Blur blur blur

I really should be better about writing if I'm going to keep this, right? I've got some excellent excuses as to why I haven't updated, though. No, really! Jon and I got married last month, and that in itself didn't take up more than a week, but preparation definitely kept us tied up since we set the date in January. We actually had a house picked out to rent for a week in Nags Head, North Carolina. Then Hurricane Sandy happened and destroyed it. Back to square one, and trying not to see that as an omen. Fortunately, we found another one pretty easily and we're not superstitious. Other than a couple of completely innocuous habits that I'm sure everyone has.

Then the planning started. I cast sand dollars in white bronze with the date on the back for the invitations and made jewelry to match the dress. Jon made a special set of hair sticks for me to wear. I even ordered cake samples from a local baker that were fabulous. Wait, wedding cakes cost how much? Totally understandable. It's specialized work. Also totally out of budget. In February, I started experimenting with cakes so I could make my own. I was baking every weekend up until the week we packed up the truck. I might go into that if anyone is interested in my Adventures in Baking and the Mysterious Oozing Black Fondant. The cake wasn't nearly as awesome as what it was sitting on, though. I'm not sure if there has ever been a two-foot model of the Millennium Falcon holding a wedding cake before, but Jon built one, complete with Han and Chewie in the cockpit. Male and female Commander Shepherds from Mass Effect were our cake-sitters, as they were a little too tall to be toppers. Oh, and those are chocolate Millennium Falcons down there, too.

Fortunately, we had a metric ton of willing helpers. We couldn't have pulled this thing off without my parents' help with the house rental. My mom also has the flower arranging skills of a master Ikebana practitioner, as we saw on the arch that Jon built. And how awesome is my maid of honor, Howard?

Jon's parents had the BBQ catered, and both our moms made the rest of the feast. It. Was. Fabulous. My friends, Jeff and Erin, worked as our photographers that day, and I can't begin to thank them enough. Photographers were another luxury we couldn't afford, although again, I totally understand why should get their rates.

If you were there, you have my love and gratitude always. I know it was a lot to ask for everybody to travel. If you couldn't make it, we wish you were there but understand. If you didn't get an invitation, it's not because we don't love you. We could only send out 20 because of our budget constraints. We wish you could have been there, too. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to spend with those we love, and finally make this match legal!