Friday, April 16, 2010

Engaged in some marrymaking


It's super weird for me to be as writer's-blocked as I have been for the last few months. I thought at first I'd just go with it and let myself have some time to ramp up to writing new posts and keeping in touch. That doesn't seem to be working at all, since this corner of the web is about as dusty and neglected as the top of my fridge.

So I think I'm going to have to put myself on a schedule and post something up here every day...at least until I get my blogging discipline back.

It's not that there's nothing happening. Tons, actually:

1. I turned--gulp--30. I guess since I put this out there on the Internet, there's no lying about my age option anymore.
2. My reward from Marc for making it to my fourth decade was a sweet-ass Nikon SLR camera. I guess this means I'll have to challenge myself to take nice pictures and post them here. I guess this also means the old Minolta is staying at the suburban Steak N' Shake indefinitely.
3. Oh yeah...Marc and I also got engaged. On my birthday on the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier! It was wonderful and fun and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world these days.

...so I suppose that means I could torture you loyal readers who still check back from time to time and turn this into an OMFGWEDDING! blog. But I promise not to...well, not too much anyway.

Seriously, though. Our plan is to have a lil' civil service ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center ($10, yo!), followed by a nice cocktail party reception for some family and friends. Not janky, but not break-the-bank expensive, either. If anyone has any tips or suggestions, give them to me. I'm begging! I've called about 10 restaurants and go through my spiel about doing this without picking up a bridal magazine or attending a wedding expo, and just when I think the event coordinator gets it, he or she starts trying to give me vendor information for lighting technicians, aisle decorators and trolley rental services.

It's really starting to freak me out. So much so that, in the face of wrangling so many vendors and writing a big old stack of checks, committing my life to one special person seems like a piece of (tiered, overpriced) cake.

9 comments:

more is jess said...

OMG!!! Congrats!!! That's so exciting! And you can do it! I didn't open one wedding mag, step into one wedding dress store or go to one wedding expo. I even ordered my wedding dress online (gasp!) and it was above the knee (double gasp!!).

This makes Chris and me very happy! Congrats again!

C.E.R. said...

Congrats! I have a friend who had her reception at Rock Bottom. Cocktails on the rooftop. Lots of fun!

RILEY said...

First of all.... congrats on the engagement! That's very exciting. Sometimes I think our culture rushes so much into the wedding-planning bit that we forget that it's flipping awesome and exciting to be engaged. A life stage in and of its own, you know?

Second, I'm not married, nor have I planned a wedding, but when I do, I'm going to faithfully read this blog: http://apracticalwedding.com/
... who are we kidding, I read it faithfully now. It's great at keeping priorities straight in the wedding hubbub.

Best wishes on your engagement and good luck with that effing writer's block. It's the worst. xox.

MoonDoggie said...

Congratulations!
That's wonderful news - you must be ecstatic. Best wishes for all your planning.

Unknown said...

Congrats, lady. I had some pals who did the Cultural Center thing and then a private times event at blackbird. Maybe you can just not tell them it is a wedding thing. Secret service!

Anonymous said...

GHAA! Congrats, lady! That's absolutely fantastic! I'm so happeeee!
My friend just got married at the cultural center, but she didn't even have a party afterward, just dinner with the parents - she said she'll be having a reception of sorts eventually, but I highly doubt thatg seeing she, the new husband and her mum are moving to California in a couple of weeks.
Blah, none of that matters, OH! I'm just so happy for you! (and I'll keep my ears perked for restaurants, etc, but I'm really not that good with that sort of thing). Yay!

Stephanie said...

Ali, I am so happy for you guys! What an awesome place to get engaged:) Enjoy your engagement and don't stress about the wedding! Paul and I would love to come to a party or at least buy you and Marc a drink next time we are in the same city!

Anonymous said...

oh congratulations sweetie! so happy for you 2.
susie

Alison said...

Thanks, everybody! You're all so so so sweet. Also, the suggestions rock!

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