Music, Music, Music!

I've been thinking about music for the wedding. I am definitely looking at classical for the ceremony. But which pieces should we go for? One thing we AREN'T going to use is Wagner's "Bridal Chorus". Not only is it considered inappropriate in by both Catholics and Jews (though for different reasons. Catholics do not like the piece because not only because it is secular (from an opera) and has pagan roots, but because the marriage of two of the characters, Elsa and Lohengrin is doomed from the start. Jews do not play the "Bridal Chorus" because of Wagner's supposed anti-semetic beliefs. In any case, the "Bridal Chorus" kind of overdone and a little cheesy in my opinion.

Currently, my two favourites for the procession are Mouret's Rondeau (aka theme from Masterpiece Theatre) and Purcell Trumpet Tune. What do you think works best?



(Mouret's Rondeau)



Purcell's Trumpet Tune

The Photographer Hunt Continues!

I can't believe that it takes so much work to find a photographer! We've interviewed three so far, yet we still aren't even close to coming to a decision. It's really hard! It isn't just about the price of the photographer, but what the packages offer. These days, it means that the photographer SHOULD offer a lo-res CD or DVD in their most basic package for clients to email/post on social networking sites like Facebook (most I've come across do).

It isn't just about the package. The photos have to be really, really good. In fact, they have to be absolutely PERFECT in your eyes - this, along with your video, should you have one, will record the most important day of your life. If you want something more editorial or artistic, don't find someone whose portfolio is made up of boring, pos-y pictures. You also want a photographer who "fits well" at your venue. If you're getting married at a country club or say, the Four Seasons, you don't want a photographer who is covered with piercings and/or tattoos. 1980s heavy metal band shirts and ski hats are also inappropriate. The photographer should look professional. Concert Ts and ski hats are NOT. Nor are shorts - my fiance's sister married last year, and the photographer showed up looking like he was working on his yard rather than taking pictures at a wedding.

Anyway, I hope we're going to be able to decide on a photographer soon. The wedding is only 13 months away!

Venue Stuff and Next Steps...

...so it looks like we're going to be doing the ceremony and the reception/dinner at the same place after all. We will be officially booking next week after we meet with his parents and get their official ok. The next step is to book a photographer. We've found a few places which we liked, and have booked a couple of appointments. We're most likely going to meet with three to five people and make our decision from there.

Venue Issues...

Places here book up really, really quickly! I'm looking for alternative ceremony spaces (we have pretty much decided on where we're going to have the dinner, but we aren't 100% on ) and many spots are gone. Other spots won't allow you to have a ceremony only (they have a food minimum). Because we are interfaith, we are very limited in where we can book for a ceremony unless we do it in City Hall. We would prefer a place which has a good indoor alternative - hey, what if it rains, right? We can't predict the weather a year in advance!

Photographers....so expensive!!!

Boy, they're expensive! I've checked out a bunch of places online, and they tend to range in the high 1000s to mid-2000s. Some of my friends had photographers which were pricier - up to $6K or more! I'm not sure if we really need to spend that much....do we? Are all those extras (parents' albums, fancy-schmancy albums for the couple, themes, etc...) really worth it? If you've been married, did the photographer/studio try to get you to upgrade your package?

We haven't begun our official search yet. Right now, we're just compiling information. If you know of any good photographers who don't charge an arm and a leg in the Toronto area, feel free to let us know.

NOTE: In some cultures, couples go into studios for a portrait sitting, often decked in full wedding gear. The issue with this is that the bride isn't wearing her "real" dress most of the time, since these sittings can occur a month prior to the actual ceremony. In additon, there's the extra price for make-up and hair. Is there a point to that? Doesn't that drive up the cost of photography?

More Culture Clashes

My parents have told me that if some people are invited, we have to invite their whole family, adult children included. The adult children don't get their own invite not because we're trying to save trees, but because it's what you're "supposed to do" in Chinese culture (these people aren't considered full adults until they're officially out of the house (i.e. married...an exception MIGHT be made if said "kidult" moved to the other side of the country/continent/other part of the world because they're so far away). To send a second invite to adult children means that you're expecting another gift. They don't even think that we need to put the kidults' names on the invitation (I am ok with sending one invite per household, of course, but I am NOT ok with not including names of the kids, whether they're of age or NOT, unless I don't know the kids' names. It's as if the kids aren't "real people" if their names weren't included.) I think my parents really should have stuck with the "green" thing because they SHOULD know that I won't necessarily"get" it. Not all first generation Canadian-born kids are going to fully understand ALL old country customs. I think immigrant parents sometimes forget that. Actually, a lot of people forget that, including the media. There are some that we like, of course, but there are also ones that we don't.

Am I turning into a bridezilla already?