Saying Goodbye

Fellow nearlyweds and readers...

I'm sorry I've been absent. There's been a lot going on and there's a lot I have to share. It's not all good news, unfortunately, but not all bad either. First of all, my hunny and I have decided to postpone our wedding. There's a few other nearlywed misses that can relate to this decision. We just needed more time to plan and execute our ideas.

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Also, any of you that have read or followed my previous posts (here, here, and here) know that my family didn't want us rushing down the aisle. While a one year engagement might be ideal for some, a year and a half engagement is what's best for us. My dad and stepmom, in particular had a lot to do with this decision. They wanted us to take our time and that's exactly what we've decided to do.

I'll be honest that at first, my fiance and I resisted changing our wedding date, which was scheduled for Ocobter 24, 2010, but I cannot tell you how relieved we are to have six more months of planning time. After a few long talks with our folks, some reviewing of the budget and our to do lists, we've decided to wait to get married this time next year in the spring of 2011. Again, this shouldn't come as a big surprise since I blogged about all of it. I blogged about my confusion about if I should have a fall or spring wedding, as well as getting my parents approval.

Rest assured, things are going well and we're really happy with the direction we're headed in. The additional time has we've given us all a chance to take a deep breath. It's taken a lot of pressure off of my parents and I feel confident that we're making the right decision.

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The bad news is that I don't intend to blog for DCNearlyweds for an entire year. While I'm really excited to have an additional six months of planning time ahead, I don't think it's fair to other wannabe bloggers and to readers for me to blog for such an extended period of time. Plus, I don't want to commit to it since I'm moving at a much slower pace than I was. We're not in any hurry to book our vendors or start the DIY projects. We're really taking a step back from the wedding planning to enjoy the engagement and focus on other things.

Did any of you push your wedding date back?

Were you glad that you did?

Like I've mentioned, the decision to have our wedding next spring is one I'm really happy with and it finally feels like things are moving smoothly and in the right direction. I can't tell you the difference its made to have our families onboard and to be able to slow down with the wedding planning! We're even going to have an engagement party in May, to quench our thirst for a celebration.

I really hope you readers and fellow nearlyweds understand my decision to quit the blog. I love all of you and have a deep appreciation for the online wedding community, because you guys are just so awesome! I was so excited that I was able to blog for DCNearlyweds, that I never thought I'd give it up; however, I have given this a lot of thought and it's only fair to open up my spot to another bride blogger who fits the criteria of getting married in the fall 2010.

In a few months I may be ready to start blogging for a mainstream site again. In the meantime, I'll still be blogging on my own sit (here) a little and I'll definitely be by to check for updates on all of you and wedding inspriation too!

Take care and happy marriages to you all!

I Was Destined to Elope

I’m sure many gals claim this, but I never envisioned myself having a wedding—or, the typical wedding anyway. If I did picture it, which happened rarely, I imagined a tiny ceremony on a beach or maybe even a wild trip to Vegas where we would recite vows in front of an Elvis impersonator (after all, I had a massive crush on the King for years).

So, when my Peruvian fiancé proposed to me in the garden next to the National Cathedral (even though he claims not to be very religious), I began researching destination wedding venues, citing off prices for beachside ceremonies in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, and emailing him postcard-perfect photos of the azure waters and white-sand beaches of the Caribbean, partially obstructed by a beaming bride and groom. I told him that we could have a small wedding. Maybe 30 people, tops? He replied that he’d rather have the opportunity to celebrate our love and the giant step we are taking with our families and friends; however, he wasn’t completely against my idea.

“Why don’t you make a list of the 30 people you would invite?” He recommended, slyly.

I sat there with my laptop, typing names into Excel—parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, family friends, high school friends, college friends, post-college friends—scattered across the country from Los Angeles, California to Veazy, Maine. I tried cutting the list down. How could I not invite these people who had watched me grow from infant to early 30s, who had loved me even through my angry, depressed goth phase in high school? As the list teetered off around the 80s (just for my side) I decided he might be right.

So, here I am, the newest addition to DCNearlyweds.com, thrilled to be blogging about the ups and downs of planning a wedding. As you may have deduced from my pseudonym, I live in the Cathedral Heights neighborhood in D.C. Our wedding will take place in this area in September, but I need to leave some substance for my upcoming blogs! In the meantime, I’m just happy I decided not to elope.

Squeee! New Blog!

I just started reading Jen Lancaster's book Bright Lights, Big Ass and have resolved to work "Squee" into my everyday vocab daily. If you haven't read it get it, really.

Now on to the important stuff. Maybe I'm late to the show, but I just discovered the blog, The Everyday Bride and needed to make sure everyone else knows about it too. It's deee-lightful. I have already seen at least 5 precious things that I love and have saved the pictures and added to my wedding inspiration folder.

1)I love wedding signs, but I really love this one. I need to go to Wedding Bee and print out that Michael's coupon so I can get some supplies and make this sign! That'd be a good weekend project. Our venue is tucked back in a neighborhood and you have to do the "count the mailboxes" creep in your car to make sure you don't drive right by it. I think a sign like this could serve a practical AND aesthetic purpose in our case.

2) I had this picture all book marked, and then I went to the photo credits to see where it came from so I could book mark THAT page, because this is pretty much the cutest little dress ever. I can already see myself wearing it to the salon the day of the wedding. And wow, I really know myself, because this is the Shoshanna dress that I already own in navy blue. I purchased it two weeks ago to wear to our rehearsal dinner (will give full details later). Oh well, still super cute, right? I purchased mine from Blue Fly, but understand it's also available from Nordstrom.

3)
I already planned to by lanterns as the non-floral centerpiece for our cafe and cabaret tables but I love the idea of buying a few extra and setting them along the windy brick path from the venue to the parking lot. We're planning to get our lanterns from Ikea, you can find them here.

4) Ok there's no picture for this one, but I am TOTALLY stealing this idea. We aren't planning to have a wild and crazy dance floor thing going on at our wedding. We've started compiling the list and it's full of old standards (lots of swing and big band) and Motown that everyone will know and many romantic ballads. I love the idea of our friends and family hearing "their song" and jumping up to dance. That's more the vibe I'm looking for. Thanks, Everyday Bride!

5) The natural bridal hair boat. Me and The Everyday Bride are totally on it. I saw both of these pictures else where and have already been kicking myself for not bookmarking them, here they are though.

I am an up-do-look-at-me-I-just-rolled-out-of-bed girl on a daily basis, and while I clean-up real good (I do!) I want to look like myself and feel like myself on the day of our wedding. I will not 1) have my hair straightened or 2) poofed, nor will I 3) have prom hair. I've been trying to collect lots of hair pictures lately so I can compile a little look book when it's trial time. I want to make sure I'm as clear as I can be with the stylist!

Find any new wedding websites lately?