Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Like I Said Before...

After being engaged for four months, I still am under the idea that wedding planning is really fun. Who says it has to be stressful? I haven't felt it yet.
I understand though that once May rolls around, I might worry a bit about the weather ;) But I am determined to remember this time of preparation as also a time of celebration. I mean, it's still five months away and we have the church, reception site (Mommy and Daddy's house), save the dates (need to be put in the mail), invitations ordered, flowers picked out, centerpieces (donated by Seth's Grammie), most of the attire, catering, dj (cousin, Dustin and my ipod), and cake. "I'm so freaking excited."

But, it's when I become consumed in the details and expectations of modern weddings that I try to refocus. Seth and I are trying to be careful that our wedding won't give a false or shallow representation of our marriage. While we listen to each other's ideas (i feel this is very important to point out since it really really really bothers me when a wedding is thought of as "the bride's day")we try to examine each facet of the wedding so that each part and detail will be meaningful.

To further explain, "Preparing for Christian Marriage" says: "Honest joy over the covenant of marriage will be festive but not manic." Which exemplifies exactly what we'd like the "big day" to be like--a huge celebration (get ready for games and glow sticks.) For, what we are trying to be is, "The wise couple [who] will view [our] wedding day, and the rituals that surround it, as the portal through which [we] will pass into [our] new world of married life together, a day that symbolically establishes the tone for the kind of life [we] hope to share." I love that "Preparing" even specifically says, "Eating good food and rejoicing in song and dance are important ways to express a community's joy....When Jesus offers his disciples an image of God's gracious community, he uses the image of a wedding banquet where all are welcome."

It is even said that, "We ought to bring out our best for our wedding receptions as a way to express the hospitality of Christian marriage." BUT (and here is the brilliant distinction), "We should take care not to fall into a "market-driven" definition of what is our best." This means, our best does not equal giving into the usual temptations to spend excessively, but that "our best comes from who we are together, and what we have to give."

With that said, I do want to share some ideas that I have for the reception that I just found today. I check The Bride's Cafe and Once Wed daily; not only are they creative, but the photography is always incredible (for those who don't know, photography is my major at CSU). Anyways, I love the idea of having chalkboards for the menu (easy, right?); and a clothesline of old family portraits is a special, simple, and lovely tribute to the ones who have showed us and continue to show us what love is.


Alright. I realize that this is long-- and maybe nonsensical, but I've cleaned kitchens and bathrooms all day and I'm not thinking well. excuses excuses.
Next time: my ideas on the obsession with entitlement.

Happy Tuesday evening!

5 comments:

  1. Brooke! Not at all. That all sounds very good and exciting. Joyous! The "best" distinction is huge probably because market-best means giving glory to wealth, appearance, and individuals. But your best, I know and trust, will be and is so much better! Already.

    -Lander

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is great Brooke! I think cleaning kitchens and bathrooms all day must be good for clearing out the cobwebs;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brooke! I love these ideas, both aesthetic and otherwise. I could only imagine your and Seth's wedding to be like this, one of such giving and rejoicing!

    -leah

    ReplyDelete
  4. hey, i think you are really smart.

    ReplyDelete