Thank you all for your kind thoughts! You guys know just what to say:)) and are so supportive. As far as looking calm and happy... Skip started crying in the middle of the night the week before the wedding, and he cried during the wedding while he was walking downt he aisle and reception when he had to do his speech and do the father/daughter dance. Actually the minister told Mary that it was sort of strange to see a guy who looked like he could be a pro wrestler barely able to make it down the aisle. Looks can be deceiving:) I sort of kept it together except for a small moment when she came down the aisle. I was actually sort of crying more at the rehearsal. Her husband (wierd to write that) is such a sweetie. He sent roses to the shop while she was getting her hair done with a lovely note that gave me goose bumps. He is just like one of my own kids, and they go together like two peas in a pod. I wish I had a close-up of her dress, it had sparkley scrolling around the bodice, more sparkley trim around the top and hem,and a beautiful brooch sort of thing at the top of the bustle. It was just such a fast paced day, that I couldn't get all the shots I wanted. She loves Gerbera daisies, and didn't want anything too fussy. The florist suggested that they go in contrasting colors so it would show up in the black and white photos. As far as the cake tree, there were 10 cakes, each with a different design. Some chocolate, some white, some marble. They tasted really good. The little favors on the table were cut out wedding cakes. His mom baked them, and we all went over to decorate them the week before the wedding. They were all different because so many people were doing them. We used plastic silverware we had little bells to jingle instead of tapping on glasses. They have a fence along the driveway, and I took the bows from church and put them on the fenceposts. Don't have a picture of it though. Thanks again! I am going to take the pictures down after today, because it kind of gives me the creeps to know that 600 people have looked at them.... Drema

Hi memo, thanks you too for your thoughts. The tub is a giant thorn in our side. When we were working on the kitchen, we had to open the ceiling and discovered that the tub was literally being held in place with sticks pretty much. Someone had done some plumbing repairs at some point, and had not thought to stabilize the tub properly underneath. The tub was in danger of coming through the ceiling to the kitchen, a la "The Money Pit". My contractor did sister everything up, but we wouldn't get into that tub at this point if you paid us. We're terrified the weight of the water might still cause it to crash through the ceiling. So, it needs to be removed, along with the floor in it's entirely so we can have a good look at the whole floor underneath to correct whatever is happening under there. I have already had 2 contractors that I trust completely (one, a good friend who was the one that worked on my kitchen) tell me that all the concrete in that room has most likely taken it's toll over the years and removing all of it would help enormously. Did I mention my home is built of terracotta block? We even found historic encaustic cement tile under the old vinyl tile in the kitchen, set in a cement bed! We tried to hard to get that rehabbed to no avail, it was too badly ruined and it was going to cost me something like $5000 to remove it and set a new subfloor so, it's still under the new tile that got laid. Anyway - off track. The tub, has already been painted over several times. I have no idea what color it was originally even. I have had my architect (again, a friend, someone I used to work for) also tell me if at all possible try and keep it. That, and the wall tile, but the problem with the wall tile, but the problem with the wall tile is we will have to take down the walls to reuse it anyway to be able to set them correctly. In any event, I have not been able to find anyone anywhere near me that does this kind of work. It does not seem most contractors in my general area know much about being able to reuse existing vintage materials. And then there is the electrical problems that really need to be addressed as the lighting is so awful and becoming more useless as time passes. What kills me about all of this, is when I bought the home it didn't quite look so bad. I swear, as soon as I moved in tiles started falling off the falls immediately! It may have had something to do with the construction going on right underneath, the kitchen is there, perhaps all the banging just loosened everything enough to be that "last straw". I don't know. But I really thought I was going to be able to just come in, fix a few things and get away with spending maybe $5-$8K at most, not to be faced with having to gut the room :( There is a part of me which realizes switching the room around will add cost, which you point out. I could live with the layout as is, if need be. I think the worst part of it for me is the radiator issue - we really do need more leg space there; and getting another sink into the room if possible or at the very least, a vanity with more counter space and better storage (BF is not exactly the easiest to share a sink with). Even if we get a new tub - and keep it in the same place, I do like your idea of the vintage looking stand alone faucet sets, and will look them up from that website as you suggest. Tucking the cat box in that area would work also, at least it would be out of the way and perhaps we could have something custom built, with a slide out tray or something, to hide it further. Thanks again - you gave me more to think about. I did get the names of 3 contractors this past weekend from the bathroom supplier I used to purchase my two new toilets from and some accessories, one of which did say they have worked on historic properties, so maybe I'll luck out?

In my area, the northwest, prices start at about $1,500 for 5 hours of coverage and go up to over $3,000 for all day coverage by a husband and wife team. For those prices you get an album. Most photographers today place the proofs on-line so that family and friends from all over the country can order directly without having to wait to see proofs. If you consider hiring a photographer that works in a studio with others, be sure that you see actual samples of the work of that photographer. The best shots will be on the walls, in sample albums, etc. but they may not have been taken by the person that you are considering hiring. In this area we don't pay extra for photographer's helpers. They are optional. I often fill in as a helper if needed. If a photographer chooses to bring a helper, they usually pay that person out of what you pay them.

Beautiful..........I love her dress........seems like these days a lot of brides are wearing strapless dresses that barely contain the tata's.........You DIL looks beautiful and so appropriate for a wedding.