Congrats!!!

How far of an "un" wedding do you want to do? We wound up doing a murder mystery dinner for our big reception party and it was a blast.

Since you mention the beach, my sister and her husband rented out a beach front cottage for a week and held their wedding and reception there. Wound up being about the same price as renting a hall for the day and they got a honeymoon to boot (kind of - they let me stay with them for all but the wedding night).

Hey lady!! That's terrific!! Does this mean you'll be selling your house, and renovating ANOTHER kitchen??? :-)

No new projects 'til we see the completely, 100% finished tile backsplash in a completely 100% finished kitchen! :)

Congratulations and best wishes!

Happy day! Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement. That's fabulous.

My DH proposed on our 7th 'dating' anniversary.
Even though I had chosen every part of my engagement ring, etc, he was still able to surprise me with the proposal.
Have you become "left-handed"? heheheee. I couldn't stop staring at my engagement ring for weeks. I still catch myself staring at it now.

Amanda

Well, a new future is quite a project. Congratulations, and wishing you many happy new kitchens, or whatever your hearts desire.

How exciting!

Congratulations!

Ohhh...a starlit beach. What a beautiful memory!

Congratulations and best wishes to both of you!! Keep us posted on your plans...

How exciting! Congratulations to you both!!!

Did he give you an engagement puppy or kitten (well, you are a vet!) or a traditional engagement ring--LOL!!!

Can't wait to read all the un-wedding details!

Congratulations! If you're capable of managing a kitchen remodel, planning a wedding should be a piece of cake.

Best wishes!

Thanks, everyone! I waited to post here till the family knew, but was excited to share with you all!!

pbrisjar- we're trying to come up with something that can be a big party for everyone, without breaking the bank. I could *afford* a moderate wedding, but it just does not make sense to me to feed the advertisers/marketers/etc who have convinced people that they need a big fancy wedding. I love the idea of a weekend on the beach!

bill- no, we WONT be moving! We already live together, and he knew that when I started the kitchen I'd be unwilling to leave it for AT LEAST several years.

bluekitobsessed- it is truly rediculous that I'm not done yet. I'm waiting on my poor father to finish the window trim and help me install the finishing touches. It is comical at this point, but as he put it, "well, do you want to fire me?" :)

huango, I *am* left handed, and it *is* very distracting! :) :) :)

cat mom, the last thing he'll give me is a puppy or kitten, LOL! I think he's anticipating (correctly) that pretty soon I'll want to adopt a dog again, and that he knows it just comes with the territory.

amck- the thought of how much easier this will be than the kitchen is the only (well, the major) reason I'm not eloping!!!!! :) :)

Oh I wish you the very best outcome for this project...hopefully it's not finished for at least 50 or 60 years :oP (Much like my kitchen...dang it)

For the wedding....KIS!!! The silly mags that say you need to spend 50 grand to have a wedding are awful. save that money for a backsplash :OP

If you want to fly to alaska...I can marry you (all alaskan's can officiate at a wedding twice with special licenses) :oP You could work on my kitchen as part of the honeymoon...or groom my cats...or both LOL

Congratulations! Go with your gut and KIS. If you want a smaller, less production type affair go for it. We were planning on going to Cape Cod for a long weekend w/ my brother and his girlfriend and eloping there. My godfather is a minister in the Boston area, but when the moms found out they flipped and went into overdrive and I ended up with a 12 course sit down meal with 250 people that I didn't even know. I've always wished I had the guts to have kept it simple.

You could get married on a cruise. Only the people who really want to share your joy will be there.(not your father's ex-co-worker-who-you've-never-met) And then it's kind of a honeymoon/mass vacation rolled into one.

sigh...we tried to keep it simple.
We had only 38 guests, but yet, being Chinese, we had 9 courses, 2 ceremonies, 2 dresses, and so on.
But I loved every minute of it.

Recommendation: hire at least a wedding coordinator for the wedding day. I didn't have to handle any questions about where to put the flowers, which vase, when does the DJ play this, who's the father-of-the-groom, etc. My coordinator/assistant did everything, including duct-taping my fake boobs onto me. (We can't have those things fall out when DH dips me at our 1st dance, do we? hehhehee).

It was like going to someone else's wedding, enjoying everything but with everyone doting on you/DH.

Amanda

Congratulations!

We tried to plan a wedding in Vegas (where we met) but even that stressed us out so much we ended up calling our folks and Grandmas and just getting married in a little gazebo on a lake. We intended to have a party afterward, but time slipped away and we never did. Honestly, far more people were upset that they missed a party than missing the ceremony. I have no regrets whatsoever about our wedding, I just wish we hadn't put the time, energy and money into planning a real one.

CONGRATULATIONS! He sounds like a definite keeper!! and, a romantic...starlit proposal and all! And, you already know you can survive remodeling before taking the plunge!

So happy for you!

Just plan a party. Whatever sort of party appeals to you.

Then, plan a ceremony at the beginning of it.

That's all a wedding is. Dancing, food, etc., are all optional, both in existence and style.

Igloochic, If I love another 50-60 years, that'll be a blessing in itself! :)

laxsupermom- luckily neither of our moms feel the need to get too involved. They'd happily help, but wont try to drive the bus. :)

Amanda- I have to chuckle, because the last two weddings I went to were of friends with a Chinese bride and non-Chinese groom, and all the compromises they made were quite endearing. Great weddings, though!

cocontom- a wedding on a lake sounds great. But it is true that people enjoy a part the most!

minimoo- this was one of his 4-5 romantic moves in 6 years. :) But he is a keeper anyway!!!!

Talley sue, that is pretty much exactly what we'll do. The ceremony will jump start a party with a buffet and dancing. The dancing will be a certainty, as most of my friends (and my fiance and me) are dancers. Cannot have a danceless party! We'll forgo cakes, DJ's, speeches, bouquets, but not dancing! :)

How romantic! Congrats!
Speaking of dancing at receptions, have you seen that new program on TV called "Rock the Reception"? Tuesday nights on TLC. I watched the first episode, it was pretty cute!

Wouldn't it be fun to have a GW'er on the show? hehe

"Rock the Reception follows engaged couples as they plan and carry out an elaborate first wedding dance. World-class choreographers will work with bride, groom and bridal party to create an outrageous first dance that will knock the socks off their wedding guests."

Anyhoo.... may you be blessed with many years of happiness.

boxiebabe, that is interesting. I may have to check it out. We're both latin/ballroom dancers, and I used to teach dancing part time. Wedding couples were my absolute FAVORITE to teach and choreograph.

Congratulations, Muscat!

I think you are very smart to realize that you can do whatever you feel comfortable with and NOT what the magazines are telling you!

I was just talking with someone about things that are "standard" today that were not back when we got married almost 30 years ago. The only reason that they are "standard" (can't think of a better word) is that someone makes money off of it. For instance, back in 1981 we would never have thought of having a limo. Or a unity candle, when did that start? Or having everyone in the bridal party getting a french manicure on hands and feet!

My neice whom I am very close with got married in a big ceremony last weekend. My daughter was in the bridal party with her boyfriend. I am very close to the parents of the bride and went through the experience knowing that my daughter might be next! I kind of hope that she doesn't have the big ceremony. My vote would be for a destination wedding. If you do a beach wedding I vote for casual....white flip flops or barefoot! Keep us updated, and enjoy this time in your life!

Thanks neesie! I told my boyfreind, er, fiance (hehehe) that we should include in the invitation that no other suits are allowed other than his, and he thought that was a great idea!

Congratulations!!

I'm a big fan of the Midwestern church wedding, as my mother calls it.

A wedding ceremony at the church, and then cake, punch, mints, nuts at the church fellowship hall.

How did I miss this thread! It doesn't pay to go on vacation when there is exciting news! Congrats! How wonderful! I am so happy for the both of you!

So, have you planned the wedding yet? I know a beautiful place outside of Santa Barbara with lots of animals, 100-200 year old oak trees, great food, etc. Very romantic!