THE BIG DAY

I posted a little teaser on my everyday blog...will have wedding details galore someday soon I'm sure!!!

Lots of love,
Mrs. Emily Hake (Kee hee hee hee)

Check out the flowers I've decided to go with for my bouquet. I'm soooooo happy right now...WAHOO! It's Friday, and I have more to say about the floral arrangements, but for now, just feast your eyes...

SO...I guess my initial thought of putting up funny insightful posts throughout our wedding planning process has gone to the dogs. Less than 2 months away, and much has been done, but nothing exciting in the way of stories. It could be due to our decision making process (which is quick) and the fact that I do all the debating in my own head, to myself, and in the end, always end up going with the original plan - kind of like how when PMS strikes, I try on 38 different outfits and come out wearing the first thing I'd chosen, except I feel even fatter afterwards. So perhaps it's good that I keep the debating in my head and not aloud at the risk of sounding slightly insane.

We're starting in on our wedding favors which we knew from the beginning would be CD's featuring our very own Wedding Soundtrack. Music plays a huge part in our lives and there's rarely a moment when we're not listening, dancing or singing goofily to some tune. Not quite sure how the packaging for each CD is going to work yet, but I do know that rather than listing out the songs by song title and artist, we're going to present them in a unique way. With song titles in hand, I composed a poem (from the heart... *gag* *cough*) in the order the songs are played. And poor grammar aside due to some of the song titles, here it is:

I wanna know
Was it fate that brought us together?
Then again, it doesn't matter
Because baby I'm yours and
Nobody and nothing will ever change that
I don't wanna sleep without your arms wrapped tight around me
And not a morning goes by that I don't wake up and thank God I found you
We've been through so much together already
You are my support in every way
Just the nearness of you brings me comfort
Today, as we begin our journey together
My heart fills with gladness that it is with someone like you
Beautiful, tender, generous and funny
Know that I believe in you like no other
Know that I can't put into words how fortunate I am
It's gotta be love, because everything fits just right
So marry me
And this I promise you
I will stand faithfully by your side
through good times and bad
I will spend my life with you
As your teammate
As your soulmate
Knowing without a doubt
That everytime I close my eyes
I will open them again to find you there
The way you make me laugh
The way you hold my hand
Don't change any part of you
Because I've never felt this way
You make me whole
You are my home
I love you

*sniffsniff* I know. It's sweet hey?

FASCINATING - FMIL and I met with the caterer/wedding planner at UBC last week - and she was a whiz with her little ruler and pencil - drawing out tables, squares, circles, rectangles...it was like a geometry lesson! The physics of working out the absolute perfect placement of 140 people, the buffet spread, a welcome table, the punchbowl, cake table, coffee stations and dessert stations are close to quantum...to the point where I just said - whatever you think is best, so long as no one gets trampled or knocked askew by the Dress.

Wedding Coordinator (WC): "What time do you all plan to arrive if the ceremony is at 11:30?"

Me: "What time does the place open?"

WC: "Well you can come at 9am, the doors should be open by then."

Me: "Good, that's the time I'll be here."

WC: "Oh so you plan to take some pictures with the Groom prior to the wedding?"

Me: "No, I wanted to make sure everything is set up before I change and get ready."

WC: *Shocked Face and Exaggerated Eye Roll* "OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU CAN'T BE DOING THAAAAAAT!!!"

Me: *Silence... and Confused Face*

WC: "Well you'll be up at 5 in the morning!!! When are you getting your hair done?"

Me: "I'm doing my own hair."

WC: "Makeup?"

Me: "I'm doing my own makeup."

WC: *Silence... and Confused Face*

Me: "I have a problem with delegation...I may tend slightly towards the control freak, obsessive-compulsive type of bride."

WC: *Mouth pursed in a slight moue* "Oh...oh well! Ha ha ha ha ha, you can be here ANY time you like then!"

Good answer WC! Good answer.

Remember when I sung this to you not too long after we started dating? And look at us now... You are my Great Love Story and every morning I wake up thankful. The warmth of your body wrapped around mine cannot compare to the warmth my heart feels, knowing that we're together in this life, no matter what it brings.

I wanna laugh
Until I cry
Wake up with you each day 'till the day that I die
Let's go to New Orleans
And watch the parade
Take funny pictures, eat jambalaya, and drink lemonade














And when the day is finally over
And we stumble home
Before we sleep
Baby, marry me

I wanna drive
Until we get lost
Lie in a field staring up at the sky
While you point out the Southern Cross
Somehow I know
Without asking why
That you love me more in a minute
Than anyone could in a lifetime
Dancing in the parking lot
While the band plays inside
Sweep me off my feet
Baby, marry me
We don't need no preacher man
Readin' from the Good Book
And I don't want no fancy dress
Ain't no ceremony for the vows that I took
From the moment I met you I have been blessed

So let's make a toast
And drink up the wine
Here's to you lying here next to me
Until the end of time
Wherever you are
I wanna be
And anything that means anything to ya
Means everything to me
Sneakin' out the back door
While they're throwing the rice
And they'll talk for weeks
But we're all we need
So baby, if you're free
Marry me Baby, marry me
Marry me

Love you. Can't wait to be your wife.

In Miami, we discovered that I cannot decipher maps, directions or addresses. Shaun will be doing the navigating when we go on our honeymoon. HRRRRRMMMMMMMPHHHH!

Despite all my going on and on about how the Dress - henceforth referred to with a capital D - isn't everything, I am amazed that even when completely buried (and I'm talking 6 feet under, scratching from inside the coffin kind of buried) under a heap of paper, emails, phone calls and a busy little thing called LIFE or when I'm just plain dodging the steaming turds that keep getting hurled at me in cubicle land, the only thing I can think about is - WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO WEAR???

Well I'm glad to say that this black plague of a question is now only going to haunt me for the upcoming xmas parties this month, New Year's Eve, for any PMS-induced meltdown moments to come and every other function from now until the day I die. For Sunday, July 2nd, 2006 at least - I KNOW.

And it wasn't the first dress off Ebay - seriously, I just wasn't feeling it even though it turned out perfectly fine. I'm putting that one in a consignment store and hoping to make some money off of it.

Notice I said "first dress". Because where else would I turn to find the second one? :) You got it. Wish I could show you all, but if you want to see it, send me an email and I'll forward you the pics. It's about as perfect as it's going to get for me - it's heavy and rich looking - ivory with beading, embroidery, wrap waist and full A-line. (Yes I can provide a full description because I highly doubt ANY man, including Shaun, can actually decipher those words and come up with an accurate image). Thank you to Lesley, my FMIL - she gets credit for being the one to pick out this dress for me in the first place. The absolute best part besides that fact that I love it? It cost 75% less than the exact same dress I tried on at the bridal boutique.

Life is good, and with the extra savings, we're off to Miami for a week of sun and surf.

More wedding stuff when we get back!!!

EM