knot this bride

dave and i are less than two months away from officially tying the knot... and finalizing our wedding details has become our main focus. yes we've been busy completing guest lists, creating ipod playlists, making decorations and trying on our wedding wear - but it wasn't until this past week we actually put some thought into the ceremony itself.

neither dave or i have strong religious beliefs, traditional ones anyways, and already opted for a non-religious wedding ceremony on the beach. however, not being able to meet with our officiant until the week of, we really have no idea what to expect, what will be said or how personal it may be. 

i stumbled across an amazing idea where a bride had mentioned she had done a handfasting ceremony and how special it was for her. having no idea what this was, wikipedia quickly provided me with the answers i needed:

Handfasting is an ancient European ceremony of betrothal or wedding that dates back to pre-Medieval times and usually involves the tying or binding of the hands of the bride and groom with a cord or ribbon

turns out - this is where the term "tie the knot" comes from... for some reason - i was immediately drawn to this. it could be my irish roots (apparently this is a celtic tradition), or it could be my spiritual side speaking up saying - i want something different... 

so, i brought the idea to dave - and together we decided this is the perfect way of making our ceremony special to us. 

there are many different ways of doing a handfasting ceremony, but we've chosen to go with one that incorporates being bound together by coloured ribbons that will represent different blessing from our family. we look forward to having an intimate moment, even if it's only seconds, with each one of our family members while they bind us together and pass along their blessing:

• Red: passion, strength, lust, fertility
• Orange: encouragement, attraction, kindness, plenty
• Yellow: charm, confidence, joy, balance
• Green: finances, fertility, charity, prosperity, health
• Blue: tranquility, patience, devotion, sincerity
• Purple: power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality
• Black: strength, wisdom, vision, success
• White: purity, concentration, meditation, peace
• Gray: neutrality, cancelling, balance
• Pink: unity, honor, truth, romance, happiness
• Brown: earth, grounding, talent, telepathy, home
• Silver: treasure, values, creativity, inspiration
• Gold: energy, wealth, intelligence, longevity
• 
  
• we're still finalizing the details on how this will actually play out during the ceremony, but we are getting more and more excited by this idea as it comes together. we know this will be something special to everyone involved. 

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found!

a few nights ago, the most random unexpected thing happened. i was tracked down by a long lost love... MY HAIRDRESSER DONKA!!!

as mentioned in a previous post: http://daveanderinn.blogspot.ca/2012/08/almost-cut-my-hair.html, donka and i have been together since i was old enough to pay for my own haircuts... and i was oh so devastated when i suddenly couldn't find her. i felt a little silly feeling so sad about losing donka, and even sillier that i could feel so shocked she could just leave me without saying goodbye...

turns out, the feeling was mutual. how she tracked me down, i have no idea. but to my delight, she did. donka left me a personal message giving me her new salon and personal digits. yes, i realize she's just trying to get her clients back, but little did she know i was actually feeling quite lost without her. basically just ignoring my hair until i absolutely had to deal with it before the wedding, this phone call was like an early christmas gift. i no longer need to worry if my hair will be green due to a bad dye job or if my bangs look like i cut them myself. if anyone knows my hair, it's donka. and she's been harassing me about doing my wedding hair for years... if only i could bring her with us!

in addition to being tracked down by my long lost scissor wielding woman, i'm even more delighted she has changed salons. having worked at the same mall as donka for years, returning there always seemed like such a downer. and though i did appreciate my "mall" discount for many years after leaving there, i always said donka was way too good for a mall salon. especially that one.

and so, this hairy tale ends with me re-uniting with my one true hairdresser love. donka - i'll be seeing you again soon!

time keeps on slippin..

we are exactly two months away from the big day, and even less from when we actually leave for jamaica. having just paid the final instalment on our trips, it no longer feels like something we're planning in the future - we'll be packing our bathing suits and saying i do before we know it. though there was some basic correspondence over the past year, i've officially been contacted by the wedding coordinator at the RIU, and it's time to make the final decisions for our big day. like caesar or garden salad with dinner... i know. tough decisions indeed.

but in all seriousness, we do realize there are things that need to be done before we leave - rest assured mom, i got my passport!  however, hitting that 60 days away mark, brought on a wave of nerves... is our paperwork in order, where do we find a notary public, are the few decorations i'm bringing ready, when will we get our rings, how can i make a flower fascinator, what should i put in my dress pockets.... it's easy to spin out of control.

in order to avoid manic night before crafting and packing, the chronic checklist checking begins...

 planning and checklist checking aside, we are both filled with excitement, and can't wait for a week of friends and family, fun in the sun, and TO GET HITCHED!