Planning a wedding

Apparently to plan a wedding you need at least a year and a lot of organisation...oh dear, what have I gotten myself into

	Announce Engagement
	Select Wedding Date
	Hire wedding consultant/coordinator
	Determine type of wedding: location, theme, # of guests, formality, time of day
	Determine budget & how expenses will be shared
	Buy a daytimer to keep track of appointments & events
	Develop a record keeping system for payments
	Create an approximate # guest list
	Decide if you will be inviting children or not
	Select and reserve ceremony site
	Select and book Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi
	Select and book reception location
	Select and order bridal gown
	Determine colour scheme
	If ceremony or reception is at a home, arrange for any home improvements
	Obtain, passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents need for travel and/or marriage licenses

	Select and book caterer, if needed
	Select and book photographer
	Select wedding party
	Give wedding party a list of their responsibilities
	Select and buy attire or bridesmaids & flower girl
	Select and buy attire for mothers of the bride and groom
	Select and book ceremony musicians
	Select and book live band or DJ for reception
	Select and book videography
	Select and book florist
	Register for your wedding gifts (this can be done sooner)

	Schedule fittings for custom made bridesmaids gowns
	Arrange marriage prep-courses, if necessary
	Reserve rental items
	Select and book decorator
	Finalize an A and B list of guests
	Select and order invitations and other wedding stationary
	Set date, time and location for rehearsal dinner
	Select and book honeymoon night suite
	Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
	Start planning your honeymoon
	Shop for your wedding gifts to each other
	Shop for your wedding gifts to your wedding party
	Shop for your wedding gifts to your parents
	Buy shoes, lingerie and accessories for the bride
	Buy shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids
	Select and order wedding bands

	Take formal engagement picture
	Select and order wedding cake
	Order party favours/bombonniere
	Select and order decorations
	Purchase honeymoon attire and luggage
	Select and book wedding day transportation
	Start addressing your invitations
	Plan activities for out-of-town guests (optional)
	Go on trials and book wedding day hair and makeup. Bring your headpiece and wear a white shirt
	Obtain marriage license (expires in 3 months)
	Send out your invitations
	Select ceremony readers
	Select ushers to seat your guests
	Select guest book attendant
	Select your MC
	Mail invitations to shower
	Get photography permit, if needed

	Maintain a record of RSVP's and early wedding gifts
	Maintain a record of shower gifts and send thank you's
	Purchase all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, etc.
	Select and reserve wedding attire for all gentlemen
	Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner
	Plan bridesmaid luncheon
	Select your something old, new, borrowed, blue

	Finalize all food and beverages for wedding
	Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant
	Finalize all rehearsal arrangements
	Finalize all floral arrangements
	Final fittings for yourself and bridesmaids
	Make a wedding day itinerary
	Give a copy of the itinerary to your wedding party and vendors
	Finalize all details with all your vendors
	Decide order of receiving line and head table setting
	Contact guest that haven't replied
	Pick up wedding rings
	Give photographer a photo checklist
	Visit reception site for floor plan
	Create reception seating plan
	Give musicians a list of your music selection
	Inform attendants when and where to pick up attire
	Determine VIP seating for ceremony seating
	Print out seating cards
	Pick up honeymoon tickets

	Give caterer/reception venue final tally of guests
	Pack of your honeymoon
	Wrap reception flavours/bombonniere
	Arrange mail collection while you are on honeymoon

	Drop all wedding accessories and decor off at ceremony and reception locations
	Make sure you bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner
	Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day
	Pack over night bag for honeymoon suite
	Make sure wedding party has their itinerary
	Make sure gentlemen have black socks
	Go to church for rehearsal
	Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location

	Most of the details will be on your wedding day itinerary
	Eat breakfast
	Pack anything remaining on your "To Bring" list in cars
	Make sure Maid of Honour has groom's ring and Best Man has bride's ring
	Make sure you have your marriage license, photo permit and Special Occasions Permit, if needed
	Put your engagement ring on your right hand
	Use your wedding day itinerary to get you through the day on some sort of trouble
	Remember to look around and soak in the views of the day you planned so long and hard for.

Mad World

Wouldn't it be nice?

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long...

My top 10 Disney

I have been really ill lately so I've had a lot of time to do work, and when I'm too exhausted from coughing my lungs out, too watch all my favourite Disney classics. So I've decided to finally make a list. It's not very definite as all of these films are equally amazing and all have great music in them but obv there are some that I will (and have) watched more than others. Mind you that I didn't get to see Pocahontas or The Hunchback of Notre Dame till this year and I've never seen Dumbo. So here goes:

1) The Lion King (Has always been and will always be my all time favourite. I love all the songs, the Hamlet based plot and Scar is the coolest Disney villain ever)

2) Beauty and the Beast (Belle is my favourite princess, mainly because she is so smart and caring and also because she wasn't born rich. Also this film has many amazing songs and it teaches kids not to judge people by their appearance or even by first impressions)

3) Bambi (Makes me cry every time I watch it. Great story and really sweet too)

4) The little Mermaid (Oh how I wanted to live under the sea when I was a kid. This story is so sad, giving up everything for real love is hard. I love Ariel, she fights for what she believes in, she even has the courage to stand up to her father. I also think that Eric is the most handsome Disney prince.)

5) Peter Pan (Also the first book that I couldn't put down. I used to leave my window open so that Pan could fly in and take me to Neverland. I also know the feeling of not wanting to grow up)

6) Mulan (So so funny and shows that girls can do whatever they want if they put their mind to it)

7) Robin Hood (The characters are just hilarious! The songs are brilliant and I love that the characters are animals)

8) Hercules (I used to be obsessed with this film, watched it over and over again. The songs are really amazing and I love Greek mythology)

9) The sword in the stone (May be a shocking for some but I used to watch this loads and I love the magic and Merlin is just so funny!!)

10) Lion King 2: Simba's pride (The only sequel I've ever liked. It's brilliant! I love the songs and the lessons and the villain is still great!)

The saga ends

Guess what I'm looking forward to

I am the Passenger

Totally about me today! Just Came back to England a week earlier...mouwahahahahahahaha...Scared a certain mr. X ;)

Some general observations about Paris

- Observed no fancy ppl in fashionable clothes of the latest season
- The city is only fancy in the centre, otherwise it looks like any other big city
- We decided that we don't like modern art
- Everything is SO expensive
- No one follows the traffic rules...and now neither do we (it's literally cross whenever you have a split second to do so)
- Stairs are following us everywhere
- Dan Brown is an incompetent stuck up idiot who has never been to the Louvre or any other place he's written about
- Mona Lisa is not a small painting...however, you won't get closer than 5 m
- Two hours in Louvre is enough for a lifetime as it tricks you to be more cultivated by luring you with fake EXIT signs that only lead you to more expositions
- Climbing the Eiffel tower is an amazing thing to do especially since you can see everywhere you've been earlier that day
- Parks are awesome and very relaxing
- It is possible to walk Paris in 2 days
- The food totally makes up for not understanding a word
- No matter what time of the day you take the metro, it's always extremely busy
- The Picasso museum is closed till 2012
- Disneyland is a dream come true for anyone who likes fairytales
- Not everyone knows French...someone should tell the Frenchmen about this fact

Wish you were here

Kind of sums up what I'm feeling right now.

Some general observations about Luxembourg

- They speak French
- The scenery is defined by varied ground levels and steep hills. Expect lots of exercise while walking in this place
- Green country
- All information is in French and German. People generally don't speak English and keep explaining things in French even though you have tried telling them that you don't understand them
- Yummy bread :D
- Finding a toilet in the train station is a mission
- Much more quiet and nice outside the city
- Pretty Castles (best one in Vianden)
- Trains are on time....buses are not
- Relatively cheap place
- A tour of the city can be performed by getting on the bus - city circle line (costs about 3 euros)

That's why I love him

Some general observations about Brugge

Brugge is a small place in Belgium :)

- Best place ever for chocolate lovers
- Small, but cozy streets that are welcoming and filled with architecture
- Many relaxing parks that are perfect for a lunch break
- Welcoming people
- A city for people who like exploring by foot -> perfect for a 2 day stay
- Very romantic atmosphere
- Horse carriages that are adorable, but will sadly not take you outside the city centre
- Interesting churches and museums

Some general observations

As you very well know, this summer I went on InterRail with my best friend Ingrid. During this month we visited 13 European countries, stayed at 19 different hostels, saw 17 cities, went to about a 1000 museums and never stayed anywhere for more than 5 days. I kept a diary all through this immense journey and now I want to share some of my experiences with you. I am, of course, not planning to re-write my whole diary on my blog (I mean, come on...I need to preserve at least a bit of privacy), however I will summarise the days in "some general observations" for each country. So here goes the first one:

Some general observations about Amsterdam:

- The city has a very distinctive smell. A kind of interesting blend of weed and piss.
- The alleys are filled with some dodgy shops
- It's an island
- People live in houses built on the river
- There are far more bicycles than cars, hence you are more likely to get hit by a biker
- You are expected to know the art of walking through walls as various signs point directly into one
- No real concept of winning and loosing (we were there the day after Holland lost in the World Cup and there were a 1000 fans all in orange celebrating the team's homecoming)
- Getting lost between the channels is a piece of cake as everywhere looks the same
- Awesome parks

The end of an era

Yesterday I found out that my favourite band is suffering an immense loss. Their drummer and co-founder Mike Portnoy (the world's most awesome drummer!!) is leaving the group after a dispute. For those who have ever experienced this - you will understand my pain and shock. Never again will the tunes by that band sound the same, any drum solo will always lack that little something added by the genius that is Portnoy, and every dark song will have to do without his deep voice in the background setting the setting for a horrible story in the lyrics. After 25 years, Dream Theater are no longer. I am going into mourning....

MIKE PORTNOY QUITS DREAM THEATER (info provided by TotalRock Newsletter and Dream Theater's official site)
Drummer Mike Portnoy has sensationally left Dream Theater. However, the band intend to carry on without the founder-member. This is what Portnoy has said: "After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater... the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century. "To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so... "After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail!, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater. "Please don't misinterpret me, I love the Dream Theater guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them... it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break. "Dream Theater was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985... 24/7, 365... never taking time off from Dream Theater's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was 'off' between cycles)... working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band. "But I've come to the conclusion that the Dream Theater machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my Dream Theater spirit hungry and inspired. "We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a 'hiatus' to recharge our batteries and 'save me from ourselves'... "Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather... I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be... "While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes. "Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of Dream Theater and I talked about 'always following your heart and being true to yourself'... Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater...and I would simply be 'going through the motions,' and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed. "I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come... I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played.... "I'm sorry to all the disappointed Dream Theater fans around the world... I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work... I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)... but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within. "You Dream Theater fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me.... (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)" The band have also issued a statement: "To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with profound sadness — regret — we announce that Mike Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has decided to leave Dream Theater. "Mike's stature in the band has meant the world to all of us professionally, musically, and personally over the years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major force within this band. "While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other ventures and challenges, we can assure you that Dream Theater will continue to move forward with the same intensity — and in the same musical tradition — that you have all helped make so successful, and which is truly gratifying to us. "Fans and friends: File this episode under Black Clouds And Silver Linings. "As planned, we begin recording our newest album in January 2011, and we'll follow that with a full-on world tour. "All of us in Dream Theater wholeheartedly wish Mike the best on his musical journey. We have had a long and meaningful career together. It is our true hope that he finds all he is looking for, and that he achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be missed."

Be jealous!

I have just looked at my timetable for the next academic year and it is AWESOME! Since I chose lots of autumn based modules I will have 4 days off in the spring time to do whatever I want :D This gives me a great chance to finish my dissertation and maybe even get a job or an intern-ship as well as doing some volunteering! It also means that I'll get lots of time to spend with my amazing Mr. X! Yaaay!

InterRail

12.07.10

DRAMMEN – AMSTERDAM

Quote of the day: ”Vi tok flytogbussen som tok oss rett til flytoget som tok oss like til flyplassen.”

Started stressing as soon as I woke up. Did a million and one things including posting some keys and buying food. After that we took a bus to the train that took us to the airport. Managed to concour the evil check – in machines but were for some reason directed to the “heavy luggage” tilt (a piece of information we only received after having stood for ages in line for the normal bag drop). Grr. Arg. The rest of the flight went well even though they tried confusing us several times by changing the gate and changing straight from “go to gate” to “gate closing – last call” in a matte of min.

Well in Amsterdam the city welcomed us with a whiff of weed and piss, that and the sight of about a dozen bicycles. We had some help from nice people to find the train and even though Ben tried to confuse us with his “knowledge” of the city we managed to find our way there fairly quickly. As we came out of the train station some “damsels in distress” a.k.a. two guys from Norway who needed to borrow a phone because they’d managed to successfully loose their friend (great start to a holiday, right?!) and theirs had no battery. So we got to play the AWSOME knights in shining armor (armed with a whistle that is), borrowing them my phone and saving the day. Was skeptical to the idea at first seen as we’d just been thinking of the film Taken, but they seemed alright so we gave in.

Followed the route to our hostel trying not to get lost between the million bridges and channels that make up Amsterdam city centre until we finally reached our hostel. The staff at “Jordaan” was really nice and we went to bed straight away (or at least straight after I changed my tiny pillow for someone else’s big one).

Words that give me comfort

Yesterday God was with you, today - you are under his care. Don't worry about tomorrow, he is already there :)

How GREAT is our God!

He is amazing, folks! I just have to tell you that he really provides, it's the dead honest truth. I am filled with so much love for him. He's the best. He is so personal and so full of grace and forgiveness. And the best thing is that he really cares, for each and every one who believes in him. Learn to trust God and you will never regret giving things to him!

I am a total control freak, and I always want to do things my way, but recently God has shown me again and again that after I have done my part all I should do is trust in Him to do his. That has NOT been easy for me, especially during exam times. However, he has pulled me through and all I can do now is thank him for the incredible work he has done in me and praise him for his glory.

Exams

Sorry guys, exam time. 7 exams...4 in one week...2 left now

Introducing Mr. X

It suddenly dawned on me that I have yet to introduce someone quite important to me. And since it's such a nice day for it, I decided that in stead of finishing my lab report I want to tell you about Mr. X:

The Mysterious Mr. X

First of all, the pseudonym "X" was introduced in the earlier stages of our acquaintance and has stuck with the gentleman to this day. He is my greatest comforter and supporter. He makes my days brighter and my life happier. He reads, plays the drums like a pro and listens to tons of good music. Nearly every day he tells me a random fact about the world. He likes history and wants to travel. He knows two languages and is 2 years older than me. Most importantly - he is a passionate believer who constantly encourages and helps me on my walk with God. To me, he is perfect :)

All I can say