Reception Schemes!

So I was blogging two minutes ago (it's always feast or famine when I write: first I write nothing for two weeks and then I blog a bunch) and I thought about all the reception stuff we've got going on. First off, I haven't yet given up on convincing Josh to just elope with me. He's still adamant that he wants a reception, but it's totally acceptable to send out marriage announcements and a few, carefully selected sealing invitations without tacking a whole reception onto it. I know it's rude to deny good, kind friends the opportunity to celebrate with us and wish us well on our life journey or whatever, but the effort, expense, and ordeal of putting on a reception has never seemed worth it to me. I've lived through all of my sisters' receptions and known throughout all that it was never, ever worth it. When you witness your kind, sweet role models turn into sobbing bridezillas, you see the error in wedding receptions.

Anyhoo, because Josh has yet to see the light, here's what we've done so far:

We're both working on our guest lists. As I mentioned in my last blog, I have to completely revamp my list. It will most definitely exceed my invitation limit. Must make more invitations with imaginary money.

We picked out our wedding playlist from my iTunes. I had 6.9 hours of wedding music for Josh to sift through and choose what he liked but then I accidentally erased it. Smooth, genius. So we chose songs together. I'm actually listening to the playlist right now, a comfortable 2.2 hours of 90s cliche love songs. Good stuff, wedding music.

Our sealing room was booked months ago. We got the big room that seats 60, so 30-ish couples are gonna be crammed in there with us. I have to consult my parents to determine which people would be most offended by not being invited to the sealing. Everyone and their dog (Josh, my parents, Heather, the rest of my married sisters, my dog Indy...) shot down my wish for only our parents to be present. A private, sacred ceremony is not to be. Ah well, who needs it? (Lone violin playing mournfully in the distance...)

We have our table decorations! A little borrowing here, some small purchases there, and they are done. Flowers to be added at a later date.

Location! Backyard is officially nixed after Nicole and my mom stressed the fiasco of parking space. Our neighborhood has a zillion cars (the house on the corner alone has four cars perpetually parked near it) and no space to put them on, so our neighbors might lynch my parents if we tried to squeeze an entire wedding party onto the streets. My mom goes tomorrow to scope out other outside locations. A few backyards are available, and I'd love to have an outside reception because then we can light real candles. Hooray!

Rachel will make cake. I'm not sure if I'd prefer cupcakes. They seem easier. Nobody really likes cake anyway.

Dress is purchased. Silly thing is gonna cost more for alterations because I have a surprisingly squat torso and remarkably round "birthing" hips. I simply baffled the seamstress at my fitting, which always does some good things for my self esteem. I go back in two weeks to check on the progress and see if there's something to be done about my poor body shape. Or rather, something to be done to the dress to conceal my body shape. Whichever. Semantics.

Invitations are made. Depending on whether we need to make more or not, we should be sending out the beautiful, hand-crafted works of art (all made by The Amazing Bob, of course) at the end of the month. They're actually really simple because we designed them that way, and I just love them.

I think that's it. What else is there? Outside decorations? Nicole's job. Food? Mom, Nicole, Rachel, Bob. Lights? Bob. Speakers? Rachel. Photography? Bob and Dad. At this point, I think it's safest to step back and watch the womenfolk work. They don't need my interference anyway and frankly I'm afraid of stressing them out. I'll just focus on making the guest list and saving up honeymoon money.

40 days to go.