Weddings = a political pain in the ass.

With all the buzz about weddings, I've come to realize that there is a huge element of politics just in choosing your bridal party. So, I've decided to see just what my own wedding party would look like. 

So, if I had to decide on my bridal party right this moment, it would be as follows:

Maid of Honour- Lola

Bridesmaid #1- Petra

Bridesmaid #2- Femke

Jr. Bridesmaid #1- Sister M

Jr. Bridesmaid #2- Sister O

Ringbearer would CLEARLY be my BabyBoy

The first three are really my best friends. I've already been told, not asked that I'll be MOH for Femke, and, although she's only been dating her new boy for 6 months, I've already met the best man..

Now that I think about it, I can understand why so many people have so many bridesmaids! There's still Hannah, my friend since birth, Steph my best girl from Edmonton, my sister Shannon, Melissa, and thats just the start! All would be horribly disappointed if I didn't have them in my wedding. 

But then, there are just as much politics in who to INVITE to the wedding. Where do you draw the line?! Do you include everyone on your facebook list? Do you keep it to close friends and family? If so, what about those close friends that you just suck at keeping in touch with?!

See?! As if there weren't enough worries with the wedding itself, and the marriage itself, you have to add all this other stress. 

I've come up with the best 2 choices, as far as I can see. 

1) A beach wedding. Anyone who wants to come, feel free! Dance and DJ, BBQ to follow. :) HOW FUN?! Minimal stress, still beautiful. 

2) Destination Wedding. Your favourite ppls and you in the Carribean, celebrating your big day?! I'm so down! 

As for the wedding party.. well.. I'm not getting married.. so I can only pity those who are.. ha!!

<3> Mhea

Tales from the Maid of Honour.. Part 1

My entire weekend consisted of weddings. Not the weddings themselves, but books, websites, stores etc. Now, before everyone goes :O what?! you?! really?! no. I'm not getting married. Thank God. I'm a maid of honour this summer, and have at least 5 other friends getting married as well in July. Not cool. Apparently I'm in that age group where the cool thing to do is all get engaged at the same time.. fun. 

But I digress. So. The bride-to-be has no clue what she wants, and told me it's all up to me so some friends and I go to the bridal store to get some ideas for bridesmaid dresses. I am SO not a dress kind of girl so imagine my distress when I realize I have to decide between strapless straight, strapless sweetheart, halter, spaghetti strap, etc. And then length! Cocktail? Tea? Long? or how about the cut? an overlay? crinolin? (or however you spell the damn thing) what material? heavier? lighter? full skirt? holy crap. 

I used my friends as models, throwing multiple dresses at them to try on, while I took pics .. :D  I think I know what I want now, which is awesome. But I came to a few realizations/ guidelines when buying a bridesmaid's dress...

1) The day is all about the bride. DON'T pick some over the top frilly, attention grabbing dress that's going to take the focus off her. I am going for something simple, sleek, and will compliment her dress. 

2) DONT go with any colour thats too light. We were looking at pictures of weddings, and in some cases, you can't tell where the bride's dress ends, and the bridesmaids dresses begin. I think a stark difference is required. Again, it's all about the bride. 

Bah. I have another 6 months of this stuff just for this wedding, and every time I turn around, someone else is getting engaged. Yikes. Be expecting a lot of ranting about weddings and preparations in the coming months. Sorry.. but at least I'm giving you advanced warning! :D 

A Formal Affair...

I spent the better part of today driving kids around, calling churches about potential wedding sites for my friend Mel's wedding, and looking at bridesmaids dresses (I'm M.O.H. yikes.) What do you do when half the wedding party is a size minus 0, and the rest is umm.. a bit more.. curvy?? 

One bridesmaid wants a dress which is essentially the length of a long shirt, and goes down enough to show more than a little cleavage. Another wants floor length halter. And the bride wants us all to have the same dress.. For flips sake! And, to get rid of the hassle, she's placed the whole decision solely on.... yours truly. loverly. How do you appease 5 different girls, with different tastes, body types, skin tones, and ideas of the perfect dress?? Stay tuned for catfight to ensue. 

And the shopping went about as well as the calling around. After speaking to secretary after secretary, and priest after priest, I decided they should elope. That would solve all the problems! My dad always said that since weddings are so expensive, he will place the ladder outside our windows for us! I always wondered why he wouldn't just let us go out the front door?! Less chance of spinal injury. 

Then comes DJs, caterers, Bartenders and Liquor licenses, wedding favours, guest lists, invitations, bridal showers, and the list goes on!

Bah. What a hassle. All I can say is that I hope this is one of the best times of her life. If it is, then I guess it'll all be worth it.