Today my husband turns 28.
We are still recovering from the crazy, zany lovely Wedding Weekend.

We love all of you so very much, and are excited to share the memories from our wedding and photographs!

Our photographer, Christa, put the initial photographs online. Visit her blog to see her teasers!



(Two of the three adorable Warren children)

This is the 70th post I have posted since our engagement. Fittingly, this is our last post before the wedding.

I've included our most important blog postings below in case you missed a few. Enjoy!

Our Engagement Story

About my heirloom ring

Our reception site, The Hartness House Inn

Our ceremony site, The First Unitarian Parish of Chester

About our Wedding Party, Clayton and Kimberly

About gown shopping

About our florist and flowers

About the Chalice I made for our UU wedding ceremony

About our Hymn, "Let It Be A Dance"

About our honeymoon plans to Greece click here and here.

About our engagement photos


Thank all of you for being a part of our lovely union!

Love, Denise and Christopher

With just four days to go, I wanted to share a bit more about Chester.

The Chester Town hosts a fairly informative (but rarely updated) town site. Visit it here.

A good local spot is MacLaomainn's Scottish Pub. Alan, the owner, appears to be legitimately Scottish with a brogue. They have great beer and cider on tap, indoor/outdoor dining, an a friendly multi-generational atmosphere. You can read a review here.

"The Pub" is easy to find on Chester's Main Street, located near St. Joseph's Catholic Church. St. Joe's has a 10:30am Sunday Mass.

If you'd rather attend a Unitarian Universalist service, our church service begins at the First Unitarian Parish of Chester 9:30am. Chris will be attending the service, and I am sure he'd welcome the company :)

The Heritage Bakery and Deli, on Rt. 103, is a bit pricey... but they do have scrumptious baked goods and good coffee. Their website is here.

My Dad has requested information for the "best local bookstore." My favorite is Misty Valley Books, located right on the Chester Town Green. The Green has great shopping, including a wonderful celtic silver and giftshop and two bookstores. Misty Valley is the larger of the two locally owned shops. Their hours are Saturday 10 am -5 pm and Sunday 11 am - 4 pm. Their website is here.

A quick drive away, Springfield has the best local diner. The Springfield Royal Diner is a tasty spot, but Chris and I can only vouch for breakfast. They have a good, quick breakfast... including a mostly authentic biscuits and gravy. Chris enjoys their feta and spinach omlettes. You can view their menu and hours here.

Springfield also has a few tasty pizzareias. If you want a hearty meal, however, we'd direct you to Penelope's and McKinley's. On Main Street, they have recently opened after a devastating fire. Penelope's (upstairs) and McKinley's (the pub downstairs) are both local favorites. We'd advise you to avoid the 56 Main Street restaurant; they are tasty, but overpriced.

Most of the larger restaurants, chain shopping, and 24-hour pharmacies are located a thirty minute ride away in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. West Leb, a quick drive from our apartment, is a tax-free shopping oasis. It is a bit of an industrial eyesore, but well appreciated and useful.

Any other destinations you'd like to learn more about? Let us know!

In case you do not know the Italian,

"Wet Bride, Lucky Bride."

In Spanish, "Novia Mojada, Dicha Asegurada." In French, "Mariage Pluvieux, Mariage Heureux."

I'm not sure if you have seen the forcast for next weekend, but all of New England should be in for some rain. Well, a lot of rain.

According to tradition, I could pray to St. Clare to avoid the rain. Give one dozen fresh eggs to a local convent and pray the day away. Or, alternately, I could hang a rosary outside of my bedroom window to avoid a downpour. I do not mind rain, though. :)

Really, I like to believe in the "good oman" of a rainy wedding: good crops and healthy children.

In light of the current weather reports, I offer the following update on our Dress Code:

Please remember to bring an umbrella. Perhaps we should plan on packing solid shoes.

Hello again!

I've had a few family members ask about our dress code.

Our wedding dress code is non-existent. We welcome our friends and family to be comfortable.

I assume many of our guests will be wearing what is apparently now known as "Wedding Casual." Dressy, but not draped in emeralds. I sort of think of "Wedding Casual" as "Nice Sunday Church Clothing." Slacks, ties, jackets. Suits, skirts, or sweaters.

Our evenings have been quite chilly, and all guests should bring a sweater or a jacket. Sunday afternoons, even if sunny, can be quite breezy in late September. I am sure the weather will be cold after the reception.

Eight days until our ceremony, and six days until some of our family and friends arrive in Vermont!

We had our final meeting with our Pastor, Telos, last night. Our ceremony is finished. Yippie!

Chris and I have begun to finalize those little details.

He is picking out his outfit for the Rehearsal Dinner and looking through the hundred ties he owns to select two for the "wedding weekend." I am not exaggerating. He owns over a hundred ties, compliments of a fantastic Christmas present last year :) He is confident one of them must match.

I've been coordinating the last few phone calls, checks, and delivery details. With the exception of a few manageable tasks, we are almost done. I have a few phone calls still to make tonight, a few plans to drop off at the Hartness House, and a few friends to call back and shower with love for their support.

I am so very thankful to our family and friends for helping us to have what will be a very lovely, very fun wedding shindig.

Typically, autumn in Vermont breaks around my birthday. Our weather this summer is making our "fall foliage" progression a bit wonky. We may not be even in "early color" during the wedding. Once the color does break we will have very intense reds and oranges in our maples due to our rainy summer. We're going to have one heck of a pretty October.

I only learned recently why the leaves change colors. I did know this phenomena brings thousands of tourists to New England each fall. In case you are curious too, I've found this page from the Weather Channel. It explains the science behind fall foliage.

Kindergartners in Vermont learn about maple trees, the process of "tapping maples," and the fact that leaves change colors. It is in our educational state standards!

I hope a few trees will have burst into their fall colors for our wedding weekend.

Today I went to visit our friendly neighborhood florist, Morgan from Valley Flower Company, to turn in our last payment. Did I mention her shop is lovely? Flowers everywhere, the room smells wonderful, and she has great funky gifts in her shop.

You can peek at her designs at her blog, here. She has great photos from her summer weddings!

Chris's boutonniere will be something funky, too. It's going to have a fabric leaf, maybe like the ones below, and great non-floral elements. He could not imagine wearing a rose and I do not blame him. While his boutonniere is geometric, the Kim and I have more traditional arrangements. Kim's bouquet and my bouquet will be put in little vases I bought so they can double as arrangements during the reception.

We had a very successful "crafting weekend."

Chris was very good moral support and even wielded a corner rounder to help; Marsha and Don were excellent company, kept us laughing, and made delicious munchies.

We made signs for the ceremony and reception, 2/3 of our wedding programs, little "reserved" ribbon cards for our immediate family, and other assorted craftiness.

A bit of a preview:

Oh, the time is ticking away!

Chris and I peeked in the mail today and, to our surprise, our rings arrived on the same day!

You see, Chris' ring was made in Ohio... and my ring was made in Ireland. We could not believe they arrived together. Chris was particularly excited; he has never owned a ring, and he wanted to check that it fit! We kept them on long enough so we could make sure they were comfortable.

I had the inside of Chris' ring engraved. He tried his best not to peek...

We snapped two photos to share!

I purchased Christopher's wedding band from an craftsman named Andros.
We found him through the online marketplace Etsy. Etsy allows us to purchase handmade and handcrafted goods. It is like an enormous, online farmer's market.

Andros has created videos of him creating silver and gold rings. Chris was impressed with Andros' transparency as an artist and his skill. He makes all of his rings as custom orders.

If you'd like to see Andros' blog--and videos of him creating gorgeous rings--check out his blog.
You can see his shop--and browse his rings for sale--at his Etsy shop.

Chris decided the only thing he wants at our wedding is a candy buffet. Yum!



Oh, and he also wants a wedding ceremony. That is a vital component.

Ours will not be so... opulent... but ours will be tasty!

We stayed with Mark and Margaret at Days' Cottages over Labor Day Weekend in North Truro, Cape Cod. I absolutely understand why four generations of Warrens have stayed in those cottages!

The cottages--petite, charming 1950s anachronisms--are directly on the beach. North Truro is just four miles from downtown Provincetown, and the "Ocean side" is just a short bike ride away.

We spent our time catching up Mark and Margaret, playing with Benjamin, and relaxing. We've had a fairly stressful week*, and Chris needed to spend some time building sand castles with Benjamin, taking out the canoe, and wandering around Ptown.


I got a particular kick out of the fact that their cabin was called "Dahlia." As I've already blogged, I simply adore Dahlias. Chris thought that we may stay in that cabin, and he got a kick out of the coincidence as well.

We had a wonderful two days at Cape Cod. I've never been to Cape Cod and, much to my chagrin, I enjoy the beach at Cape Cod more than the Jersey Shore. The Shore is loud and crowded. It can, at times, be dirty. While the sand at Cape Cod is very coarse and pebbly, the beaches--even in Provincetown on a holiday weekend--are quiet, pristine, and calm. Also, there are SEALS. How cool is that?

We had to return on Monday to resume our daily lives, but I absolutely understand Christopher's Grammie and Grampie's love for Cape Cod. At their recent 50th Anniversary party, Christopher's aunt Denise crafted the most lovely centerpieces. She made mini cottages, painted to look like Days' Cottages, and paired them with crafted beach-themed candles. Cute!

*understatement of the year

It is 23 days, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 24 seconds until Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 3:30:00 PM (Montpelier time).

And we are absolutely feeling it! 23 days until the ceremony begins, and 21 days until family begins to arrive in Springfield!

EEEP! So much still to do!

I went for my hair trial last Sunday afternoon. Kim and Marsha came with me for moral support and to make sure I did not walk out of the salon looking like I belonged in the broadway show "Rock of Ages."

Jenn, the stylist, was a wizard. She turned my mostly unmanageable poofy hair into pretty, polished, soft curls.

I did, however, learn something very important during the trial. I thought I was just going to be able to see what my hair would look like... but I learned to take my delicate skin seriously. Allergies are serious business.

At the last moment, she sprayed me with her long-lasting hairspray... and I got hives. Weird, long-lasting, puffy hives on my cheeks from where the spray had landed.

I am so very thankful we learned this during the trial... and not on the actual wedding day. It's an easy solution--I'll just bring my own hairspray--but still, pretty funny in retrospect.

I am succumbing to a recent "bridal fad" to complete the hairstyle. A few decades ago, brides wore tiaras to accent their hairstyle. And then, large ornate hair bands. And then, a few years ago, they wore ornate hairpins. Last year, they wore 1920s "hair fascinators" and bird-cage veils. Recently, the fad has been the "big arse hair flower."

Our wedding is heavily featuring dahlias. They are my most favorite flower. We're having a single large dahlia decorate our otherwise simple buttercream cakes, and both Kim and I will have them in our bouquets.

I found an artist, through www.etsy.com, and she makes custom clay dahlia hair clips. She makes each petal by hand, without using a cookie cutter, and carefully textures, tints, and assembles the flower petal by petal. The dahlias for the hair clips contain 102+ petals... she stopped counting after she got to 102. They are lightweight, will never wilt in the Vermont humidity, and are extremely affordable.



She makes each dahlia by hand for each client; my flower will be white with a light pink center. She is so very good at her craft: I cannot even tell this is a fake flower! After the wedding, I'll be able to capitalize on the fad and sell it quickly through a second-hand bridal site, like BravoBride.

I'm sure you know the rest. :)

I want to share with you what I've gathered to participate in this old tradition.

Something Old
I have a silver claddagh anklet. My mother gave it to me when I was a teenager.

The claddagh is a powerful Irish symbol of love and friendship. In case you are not familiar with the story, I'll include the symbols and interpretation. According to IrishNation.com:

"The Claddagh Ring originated in the Claddagh fishing village near Galway City in the West of Ireland. The ring shows two hands (representing friendship) presenting a heart (representing love) adorned by a crown (representing loyalty) and it is thus the traditional Irish wedding band.

The motto associated with the ring is 'Let love and friendship reign'. "

I have always loved the symbolism of the Claddagh. I wear a silver Claddagh band as my "daily" engagement ring, so I do not harm the family ring Chris gave to me for our engagement.

Something New

Chris has told me, with a grin, that he has bought me a piece of jewelry as a birthday present. He wants me to wear it during the wedding. I've gathered that this is a necklace--because I am unable to wear most earrings--and assured that it will be "wedding appropriate." He told me he even tried the necklace on... to make sure it was the proper length. What a sweetheart!

Something Borrowed

I'm not sure what to borrow... or from whom!

Would you like to lend me something to wear during the wedding ceremony... or something I can sew into the seams of my dress? Please let me know :)

Also, I need to find a sixpence...

Something Blue

While I'm not a fan of the concept of the "garter toss," I did decide to go with tradition and wear a garter. I'll will be wearing the garter shown above. It is accented with pale blue... the same pale blue as included with our wedding invitations.

Where did the "bride's good fortune" rhyme originate?

The best answer I could find was from Ask.com:

"As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings."

We are going to the Hartford Town Clerk this week to obtain our marriage license!

It is valid for sixty days; we can fill out the paperwork and jump through the hoops now, and keep the certificate safe with our Pastor until our wedding.

Thankfully, the Town Clerk is just a quick two block walk away. Vermont does not require blood tests, and we should not have to wait for any reason. It is an easier (and cheaper) process than it is in Pennsylvania.

(Also, Vermont allows second cousins to marry? Odd. The odd things you learn when you have to read all of the fine print).

Next on our paperwork list: Christopher needs to apply for his passport, and I need to have mine renewed.

My grandparents gave us a suitcase collection for a Shower present, and I am so thankful!

We were wondering if we should pack Christopher's hiking pack for our trip to Greece, and now we have a more manageable (and more attractive, lol) option.

Thinking of our trip, I've been reading Rick Steves' Athens and the Peloponnese. We were given a copy of the travel guru's guide from Peggy, a close family friend. Steves' has a lengthy section devoted to Nafplio.

Writes Steves':

"Note that the town's name can be spelled a staggering number of different ways in English: Nafplio(n), Nauplio(n), Navplio(n), Naufplio(n), Nauvplio(n), and so on. This makes it tricky to look for information online; try all the variations until you find one that works."

Our apartment is in the Old Town section of Nafplio. We are staying near St. George Square, named for the large cathedral dedicated to St. George. It was the neighborhood church of King Otto.

St. George is the Patron Saint of Greece, and we will be in Greece on his Feast Day: April 23rd. Christopher and I are not sure if we will be able to participate in a small local festival, or an enormous local festival. Either way, we're sure to have fun and enjoy a colorful Mass.

According to Steves':

"Back outside, surveying St. George Square, you get a feel for an old Nafplio neighborhood. Well-worn Neoclassical buildings date--like most of Old Town--from the boom that followed the city's rise to prominance when it was Greece's first capital. During the 1820s and the 1830s, Nafplio became a haven to regufees from other lands still threatened by the Ottomans."

Christopher and I got home from Pennsylvania earlier today.

What a joyful, humbling, and whirlwind weekend! My Aunt Marykathryn and Grandmom Donaghy threw me a Bridal Shower in my Aunt MK and Uncle Sean's lovely home! I had known they were planning a small family party, but I was still totally in awe of the lovely party they threw in my honor.

There were homemade wraps (yum!), sandwich fixings, so many options of salad, and tasty appetizers. Most importantly, there were mini Philly pretzel bites and Yuengling-- something I've missed so much! My family and I enjoyed a tasty supper, excellent company, lots of laughter, and a pound cake decorated to match our wedding colors.



We were able to get a ton of great family photos because the men of my life were invited: my Dad, my PopPop, my brother Eric, my stepfather George, and--of course--Chris. :)


We also had other fabulous party guests! My cousin's Katie and Kerri attended with their mother, Donna. Katie is my cousin closest to my own age, and we used to work together in summer camps during our early 20s. It was great fun to jump into the details of the wedding, and chat their ears off during the party.

Also, in a great surprise, my mother's oldest friend Peggy attended! Peggy used to be our neighbor when I was a small girl, and my mother and Peggy have stayed close ever since. It's great to know my Mom has had Peggy's love and support for all of these years. She gave us some great Greek travel guides, and I will be blogging about them shortly.

It was such a shame, but we had to leave Pennsylvania very early Monday morning. We had a fabulous time staying with my dear friend Brittany Saturday night, and we had hoped to see my high school friends again on Sunday night but we had to leave so early to beat the traffic and the heat. Hold fast, Tani! We'll see you at our wedding in FORTY DAYS! :)

Christa put our proofs online!
If you'd like to peek visit this website. Enter the password: DC8909

Like any photo session, we have eight or ten stellar photos and about sixty so-so photos.

We'll be incorporating these stellar photos into our wedding. :) Enjoy!

We'll have the rest of the photographs tomorrow night!

We made it back from Mass just in time for our Engagement photos. We actually had them taken! It started to rain the moment we finished our photos.

Christa, our photographer, was very personable, professional, and fun! She helped us feel very natural, and we weren't asked to do any artificial poses. Chris and I actually had a lot of fun.

We just got our "sneak peek" photos from Christa; that woman works fast!

You can peek at the other initial photos over at Christa's blog.

Chris and I returned this afternoon from our Massachusetts mini-vacation.

I am *very* thankful Mark and Margaret arranged a spur-of-the-moment "family day" and took us to Revere Beach. Known as "the oldest public beach," Revere Beach is a fun place to spend a sunny afternoon. Or a sunny morning. Or a whole day.


Bostonians are so lucky. They can live in the city--or, like Chris's parents, live just outside of the city--and be at the beach in twenty minutes.


After we ate lunch, walked the beach, got our toes wet, laughed


watched Benjamin explore, and took a hundred photos, I was treated to a quick tour of East Boston.

I've heard Chris share his memories of his old neighborhood, and it was good to be able to see the neighborhood. :) It is fun to see the similarities between our fathers: if I'm driving with my Dad through Philly, he always dips back into the "old neighborhood" to point out the homes my grandparents lived in, his favorite spots, and other landmarks. :)

Last, we stopped by the USS Constitution Museum. I could spend *hours* there. I've always loved military history. So cool! I knew we were all sort of fading (especially Ben), so I didn't rush right into the muesum. Chris and I will have to steal Margaret to get a tour before winter.

I forgot to mention-- Chris went with his Dad to get a suit for the wedding! They went shopping before we all went out to the beach and harbor. Chris felt really confident in his suit, and why wouldn't he? He's so handsome.

We are getting married in fifty days!

Oh my goodness, there is so much to do!

We've selected all of our vendors and service providers, planned with family and friends, and organized. Now, I just have to pull together all of the minutiae.

For example, we have our music professor from Green Mountain College slotted to play during our ceremony. We booked Paul months ago--at a very reasonable and thoughtful rate--but now we actually have to sit down with him and figure out exactly what instrument(s) and music to play.

Honestly, we're probably going to tell him, "Please play something beautiful. We trust you."

Mark and Margaret have been awesome enough to offer to host our Rehearsal Dinner, and Chris and I finalized most of the details last night.

Our Rehearsal Dinner will be held at the Stonehearth Inn and Tavern. Francy and Sheldon are the very hospitable innkeepers, and they have lovely grounds. A few young couples we know from Church go to the Stonehearth Inn for dinner and drinks, and we've only heard good things about their family-style suppers.


From their website:

The Inn features many of the original details including wide board pine floors, original fireplaces, and exposed beams reminiscent of its' days as farmhouse. Named for the beautiful "Stone Hearth", our friendly Inn features a spacious common areas for guests to unwind and catch their breath. Relax by the "Stone Hearth" fireplace, play a game of pool, read a book, or enjoy a libation in the tavern before enjoying a meal in our dining room.

They are a certified "Green Hotel" for their carbon footprint and practices.They also have very spunky, fun dogs.


And air-hockey. And a fire pit.


The eve of our wedding is also my 26th birthday, and I think it would be fun for some of our family and friends in town to gather at the Inn after the formal Rehearsal Dinner to enjoy the grounds, pool table, and maybe even s'mores. Francy said she'd start us a fire after dinner if the weather is nice. I can't think of a nicer way to enjoy and relax the evening before than to sit on their well-appointed deck and watch a fire and stars with Christopher, my family, and friends.

I am pretty sure there is some sort of "Woo-hoo, you're getting married" party planned, but I don't want to push for too many details. :)

I'm bringing down an ENORMOUS box of wedding-related things, a hefty pile of wedding-related photographs, and some DIY paper-craft projects to Pennsylvania.

I truely value the opinion of my parents, my family, and friends. It has been difficult planning such a joyous and sacred event so far away from my family, and I want to involve as many of my family members as I can. It has been difficult living in Vermont; my family reads about updates in my life, hears updates on the phone, but it is not the same as being able to experience life together. I'm so blessed to know, through those fun RSVP cards, that many of my family members and close friends will be travelling to Vermont to share in our wedding day!

Howdy! We've had a few questions about our online Wedding Map. We've posted the Q&A here as well to help our family and friends navigate the Wedding Map website.

1. Why do you need a Wedding Map?

There are several user-friendly free map websites on the internet, including MapQuest. If you are unfamiliar with the town--or even state!--MapQuest can be tricky because there could be many names for the same road in rural areas. With this map, all the directions you need are in one place.

I was worried about directions to our Church, especially, because the official address is listed simply as "North Street, Chester Vermont." To a person living in the Chester-area, that address makes perfect sense. To my family driving from Pennsylvania or Massachusetts, maybe not. In the case of our church, I actually had to set the map location to a shop--Bonnie's Bundles--across the street in order to set a street address.

2. How do I get Driving Directions?

Go to our Wedding Map and click on any destination marker that you want to get to/from.

Destination markers are small icons representing wedding events or important places. For example, our Reception Site--the Hartness House Inn--is marked by the icon of a wedding cake. There is a list of destination markers and location names on the left-hand side of your screen in a list called, aptly, "Location List."

Chose the destination marker and click "Get Directions."

Directions will appear in a new window for you to print or to copy down by hand.

3. What other information is provided on the Wedding Map?

Chris and I provided information for the closest two bus stations, the closest train station, and the closest airport. All of these services can be found by clicking on their destination icon from the "Location List."

When you click the destination marker for the "WRJ Amtrak Station" you can read:

This station is along the Vermonter line, with service from Philadelphia. This is the closest train station. If you'd like to take Amtrak to our wedding please let us know so we can help to arrange travel from the station.

Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for rates and details.

We have included additional information for each of the transportation destinations to help you make your travel plans and save time.

4. Can we ask you to add locations to the Wedding Map?

Absolutely! Would you like to know the location of the closest Catholic Church so you can attend Mass on Sunday morning before the wedding? We can add that location.

Would you like to take your wife on the Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour or perhaps the Vermont TeddyBear Company Factory Tour? We can add those locations.

Would you like us to add the location of your Bed&Breakfast so you can get directions from your B&B to the wedding locations? Maybe the locations of a few nice restaurants?

Let us know--by calling, emailing, writing, or commenting on this blog--and we will add your location.

Vermont has had one wet summer. It has made haying near impossible, and our loggers our suffering from both the weather and the economy. On the homefront, our garden is sluggish and stunted.

We had hoped to have our free engagement photographs taken at Kent Pond, as I blogged back in May. We'd set up a weekend with Christa and her second-shooter, Ashley, to meet us at Kent Pond... and then it would pour. And pour. Our photographers cannot ruin their equipment, and a marshy bog of a park isn't exactly the most romantic spot.

Finally, after canceling several times, we decided to have our photographs taken at the Tip Top Building here in White River Junction. Chris and I both work inside the Tip Top Building, and the space has been converted from a much-loved bakery into an artist community space.

The Tip Top houses several print studios, a community television station, an eco-aware publishing company, my pottery studio, Chris's work, several holistic health practitioners, a few gallery spaces, and the studios of many local artists. Matt--a friend of Chris and a wedding guest--is a cartoonist and has a studio upstairs that he shares with other Center for Cartoon Studies graduates.

They have art hanging in every hallway, including large sculptures. The walls are painted in fiercely bright colors. I've emailed Christa a few photos of the space, and she is really excited to take some artistic and funky photographs of us. In case you've never been inside the building, I'm posting them below. We've scheduled our photos for next week. At least we can't get rained out!

Kimberly, my Maid of Honor and all around rad lady, has picked a dress to wear for the wedding.

Of course, Kimberly is much more pretty than this model... but the official Alfred Angelo press photo will have to do. :)

The dress is taffeta, has a bubbled skirt, and is in a color called "peacock."

Bubble skirts are very in right now, and Kim and I have both fallen for this trend. We giggled today on the phone because there is a very large chance that, in ten years, we'll both look back in horror at this dress. For now, it is gorgeous. It's more than gorgeous; it is perfect.

Not too accidentally, "peacock" is my favorite color. In fact, I am wearing the same rich deep teal as I type. If you'd like, you can read an article about James McNeill Whistler and his "hotly debated and now famous Peacock Room in London." Or you can read your choice of these two articles discussing the use of "peacock blue" in wedding this year: #1 and #2.

If you haven't had the fun of meeting Kim, you can read her bio here.

* * * * * *

Clayton, Chris' Best Man and dear chum, has sent us photographs of the tuxedo he will wear for the wedding. Now, Clay is the most dapper man I have ever met. Seriously. The man can dress. He has real character.

Like Chris, Clay harks to another era. Unlike Chris, that era is not the future. :)

Check these gorgeous photos out. Clay poses with his wife, Jillian, and his truck:



Classic.

If you haven't had the fun of meeting Clayton, you can read his bio here.

Chris spent a lot of time trying to find the inspiration for his wedding outfit.
He went to a classic source of inspiration: pop culture!

First, he thought he'd find a tux similar to Indy's...


and then he decided to wear something more similar to The Doctor's brown pinstripe suit.


The Dr. Who suit is handsome, and Chris hopes to find a similar suit this weekend in Massachusetts. We're going to spend the weekend with Mark and Margaret...and Benjamin and Kim, too!

Mark and Chris are going to go suit shopping, and I know Chris is actually excited to find something dapper to wear for this "wedding outfit," as he has been calling it.

I'm not surprised he turned to Dr. Who for inspiration. It is one of our favorite science fiction television shows, and it is exceedingly well written. Sometimes I feel like Chris channels Dr. Who in our everyday life; he finds one small tool in the back of a toolbox and magically fixes every broken mechanical item in our neighborhood. His own version of the sonic screwdriver. :)

I am tickled to use my theatre training, every now and then.
For example, I can build a theatre flat (a fake wall) in about a half of an hour.

You can imagine how excited I was when I saw this photo!

A cheap roll of discounted wallpaper, a few frames, some canvas, and a few nails. It is a really quick project, with a great result.

I think it would be a bit an easy way to help our guests mingle, giggle, and create some memorable art and memories together.

We wouldn't be able to build it until the week before the wedding, just for storage sake, but it wouldn't have to be wider than five feet. :)

I'm thinking of putting "props" out too... like faux mustaches and a top hat, or two...

In case you have not ventured back to our posting from 2008...

you can see photos of our ceremony site--our home church, the First Unitarian Universalist Parish of Chester--here,
and you can see photos of our reception site--the Hartness House Inn--here.

Chris and I are spending this week in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. I am attending the AP Institute to earn my Collegeboard AP Literature training (and earn re-licensing credits), held at the St. Johnsbury Academy campus.

SJA is one of the foremost private boarding academy high schools in New England, and costs nearly $40,000/year for a boarding student. It's a darn steep price for students, but the accommodations are lush for the conference. We've been treated, in particular, to the best food I've ever been able to eat for free*. We had ostrich and bananas foster for lunch, yum.

Chris took his vacation from work this week, and he has spent the days drawing by the pool and cartooning in the hotel. I've spent eight hours each day in a dynamic, very helpful course. We're both in heaven, and it is GREAT.

Also, the Institute gave us nearly $500 in free books. Of course, the publishers hope we will, in turn, buy classroom sets... but I adore pre-press copies and old classics.

*We are paying a mere pittance for our hotel room (discounted conference rate), and everything else has been paid by my school district. It is a nice perk! They lead free nightly activities (canoeing, theatre trips, skeet shooting, trivia bowls, hiking, poetry readings, etc) for participants and their families, too.

Suffice to say, the wedding planning has not been at the front of my mind :) I will provide photos of some of our new purchases and planning details once we get home. Promise!

I've been asked by a few family members and friends to post Registry information on our wedding blog. I've been hesitant to post this information, but I've had a few more questions since the invitations were mailed and I thought I'd finally acquiesce.

Chris and I just got back from the Stanford B&B in Enfield, NH. The owner of the B&B is a co-worker of mine, and they have a wonderful cabin on Crystal Lake*. I won a discounted night in our annual Christmas Silent Auction, and knew we'd love a night away.

Chris got out of work two hours early, we drove just twenty minutes, and celebrated the 4th of July weekend with a canoe and a campfire.


I had never been in a canoe before (I'm such a City girl) but it was amazing fun. I've kayaked around before, but I had a lot of fun rowing a canoe. And so did Chris! I have photographic evidence...


Isn't he handsome?

** See a comic about our trip over at Flamejob.