One week from today, I will (finally) unveil what's inside that bag: my custom designed, tailor made wedding dress.
I take photos .
I've taken photos of us. We're getting married 221 hours from now. No one has taken our photos. Until today. This afternoon, I will tote all four of my wardrobe options (no, I can't decide; yes, I will eventually) to go (FINALLY!) hang out with our photographer to take our engagement photos at, around, and in The Bullhole. (How wet will we get? Time will only tell.) (Also today: I will pick up the programs for the wedding. I designed them. John loves them. My mom cried when she saw them. No pressure: YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE 'EM!) I tried to find an online, factual, authoritative description of the little teeny tiny town that will soon be inundated by our favorite people from all over the WORLD. This is what I found: "Dugspur is a populated place located in Carroll County at latitude 36.818 and longitude -80.61. The elevation is 2,661 feet. Dugspur appears on the Dugspur U.S. Geological Survey Map. Carroll County is in the Eastern Time Zone."
And, from a factual standpoint, that's accurate. Yes, its the middle of nowhere. Yes, the drive to Walmart is a long drive through mountainous roads. Yes, the town itself consists of a post office and a gas station and a hair salon. Yes, the town is completely void of traffic lights. Yes, directions are given based on what family farm to turn at (aka "turn left at the Quesenberry homeplace") But that description lacks so much. You'll just have to come and find out for yourself. When we went to visit Bed Bath & Beyond in BC, the sales associate was quick to inform us that shipping would be free. My family has now told me that shipping actually *isn't* free. So sorry about the confusion. Too bad we're both in NC and can't go to battle with the BB&B store.
Oh wait. I'm GLAD we're both in NC! [UPDATE: By calling into the store to place the order, you shouldn't be charged shipping. Definitely question the associate (Vanessa at the Abbotsford store to finalize your order: 604 853 7654) about the shipping charge] After he ripped up the carpets, but before he started improvements... After many many hours of work, but before he took off the painters tape :-P
When you hang out with us n.e.x.t. w.e.e.k., see if you can find these three clues during the ceremony and reception. And, no, these photos do not show the finished product -- quite the contrary, in fact! But you can't think I'd reveal all my fun all at once, right?
Let's put it this way: I've never done so many crafts in my entire LIFE. (And that includes the season I'd enter the 4-H Fashion Show each year with a dress or outfit I'd sewn myself.) Its a good thing I have good friends to help me. I couldnt've done this alone. If you're traveling to our wedding from out of town, may I just say: WOW.
I've been blown away (seriously - rendered speechless!) by the number of people willing to travel inconceivable distances to be part of our wedding day. So far the list includes North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California...not to mention all you amazing people from British Columbia and [drumroll] Holland! [Random aside: at the wedding, try to figure out how many nationalities are represented by accents. I think it will be six.] All that being said, if you have not yet made accomodation arrangements, I recommend the Hampton Inn of Hillsville. Mention Pinkerton Wedding (or Confirmation Number #83272241) for a discounted rate and guaranteed availability. Reservations must be made before May 17 to be part of the group rate. Call: 1-276-728-2345. The Hillsville hotel is most convenient to the ceremony site. If you want to stay nearer to civilization or closer to your airport of choice, definitely email me if you need recommendations or have questions. Not too many years ago, a chance encounter in Uganda would have been only that: a chance encounter in Uganda. Thanks to technology, though, a chance encounter in Uganda has led to today: a day 28 days from our wedding day.We have a love-hate relationship with technology. One minute it works and we end up having a pleasant face-to-face conversation. The next minute it doesn't and we resort to instant messaging or (gasp!) telephone. Or (occasionally) smoke signals. After crediting God for our Uganda-Canada-America love story, and after giving credit to Kelly for coordinating John here to propose, but we might as well acknowledge that without Google's technology, we wouldn't be mere days from our wedding. It started with an email. On March 14, 2009. From one Gmail account to another. "Hey Jen. Are you back at the camp yet? There are a few elephant picture on facebook. Have fun on the rest of your trip." [Mind you. I had been hugely jealous of his elephant excursion. His email was all about gloating.] And then came GTalk and those nuggets of hilarity: John: Canada is spelled with a capital C thankyou very much me: to a canadian maybe canada is spelled with a capital C but I'm not canadian as you have so graciously pointed out. Eventually there were phone calls. And more emails. And Google Video chats. And visits. And more phone calls And more emails And a few letters along the way. Then came Google documents to plan the wedding And Google documents to organize the guest list And Google maps to plan a roadtrip And...well...Google changes everything. |