Today

Our dreamlike wedding took place a year ago today. Happy Anniversary Love.

Another red balloon

Despite our weak health condition, Saturday was a beautiful day. M's uncle and aunt took us to the Deister for a 15km walk in the forest, stopping here and there at the different towers and cabins converted into little cafés. We could not have been luckier with the weather: blue sky and ideal Fall temperatures. In the evening, they invited us to have dinner at their house, and were quite surprised to hear that their balloon was the fifth and last one we had gotten back. We were actually quite happy to have gotten five red balloons back at all, as we truly did not expect so many people to participate and send it back to us. Besides, as we said jokingly, since theirs was found in the south of France, we did not expect Northern Africa to play the game!

But to our very big surprise and joy, we got another card yesterday in the post. The sixth red balloon was found, this time near Geneva, approximately 150km away from where our wedding took place. Our present this time is a dinner with the friends of M's parents.

So, bets are now open: considering approximately 70-75 balloons were released, was this the last balloon we'll get back, or do you think we'll receive others back and how many?

Bad luck

The weather has been horrible these past weeks here up North. They had announced good summery days for a few days and they were right. Today the sun is shining and it's above 20 degrees. Just my luck, I cannot enjoy it as I have come down with a pretty nasty cold. The first of the year, and to think it's only early September... Pour couronner le tout, the long planned surprise day with M's uncle and aunt, wedding present to us because their red balloon was found 500 km away from its release point, is to happen tomorrow. Hiking, biking, and activities in swimming suit are on the program, and I truly don't know how I'm going to survive with my continuous sneezing and dizzy stuffed head!

Daydreaming

I am still daydreaming. About our perfect wedding. About our fabulous honeymoon in paradise...

Wedding report

Everything happened as planned. And what was not planned by us, such as surprises from friends, was absolutely adorable. We certainly had a blast, M and I, and so far everyone's feedback has been extremely positive. We also feel spoiled by all the presents and love our guests have shown to us. All in all a lovely fun harmonious international wedding. Except for a misfortunate incident at the end of the evening, and my grandmother now being upset at me (I did not take care of her according to her) we could not be happier. We cannot wait to see the pictures!

We actually created a website where all pics, stories and comments can be posted by our guests right here.

Hello nerves!

They have hit me at last. The pre-wedding nerves. People have been asking me for months now, whether I was nervous for the big day, and did not understand my lack thereof. I can reassure all these people today. I am fucking nervous! With all the little and big details still to solve, with the supposed and planned relaxing next week, which has turned into one of the most stressful weeks in the history of V's life, all this stress has indeed awaken the pre-wedding nerves.

I have said goodbye to a good night sleep and hello to the lack of appetite this week, which should theoretically make me a typical shiningly beautiful bride in 7 days. Thanks to the make-up classes that taught me how to look fresh despite the exhaustion, and the kilos I am loosing effortlessly that is. My only worry at this point being, how is a bride so... bride? Which and how many pills are recommended for me to get that placid happy angelic look on my face on the big day???

Perfection

It is imho extremely hard to achieve perfection. Do-able, but oh so hard. With the help of my girlfriends, I have however achieved the perfect bachelorette party weekend. Correction. I have not achieved anything, they have, as they were the ones organising everything, thinking of every little detail, location, guest, etc. The only thing I did was to show up when and where I was told. No merit in that. The special thanks actually go to Beanie and Nat, the event managers of this perfect bachelorette party.

The weekend was really the perfect combination of hard core party and relaxed quality moments with all my favourite girls in the world. Well, some were actually missing, but the majority did make it, and I enjoyed every single second with them. And I enjoyed oh so very much to see them all getting along so well together. I had no doubt it would happen. They are all smart cool good-looking girls with many points in common. But it was great to see it and live it.

I therefore have a big challenge on my plate now. Strike that. Two challenges. 1. Trying to pay them back by organising a wonderful wedding, where they will all have a blast. 2. Trying to repeat this kind of girly weekend more often, such as for example once a year. For although I am completely exhausted from so much action, I feel more energised than ever!

Long due

I have been pondering about writing a new post for days now. I know it's long due. I should have written about my trip to the south of Germany. I should have told you how I very much liked Nürnberg and the bavarian countryside; how Munich was a bit of a disappointment, maybe because we only spent there a few hours, but also because I had high expectations.

The truth is I have been procrastinating about what to write next. The endless and frustrating decision making of our honeymoon? My neverending and disencouraging job search? The wedding organization? Nothing sounds appealing. Haven't I already written about all that a gazillion times?

No. Today, instead of writing a long due post, I am heading to the gym and will start at last the long due getting-in-shape-to-look-beautiful-for-my-wedding process.

L'Art de la Beauté

Last week was all about solving our welcome get-together for our guests on the eve of our wedding day. All is now set, location, catering, and all other details.

This week is about finding a solution for my make-up for the big day. I obviously need to look my best, and therefore need to find someone who will make me look naturally beautiful. I considered the obvious solution of doing it with the hairdresser in the village itself. However, I stumbled on an article and found out that Shu Uemura has opened a Beauty School in Paris, l'Art de la Beauté, to teach us women how to do our make-up for our wedding day, adapted to our face shape, eye/skin/hair color, and of course wedding dress and party. This concept already exists in Japan apparently. I'd learn how to do my make-up (something I wanted to do forever), I'd spend a weekend in Paris with my mother (who immediately agreed to meet me there), I'd do the course with Nat, I'd be away from Hannover just when M has his bachelor party (did I mention the boys are going to Amsterdam?), and of course I'd solve the make-up issue for the wedding. Wow. Don't think it work out any better actually.

Just married

It's official, we are now legally married. Friday was a beautiful sunny day, and we celebrated our civil wedding surrounded by all our close family, all except Yaya of course, who had to stay in Switzerland in the hospital. But my mother was there, which made me extremely happy. Everything went according to plan and we all had a wonderful time, smiling and laughing the entire day and well into the night. And to think it was only a warm-up and we will top that in May!

Civil wedding

In two days we will celebrate our civil wedding in Hannover's altes Rathaus. Because it is was only a formality for us, I was very surprised to see that my mother, father, and grandmother immediately decided to come to Hannover for the occasion, and spend the weekend all together. M’s parents consider November 24th as our real wedding day and have therefore organized the entire dinner celebration with both of our families. What was supposed to be a simple formality turned into a family event, we soon both looked forward to.

Everything is ready for the big day. Or at least everything was, as my grandmother will now most probably be unable to come, being sick in bed since last Thursday. Yaya can’t eat, can’t sleep, is therefore weak, and has pains in her stomach. The ultrasound showed nothing today, and so the next step is a blood test. My mother is extremely worried and will decide tomorrow, if she herself can come or if she needs to stay in Switzerland with her. I simply cannot imagine both my grandmother and my mother not being here on Friday. I honestly don’t know how I’ll be able to truly enjoy it without them there.

Stepmother problems

Organising this whole wedding thing has been tough. There are so many decisions that we had to take (where, when, with whom, etc.) and still so many others that we will have to take (menu, flowers, cake, music, seating, etc.), I sometimes feel overwhelmed. Although today I am not overwhelmed, but rather upset and frustrated. My stepmother has apparently been verbally inviting her brothers and sisters to our wedding, obviously without consulting us. And without knowing that we have a maximum seating capacity of 80, who have all already been invited. As we had to set her straight in a very diplomatic and nice way, it was extremely upsetting to read her vexed emails today. It must not be easy being a stepmother. That must be why she feels so sidelined, as she says. She's bothered because she was not consulted about our guest list. Nobody was. And my own father and mother are not bothered by it. A clear sign of lack of confidence on my stepmother's part I would say.

The whole nine yards

I never thought I'd do the wedding thing. I mean, I only changed my mind about getting married a few years ago, being highly against it previously. M. wanted a wedding and I started seeing it in a new light: the occasion to organise a BIG party where all the people I love will be together for an entire day. It sounded pretty good after all. Which does not mean I don't have a few problems with that day still. I just cannot see myself walking down the aisle of the f****ing church for example. (The only reason we're doing the whole church ceremony btw is because of my grandma's request.) I've never liked being the center of attention and so part of me really dreads this moment. As well as others of course, which I believe will be numerous on that day.

Then again, I also never thought I'd have a bachelorette party. But guess what, my friends are organising one for me. A solution has been found to gather all my girls spread around the world. It will be a weekend bachelorette party to be exact. In Madrid. And although the opportunity to be partying with all my girlfriends sounds wonderful, I must admit I also have some fears. I truly hope it won't be too crazy. As I said, I hate being the center of attention, and would therefore hate to have to perform some kind of bachelorette-typical dare(s)!

My life in bullet points

Did I mention that:

-the very simple self-designed invitations are printed and going out this week?

-I had a very good job interview last Friday and that I will most probably start working before the end of the year?

-I am leaving to Paris in 2 days to spend a girls' long weekend with Beanie and Nat?

-life is simply great? =)

Giant steps

We have the date: May 5th 2007.
We have the location.
We have the budget.
Moving on to the next steps with a BIG smile on my face! =)

On the road

I leave to Switzerland today. Of course I will spend quality time with my mother, grandmother, and childhood friends; but the actual purpose of my trip is driving around Switzerland, visiting hotels and restaurants all over the country in order to find THE place for our wedding party. Wish me luck!

currently

Currently busy with ... not in order of importance ;-)

1. applying to any interesting job offer I see
2. finding a wedding dress
3. looking for wedding rings
4. organising a girls' weekend in Paris next month
5. organising my trip to Switzerland on the 19th with visits to all possible wedding locations
6. getting prices for the invitations from the various printers
7. helping M with the honeymoon destination (although it is technically his job and it will ultimately be a surprise for me, hints can't hurt can they?)
8. biting my nails and pulling my hair several times a day out of despair

Who said not having a full-time job was tedious?????

Yes

"I think now is the perfect time to ask you. Will you marry me?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am."
"In that case you know my answer. Yes. Of course I want to marry you."

This conversation happened seven weeks ago. We have since then decided that we will get married next spring in Switzerland, and have spent our three-week-holiday drinking champagne and announcing the big news to our family. They are all thrilled. As for me, I am starting to feel a bit stressed/overwhelmed. I actually need to organise this whole event. But first things first, I need to find the special place we have in mind for this big party!