OK, makeup decisions to make, too.

I guess I should think about makeup choices, also, as I've got my first trial session on Friday (before our engagement shoot).

I guess one of these two pictures would be the inspiration -- a smoky eye, a nude lip, a sort of casual fabulousness.





Here's the closest I've been able to get doing this myself -- here's a smoky eye I did the Halloween I met Reg's friends for the first time, and one I did for Leslie's wedding... both came out well, but a) I think if I were capable of applying false eyelashes, it would have been better, and b) perhaps less sparkly? I always end up looking like a drag queen at the end of the night because it's all over my cheeks.




The above two were just lots (and LOTS) of black eye shadow, two kinds of black eyeliner, two kinds of black mascara, and a general foundation base (on my eyelids) and the beige that came with the black eyeshadow (it's YSL -- caviar and champagne duo). But I've sometimes experimented with color, to good effect, and that might be a happier, more innocent look for the wedding -- less seductive Catwoman type stuff.

Here's me on my belated bday last year -- it was a pinky shadow that I have since misplaced and, I think, black around the eyes.



This is a really recent picture, from what I wore the first night our parents met -- it's a lavender shadow with brown shadow/liner near the lashes. I kind of like the lavender, but wouldn't know whether to do black or brown with it? Oi. You'll notice I'm totally incapable of doing any more complicated shadow effects or contouring type stuff...



But then here's another Anne Hathaway pic with a much warmer look on her eye -- I don't do that look often myself; no idea how it would look. Maybe I'll try it sometime between now and the makeup trial (on, um, Friday).

Hair!

OK -- so next week my cousin and I are going to sit down and do the hair trial. I'm trying to figure out exactly which look I want -- I know they're all kind of similar, but it still matters...

I'm a bit worried because a) I almost never curl my hair (it's gotten much curlier as I've gotten older, but not in a consistent way -- it's very dependent on the weather) and b) when i do curl my hair it sometimes is a bit "big." I think I'm leaning for going for it loose -- nothing to give me a headache during the day -- but can't decide between center-part and side-part.

Option 1: Loose, wavy, parted down the center:


Option 2: Loose, wavy, parted on the side:



Option 3: Wavy hair, tied back with clips

Other updates

Lots of last minute details to take care of for the wedding, including a bunch of DIYs:
- the guest book
- thank-you cards (we'll either use the monogram or a photo collage or some combination thereof)
- the playlist for our reception (we're iPoding it)
- gift bags for out of towners

Lots of other non-DIYs like:
- nail down what hair and makeup will look like
- get dress fitted (first fitting in 3/29)
- get proper undergarments for dress
- pick out toasting flutes/serving set
- mail invites for showers
- an engagement shoot with our photographer
- research on Aruba (our honeymoon locale)
- making sure everyone has their tuxes (my dad, best man, and man of honor)
- set Reg's tux
- decide which shoes I'm wearing for the wedding and decide if I'm getting them dyed
- figure out schedule for transportation and how many shuttles we need

And, um, so on and so forth. So much to do!!! Eeeek. Here's one of the collages I created this morning using a program I downloaded from the Internet -- called "Shape Collage" -- maybe we can use the pictures we get from our engagement shoot in addition to or instead of this random collection...

Babies!

I had fun the other day playing with a program on the Internet -- MakeMeBabies.com. I put in four different pictures, and the site guessed at what our babies would look like. You'll be amazed to hear this, but: Reg and I will have a baby that looks like... a baby!

Ok, the one above looks like the baby wears a turban? Who is it, Gloria Swanson?



(And NO, no, we won't get to test that theory any time soon.)

Ring shots!

I will update soon, I promise -- lots of decisions are almost made -- but quickly -- I took some pictures of my ring and thought I'd post 'em. One of the primary bridal blogs I read, Weddingbee.com, was running advice on how to take pictures and also posting lots of reader-submitted shots... so... Unfortunately the picture is more focused on the feather than the ring (damn my complicated camera!) but you still get a good idea of the "steps" in the emerald cut.

Update: Wedding Bee posted one of my shots!! Click here...

Inspiration/Mood Board

So on a lot of wedding websites I've seen a lot of "mood" or "inspiration" board. I always wanted to make one but it was never really a priority until now, when we're meeting with florists and maybe picking out linens and stuff. Anyway, here's the mood board I made up... (you can click to enlarge it)...



I incorporated some stuff I'm using for inspiration -- a bouquet that I love, peacock blue/feathers (which are in the bouquet that I love, and may be a small part of the decor for the wedding), a New Yorker cover of a city... and then some stuff that is already part of the wedding, such as the chantilly lace from my dress, a picture of Manor House (where the ceremony & reception will take place), and our Save The Date, which I love (we designed it ourselves and printed it via Vista Print). Oh, and those are not my shoes (THOSE are apparently Manolos from the Sex in the City movie that cost $1100) but I like them, so I added them in -- they give the vibe I want. At the bottom is some more inspiration -- a photo of the Pleides, a star constellation; a painting by Magritte; and a painting Reg and I bought in Paris (it's of Notre Dame at night -- we kept walking home at like 3 in the morning past Notre Dame. Perhaps not the safest, but hey, we're still alive and have all our valuables, so life is good.)

I'm heading home to Cleveland this Friday night. Reg is coming home with me for Friday night, Saturday, and he has to leave on Sunday night. In that day and a half we were hoping to meet with officiants, caterers, photographers, and videographers. Instead we are meeting with 2 officiants, no caterers, no photographers, 1 videographer, and one cake tasting. Mom and I have 2 other caterer appointments in the days that follow... we also have appointments with 2 florists. After considering how many vacation days I'm going to use in 2009 for my honeymoon and stuff (we're thinking Bali at the moment) I realized there won't be a lot of time that I can take off after this, so I extended my stay in Cleveland to last through 12/30. (I had originally wanted to come back on 12/27 -- Reg and I missed each other too much during Thanskgiving!) But that'll hopefully let me at least get started on lighting, linens, florists, and possibly invitations (although that's a low priority since I could get them done from NYC). Gah, and registry.

LOTS and lots of things to do, but I'm enjoying all of it. Oh, and by the way, our "official" website is up and running -- please stop by and sign our guest book if you get a chance!

Ai yi yi!

We've spent the weekend addressing Save The Dates. We have to wait a bit to send them until we get the official wedding website set up -- can't have people getting all confused! -- but we're nearly there.

It's really funny -- as I think everyone who reads this blog knows, we is gonna have a SMALL wedding. Which I still have hesitations about -- but to me it was sort of like, ok, you either have a big wedding and invite everyone you know, OR you invite the core friends and family. Like, CORE core. I still toss and turn at night (and am actually thinking about writing to Miss Manners about it -- like, for people I haven't spoken to all year do I mention I'm engaged in my Christmas card to them? Do I not send a Christmas card? What do I do?) -- but it really hit home when we were addressing the Save The Dates. My pile of invitations is about 1/4 as big as my usual Christmas card pile.

Fact remains that a) we really were just a heartbeat away from eloping, so a small, intimate wedding is a nice compromise, and b) this is a rite -- it isn't a party. (I mean, it is, but it's a celebration the same way a graduation is a celebration.) I remember feeling offended that I wasn't invited to some people's weddings, but it was sort of in comparison -- like, how could X be invited but not me? But if and when the non-invitees ever see pictures of the wedding, they'll GET it. I dunno. I think ultimately we're happy with the wedding we're having.

And I can't wait to send out the Save The Dates -- Reg and I are quite fond of our design.

Also, for the website: I've been trying to do a specialized map of Cleveland with the various attractions and accommodations. Let's see how it looks in Blogger... The red marker on the far left is the airport. The cluster of blue and red markers is the hotel and various cultural institutions in Cleveland. The red marker to the far right is the farm where we'll be married.


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