G is for "Goin' to the Chapel. . . .

and we're gonna get ma-a-a-rried"

That's right, we're FINALLY engaged :) (When we talked to Jake's grandma she said 'What took him so long?') Officially, with the ring (as we've known for quite some time we were going to get married. . . eventually). Well, not quite the actual ring yet, just the diamond. I have to figure out how to get the setting I want that because it's not sold at any jewelry stores near us. We went out yesterday to look at some settings to see if I could find something similar, but no luck yet.

And I guess technically it won't be in a chapel, either :) We're probably going to head to Sonoma Valley and get married in a vineyard. No church wedding for me. It's not that I don't believe in God, I do, but I don't align myself with a particular religion anymore. Growing up Catholic and 13 years of Catholic school, I think, sometimes do that to a person. So, I really don't want to be a hypocrite and get married in the Chruch where I agree to raise my kids as Catholic and whatnot, when I honestly don't know what we'll do with kids! (Never mind the fact that we're in violation of the Catholic rules anyway by living together before we're married!)

Jake wants to get married on his parents anniversary (April 6), but that happens to be a Monday, so we might mix it up a little and have the party before the actual ceremony :)

I'm very, very happy. I couldn't really sleep last night, partially excitement, partially a little nerves. Nerves at the slightly overwhelming task of planning (thankfully we have a friend in San Francisco who will help!) and bigger nerves about talking to my Dad. Without going into the gory details, my parents are divorced and I don't really get along with my step mother and, needless to say, she and my mum do not get along either. Dad has told me in the past he will (at least partially) pay for the wedding, so when I call to tell him we're engaged I also plan to tell him that my step mother isn't invited to the wedding, in case he wants to change his mind about paying. I know that probably sounds horribly selfish, but it's going to be a very small wedding, and my step mother is not a nice person (she made a scene at my grandmothers funeral for goodness sake!) and I don't want the potential drama. I also don't want my own mum to be at all uncomfortable, since I'm her one and only child and I only plan on getting married once! I'm just anticipating a very uncomfortable conversation, but better now than 2 weeks before the wedding, right?!

So, if anyone has tips to share about long distance wedding planning, I'm all ears! I'm hoping it's as easy as my brain says it could be. . . . we just want something small and simple. I have a crazy notion of possibly knitting myself a wedding shawl, and knitting shawls for my attendant(s), too. I'm not sure if I'll have just one maid of honor or two. I have two very good friends, and I'm not sure I could choose (and I wasn't maid of honor in either of their weddings, so I can't use reciprocity to decide!) I think Jake may have a tough time deciding between his brother and one of his good friends, too (he was Best Man to both) so maybe we'll break that rule too and have two best men & maids of honor! :)

Alright, now I'm just rambling, so I'll stop and try not to turn the blog into an all consuming wedding center!

And, PS, just for those of you who may be unaware, when I say finally, I do mean FINALLY. . . Jake and I have been together since July 2001 :) Jake said he expected that I'd be the one doing the asking soon if he didn't get off his butt and do it! (After all, I did kiss him first!) Remind me sometime and I'll tell you the story of how we got together. It's all Megan's fault :) See, Meg, I told you the 'P' in FSIL could go away :)

PPS - It's really hard to take a good photo of a diamond, so I apologize to Jake if he's reading this that it doesn't look nearly as breathtaking as it is!