Temptation...

Temptation, thy name is destination wedding.

It would be so romantic! We could go anywhere in the world and create an awesome weekend of events centered around me, Boy, and our friends and family. We could spend our days hiking through rain forest, sunning on the beach, or learning to surf! Think of the pictures we could take... and the colors would be gorgeous.

It is an oh-so-tempting option. I can see why so many brides choose it. When I recently had lunch with a college friend (Acutally, it was a few months ago at this point. Where does the time go?), she gushed about preparing for her Hawaiian wedding. As I felt the slightest tint of jealousy color my face, I thought about what a dream destination wedding might look like:

There are many positives, not the least of which is that my sister hates feet and would be absolutely horrified by barefoot boys.

I'm not completely attached to the concept of getting hitched in a church, so the beach setting would be nice. The attire could be simple, and therefore inexpensive for the guests. There is also quite a lot of understated elegance that could be achieved. I absolutely love the idea of setting the tables for a cocktail hour up on the beach itself. I can just imagine the linen and the breeze creating some fantastic pictures. I know that the beaches on Hawaii are all public, so it would be fairly easy to find the perfect spot.

But... oh so many things. I realize that I shoot down many weddings that would be absolutely lovely. I just cannot imagine carting all of my planning supplies and DIY projects on a plane or (gasp) leaving them to the peril of shipping, nor can I imagine asking friends and relatives to pay for their attendance at my wedding. Again, I know they would never say anything about it, but it could be a hardship, especially in these economic times. And I'm sure that there would be at least a few people who would not be able to make it.

And that is inexcusable, temptation or not.

Rocker Boy and Babe

Boy and I had to meet twice in order for it to sink in. We aren't too quick like that :) The first time we met, it was at a concert. Since then, or a respectable time thereafter, I have fantasized about a rock-glam concert themed wedding:

Imagine if you will, the fantastic cover band. The pallet of purple, black, and chrome. The rockin signature cocktails named after song titles. The tables named after awesome concert venues (of course I would include the Crowbar, don't be silly). The kick ass accessories like ticket-themed save the dates. The slightly daring short wedding dress. Plus, we could take a bride and groom picture in front of a giant amp, and those are gosh-darned rocky road cupcakes. Rocky frickin road cupcakes!

It seems perfect. We love music, have been to at least 20 concerts together during our courtship, and even met cute at a concert, even if we don't remember it.

Of course, it could never be. In order for it not to feel like a cheesy theme, we would really have to go all out in a way that I just don't think I'm comfortable with. I will say time and again during my planning process that it's my giant Irish-Catholic family that wants a traditional wedding with all the trimmings, but I will be lying every time. My family would wince behind the scenes, but they would grin and enjoy my rocker wedding if it was what I wanted.

Sigh... it's not.

I want a ridiculously big flouffy white dress. With tulle. Layers of it. I want a long veil. I want to quickstep my first dance to an indie rock song. I want a BIG white cake covered in flowers. Lots of bridesmaids. An obscene amount of food. And dancing. In black tie.

I'm sorry rock wedding. You're awesome, but you're not for me.

Humming the Beatles

So, before I get really started, I want to express my shock that I had not yet managed to watch Across the Universe until last week, despite being fully aware of its inevitable awesomeness. I am shocked. How could I have let such crazy goodness sit on my bluray shelf? Shame.

I've been humming the Prudence version of "I want to hold your hand" for days and days, and I can't wait to do an Across the Universe themed board. However, my school year has finally started, and the kids merit my attention. Sigh.

When I was first messing around with Polyvore (haha, that sounds dirty), I made this board, which I refer to as a vintage hipster wedding:

The thing in the bottom right corner that is blocked by the logo is a pocket watch, which I think is a really awesome little touch. In many ways, I like the little touches in weddings the best. Of course, there are huge dramatic things like the centerpieces and the song you walk down the aisle to, but there are also so many little details that you may barely pick up on or not notice at all. Those are the things that I imagine brides put their time into-- the little touches that are nods to family traditions or inside jokes.

It is clearly for people far cooler than I am, but I love it. As you probably have noticed, I have a bit of a fedora fetish at the moment. Having never seen any Indiana Jones movies, I have no idea where this could have come from. I'm also fairly certain that Boy would look ridiculous in a fedora. Oh well. It's a good thing that I'm not planning my own wedding yet!

End Note: This post took way more time than it should have because I am apparently an HTML idiot. Trust me, it was a completely obvious mistake that befuddled me for a good half hour.

Polyvore Whore

So I'm officially addicted to Polyvore. This has its positive and negative points. On the negative side, there are probably many more productive ways that I could spend my time. However, on the positive side, I can't remember any of those things. Also, this is a great way for me to get to plan lots of imaginary weddings, hence not bugging/pressuring boy.

Apparently wedding talk makes boy nervous. Who would have guessed?

At any rate, here's another inspiration: (Clickity the big picture for lots of photo credits and links to buy the pretty things.)

This merits an explanation.

I am currently re-reading The Lord of the Rings, which I read when I was younger and did not really have the full literary capacity to enjoy it as much as it deserves. So I have a rediscovered appreciation for Pip and Merrycat (the adorable kitties of our recently-married friends. See the bride's blog for more info) as well as all things Middle Earth. I am incredibly geeky, but not enough for a theme wedding. I just feel like while it would be very cool for that one night, and maybe even for a few years afterwards, I am not sure about ten or fifty years down the road. I also don't want to have to explain to my grandchildren that Mommy had a thing for Orlando Bloom.

It would be inappropriate, I think.

Then again, a wedding is about the couple, and who the hell am I to judge if this is your thing? I won't deny that boy and I have a LOTR poster hanging in our home. If this kind of theme carries out into your life with a love of nature and old-fashioned values, then it seems like a great way to celebrate your love.

Inspiration: A Kiwi Wedding

Here's my first try at an inspiration board with my first ideas about colors and choices. I built it using Polyvore, a neat little tool.



I especially love the hats... how cute would they be on the groomsmen?

Introductions

In absence of much else to do, I decided to start a wedding blog. I'm not officially planning my own as of yet (although boy assures me it will be soon-ish) so now I'm really just collecting ideas and inspiration. Speaking of which, here is the Shakespearian stuff which inspired the name of this blog:

Benedick: I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?
Beatrice: For them all together, which maintained so politic a state of evil that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them: but for which of my good parts did you first suffer love for me?
Benedick: Suffer love. a good epithet, I do suffer love indeed, for I love thee against my will.
Beatrice: In spite of your heart, I think. Alas poor heart, if you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for yours, for I will never love that which my friend hates
Benedick: Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.

Ahh, Much Ado About Nothing. One of Shakespeare's best examples of love, and a perfect match for me and boy.