Excerpt from an e-mail

From an e-mail conversation, Friday, Feb. 20. Question was, "what do you have planned for the weekend?" Answer:

Anyway, this weekend I will be addressing invitations. Holy COW. That’s simply all there is to say about the finality of ADDRESSING INVITATIONS TO YOUR WEDDING. I mean it is this thing that you’re planning and there’s this guest list and it’s all “happening” kind of hypothetically. And then you send invitations to a few hundred people and suddenly it’s this thing that makes you want to simultaneously burst into a hysterical crying fit and skip up and don hallways screaming “WAHOOOOOWOWOWOWOW we're having a wedding!”

I am literally laughing at myself right now. Who have I become?! HA!

Tux vests: a vote

I'm taking another informal poll today because I am earth's most indecisive person. With a Calvin Klein simple, black tux and green boutonniere should the groomsmen, ushers, and dads wear:

a) Midnight blue vest and tie; b) Kiwi or Capri mint (chartreuse green) vest and tie; or c) Spice red (coral-orange) vest and tie?

The bridesmaids will be in navy (call it "midnight blue") and carrying mostly orange in their bouquets, so navy's what I'm leaning toward. Is that odd or boring? If you have oodles of time and you're bored, you could assemble the tuxes at Jim's Formal Wear and see for yourself. Just looking for a little help from the loyal readers :). Happy Tuesday!

Simple joys

Wanted to share these hysterical photos of the Breaker-man. All of my fears of being a dog owner were unfounded...well except for the stinky, hairy part. (The amount of shedding that goes on is incredible! That the dog still has hair on his body is a wonder of nature!) Breaker has a funny, moody personality and a sweet, playful heart. We love him. Here are some photos from our recent series of snow days. I opened the back door to 12 inches of snow. He looked up at me and then sprinted off into the powder. Four laps around our two-acre yard later, I was doubled over in laughter and snapping photos. The dog loves to run -- especially in the snow! Enjoy!

This is my favorite one: he is running like a maniac through the yard. Note the ears flying wildly and imagine the slobber flapping from his fat lips in the wind.

Catering, linens, tables, oh my!

A week ago mom and I walked through Laurel Hall to decide where people would sit, where the buffet would go, etc. We decided on navy linens and ivory napkins and chair cushions. We picked out cocktail tables and head table locations, and where the bar and DJ might reside. As we walked from room to room, I kept saying "I LOVE this place" to myself (and out loud).

Our reception location was the one part of the wedding that I recognize myself as being swept away by the little-girl wedding fantasy. Laurel Hall was by far the most extravagant place that I dragged Patrick through last year. It's like a little secret fairytale castle hidden away from the rest of Indianapolis. You could drive by a thousand times and never know it was there. Parquet wood floors, limestone fireplaces, gorgeous chandelier, Italian marble floors, and a sweeping patio that overlooks a green lawn and woods ... and the grand wood staircase.

Our first instinct was that it was too much, too fancy. However, when I took the pen to paper to cross it off of our vendor list, I burst into tears. It was ridiculous. We talked about it, talked to our parents, thought a lot, and decided that May 2 will be a day that we will always remember and that no other place made us (me, in particular) feel the same way. It seemed materialistic at the time, and in this recession still feels a little extreme. A church gathering hall filled with the same excitement and love would feel the same, right?

But during the walk-through I had butterflies, almost tears, thinking of dressing with my sisters in the gorgeous estate room and seeing pictures in my mind's eye of me and Patrick dancing under the dim chandelier lights, of the people I love laughing and talking on the patio on a cool spring night. Friends, with all of you filling the space, it is going to be fantastic!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Patrick and I are celebrating tomorrow by purchasing our wedding bands. I'm so excited! It sounds lame, but it feels romantic. Maybe there will be photos to come?

Happy hearts day to all of my loved ones -- special Preuschl hugs coming to you. XOXO.

Last night's dream

The crazy wedding dreams have now migrated to honeymoon dreams. Intense. Last night's reverie:

We are checking into our cabana in the Bahamas. For some reason, we've decided to book our honeymoon with six other couples. I do not know who they were...definitely people I don't know in my real life. When I say "with" I mean that we are all staying in the same cabana, practically on top of one another doing everything together. (Note: I do not even like to share a bed with my sisters, let alone a hotel room with 6 couples...ick). And Patrick and I spend the whole honeymoon arguing or sad because all we want to do is just be together, alone.

I woke up sweating with a stomach ache. Hilarious.

Luckily I can put all of my fears to bed (no pun intended), we're booking the honeymoon this evening with the talented Barbara (or "Bah-bah-ruh," as Patrick calls her). She's done a great job researching for us and is a super travel agent in my opinion!

Historically speaking

Spent last weekend doing wedding-related tasks and stayed at my parents' house. With 82 days to go, it's starting to get exciting! I don't have much time to write today, so I'll fill you all in on the news from the weekend later this week.

I do want to share these two photos of my grandparents' weddings. So fun to see them as young people in love! Patrick and I are extremely lucky to have had many successful and lifelong marriages in our lives. I wish I had the adorable photo of his Granny's wedding to post as well, but it's not on this computer. We're planning to display them at the reception as a tribute to that example of enduring love. It will not always be a picnic, but we'll do it together and hopefully be an example for OUR grandchildren one day.


My dad's parents Jo and Hal Preuschl are cutting the cake above; below mom's parents Irv and Jeanne Andreoni in the car after their wedding!