Bunko

(via flickr user SewPixie)

Yesterday I played Bunko with the FMIL and 10 other ladies I'd never met. I was certainly skeptical of a luck-game where you throw three dice and count and have a partner and all that jazz, but it was actually a lot of fun. The women were all of approximately my mom's generation and they ooohed and ahhhed over me getting married and planning and me being from North Carolina. I know women get made fun of for their birdlike cooing but it is actually pretty pleasant and warm when directed toward you (or at least to me).

As far as how the game works... You sit at a table with 3 other people. You have a partner and you and your partner want to be the first to reach 21 in points. You have 6 rounds and in the first you're rolling ones. So you have 3 dice, and roll. If any of them is a one, each one is one point and you roll again. If all three are ones it's a Bunko because you are rolling ones. It's automatically 21 points. If you roll three of a kind of any of the other numbers it's 5 points. There's also a lucky number and if you get all three of it (ours was fives) you get to hold onto a box. If another player gets three of the lucky number they can take the box. The last one with the box wins a prize. Confused? You also switch partners every number and switch tables every 3 rounds. (this group has an optimal number of 12). I think it's probably a lot easier to start it if you have someone who has played and thus knows the rules.

In the end I won a prize for the most losses. We played for cash so everyone put $10 in. Maybe I'll force my friends into it some time. So be ready for it.

Yay!

So, I haven't posted in a while because things were hectic and I didn't want to jinx us. We wanted 8-8 and that was booked at Gideon's church. We wanted 10-10 and that was also booked. They said we could do the evening of the 8th (6pm) or the morning of the 10th (10:30) and the photographer I wanted (THE Amelia Strauss) was booked for the 8th and not the 10th. So I said, hey, why no the 10th? Then the church said the other girl getting married on the 10th said her flowers were coming that morning so we couldn't do it. I was tres upset. But, then light hit the end of the tunnel and I have a day, church, reception, and photographer. I am very happy and can continue planning so life is glorious. I promise I'll be adding some of my planning ideas soon. But, I will be an October 2009 bride and I can't wait to marry my love.

Bridezilla moment #1

Not really, just kidding. I called my fiance's church to try to book our date and it was taken. Which, to be honest, made me flip out and cry and be really ridiculous. Fio (who will let me refer to him as Gideon, so I will) calmed me down though and I am now assured that it will still be perfect no matter what. So, I let go of the date. Which has a bonus, the person I really want to be my photographer will be open all but one weekend in October so I can probably get her booked, if the church will call me back about dates open for them. And, in other news, I think I found my dress, for less than $4000 and if all is right with the world I will be back there tomorrow to try it on with FMIL and order it. Then in May I will be able to try the real thing on and hopefully will not have gained 50 lbs. I would post it if Gideon did not read my blog at all, but I can respond to personal inquiries and maybe I will get even better pictures tomorrow to show you. Lesson learned: be flexible and relax and things will be just fine. But you might still be over budget.

Dress shopping

A fair amount has happened since my last post. My fio [probably already coined but I've decided to refer to my fiance as the fio and myself as the fia] got a job and starts Monday. I am jobless with 2 maybe prospects and some possible internship possibilities photo-wise. As far as weddings go, I have tried on gowns at one shop, Ivory and White here in Mountain Brook, AL. As far as my experience, the owner and her assistant were very helpful in bringing me gowns that fit what I was looking for (Mermaid silhouette, probably strapless, probably some amount of lace) and they did have 2 I really loved. For someone with a little bit higher budget they would be perfect. The shop is really cute and the dressing rooms are lovely. They also let me take pictures, very important since I was there with my FMIL and my mom is many states away where I can't try on dresses in front of her. We talk a lot though, she seems to be getting excited.

From my first dress (and only to date) try on, this is the shape I want, but not the color and style.

Wedding Invitations - Erica and Dwayne

Wedding Invitations - Erica and Dwayne
Originally uploaded by UglyKitty

Navy and yellow gocco'd wedding invitations. It makes me want to try to gocco my own, but I'm not sure that I'm that brave.

Let the planning begin!

Depending on venue availability, I'm pretty sure we've set the date for August 8, 2009. In that case, I really have to get planning. I've yet to make an inspiration board, just envied them, so I might make my first today with everything I've been thinking about.