~Off Topic Thread~

[Jeraly 4]

Grr - why won't Debzy answer me!!! I can't find it in the TV guide!!! It *is* Thursday right?!

[*julez* 124]

I just spoke to Griff and he is about to board his plane to Buffalo!!!! Should take an hour or so!!! He didn't give any details about the POE but I am sure once he gets settled he'll report for himself or give me the details to convey! I am soooooooo excited! I can't believe this day is finally here!!!!!

[Krikit 1,164]

I just spoke to Griff and he is about to board his plane to Buffalo!!!! Should take an hour or so!!! He didn't give any details about the POE but I am sure once he gets settled he'll report for himself or give me the details to convey! I am soooooooo excited! I can't believe this day is finally here!!!!!

Awwww. That's so exciting for you! Congratulations!

[Jeraly 4]

Ohh Julez!!! You'll be together now!!!! YIPPEE!!!! Don't forget to put your certificate request in

[Jeraly 4]

Oh - and that programme is on on Tuesday at 10pm on... oh I can't remember the channel... Saw an advert for it on tv last night too

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

Oh - and that programme is on on Tuesday at 10pm on... oh I can't remember the channel... Saw an advert for it on tv last night too

Ohhhh I'll try to remember to watch that.

It's cold today, but I'm not seeing any signs of snow where I am - wish the weather forecast wouldn't tease me *sulks*

[Alex & Rachel 78]

We have...slush on the roads. I think it might be melting hail.

Good morning all!

[Jeraly 4]

Haha - here we have glorious sunshine!! It really is true that Brits like to talk about the weather

Yeah - that programme sounds really cool. I normally go to my friend's house on Tuesdays for good ol' d&d but I might be freaking too much and have too much to do so it would be a good excuse to watch it

On a slight other note - I would be really interested in meeting up with fellow roleplayers in my area when I move but I have no idea how to go about it - some 20-30-40 or so old nerdy geek types would be awesome but while I could try and meet these people online, people are spread out enough in the US without meeting a like-minded person in San Fran!!!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Also, my mother wrote to one of her oldest friends (a lady who I've seen about twice in my life, but who always sends our family cards and presents on our birthdays and at Christmas) telling her I was getting married - and the next thing she knows she has a letter back saying how excited this lady is and how she's already saving the money for the air fare!

I wasn't going to invite this lady (although I certainly have NO objection to her coming!) - I wasn't really going to invite anyone from the UK, as I didn't want people to have to fork out money for flights/accommodation, but it seems quite a few are really keen to come!

Anyway, my dad read the letter and realised that since people would genuinely like to attend, he's thinking of providing accommodation for everyone and my mother says that if some of my less well-off friends would like to attend, there's a possibility they could help subsidise people's travel fares.

So my half of the guest list has already tripled in recent days - but so long as people don't feel that they HAVE to come and aren't spending too much money I don't mind at all!

One thing's for certain - we won't be able to squeeze many people into Alex's parents' house, so I'm thinking we're going to hire a place after all. This wedding has gone from 'let's elope' to 'let's invite maybe 10 members of our close family' to 'I guess we're going to have a medium sized do'!

Now I'm going to be fretting over how to make it a really nice affair - we were going to cut lots of corners before but what would do for very close family isn't really going to do for friends and more distant relatives! Fortunately we've had a few offers of help. Apparently my mother's friend is a very good amateur florist and she's offered to do flowers for us as a wedding gift (which would be amazing, only she'd obviously have to arrive in the US a few days prior to the occasion).

I think I'd still have a few home-made chocolate cakes instead of a big traditional cake, though. Tastier and far less expensive! I was thinking maybe my little (10 year old) sister would have fun decorating them with me. Too tacky?

Of my immediate family, my dad and the 10 year old twins will definitely be coming. My other siblings may not be able to attend (two are at university, one's a very busy doctor, so it would entirely depend on the date) and my mother has inner-ear problems which mean she might not be able to fly (has to see a doctor). Unfortunately if she can't fly she may have to bow out, but her friend would videotape it and we might even attempt to have a live video feed for her.

Sorry for rambling...it feels good to write it all down, though! I'm sure my plans will change many, many times in the upcoming months but it helps to have something to occupy my time

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Haha - here we have glorious sunshine!! It really is true that Brits like to talk about the weather

Yeah - that programme sounds really cool. I normally go to my friend's house on Tuesdays for good ol' d&d but I might be freaking too much and have too much to do so it would be a good excuse to watch it

On a slight other note - I would be really interested in meeting up with fellow roleplayers in my area when I move but I have no idea how to go about it - some 20-30-40 or so old nerdy geek types would be awesome but while I could try and meet these people online, people are spread out enough in the US without meeting a like-minded person in San Fran!!!

I have no idea if this would work in the US - but would there be any university/college roleplaying clubs? I know that Sheffield University has a roleplaying society (because I used to attend) that is open to everyone, not just students. There were quite a few people there in their late 20s or early 30s.

And yes - we do love to talk about the weather! Does that make us dull? I hope not!

[Jeraly 4]

Haha - yeah I was thinking of going back to school just so I can find some geeks to hang out with

As for the wedding plans - wow!! Ours went the opposite way! We were going to have about 30 people, now we have almost halved it. It has made thigns a lot cheaper in terms of reception etc but still!!! We decided that we were only going to invite family (with a few exceptions for Jeremy because his family are lame) and we have now invited our wedding planner - she left the company but helped TONS with the initial planning stages

Sounds mad - how many people are you expecting now? I think the cupcake idea could be really cute - you can decorate with the colour your bridesmaids will be wearing - then even if some of them look a little... interesting... they will kinda match with the colour scheme

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Let's see...on my side, I can expect around 6-12 family members (unfortunately my grandparents/most of my aunts and uncles, although I am very close to them, won't be able to afford it/won't want to travel long distances), 2-6 of my parents' friends, and 2-4 of my own friends. So anywhere from 10-22 people my side.

On Alex's side...I'm reckoning between 10-30 people (if we invite one relative, we'd have to probably invite them all, and his mother's family is large!).

So...wow, that's between 20-52 people.

I'm not sure how many of the traditions we'll follow. Alex is really, really shy and I certainly don't like being the centre of attention (although I'm a lot better in social circles, so I wouldn't call myself all that shy) which is why we didn't originally want a big do. I think I'd find many of the wedding traditions a little embarrassing. For example, I'm trying to work out how we can possibly avoid my dad/others making speeches/giving toasts! (My dad gave a speech at my brother's 18th last year and I was cringing, it was short and not that bad, but I find things like that so acutely embarrassing!)

So I hadn't even thought about bridesmaids or outfits or anything like that! I wouldn't know how to choose. I know it'd have to be my little sister but would I choose between university friends or high school friends? What if my cousin for whose parents I was a bridesmaid (many years ago) attends?

I think I'm probably better off not having any attendants and avoiding colour schemes. I don't think I'd go for tuxes, either - just ask people to wear smartish suits/outfits.

Looking for something fun/casual but not too tacky, really. Good food is what I'd place as my priority, I think as long as people are well-fed then other little details can be overlooked! Hmm, and since I'd expect a few children to attend it'd probably be an afternoon party.

Thanks for asking questions and being interested - helps me feel better about rambling at you all

So...how many of your friends/family are making it over? I'm actually really looking forward to hearing all about it once you have your ceremony later this month (it is this month, right?!)

[Alex & Rachel 78]

P.S. It was snowing literally two minutes ago and now it's sunny. What the hell? Make up your mind, weather!

[Jeraly 4]

Haha - had to get the weather comment in!!

YES!!! THIS MONTH OMFG!!!!!! I am kinda freaking a bit but more about immigration than the actual wedding

In terms of numbers - I invited all my "immediate" family - aunts/uncles, cousins, grandparents, siblings and my two best friends I have known since I was 4/7. One of them isn't coming - big long story you mighg find somewhere in the depths of the July thread!! I am a bit annoyed with her because I think she was just making excuses but oh well. She was going to be my maid of honour. Now I have my other friend (who flies out tomorrow!!) as my maid of honour and Jeremy's sister as my bridesmaid.

My family that are going: Me (duh!), mum, dad and respective partners, two brothers and one of their gfs, mum's parents then obviously my friend and her bf.

Jeremy's family: Him (I hope!), mum, brother, sister, aunt (like I said - they were lame )

We are also having our wedding planner, Heather go as she left the company and we kinda were expecting more people!!!

As for your wedding - you can do whatever you want - it is your day! We are writing our own vows - it might be nice for you and your OH to write your own together to repeat after the minister so there is no pressure. You could even write your own ceremony wording - I have bunches of examples (don't think I deleted them) that I got from my wedding planner and we just adapted our own - our whole ceremony is going to last about 20 minutes

Speeches - we are having four because traditionally it is groom, father of the bride, best man but I would also like my mum's OH to make a speech Maybe you could have your dad and the best man just say a few words - explain you don't want much and for it to take too long and that your OH doesn't really want to say anything either

As for tradition - our wedding is just unique - it is traditional in a sense but we are adapting a lot of things to fit in with what we want which is what it is all about - it has been wonderful having a wedding planner because they helped out so much - it left us with very easy choices to make and now even our timeline for the day has been organised by them - all I am worried about is remembering my vows (I am printing them!) and reding them - that is it - I don't have to worry about when I am doing what or where I am going - it is all on a spreadsheet for me!! Yippee!!!

I can really really recommend a wedding planner - you can explain your situation to them and they might have a load of really good decisions Then when you give them the date of your weddnig they will make sure everything is in place in time - they can help you address your traditions/cake ideas etc - even if you want to make yoru own they might be able to help you with ideas or point you in the direction of pictures I never thought I would have a wedding planner but I am SO glad I have got one now - I wouldn't be without her! AND when we have our legal wedding in the summer we are having her do that one as well - they are THAT good!!

[j4k 0]

it is coming down freezing rain here...and i was planning on taking my I-129F to the post office first thing this morning i hear some sleet tapping on the windows now too...booooo weather! wondering if i should strap on my ice skates and triple axel over to my destiny... what would you do?