Where's Alton Brown When You Need Him?

First update in a while. Let's see, what's new in the world of wedding planning . . .

Yesterday, Jordan and I added the first items to our wedding registry at Macy's. I think we're going to settle with Macy's, Target, and Amazon.com. Macy's is mostly for fine china and fancy cookware, Target for bed, bath, entertainment, decor, and Amazon for everything else.

We got to Macy's around 10:30 Saturday morning and made our way upstairs to the "home" department. As soon as we got off the escalator we found Dominic, the wedding registry coordinator, and he sat us down in chairs covered in ivory satin slipcovers and got us all set up. Jordan asked to be briefed on the basics of china, which was very helpful, because I didn't know much, either. We discovered that the term "bone china" means that the manufacturers mix in ox bone (in an ashy, powder form) with the normal porcelain clay, which makes the china more durable and slightly translucent. Non-bone china is just porcelain, slightly more delicate and opaque.

We made good time picking out a china set: Vera Wang's "Blanc sur Blanc" collection. Simple white china with a minimalist decorative border, and platinum accents along the rim of the plates and cups. Next we chose our flatware: again, we wanted simple, and nothing too fancy or expensive. We decided to hold off on wine glasses for Target, because Jordan spotted one of his favorite brands on display at Macy's that is also sold at Target for a fraction of the price.

After we knocked out china, we headed over to cookware and kitchen supplies. We asked Dominic what was available, and he asked us what we were looking for: non-stick, cast iron . . .

"I actually prefer stainless steel," Jordan said. Dominic looked impressed.

"Oh, you're a chef?" he asked, which made me confident that stainless steel was the right choice. It's also Alton Brown's preferred type of cookware, and if it's good enough for Alton Brown, it's good enough for me.

We picked out a ten-piece stainless steel set from Emeril's brand (the Italian guy who yells a lot). There were a couple of other larger sets, but we thought this one was just right, and pretty nice: a layer of copper in the bottom for super extra heat conducting powers and fancy pouring spouts on every pan. We added one non-stick frying pan to the batch as well.

Next we moved to knives, about which both of us know nothing. Jordan called his mom, who apparently knows a lot about knives, and as I wandered between a couple of different brands, I began to wish that Alton Brown was there to tell us which were the best. Jordan's mom recommended Chicago Cutlery, a brand that Macy's doesn't carry, and since Dominic didn't know a lot about knives, either, we decided to hold off.

Jordan had to get to a meeting with another student for a presentation, so we didn't register for a lot else, except for a shiny apple-red Kitchen Aid mixer, and we added a few serving pieces that match the china we picked out.

It's not a huge start, but I think we checked off a couple of big items. I'm not sure how much expensive, fancy china we should expect to get, but you never know. And I really like that cookware.

Later, Jordan set up our Amazon wedding registry, and added those Chicago Cutlery knives to the list that his mom recommended. Thanks, Lisa! I think I'll be adding Alton Brown's cookbook to the line-up, as well. If you hadn't noticed, he's my first and last authority for most things having to do with cooking. And he's just so darn funny!

Note the stainless steel:

At this point, we've got most of the big things booked - ceremony/reception location, attendants, photographer, invitations, bridesmaids dresses, suits for the guys. I'm realizing, though, that it's all of the little things that people normally don't think about when they daydream about their wedding (at least I didn't; although I wasn't the type of girl to often daydream about my wedding, anyway) that can drive you crazy. For instance:

Who's going to do my hair and makeup? At what cost? Do people even do hair on Sundays?

Where are the girls and I going to get ready the day of? There's a little bridal suite in the chapel, but we only get to be in the chapel for an hour before the ceremony.

I have a lot of friends coming from out of town, most of them poor students. Where are they going to stay?

How are those without cars going to get from the ceremony to the reception (about a ten minute drive)?

- Brainflash on that last one. Maybe I'll send out a mass email and ask if anyone who definitely is going to have a car would be willing to carpool with those without.

Who's going to clean up the chapel after the ceremony? We probably won't have anything but flower petals to sweep up, but still . . . it's a job that someone's got to do.

I feel like there's so many more, and when I get thinking about it I start to get overwhelmed. Also, who has time for homework when there's a wedding to plan!

One thing at a time, I guess. Just like everything else.

And a dress for monkey, too

I'm beginning to feel the extra pressure that comes with the realization that our wedding is just over two months away. Suddenly everything seems so real, and our disposable time seems so minimal. First order of business: mail invitations.

Over the past week, I've also managed to take care of another major order of business: assign colors to the bridesmaids and get them to order their dresses.

Last Saturday, I met Nicole, Jon and their little niece Natalia at David's Bridal. Nicole was going to figure out what size dress fits her as well as select her color. I'm having the girls wear all different colors, and I let my sisters have first choice of what they wanted to wear. Natalia was there because she's going to be our (absolutely adorable) flower girl.

I got to the store a little late, and Nicole had already gotten her size and color squared away. They had picked out a flower girl dress for Natalia to try, so Nicole took Natalia into the dressing room to try it on, Jon sat outside the dressing rooms, doodling in his notebook. I wandered around a bit, looking at other possible flower girl dresses. After a few minutes, I returned to the dressing room area, and that's when I heard the screaming.

Intermingled with general wailing I caught the cries, "I don't like it!" and "I'm not pretty anymore!" Nicole's voice carried over the mirrored walls as well, trying to reason with Natalia.

"Of course you're pretty! Why don't you like it?" I made my way over to their room, sensing trouble. After a moment, the door opened, and Nicole and Natalia emerged. Natalia was not wearing a flower girl dress. She clutched her blue stuffed monkey, looking forlorn. Nicole said,

"She doesn't want to try any dresses on." By this time my mom had arrived, she knelt down to give Natalia a hug (my mom adores small children, which can be inferred by the fact I am one of five kids).

We took Natalia back over to look at the other flower girl dresses, asking her if she liked any of them. This one with the poofy skirt? No. How about this one, with the beads? No. What about one of these colored ones? Again and again, Natalia stubbornly shook her head. I've never felt like I'm very good with kids. I don't want to talk down to them, but I don't know how to talk to them in a way that connects. I tried reassuring Natalia, telling her that she was very beautiful, but nothing seemed to be working.

"I think she's a little overwhelmed," Nicole said. "There's so many people in here, and all of these mirrors. As soon as we walked in, she told me she was scared."

We decided to look elsewhere. Jon and Nicole asked Natalia if she wanted to look at the Easter dresses at "the other store" (Burlington Coat Factory). She nodded. This seemed like our only option.

Fifteen minutes later, we were looking at the little girls' dresses at BCF, and Nicole explained to me the real reason why Natalia had been so upset.

"I talked to my grandma on the way over here," she said, "and she told me that for some reason, Natalia had thought we were taking her to look at Halloween costumes. She wants to be Dracula for Halloween, so when we showed her the dresses she thought we were forcing her to be a princess."

I am fascinated by how the child's mind works. After hearing this, Natalia's tantrum made perfect sense. She had desires and expectations that she couldn't express in words; instead, she had been overwhelmed by her emotions. And all this time, she must have thought that we were the crazy ones, that for some unknown reason we weren't cooperating.

Needless to say, after Nicole explained that Natalia could still be Dracula for Halloween, and that this trip was to find a dress for the wedding, Natalia was much more enthusiastic about trying on dresses. Dress after dress I showed her, asking if she liked it, and she was all nods.

Nicole is going to be wearing a heathery-purple bridesmaid dress, and we found an ivory dress for Natalia, adorned with tiny purple roses. And it gets even better: the dress came with an identical miniature dress, just the right size for a favorite doll, or a favorite stuffed blue monkey. I think Natalia liked that part the best.

(Also, can't you imagine an adorable little girl walking down the aisle, scattering flower petals, and cradling her blue monkey in a matching dress? How cute would that be?)

Oh, and we also decided on our photograhper. It's going to be that guy I mentioned in the last couple of blogs. I was worried he'd be too pricey, but they put together a package we're happy with within our budget. They're called Jones Photo Art, if you want to look them up.