[ddot]

last year when there were whispers of throwing a party in honour of getting hitched meiying gave me a little stack of cards ‘ 52 tips for the bride-to-be’. these stack of cards sat on my bookshelf for a while and then became progressively lost under bills, receipts and what-nots.

last week when i had a fit of the cleaning monster, i rescued this stack of cards and sat in our study flipping through them. i remember when meiying gave them to me, perhaps at one of our lunch time picnics i thought that i had ages to go yet, and now as i sit in our hotel room in bathurst with the early morning fog rolling in on the eve of our wedding day, it is point blank not long to go at all. i’ve noticed it’s a repsonse which goes through variations when you’re asked when the ‘big day’ is.

10- 8 months: you have a long time yet…

7- 5 months: oh it’ll all come around fast!

5 - 3 months: it’ll be here before you know it!

3 - 1 month: not long at all! how exciting!

1 month - now: goodness! that came around quickly didn’t it?

everyone has something to say about a wedding, a little ditty, a story of how the bride made her entrance, how a photobooth idea went horribly wrong, how the brides good friend from highschool turned up in a white ball gown. and what i have found is that most people love a party and will give you all their might of well wishes and joy. that has been the most wonderfilled part of the last few months. when i least expected it, someone has been generous, kind and filled with happiness all because my boy and i want to get hitched.

and for me, words have failed me when i have wanted to leave a note here for posterity. when three weeks ago there was an afternoon tea and games, followed by an amazing meal and laughs. i wanted to write about finding a musician for our ceremony. how i bought one of those horrid wedding cds in a moment of desperation and then an hour later found an ex highschool buddy living and working in the country town where we are hosting our wedding. how my god father has arrived a few days ago to be at our wedding, and how my wedding dress has been hanging in our bedroom in it’s garment bag, hanging about like a fly on the wall as the boy pretends its not there and how i sneak a peak when he is not looking, just to see if it real.

and soon, like in a matter of an hour i’ll be packing our bags and moving into the farmhouse where we will have a party tomorrow.

i can’t wait.

tomorrow we start a few pre wedding celebrations with an afternoon tea with my mother, my grandmother, my aunts, cousins and friends. i am really looking forward to this as we are hosting it at a sweet little cafe and so it should be easy and relaxed.

i’ve organised a few thank you gifts for everyone. i think i’ve enjoyed all these preparations the most. ordering little things, having them wrapped, printing tags and wrapping in ribbon. of course.

i wish i could have a bunch of these in my home all the time. they are so pretty and delicate and remind me of the good things in life.

simple ribbon makes my day. it has to be grosgrain.