Brock and I have been using expedia since 2002, I think. We’re basically pros.

My friend had used a webpage instead of save-the-date cards, and I thought that it made sense since it wasted less paper. Once Brock and I confirmed that we had the park, it took me less than twenty minutes to follow through all the directions and make the website. I sent it out by email right away, and then as time wore on I found myself adding more details online. This was usually at work, when I was getting bored, I would add a few more pictures of Brock and I, search the internet for some nice verses, and then added a song. I highly recommend using a website instead of mailing out save-the-date cards, because it saves time and resources.

Brock took care of this. I don’t know how he found or chose this company, but what I do remember is that they were amazing to work with. We had spoken with them three times before actually confirming what we would rent. They were also very good at discussing what we wanted from the tents and chairs and tables, so not to be disappointed the day of. Our tent was beautiful, but it’s true that you can add so much more to your tent to make it look enchanted. Maybe if I was younger I would have wanted the tiny lights and then the big streamers hanging down from the ceiling. We decided to stick with the simple tent and chairs, everything was set up on time, and it was perfect. We were only under there to eat, and even then, I liked being there.

My parent’s gift to me was having an actual photographer present at the event. They claimed that since they didn’t get to see the first wedding, they were sure to get the second one on film. Steve Rouch came highly recommended by friends of the family, after one of their own daughters got married. What I liked best about Steve is that right away he got the essence of what we wanted our wedding to be, and captured those moments on film. He didn’t try to make people do any fake poses, and was able to capture them in the moment. I also loved the photos he took of Brock and I. He told us that he would pose us for some pictures because those were the kinds of poses our parents would want to have (and he was right). But then he kind of let Brock and I be, and followed us around for a while. All my favorite pictures of us were the ones he took when we weren’t looking, and I thought it was great to have photographer that you didn’t even know was there.

I didn’t know that Brock was going to propose, but we had talked about the kind of ring I wanted. I was stuck between wanting a diamond engagement ring, yet not wanting a ‘blood diamond’. I also wanted something that was made locally, and that was one of a kind. I guess Brock did his research, because he surprised me with a beautiful wax ring! It was actually the mold of the ring he had designed with Robert, which was amazing. The ring curved into the folds of my skin. When I wear it, I can barely tell it’s there. When we went to the shop together, I also found out that Robert can get Canadian diamonds, which I thought might be better, or that we could use a precious stone of our own choosing. I ended up going with the Canadian diamond, just because it was what I always wanted, and we also had matching bands. The rings are really pieces of art, and I am so happy with my ring.

Brock and I spent a few weeks working on the guest list, confirming it with our parents, and then revising some more. We then went to have the invitations done, but we were kind of shocked at the price. We decided that we could do the invitations for half that price, if we took a whole weekend. We went to the Paper Depot, which has a great selection. We found blank invitations on really nice paper, with green envelopes, and then these stamps that we would use to mark the envelopes. It’s nice that you can mix and match in there. We bought more than we needed, about twenty, just in case we made a mistake or remembered a forgotten guest. We made eight mistakes, so it was good that we did get the extra. Brock worked at the computer, printing up the information, and then I cut the paper in half. We both glued and wrote names. We made the whole process easier by renting the Godfather series and then some other movies. It took three days, but they all made it to the post office and almost everyone we invited came, so it was worth it.

The morning of, my bridesmaids left their apartment, got coffee and picked up several bouquets of flowers from the farmer’s market. If you have been to the market, you would know how beautiful the flowers are. I think the flowers look even better because they are grown locally, which means we are seeing what is in season, rather than some mutation. It was great having the girls remember to pick up flowers. We picked out the flowers we wanted, and made our own unique looking bouquets. Brock’s mother used the other bouquets to decorate the tables with. It’s always nice to have fresh flowers, but I could have stood up there without flowers. Or maybe not. No, I guess I really loved having fresh flowers there.

Brock and I eloped in my hometown of Duluth a few months after he proposed in 2007. We sort of decided that this was something that we wanted to do, on Madeline Island. We knew, though, that we wouldn’t get away without having a party and a ceremony for all our family and friends. We reached the agreement that we would get ‘married’ in one of the parks near where Brock and I lived. After we agreed with our families about a park wedding reception, we knew we needed to get the ball rolling. We contacted the city right away, found when the park would be available, and then booked it for the entire day. We were hoping that we would be able to hold the reception at the park, which we were. The wedding ceremony took place on the gazebo, where Brock stood with his parents and best men, and I stood with my parents and bridesmaids. The same priest was there also, he was a family friend and didn’t mind the drive down. Friends and other family members, about a hundred and twenty in all, gathered round and listened as we exchanged vows again. We tried to speak loud enough for everyone to hear us, but if there had been more people, then maybe a microphone could have helped.

The park was a perfect location for the party, which we made into more of a cocktail party following the reception. We had ordered tables and chairs, and had a tent put up just in case it did rain. The thing about having a wedding party in a park is that everyone is so much more relaxed. It’s less formal, and I think people mingled more because there were less social constraints. It’s also a wonderful place for wedding photos, and Brock and I had some really beautiful pictures of us at the fountain, leaning against the gazebo, playing peek-a-boo with the trees. Brock and his friends started up a football game. It was a day where something good happened in nature, and we loved seeing everyone out enjoying the day with us.

3 stars for taste, 4 stars for being there! There was a big mix-up with the cake. Brock’s mother said that her sister was going to make the cake, and then when I met his aunt, she went into all these great details over what the cake would have. One week before the wedding day, when everyone is rushing around trying to glue ribbons on chairs and getting the seating arrangement finalized, I get a call from Brock’s mother. She says the aunt is very hurt that no one offered to pay for the ingredients and doesn’t feel up to making the cake. Gah! I don’t want to get into who is right/wrong, but this call could have come sooner! We didn’t have much left in funds, and we remembered reading somewhere that the bride had gotten her cake from Wal-Mart. We drove over to Wal-Mart, and sure enough, for $120 you can get a three-layer wedding cake, stand included and everything, with buttercream roses and other decorations. The only catch was that the cake flavor could only be vanilla and chocolate, and they don’t do vegan or sugar free. We only needed to order the cake two days ahead of schedule, and then we had to have someone pick it up. Brock’s friend took care of that the day of the wedding. The cake looked beautiful, and it tasted like normal wedding cake, and it cost less than something from a fancy bakery. His aunt, in the end, apologized for making a scene, and all was well.

I told my bridesmaids that they were on their own for their dresses, meaning that I would be happy with whatever style of dress they chose. I didn’t want my friends to wear something they would hate. I was also hoping that my friends, who are the more original and innovative people I know, would come up with something interesting. They didn’t fail me. I think Jessica was familiar with the store, and would visit it often in hopes of coming across the perfect find. She was able to find two cute pale yellow cocktail dresses that were in great condition. The dresses looked like they were from the forties, very narrow waist, and they were in this raw silk material that was really in excellent condition. I’m guessing that the dresses may have been part of someone’s uniform, or maybe these were bridesmaids’ dresses. The dresses needed minimal alterations, and they wore them with pale gold flats that they got from Sears. All three of us together looked like a wonderful classic vintage wedding party.