You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘wedding planning’ tag.
Well, if Google was actually your wedding planner, then yes, you’d probably be a very big deal indeed and magically able to command legions of hard-working Googlers to taste test 5,000 red velvet cakes in the run-up to your big day.
But, for us mere mortals, the mighty G has taken pity on us and launched Google for Weddings, a free set of online tools and resources to help you plan your wedding down to a well-organized tee. And seeing as it’s Valentine’s Day – it seemed like the perfect time to mention it.
My own wedding was tiny and somewhat unfussy, but even so, I’d have loved to get my hands on this set of Type A organizational riches. I’ve never met a to-do list I don’t like, so to have everything combined into one easy and free portal would have been pre-marital bliss.
Trust me, even apps and cocktails for 30 people can soon spiral into the kind of madness you only think you see in those female-bonding-turn-violent-blood-sucking-movies. And the photo uploading and sharing? Let’s just say I still bear the scars of looking through more than 500 photos and not remembering why “Black and White image #320″ just edged out “Color image #321″ in the race for prime placement on my blog, Facebook page and Blurb book/wedding album.
It might seem a tiny bit random for Google to be doing this, but let’s face it; even for the most “non-weddingy brides” among us, of which I was a proud member on my own happiest day, getting hitched means getting organized, without being reduced to a gibbering wreck come the big day. And if like me, you’re already joined at the hip to Google throughout your waking hours, then it’s an easy decision to let it plan your wedding too. Imagine the Gmail integration for email invites? Oh, the bliss. Oh, the clean simplicity and attractive geeking out potential of it all. It’s almost enough (almost!) to make me want to do the whole thing again. Same groom. Of course.
Now that we’re full steam ahead on our very San Francisco City Hall/SATC style wedding, I’ve become a little obsessed with finding other couples that have also done it in style!
Here’s my latest favorite – Iris and Geoff – via Weddingbee.com. These photos were shot a while ago, but what a great day! Looked like zero fuss and stress, but maximum style and pleasure, all topped off with a lunch at The Slanted Door no less! We are heading to Spruce, which has possibly my favorite cocktail in the whole world (apart from The Girl And The Fig’s First Street Cosmo of course!), the Fresa Fresca. Basil, black pepper, fresh strawberries and premium tequila are the key ingredients – wonderful! And added bonus, as my dress will be black, no risk of tear-inducing spillage once the drinks move to another bar later on 
I hope the weather’s as great as they had it, but regardless, it’s all getting very exciting!
Iris and Geoff via Wedding Bee (Michael Corsentino - photo credit)
So, this is what we’re going to try and do. Our wedding might be low-key (but nonetheless stressful, as I’m finding out!), but we have a cunning plan for spinning out our ‘honeymoon’ as long as possible!
It starts with a night at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco, then it’s onto a four day trip to New York, for lots of Fall walking in Central Park, and perhaps even a trip to my favorite brunch spot in the world, Balthazar. I LOVE the East Coast in the Fall. A great excuse to layer up in cute scarves, sweaters and hats!
November sees Rick’s family coming out to SF for the King Tut exhibit, (and hopefully, lots of yummy Delfina pizza!), then in December, we go back to the lovely UK, to meet with British family and friends. London and Wolverhampton (no jokes about ‘from the sublime to the ridiculous please!’), with plenty of real football, mulled wine and desserts with custard.
But we are hoping to save the best until last, with a trip to Italy, sometime next Spring. I spent a year in Italy studying, so have always been keen to go back. We’re not sure where, and of course, it all depends on saving up, but the Amalfi Coast and Capri have to be somewhere near the top of the list for sunshine and romance, while Rome is, quite, possibly, my favorite city in the whole world (yes, even more than New York!). Hmm, I wonder if we can do it by backpacking and eating just bread and cheese??
Inspired by a couple of my new favorite blogs, NYC Full Heart and Modite, I thought it would be a good time to think about some life goals for September. It’s shaping up to be quite a month! As this meant to be a blog about the time when you’re NOT at work, I didn’t include career goals, but instead, thought about some of the other areas in my life that could do a with a little more dedication!
Here they are:
September Life Goals
- As I’m getting married in October, my main goal is to plan a stress-free, low-key wedding that Rick and I will both remember forever
- This is still a nascent blog, so I’d like to increase my readership by at least 10% this month
- Plan out fun trips with R to NYC in October and the UK at Christmas
- Finally harvest my herbs I’ve been nurturing outside all summer (basil, thyme and sage), then actually incorporate them into new recipes!
- Remember to spend quality time with my friends, when I’m not a) working, b) working out, c) blogging, d) talking to the dog, Sophie, e) planning aforementioned low-key wedding, f) watching SYTYCD and Glee, g) practicing Lindy Hop with R.
Yeah, going to be an interesting month!
