First off. I have to say writing a blog isn't easy. I have to give major props to our dear friend Leah who is documenting her trip across America in vivid daily updates. I can sit here and make excuses including a recent battle with a sinus infection but the fact of the matter is I just haven't been on top of it lately.
Fortunately as far as the guest list goes we have been. I find it hilarious. Here we are trying to get (numbers) for a celebration that won't happen for another year and a half. Yes folks this is what weddings are all about. As I said above I find it hilarious but I have to say it has been a good exercise. If someone were to give you an opportunity to share a special moment with your dearest I promise you your Facebook friend cue wouldn't cut it. I mean I'm a pretty social guy but I'm not inviting every soul I cross paths with to my wedding. Sorry.
Julia is far more compassionate. If she had her way her nutritionist and our morning coffee guy would be at a table front and center. Let me make something clear!! I love my coffee guy (even more than some of my dear friends) he's the most dependable soul I've met (at least when it comes to coffee) but sorry he isn't making the cut.
Ahhh the cut!! It sounds harsh. Please. Jules and I didn't make the cut on a wedding last year that frankly we though we would. The couple responsible felt bad and kept asking me after if we were mad. I have to say we weren't. It wasn't a big deal. We see them socially and hang out from time to time but honestly it saved us a trip back east and we celebrated with them when they came back. Julia is concerned with hurting peoples feelings. My thought is if there really happy for us they shouldn't feel hurt period. I just got out of my dentists office where every staff member huddled around a computer to watch our engagement!! Even my dentist!! They were so moved and supportive but again they won't be at my wedding!! Sorry.
With all that said I'm happy with my initial list. Sharon (wedding planner and future mother in law) made it clear. It's a pie. We all get a piece!! Huh?? Who is we?? Turns out we is Julia, myself, and our parents. Hmmmmmmm.
Let me give you a visual of Sharon. She's a pistol. The woman says what's on her mind and adds sauce on top of that. She dominates a room even with me in it!! That's an accomplishment. Needless to say I felt her initial numbers (including her piece of the pie) would topple the 500 mark. Here we go I thought.
I purposely crunched my list. Thank god my parents being A) bible beating christians who have condemned practically everyone they have ever come across to an afterlife in hell and B) old enough to have partied with Jesus himself.......made their list almost comical. In fact I was able to pad my numbers. Awesome.
Julia's list like mine turned out well. The biggest problem is co-workers. You feel obligated to invite everyone because let's face it you have to see them again afterwards. This is why I make a point on my films not to get too attached to friends on set. Hello I work with 300 people at a time I mean really who has time in their lives for 5 close friends let alone 300. What can I say I'm older and wiser.
Happily Sharon seems confident we can come up with a good number. I have to say I feel pretty good about it. I have to say I started this process trying to be involved as little as possible but I'm finding out that just shouldn't be the case. Guys you have to be involved. Use your brain of course. I won't be discussing place settings and room decor but you can bet I'll have a say in the menu and the band!!
We'll see how this list changes throughout the whole process. We have a lot of out of town invites so I have a feeling our list is going to change dramatically. We understand. Times are tough and it's hard enough to find the time to have lunch with friends let alone have them board a plane to come out for a few days not knowing what they'll be facing in the coming year. I looked at my list and thought about how each name has touched me personally and had a part in my life, my journey that's brought me to this moment....that I hope to share with all of them.......... but not the coffee guy!! I think we both can live with that.
