Bridal Dress Adventure in Denver

End of July I visited my dear friend and former roommate Tiffany in Denver. We were on a very special mission: the quest for the perfect wedding gown! Tiffany had researched all bridal salons in the Denver area (26!). We visited four of them, I tried on about 20 different dresses, and with the help of Tiffany, various bridal consultants, other brides, a waitress, Tiffany's husband, and my mom (I emailed her photos of the top 7 dresses) I was actually able to make a decision on day 4!

As it is common in most bridal salons, my dress was made to order for me. After it arrived at "The Bridal Collection" at the beginning of September, they sent it to me overnight. Never before had I been that excited opening a box! On September 19 I had an appointment with a seamstress who would do the final alterations to the dress (like the hem for example, which depends on the shoes to be worn with the dress). Tomorrow, September 30, it will be done and ready for the final fitting. Whoowhoo!

The stay in Denver held a lot more though than "just" the search for the perfect dress. Tiffany transformed the long weekend into a mini vacation full of surprises for me as the "bride to be". First, there was the sign on her car -- "Bride to be on board, honk for good luck!", then the veil that I had to wear during my entire stay in Denver (instant conversation starter no matter where we went - at the bridal salons, going out for dinner, go-karting, ...)., and then of course the super fun bachelorette party that Tiffany and her husband Steven threw for me.

Newly acquired wisdom:

1. There's a princess in every girl. Even in those that are looking for "a very, very simple wedding dress".

2. When someone advises you to wear "appropriate underwear" when going to try on wedding dresses, take it serious. That's because, in general, you can't put on any wedding dress by yourself, no matter how simple it is. And thus, you'll end up nearly unclothed in a generously sized, well-lit dressing room, surrounded by bridal consultants, asking yourself "What the heck was I thinking choosing this underwear!??" (P.S. I took the advice seriously. Luckily.)

3. No one beats Tiffany in the category of "Best Bridal Dress Adventure Girlfriend of the World!!!"

Tiffany and me at Tiffany's wedding
August 6, 2005

All pictures of "Bridal Dress Adventure in Denver" in my Flickr photo album.

Our Invitations

I had lots of fun making our "Save the Date" cards and the invitations.

Sure, they would have been finished a lot sooner had I been able to overcome my perfectionism, which would have also spared Ed a lot of head-shaking...

"Why do you throw out these cards?"
"They have stains."
"Where?"
"Here."
"Where??? Are you kidding!? No one's gonna see that!!!"
"Yes, they will."
"Fine."

...but fact is, there are things you only do once, so you better do them right.

Wedding invitations, for example.

All pictures of "Wedding Invitations" in my Flickr photo album.

The Proposal

December 2006. As usual, Edward and Ineke spend Christmas in Germany, among Ineke's family in Geesthacht. It is Christmas Eve, sometime in the afternoon. Edward, Ineke, and Ineke's parents are busy preparing the dinner. Ineke and her mom keep "the guys" busy in the kitchen. Edward takes Ineke's dad aside and tells him about certain intentions of his, which at first surprise Ineke's dad a bit. He recovers relatively quickly though.

Later in the evening. After dinner, while exchanging presents, Edward hands Ineke an oval wooden box, decorated with a big red bow. Ineke will state lateron how she found it weird that her dad started to take pictures like crazy at this moment.

As Ineke lifts the box's lid, she sees: sand, sea shells, and a selfmade card on top. The card shows a beach, palms, sunset, and reads as follows:

Aloha...
(& Mele Kalikimaka!) *

One, All Expenses Paid Round TripVacation For Two, To The Hawaiian Island Of Your Choice!

With NO Strings Attached!

(...well, ONE string attached...)

[*hawaiian for "Merry Christmas"]

A thin red ribbon is attached to the card, and disappears in the sand. As Ineke gives the string a careful tug, a box appears, approximately 1.5' x 1.5' x 1.5'. Ineke recognizes the typical shape of the box, and tears of joy start to run down her cheeks.

Edward clears his throat, and declaims:

"We went through a lot in the last five years, and I want more. I am very, very happy with you. Do you want to marry me?"

Ineke, not the only one crying at this moment, sobs "Ye-hes!"

In February 2006, Edward and Ineke celebrate their engagement on Oahu, Hawaii.

Edward and Ineke are looking forward to their wedding among family and friends on October 28, 2006.

All pictures of "The Proposal" in my Flickr photo album.