Flower Power

I simply love flowers and as every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these fragile blooms. As centerpieces, flowers are more than mere decorations, they are a form of entertainment that makes a big statement, silently. The flowers for my wedding will be faraway from the land of Laura Ashley and white satin lace. Vibrant colors and exotic notes like orchids, curly willow, bamboo and bear grass follow the flow of an Asian theme wedding. Incorporating cultural details is also very important with creating the overall look of the wedding. We want to hang Chinese lanterns and have Cambodian decor (Apsaras ect.) accenting the reception room. The flowers will pull everything together into one beautiful package.

The challenge is that we are having our seated dinner served family style. So the centerpieces will need to have height. However, tall centerpieces are quite costly so we decided to do half tall and half short centerpieces. The short centerpieces will need to have full blooms like peonies or hydrangeas to maximize appeal. Speaking of aesthetics, we don't want the short centerpieces to appear too small on the table but at the same time we don't want the flowers to cramp the space where the meals will be served. It is going to be a delicate act to balance but I'm sure the florist we choose will be up for the challenge.
Budget wise I've cut the floral expenses by having my MOH and 2 BMs carry fans with a personalized colored ribbon instead of a traditional bouquet. I'll blog more about the fans later. The girls will also have corsages or a boutonniere pinned to their dress. The low and high centerpieces will be comprised of seasonal flowers with the exception of the orchids. Orchids are my favorite blooms especially dendrobiums and cymbidiums, so they are a must!

We hope to find a florist who will emphasis on discovering designs that are reflective of our personal taste while committed to delivering freshness and quality. Staying within our budget is also key.

Dear Blog

I'm sorry I've neglected you but I have returned with some blissful news on our impending nuptials. We've decided to host our love fest affair on the last Sunday in May. That Sunday falls on Memorial Day weekend, which is a big plus for us (cheaper vendors/venue) and the extended weekend allows ample travel time for many of our out of town guests. As for the reception sites, I think we've found THE ONE. Easton Beach Rotunda in Newport, R.I!

Ideally, I would have loved a beautiful tented wedding but I realize we would be at the mercy of the elements. I didn't want the extra stress of having to worry if my wedding would be rained out. There were also too many logistics involved in planning an outdoor reception. So we decided for practical reasons an indoor wedding would be our best bet. The Rotunda fit the bill purrrfectly!

1. Budget Friendly: Sunday holiday rentals are half the cost of a Saturday rental
2. Package Deal: Includes 5 hour site rental, complimentary coordinator, arched wedding trellis for beach ceremony, dining tables & white garden chairs, free 1 hour Carousel rides, free parking
3. Catering: Allows us to bring our own cater. It's important that we serve traditional Cambodian cuisine.
4. Accommodation: 225 (Our guest count is currently at 200)
5. Scene: Wrap around deck with sweeping seaside views (Did I mention it is right on the beach?)
6. Location: The venue is close to to a number of attractions and near hotels.
7. Symbolism: Easton Beach is near Cliff walk and Flo's clam shack, our fave little seafood eatery. We have some very sweet summer memories on that beach.

Pick a color, any color

I've never attended a Jewish wedding but I was told that modesty is key so most of my cocktail dresses were out of the question. I stumbled upon this very simple but sweet silk Ann Taylor dress, love the little rose details on the sash but now I have to choose between two colors, the plum berry (my fave) and the navy blue. Both colors are lovely but the plum berry is only available in a size 6 and the navy in a size 4 (my size). I would need to get the plum berry altered if I choose that one. Both dresses are the same price and style. Which to choose?

BLAH!

That's how I feel today after rolling out of bed 25 mins late for my first class. Last night I felt pretty restless and didn't fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning. I was rudely awaken by the clashing clang of metal on metal. I hate morning construction. It's a traffic trap and a sore eye all around. In my sleep deprived state I ran over some orange cones on the side of road designated to the construction site. It was not actively being worked on although I did receive some glares from the workers. Sorry, it was better the cones than running over people....
At school I was in a trance like state, trying to battle sleep through an intensely boring lecture about nurse's notes. Let me tell you taking notes on Nurse's notes proved to be quite a challenge. Through my blurred vision I notice that a couple of words that I had just written were significantly smaller and messier than the rest of my notes (this is my OCD kicking in). I erased it and I let my eyes close but I open them up again to re-write whatever I had originally written. Needless to say I was in dire need of some shut eyes.
After classes I came home and crashed on the couch, falling asleep within minutes of the movie, Atonement (my third attempt to watch this film) I woke up almost half way through the movie, pretty much starved (didn't eat nuttin all day). Now sitting here contemplating on what to eat and trying to motivate myself to go to the gym. I need to relieve some stress and the gym/spa seem like the best possible options. I booked a facial for next week as a treat for myself and I ordered some melatonin to help me get back into the habit of falling asleep on a healthy schedule. Along with exercise I might be back to my "normal" self.
Tonight, FI and I are going to see the Warriors at my school. It will be a nice experience and tomorrow...bowling and a romantic dinner before FI goes away for the weekend. Huyyy I am gonna miss him terribly. I hope he brings me back a dog.

Moving Along

After two weeks, we still have boxes scattered around the apartment, cable but no internet, a new fridge but the eye sore of the old fridge is still present in the kitchen and the kitchen outlets are still not working. As for our DIY box spring, well it worked out after a bunch of kinks. But it is being held together by ropes! I went to bed with the fear of falling over. Somehow I managed not to stress myself out over these things. It's been tough juggling work, school, appointments and finances with this big move. And I am still peeved that it took Verizon from 9 am to almost 9 pm to hook us up with cable but not internet...huy!
Life Lesson 924
Never buy large furniture if you live on the third floor. It's heavy and most of the time you can't even fit it through the door way!
If you decide on building anything, make sure you get the correct measurements!
Make sure you secure the toilet seat properly so the fat man who installs your FIOS doesn't break it.
Lastly, don't buy perishables until after you get a new fridge or the fruit flies will have a field day.
I can tell you right now, we won't be moving again anytime soon!