FAVORS | drink & be married!

Cole and I knew pretty much immediately that we wanted to give customized Koozies as our wedding favor; Koozies are a staple in the back pockets of most of our friends and have their own special drawer in the kitchen of our home.  Everyone has their favorite.  Previous to our wedding, mine was a Milwaukee Brewers Koozie I purchased on a visit home a couple of winters ago, when I was newly unemployed and ridiculously homesick.  But now, Cole and I both adore the one I designed as our wedding favor.

The design I sent in to the printing company

We had gotten really great feedback on the magnets from our Saves the Dates, which I had modeled to look like a vintage concert poster (and presented so you had to peel it off of a wall, revealing a stencil graffiti (that most people failed to notice) leading folks to our wedding website).  I decided to carry the image I created of the two of us, taken from two different pictures, into other parts of the wedding presentation.  And repeat the Saves the Date "poster" in our guestbook frame.

Additionally, to play up the music theme, I had 1" buttons (which were the big thing to collect from concerts circa 2002) printed in a variety of different styles, including a SKA inspired button that looks like a record.  (Regrettably, I didn't change our name to "The Stocktones" for that one.)  I also used the exact same file I used for the Koozies, adding a mint green into our name and a beige-yellow as the background (leaving some white spaces to look like an old print).

I HIGHLY recommend RockButtons.com for an affordable added favor.  Though I was less pleased with my experience with the Koozies, simply because the design submission process was very backwards and difficult.

INTRODUCING | groomsman sam!

With only a few days left before the wedding and two more groomsmen to introduce, I suppose I should get cracking on these last few introductions!

Up until very recently, Sam was one of Cole's coworkers.  When management shifted, Sam opted for a different position at a different store and then, very recently, got promoted!  He's doing IT for the company, which is pretty funny for someone who (I believe) doesn't own a computer.

Sam's a music lover, having an extensive record collection from which he readily lends out an album or two at a time for Cole and I to experience.  He also plays drums and bass.  His girlfriend, Adrianne, is also a drummer.

One of the things I find extremely fascinating about Sam is his ability to bike extreme distances on days off, even after evenings that last until the early morning hours (many of these evenings involving Cole).

There was one morning where I woke up alone.  At first, I assumed that Cole had fallen asleep on the sofa.  This is something that happens from time to time, though Cole always ends up coming up to bed eventually.  It wasn't a stretch to think he had just gotten a little too comfortably while watching some Sci Fi movie on Netflix.  But I swiftly found both the sofa and driveway empty.  Cole had, as it turned out, fallen asleep on Sam's sofa instead!

In fact, I joke that while Sam was unable to attend Cole's bachelor party, every time they hang out is a bachelor party.

Happily, Sam and his girlfriend have become our new neighbors, moving into a duplex down the street, managed by the same man who manages our space.  It's really great to have both of them in the neighborhood, knowing that we'll have couples game nights and Adrianne, Cara, and I will delve into Sunday night knitting sessions.

This weekend, we asked Sam to give a speech at the reception, knowing full well that anything he says will fall more in the realm of a roast than a wedding speech.  I'm eager to hear what wild stories and off-color jokes he'll squeeze in.

COUNTDOWN | single digit countdown

The wedding countdown has dipped into the single digits: 9 days left.

Technically, that math is a little wrong.  In 9 days from the exact moment, I'll already be married and full of cake.  There's actually 8 days and some odd hours.  (I have a cellphone app that can tell me to the second the moments that remain in my single-woman life... I downloaded it as a joke, so I can tell people a truly obsessive and ridiculous number when they inquire.)

Yesterday, with 10 days left on the countdown, was one of those days that will likely stick out in hindsight.  From beginning to end, it left me exhausted.  Between confirmation emails, changes to schedules, and the realization that ANOTHER person set to perform a task in our wedding failed to work out time off (despite agreeing to perform a task + RSVPing yes... +1... in both cases), I also had to work at my paying job and prep for clinic (aka non-paying job).  My cellphone died, in mid conversation with Cole, but I was determined not to go upstairs (where my charger is) until I completed all the grandmothers' corsages.  It was hours later when I texted him an apology, curled up in bed.


I woke up early today to tackle more tasks.  I finalized the count for candle holders for our votives, now satisfied that we won't burn down our beautiful venue.  I talked to the venue manager about changing our linens order, since we have settled on a sweetheart table*.  I corrected typos in our programs (thank goodness we have the hook-up on printing).  I finished the corsages for the mothers.  I nagged (yes, nagged... but to be fair, this has been a task I've given him ample nag-free time with) Cole into getting the final paperwork he needs for the honeymoon.


I decided that my only task for the night is to cuddle with the animals and watch Father of the Bride. (And do laundry for clinic tomorrow... and curse our broken A/C [which is at least blowing cool air... it's just flooding our laundry room again].)  But in my stressy-state, all I can think is that the daughter in this movie is a total child.  She's 22, engaged to someone she's only known for 4 months, and throws a tantrum when her father expresses concerns that she's invited over 500 people to a wedding that costs $250/person.  But it makes me feel much better about my upcoming nuptuals.  There are no swans, no one had to plant tulips to coordinate with the color scheme, and we definitely don't have to worry about porch heaters melting ice sculptures.  


I explained recently that at this point, we know we have everything that matters.  Anything that goes "wrong" isn't worth stressing about.


*WHY WE DECIDED TO HAVE A SWEETHEART TABLE:  I know this will be of some disappointment, but it made the most sense for our situation.  I didn't want to force our wedding party to sit with us at a banquet table.  The best man, Daniel, has a wife with whom I'm sure he would rather sit.  My sister, the matron of honor, has a daughter and husband to enjoy.  There was no arrangement of us with our families that would be fair to everyone; I tried... A LOT.   We settled on the sweetheart table because it gives us a chance to have our first moments as a married couple spent together, just the two of us.  But more importantly, it gives our guests opportunity to approach us as we eat, and no one at our table will be offended when we get up to visit other tables to thank our guests.  In short, it seems to be the most polite and thoughtful seating solution.

ANNOUNCEMENT | be warned

First, we're experiencing record breaking heat in Austin.  We're nearing 50 days of over 100 degree weather this summer and recently had a few days over 105 degrees.  We've even had a few record breaking 107 degree days.  I want to make sure that my midwest relatives come prepared for heat (and keep in mind that we love blasting AC) during their trip to Texas.  Please be aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration (I usually experience sharp intestinal cramps and reduced sweating, and I have been to the hospital for dehydration) and drink lots of water, even if you aren't thirsty.

Also, many people are experiencing pretty bad allergies in Austin this time of year.  If you get itchy eyes and sinus headaches while here, you probably don't agree with our trees and their need to pollenate.  I suggest packing a few antihistamine pills, if you wish, even if you don't normally experience allergies.

On a side note, I'm working on the dance playlist for the latter portion of the wedding reception.  Please let me know ASAP if there are specific songs you would suggest.  I have a variety, ranging from motown to modern pop to electroclash.

ELSEWHERE | another family wedding this summer!

Photo by my sister, whose Flickr and blog are listed below.

Last Thursday, my aunt married her partner in a ceremony in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Unfortunately, my tight internship schedule (and increasingly smaller paychecks) prevented Cole and I from making the journey to the east coast to celebrate, which I have a feeling will be one of those moments I'll grow to regret more and more.  Thankfully, my sister and her family were in attendance.  As were many of the wonderful members of my family.  And I'm really grateful that my darling niece was able to witness such love and progress in such an early stage in her life.

As my sister and I discussed while she was recently visiting me in Austin, this aunt was so cemented into our childhood in Tennessee, we have a very unique and specific fondness for her.  She accompanied us on a long drive from Chattanooga, TN to Albuquerque, New Mexico one winter, allowing me to give her a "make over" with the make up set Santa brought me for Christmas (it may have involved blue eye shadow both above and below the eye).  Summers were spent swimming in the pool at her apartment complex and later at the private campus she lived and taught at.  And Friday nights often featured dinners at Ryan's Steakhouse and watching her and my sister dominate on our Commodore 64 (especially Diamond Mine).  We feel really fortunate to have had an aunt so active and available in our lives and value her so much.

When Maya was born, I was really excited when people started pointing out how she looks similar to how I did as a baby.  Growing up, I always heard comparisons to my blonde-haired aunt and LOVED IT.  And though I see Maya more and more looking like her parents, I was really excited to be the same type of aunt for her as mine has been for me.  I use my aunt as a archetype for what a good aunt should be.

Naturally, my sister has blogged about the wedding here and you can also see more pictures on my sister's Flickr set of the wedding here.

ELSEWHERE | if you have a wedding in austin...

...apparently you settle on a music theme.  It must some unwritten, unspoken contract with fate.  This is practically the zillionth (if that were a real quantifiable number) music themed Austin wedding I've seen featured on the web.  It is, afterall, a city that attracts musicians and music lovers (though I'd argue that's about to change thanks to changes in parking around town and crackdowns on noise ordinances and rezoning).

Photo by Cole. In the recording studio again.  

On a non-wedding-but-totally-music-related note, Cole's band has started recording new music.  They went into the studio last Sunday with the intent to record one new song every month.  He's recently expressed interest in learning more about SLR cameras, so I let him take mine with him to the studio for the day.  I figured, it would be nice to have a few photos of myself from time to time, especially while we're on our honeymoon.  Above is one of my favorites from their day in the studio.

On a very unfortunate note, our friends in Legsweeper were in town last week to play a show at Cheer Up Charlies and their van broke down for good somewhere between Austin and Dallas (on their way home).  The duo are old friends of Cole's, dating back to the era of fake IDs and first apartments.  Taylor, the drummer, was/is also the drummer for Cole's band The United Snakes of America and the cousin of Jerome, one of the groomsmen at the wedding.  And they're both two of the sweetest guys you'll come across... in a total party-hard type of way.  Justin gives some of the best hugs ever.  It's always such a treat to hang out with them.  Last Saturday, they were both so excited that our wedding would be the day before their two week tour kicked off, a fun last hurrah with friends before taking off for the southeast.  Sadly, with their van broken down, the tour has been cancelled.  And it's one of those things that is just crushing --- they're sweet kids + it takes so much to be able to rearrange your life around playing on the road; it's not fair.

MILESTONES | now it's really real.

Today marks a rare mutual day off.  Even more rare, it marks a shared day off where I have been recently paid.  Naturally, it seemed like a good day to tackle two very important wedding tasks: pricing out our alcohol + picking up our marriage license!

The alcohol was actually the more difficult of the two tasks... and not for some remarkably interesting reason; it was just really hard to track down an employee to help us and they didn't really have tangible papers we could look out.  I left with the feeling that the guy helping us was maybe clammy about weddings.  It's a shame because Cole + I are actually pretty enthusiastic about beer and would have been a very captive and receptive audience.

The marriage license, on the other hand, was a breeze & EVERYONE was so nice to us.  The county clerks office is right across the hall from where one goes to get vehicle registration and other bothersome tasks taken care of.  The DMV is located in a building next door.  I imagine it's pretty hard to hate your job when you can literally look out the window or across the hall and see someone who has it worse.  Oh, you have to deal with someone who has a $200 ticket because they didn't renew their registration and they're mad about the emissions tests?  Yeah, I help people get married.

The entire process at the county clerks office took less than five minutes, with the lengthiest part of the visit being my spelling of my birthplace... twice.  (And jokes were made about how difficult it must have been to learn to spell it as a child [for those wondering, I sort of sing-rap it, thanks to my dad].)  As Cole pointed out while we were leaving, the visit was so speedy, a man sitting outside when we arrived was still smoking his cigarette as we took our proud photos.

I really can't stress enough how speedy and how pleasant that experience was.  I'm honestly tempted to send them a thank you note or contacting a supervisor to offer up praise.  (I feel like people are willing to give out criticism more readily than praise; it bothers me.)

I keep joking that the window for Cole to escape is growing smaller and smaller.  Cole keeps joking that he's just going to sign everything so we can be married already and asks if he can wear the ring.  (He's already introduced me as his wife.)