Photo Bombed

I’ve never really talked about this but the only thing that was a real disappointment out of our wonderful wedding experience was our wedding photos.  I was excited about our photographer because I’ve known her for a number of years and she’s actually shot many of the weddings and family events of my sorors and family members (she shot both of my cousins weddings in 2007 and 2009). I didn’t think I could afford her, but she gave us a nice deal because we got married on a Sunday. I had a set list of shots that I provided to her but because the day of our wedding passed so quickly, I didn’t get some of the shots I wanted outside or some of the less posed shots. My ladviceto anyone getting married is to give the photographer your shot list and make SURE they follow it. The other thing I would have done that I didn’t do was do a formal bridal portrait. I regret not doing it now.

So I say all that to say that while the photos are very nice, to me they are just kind of blah and standard. They don’t have the fire and life I was hoping to capture. You can see examples of them here, in the photo books I made for my parents and in-laws.

Now here’s the real issue. Evidently photography wasn’t paying enough in a down economy so my photographer had to go a get a “real” 9-5 type gig. I’ve gotten my pictures back via CD already but part of our package includes a professional photo book with my choice of 100 pictures. I’ve not seen the photo book yet. I got married in September 2010…it’s damn near May 2011. I anticipated some delay around the holidays into the first of the year and I knew she had weddings ahead of ours but a friend of mine who also booked with her last April, just celebrated her 1st anniversary last WEEK and hasn’t gotten her photo book YET!! WDDDA???

When my friend and I contacted her in February 2011, she indicated she was working full-time and trying to fill in orders from past weddings on the weekends and she was just really swamped. OK then, I can be patient. I sent her an email last week and got no response at all this time. I’m about to charge it to the game. Suing her would take more time and money than it’s worth or we could spare. It’s not like we didn’t get anything. We got our pictures just not the photo book that was promised in the contract.

I’m at a loss at this point. Should I send a demand letter to her via certified mail? Should I try to (spend more money) to get a professionally bound photo book somewhere else?? Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

(I’m not linking to her website because I don’t want to give the impression that I’m endorsing her. In fact, I will not recommend to her to anyone else ever again. She’s decided to not book weddings in 2011 but is still doing portraiture and engagement shoots. Whatevs. :-/)

The Countdown Starts Today

The countdown to wedding day begins today.

We had a restful weekend. As you can see, we got our wedding license Friday. On Saturday, I got some creamy crack applied to my head and talked wedding hairstyles with my stylist and went to the grocery store. Sunday, we went to church, ate dinner at my parents and chilled at home napping and watching football.

There have been some minor annoyances along the way in terms of coordination of people, but I am trying to remain calm about it all. I am trying to remain centered on the fact that while I want to throw a good party for all of our guests, the main focus is marrying my sweetheart.

From what I understand, frazzled nerves come with the territory and I am, of course, human so I worry about judgment from other folks but if I have 1 guest show up on Sunday or 150, I’m still going to become Myron’s wife.

And then the party really begins! 🙂

M marks the spot…

….on top of the cake!

I Love Being A Girl

My hair flower came in from AmieNoel Designs. She is a designer who sells on Etsy. I love it!

Now to figure out my hair style. Still haven’t done that yet.

What do ya’ll think?

Parental Follies

Feel his WRATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daddy-zilla has returned!!!!

Let me set the stage…..

I was on the phone with my mom last night getting an update on the myriad of RSVP stragglers that I have yet to hear from. (Sidebar: Black people…learn the meaning of the RSVP, gotdammit!!) My mom told me the name of a guest that had been invited and told me that the guest wanted to bring her daughter. I told her no, I couldn’t commit to that right now. Instant attitude from the mother.

Mama: “Well, why?? She just wants to bring her daughter. So and So (their friends who had a conflict) had to decline. That’s extra spaces  there.

Me: “Mama, I have people in those slots and Myron has about 10 groups of folks that I still haven’t heard back from. I need to get with FMIL about those folks.”

Mama: ” Well, I don’t understand why she just can’t come, you got space.”

Me: “Mama, I am not going to argue with you about this. I am not the only one getting married. Myron and his folks have invited guests too and I need to find out if they are coming before I commit to anymore folks from our side.”

Mama (still with much attitude): “Hmph!”

(voice mumbling in background)

Me: “Is that Daddy?? What is he saying??”

Mama (talking to my daddy in background): “You wanna talk to her?? Here!”

(Mother passes phone to Father)

Daddy (gets on phone rather petulantly):  “I don’t understand why none of our friends can come; they have supported you all your life! Your friends are coming, why can’t our friends come too!”

(Mother gets back on phone)

Me: “Did your husband just have a TANTRUM??????????? Mama, really…why are ya’ll acting up???”

Mama: “I’ll talk to you later..I gotta go. Bye.”

(end of phone call)

By this time I am pulled up to the gas station and I know I was looking bewildered as I got out of the car.

Ya’ll, my daddy is 60 YEARS OLD!!!!!! He is a grown man! And he cut up on that telephone!!!!

Needless to say, I HOWLED. I howled with laughter all the way home, getting out of the car and coming into the house. I howled as I walked up the stairs and as I told Myron the whole escapade.

Weddings really do bring out the crazy it seems, in more than just the bride!!!!

Why didn’t anyone tell me it was going to be this bad?????? LOL!!!!!!

You Fancy, Huh??

Here are my wedding shoes. I like the twisted heel and the bedazzlement. I actually texted Myron a picture of them while he was in Vegas and asked him were they a tad work-the-pole-ish but he liked them! (Plus, they will be putting in work later on that night! *wink*)

And since I have good sense, this is what I will be wearing when the shoes UP THERE, start hurting my feet!!!!

I Got Nothing

Last week I worked 57 hours, including 8 on my off Friday. On Labor Day, I worked from 6:30PM to 2 AM on the budget. I am at work right now for 7:30 or so.

Therefore, I got nothing for ya’ll today. I am exhausted and still have a full day ahead of me.

I did find some wedding shoes. I’ll tell ya’ll all about it tomorrow.

Have a good Tuesday.

Debauchery

As I type this post, Myron should be getting ready to land in Vegas, with all his groomsmen, cousins, and brothers for his own special edition of……………………………wait for it, wait for it:

Let the foolery commence!!!

As for myself, I will enjoy 2 whole days of uninterrupted sleep, not being frozen by the A/C and not having to fight over the bed covers…LOL!!

I am also going to be doing my menu tasting today, so I will make sure I get some good snaps to show ya’ll as well.

If you are married, did you husband have some sort of bachelor party? Would you care if your fiance’ wanted one???

Un-Invited

Remember the RSVP snafu from this post???

Well I sent soror A an inbox message on Facebook  to chat with her about it. I would have emailed her but she never checks her email and time is of the essence at this point. I explained that I didn’t invite soror B and there was reasoning behind it. I also told  her that I would be more than happy to contact soror B and gently “uninvite” her. Fortunately for me, soror A was mature about the whole thing and offered to tidy things up herself.  I’m glad but I would have no hesitation about typing those words or making that call.

While I’m on the subject of sororities, for my readers who aren’t familiar I am a member of a historically black service sorority. With that being said, I have 28 line sisters (pledge sisters is another way to understand it).

I am friendly with them all (at least the ones we can keep up with) but not close to all of them. So I didn’t invite them all, even those whose weddings I had been invited to; though that may have been 5-10 years ago. So it’s beyond me to why soror B would even want to come to my wedding. We don’t talk. Other than seeing her at homecoming or posting on our internal listserv, there is no communication. So spending $35 on a plate for her ass is not going to happen. She can go and be nosy at someone else’s wedding. I am probably being somewhat Bridezilla and perhaps not very gracious but oh well. There were some people I really wanted to invite and couldn’t due to having to invite family so she definitely wouldn’t have made the cut in the first place.  Perhaps if she just hadn’t assumed, I probably wouldn’t have cared as much.

Well, I try to keep it real on the blog and  and as such, you get to see the good, the bad and somewhat ugly part of wedding planning. LOL!!! I think I am done ranting now. 🙂

Hey Mr. DJ!

We're actually having a DJ, but you get the idea...

Commenters (and lurkers) I need your help. If you have never, ever, ever commented before, I need you to comment on this post.

I need help with creating a playlist for my wedding. So if you would be so kind, tell me some of your favorite songs, title and artist. Tell me what makes you get up and start getting your proper shake on. My musical tastes lean to pop, R&B, and hip hop (especially old school).

Also, tell me what are some good ceremony songs, both secular and gospel. Think back about the weddings you have been in or attended and think about the music, what worked and what didn’t.

Drop all that musical love in the comments, please!!!