Dum dum dum-dum...
Oh, how special are weddings. ARGH!
So yesterday, Mike and I spoke to the nondenominational reverend we would like to perform our ceremony. Mike is Episcopal but isnt necessarily a practicing...whatever, and I havent been to church since the fall of the Berlin wall, so we werent sure how to handle things. We decided upon this nondenominational woman who is very nice and is willing to sort of custom-make the ceremony to be as religious or non-religious as wed like.
Oh, well, you know, that kind of went over like a sack of bricks. First Mike balked because the original sample ceremony of hers we saw as a little too free spirit for him. So we decided to start attending Episcopal mass every Sunday so we could ask the reverend there to do the ceremony. We went to church last Sunday and found out the reverend, whom we liked immediately, is quitting in a couple weeks and some other guy is taking over and were not sure were going to like him and now what do we do, ack!
Well, then yesterday the nondenominational reverend got back in touch with us and we met--briefly--with her, she brought by some information for us, and we went over it and decided it wasnt so bad after all and we decided mutually that we were leaning pretty heavily towards her.
So, we start going over the information she brought us and were deciding whos going to be in the wedding party, what theyre going to say/do, etc. We decided that we want my stepfather (who has been, along with my mother, clawing and fighting and screaming--literally--to get a part in the production) to do a reading of his choosing, as well as Mikes father. So we call them up.
Mikes dad promptly freaked out that we werent being married under the Episcopal church (people, he's Catholic anyway), said lots of words, then calmed down and said, "Do what you want." Then he agreed to do a reading. Here's hoping it doesn't have a nautical theme, because with Mike and his dad, you never know.
Hugh, my stepdad, was very blasé. "Sure, yeah, whatever." I could have brained myself with a brick at that point. But I did not. He eventually warmed up to the idea, promised not to inject anything X-rated, and was smarmy and snobbish and his usual self, "I'm not worried about offending anyone, I'm worried about using words too large for other people to understand." Gag. Me.
Right. So then I called up Mike's sisters to be bridesmaids, that went pretty smoothly. Also, his 3-year-old nephew will be our ring bearer, which means none of the rest of the wedding party will be seen AT ALL because hes the show stealer of the century. Hes sooooooooo cute. So that part went well.
Oh, forgot--while I was on the phone with the sisters, his parents called back to remind us that we needed to have an Episcopal ceremony, in case we didn't catch that the first time. They just wanted to make sure they were clear. Also, back in January, I asked Mike's mom for a list of names and addresses of his side of the family for save-the-date cards and invitations. She flat refused, and I mean flat. Said it was too early. So Mike gently reminded her that we are going to be sending out our save-the-dates REALLY SOON and she said, "Oh, right. Casey and I agreed that it was just too early last time she asked, but I can get those to you." I DID NOT AGREE TO ANYTHING, YOU CRAZY PEOPLE!!
Then I called my aunt that lives here in Virginia. She and her husband have been very gracious and helped us out a lot since we've moved up here...they just have a tendency to be mildly annoying. Mildly. At any rate, called her up because they have three pre-teen daughters that we'd like to include somehow, handing out programs or helping seat people, something. They were happy, said yes, blah blah blah. Then I told her I some of my creative ideas, and she immediately vetoed them (?!?!?!) and interjected her own and said her daughters could just knock some of her ideas out over the summer since they didn't have anything else to do.
Also had to break the news that Mike's mom put the stiletto down about her hosting the rehearsal dinner (people, I had no idea there were so many rules) after Aunt Sue and Richard had already offered to host a barbecue out at their place in the mountains about half an hour from the wedding site. I had already agreed to that because I thought it sounded nice. And casual. And inexpensive. Well, you know. At any rate, had to break that news to Aunt Sue, who promptly said, "That's fine! I dont mind! But youre still having a barbecue of some sort out here before the wedding. Period."
Oi, with the poodles already!
So. We decided to stop making calls after that. One can only take so much helpful advice in one evening.
I will now be researching wedding tranquilizer packages, if you'll excuse me.