Little Details

This weekend, Vern and I did all sorts of things wedding-related. We dropped my dress off at his mom's, and she is going to add some buttons to the sleeves (the previous buttons have disappeared in the last 37 years). It is so wonderful for her to help me with that! Then, after dropping off the dress, Vern and I toodled on over to Aardvark's in Pasadena. For those of you who don't know, Aardvark's is a vintage-y thrift store. They are more expensive than a regular thrift store but generally cheaper than a department store--and they have clothing with more character. Anyway, we were looking for a suit for Vern--he had a back-up one, but was hoping to find something different--and we found one! It looks absolutely amazing on him, too!

Now we're pretty much in the last stage of all the planning--we've chosen our songs for the quartet to play, but we have to choose them in order of what we like best (just in case they run out of time and can't play them all). We've paid the photographer and we've paid for the linens and tables and chairs. My dad made reservations at Fargo's, this really cool pizza place that's kind of turn-of-the-century and kitschy, for the dinner the night before the wedding. We have gotten all of the RSVP's. We have an officiant. But we have to choose some readings for the ceremony still. Anyway, you get the picture--we've got a lot done and just a little more to go.

Because I've been keeping such a good count, I thought I'd update you and let you know that it is, as of today, 5 days until Vern and I leave for Colorado and 12 days until we are married! I'm kind of nervous to have all those people staring at me. I know I'm an actress and I should be used to it, but this is different. And I know that it's all my family and friends, but it's still sort of weird to be the center of everyone's focus. But luckily, I have seen Vern in his suit, and I am quite certain he will help ease that focus, because he looks absolutely amazing in that suit. Like something out of a magazine. I told him if computers ever go the way of the record player, he could certainly pay the bills with his looks. He's stunning. But you all already knew that.

Love,

Clare

RSVP

Last night, when I got home, there were a lot of RSVP's for the wedding! And some of them were quite surprising! I sent a wedding invitation to my dad's transplant family (the parents of the boy who died and saved my dad's life by donating his heart). I wanted them to come, but at the same time I sort of assumed that they may not. I just wanted to extend the offer. And they replied with a yes! And there will be four of them! It's so exciting, because my parents and sister were able to go meet the transplant family back in April, but I wasn't able to afford the trip out there. So this will be the first time I meet them! I can't wait!

Vern and I are hittin' the road and headin' out to Colorado in 23 days. We are getting married in 30! I'm afraid I've always been impatient, so I can hardly wait. I count days to calm myself down.

I'm a happy girl....

Love, Clare

Short and Sweet

I love Vern!

The end.

Love,
Clare

Wedding, part deux

Today, it is 25 days until Vern and I leave for Colorado! The wedding is in 32 days! Eek! I'm so excited!

Tonight, we are hoping to choose music for the string quartet to play. We already have some sure things, but we have to pick some more that we like and then we'll just tell them to play whatever they like for the rest of the time. It's a string quartet, so I'm sure whatever they play will be beautiful.

My parents contacted some Catholic priests in Colorado Springs to check with them about doing the ceremony--they were "order" priests, meaning that they live in an order with other priests, similar to monks. However, my dad found out that they will not marry us unless we have one year of marriage classes, due to the high level of divorces now-a-days. Also, in order (pardon the pun) for them to do a ceremony outdoors, we would have to get a special dispensation from the Bishop, which could take who knows how long. So that's a dead end.

My parents are now going to try some retired priests, in the hopes that they may be a little more lenient in terms of the outdoors and whether or not we have classes. So we'll see how that goes. Otherwise, we may check with some friends of my parents who have a [protestant] minister friend who might do it. And from there, we'll likely go to a justice of the peace, or else I will ask my friend Simone to do it. We'll see what happens.

I am really looking forward to being married. I am excited for that chapter of my life to begin. But I am also enjoying the journey.

Love,
Clare

Operation Wedding

So, Vern and I finally sent out the wedding invitations! We sent them on Saturday, so people should probably be receiving them in the very near future.

We also registered this weekend at Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. That was pretty fun, although to register at Bed, Bath & Beyond you practically have to promise them your firstborn. We had to sit at a table and be pelted with questions like "how did you two meet?" To which I replied...."Um.....he was a friend of a girl in my theatre company." The lady also asked how many people we were having to the wedding, where it was going to be, and when I got my first period. Not really, but you get the idea. Now imagine this all said through the voice of a cartoon character and you can maybe imagine what Vern and I looked like: deer in the headlights. Controlled breathing. Then she proceeded to ask me what we were thinking about in regards to flatware and dishes, to which I replied "we're already set with all that." And with all the listening skills of a rock, she plopped down two enormous binders of FLATWARE AND DISHES for us to look through. Anyway, finally we got the little scanner thingie from her hot little hands and got to escape into the store.

We went to Target the next day. Vern had signed up online the night before. We walked in and the lady gave us the scanner. The end. Target is glorious.

I got my wedding shoes on Saturday, too. I had forgotten I needed them until I walked by these white flats at DSW and saw my wedding shoes--they are flat, white, with the same kind of lace that is on my dress! They're perfect.

Yesterday, Vern and I took Dana for a walk. She was in doggy heaven. Billy was jealous.

That was pretty much the weekend. They certainly don't last long enough. Especially when I have someone like Vern.

Love,
Clare

Engagement Photos

Vern and I went to Colorado this past Thursday and had our engagement portrait session. It was really fun and our photographers are amazing! You can check out their website at http://www.realphotography.com/ and if you look under "blog" you will see a sneak peek of some of our photos! They turned out really well! And they're shooting our wedding as well, so I can't wait to see those photos in the future.

We had a great time in Colorado with my family--they loved Vern. My sister, of course, knows him better than my parents (she's seen him more often), but my parents absolutely loved him! It was a really great time, and my dad, Vern and I even had time to see Garden of the Gods! When we're back in September, I'm hoping to take Vern and his sisters up to the top of Pikes Peak. Yep, 14,000 feet!

It's 48 days until our wedding, and we'll be out there the week before, so it's about 41 days till we're out in Colorado again for the big day! It's probably annoying that I keep counting, but I'm so excited I can't help it!

Love,
Clare

53 days

In 53 days, Vern and I will be married! I can't wait!

Love,

Clare