tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84623645772564873242024-03-14T12:44:42.848-04:00Wedding Planning Is Killing MeA wedding blog about survival.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-49975062232483704412010-07-15T10:30:00.001-04:002010-07-15T13:28:55.906-04:00I'm over here nowOur daughter Sadie was born February 5, 2010. My new baby blog is <a href="http://www.212baby.com">212 Baby</a>. Please come visit.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-83794844215594930442009-09-24T15:19:00.002-04:002009-09-24T15:24:12.199-04:00Something newI'm going to be starting a new blog, a spin-off of this one. I'll keep you all posted.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-58018102545617344952009-05-26T12:15:00.006-04:002009-05-27T10:58:50.214-04:00View from Parrot CayWhen thinking about our honeymoon, IC and I figured that by the time our wedding was over, we will have been on Turks&Caicos for 7 days. This led us to conclude that we should only honeymoon for 2 nights since, <span style="font-style:italic;">what</span>, we'd be sick of being in paradise by then? I don't know but looking back our calculations seem...misguided. I remember leading the charge of "let's only stay on for 2 extra nights" and in retrospect I am just baffled at my reasoning. We got there on Thursday, the wedding was on Monday, our day-after shoot was on Tuesday and we left for our honeymoon on Wednesday. In what universe did it make sense to come home on Friday? (Don't cry for us, Argentina, we've already taken a second honeymoon-esque type trip to LA and are planning to be in Israel this summer. Still, who leaves <span style="font-style:italic;">before</span> the weekend begins!?).<br /><br />Sidenote mostly for Trip Advisor folks visiting my page: We made a great little discovery with booking this honeymoon. None of the major travel sites, including Parrot Cay's own site, would let us book for less than 3 nights. But the site <a href="http://www.tablethotels.com/">Tablet Hotels</a> let us book for the two nights<span style="font-style:italic;"> and</span> had the cheapest rate <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> upgraded our room because we joined their <a href="http://www.tablethotels.com/plus">Tablet Plus</a> service (it was $195 for the year and a Parrot Cay next-level-up room was $200+ more per night, a no-brainer).<br /><br />Anyway, the honeymoon recap:<br /><br />The day we left for our honeymoon was the first cloudy, cold, drizzly day of our entire trip. The weather for the entire wedding weekend was just glorious, perfect, so we were ok with having the first not-great day be after all the guests left. The Parrot Cay bus picked us up from the Gansevoort and took us to their private dock. They gave us warm towels and beverages while we waited for the boat. (That thing wrapped in paper by IC's thigh is our cake-topper. He didn't let that thing out of his sight).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430517506/" title="Shai at Parrot Cay dock waiting area by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3430517506_1fa2789b4a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai at Parrot Cay dock waiting area" /></a><br /><br />They had a model of Parrot Cay at the dock:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429703385/" title="Model of Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3429703385_7f403575f7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Model of Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />Then the boat arrived and the ride began:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430535140/" title="Use steel hammer to break glass windows by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3430535140_1b323bdebd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Use steel hammer to break glass windows" /></a><br /><br />It took about 40 minutes. The ride was kind of choppy due to weather but not too bad:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430541512/" title="On the way to Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3430541512_e01a0cd7b8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="On the way to Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429734603/" title="On the way to Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3429734603_9e16fb6615.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="On the way to Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />When we get to Parrot Cay, we were greeted by a woman in a golf cart who took us to the main building:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430549380/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3430549380_79589420af.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430553474/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3430553474_74d1a385e6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />She drove us through the lush, beautiful property:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429749219/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3429749219_7328658bec.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430567904/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3430567904_89303e3e5e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />Traffic jam:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429746665/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3429746665_d019f800c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We were greeted with rum punch drinks while we waited for our room key. The main house was cute and rustic:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430713002/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3430713002_c833605c71.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429759763/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3429759763_f2260e7ed1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430573816/" title="Parrot Cay room key by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3430573816_3760d9d038.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay room key" /></a><br /><br />When we got to our room, well, that was rustic too:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430575894/" title="Parrot Cay room ceiling by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3430575894_3de79d8574.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay room ceiling" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430580338/" title="Parrot Cay room balcony by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3430580338_de90b8b2e7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay room balcony" /></a><br /><br />Frankly, we thought the room was really weak. It wasn't even the fact that the room was very bare, or that the mini-bar was on the balcony, or that the air conditioner would turn off by sensor when the balcony door was opened, or that there was no wi-fi in the room and I'm a certified internet junkie. It was the little things. The sheets and the towels were <span style="font-style:italic;">terrible</span>. The bed was really uncomfortable. The shower was old-looking and lacked water pressure. We kept wondering if we were disappointed in the room because we had just come from <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/04/thursday-april-2-2009.html">staying in the most incredible room of all time</a> but the fact is we expected better for the price we were paying. We'd expect better from a random Sheraton and this was the world-famous Parrot Cay.<br /><br />The property is beautiful, the food is terrific and the service is outstanding. But the rooms are a real downer and I swear we are normally the type of people who don't care much for the room. But when the bed is bad, it starts the day off wrong. Plus, the price to stay at Parrot Cay is so high that it really should be more luxurious. I understand they go for a retreat/rustic sort of vibe but that doesn't mean the sheets need to feel like sandpaper or that the towels should be worse than Holiday Inn.<br /><br />Anyway, the weather was still not cooperating so we just took a long walk around the property and along the empty beach:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430590164/" title="Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3430590164_5e9dcb7b23.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430611940/" title="K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3430611940_f15daa1d6d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430617474/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3430617474_b8659af785.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430621660/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3430621660_53da4ab393.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We sat on a rock at one end of the beach, kissed a lot and stared at our new rings:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430670134/" title="Shai and K at Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3430670134_80b724c678.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K at Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We were all alone on the beach, it felt like the end of the earth:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430703836/" title="Shai at Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3430703836_ccc1f5cd13.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai at Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We had drinks at the pool bar. The drinks were outrageously priced but very delicious:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430710512/" title="Drinks at Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3430710512_541203c109.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Drinks at Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We ate dinner that night at the casual pool-side restaurant. It was realllllllly good. The food was just terrific, I don't have a single complaint about it.<br /><br />I was still feeling bridal and rocking the all-white:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3429918297/" title="K at Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3429918297_313fab13cb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="K at Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />The next day the weather was better. Still a little cloudy and windy but warmer. This is where we had breakfast:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430027985/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3430027985_9dd9cfeafe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We lounged on the still mostly-empty beach, then moved to the beautiful infinity pool:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430039643/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3430039643_5471445c08.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430870986/" title="Infinity pool by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3430870986_d8a1e14db5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Infinity pool" /></a><br /><br />They make drinks goooooood:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430065881/" title="Drinks by the pool by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3430065881_ffc05f2965.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Drinks by the pool" /></a><br /><br />They also had cute little touches like someone bringing around popsicles while you lay by the pool.<br /><br />Then we had massage appointments at the Como Shambhala spa. The massage was great, and the space is very beautiful.<br /><br />So, remember when I said that the weather was better but it was still cloudy and windy? Well, you know how when it's cloudy and windy you may not realize how hot the sun is and be less diligent than normal in your sunscreen application? Yeah. That happened to us. We were little tomatoes after our massages. I'd post photos of us miserable and red lounging on our balconies but IC doesn't want to be reminded to it so instead I'll just show you our last sunset on Parrot Cay:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430144333/" title="Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3430144333_1ef931d458.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />That night we had dinner at their more formal restaurant, also incredible.<br /><br />And the next day we went home, married, rested and completely in love with Turks&Caicos and each other.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430995368/" title="Leaving Parrot Cay by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3430995368_3a3c0649cb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Leaving Parrot Cay" /></a><br /><br />We'll be back, maybe for our one-year anniversary, and maybe we'll invite the 65 people who watched us wed to join us. Or maybe we'll just run off on our own. :-) <br /><br />I hope you've enjoyed reading my recaps. I'm happy to answer questions for any prospective T&C brides.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-56466018710220905312009-05-22T14:21:00.002-04:002009-05-22T15:03:42.809-04:00Trash. That. Dress. April 7, 2009Before I knew anything about what our wedding would be like, I knew I was trashing the dress. Why try to keep perfect a dress you will never wear again when you can get some amazing photos out of it?<br /><br />All the photos in this post were taken by the fabulous <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com">Matthew Szlakowicz</a> unless otherwise indicated:<br /><br />I envisioned photos on these steps the very first time I saw the Gansevoort Turks&Caicos:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450557511/" title="dayafter0001 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3450557511_83d37dc268.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="dayafter0001" /></a><br /><br />The Gansevoort property just lends itself to beautiful photos:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450575323/" title="dayafter0011 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3450575323_c960a22624.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0011" /></a><br /><br />Then we kicked off our shoes and went on the sand:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450579033/" title="dayafter0013 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3450579033_1889335914.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="dayafter0013" /></a><br /><br />Some of our friends were hanging out on the beach watching the shoot. <br /><br />Ren+Carly took this one (that horse is about to um, release, right by that couple and their dog:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3431579283/" title="IMG_1178 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3431579283_ab3f3965ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1178" /></a><br /><br />These are from Max+MIchelle:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3475996365/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3475996365_e88f5fd444.jpg" width="336" height="448" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3475996605/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3475996605_b02c21fd5c_o.jpg" width="448" height="336" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br />Back to Matthew's pics:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450593423/" title="dayafter0022 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3450593423_9b6c342396.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="dayafter0022" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to keep my hair and make-up pretty casual but in retrospect I wish I had done more with my hair than just tie it back while it was wet. I think we're going to photoshop out the pieces of hair randomly sticking out of my bun:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450598689/" title="dayafter0025 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3450598689_ca58ddbfd9.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="dayafter0025" /></a><br /><br />If I had to do it over, I'd also have less pics of us kissing. I mean, yeah, yeah, we're married but about half the shots are us lip-locked:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450618651/" title="dayafter0037 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3450618651_f58a6fc061.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="dayafter0037" /></a><br /><br />I love the shots where you can see us <span style="font-style:italic;">in</span> the water:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450622103/" title="dayafter0039 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3450622103_863ac9b999.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0039" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3451439996/" title="dayafter0040 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3451439996_d0480a7d4a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0040" /></a><br /><br />It was an overcast day, the first of the whole trip, so the sunset wasn't that dramatic. Still the colors of the sky were so beautiful:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450627639/" title="dayafter0042 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3450627639_e871de1da3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0042" /></a><br /><br />Other than the pronounced size of my arm, this was my favorite pic of the shoot:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450674677/" title="dayafter0066 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3450674677_22ca3c1305.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0066" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450676515/" title="dayafter0067 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3450676515_c3f61d6594.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0067" /></a><br /><br />My hair got messier as we got wetter:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3451505726/" title="dayafter0074 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3451505726_06c6019b71.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0074" /></a><br /><br />But it was so much fun, we didn't care:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3451509270/" title="dayafter0076 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3451509270_85fd05b551.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0076" /></a><br /><br />I should've had my hair down the whole time! Oh well:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3451525156/" title="dayafter0084 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3451525156_1db7aa31b4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0084" /></a><br /><br />I love this last shot. We look as happy as we were:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3451538756/" title="dayafter0092 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3451538756_00852a38d7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="dayafter0092" /></a><br /><br />That's it for wedding weekend at the Gansevoort posts. Next up, honeymoon at Parrot Cay! Come visit!Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-83770318342163551822009-05-20T17:01:00.002-04:002009-05-20T17:03:18.586-04:00Have hope, friends!Call me crazy, but I'm just not sure all friendships-that-lead-to-relationships <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/513/">follow this exact pattern</a>.<br /><br />Hat-tip <a href="http://petitedov.blogspot.com/">Petitedov</a>.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-89619164112710636202009-05-19T13:26:00.004-04:002009-05-19T14:03:14.276-04:00Drink up!The day-after photo shoot pics, and the write-up of our honeymoon are coming soon, swear.<br /><br />In the meantime, I've got IC's awesome recipe for margaritas to share with you all. We're not big drinkers, IC and I, but we've definitely been in celebration mode since getting married (we've each gained some poundage with our nonstop eating and drinking to prove it) and this has been a house favorite over at our place.<br /><br />We've been loving Gran Centenario’s <a href="http://www.rosangel.com">Rosangel Tequila</a>. IC is a huge hibiscus fan and this is the world’s first hibiscus infused tequila. It is completely delicious and a must for our margaritas.<br /><br />We don't use salt, which I realize is margarita heresy, but I never liked getting a mouth full of salt while drinking my drink. I much prefer sugar.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">IC's super fantastic margarita recipe:</span><br /><br />Gran Centenario’s Rosangel Tequila<br />Triple Sec<br />1 Lime (or more as needed)<br />Orange wedges<br />Stirrings Lemon Drop Rimmer Sugar<br /> <br />Basic ratio for Margarita is:<br />3 oz. Tequila<br />2 oz. Triple Sec<br />1 oz. Lime Juice<br /> <br />1. Soak orange slice, cut in thirds, in tequila in a shaker (one slice per drink)<br />2. Squeeze lime juice into separate cup<br />3. Add triple sec and lime juice to shaker and.....shake.<br />4. Moisten rim of glass with lime and dip in lemon drop sugar<br />5. Add ice and pour in margarita with orange slices</blockquote><br /><br />My favorite part is eating up the tequila-soaked oranges left when the drink is done. Enjoy!Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-47392279782961280502009-05-11T17:03:00.002-04:002009-05-12T12:05:46.447-04:00April 6, 2009 Reception(All wedding photos in this post, unless otherwise indicated, by <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com">Matthew Szlakowicz</a>)<br /><br />While the guests went off to the cocktail hour, IC, our families and I hung back for the pictures. I'm not sure how other brides do it but we didn't see any other way. We were really sad about this not only because we wanted to hang out with our friends and family but also because the food we picked for the cocktail hour sounded so good (Tuna tataki with seaweed salad, Bruschetta with roasted tomato and goat cheese, Spicy beef skewers, Mini steak sandwiches, Brie-n-pear puffs, these are like my favorite foods in the world). The restaurant staff brought us over a few trays of food but I don't remember eating any of it. Apparently the bride has to be in most of the shots. The sun was setting and it was beautiful but I swear we're discussing hors d'oeuvres in these shots:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446961479/" title="IMG0499 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3660/3446961479_c9cae6ecb4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0499" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446975023/" title="IMG0507 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3446975023_d360ed60cf.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0507" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445962783/" title="IMG0451 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3445962783_2d07753f99.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0451" /></a><br /><br />Well, maybe not in this one:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446965067/" title="IMG0501 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3446965067_0fe13a9095.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0501" /></a><br /><br />And then we got to the cocktail hour and all the Israelis in the house immediately began the Hebrew singing and clapping and we had to be like "not yet, not yet, but soon" because we had planned to do the Hebrew dancing right after our first song.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447883340/" title="IMG0519 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/3447883340_79dc1cd9f2.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0519" /></a><br /><br />There was about 5 minutes left in the cocktail hour when we got there and we didn't have any of the food which we weren't sad about at the time but are totally sad about today after everyone told us the food was just amazing.<br /><br />About two days before we left for T&C, we still had not figured out place cards. I've mentioned on this site before that I am not <span style="font-style:italic;">at all</span> creative. I'm mostly practical and, in a pinch, I could tell a good story. But inspired by the bridal blogosphere and, let's face it, Martha Stewart, I came up with the idea to make luggage tags as a combination seating card/favor. I got the tags in Chinatown and bought printable business cards at Staples to stuff into them. Unfortunately, the business cards were too long so the night before we left for the wedding IC and I could be seen on our couch cutting the cards to size and stuffing them in the tags. IC actually came up with the additional creative idea to use a Hebrew-style font on the place cards as a nod to our Judaism and his being born in Israel. The font is called<a href="http://www.dafont.com/ben-zion.font">Ben-Zion and we got it on my favorite font website, Da Font</a>. Our wedding planner came up with the idea to hang them on branches and have the table number as a sticker on the back:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447085155/" title="IMG0525 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3447085155_a5214eca8a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0525" /></a><br /><br />This photo from Lauren:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3442630488/" title="Luggage tag seating cards slash favors by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3442630488_30b2c0a951.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Luggage tag seating cards slash favors" /></a><br /><br />What's funny is that the Hebrew-speaking guests had a really hard time reading the cards because it's Hebrew letters spelling out English words. We hear there was some fun confusion.<br /><br />Everybody went to sit down and we hung back so we could be "introduced". I didn't really get this concept, because everyone had already seen us at the cocktail hour, but apparently it's what's done. We came in through the corner door and smiled while everyone applauded:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448014356/" title="IMG0571 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3448014356_97f18ec058.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0571" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447206711/" title="IMG0574 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3447206711_578d713859.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0574" /></a><br /><br />Then we made them all stand back up and watch our first dance. <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-song.html">As I blogged about previously</a>, we chose "First day of my life" by Bright Eyes. It fit really well and we enjoyed dancing to it. I had taken the shrug off my dress but had kept the veil on:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448028886/" title="IMG0578 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3448028886_7bb0284381.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0578" /></a><br /><br />And then, oh then, we danced the hora. If you've never been to a Jewish wedding, it goes something like this: people form a circle, hold hands and dance:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448046158/" title="IMG0586 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3448046158_9cc8fb789a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0586" /></a><br /><br />The couple is in the middle for a little while:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447246671/" title="IMG0592 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3447246671_5939a1d354.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0592" /></a><br /><br />But then it's sort of a free for all:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447275195/" title="IMG0604 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3447275195_396fd2432d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0604" /></a><br /><br />The couple link arms and dance around:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448099560/" title="IMG0608 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3448099560_1a5974bbc5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0608" /></a><br /><br />Then, people grab the couple by the arm and spin them round and round:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447288167/" title="IMG0609 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3447288167_64f3df18ee.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0609" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447293025/" title="IMG0611 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3447293025_bc162ca414.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0611" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447295273/" title="IMG0612 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3447295273_26f8a83699.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0612" /></a><br /><br />It's actually really fun. Until, and I can't even imagine how someone hundreds of years ago came up with this wacky tradition, they put you on chairs, hoist you in the air and you hang on for your dear life:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448072448/" title="IMG0597 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3448072448_ccd2615d36.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0597" /></a><br /><br />Somebody was not holding me straight and I thought I was going to fall off:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3448076912/" title="IMG0599 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3448076912_7a83478979.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0599" /></a><br /><br />But they straightened me out and we survived. Here's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lTVDUWoVgo">a short video</a> of our chair hoist, taken by our friends Vadim+Angela. I like the part where I reach out my hand to my husband and he shakes his head no because he's clutching onto his chair.<br /><br />Finally it was time to sit down to dinner. At this point, I have to be negative for a minute. I hated the dj. I gave him 6 hours worth of music and asked him not to deviate from that. So when "Everything I do" by Bryan freaking Adams was playing as we sat down to dinner, I was considerably unhappy. "What the hell is this?" I asked IC. I had worked so hard on the playlist to *not* have to hear crap like Bryan Adams. "Do you want me to tell him to turn it off?" IC asked, figuring, I'm sure, that I'd say no. YES, ask him to turn it off. He's lucky it was IC that went over to him instead of me. I'm from Brooklyn, in case y'all don't know. Anyway, the dj sucked. He played the same 3 songs over and over during food time. When we complained to the wedding planner (who had recommended him as some "celebrity" dj on Provo) she said I had not given him enough slow songs. UM, I had given him nearly 2 hours of slow songs. I understood what had happened. I had initially provided him with a list of songs I wanted played. On it, there were only about 10 slow songs. But when I gave him my ipod, several days before the wedding, there was much, much more music on it, as he and I had discussed. He just did not put any effort into looking at what I had given him. You'd think for like $300 an hour he'd do more than just push play on the ipod. You'd think wrong. <br /><br />ANYWAY, there was vodka on the table and that made everything better. It's a Russian thing, to have a bottle and shot glasses at each table and Bagatelle was good about accommodating us. This photo by Sharon M.:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3439598781/" title="Vodka by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3439598781_9197126d14.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Vodka" /></a><br /><br />I hear these were a big hit.<br /><br />Also customary, we circulated and did shots with the various tables. Pic by <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434536605/" title="DSC_0583 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3434536605_d7533120d6.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0583" /></a><br /><br />The food was so good! Here's a pic of our menu by Lauren:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3441815259/" title="Menu by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3441815259_992e6443b1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Menu" /></a><br /><br />IC and I got one of everything and shared as we do at any other dinner. Everything was great! I particularly loved the mahi-mahi ceviche, IC particularly liked the risotto and the big pieces of shaved parmesan on it. I normally am not into Ceasar salad but loved Bagatelle's version.<br /><br />Another big hit was our cake topper. IC and I are both poker players and we spent many years playing one-on-one poker together before we began dating. When I suggested to IC we have a cake topper of us playing poker, he was lukewarm to the idea. He gave me a budget of $100 and really didn't care if it happened or not. It was made by Steve at <a href="http://www.top-o-the-cake.com">Top-o-the-Cake</a> and it was amazing! IC loved it! It was one of his favorite details of the wedding. He took such good care of that topper and wouldn't let anyone touch it lest they leave finger prints on it--and this was the day after the wedding! IC is doing a chip trick in the topper, I think that's why he loves it so much. Cake-topper pics by <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3435345486/" title="DSC_0588 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3435345486_72c1ebdc85.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0588" /></a><br /><br />I love my as-in-real-life red hair, the red bottom on my shoe and the fact that I'm pushing my chips in:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434543441/" title="DSC_0590 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3434543441_90d72bbe4a.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0590" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434547071/" title="DSC_0594 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3434547071_b2642a6d21.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="DSC_0594" /></a><br /><br />The actual wedding cake was yet another big hit. Made by Diane Guess of Cakes to Di For, many people told us it was the best wedding cake they'd ever had. Pics back to being by <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com">Matthew Szlakowicz</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447911018/" title="IMG0530 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3447911018_25cc6ed4a4.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0530" /></a><br /><br />Here's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsOCQmf9-vw&feature=related">another video</a> by Vadim and Angela of us cutting the cake and me nodding in approval, partly because the cake was delicious and partly because I had told IC that he better not shove the cake in my face as has, for some reason, become customary and he kept me guessing until the last second whether or not he would.<br /><br />IC's brother Ron and my best friend Laurie gave really beautiful, thoughtful toasts:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447425309/" title="IMG0668 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3447425309_4b89a389d3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0668" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447361241/" title="IMG0640 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3447361241_383e75c3f1.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0640" /></a><br /><br />I danced with my father to "There for you" by Damian Marley (and asked my brother to invite my mom to the dance floor and join us to include her) and IC danced to "Oof Gazal", a really pretty Hebrew song, with his mom and had his sister join with their father and his brother join with their aunt. I liked that we did that, I never understood the leaving out of the parent based on gender.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3447558647/" title="IMG0724 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3447558647_2708196b3d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0724" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3449828057/" title="IMG0734 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3449828057_e313aaee0e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0734" /></a> <br /><br />We did some more dancing and then before we knew it the reception was over and we were being moved to the beach for the after-party s'mores bonfire. We gave people some time to change into casual clothes and then we all headed to the beach. Some people were too in love with their white linen suit to change:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3441226953/" title="K and Ronnie by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3441226953_096aeb4724.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="K and Ronnie" /></a><br /><br />No one seems to have gotten a photo of the set-up but they had marshmallows and chocolate covered graham crackers for people to make their own s'mores. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450047673/" title="IMG0804 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3450047673_e2b45c0c39.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0804" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450781548/" title="IMG0782 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3450781548_034fdc1884.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0782" /></a><br /><br />Similar to the welcome bbq, people lounged on towels on the sand and on the round couches:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3449992991/" title="IMG0789 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3449992991_4a9dd93d3d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0789" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450830200/" title="IMG0794 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3450830200_c03456125d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0794" /></a><br /><br />There was more guitar and violin playing<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450050853/" title="IMG0805 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3450050853_d1c3e3e023.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0805" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3450778236/" title="IMG0781 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3450778236_fc1a47b305.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0781" /></a><br /><br />Eventually IC and I peeled away from the group and called it a very, very long day. We had had a great time at our wedding and, ultimately, lazy DJs and pervy rabbis couldn't affect that. We had been surrounded by people who we love, and people who love us. They had watched us promise to be together forever, then ate great food and danced and had a great time. We were so lucky to have our wedding in such a beautiful place but even luckier to have it around such amazing people.<br /><br />The day after the wedding, I trashed my dress. Photos and story about that coming up. I also plan to write up our honeymoon on Parrot Cay so stay tuned!Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-46220959608425250152009-05-04T12:32:00.007-04:002009-06-09T16:49:23.311-04:00April 6, 2009 Ceremony(All wedding photos in this post, unless otherwise indicated, by <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com">Matthew Szlakowicz</a>)<br /><br />And then, just as soon as the whirlwind insanity began, it was over. My parents and brother were in the room with me and everyone else had gone. We were just sitting around, waiting.<br /><br />I saw the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuppah">chuppah</a> from the balcony and it looked so beautiful:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445618518/" title="IMG0216 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3445618518_ea85ea1c07.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0216" /></a><br /><br />We had done a super fast walk-through the day before but I was really nervous about getting everyone to the rehearsal dinner so barely had paid attention. We had a sheet though, from the wedding planner we had hired for day-of coordination, that said we were to be ready at 5:25. I forgot if this meant we had to be downstairs at 5:25 or what, so we just kind of waited. A big surprise to me was how calm I was feeling. I was not nervous in the least. I had bought over the counter sleeping pills because everyone told me that getting to sleep the night before your wedding day was near impossible. Maybe it was the hectic schedule or the sea breeze but I slept like a baby. To kill time while we waited I snapped shots of my family:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3422424670/" title="Ronnie and Ark by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3422424670_bd3d2566c9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Ronnie and Ark" /></a><br /><br />At 5:30, when no one had called us, we decided to just head downstairs. I stayed back so I wouldn't see IC in case he was hovering in the area. And suddenly, my brother was walking down the aisle, and then me and my parents. It all happened so fast.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444865153/" title="IMG0239 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3444865153_2de1df291d.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0239" /></a><br /><br />Our friend <a href="http://prettynumbers.blogspot.com/">PN</a> was playing the violin for us and the song I had picked to walk down to was <a href="http://www.flutesoffancy.com/ErevBa.mp3">Erev Ba</a>, a traditional Hebrew song which you can hear by clicking the link. It sounded so beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445679430/" title="IMG0238 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3445679430_327404741e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0238" /></a><br /><br />At the end of the path I could see IC and he was just beaming. It made me smile even harder. (The rabbi? I'll get to him in a minute).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445695522/" title="IMG0245 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3445695522_96153c7e43.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0245" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445698564/" title="IMG0246 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3445698564_e136b4f9b4.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0246" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444887511/" title="IMG0248 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3444887511_2717930fde.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0248" /></a><br /><br />When we reached the end of the aisle, IC kissed my mother:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444898087/" title="IMG0252 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3444898087_c44fc3c99a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0252" /></a><br /><br />And then my father: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444903911/" title="IMG0254 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3444903911_a35b0b153c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0254" /></a><br /><br />And then lifted my veil:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445725564/" title="IMG0256 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3445725564_79d72da453.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0256" /></a><br /><br />Instinctively, I moved in for a kiss too and IC said "not yet" and then we both laughed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445728074/" title="IMG0257 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3445728074_37bbd4d4e4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0257" /></a><br /><br />We were giggling when we reached the chuppah.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444916861/" title="IMG0259 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3444916861_edc964d8c5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0259" /></a><br /><br />While we were both brought up in the Jewish faith, IC and I are not very religious people. We read a lot about Jewish weddings before ours and tried to do things as close to Jewish tradition as possible. For example, we used a plain gold band, my grandmother's, for me under the chuppah, as you're not allowed to have <a href="http://www.abazias.com/">diamonds</a> or embellishments on the ring. We put the rings on the forefinger and not the ring finger (the fact that we put it on my right hand? Mistake). <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446164210/" title="IMG0275 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3446164210_d1bce79892.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0275" /></a><br /><br />I'm fairly sure the couple is not supposed to touch under the chuppah but we held hands the whole time. It was pure instinct and it felt so good to squeeze hands and be connected the whole time. I'm confident G-d will forgive us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445332647/" title="IMG0271 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3445332647_a96580d6f1.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0271" /></a><br /><br />Another mistake was our families outside the chuppah (this photo by <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434356901/" title="DSC_0479 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3434356901_9f1efdb4a0.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0479" /></a><br /><br />It's a sore subject but basically they stopped outside the chuppah based on a drawing they had seen by our wedding planner and neither IC nor I corrected in the whirlwind of the moment. They should have been inside with us. The only person actually inside with us was IC's grandfather who we called up to the chuppah in a show of <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&defl=en&q=define:kavod&ei=txn_SYnDDYrIM8TBnLUE&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title">kavod</a>.<br /><br />You can see that the men in our family are wearing white yarmulkes with light blue lettering. These were hand-made by my mom. The guests got blue yarmulkes, with our names, wedding date and location on the inside, from my favorite <a href="http://www.gotjudaica.com">Judaica store</a>.<br /><br />These 2 pics by <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434282451/" title="DSC_0415 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3434282451_bd405357e5.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0415" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3435090990/" title="DSC_0417 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3435090990_d9a308da7d.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0417" /></a><br /><br />This one by <a href="http://clareified.com">Dawn Summers</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3463466432/" title="Yarmulke by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3463466432_7036edbb3e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Yarmulke" /></a><br /><br />Also, the day before we were leaving for T&C I found myself in Chinatown and bought a bunch of fans to have on the seats in case it was very hot out. I think they were a cute touch but probably not actually necessary. The weather was perfect. From Sharon S.:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3501960773/" title="3215_1096200649341_1356330245_30420088_6433162_n by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3501960773_ee637b3fb4.jpg" width="495" height="302" alt="3215_1096200649341_1356330245_30420088_6433162_n" /></a><br /><br />IC wants this to be a happy post, so I am spinning off the story of the rabbi into a <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/05/freaking-rabbi.html">separate post below</a>. Go check it out.<br /><br />Now back to our regular scheduled happy tale. We call up our friends Mike and Frank to sign our ketubah, we're wrapped in a tallit, the rabbi gives a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_Blessing">Kohanim priestly blessing</a> (we didn't know what this was until later, wouldn't have put it past him to be doing some Star Trek sign), IC breaks the glass on his first try, the crowd cheers "Mazel Tov!"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445422503/" title="IMG0296 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3445422503_2d41312ea5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0296" /></a><br /><br />And then we kiss:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446240068/" title="IMG0297 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3446240068_0b92d98b77.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0297" /></a><br /><br />Then we walk like 20 feet:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445439109/" title="IMG0301 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3445439109_ca5ff9f2d5.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0301" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446262226/" title="IMG0303 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3446262226_f7eb977a1e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0303" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445455401/" title="IMG0305 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/3445455401_915cc035e9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0305" /></a><br /><br />And turn back around for the group photo and family portraits:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3446312284/" title="IMG0316 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3446312284_c497c0ca72.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0316" /></a><br /><br />We're married! Us! To each other! We were friends for so long, just years and years of close friendship, of dinners out discussing our respective lives, nights on the couch watching random sports, one-on-one poker at IC's dining room table long after the rest of our friends had called it a night. <br /><br />April 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/134591199/" title="Karol+Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/134591199_47a79d0201.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Karol+Shai" /></a><br /><br />It was so obvious and yet not at all obvious. <br /><br />May 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/156581306/" title="Me and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/156581306_f4c4250212.jpg" width="500" height="336" alt="Me and Shai" /></a><br /><br />When we finally looked at each other in that way, it was a dam breaking, there was no holding it back. Day 1 of our relationship we knew it was on a marriage track. <br /><br />July 2006 (I have a million other photos from a million other years, 2006 was when I started my flickr so I have a lot from that era):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/184098730/" title="Shai+Karol by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/184098730_b050acaf3b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Shai+Karol" /></a><br /><br />When we told our friends we were together, the most common reaction was "are you messing with me?" followed immediately by "I knew it!" <br /><br />September 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/242869221/" title="Shai+K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/79/242869221_826978015d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai+K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/242869236/" title="Shai+K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/242869236_3ef6d0882c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai+K" /></a><br /><br />Our relationship began on Thanksgiving 2007, we told our friends over New Years, we were engaged 10 months later, married 6 months after that. But it's those first 11 years that made us <span style="font-style:italic;">us</span>. <br /><br />October 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/276975609/" title="Karol & Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/276975609_65093c0748.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Karol & Shai" /></a><br /><br />November 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/290376153/" title="K, Shai, Phil, Matt, Head by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/290376153_0402a97e61.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K, Shai, Phil, Matt, Head" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/300693509/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/300693509_b221bd04bc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br />December 2006:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/331640105/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/331640105_065314f689.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/331639795/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/331639795_27d6d9ce97.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/331640150/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/331640150_c1c77f71ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br />April 2007:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/468032328/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/468032328_79cf325c15.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/468045359/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/468045359_f7628898ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br />May 2007:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/519262083/" title="Love my Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/519262083_db9d6843dd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Love my Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/519264967/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/245/519264967_4d876509e3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/519238710/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/519238710_19e623234f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br />And hey, how many dinners do you still owe me that I won over poker, IC? July 2007:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/943216256/" title="How many dinners do you still owe, Shai? by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/943216256_2e4152ec1a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="How many dinners do you still owe, Shai?" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/943141582/" title="K, Shai, Howard by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1312/943141582_1791527d91.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K, Shai, Howard" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/794641199/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/794641199_8baabce212.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/795520768/" title="Shai and K modeling the Texas gear by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/795520768_093132d223.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K modeling the Texas gear" /></a><br /><br />August 2007:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1018818513/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1086/1018818513_b506425a57.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1018817595/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1307/1018817595_6f5ea78bdb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1024963382/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1306/1024963382_6718003bde.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1178497935/" title="Shai, K, Frank, Yelena by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1312/1178497935_e43f3193c1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai, K, Frank, Yelena" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1179337422/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1088/1179337422_a547db341e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1178480725/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/1178480725_091ea44300.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1237228698/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/1237228698_db64cc9294.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1245902492/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1052/1245902492_00b3dc650f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br />September 2007:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1315481647/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/1315481647_44c43aacf8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1316393770/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1409/1316393770_c204e16833.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/1330564642/" title="K and Shai by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/1330564642_ec675fe55b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="K and Shai" /></a><br /><br />No idea of the date on this one, maybe like 1999 and this is with our third, Matty:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/184948427/" title="ShaiMattK by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/184948427_d60ab34549.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt="ShaiMattK" /></a><br /><br />I've heard the advice, marry your best friend. And I really did. It's been amazing and I think the best is yet to come, spit, spit, touch wood.<br /><br />We looked on with some degree of jealousy as our guests proceeded to the cocktail hour.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-76238976554339335132009-05-04T12:24:00.004-04:002009-05-04T14:04:34.442-04:00The freaking rabbi{And here is where I have to take a moment and get all negative in the midst of this beautiful story. As I've written about on this blog, we had a rabbi from Brooklyn lined up to marry us. He knew my family for many years and we were looking forward to him sealing our union. A month before our wedding, his brother had a stroke. He became his brother's primary caretaker which made it very difficult for him to get away. He assured us that if we couldn't find another rabbi, he would step in and do it. So we started looking. We focused our search on New York, Miami and the Bahamas, three places that have direct flights to Turks&Caicos. Because our wedding was so close to Passover, most rabbis said no. When we looked into who performs most of the Jewish weddings in Nassau, Bahamas, we found it was a rabbi in Miami. We spoke to him on the phone several times and he seemed fine. He had done like 2000 weddings, he seemed to know the drill.<br /><br />When he arrived in T&C on Sunday, we were waiting for him in the lobby. The front desk person at Gansevoort said "we didn't have a wheelchair for him so the airline provided one for him to use for 2 days." That's...odd. He never mentioned he was in a wheelchair and you'd think that would be something he'd be concerned with. He arrives and homeboy is wearing a black baseball hat that says "RABBI" in bold white letters. O-k. <br /><br />We take him to lunch and I have a fairly immediate visceral reaction to him. First off, he doesn't need the wheelchair, was just feeling lazy. Then, he tells us some wacko, convoluted story about visiting Petra, Egypt and how much the border guards loved his wife's breasts. I mean, <span style="font-style:italic;">honestly</span>. The breast story goes on and on. <br /><br />He's rude to the waitstaff, complaining that his fries are cold despite the fact that he ate his burger while, um, his fries got cold. Hello. They actually reheat his fries for him. <br /><br />We talk a little about the ceremony and we tell him we're looking to keep it fairly traditional. He tells us that when it's time to drink from the wine cup under the chuppah, IC should try to take a sip first so that he can remind him to always let me have the first sip from this point on. Uh, no. IC and I look at each other secure in the knowledge he'll be giving me the first sip.<br /><br />But whatever, what are we gonna do? This is the only rabbi currently on the island. When he later hits on the beach sports girl or asks our wedding planner to take a shower with him, I can barely contain my disgust. I hate this man. Hate.<br /><br />Anyway, he actually gives a decent ceremony, telling a story about creation and tying it to the time period of our wedding. We recite our vows and everything is going ok. Then, the rabbi tells IC that he will whisper in his ear what he is to say next into the microphone, what he will be saying to me for the rest of his life. The rabbi whispers something and IC says "yes, dear" into the mic.<br /><br />Hi, I'm Karol, most of my friends are male and I don't do bullshit gender role jokes. I look at the rabbi and say "that's enough." I'm told I made a motion with my hand across my neck to say "cut" but I don't really remember, can't wait to see the vid! He says "that's enough?" I repeat "that's enough." To his credit, he cuts the shit and completes the ceremony. We're married!!! He calls me Karen somewhere near the end but we're too delirious with happiness to care. Many people tell me later that they loved that I cut him off, that so many rabbis think they're also stand-up comedians and that my cutting him off was so me. I appreciate that, but I do wish it didn't have to happen.}Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-39274324756815223142009-05-01T10:08:00.006-04:002009-05-01T14:05:22.915-04:00April 6, 2009 Pre-ceremony(All photos in this post by <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com">Matthew Szlakowicz</a>)<br /><br />It was definitely my idea for IC and I to spend the night before our wedding apart. His plan, though, was for me to stay with him until he fell asleep and then I'd move to another bedroom. As <span style="font-style:italic;">awesome</span> as that idea was, that didn't happen. What did happen is that he fell asleep in what was to be my bed, woke up at 8am, and moved to one of the other bedrooms. Then, and this is the best part, when he was leaving the hotel room for the day, he'd yell to me from the other bedroom, thinking this somehow maintained the "not seeing each other before the wedding" superstition.<br /><br />I didn't have bridesmaids so I wasn't entirely clear on what I should be doing. The hair and make-up lady was coming at 10 to start with guests who had requested her services. I wouldn't have anything going on till about 3. So I went to lay out on the deck, Elizabeth Grant eyepads under my eyes and Crest whitening strips on my teeth, ipod on. I was alerted to someone's presence only when my sun turned mysteriously to shade. It was Matthew, the photographer. Where are the rings, where is the dress, where is the groom? Oh, I did have things I was supposed to be doing? Who knew? My chill time pretty much ended there. I got in the bath and my wedding day began.<br /><br />There were a lot of people in my room so I decided to head down to the spa for a manicure instead of having someone come up. I like my alone time, even on the day I am to wed. I emailed IC to tell him to avoid the pool area which I'd have to cross to get to the spa. Unfortunately, I accidentally sent the email to his work address and not his personal address which he was checking. So, as I stopped to say hi to some guests by the pool on my way to the spa, I saw IC walking hurriedly on the other side of the pool. We both looked immediately away. So much for not seeing each other. He looked worried to me, which made me worry too. Turned out later that he was rushing around to finish putting together the Hebrew music for the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=dancing+hora&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">hora</a> part of the reception.<br /><br />I got a truly phenomenal manicure, Tamika at <a href="http://www.gansevoortturksandcaicos.com/gansevoort-turks-caicos-exhale-spa.php">Exhale Spa</a> rocksssssss! People kept raving about her massages, I didn't get to try but I have to say this was the best manicure I ever got outside of NYC (come on, ladies, admit it, manicures outside NY are...weird).<br /><br />When I came back to my room, there was a commotion and I heard Matthew yell out "don't freak out!" And then I saw this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444644191/" title="IMG0139 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3444644191_0b4149c363.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0139" /></a><br /><br />Oh, just my dress hanging on the balcony? Why would that freak me out? Apparently other brides might not like their dress in such a precarious position right before its big moment. I was fine with it. I was probably more nervous about this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444664221/" title="IMG0149 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3444664221_9b55af90dc.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0149" /></a><br /><br />Then I got my hair and make-up done (seriously check out my nails in this shot, so good!):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445500474/" title="IMG0156 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3445500474_4efeccb1d3.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0156" /></a><br /><br />I was going pretty natural, hair-wise and was in decision mode about whether I wanted a flower in my hair. As for make-up, I thought <a href="shequemakeup.com/">Shenique</a> did a good job but I'm pretty finicky so when she was done I ended up taking off the eyeliner she had put on me and some of the eyeshadow. <br /><br />The Matthew took some shots of me:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445569644/" title="IMG0192 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3445569644_519bc72143.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0192" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444773655/" title="IMG0203 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3444773655_4966b109dd.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0203" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445607784/" title="IMG0211 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3445607784_b164c14ab8.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0211" /></a><br /><br />And I decided to go with the flower in the hair:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445611482/" title="IMG0213 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3445611482_ea8faf9124.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0213" /></a><br /><br />I asked Matthew how IC was doing and he assured me he was fine. He showed me a shot he had just taken of my almost-husband:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445546394/" title="IMG0181 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3445546394_6ee5949788.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0181" /></a><br /><br />I couldn't wait to see him. I was so giddy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445541362/" title="IMG0178 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3445541362_52c0bbc141.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0178" /></a>Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-88559023416685296552009-04-29T14:34:00.010-04:002009-04-29T16:26:36.755-04:00Sunday, April 5, 2009I've struggled with writing about Day 2 of the wedding weekend because I feel less happy about the rehearsal dinner than about the welcome bbq and reception. It's my own fault, really.<br /><br />Back when we began our wedding search, I <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/01/parameters.html">really liked</a> Nikki Beach Turks&Caicos, though I <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/01/about-current-favored-venue.html">had some doubts</a>. When I went to visit T&C in January, I stayed one night at Windsong (a very cute hotel which had <span style="font-style:italic;">just</span> opened--I was their only guest that night--and which we ultimately didn't choose because they weren't planning on opening a real restaurant on the property and they are quite close to the busiest beach on Provo, the one in front of the Beaches complex) and one night at Nikki. <br /><br />I liked the Nikki rooms a lot. I'm a sucker for things like the fact that they have Mitchell Gold couches, like we do at home. I also had a really nice meal at their restaurant and found the woman who was helping me, Lisa, to be very pleasant and helpful. It's true that once I saw the Gansevoort property, all other hotels were out of the running, but honestly Nikki didn't even make the short list because of their man-made beach. I didn't feel like I could ask guests to fly to T&C only to have them lounge at a bay like the one that Nikki sits on. I had felt the sand on Grace Bay, soft, white, beautiful and found Nikki's grainy sand to be really lacking.<br /><br />IC, however, never liked Nikki. He found it completely pretentious and was very resistant to any events being held there. When he and I were in Provo in March, a few weeks before the wedding, we had still yet to choose a rehearsal dinner location (but we knew we wanted it offsite as we wanted to show our guests something other than Gansevoort in Provo). I was pushing for Nikki hard. The Gansevoort has a real "wow" factor, the second you walk onto their property. I felt Nikki, even with their fake beach, had the same thing. This is the view from the lobby in a pic I took in January:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3218218483/" title="Nikki Beach entrance by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/3218218483_4a075f5279.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Nikki Beach entrance" /></a><br /><br />We had dinner at Nikki and IC was not wowed. He thought the place was nice but nothing compared to what he would call "our" hotel. I kind of saw his point. Still, he had not yet seen the best part about Nikki Beach--its phenomenal penthouse. This is half of it:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3218259681/" title="Penthouse deck, Nikki Beach by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3218259681_a4359869e8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Penthouse deck, Nikki Beach" /></a><br /><br />When he did see the penthouse deck, he did admit it was really something. Still, he resisted. IC is big into cues and when Nikki didn't comp our meal that night he said to me "K, these people don't care if they get our business. It's a terrible economy, no one is traveling, they know we're here to book a party for 65 people, they should've comped our dinner." I was making excuses for them. I mean, they had initially met me when I was looking for somewhere to hold our wedding. They didn't get that business, why should they assume they're getting this?<br /><br />Anyway, IC gives me what I want and we end up choosing Nikki for our rehearsal dinner. I arrange for a bus to come pick up our guests and Nikki tells me they'll provide us with their "party bus" for our family which fits 10 people.<br /><br />Also, turned out that the night before our rehearsal dinner, Nikki would be celebrating their one year anniversary with a big party (supposedly 1000 people) featuring a performance by Maxi Priest. "Um, did they tell you they were having this huge party when you were looking to book our wedding there?" IC asked. No, no they hadn't. "So, you're telling me we could've been having, what, our welcome bbq on the night of their wild bash?" I take his point.<br /><br />The bus for our guests arrives on time and we pile everyone in. No Nikki bus. I call my contact there. She assures me it's on its way. I tell the bus with the guests to leave. 15 minutes late, an SUV arrives. It fits 6. We have 10, as planned. I can't say I maintained my composure all that well. There might have been some F bombs and an irate bride-to-be yelling at the SUV driver to get another car LIKE RIGHT NOW. I was really pissed mostly because IC was right as always, this place did not care about our business.<br /><br />We got to our rehearsal dinner 45, or so, minutes late. I wasn't going to let the delay bother me. Our guests seemed like they were having a good time. And the space really is beautiful.<br /><br />From Lauren:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3441813879/" title="Nikki Beach by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3441813879_6a09a2a364.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Nikki Beach" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3442629758/" title="Ariel and Sharon by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3442629758_6083ba790b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Ariel and Sharon" /></a><br /><br />From Yelena:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3476087837/" title="View by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3476087837_9b66772d77.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="View" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the pics in this post are by our amazing photographer <a href="http://photographybymatthewny.com/">Matthew Szlakowicz</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445169686/" title="IMG0063 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3445169686_77e799e0ac.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0063" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444355311/" title="IMG0065 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3444355311_5ea75406f3.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0065" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444361935/" title="IMG0068 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3444361935_c7f426f027.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0068" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444363899/" title="IMG0069 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3444363899_53e2f9e2f9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0069" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445186582/" title="IMG0072 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3445186582_3551b408b7.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0072" /></a><br /><br />IC rocked his awesome white suit which he had so feared wearing:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444349473/" title="IMG0062 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3444349473_675f4c8be5.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="IMG0062" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445267880/" title="IMG0107 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3445267880_7528eebfdf.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0107" /></a><br /><br />I actually had a dress mishap. I had bought this amazing dress at the Barney's warehouse sale back in January and had planned to wear it to the rehearsal dinner. That night, I snipped the tags off, put it on and it was HUGE on me, totally not the form fitting dress I had bought a few months earlier. I know, I know, it's hard to feel very sorry for me, waaaah I'm too skinny, but it was really annoying and extremely lucky that I brought another dress (I had thrown it in the suitcase at the last, last minute). <br /><br />Anyway, back to the party. I thought the food was pretty average, my shrimp were overcooked, not nearly as good as the two previous meals I had had at Nikki. But ok, it's hard to cook for 65 people. I kept giving them the benefit of the doubt.<br /><br />Then it got really, really, I mean, <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> windy:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445337262/" title="IMG0130 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3445337262_e96049b8ac.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0130" /></a><br /><br />Our guests were wearing towels to keep warm:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445283656/" title="IMG0111 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3445283656_044de90c23.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0111" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3445286200/" title="IMG0112 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3445286200_08d79662fe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0112" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3444485531/" title="IMG0119 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3444485531_68bc30c714.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="IMG0119" /></a><br /><br />IC asked "you think they don't know how windy it gets up here? Why did they let us do a dinner here?" I was still defending them. I said "it's just a windy night, they had no way of knowing!" Of course, that seemed less likely when we left the party and went downstairs to a totally windless night.<br /><br />It was a fine event, our guests said nice things about it but if I had to do it over I'd have it somewhere else. I hate complaining about things like this, I mocked myself in a conversation later that weekend about <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-my-head-and-hand.html">this post</a> (like, waaaah my diamonds don't match with my other diamonds!) so I do get that we're so lucky to be able to have a wedding weekend like the one we had. Still, the girl in me who grew up poor and understands the value of a dollar really feels that everything should be perfect when you're paying what we paid. And it wasn't. We'll live. Wedding ceremony and reception write-up coming up soon!<br /><br />UPDATE: Email from my husband: <span style="font-style:italic;">I wasn't a big proponent of the place but your post is too tough. Everyone had fun. It had its issues but was good overall. </span><br /><br />He's right, it was good overall, I don't want to seem overly harsh but I do want to be honest.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-26790045798146646362009-04-29T14:26:00.002-04:002009-04-29T14:28:03.341-04:00No, really, I'm working on Day 2, I promiseBut in the meantime:<br /><br />I'm not a Choo girl myself, I find Jimmy's shoes wildly overpriced and quite uncomfortable, but I still may check out the <a href="http://racked.com/archives/2009/04/29/jimmy_choo_5.php">big sale on tomorrow in New York</a>, just to see, ya know?Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-72139717980429296742009-04-28T17:30:00.004-04:002009-04-28T17:35:29.284-04:00Drink upOnly slightly wedding related as I think no wedding is complete without vodka (you'll see what I mean in my write-up of the reception), <a href="http://www.threeolives.com/o-face/">Three Olives Vodka is having this cool contest</a> where they ask people to upload their "o" face. No, pervs, your other "O" face, as in making an o with your mouth:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_sfweT1kNuD_oRRnYaTXJuadJWpM3WMHO779mAmxtEmgAQoa-gYuEzeKKcnTED5NyuP0cz7LYsM3eq9urSDLcH6W1qnSe34x789yHMMTPDS6x45bzOsaxJ-dUbeYVu4-j4Z-FwQNRUI/s1600-h/OFacecherry+girl.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_sfweT1kNuD_oRRnYaTXJuadJWpM3WMHO779mAmxtEmgAQoa-gYuEzeKKcnTED5NyuP0cz7LYsM3eq9urSDLcH6W1qnSe34x789yHMMTPDS6x45bzOsaxJ-dUbeYVu4-j4Z-FwQNRUI/s320/OFacecherry+girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329858549216278914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x1t0mEEtzsjDTQt3Db0fEJV3-INPAogvg2TPNX-8vdKgvNtiJ96iFS44_MpafnCeIsOD7pZL04e6h7K0HD8KwSd6pBnWUCq47VvLhgiVHaceHBfDEqmslNX8srVXLbvbtEv9HjCKZd8/s1600-h/OFacegrape.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x1t0mEEtzsjDTQt3Db0fEJV3-INPAogvg2TPNX-8vdKgvNtiJ96iFS44_MpafnCeIsOD7pZL04e6h7K0HD8KwSd6pBnWUCq47VvLhgiVHaceHBfDEqmslNX8srVXLbvbtEv9HjCKZd8/s320/OFacegrape.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329858540689164434" /></a><br /><br />You can win $10,000 and a trip to NYC. I'm a fan of their grape vodka, definitely worth checking out this summer as you look for a fruity balance in your hard liquor.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-55572738961387829072009-04-28T10:46:00.003-04:002009-04-28T10:49:42.035-04:00SmoooooooothThis is not wedding related but when one of the suavest men I've ever met <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/vodkapundit/2009/04/28/a-close-shave/">provides a shaving tutorial for men and women</a>, I listen and I link.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-86907254440347733622009-04-27T11:07:00.007-04:002009-04-27T12:11:34.732-04:00Saturday, April 4, 2009It was finally here, the official day 1 of our wedding weekend. With the exception of a couple from San Francisco, the rabbi and the photographers, everyone would be on the island by Saturday.<br /><br />Our welcome event was a barbecue on the beach at the Gansevoort Hotel. The Bagatelle restaurant did all the catering and set-up and did a really great job. All photos by me unless otherwise noted:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412945203/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3412945203_354454b5af.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412945939/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3412945939_48c6c453fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412948467/" title="Picture 068 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3412948467_b99d87739a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Picture 068" /></a><br /><br />The grilled local fish listed in the menu was Mahi Mahi and it bothers me to this day that I didn't get to try it (I was busy and chose to eat hot dogs and hamburgers for reasons unclear to me right now) as it got rave reviews from our guests.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412950523/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3412950523_025edb0653.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br />IC and I got there first, and hung out on the Gansevoort's signature round lounge couches waiting for our guests: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413757664/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3413757664_717ef58564.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br />It was nice to spend some time together before everyone arrived because it turned out that we barely saw each other for the rest of the bbq. Unlike at, say the wedding reception, we felt like we had to separate and mingle with our guests independently so that we spent a little time with everyone. The music was all-Reggae, selected by IC. We got a million compliments on the music, it was just so perfect and fitting for a beach setting. At one point, though, the random playlist played *our* song, "Love Sponge" by Buju Banton and IC and I could only look over at each other from afar, each engrossed in conversations with different groups of guests.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413759368/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3413759368_daed7b2fde.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413779452/" title="Cora, Diana, BB, Mike, Head by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3413779452_29a075a115.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Cora, Diana, BB, Mike, Head" /></a><br /><br />We timed the BBQ to begin at 6 as sunset was a little after 7 and it proved to be a good idea. The sun setting was really beautiful:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413761860/" title="Beach by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3413761860_c42d3685f4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach" /></a><br /><br />Our official drinks of the bbq were mojitos and cocopolitans, a delicious vodka and rum drink which is Bagatelle's spin on the pina colada. IC is holding my cocopolitan, the only one I had time to have that night, in this shot taken by our friend Carly:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3431575347/" title="IMG_1118 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3431575347_649982fe1d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1118" /></a><br /><br />The BBQ would also be the last time I got to take my own pictures which, as I was the bride, I suppose makes sense. I love playing photographer, though, so it was kind of hard for me to let go. My friends did a phenomenal job taking shots (I've collected about 1200 so far and haven't even picked up a zip drive from IC's father containing many, many more).<br /><br />Some great shots taken by friends:<br /><br />From <a href="http://clareified.com">Dawn Summers</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3462372173/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3462372173_2512995d5f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3462372659/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3462372659_94c01316fa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3462372959/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/3462372959_b03c8d8592.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3462377051/" title="Stephane and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3462377051_88f36ea56d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Stephane and K" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3463192416/" title="Jake and Mrs. Jake by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/3463192416_474868b300.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Jake and Mrs. Jake" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3463195560/" title="Beach BBQ by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3463195560_f71b9280eb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Beach BBQ" /></a><br /><br />The rest are from <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434920090/" title="DSC_0293 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3434920090_9e1efafca7.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0293" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434142463/" title="DSC_0310 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3434142463_401b975632.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0310" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434974260/" title="DSC_0332 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3434974260_903ec08542.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0332" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434170853/" title="DSC_0336 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3434170853_5e7d691141.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="DSC_0336" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433967700/" title="DSC_0242 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3433967700_471b2054b3.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433164475/" title="DSC_0252 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3433164475_01c44c9fe9.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0252" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434102559/" title="DSC_0281 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3434102559_7064dc12cb.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0281" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433162953/" title="DSC_0249 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3433162953_9737e24da9.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0249" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434077701/" title="DSC_0286 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3434077701_7e7759ddd8.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0286" /></a><br /><br />IC+me thanking everyone for joining us for our wedding weekend kick-off:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434144743/" title="DSC_0312 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3434144743_9c7337ed0d.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="DSC_0312" /></a><br /><br />Toward the end of the night someone got out a guitar and my friend <a href="http://prettynumbers.blogspot.com">PN</a> played the violin:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434134661/" title="DSC_0302 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/3434134661_4e83d3e6ed.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0302" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434149151/" title="DSC_0316 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3434149151_3b94cf3ba7.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0316" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434152977/" title="DSC_0319 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3434152977_d75a7bb603.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0319" /></a><br /><br />The drinks flowed, the music played and everyone definitely seemed like they were having a good time.<br /><br />IC and I finally found each other toward the end of the night and went back to the round couch, ate dessert and enjoyed the music:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3434157189/" title="DSC_0323 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3434157189_5815c7abda.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0323" /></a><br /><br />This was the last shot I took to end a beautiful night:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412974981/" title="Boardwalk by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3412974981_30d9b56e82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Boardwalk" /></a>Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-25186603140576594822009-04-24T11:05:00.003-04:002009-04-24T11:46:29.338-04:00Friday, April 3, 2009If Thursday was a day we got to chill, Friday, the day before our wedding weekend would officially begin, was <span style="font-style:italic;">hectic</span>.<br /><br />First of all, we had not yet worked out our seating chart for the reception dinner. I know, I know, people do this months and years and decades in advance and here we are 3-days out figuring out who will sit where, the horror. The problem was that we had put together a fairly perfect arrangement of 6 tables of 10 or 11 people (we were 65 in total). The restaurant manager, as well as our wedding planner, told us this was just not possible. So we spent all of Friday racking our brains trying to make a different arrangement work. It easily took the whole day. I'm not going to say we weren't a little frustrated when we were eventually told our original layout could work. But whatever, it was done, finally. <br /><br />Couple that with putting together the gift bags and trying to greet each group of guests as they arrived, we didn't even see the beach until about 4pm when we both couldn't take it anymore and had to go outside. Which kinda sucks cause, did you see the beach? This was a shot of our friends frolicking in the water while we slaved away in the room. Boooooooo:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413709870/" title="Phil, Slava, Mike, Jayden, BB by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3413709870_ca4c5330f2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Phil, Slava, Mike, Jayden, BB" /></a><br /><br />When we finally made it out we were greeted by happy family and friends and a beautiful sea:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413717770/" title="Maya, Sharon, Ronnie, Shearly by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3413717770_5421860492.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Maya, Sharon, Ronnie, Shearly" /></a><br /><br />About 40 people were now at the hotel to attend our wedding with about 20 more arriving the next day. Everyone was on their own for dinner but most of our friends waited for us to be done with our errands and our dinner group was something like 14 people. We ended up at Horse-eye Jacks, a casual dining spot which I had visited during my first trip to Provo. Decent food with a conch-heavy menu.<br /><br />Here's me and my almost-husband after dinner (yes, I <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/torn.html">got the bag</a>, people, and I LOVE it):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412921399/" title="Shai and K by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3412921399_77e59b0ddc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Shai and K" /></a><br /><br />IC had the cutest outfits for every day of our weekend (yes, I picked them out but he was the one who wore them so well). Stay tuned for his BLAW! outfit from our rehearsal dinner.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-86495213191187569162009-04-22T11:21:00.005-04:002009-04-22T12:30:09.711-04:00RaveThe wedding was here before I knew it so I never got to conclude my series of what went into our awesome gift bags. <br /><br />First, another word about the gift bags themselves. We got them from <a href="http://www.canyonbeachwear.com/">Canyon Beachwear</a>, I've written about <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-must-rave.html">my love for Canyon before</a>, but I really can't say enough about this amazing company. Not only were their <a href="http://www.canyonbeachwear.com/">beach bags</a> a huge hit, they included a $25 gift certificate at their stores for all of our guests. I bought two bikinis before the trip, both of which got a "wow" from IC and one of which I'm apparently no longer allowed to wear when I'm not in his presence. Oh the hardships of being married. ;-)<br /><br />I highly recommend Canyon Beachwear to future destination brides, for the beach bags and the <a href="http://www.canyonbeachwear.com/">bathing suits</a>. They rock.<br /><br />I've already told you about some of the things that went into the bags:<br /><br />--<a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/products-of-day.html">Bath and Body Works True Blue spa products</a><br /><br />--<a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/product-of-day_24.html">Priori Sunblock</a><br /><br />--<a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/product-of-day.html">Ocean Potion hair mist</a><br /><br />We also included <a href="http://www.korres.com/">Korres</a> skin care samples. I love their olive face scrub and yoghurt cream!<br /><br />A last-minute addition to the bags, which was such a big hit I actually had <span style="font-style:italic;">boys</span> asking me for more of them, were <a href="http://www.elizabethgrant.com/Skin_Care/20048_Vitamin_c_illuminating_eye_pads.html?&targetArea=2">Elizabeth Grant eye pads</a>. I lounged on the deck on our wedding day with these under my eyes and felt like a million bucks.<br /><br />We also included <a href="http://www.frommers.com/">Frommer's</a> phenomenal guides in many of the bags (and tried to give underwater cameras to the rest). I LOVE Frommer's. They are the only ones who make a guide, that I know of, to Turks&Caicos. Some guests got Frommer's Caribbean guides.<br /><br />I love this next addition--Guests who have kids got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beach-Babies-Shades-Urban-Black/dp/1582462046/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240415890&sr=8-1">this adorable book</a> in their bag:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYKDTNDxDIp3AoJ1dLowV6LO0Jcj0AfW7-XP6vxJs-rnPjRQYDh5TZRuKvj7Xvqaut-mSTo3XSJJtrQHkvGTvTbBMXquB-tDSn7fhN_NnJ2nN63IyjtW2pnk6miyRs6NTK6wCfZ6HiOY/s1600-h/611sBDitzwL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYKDTNDxDIp3AoJ1dLowV6LO0Jcj0AfW7-XP6vxJs-rnPjRQYDh5TZRuKvj7Xvqaut-mSTo3XSJJtrQHkvGTvTbBMXquB-tDSn7fhN_NnJ2nN63IyjtW2pnk6miyRs6NTK6wCfZ6HiOY/s320/611sBDitzwL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327546150422295458" /></a><br /><br />We also included playing cards, a schedule, a crossword puzzle about us (made <a href="http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/">here</a>), a <a href="http://www.wherewhenhow.com/">Where, When & How magazine about T&C</a> and a <a href="http://www.wherewhenhow.com/turks-caicos-islands/magazine/providenciales-dining-guide/">Providenciales dining guide</a> (as most guests were either coming before our official dates or staying longer).<br /><br />Here are some shots of IC putting together the bags:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412902611/" title="Making gift bags by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3412902611_c25c72b73e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Making gift bags" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3412894843/" title="Making gift bags by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3412894843_1014c59211.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Making gift bags" /></a><br /><br />It was much harder work than it looks and in my next installment of the wedding weekend I'll tell you about how Friday (the day these pics were taken) was the hardest day of our whole trip.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-25080822422472176822009-04-20T16:34:00.007-04:002009-04-20T17:35:07.170-04:00Thursday, April 2, 2009I've decided I'm going to go day-by-day in telling the story of our wedding. It just seems easier this way, and less daunting.<br /><br />The official wedding dates were April 4-7, 2009, with the wedding happening on April 6, 2009. We chose this date for one major reason: there was no other choice. Jews can't get married in the 40-day period immediately following Passover, which this year began on April 8. By the time that's over, it's May and A) Russians have some superstition about getting married in May, and B) it just might be too hot to have a wedding in the Caribbean. We could have tried for March but it would've given us even <span style="font-style:italic;">less time </span> (as it was we organized the whole thing in under 3 months) to plan and less time for our guests to figure out their own plans. We didn't want to wait until next year or worse, start again with the research for a non-Caribbean location. As for why it was on a Monday--As Jews, we can't get married on Friday after sundown or Saturday before sundown, rendering these days fairly impossible. Then, April 6 turned out to be Palm Sunday. Maybe it wouldn't have ultimately mattered but in our initial search of wedding vendors in T&C, many of them mentioned that it was a holiday and they would have to charge all kinds of overtime fees. So we decided Sat-Tue would be best.<br /><br />Of course what this meant, ultimately, was that nearly everyone who attended our wedding arrived in Turks&Caicos on Thursday and Friday anyway.<br /><br />We took the Thursday direct flight with 9 of our friends and a baby (which belongs to two of the previously mentioned 9 friends, not a random baby). Three other guests arrived in Provo later in the afternoon. <br /><br />I love taking shots of Provo as we approach. The plane flies so low and the water is a million shades of blue and green:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3407956218/" title="Turks&Caicos from plane by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3407956218_c8ba6a98a9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Turks&Caicos from plane" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3407955380/" title="Turks&Caicos from plane by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3407955380_976c4b0d78.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Turks&Caicos from plane" /></a><br /><br />We landed in Provo and the line snaked through customs. We thought about the fact that two flights were landing within minutes of each other on both Friday and Saturday and hoped their wait wouldn't be too long.<br /><br />After we got our bags, Gansevoort had sent someone to pick up IC and I as well as our guests.<br /><br />When we reached Gansevoort, it was even more beautiful than it had been three weeks prior. They had put some finishing touches on it and it just looked spectacular. The view from the lobby is just stunning. I'm afraid my photo can do it no justice:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413712414/" title="Gansevoort Turks&Caicos by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3413712414_a91057b05a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gansevoort Turks&Caicos" /></a><br /><br />They greeted us with drinks and showed us to our rooms:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3407960698/" title="Welcome drinks by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3407960698_c4ccfbcdaf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Welcome drinks" /></a><br /><br />Ok, seriously. I've stayed in hot hotel rooms before, I swear. IC and I had a presidential suite in Aruba over New Years which featured two balconies. We've both traveled and seen some really sick places (on my list of amazing rooms: <a href="http://www.bahia-duque.com/">Bahia del Duque</a> in Tenerife, <a href="http://www.kempinski-istanbul.com/en/home/index.htm">Ciragan Palace in Istanbul</a>, various wow-inducing Vegas hotel rooms). And nothing, nothing, <span style="font-style:italic;">nothing</span> has ever been half as phat as the penthouse suite at the Gansevoort Hotel Turks&Caicos. It's a 3-bedroom suite with panoramic windows and a wrap-around terrace with a plunge pool. Seriously.<br /><br />The rest of the photos in this post were taken by our friend <a href="http://coradesigns.com">Cora</a>.<br /><br />This is IC and I messing around shortly after arrival. You can see one of the bedrooms in the background (and the kitchen on the right in the second one):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433871842/" title="DSC_0018 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/3433871842_2e61a68995.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0018" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433871310/" title="DSC_0017 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3433871310_06685d8f57.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0017" /></a><br /><br />Some of the balcony (I'd say these two shots show a little more than 2/3rds of the balcony, there's yet another little lounge area that's not shown):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433867988/" title="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3433867988_98ee28f408.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433060379/" title="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3433060379_ed39710e80.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C" /></a><br /><br />IC checking out the plunge pool:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433868700/" title="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3433868700_aa9edc9455.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="Penthouse at Gansevoort T&C" /></a><br /><br />Me and IC, just so happy to be there:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433064909/" title="DSC_0021 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/3433064909_a49056ebba.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="DSC_0021" /></a><br /><br />Thursday was easily our most chilled-out day despite the fact that we had meetings with our cake maker, the restaurant manager and the wedding coordinator we had hired to do day-of coordination. We spent the day on the beach with our friends and then all of us went out to dinner at Bay Bistro, a very recommendable restaurant. <br /><br />Providenciales is a very expensive place but the biggest rip-off in all of Provo are the taxis. There were 11 of us and the cab cost $10 per person roundtrip for a 5 minute ride. It only got worse from there. Subsequent cab rides were $10 each way the rest of the weekend. Cab drivers should be living like kings down there. Not to get political on this blog but the protectionist laws in Provo make it so hotels <span style="font-style:italic;">aren't allowed</span> to offer airport pick-up and drop-off to their guests, instead they have to use taxi services and the hotels just pay for the taxis. I don't know, even in this world economy, I'm a free market kind of girl. I don't like government using its heft to protect businesses which would otherwise fail.<br /><br />Anyway, Bay Bistro was great and we capped the night off in our suite, hanging out with our friends and looking forward to the weekend ahead.<br /><br />UPDATE:<br /><br />I found two more shots of our room that I took that I just had to share:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430507058/" title="Gansevoort T&C Penthouse suite by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3430507058_863ab35680.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gansevoort T&C Penthouse suite" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3430509776/" title="Gansevoort T&C Penthouse suite by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3430509776_2472188f78.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gansevoort T&C Penthouse suite" /></a>Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-54816456193412098142009-04-20T10:59:00.007-04:002009-04-20T11:35:19.775-04:00Our SongThe #1 question I've been getting from people about the wedding has been: so what did you <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/long-post-about-dancing-or-music-or.html">ultimately pick</a> for your song?<br /><br />Well. <br /><br />I'd love to tell you that we talked it over and just magically reached consensus. <br /><br />That did not happen.<br /><br />What did happen is that the night before the wedding, I pulled IC out of bed (seriously, at that point he was basically saying "you can have any song you want, just leave me alone") and made him try out our three songs. They were <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_PIadFsvDk">"Dance me to the end of love"</a> by Leonard Cohen (his choice), a remake of "Love Sponge" by my friend <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=121850428">Cindy</a> (my choice) and "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes (the song we initially had agreed on but then couldn't dance to). <br /><br />Turned out, wow, we can't dance to anything. <br /><br />We had taken one dance class figuring we'd just get some moves before the wedding and that was ultimately what was causing our difficulty. While we had always been able to hold and sway with the best of them, we suddenly found ourselves concentrating on some kind of box step with a dip at the end. <br /><br />We gave up on that and went back to just being us, two people who have danced together a million times over their 11 years of friendship and knew how to do it. No box step necessary, but maybe we'll keep the dip.<br /><br />In our hotel room, we tried dancing to "Dance me to the end of love". Awful. I love this song, and I'm half-sorry that IC didn't get his way (although in the morning we found out that our close friends, who also had a destination wedding which we both attended and which had been the impetus for us eventually deciding on our destination wedding, had had it as <span style="font-style:italic;">their</span> first song so I'm other-half-not-sorry we didn't choose it). It's just a very grand, majestic song and you can't just rock to it. You need a dance routine or something. We did not have a routine and we were getting married in 16 hours. So finally, finally, IC gave up the ghost and we scratched "Dance me to the end of love" off of our list. We agreed it would be the last song of the night. Too bad for us the DJ decided on a different song (note to future T&C brides, if anyone describes your dj as a "celebrity" dj, run.) But that is a story for another day.<br /><br />Then we tried "Love Sponge" by <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=121850428">Cindy</a>. She made us a beautiful song. She took "our" song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1SaWyFs9Jo">Love Sponge by Buju Banton</a> and de-reggaefied it, made it a slow, beautiful ballad. And while we did dance to it later in the wedding night, we didn't choose it for our first song. It just didn't fit exactly, it wasn't us.<br /><br />And then we went back to the previously rebuffed Bright Eyes song "First day of my life". And it worked! The lyrics just fit us so beautifully and it felt so right. So we went with it, we chose it, and we loved dancing to it on a beautiful Turks&Caicos night.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zwFS69nA-1w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zwFS69nA-1w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />(We actually had the DJ cut off the very last line of the song, the only part of the song that IC and I didn't like. We don't get why Conor Oberst has to add a screamy kind of line--"I really think you like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" to an otherwise beautiful love song).Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-81465437218032377602009-04-16T13:57:00.002-04:002009-04-16T14:01:29.278-04:00SoooooonOk, ok, ok, I'm still not back to blogging, and now NY is having 70 degree weather making it very hard to concentrate, but I did put something up on my poker blog (yes, I have a lot of blogs) that is very much wedding-related. Check it out <a href="http://ihadouts.blogspot.com/2009/04/poker-ish-karol.html">here</a>.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-46323576908740548212009-04-14T15:06:00.006-04:002009-04-14T16:04:54.879-04:00We're back!I'm still on major wedding overload (I've gone through several thousand photos from our photogs and the guests at this point) so it'll be another day or two before I get back to serious blogging (and it will be serious, I have a lot to say). The wedding was amazing, I'll have lots of pictures and details up soon.<br /><br />I never revealed the location and now that it's over I'd like to tell you all about the <a href="http://gansevoorttc.com/">Gansevoort Turks&Caicos</a> where we held our wedding. It was PHENOMENAL. The place is just stunning and the people there made our wedding a wild success. I've had a bunch of prospective T&C brides contact me for information on T&C and I really can't recommend Gansevoort enough. It's breathtaking! Some pics of our unbelieveable hotel (the pics do it no justice, you can not be prepared for its beauty) follow.<br /><br />This is the view from the lobby, taken by our friend Lauren. It is completely wow-inducing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3442628066/" title="View from Lobby by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3442628066_14c26e813d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="View from Lobby" /></a><br /><br />Also by Lauren, a pic of her room. I'll show you guys our just unreal penthouse suite in future posts:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3442628144/" title="Gansevoort Room by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3442628144_718dc5a49f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gansevoort Room" /></a><br /><br />This is a view from one of the rooms taken by Sharon S. All but seven of the Gansevoort rooms are ocean-front. The seven are overlooking the pool and still have a view of the ocean:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3441228415/" title="View3 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3441228415_94784fe112.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="View3" /></a><br /><br />This one is from Sharon M., a view of the buildings from the beach. The beach looks crowded but really, our wedding brought the crowd. We added 65 people who were at the beach almost the whole time. There's tons of room on the beach, it's actually the widest stretch of beach in Provo:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3439597953/" title="Gansvoort Beach by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/3439597953_540bbc4a6c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Gansvoort Beach" /></a><br /><br />The pool is just outrageous. I'm so not a pool person but it was the most welcoming, inviting, beautiful pool you ever did see. I ended up swimming in it twice and I <span style="font-style:italic;">never</span> swim in pools when there's an ocean right there. Here are two pics by our friend Cora:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3435516156/" title="DSC_0741 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3435516156_118a66c25f.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0741" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3435512534/" title="DSC_0738 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3435512534_5c08ff4bc1.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0738" /></a><br /><br />Also taken by Cora, the living room of a 1-bedroom suite:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433847250/" title="DSC_0008 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3433847250_dd92de1286.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0008" /></a><br /><br />Two amazing shots of the beach:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433875054/" title="DSC_0023 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3433875054_215bba35b6.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0023" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433066911/" title="DSC_0024 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3433066911_c1e5373970.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0024" /></a><br /><br />And me on the first night we got there, the Thursday before our Monday wedding (the sky is so beautiful in the shot that we're going to overlook that I somehow got white marks on my dress):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3433079015/" title="DSC_0045 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3433079015_2c77cfd9b7.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="DSC_0045" /></a><br /><br />It wasn't just beautiful. We got the comment from several guests that it was the most beautiful hotel they'd ever been to. And from a well-traveled group of mostly Russians and Israelis, that's really saying something.<br /><br />I also have to say something about <a href="http://www.onelittlewest12.com/">Bagatelle restaurant</a>, the restaurant at the Gansevoort which hosted our welcome beach bbq as well as our reception dinner (pictures of everything to follow). They worked their collective butts off for us. They made sure everything was exactly how we wanted it. They just did a really terrific job and I highly recommend them to future T&C brides.<br /><br />More to come, stay tuned!Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-52651581164760710202009-04-05T12:28:00.001-04:002009-04-05T12:35:47.047-04:00I'm getting married tomorrowAnd I'm not supposed to be blogging but I had to share the beauty.<br /><br />Last night:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3413761860/" title="Picture 076 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3413761860_c42d3685f4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Picture 076" /></a><br /><br />Right now:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alarmingnews/3414356749/" title="Picture 003 by KSheinin, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/3414356749_05a632604c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Picture 003" /></a>Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-59558256510710028362009-04-01T09:40:00.005-04:002009-04-01T09:57:56.433-04:00Probably the best marriage advice I've ever heardI picked up my wedding dress yesterday. It's perfect, though I seriously can't lose one more pound if I'd like it to hang on me correctly. You never think about that part, or I never do, that a dress can be too big with all the pre-wedding gym and dieting. IC pointed out this meant I could eat anything I want in Turks. Except, I eat anything I want now, under my <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/weighty.html">patent-pending weightloss system</a>.<br /><br />But this is not a post about weight or dresses.<br /><br />After I picked up my dress, I hailed a cab. I got in and the cabbie said, in a thick Israeli accent, "excuse me, can I ask you a question? Is this a wedding dress?"<br /><br />I said that it was.<br /><br />"Ohhhhhh! You getting married?"<br /><br />Yep, this weekend. Well, Monday, really.<br /><br />"Oh that's wonderful! Marriage is so wonderful! I've been married to my wife for 40 years and I still run home to her at the end of every night. She's stunning, STUNNING! When I met her, she was 19 and didn't know anything. That's the only way I got her. If I had met her two years later there is no way she would have gone out with me. She agreed to a date with me and when I came home from that date I told my mother there is no way this gorgeous girl will go out with me again. She was stunning! She's still stunning! Here, look at her picture. She's 60! Isn't she beautiful!."<br /><br />She is very beautiful.<br /><br />"When she agreed to a second date I almost fell on the floor. The whole date I was planning how to get her to marry me. She's so amazing, she makes the best home! She always looks good. She always smells good. Here, smell this, I carry around her perfume so I can smell it throughout the day."<br /><br />He takes a deep breath of it and looks delirious with happiness.<br /><br />"She is just everything. Do you want me to tell you the secret of a great marriage? I'll tell you, I hope you don't get offended, but anyway I'll probably never see you again."<br /><br />Tell me.<br /><br />"The secret of a great marriage is this: 23 1/2 hours a day, I worship her, I do anything she says, she is the boss, she is a goddess. For 30 minutes a day, in the bedroom, I am the boss and she gives me everything. I'm not joking, men are shmucks, we're not very complicated. All we need is 30 minutes a day where you make us feel like a man and that's it. Do that, and you will have a very happy life together"Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-90262119458536226922009-03-31T13:07:00.006-04:002009-03-31T13:29:20.140-04:00TornI'm a total bargain shopper. <br /><br />I buy most of my clothes twice a year at the Barney's Warehouse Sale. I shop sales and consignment shops. I'm all about <a href="http://www.c21stores.com/">Century 21</a> and <a href="http://www.loehmanns.com/">Loehmann's</a>. I love a good deal.<br /><br />This is all to say that while I may love my Louboutins, my awesome new Manolos or any number of designer things in my closet, ain't no way I'm paying full price for anything. Ever. Not even in the same universe as full-price. <br /><br />Except, well. I really need a bag to carry over my wedding weekend. And I've looked at sales, and Off-5th, and at my favorite rich lady consignment shops on the upper east side. But I haven't found one that works. So I'm thinking, for the first time in my life, of buying something that I find to be insanely priced. But look at it, it's glorious (not sure yet what color I prefer so I'll show you both that I'm considering):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR86_8c2bdESMqS7AmSCTwaRBfabMdXDNa43hyphenhyphen1aToNxUEKG-C_UpWtiuFjZLJkIbTaFyVETl55QYor4yrx53-EPogxBuWOhRGPMccvhL8JQHrZI-sP2b8Alvico0bQ3DrxSShvylI1k/s1600-h/Balenciaga+bag+summer+white.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR86_8c2bdESMqS7AmSCTwaRBfabMdXDNa43hyphenhyphen1aToNxUEKG-C_UpWtiuFjZLJkIbTaFyVETl55QYor4yrx53-EPogxBuWOhRGPMccvhL8JQHrZI-sP2b8Alvico0bQ3DrxSShvylI1k/s320/Balenciaga+bag+summer+white.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319401746951705218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5JmnbygDlHpQjpBOx1K3q8MmE411vfvFMo3tVvEZiuN6SqTN-n26R_kHr0PQLS2ENizL_ZTJFwV4fcByuQPDWZJ3MbVgxAFzvqXIQgkMaSAEcNNgSum8XM0A9ka1TSI5EduTHdFjNvE/s1600-h/Balenciaga+bag+summer+blue.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5JmnbygDlHpQjpBOx1K3q8MmE411vfvFMo3tVvEZiuN6SqTN-n26R_kHr0PQLS2ENizL_ZTJFwV4fcByuQPDWZJ3MbVgxAFzvqXIQgkMaSAEcNNgSum8XM0A9ka1TSI5EduTHdFjNvE/s320/Balenciaga+bag+summer+blue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319401742101540850" /></a><br /><br />And...it's like $1200. I get sick thinking of blowing that kind of money on a bag. It's so not me! But Balenciaga has had a hold on me for awhile. It's the only bag I ever notice anyone carrying and the only bag I've coveted. So do I just bite the bullet and get it? In the grand vision of the wedding, $1200 seems but a blip. But in real life, $1200 is a weekend getaway to Vegas or the Caribbean, something I appreciate much more than objects.<br /><br />Urg! Do I give in to wedding insanity and just do it?Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8462364577256487324.post-75699082613743362142009-03-30T11:49:00.010-04:002009-03-30T21:35:32.294-04:00UpdatesI've noticed I write about problems I'm having and then never mention if they've gotten resolved. Here's a synopsis:<br /><br /><br />We <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/religious-guidance.html">got a rabbi</a>! He's more of less the official rabbi of the Bahamas, he's based in Miami and willing to come to Turks&Caicos to marry us. It's a done deal, ticket booked and everything.<br /><br />My brother <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-weddings-make-you-want-to-maim.html">found a suit</a>. We did a trip to Woodbury Commons outlets and he got an Armani linen suit. It's off-white and kind of gangsta. Now he's blowing up my phone about what kind of shoes and shirt he needs. Not on my to-do list, dude.<br /><br /><a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/weighty.html">Weight</a>. I did 5 hours with a personal trainer over the last few weeks and have lost about 5 pounds. I haven't hit my goal of 10 but it's more than the 3 I needed to lose.<br /><br /><a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-have-questions-you-have-answers.html">I had questions, you had answers</a>. Our moms will have corsages, I still have no idea how many centerpieces we'll need (but it's ok, my wedding planner is on it and they are being ordered today/tomorrow), I'm acknowledging gifts if I see the person, not calling or emailing otherwise, I'm not using a runner (unless I change my mind by tomorrow and rush out to get one somewhere in NYC) and my heel in boardwalk problem is being solved by the <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/yet-another-reason-why-this-blog-exists.html">amazing Solemates product</a>.<br /><br />We still don't have <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/long-post-about-dancing-or-music-or.html">a first dance song</a>! On our way back from Turks&Caicos a few weeks ago, my ipod froze for the first time in its existence. It froze on the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwFS69nA-1w">"First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes</a>. When it unfroze and I listened to the song, I was sure it was a sign. The song is PERFECT. And IC actually approved, which is crazy because "Bright Eyes" is the band name he uses to laugh at mopey British singers on my ipod (yes, I know Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes isn't British, IC does not), like "who <span style="font-style:italic;">is</span> this, Bright Eyes?". Anyway, we both agreed, this song is perfect. And then we tried dancing to it. Seriously, the word disaster doesn't really begin to cover it. People will be looking away in horror. You can't even sway to this song really, the beat is just impossible. My friend's sister is still working on covering that reggae song for us and what we've heard so far is beautiful, but we don't have the completed version yet and so are still looking for another song. I may have to give in to IC's Leonard Cohen song. <span style="font-style:italic;">Maybe</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-my-head-and-hand.html">I chose the diamond, shared prong wedding band</a>. It's gorgeous. I keep taking it out of the box and trying it on and just loving it. I can't wait till it's on my finger permanently. And the veil, as mentioned two posts ago, is being made for me by my new seamstress.<br /><br />The cake was ordered during our trip to Provo a few weeks ago. The cake-maker assures me she <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/03/tiiiiiiiiiiime-is-on-my-side-yes-it-is.html">won't need 6 months to bake it</a>.<br /><br />We still don't <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/02/two-conversations.html">have a honeymoon location</a> but we're getting closer.<br /><br />On music, we're still <a href="http://weddingplanningiskillingme.blogspot.com/2009/01/music-makes-people-come-together.html">following my philosophy</a> of choosing all the songs. We put together playlists of every single song we want played at every wedding related event. For the actual reception, we will have a dj but he will be instructed to play only the songs on the list. Still no Madonna but I let in one Britney song for my cutie future sister-in-law.Karolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449302175595855512noreply@blogger.com3