HI HI HI! I know it's been forever since I've posted on NEY, but I've been lurking on my phone! Its been about 3? 4? weeks since I started teaching in my long term sub role, and I'm getting through and getting better at it/ enjoying a good chunk of it. But, I come home totally wiped out, and I haven't had the energy to post/ start up my computer! Ridiculous, but true. I've watched a lot of Friends reruns and Bravo reality tv on the couch after work.
Other than learning how to manage a classroom full of kids with behavior issues, and lesson planning... I had my bachelorette and bridal shower last weekend. The bachelerette was a bit of a downer (out to dinner at night, sleepover, in the morning we got nails done, and then that afternoon was the bridal shower FMIL threw for me.) The night before it was a lot of "ugh, I'm going to die alone" or "my relationship is weird because... xyz." And I totally get needing to vent about that, but it was hard to be all "WOO I"M GETTING MARRIED!" when my friends were frowny. And there was a lot of talk about "aren't you terrified about your job situation? You should get a financial manager [for all the extra money lying around they think I have???]". YES! I am terrified. Thanks for asking.
The shower was AH-MAZING though. Great food, happy people, and I was so touched by all the love.
ANYWAY, the reason for this post. I remember that I promised
@eilis1228 that I would post when I talked to my photographer/ hair and makeup people so I could clarify what a brunch wedding timeline might look like. FI and I met with our photographer to walk our venue and find some potential good picture taking spots, and to go over the timeline, so here goes:
5:00 am - Wake up and shower
5:15 am - Blow dry my hair/ put some volume/ hold mousse in it (hair stylist said I need to do this before she starts)
ALSO One hair stylist and one make up artist (from the same salon) arrive at my parent's house to set up (maybe they'll come a little earlier than 5:15?))
5:30am - Hair and makeup begins!
This includes: Airbrush makeup and fake eyelashs and updo for me, updos and airbrush makeup for two bridesmaids, and airbrush makeup and a blowout for short hair for my mother.
8:00 am - photographer arrives at my parents' house and takes some "getting ready" pictures
8:30 am - be done with hair and makeup! Drive to the wedding venue.
8:45 am - arrive at the wedding venue, put on my wedding dress (its a flowy soft a-line, with a zipper and just a few buttons... it doesn't take long to put on. Women with more complicated dresses should def. budget more time here)
9:00 am - First look and couple portraits with FI
10:00 am - wedding party portraits (3 bridesmaids, 3 groomsmen... we don't want anything complicated)
10:20 am - family portraits (photographer said each group shot tends to average about 2-3 minutes)
11:00/ 11:15 am - done with pictures, FI and I have a little quiet time together to decompress/ take it all in . And guests should be arriving.
11:30 am - Ceremony!
12:00 pm - cocktail hour
1:00 pm - reception begins (here the timeline is a little fuzzy/ totally approximated... we need to talk to the dj about his recommendations for the order of things still)
1:05 pm - FI and I are introduced,
1:07 pm - first dance,
1:11 pm - combined father/ daughter and mother/ son first dance,
1:15 pm- toasts? (Parents ... best man... bridesmaids)
1:20 pm- BRUNCH and dancing
3:30 pm - cutting of the cake / FI and I thank everyone again for coming
4:30 pm - start to wrap up
5:00 pm -LEAVE THE VENUE!
I hope that was helpful?
ETA: Yeah, I know that my "brunch" reception is actually taking place during just plain "lunch" hours. But... that's the timeline the venue does. And damnit, we're still doing brunch food anyway. Because nom.