I will be updating all of you on the wedding planning from a male perspective. This will be an accurate and, often times, scathing account of the day to day preparations that make a wedding possible. Please check back frequently for updates....
4.17.05
Today Kaitie gave me a "To Do" list. There are a lot of things to do.
4.18.05
I called a restaurant about our rehearsal dinner. They said it's available on the day that I inquired. I was happy.
4.19.05
I secured the dj for the wedding by email. We exchanged three emails before coming to terms with the arrangement. It was hard. I watched the A's game last night as a reward.
4.20.05
I started thinking about how it was going to be difficult to gather all of the addresses of our guests. Then I took a nap.
4.21.05
I took ideas from some female co-workers about places to hold our rehearsal dinner. They had lots of ideas. I took those ideas and acted like they were my ideas when I presented them to Kaitie. She was pleased.
4.22.05
Today is Earth Day.
4.24.05
We watched some episodes of "Bridezilla" on the Women's Network. Camera crews followed this woman around for a few months prior to her wedding. She broke down every day and yelled at everyone all the time. It scared me yet I was also intrigued. It has made my TiVo list.
4.26.05
My dad asked me if I wanted to go to the Cal-USC football game this year. I was very happy. I said yes. Then we remembered that it was the same weekend as the wedding. We don't know what to do.
4.27.05
We went to dinner with some friends. They asked me what I've done to help with the wedding. I told them I update my blog everyday.
4.28.05
Eddie Vedder played with the Kings of Leon last night in Seattle. It made me so happy that I accomplished 3 items on my "to do" list.
4.29.05
Kaitie informed me that we are going to register this weekend at Macy's. She said I have to go. Because of this monumental occassion, I will be posting a longer entry on Monday. Stay tuned.
5.1.05
I'm Alive! I'm still recovering and will write my official "registration blog" tomorrow.
5.2.05
The official "registration blog" begins....It was a cold and cloudy Saturday afternoon and I was nervous after recieving the call from Kaitie that they were ready for me at Macy's. We stopped at Sear's diner first and I filled up on 18 pancakes and 3 cokes so that I could focus on the pain in my stomach if the scene at Macy's became too much to handle. We made our way to the 6th floor via escalator and Kaitie and her mom stopped to look at some clothes while I stared out the window overlooking Union Square and contemplated jumping. I decided to stick it out.
We then made our way to the reigstry desk and I was forced to fill out multiple forms before they would let me get my hands on the scanner/gun/laser that I had been hearing so much about. After some restless minutes of watching other couples return their scanner/gun/laser and looking at the faces of men, I knew that I was in trouble. The woman finally completed our registration and handed over the scanner/gun/laser and we were on our way. We (Kaitie, Kathy, and I) made our way to the china and discussed our numerous options. I quickly began sweating and became both restless and agitated.
"I need to scan something!" I shouted. They could see the look of desperation in my eyes and quickly found a vase for me to scan. I felt better. After about 30 minutes of discussion, another decision was made and I was able to scan again using the scanner/gun/laser. It felt good. At this point, my memory becomes less clear but I remember making a few phone calls to see if the A's were winning or not. They were up 6-5 in the bottom of the 7th. I looked out the window, the clouds were actually parting and a ray of sunlight was shining on the pedestrians below. I felt a peaceful sensation.
It seemed as if we were about done when I was told that we were now moving on to cutlery. We made our way over to the section and began discussing the 90 different variations of the fork, knife, and spoon. We picked up cutlery and looked and it. We took the cutlery and placed it next to plates. We held the cutlery in our hands felt its weight. Kaitie and her mom then went into a 20 minute conversation about the cutlery. They looked over and found me trying to puncture my stomach with a butter knife. Finally, a decision was made.
We finally decided to leave and, I have to admit, it wasn't that bad at all. 2 1/2 hours. I was able to scan things and I even picked out a few items (wine glasses). Kaitie and Kathy were extremely patient and, once it was over, it was comparable to the dentist office. When you're there, it's horrible but, once it's over, it was a piece of cake. I had survived and we were done registering.
"That was great," said Kaitie. "I can't wait to do this again next week for the other items."
I thought that we were done registering completely. I was told that we could be back at least 3 more times. I felt like I was going to pass out and couldn't wait to feel some fresh air in my lungs. Until next time.....
5.3.05
I'm still reeling from the registry. I had a dream last night where Kaitie and I had our first dinner party after being married and we had all salad forks and no dinner forks!!! Needless to say, the dinner was a disaster. What a nightmare. It made me realize how important this really is.
5.5.05
Today is Cinco De Mayo. Kaitie and I wore sombreros, drank Tecate, and spoke only in Spanish while planning the wedding. Surprisingly, we accomplished more tonight than any other night in the past two weeks.
5.6.05
I'm saving up for a real nice wedding gift for Kaitie. I've made the commitment to drink nothing but Charles Shaw wine for the next six months in order to save.
5.10.05
Kaitie went to Las Vegas this weekend for a bachelorette party. I was planning on going out all weekend and not sleeping for two days but was reminded that it was Mother's Day. I went to Vacaville and saw my mom and Ann. I hope they realize how much of a sacrifice I made for them.
5.11.05
I found out today that you can register on Amazon.com. I asked Kaitie if we could register there and ask for cds. She said no.
5.17.05
I started working on the music for our wedding. My goal is to pick every single song for the pre-ceremony, dinner, and reception. This requires extreme concentration and hours of time spent playing with iTunes and downloading songs. When Kaitie asks me to do something I now just yell out "Working on the wedding music, can't help you now!"
5.24.05
"Working on the wedding music, can't help you now!" was allowed for about a week. I've been spending most of my time lately licking envelopes.
5.26.05
We've been trying to come up with some different ideas for the ceremony and reception. I suggested that we force at least one person from each table to perform karaoke or a special talent during the reception for dramatic purposes. We're still going over our options.
6.1.05
Only five months (and 10 days) left. My "pre-ceremony" playlist, "dinner" playlist, and "reception" playlist are coming along just fine.
6.7.05
We met with an officiant today who is going to marry us. He was very nice and relaxing and made a lot of great suggestions about our ceremony. After a brief talk, I am taking back my claim that the ceremony should last no more than six minutes.
6.14.05
Today is "Flag Day" (I have a calendar that points out interesting holidays).
6.16.05
We started to register again. We met up at Macy's after work and looked at kitchen items. Kaitie asked me what I thought of a particular ice cream scooper. I responded by asking her if we could go to sushi. She's going with her mom next time.
6.21.05
We just got back from our good friends' wedding this weekend in Chicago. It was beautiful. I was scared that it was officially going to turn Kaitie into Bridezilla. Luckily, we both got food poisoning on our way back home so I think she's still delirious.
6.29.05
I bought a 50" HDTV the other day. It's the best thing I've ever purchased (besides the engagement ring).
7.1.05
Kaitie and I normally have our "wedding planning meetings" in the living room (where our new 50" HDTV is). We've had to move the meetings to the kitchen because I can no longer focus while sitting in the same room as the TV. I think Kaitie is worried.
7.3.05
Bridezillas in HDTV is much better than just watching it on a normal television.
7.5.05
After a great weekend in Stinson Beach for the 4th of July, we decided it was time to get back on the wedding planning track. Kaitie went straight to her computer and started creating lists and excel spreadsheets. Once she was done, she filmed those lists and spreadhseets, put them on a DVD, and then I watched it on my new TV. We are really working well together.
7.11.05
I finally found the location for rehearsal dinner after looking at more than 25 restaurants. I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I expressed this relief to Kaitie who said it must feel good to accomplish the only job given to me over a six month time period. She's right, it does feel good.
7.16.05
Today we went to Walnut Creek to register and to meet up with Kathy Ott to look at wedding invitations. We finished up the registry in about 10 minutes and Kaitie met up with her mom to pick the invitations. I was told that I could meet up with them once they were done. After stops at California Pizza Kitchen, Pyramid Brewery, and McCovey's Bar, the ladies were finished. I was drunk. It was a tough day but everything was completed.
7.18.05
Kaitie just informed me that I need to create invitations for the rehearsal dinner. I bought construction paper and markers. I hope people like them.
7.23.05
I've now been put in charge of picking live music during our ceremony. Kaitie suggested the Conservatory of Music as an option.....I sent emails to both Kings of Leon and Pearl Jam's management.
7.25.05
After two days I've lost hope of hearing from my favorite bands. I have made an appointment with some students from the Conservatory of Music who play both classical and flamenco guitar. I hope they do some good cover songs!
7.27.05
Yesterday was Kaitie's birthday. I took her to dinner at the site of our rehearsal dinner and we imagined what the night will be like in a few months. As it so happens, they have a 15 x 15 foot projection tv in the main dining room and the A's game was on. Although I didn't listen to anything that Kaitie said, it was a wonderful night.
8.1.05
I've been making playlists on my iPod for the dinner music during the reception. When Kaitie falls asleep at night, I gently put the headphones over her ears and she listens to the songs I want to play over and over again. I'm hoping that somehow convinces her to agree to every song I pick.
8.8.05
We just got back from my bachelor party in Santa Barbara this past weekend. We had a great time and I enjoyed every minute of it. I took some notes while I was there because I wanted to include a larger than normal blog and really capture the overall feel of the weekend. After completing the blog, I had a friend look it over and he decided to edit it a bit (I'm not sure why). Below is the edited version:
We left Thursday morning from San Francisco and the 10 of us drove straight to Isla Vista for some [the following paragraph has been edited]......
After Isla Vista, we checked into the hotel and started drinking beers at the pool. We had a few races involving cigarettes and alcohol and laps and then [ the following paragraph has been edited].....
That night we went to State St. and hit up our favorite bar, Joe's. At Joe's, the craziest thing happened. We [the following paragraph has been edited].....
Once the bars closed at 2 a.m. we headed straight to the [the following paragraph has been edited]....
We woke up Friday morning and played golf at the Santa Barbara Municipal course. It was a lot of fun and we all shot pretty well. Things got weird toward the end of the round though. On the 17th hole, Tyler Ott [the following paragrpah has been edited]....
When we finished golf, we went to the beach and had drinks at a beachside bar. We informed the cute waitress that it was my bachelor party and she proceeded to [the following paragraph has been edited].....
After drinks we had dinner and drinks at BrewHouse. There was a table next to us and they [the following paragraph has been edited].....
That night we went out and once again started at Joe's. Then we headed to The Study Hall. There were girls dancing in cages and [the following paragraph has been edited]......
Once the bars closed at 2 a.m. we headed straight to the [the following paragraph has been edited]......
Saturday morning we woke up and drove to Isla Vista for breakfast burritos and then bought 40 ozs. at IV Market before [the following paragraph has been edited]......
We ended up back at the hotel pool and were having a great time until Jack [the following paragraph has been edited]......
We went out again Saturday night and once the bars closed at 2 a.m. we headed straight to the [the following paragraph has been edited]......
Sunday morning we woke up and drove back to San Francisco. It was great to be surrounded by all of my friends and I'm glad I have this blog to re-visit all of the wonderful memories that I have.
8.11.05
Kaitie and I are getting very serious about picking a spot for our honeymoon. We've been struggling to find the perfect place. I want Paris and she wants something tropical. It's a constant battle. She doesn't know it yet but I've already put a deposit down on the exact trip that I want. I hope she doesn't mind....
8.15.05
After searching all over the world, we randomly chose Bali and booked our honeymoon. It sounds like paradise and we both can't wait to go (I forgot to mention to Kaitie that the flight is 24 hours long).
8.20.05
Kaitie, Kathy, and I went to our caterer last Thursday and tried all of the food for our wedding. It was awesome. After eating 9 or 10 appetizers and 3 different salads, we ate filet mignon and had dessert. I also had 3 1/2 glasses of wine before going back to work. I love my life right now.
8.26.05
I still can't stop thinking about the caterer experience. I had Quizno's today for lunch and felt like crying.
8.30.05
Kaitie gave me another "to do" list. It said "Please pick out a tuxedo soon!" I ordered a catalog from Selix and it came three days later. I then opened said catalog, closed my eyes and placed my finger on a page. We're wearing all white tuxedos with top hats, canes, and coat tails. John Ott is going to look good!
9.1.05
We're picking out our musicians for the ceremony. We've set up a number of appointments with students at the Conservatory of Music. My only requirements were that they could cover "Evenflow" by Pearl Jam on the harp. It's been difficult to find someone so far.
9.5.05
We ended up finding the two perfect musicians from the Conservatory of Music. We had a meeting with Santiago and Gutva and they played the guitar and violin together. Kaitie cried immediately; I knew they were the right combo.
9.7.05
Kaitie said that all of our planning is on track and that we can start using Sundays as our designated days to go over the remaining tasks. I reminded her that football season starts this weekend and that our new 50" television will be on all day and all night and that friends would most likely be arriving by 9 a.m. and leaving around 9 p.m. We are currently not speaking.
9.13.05
I've been out of town for work over the last few days. Kaitie said she'd never accomplished so much wedding planning before. I didn't take offense to her comment.
9.16.05
We've been looking at readings for our ceremony. It's been tough to find the perfect words to sum up our relationship. I checked Kaitie's google searches and she had typed in the following phrases: "romantic wedding readings", "literary wedding readings", and "readings for a wedding ceremony". I was impressed with her effort. My list consisted of "transcripts from The Family Guy", "awesome rock lyrics", and "greatest sports quotes". We're still looking.
9.19.05
We received our wedding bands yesterday. We both tried them on and wore them around the house for a few minutes and pretended to be married. Kaitie all of a sudden told me I couldn't hang out with my friends anymore, made me unload the dishwasher, and turned the A's game off. She said this is what "real marriage is going to be like".
9.21.05
We had our "engagement shoot" with our wedding photographer last night. We drove to romantic spots throughout the city and he took pictures of us holding each other. I'm either behind Kaitie with my arms wrapped around her waist or we are embracing and looking at the camera or we are kissing. Kaitie owes me BIG TIME!
9.22.05
I'm still reeling from the "engagement shoot". If those pictures get into the wrong hands, I may not have any male friends left by the time the wedding comes around.
9.26.05
I gave Kaitie her wedding present a few weeks early yesterday afternoon. Kaitie was taking a nap when I got home and I brought the newest member of our family home and put her on the bed next to her. She woke up and found a new puppy next to her. I'll post some pictures of her soon and let everyone know what her name will be.....
10.1.05
My apologies for not updating the blog more frequently. I've been too busy cleaning up the dog's crap and trying to clean pee off of the carpet.
10.4.05
I think this may be the first time in the history of marriage that a wedding present actually broke up a marriage before the wedding even took place. So far, the puppy has made us both cry a few times, lose sleep every night, and she has even somehow caused Kaitie and I to hate each other.
10.9.05
I've been looking into alternative destinations for our honeymoon now that there have been more terrorist attacks in Bali. We're still up in the air about whether or not we're going to go but an enthusiastic reader of this blog pointed out to me that they would hate to see me die during my honeymoon because they really need a male perspective on "the first year of marriage." I felt honored and truly humbled by the experience.
10.11.05
One month away!! I still can't believe the time has gone by so quickly. It seems like only yesterday Kaitie told me I wasn't doing enough for the wedding.
10.16.05
Just got back from some of our good friends wedding (Meg and Kevin Honey). Note to self and to all of the readers out there: 4 shots of tequila during the reception sounds like a good idea at the time but it can lead to a lot of problems later in the night, as well as the following morning and afternoon.
10.17.05
We have hit crunch time and it's getting pretty tense around the apartment. In fact, just the other day I forgot to get my measurements for my tux when I said I was going to and Kaitie said she was angry at me but was stuck with me whether she liked it or not. Now I know how Ken Macha must feel (Oakland A's manager).
10.20.05
Kaitie and I caved into parental pressures and decided to cancel our honeymoon to Bali. They asked us to pick somewhere less exotic and a little closer to home. We're now going to Thailand.....only a twenty-five hour flight instead of the lengthy twenty-six hour voyage we had originally anticipated. What a relief!
10.24.05
Kaitie had a lot of errands to run yesterday and I was in charge of watching the dog. I wanted to do a great job so that we could have a relaxing night. Fifteen minutes after Kaitie left I found Sammy peeing on our bed. As Tyler Ott once said about Sammy's sister Stevie, "it's hard work with the new puppy and sometimes expensive but they make up for it in an immeasurable amount of puppy love". Oh, what a true statement...
10.26.05
My 7 item "To Do" list that was created on Monday has been completed. I finalized the rehearsal dinner, took care of our engagement photos, purchased my groomsmen gifts, found a bar for Saturday night, reserved the bar at the Omni Hotel for Friday night, found a hotel for Thailand, and completed the dinner music mix. Someone at work just pointed out that I had a gray hair.
10.27.05
Please see our newly added "photo" section for pictures of the one and only Sammy (and our nephew Logan).
10.31.05
We baby-sat for my brother and sister-in-law last night in Moraga. Kaitie had a small luncheon thrown for her so I was baby-sitting both Logan and Sammy. I took them both for a walk and felt like a real Mr. Mom.
11.1.05
We've been so busy planning that we practically forgot about Halloween. Although we didn't go out, we dressed up as a married couple to see what it would be like. It didn't feel any different.
11.3.05
I got my hair cut early in case the man at Super Cuts messed up. He didn't.
11.4.05
One week to go! People have been asking me if I've been getting nervous. Besides the fact that my limbs have gone numb a few times and I can't eat anything, I think I'm doing fine.
