Registry, bridesmaids, and flowergirls ... OH MY!!!

We have so many decisions to make and this is only the beginning....

To have bridesmaids or not to have bridesmaids? To have flower girls or not to have flower girls? Today Sara informed me that she didn't know if we should have bridesmaids. Then she added that she didn't know if we should have flower girls... What are everyone's thoughts on this? I'm wishy washy on the bridesmaids, but I do really want flower girls... Maybe I want flower girls so badly because I was a flower girl when I was little.

And the registry... We have decided that we are going to register at Target, but should we register at more than one place? I have had two people flat-out ask me about gifts... I told someone that I was getting married and the first thing out of her mouth was, "hit me up for a gift." Hmm.... Then today I had someone ask me a little about the wedding and then ask if I was registered yet. I said no, and she said, "let me know where when you do register." Goodness gracious. Should we be registering this early?? And do we really need to register at more than one place?

Back to the bridesmaid/flower girl dilemma.... I think the thing behind it may be that we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And, we really can't afford to pay for everyone's dresses... As usual, we welcome anyone's opinion. [ just don't be sad if we don't listen to yours! :-) ]

Martha Stewart Wedding

I got my first wedding magazine today ... Sara bought it for me. It was a Martha Stewart Wedding magazine. I've looked through some of it. It's pretty neat. There are some weird dresses in it. There is one that looks like the bride was wrapped in toilet paper. I don't think I will do that.

I can't wait to see my little boy in a tuxedo! He is going to be sooooo handsome.

Not much to write tonight.... I'm going to go read some more of my Gay and Lesbian Wedding book. :-)

None for you!!!

Made a phone call today to the newspaper. I asked what their policy was on printing same-sex engagement and wedding announcements. Their response - "we don't print them." Well then...that answers that. I spoke directly to the editor of the newpaper. Maybe I should have challenged him, but at the end of my week I really didn't have the energy.

When I got off the phone with the editor I called the "story idea" line. I spoke with the assistant city editor and suggested the idea of doing an article about how challenging it is to plan a same-sex wedding in Yakima. He actually sounded a bit interested and asked me some questions about what challenges we have had. He said that he would speak to the city editor and get back to me. He did say that it sounded like an interesting story. Cross your fingers that they think it is a good idea. My hope is that if the story does get published it will empower other couples to get married if they want to.

I will keep everyone posted on any developments.

Announcements and Guest Lists

Not much new on the wedding front today.

I did buy stuff to make the announcements ... "save the date" as they are called.... We will get those out within the next few weeks to our out-of-town family and friends. We also made our rough draft guest list ... 106 people. Wow! Who knew we had that many family and friends?

We have an idea book filled with different random ideas that we think of as we go...

I LOVE my book. I read some last night and I will probably read quite a bit this weekend.

Got another email from "cake lady." She wanted to know if I received her first email. I hadn't responded... needed to calm down a bit. I sent an email that simply said, "Your email was received." She truly doesn't deserve any more than that. When I am a bit calmer I may send a calmer, more rational, response at a later date.

Tomorrow is the date that my tax return is supposed to be deposited. We have _several_ bills that need to be paid. After that, we will save save save save save! We already have $99.00 in our little savings tin. Hooray! We have a LOT more to save!!

Our new book

We got a book today ... "The New Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings."

After my interaction yesterday with "cake lady" it was a welcome relief to get this book. I'm excited to read it and want to read it from start to finish! It's packed full of tips and ideas. Prepare to see quotes from the book here from time to time as I go through it.

Like this one ... " ... by denying same-sex couples the choice to legally wed, society is encouraging those relationships to be insecure and taken less seriously."

At this point I have not responded to "cake lady's" email... I have, however, spread the word to my friends that she is not a person to do business with. Discrimination is never okay. Ultimately, I am glad that I didn't do business with her because I would not want to support her in any form or fashion. As my good friend Amie says, "She's an ignoramus." Well said!

So goodnight all.... and thank you to all of my loved ones for your amazing level of support. I know it's going to be a long road, but we are committed to doing this and paving the way for other gay couples out there.

Equality? What's that??!

As I checked my e-mail this evening, I was happy to see an email from the woman I wanted to do our wedding cake. As I opened the email and began reading, the anger started building. The anger is at an explosive level at this point due to the nature of her discrimination....

Here's the email I received...

~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Jamie, I talked to you yesterday on the phone about scheduling a cake for a wedding in October. I am very sorry to do this but I will have to back out of the commitment to do this. I was having reservations yesterday after we talked due to the marriage involving two women. I discussed things over with my husband this morning and he is adamently opposed to me doing this. I tried to reach you by phone today but could not get you and I did not want to leave a message of this nature so I am emailing instead. I am sorry that I did not get back to you sooner but I needed to find a time to dicuss this with my hubby before I made a decision...but I did want to let you know now rather than later so it will not cause a hardship in your plans. Thank you for asking.

*~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

I have no words for this. Part of it is if I do begin saying the words I am truly feeling, I'm not sure that I will be able to edit myself. I am angry beyond words. Why do some people _still_ have to be so close-minded? We aren't really all equal, are we?

I welcome all comments. I have not responded to her email ... and I don't know if I will.

I'm hurt, angry, and sad... Unfortunately I don't think this will be our first encounter of this nature.

Location, Location, Location ... (and a date!!)

Big developments today!!

ALL of the immediate family has officially been told.

We found the ideal location today.... Cascade Garden (www.cascade-garden.com). We put a deposit in and it's ours. It is so beautiful. There are trees, flowers, plants, water features, arches, a beautiful lodge, and so much more. There is a lovely place outside for the ceremony and capabilities to do it indoors if needed. It is our ideal location.

We also have a date!! October 10, 2010 .... 10.10.10! How cool is that!!??!

Last but not least, we have our color scheme!! As I say it, I realize it might sound a bit corny, but hear me out! we are going to do a rainbow theme. We are going to focus on colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. We aren't going to do a full rainbow everywhere, but the solids are going to be the focus.

We have so many ideas! We bought a binder so that we can organize all of our ideas. I am so excited. SOOOO excited!

I will keep everyone updated on our progress. I'm sure that I will probably update daily for a while. This is all so new and exciting and so much to think about and plan.

Hooray!!