Wedding Planning Update #1
Ok, first of all I want to say that for the past couple months I have been insanely busy both writing and trying to complete experiments for my upcoming Advancement to (PhD) Candidacy. The paper has been submitted (after one crazy week trying to get it polished and wanting to tell everyone about my engagement AND start wedding plans), but I’m still working on my presentation, which will be my very first meeting with my committee to make sure that my project is both sound and that the goals are achiavable for a PhD thesis. That presentation will be this coming Thursday, October 19th, and I will definately post an update about the results.
So, basically this “update” is to try to answer those first questions everyone might have. At the time, these are only preliminary decisions, based mostly on talks Kris and I have had during the past couple years, and NOT on any discussion from the past week. Once I pass my Advancement, then we’ll sit down and make those more detailed decisions.
1) It’s going to be in New Jersey. Yes, this IS definate. It will be hard to plan from here in CA, but that’s where most of my family is - and most of Kris’s is on the East Coast too.
2) It will be a Catholic ceremony, at St. Bart’s, in Scotch Plains. This is the church I “grew up” at. Kris and I also know that it is a big deal for our families to be a church wedding.
3) We would like it to be next year, hopefully in August. I know we’ve got less than a year to plan it for that time, and I have no idea whether or not the church or ANY reception sites still have openings, but we’re going to try to find out ASAP.
4) People IN the wedding party: My sister Laura is going to be my Maid of Honor, and my cousin Jerilyn is going to be a bridesmaid. I’m pretty sure Kris’s brothers are going to be his Best Man and groomsman. Beyond that, we have not discussed anything. I DO want a flower girl AND ring bearer if possible.
5) Color: I love purple, Kris’s favorite is blue - Periwinkle is the mix of both. 
6) I DO have an idea of the dress I’m going to buy, I’ll get a picture posted AFTER my advancement. Here’s a link to it for the time being: Christine’s Gown
Other things which may be important to some: (I stole the idea for this type of list from Sabrina, thanks, and sorry )
Gown - definately WHITE, and not this crappy “diamond white,” which is all the rage, but still “off-white” and NOT what I want.
Silver-y trim (if the gown, such as the one I want) comes with such an option
YES - One-layer veil
YES - Tiara
NO - gloves (I agree with Sabrina, good god, NO gloves!)
YES - Train: BUT short, no bustle, instead a hand-held “hook” so it doesn’t drag when walking, dancing, etc.
My friend Valerie is doing my makeup.
I’m definately leaving my cartilidge earring in (and so is Kris).
7) My parents will be paying for (most of?) it. Yay. 
I can’t think of anything else we’d talked about before now, and I’m sure everyone will have about a billion more questions, but hopefully this post will ward some of the preliminary ones off. If you have any questions, or better yet, suggestions for nice and not too expensive sites for receptions in the Union/Essex/Morris/Somerset/Middlesex County areas of NJ, let me know. (Also post if there’s places we should avoid!)
