The Party Continues...

If I thought my life in "wedding world" was dwindling down, my mailbox this week gave me a friendly reminder that there's plenty more partying to do! I'm thrilled - two of my dearest friends from college are getting married in 2011. Mr. Seashell and I will get to bookend the year with two fabulous weddings - one in January and one in December - both of which I'm going to share with you!

So, as I've mentioned no less than 87 times, I looooooove wedding invitations. My week started with a fantastic one! Wanna see?

I adore the simplicity of the letterpress juxtaposed with the shimmer of the pocketfold.

And here's a closer peek at the "Love" detail.

LOVE THEM! It's like Christmas in my mailbox.

Then, a few days later a package arrived on my doorstep. Being one with no patience, I eagerly ripped it open. Inside was a card and a bottle of wine. Sweet! A belated wedding gift? No. A lovely request from Bridesmaid Allie to be her MATRON OF HONOR!

Truly honored, I called and immediately accepted! Allie has been an absolutely exceptional friend to me, especially during the past year, and it means the world to me to be able to step up make her experience from now to the altar equally wonderful. I'm so excited!

Have you found yourself surrounded by weddings?

My Own Piece of Adulthood

When I was little, there were a few things I associated with being a grown-up. The usual, of course - driving a car, wearing high heels and perfume, and sleeping in a big, comfy bed. Likely a less common association with adulthood was having a beautiful, framed wedding invitation prominently displayed in a master bedroom. But, for me, the framed wedding invitation always was one of those important markers. As a kid, I remember seeing my parent's wedding invitation in their bedroom and thinking it was just magical. I'd carefully study the words, look closely at the names, the date, the time and the swirls of the letters. Something about it drew me in.

Then, when our invitations arrived in July I didn't immediately run to the framer. I got superstitious. I convinced myself that framing our invitation before the wedding would seal our fate that something would go awry. So, in a totally out of character move, I waited.

Upon our return from our honeymoon, however, I was at the framer first chance I got. Just a few days later I had my own piece of adulthood, ready to be hung in our master bedroom. Maybe someday one of our little ones will marvel at this piece of wedding history just as I did.

Did you frame your wedding invitation? Were you superstitious about it?

Gifting My Girls

{My Lovely Ladies:  Julia,  Allie,  Ashley,  Leah &  Carrie}

I can't start a post about my bridesmaids without sharing how exceptional each and every one of these girls has been to me. They were an easy choice for a bridal party from the start, but they truly stepped up when I needed them most over the past year. It only reinforced that I genuinely have some really, really wonderful best friends.

When Mr. Seashell and I got engaged, these were the first people I called (parents aside, of course). When Mr. Seashell's Mom was diagnosed with cancer, they were always checking in - not only on her, but on us. Bridesmaid Ashley is a resident at the hospital where Mr. Seashell's Mom was treated. She often went out of her way to personally say hi and offer kind words. When things took a serious turn for the worse, these girls immediately asked how they could help to plan an emergency wedding ceremony. And, when that quickly became unnecessary, they were there to console, and made eager offers to travel for funeral services after having just traveled for a bachelorette party and bridal shower. Their love and support has been unbelievable.

When it came time to give them gifts as a token of my thanks, I racked my brain. Never to be failed by Weddingbee, I drew some inspiration from Mrs. Cheeseburger. I loved the idea of a gift including a few different pieces! Next stop, Etsy.

Clutches were a definite from the start. I stumbled upon Davie and Chiyo and knew they'd be perfect. Since the girls were wearing different purple dresses, I opted to go for gold. I figured they would be versatile post-Seashell wedding in a golden color as well. I did include a bit of purple and had them lined in aubergine.

Next were necklaces. Also a definite part of the gift from the start. I wanted them to include a leaf element, so I searched Etsy again. I also hoped they could include some element of amethyst, an initial, and even a key (if possible). Realizing I was being ridiculously specific, I figured I'd only find some combination of these pieces. However, I found seller FreshyFig who I noticed used leaves and typewriter keys in her pieces. I sent her a message asking if she could include the elements I was envisioning, and literally an hour later she had put together a mock-up! She even snuck a tiny key in by the clasp. I placed an order right away, and they arrived in no time.

The last part of the gift came together when I checked the ten day forecast before the wedding. I had wanted to include a pashmina, but when it appeared it may be chilly and rainy, I sprung to action. I found pashminas at Nordstrom in a beautiful, rich, ivory color. Ironically, since checking that initial weather report the temperature only rose and rose, and the pashminas were totally unnecessary on our unseasonably warm fall wedding day, but I'm sure they will get use regardless.

And those were the Seashell Bridesmaids gifts! Here's a glimpse at the girls opening their presents:

What did you gift your girls? Did Etsy come to your rescue?

Is This Thing Even Legit?

Allegedly Mr. Seashell and I have been married for almost a month. "Woo hoo!!!" right? Sure, totally. I'm all about that. Except one tiny detail. We're yet to see anything in writing.

So, you know, aside from the whole wedding thing - with the vows and exchange of rings and the whole "woo hoo!!!" - we have no documented evidence of a legally binding marriage.

When we obtained our marriage license (pre-wedding) we also picked up the forms to receive copies of our marriage certificate. In the midst of the wedding craziness, I knew they'd easily get lost in the shuffle, so I tucked them into a prominent compartment of my travel bag. Two days after our wedding, while sitting at Logan airport, we filled out all necessary paperwork at 5am while waiting to depart for our honeymoon. Then we figured we could drop our marriage certificate request form in a mailbox off in between our connecting flights at the next airport. No go. There aren't any mailboxes in airports since 9/11. So the request form sat in my luggage for 10 days.

We returned to Chicago and I promptly put the paperwork in the mail. Each day after dropping the marriage certificate request in the mail, I eagerly checked to see if it arrived. To my surprise, we received a piece of mail from Providence City Hall quite promptly. However, it was a rejection letter.

{source}

Our request for copies of our marriage certificate was rejected due to a failure to provide photo identification. (Side note: this was not an indicated requirement on the form.) The letter arrived on a Friday, so we were set back another 3 days before I could call City Hall and inquire about suitable submissions of identification. Fortunately, photocopies of our drivers licenses would suffice so I was able to get that handled efficiently and get our forms back in the mail.

Where does that leave us? Well, that takes us to today. Approximately one month out from our wedding and still no documented evidence of actually being married. Mr. Seashell and I have a running joke about "...not 'till I see it in writing!" that's starting to get a little old.

When did you receive a marriage certificate? When am I allowed to get antsy?

There Was Joy

Our wedding was an absolute, amazing, constant outpouring of love and joy. I have never felt such an intensity of celebration in my life.


That whole "best day of my life thing"? It's about the joy. It's phenomenal.

{photos from a friend}

There was joy in the eyes of my new husband. Joy in the arms as our family and friends wrapped their arms around us over and over again. Joy in the laughter, and joy intertwined in the bittersweet moments. "Joy" was the title of the beautiful homily my uncle wrote and read at our ceremony, and also the name of the poem he read to us:

JOY by Carl Sandburg

Let a joy keep you.
Reach out your hands
And take it when it runs by,
As the Apache dancer
Clutches his woman.
I have seen them
Live long and laugh loud,
Sent on singing, singing,
Smashed to the heart
Under the ribs
With a terrible love.
Joy always,
Joy everywhere--
Let joy kill you!
Keep away from the little deaths.

 

{Our second kiss as husband and wife!}

Photo by Carmen Nauseef via iPhone

The joy we experienced on our wedding day is the kind of emotion I hope we experience over and over again throughout our marriage. It was the best.