele

The Save the Date Story

I’ve heard a lot of conflicting thoughts about sending out Save the Dates.  I am sure that to a lot of people, Save the Dates are considered an “added expense” or “unnecessary”,” but for some reason I just really wanted to get Save the Dates printed and sent out. I love getting other couple’s save the dates and putting them on my fridge. To me, the save the dates are the fun part, you get to use your engagement pictures and use pretty colors and fonts, whereas the invitations (though beautiful and elegant) don’t exactly scream “it’s a party!”

I ordered the Save the Dates from a fabulous site called weddingpaperdivas.com. It was so easy to use, I was very impressed. I order 250, thinking I would have enough to send plus a few extras in case I forgot anyone. They wonderful fiancé decided to add more people to the list. I then had to rush order more Save the Dates, came in very quickly, looked great, and I assumed everything was perfect. Then my as we are sending the Save the Dates out next week and my mother, mother in law, and bridesmaids are addressing them in 2 days.

No offense to my fiancé, I love him to death, but he is a social butterfly who has to have everyone, including people he knew in elementary school that don’t even know he is engaged at the wedding. It’s getting a little out of hand. But I want him to be happy. Leave it to men to get things rolling at the last minute right?

My mom had the cutest idea to send out the Save the Dates so that they arrive to people on Valentine’s Day. How cute is that? Nothing like announcing a wedding date on Valentine ’s Day. The people who are in a relationship are going to think it’s just the cutest thing. Of course, alternatively, people who are not in a relationship are going to hate us forever. It’s all part of it I guess. We are even going to put little heart stamps on them. I’m dying. It’s too cute.

On a side note, I found out that it is considered proper etiquette to hand write all of your addresses for Save the Dates, Invitations, and Thank You cards (that includes return addresses.) At first I was thinking “man this rule SUCKS,” but the more I think about it, I understand why. I wouldn’t think people put time and care into a pre-stamped address or labels…it’s impersonal and a tad lazy. Kudos to whoever made the unofficial hand written rule. My bridesmaids may hate me for having to help address this all, but I would do the same for them, so they can get over it.

Seven and a half months (and counting) until Happily Ever After begins!

 

As always,

Michele