Is There a Fire Fighter in the House?

I'm all about safety and not burning buildings to the ground, but - honestly - sometimes you can get carried away with precautions.

Jon and I decided we wanted a unity candle ceremony. It's pretty and symbolic - and yes, there's a tiny flame involved.

Apparently, strictly speaking, The City of Boston does not allow "open flames" (oh my god! a lit candle!) in any buildings without a fireman on guard or complicated, hard-to-find-self-extinguishing-wear-little-hats-candles.

Give me a break. Last time I checked, most churches use candles. Are they exempt due to a God clause or something?

HOWEVER, all is not lost.

Jon and I considered replacing the unity candle ceremony with an interpretive dance accompanied by Enya, but Rich-the-event-guy says we can get away with it.

Hey, I'm willing to light it and then blow it out. I don't care. I decide when the symbolism begins and ends after all. This is not an eternal flame (The Bangles, anyone?)

Hooray for reason and good sense. And for Rich-the-event-guy. He's awesome.

The Count Down Rolls On ....

There were two delinquent groomsmen I had to harass on Tuesday for not ordering their tuxes. I didn't like having to send them threatening emails (I believe the phrase "plague of locusts" was used in one case), but things are getting serious, people.

I've scheduled hair appointments for 6 (one bride - ahem, me - and 5 maids) and convinced Dear Mother to do likewise (well, just 1 for her, that is). Mom also finally decided on her outfit - and she looks smashing, I must say.

This Saturday I'm doing the trial run of hair and makeup. What do I do for the rest of the day after being made to look so pretty?

Next Wednesday Jon and I meet with Rich-the-event-guy to finalize the plans for the ceremony and reception.

Speaking of the ceremony ....

I've decided that I will walk down the aisle to Handel's "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" and Jon and I will walk back down the aisle to the fourth movement from Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

It's all so exciting! We can't wait ....

Busy

I'm not sure when I last posted. I've been too busy working on the wedding to write about it!

ONE MONTH AND 14 DAYS! EEEK!

Last night Jon and I picked out two readings, and we each choose someone to read. I won't spoil the surprise by saying what readings we have chosen, but I will say that one is by Shakespeare (and, no, it's not the sonnet you're thinking of) and one is by ee cummings (and yes, it's one of the readable ones).

As to ee cummings, I will say that it's not:

• "she being brand"
• "kitty"
• "next to of course god america"
• "nOw"
• "l(a"

Although, I love all of those (go look them up yourself if you're interested. Lazy people!)

Also, we did not choose "Walking Through the Woods on a Snowy Evening," a Robert Frost poem proudly on display at the function center called Promises to Keep which is up in New Hampshire, and where I Jon and I attended a wedding last year. The phrase "promises to keep" appears in the aforementioned poem, but that same poem - which I love, by the way - is one of the most depressing poems ever. The gist of which I feel is "my life sucks; but nature is peaceful; if only I could just lay down and die right here in quiet and solitude; but I've got too many things pulling me on; I have no choice but to trudge on, exhausted."

But this is about weddings, not literary criticism.

And I'm at work, not home, thus I shouldn't be writing this at all!

(P.S. I scheduled a meeting with Frank-the-DJ to discuss what to play and what not to play. Music requests gladly accepted, although I will not promise to honor them!)