Wedding Sexism

I just started filling out information for my bridal registry at Amazon.com and Target, but I noticed that I always write "Chris and Briana's Wedding Registry," instead of "Briana and Chris' Registry". Is it weird that I find this weird? I even tried to write it the second way, but I felt well... presumptuous and narcissistic. Then I felt mad that I felt that way..because, well, why shouldn't I be able to write it whatever way that I want!?

I'm Engaged!!

My dearest boyfriend, Christopher Meade, asked me to marry him on November 27, 2009. Since then, it has been a flurry of crazy wedding plans and people congratulating us. I have been intimidated by blogging because I don't know how to do justice to the day we got engaged--it was so perfect! Apparently, my two friends Mykal, Kendra, and my sister, Mikella, knew about the plan the whole time. We had planned to go watch a movie with Chris on Friday, after he finished working at his valet job. He called me and told me that he would be late, so while we waited for him to arrive, they all convinced me to dress up nice. I felt so wonderful and girly. Hint to all guys who are going to ask a girl to marry them: do it when they feel nice & pretty--I promise you it'll go over so much better! Anyways, Chris took me to his apartment and then he opened the door of his car and stood there outside of his apartment. I had no idea it was coming, but when I put my hand on his shoulder, he was hot and shaking! I think I knew for a split second, but it didn't really matter because suddenly...he was down on one knee with a sparkling diamond ring in a beautiful black box. Then, when we walked into his apartment, there was fifty tealights placed all over the living room, roses everywhere, and these beautiful scrolls tied with silver ribbon placed all over the room. A poster on the wall said "Fourteen beautiful things I love about Briana" and on the scrolls he had written all the things he loved about me!
Later, after Chris took our first home video (which was basically shots of me crying and balling my eyes out and saying really gushy stuff like "we're going to be in love forever!"), we went to a Tapas restaurant in Naperville, where, little did I know, my friends were all waiting for me to arrive, the newly engaged Briana-soon-to-be Meade! We had a wonderful dinner. The restaurant also had these walls where you could write with Sharpie your names--so we made a big heart that said "Chris and Briana Meade" and underneath we wrote "always and forever."

Modern Bride Issue of November

Looking for ways to make your wedding day memorable with love from family and friends? Hallmark makes these really cute little books that you can put on each of the tables at the reception. They are called "Wishes from our Wedding Guests" and eight wedding books are included so you can spread them out on the table for the crowds to write in at their leisure. The books ask how you are connected to the bride and groom and then have pages that you can write "wishes" on.
However, an even better idea (stolen from my friend, Mykal) is to make a photo-album of your relationship and then have people write wishes and love-messages on the sides of the photo-album. That way, instead of it just being a book, it becomes more personal and you can remember people who were at your wedding through your photographs and the comments. Plus, its always more fun to get crafty and add little wedding scrapbook stickers and stuff!
Briana

Chris doesn't like the cake

Forget the cake. Chris thought it was semi-weird. I still like it...not in the neon yellow and green OBVIOUSLY....but somehow he thought the glass at the bottom made it look like neon yellow, neon green, and purple?!

Cake...and maybe no rocks?

Okay, right after I posted the rocks, I realized that I already had this original idea of putting the escort cards strung on a clothesline...but I still don't know what the cards will look like... maybe farm themed-mini clothes... like overalls and mini-t-shirts? I could definately see that. I just don't want to take this farm thing too far, even though I love it. I really wish I could find a way to incorporate Thai stuff into my farm affair, but everytime I think about it I realize that Thailand and New England farms are two weird things that just...don't...go together? But then again, I'm from Thailand, and Chris is a Mid-Western boy (originally from Cali) but hey, so maybe we can strike a truce? What if I found mini-Thai wood-carvings/keychains? Do they have elephants on farms? (haha, just so you know, I'm kidding.)
Anyways, if anyone has some ideas on how to make an Asian Farm Wedding (rice paddies?) that actually is still cool and not psycho, let me know.
Also, here is a really cool cake that I could see in my wedding. It is fun and polka-dotty. I love it. I would probably do this in yellow and blue--which I think are my new colors.

Rocks

Who knew that rocks were such extremely versatile objects? While blogging on theknot.com, I found this picture of rocks that were painted (which is soooo much fun anyways!) and then used as escort "cards" so that the guests can find their tables. What a fun idea huh? Its also in keeping with my down-to-earth (get the pun?!) vibe. I'm also thinking of asking my friend Karen Block (who lives in Thailand, where I grew up) to help me make invitations over Christmas break. I know that its a H-U-G-E project, but I feel like its important that the invitations are made with a little love and are eclectic and fun. The problem is...what does that look like? Can I really make 150 invitations BY myself PLUS these cool rocks as well? I feel like I might be getting in over my head here. Here is a picture of the escort rocks that I want to make:

Chris' House

So, new update on wedding plans. I'm hanging out at my boyfriend's house while he is playing the new Call of Duty 5 with his brother Kyle. Immediately after arriving at the house his dad told us that he is extremely disappointed with our plans to get married June 5th...unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about that anymore! The plans are pretty much set at this point. I'm not sure how he is going to handle the whole thing. We watched "The Proposal" tonight...which had multiple multiple references to engagements and weddings...as you can imagine. I'm not usually a chick-flick girl, but every once in a while I do like them. I think it just gave Chris further justification though for not getting engaged because...well..there is no ring in the entire movie. Furthermore, there were two engagement ring commercials that popped up while we were watching "That '70s Show". I was punching him in the gut, trying to get his attention...which worked, but then he asked...which one of those did you like ? And I thought..."you haven't gotten it yet?"
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.