Since March 29 is the opening day of the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, Howard and I are going with cherry blossoms as our theme. Not overboard (I hope!), but a motif like that on the invitations, bridesmaids in pink, centerpieces with fake branches and blossoms floating in water with candles, scattered over the tables ... I think I can do a sort of stencil thing in fabric paint, over unbleached muslin stretched on wooded (el cheapo!) frames. That would be a fun and cheap wall decoration.

AND I get to have pink. Ha ha ha. Pink and white and cream and deep brown.

Howard wants the bridesmaids to wear kimonos, but they'd kill me. Except for Michelle, who'd love it.

Anyway.

Evidently David's Bridal is much less nice to you when you pick up a dress (in other words, when you've already spent the money.

And their alterations are outrageously priced, and ... I'm so mad I could spit right now. Two fittings. They "can't" do certain things -- in other words, they won't.

It's their cash cow, and I won't fucking let them do it to me. I can and will take my money elsewhere. Telling me that if I try it on, I have to take it home right then or give it to them for alterations!

And they don't give out their fee list to customers. Oh HELL no.

I thought my dress wouldn't be in for another two months, but it's here. Now I have to figure out what to do about it. Call mom and ask for her to come down and talk alterations? Start researching underpinnings that work, are size-specific, and don't look cheap?

I wish my sister were here.

200 days until my wedding, and I have:

- bought my dress and veil
- picked a church (don't need to reserve it)
- picked an officiant (like I'd want anyone other than Father Jim, anyway)
- picked a reception location, booking imminent
- booked an organist
- picked a honeymoon location

I have NOT:
- wrangled out the whole budget with my mother (but what is booked, I can pay for!)
- decided anything on wedding colors or bridesmaid dresses
- sent out save-the-dates
- gotten the OK from the bishop (since this is H's second marriage)
- made much headway on the weight I want to lose
- found a band
- booked a photographer
- found a caterer
- ordered invitations
- ordered a cake
- started any beauty treatments whatsoever

I didn't want my regular journal to become All. About. My. Wedding, so I started this one instead. PS: the main account is swampblossom, but you'll need to have an account and comment there so I can friend you.

The main wedding hurdle has become evident, 200-plus days out: my mother.

... what if I don't do this right and everyone laughs behind my back and no one likes me anymore?