struck

1. By the beauty of color that is exploding in the change of the seasons in Minnesota
2. By how much it is possible for me to love beyond where I ever thought possible
3. I am struck by how many warm pre-blessing wishes we are receiving
4. How much fun it is to plan for hosting all of my friends, family and loved ones
5. How freaky busy we are, and how it’s ok
6. The grace and love in which everyone is showering us with
7. The amount of people who want to help in some way
8. How beautiful our kilts are(!)
9. By how much I am looking forward to devouring every second of the big day, not wanting a moment to go unnoticed
10. Ireland, Ireland, Ireland.

 

this is fun, we’re having fun

One of the things that I love about Karen is her sense of fun and her ability to name it when it is happening. Last night we spend some time with one of our favorite couple friends, talking about wedding ideas and plans. They are planning their wedding right now as well. She reminded all of us that this, the work of planning the big day, should be fun, bring you joy.

So I stop today, and thank my beloved, for always keeping me focused on the most important things.

To my friends, family and readers who are partnered/married: Think about the planning phase of your big day celebration. What advise, wisdom or warning would you give to us? Please post or email us if you are shy.

 

ireland here we come!

the tickets are booked, and we officially love Northwest Airlines for being able to get us there on miles and a little bit of cash. Now to book the car hire (oh I feel so international!) and find a place to crash our first night in Dublin.

 

and we’re off!

The invites made their way out the door today, we are just waiting for a few more addresses. On another note, it seems we have indeed chosen our tartan! Here it is!

The past few weeks have been so wonderful. We met with the Cathedral and our wedding planner, and feel really great about the big day. There is plenty more on the to-do list, but we feel right on track.

Our cake maker, I think is a bit crazy. She has designed this like 9 layer work of art. It really is mind blowing, and I look forward to getting some pics and posting them for all the world to see. Edweena’s is doing the cake, if you have not been by her website – do stop over. The user name is guest and the password is cakes. She is a shining example of a woman who had one door close (on her “career”) and another door opening to reveal who she really could be.

We are now working on the most fun part, the honeymoon. Ireland here we come. Now just to work out the details.

 

honeymoon dreamin’

Yesterday, my mail lady, knowing I was a lover of all things irish AND was planning a celtic wedding, gave me her copy of Ireland of the Welcomes. What an amazing magazine, and the issue she gave me had wonderful ideas for celtic/irish weddings and honeymoons. The website has some great links, so if you are an Ireland lover as well, check it out!

 

*whew*

So in case you haven’t been to this site before, we updated! Today has been a flurry of activity of all things wedding. The list is nearly done, and the invites will be on their way this week.

So much fun, so much to do!

 

tartans of us

On Thursday, Karen and I went to go meet with our lovely kilt maker, Bill Watkins. He is such a joy to be with and around, the stories, the facts, the history. So in talking with him about the tartan choices we have, which ones we can rightfully wear, we learned of two that we are delighted about. Here is the text of an email Karen put together, which I think is facinating!

So Bill took our last names–he didn’t know about my Hart lineage–and did some research. We found out that the MacDonalds (Scot orig., but many connections–blood & otherwise–to Ireland) were a ruling family–Lords of Isles–that made many alliances through agreement & marriage, so the original Swans (MacQueens, MacSwein … Sweyn … Swan), and the Mathesons (from MacDonald & MacDonnell & MacDona etc.) were all part of the same group AND also formed alliances with many other clans–the long & short is:

We both have rights to wear the MacDonald tartan as well as the tartan from a larger alliance, the Chattan clan. Both are very pretty and I think it’s fun that we can choose a fabric we like and have some mystical historical connection to it. Click these tartan squares (which are linked) to enjoy the tartans we’re looking at! Whoo hoo! Let the kilt making commence!

 

mmmm… beer coasters.

So our friend, RC, has given us quite a gift. He has graciously offered to cover the cost of getting our dream invitations, beer coasters. His mom works for a advertising firm, Cooper Creative. Karen, my super creative former ad agency project manager sweetie, is working with them. I am so excited with the first drafts, that I had to post and share! Coming to a mailbox near you soon!