baby, baby

First comes love
Then comes marriage
Then comes the baby in the baby carriage

I took a break from the wedding circuit this weekend to attend back to back baby showers. Literally. Back to back. Just 2 hours apart.

So I learned that jungles are big for the 2010 tykes. Specifically monkeys. They were a feature on each baby’s registry. They had the whole jungle nursery thing going on. Cute.

I also learned a few new shower games. I don’t actually know baby shower games so maybe they’re not new at all but I suspected some originality that I am here to pass on to the world wide web.

Enjoy.

First, Make a Baby. Get your mind out of the gutter. This is a competitive game and grandmas were present. You take play-dough and make a baby. The Mama-to-be then judges the babies. Voila!

Baby Songs. Make a play list of songs that mention baby in them. Really this game could go on all day. Think about all of the baby songs you know. Anyway, make a short playlist. Have guests write down the name and artist of each song. The guest with the most correct guesses wins. And you’ve got yourself some background music for the party. Double voila!

I think you could easily transfer the Baby Song game to a Love Song game for a wedding shower. Make a playlist of songs mentioning love (which really are endless) and have guests record the song and artist throughout the shower.

Oh baby!

-The perennial bridesmaid

say it isn’t so

I started this blog as a fun way to track wedding related activities, stories and live countdowns. Along the way I’ve accumulated DIY projects, lists of vendors and wedding faux pas. I’ve danced around the idea of what comes after the wedding…although I am no expert (or amateur for that matter). What I didn’t expect was to write about the truly un-fun.

I delayed this post for days because it fits in the un-fun category.

I had to remove a count down from the right column with just 60 days to go. One of the 2010 couples didn’t make it to the finish line. There will be no 00 days left blinking on their countdown.

Although it is sad, it is probably better than the alternative. Do I dare say the D word? If one half of the couple isn’t ready to commit that is enough reason not to go through with it. ‘Nuff said.

-The perennial bridesmaid

the plunge

When getting married, it's known as "taking the plunge" because you're plunging into marriage with another person. 

One guy close to me took this idiom quite literally... 

After his wedding, him and his new wife honeymooned in Jamaica.  After approaching a 50 foot cliff over the White River, he decided to take the plunge and did a cannonball!  Well that wasn't adventurous enough, so he thought he was up for a massive belly flop from 50 feet above.  I know what you're thinking...

SMACK!  That's the sound his belly made when it slapped the water.  That wasn't the only impact that the belly flop made.  His brand new wedding band flew right in the river never to be seen again. 

Less than one week he had that ring.

Needless to say, his wife wanted to "ring" his neck.

Moral of the story:
Guys, lock your jewels in the safe when necessary (such as 50 foot belly flops). 
Don't do any extreme sports or work with them on.
Consider getting them insured. 
Do anything to avoid such an early loss!

-The perennial bridesmaid

wedding vs. marriage

It appears that some brides these days fall in love with the wedding, not the groom.  Yes, it’s a big party and a blast to plan.  The spotlight is on you for an average of a year during the engagement.  The wedding industry is enticing and it is easy to get swept off of your feet by it.  Leading up to the big day, people are constantly asking about colors, themes, dresses, food, registries, music, hair, the list goes on…but it’s only one day.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment not just that one day.

A friend of a friend of a friend (you don’t know them) recently had a lavish wedding complete with all of the bells and whistles.  It was a stunning celebration.  The couple was so in love...so it seemed.  Just 3 months after the nuptials took place, she left him.  Why?  Apparently she wasn’t in love with him.  Perhaps she was in love with the wedding.  Maybe marriage wasn’t as enticing as the wedding.  The party was over.

Once the party is over, it is on to the marriage.  The planning doesn’t stop.  What you’re planning just changes.

Remember when you were dating and people only asked about HIM?  Now they ask, “How is the WEDDING planning going?”  Don’t let the wedding take the place of your relationship.

Ask yourself.  Why are you getting married?

-The perennial bridesmaid