the beginning

in the beginning, You do things like this with a person chasing You around with a camera and saying, "Act natural!"...









(source: Turtle Pond Photography...more of that later...)







...because of course it is 0h-so-natural to sit in some random door (of a home You don't own), make out in broad daylight (ok, well maybe when You weren't 30 this seemed ok...), and simultaneoulsy pet Your lhasa apso.

Why do You do this? Because You are ENGAGED! Congratulations, You!

Soon thereafter, the not-so-fun (public making out be damned!) tasks creep up... and You and Your betrothed spend Your Saturday afternoon at Crate & Barrell (Old School flashbacks ensue...) and find Yourself having email conversations like this:


----- Original Message ----
From: Bailee's Bride
To: The Fiancé
Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 12:52:39 PM
Subject: FW: Have fun with your Gift Registry

So, I may have gotten sidetracked while eating my lunch and added to our registry... There is SOO much more online than in the store...

To: Bailee's Bride
From: The Fiancé
Sent: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 12:02:45 -0700
Subject: Re: Have fun with your Gift Registry

uhmmm. When WE left the story, WE had 31 items . . . there are now 64 items . . . "MAY have gotten sidetracked!!!???"
love you.

From: Bailee's Bride
To: The Fiancé
Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 2:52:19 PM
Subject: RE: Have fun with your Gift Registry

Dude, but did you SEE the Carlos Margarita glasses I added for you?!?! Love you!

To: Bailee's Bride
From: The Fiancé
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:56:06 -0700
Subject: Re: Have fun with your Gift Registry

Dude? Dude? We're going to MARRIAGE prep tonight and you're calling me DUDE!!!???

***

After which, You attend said Marriage Prepation Course at an Unnamed Catholic Church, and then it truly hits You: YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED [...to this amazing person you've started calling "Dude" for no discernable reason...].

You thus decide it is time ... Time to join the ranks of those other style-obsessed, internet-searching, unable-to-work-with-so-many-blogs-to-read brides out there... and You do this: You decide to use Your English degree and start Your own blog. So slam a Bailey's with me (seriously, it's a suuuuuper easy shot... in fact, I am obsessed with the idea of doing Mini Guinness shots at our wedding instead of champage... it's Kalua & Bailey's...mmmm.... but I digress.... That's another post) and Enjoy. Because if You are reading this blog, You're probably a lot like me.