BIG NEWS!

So I haven't been blogging lately because I've been doing a lot of stuff that's been keeping me busy, but up until today, it was stuff that I didn't really want to talk about until I'd told some specific people. That is, my parents and Erin. (I'm not saying that the rest of you aren't as important, but you know, parents and Heterosexual Life Partner, they rank up there.)

Here it is: Cal and I are getting married!

"Ummm... yeah?" I hear you say. "That IS what an engagement means."

Well, yes, but we're getting married sooner rather than later. Like, quite soon. Like, November 24 soon.

Basically, we're eloping. That means it's going to be us and a celebrant and the required two witnesses, and hopefully it takes all of five minutes. You see, we were thinking: much as I like planning a wedding and thinking about all the details and whatnot, I DON'T like being the center of attention. The thought of having so many eyes on me while I declare my love for someone terrifies me, and for us (I'm not saying for EVERYONE) it just seems so insincere, because it's just NOT the way we've done things so far. We hid the fact that we were in a relationship from most people up until we actually met in person, and then hid the fact that we were engaged for like two years (oh, um, I actually got engaged in June 2009...) We're just kind of private, and we prefer to keep it that way.

Plus there are other factors. Like the guest list, for instance. It would make more sense to have the wedding over in the States since Cal doesn't really care about much of his family being there. But even his immediate family probably wouldn't be able to attend (at least, I wouldn't want to take a one year old and a four year old, however well behaved, on a 14 hour flight across the Pacific--and that being only half the journey!). But if we had it here, half of my family wouldn't be attending either (some sort of fall out between my mom and dad's side of the family, which I'm "too young to know about"). Which basically means it would be my immediate family, my mom's side (NOT very big), and however many Hollins ladies could make it up to Michigan.

And it's so FREAKING EXPENSIVE to have a "real" wedding! The dress, the food, the cake, the venue... All for one night. Granted, one night full of memories, but still. So we have a different plan.

We chose the 24th of November because that's our current anniversary. We'll be getting married on our seventh anniversary (good luck, right?). It'll be in the morning, quite a short ceremony, possibly at Cal's uni (very pretty area!) or New Farm Park (more on that later). Our witnesses will be Cal's friend Chris and probably one of our new housemates. After, Cal and I will grab lunch somewhere and possibly go to a cupcake shop to get a "cake eating" picture. I DID buy a white knee-length dress for $102. Hasn't gotten here yet-- hopefully it fits!

Then on December 16 we're getting some professional photos taken by Paper Fox Studio, probably at New Farm Park. She has some brilliant photos that she's done there, and we fell in love with the bench area (http://paperfoxstudio.com/blog/portraits/laura-evan-new-farm-park-powerhouse-engagement-shoot/). Haven't been there in person yet -- we're going on Sunday. Also on Sunday we're heading out to pick up some old-style suitcases which we'll be using in the shoot. I'm also thinking about getting a copy of The Amber Spyglass in hardcover, as it's a book we bonded over and continue to love(/hate).

Planning on making a montage of the photos with a song and possibly snippet of video that will be taken of the ceremony. Also possibly making postcards out of one of the photos and sending it out to relatives before changing my name on Facebook and whatnot.

BUT THEN, we're going to Europe. As our honeymoon. A late honeymoon, I'll grant you, but a lengthy, memory-filled, Europey honeymoon that we'll enjoy a whole lot more than chatting up fourth cousins at a reception with food we probably don't like. We're going to use any money we WOULD be spending on a wedding and using it for Europe. A valid use, I think. But even more importantly than that, we're planning on stopping by the US before/after Europe and perhaps we can have some sort of party then!

Anyway. I hope no one feels left out or anything. :( I know weddings are a thing people look forward to, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's just not our style. We're going to be much, much, much happier doing this.

Oh, and P.S.! I would appreciate it if this wasn't shouted about or anything. I wanted to let my close friends know, but other relatives and stuff on Facebook don't need to know just now. (Actually, I kind of just want to see the comments when my relationship status and name change suddenly on Facebook. It's going to be HILARIOUS.)