Huh? What? Who me??

*waves* Hullo.

No, I haven't done a scrap of wedding planning.
No, I haven'teven really been THINKING about the wedding planning.

Clearly, I'm in one of my troughs where anything wedding related is pushed into the realm of 'eh, I've got another 10 months'. Besides - I've done most of the hard stuff already.

I have to admit though - even though I AM in trough, at least I'm still excited about when I will rise up out it. :) Which is much more than I can say I felt about the 'other' wedding bit.

So.

Jasmyn

Decisions

So - the decision has been made. :) We're going with the Flamingo, for several reasons. The main one in my head was the fact that since The Grove couldn't offer a brunch, and since the wedding is going to be 8:30am - it's jsut WRONG to ask people to take a 1/2 hour drive to see a 20 min ceremony - and then have to drive BACK before they can eat. Esp. considering most everyone would be staying on or near the strip. And even more esp. consiering the fact that I hate waking up early. :)
At some point I'm actually going to call the Flamingo and get some clairty about a few things me and Corey thought of (no dealbreakers, just good to knows) and then check to see what their rates are in August/Septemer.
I got an email from the Knot today - telling me that I have 11 months left. *shakes head*

So - things to do, things to do.

jasmyn

The Vows/Order of Ceremony

See - once I get into the wedding, I REALLY get into it. Over the weekend (that I spent with my lovely) we hammered out our  vows. Neither of us really WANTS to have to say alot, as we would most likely flub it all to high heaven - so thus you see that the officiant will be doing a LOT of talking. :)
It's a mixture of several ceremonies, including a handfasting, the blessing of the hands, and the classic ceremony. The music - *grins* Well that's just us. I tried to talk him into walking in to Smashmouth's version of I'm a Believer but he reeeeeealllly wasn't hearing it. :) Party-pooper.

 

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Prelude (Seating of Guests)  (Jagged Edge - Let's Get Married)
Seating of Parents  (Jagged Edge - Let's Get Married)
Processional Music (Art of Noise – Moments in Love)
Entrance of the Groom
Entrance of the Bride (Background Instrumentals – Something)
Welcome of Guests
Address to the Couple
Declaration of Intent
Vows/Ring Ceremony
Blessing of the Marriage Pronouncement
Seal Vows with a Kiss
Presentation of Mr. & Mrs. (End Instrumentals)
Recessional (Dido - Thank You)

 

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Welcome  Of the Guests

Dear Friends and Family - Welcome to the marriage of The Boy  and Jasmyn 

They have found that special someone to love and trust with heart, mind, & soul. They are blessed to have found someone to support them and comfort them in times of trial. They  know they have good reason to be happy together and we rejoice with them in their union.

We celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and we support their decision to commit themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Marriage is an honorable estate not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and reverently. Marriage is a commitment to take another person as a lover, as a companion, as a friend.Marriage is not a casual event nor is it simply a private affair between two individuals.

The uniting of two individuals from two separate families and backgrounds to establish a new family is an important and memorable event. The uniting of this couple is an occasion of great significance which we can all celebrate.
As they publicly express their love in this ceremony, Jasmyn  and The Boy  demonstrate not only their joy in the present, but their commitment to share the future together. We share their joy, and promise to do all we can to help bring to fulfillment a future of love and peace and joy  for them and for their family.

Address to the Couple

Jasmyn , please face The Boy , and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, hands that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you. These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time. These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard dayThese are the hands that will give you support as he encourages you to chase down your dreams. These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are completely filled with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

The Boy , please hold Jasmyn ’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on this your wedding day, as she pledges her love to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go. These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving. They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams.

Declaration Of Intent

Know now before you go further, that since your paths have crossed in this life you have formed ties between each other. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real the ideals which give meaning to both this ceremony and the institution of marriage. With full awareness, know that within this moment you are not only declaring your intent to be joined  before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each of your growth. Do you still seek to enter into this ceremony? Yes, We Seek to Enter. Vows/Ring Ceremony

The Boy , Will you cause her pain? I May
Is that your intent? No
Jasmyn , Will you cause him pain? I may
Is that your intent? No
*To Both* Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? Yes
And so the binding is made.*First cord is draped across the bride and grooms hands*
Jasmyn , Will you share his laughter? Yes
The Boy , Will you share her laughter? Yes
*To Both* Will both of you look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Second chord is draped across the couples hands*
Jasmyn , Will you burden him? I may
Is that your intent? No
The Boy , Will you burden her? I may
Is that your intent? No
*To Both* Will you share the burdens of each so that you may grow in this union? Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Drape third chord across the couples hands*
Jasmyn , will you share his dreams? Yes
The Boy , will you share her dreams? Yes
*To Both* Will you dream together to create new realities and hopes? Yes
And so the binding is made.
*Drape fourth chord across the couples hands*
The Boy , will you cause her anger? I may
Is that your intent? No
Jasmyn , will you cause him anger? I may
Is that your intent? No
*To Both* Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? We Will
And so the binding is made.
*Drape fifth chord across the couples hands*
Jasmyn , Will you honor him?I will
The Boy , Will you honor her? I will
*To Both* Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor? We will never do so
And so the binding is made.
*Drape sixth chord across the couples hands*
*Tie chords together while saying:*
The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union.
*removes still tied chords, lays them on the altar* *displays rings* These rings are a representation and constant reminder of these chords of binding, an emblem of your unity, and a symbol of how your two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle.
*hands band to The Boy *Place this ring on her left ring finger & as you hold it in place, repeat after me:

I, The Boy , take you Jasmyn   to be my wedded wife, to have & to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness & in health, to love & to cherish, till death do us part. With all my heart, and all my love, I make this pledge to you.*hands band to Jasmyn *

Place this ring on his  left ring finger & as you hold it in place, repeat after me:

I, Jasmyn , take you The Boy , to be my wedded husband, to have & to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness & in health, to love & to cherish, till death do us part. With all my heart, and all my love, I make this pledge to you.

Blessing/Kiss/Presentation

And now, with this union of hearts & hands, & by the power vested in me by the laws of the State of Nevada, it is with great joy and pleasure as I declare you husband and wife.
You may kiss to seal (and celebrate) your union. Ladies & Gentlemen: I now present Mr & Mrs The Boy  and Jasmyn Blank

Table time!!

Since I can't think clearly without comparisons and tables - here we go!

The Grove - 549.99	The Flamingo Chapel - 642.00
One Hour use of Grounds	Unlimited use of grounds (that there are)
Bridal Consultation	Bridal Consultation
Choice of Music (on CD)	Pianist
Officiant	No Officiant (150.00 for the one we want)
1 hour Photog – 36 exp. We keep Negs.	(12) 4X6, (2) 5X7, (1) 8X10 photographs (16 pics)
Two Hour Limo Service	No Limo (but in hotel)
Use of Dressing Rooms	No Rooms (but in hotel....)
Up to 50 guests	No guest limit
150.00 for video	Video
No accommodations	Free night in Mini-Suite
N/A	Leather Bound Wedding Album
N/A	Leather Bound Certificate Holder
Making our own	Medium Bouquet (that I wouldn’t use)
Making our own	Boutonniere (that he wouldn’t use)
Secluded on a ranch	Next to a pool in a hotel
30 minutes away from Vegas	In the middle of the strip

So... that is the condumdrum. I'm STILL leaning towards The Grove more so than The Flamingo Garden Chapel , and I guess what I'm trying to figure out is why don't I just go wholeheartedly with The Grove? The consultant has been responding swiftly and cheeerfully to all my questions - the grounds are gorgeous, the officiant seems quite fun...it will end up costing about the same....

Eh. Maybe I just need to sleep on it.

jasmyn

Updates....

Well - that has gone over (with my folx) much better than I ever thought. Everyone seems more than eager to come to Vegas.

So - I've narrowed it down to two places.
1) The Garden Chapel at the Flamimgo Hotel or
2) The Grove at Silk Purse Ranch.

Personally - I like the Grove better....the only perk that the Flamingo has is that it offers video and a night's stay in the hotel. The Grove however - it just has a better 'personality'...it's just plain PURTY. And it's cheaper (naturally).

So...I'm excited again - the wedding (including airfare, lodging and the reception) has dropped down to 4K. Which is SO manageble.

*grins*

I'm considering buying my dress now - getting a simple one from Watters & Watters or WToo. Corey wants to wear a simple suit. My mom's getting our rings. One of my friends has offered to help me create finalize the website. I'm hopefully *cross your fingers for me* going to get a different part time job that pays more and is more flexible. I spent a WHOLE DAY with the light of my life - and I'm just so freaking happy.

*happy sighs*

jasmyn

Mad Scramble (Change of Plans)

I don't think I've mentioned lately PRECISELY how much I love my mother. As I get older - I see that she's not perfect, but she's damn close. She's got her failings and her blind spots (and don't we all) and while stumbling over a new one kind of sucks - it's still delightful to realize that she is HUMAN.
She's a wonderful human though. :) So - I talked to her about my 'cold feet'. She told me (more or less) to do what feels best for us - and then suggested Vegas.

*raised eyebrow*

I have been just FUNDAMENTALY against Vegas - I don't want the drive through, I don't want the cheese factor, and heaven KNOWS I don't want Elvis (Or even worse - Elvii!!). But - after doing a little research online, it looks like I can still get a nice sweet little romantic garden wedding - in Vegas. Heh. It's close enough that it's not outrageously expenisve, but far away enough that we don't have to worry about a BUNCH of hanger ons. Besides the fact that - it's Vegas...and most of my family hasn't been there. His family? Some have, some haven't, but that's an issues for another entry.

So - *grins* I'm excited again. And besides the fact that it will be cheaper to get married on the date we REALLY wanted (September 1st - a Monday) and I mean - *grins* It's just reallly reallly better.

Lst night Corey FINALLY admitted that he really doesn't care WHERE we get married, HOW we get married or anything else. All he cares about is that we get married (which no doubt, is the MOST important part) - but the trimmings are kinda cool too, ya know? So - I get to be all girly girly. *LOL*

So...I'm about to get the deposit back from our site *sniffsniff* though I REALLLY did love it, and continue hunting for the right 'place' in Vegas. I'm considering trying to talk him into going out there over Christmas (if he has any vacation time) so we can actually preview stuff.

jasmyn

Conscious Bride (Part 2)

See - the sad part is that I know EXACTLY what I want. I want a small simple ceremony with - (from my family) My mom, grandmom, Nee, Mitch, JJ & Leon..and from Corey's Family - his mom, grandmom, brothers. Parents & siblings in other words.

Then a mediumish reception with just everybody there - we could even still have two...maybe in a resturant - a place with REALLY good food and drink.

So that's the thing. I don't WANT a bunch a people there watching us get married. And I don't WANT to worry about hurting anybody's feelings. But at the same time - I DO want the big ole celebration afterwards. Much afterwards... :)

So - the thing is - where can we HAVE the wedding with isn't OVERLY inconvient to any of the above guests, a lovely natural location - yet far enough from Philadelphia and Indianapolis that it will deter stragglers from coming? And at the same time - enough fun & nice enough that people will WANT to come - but not super expensive?

Poconos? Atlantic City? Smokey Mountains? Jamaica?

Obviously Jamaica's my personal favorite.
But...the other places would work too.

*sigh*

jasmyn

Conscious Bride

I think - I will call my mother. Tell her that Nee had the baby (a boy, 8lbs11oz - no name as of yet) and then somehow segue into asking her if she would be simply heartbroken if she wasn't there when I got married.



Me and the Luv talked about it yesterday - and he is perfectly peachy about running off. He doesn't care if his gramma is there, his mother - well he would like her there, but she might be incapacitated - and his brothers - I don't think either shall really care. I would love to have Nee (but with a baby is she REALLY going to want to travel) and Mitchell and Leon and JJ there - but it's not super crucial...and all of them are on the broke side of poor. What it really comes down to - while me wouldn't miind having others there with us, it's really all about us. And to try to force ourselves to have the event that everyone but us wants - it's not really right.


And the biggest sign to me that this is really what I want? I'm not fretting over losing the 300.00 deposit I put down on the site. It would be worth it to get it right.
Mind you - if my mother has a fit - maybe we can just invite her down. Or *rolls eyes* go back to the UTTERLY original plan - invite everyone - let them know it's in Jamaica - give listing of places to stay - and see who shows up - esp. since I now know that my grandmother wil come anywhere I get married at.



Not sure. Not sure. Just plain not sure.

Jasmyn