The Story of Us

Back in the mid-1970's, if someone had told me that this adorable little boy would grow up to be the man I marry, I probably would have laughed. I mean, at 5, what did I know about boys? Well, I thought the boy across the street was adorable and I would have said he was the one I wanted to marry. Fate, maybe actually divine intervention had more to do with David and me falling in love and getting together. I certainly wish I remembered the cute, redheaded boy from Garcia Street  Club. Perhaps we were in different classes or maybe we did actually sit next to each other during a time or two, neither of us remember the other from our early days of childhood education. I do know that if my parents hadn't moved us across town to the "south" side of town, I would have seen David at St. Francis School the next year as they planned to send me there, until they learned there was an elementary school within walking distance of my house. It was until ninth grade at St. Michael's that our paths crossed again.

I certainly didn't look as cute as this in ninth grade. But I was growing up and elementary school flew by and I found myself at St. Mike's in seventh grade. I don't remember much about Junior High, other than I was an awkward preteen, who wasn't really all that boy crazy and cared more about who my friends were going to be when we made it to our high school years. Fortunately, my friendships didn't change much, but my outlook on boys did. I hung around with the smart kids, but I didn't think of myself as "smart". I got good grades, did my homework and enjoyed school, but I wasn't one of the cute, popular girls. I had a few crushes but no one really caught my eye and I didn't think I caught anyone's eye. I remember the redheaded boy with the big blue eyes though. He was nice and I remember speaking to him every now and then, but we were so different then.

Dress Me.

One of the first questions I'm asked is what kind of a dress am I going to wear? The answer is, well, I want this dress, but I can't afford the original. It came out four years ago anyway. Mom and I are thinking of trying to recreate it in  an A-line shape instead of a ball gown. We just need to figure out what to do about the embroidery. I also shouldn't say "we" as I'm a piss poor seamstress and my mother is the best. She could have been a designer like the greats. I think that's what she wanted to do with her life, but she went to nursing school, which she hated. Anyway... I'm hoping that we can find someone with an embroidery machine who can do the hard work on the dress. If we go with this dress.

Back in the old days, it was traditional for Spanish brides to wear black and I'd like to add a bit of that tradition to my wedding.

The more and more I look at this dress, I'm in love with it. I'm not sure if I can do the ruffled trim and bow in black and get a look that I like but maybe. It may look a bit too weird. I suppose Mom can try both and see what we like best. My mom can definitely make either dress, but she's been so stressed and tired with putting up with my dad, I actually feel guilty for asking her to make my dress. Of course, it has always been a given that she would make my dress, so now that it's here, I'm torn.

The other thing is there are no nice fabric stores in Santa Fe. I'm hoping a trip to Albuquerque next week produces nice results. If not, maybe I'll borrow someone's couch in NYC while I go fabric shopping. :)

I think they're both simple dresses, with some ornate details but nothing over the top. I've been offered by a dear friend to use the mantilla she made for her daughter, and I'm considering that. I'm not sure how I feel about a veil. It might be nice. We'll see.

We're going to book the hotel for the reception on Thursday. I'm meeting a florist tomorrow and we're meeting photographers Friday. I'll pick up my baptismal certificate and drop that off at the church and see when we need to start on our classes. It would be nice to be able to test out.  I'm investigating prices at nearby hotels for out of town guests. I'll get travel info together and other details for guests coming to the wedding who aren't familiar with Santa Fe. (Watch this space for that information.)

Dressing the groom will be a whole post onto itself.