Matt & Amanda Get Married

A Honeymoon and A Farewell

2009-01-10T22:50:00.008-05:00

Honeymoon-61, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Here are some of the photos from our trip to Vietnam & Cambodia. Yes, that is us, riding off into the sunset on an elephant. We had an amazing time - also amazing was the opportunity to completely unplug from the usual routine. No email, no phone, no mail, barely any newspapers - and of course, no blog. Apologies for my absence, but really I was just getting you ready for the inevitable. Yes, this will (most likely) be my final post for this blog.

We've now officially gotten married. We've covered all the major high points, the prep, the dress, logistics, ideas, the party, the food, the photos and (I hope) at least a little of the fun this past year has been.

As a farewell, here's the link to about 160 images from our trip (of the >2,000 that we actually shot):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandaclose/sets/72157612413172690/

You'll see in the photos that we covered the following places (in brief):
Hanoi - first day tour of old quarter, Ho CHi Min Mausoleum, stilt house
Halong Bay - spent the night on a beautiful Junk and ate the best freshly steamed crab I have ever had in my life, with a squeeze of kumquat and a bit of salt as a dressing.
Hoi An - learned how to make rice paper from scratch at a cooking class near town, then had a couple of skirts made up by one of the many town tailors. Had dinner at a lovely spot recommended by a friend from work called Cafe Des Amis.
Nha Trang - visited a gorgeous beach and checked out the Naval Officer Training School where M's father had worked during the war.
Siem Reap - Flew via Saigon (HCM City) to Siem Reap and spent three days enjoying tuk-tuk rides and ancient temples. Loved it. The place is simply magic.
Mekong Delta - Travelled from Phnom Phen to Chau Doc by boat. Visited the floating village in Chau Doc, then the floating market in Can Tho. Both were lovely and fascinating.
Phan Thiet - a few days of relaxing at the beach and loads of time to finish a book or 2 before heading home.

Originally we'd planned to visit the highlands in the north as well, but we missed our connection early on and this had to rearrange a day or two of our itinerary... sigh, next time perhaps.

Thanks so much for reading - should I begin another blog someday soon, I'll be sure to make a note of that here.

More Fab Photos!

2008-11-24T22:48:00.006-05:00

Here are a bunch of photos from the rehearsal dinner with links to more pics. If you'd like a little refresher on the party, here's a write up I did a couple of weeks ago. Thanks again to M.'s parents for such a memorable and fun evening.

I love this one of M. and his mother. And the pic below features some more of you, dear readers...

Below is M. and his sister!

Here's a festive shot of our fathers - you also can get a pretty great view of the trailer outside that was being used for shooting an episode of 30 Rock.

I like this one of M. & me too! M. and I went back to have dinner at Petit Marche last week - and they broke out the chanpagne for us to welcome us back. Such a lovely spot!

I love the Chrysler Building

2008-11-24T12:55:00.001-05:00

Queens Walk-191, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Took this photo in the freezing cold last night a little up river from our shots from the wedding. Several more skyline shots are viewable by clicking on the image...

Bridesmaids Dresses

2008-11-22T10:39:00.005-05:00

I've gotten several requests for some pics of the whole wedding party - and interest in my bridesmaids all together to see how the dresses look. Welp, I aim to please - here's one from before the ceremony.

And from the park - very pretty with the green grass, no?

Photos! YAY!

2008-11-22T10:36:00.003-05:00

The photos are in! Check them out here!
Or cut & paste this link: http://www.pictage.com/586199

There are hundreds of images - and pictures of everyone who attended. Check them out!

Us. Dancing.

2008-11-18T22:48:00.001-05:00

Just a quick flashback to a joyous day and a little dancing.
This one thanks to Sue!

Snapshot of the Day: Smooch at Sunset

2008-11-13T23:23:00.001-05:00

Just a little more from Magda... much more to come.

Great Article on How Obama Used the Web...

2008-11-13T23:08:00.002-05:00

...to campaign and how he'll most likely use it to govern.

From the NY Times earlier this week. Am a little bit crazy about this article in fact.

THE MEDIA EQUATION
How Obama Tapped Into Social Networks’ Power
By DAVID CARR
Published: November 10, 2008
There’s every reason to believe that President-elect Barack Obama will use his network of supporters not just to campaign, but to govern.

Not to compare myself with Obama (oh, but what the hey, it's my blog after all), but I really feel like the blog helped get the party started at the wedding. Maybe the guests were just being nice, but sometimes I bump into people and they comment of things from here that they simply wouldn't have known if they weren't regular readers. And my ambition was to have everyone feel connected in some way, and this bizarre thing actually helps people do that.

My 251st Post: First Group Shot!

2008-11-12T20:41:00.004-05:00

Kind of cool, no?

Apologies to those who have been waiting for updates - life ATW* has caught up with me and with it, little time for blogging. But how about this photo? Cool, no? Magda, our beloved photographer is fast at work and sent a little taster today - call this one an amuse busch, non?

*after the wedding.
** Click on the photo to see a larger version!

The Election Update.

2008-11-03T22:46:00.002-05:00

Don't forget to vote, people!

I'll be hitting the Brooklyn Heights poll center first thing tomorrow morning. In a nod to this blog, I just heard about a couple that is getting married next weekend and they were out campaigning in Missouri and Pennsylvania this past weekend. How amazing is that?! I confess, I didn't have it in me to work for a campaign and plan/execute a wedding. But I'll be there tomorrow. Can't wait till tomorrow night - we are heading to some friends' apartment for the results after work. I'll be exhausted at work on Weds but I don't think I'll be able to turn in early this year... just too much at stake.

On another topic: When, oh when, will our photos arrive?

Detail Drill-Down: Bridesmaid Dress Inspiration

2008-10-30T23:04:00.001-04:00

I fell in love with this spread from In Style Weddings early on and never wavered. Love what my bridesmaids wore - they looked gorgeous. More on that soon.

More Snapshots!

2008-10-30T18:28:00.002-04:00

Family, originally uploaded by agurgel1.

All available here.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mattandamandagotmarried/
(cut & paste the link if you have any trouble.)

HUGE thanks to ANITA for sharing these! Several real treasures in this collection.

Returning to the Scene of the Crime: Bubby's

2008-10-29T22:37:00.003-04:00

We went back for dinner at Bubby's tonight. We had ribs! We had mashed potatoes! It was yummy. We went back to the photobooth. And Bubby's looks lovely, though a little quiet on a Wednesday. I wouldn't have changed a thing about the wedding. The only thing I might have revised slightly was the logistics on the van - so we wouldn't have to deal with it on the day itself.
Welp, you know what they do in the Aran islands, right? They always make a small error when they knit their beautiful sweaters because to make a perfect sweater would bring them too close to God.

I read that somewhere.
A long time ago.
It helps me rationalize (and accept) mistakes.

A Little More About the Band: The Matt Hilgenberg Quartet

2008-10-26T15:10:00.003-04:00

IMG_0997, originally uploaded by Hal Close.

We were at times, how shall I say it... um, a little disorganized. Hope no one noticed. We didn't really firm up the whole announcement thing with the band until during the cocktail hour. Yep, that's right, we hadn't really made a concrete plan for the night... so we just checked in constantly with Matt Hilgenberg and his AWESOME band and somehow they just made it work.

The music was awesome and the band totally accommodating! I also have to say that I was a little worried that the choice of a jazz band over a DJ would somehow stifle the enthusiasm with which everyone danced. I had nothing to worry about! Great dancing by all - and we had some seriously skilled dancers in the crowd! Naturally, we were thrilled with the rendition of Nina Simone's Love Me or Leave me, as well as the Fly Me to The Moon arrangement for the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dance.

A lot of that great vibe throughout the party was led by Matt (he was the singer and the horn player) and his band. I felt like the music was soft and pleasant during cocktails and definitely built up to a much faster paced and louder level for the really great dancing as the party progressed. Toward the end of the evening, I apologized for being a bit disorganized to which Matt replied dryly, "hey, we're jazz musicians." Conversation over. Hilarious.

One final note: Quite a few people have asked if M. and I took lessons and the answer is yes. We took classes at Dance Manhattan, a dance studio on 19th Street in Manhattan. I'd taken several salsa classes there before meeting M. and was thrilled to have a chance to go back and brush up on our stuff. Our teacher was Michael Jagger (you can ask for him specifically) and we recommend him highly. Really fun to take those classes together.

Finally, on an unrelated note, I love that we got the last weekend of the Waterfalls Project, as my Dad captured in the photo above.

A Meme?

2008-10-26T13:18:00.002-04:00

Jumping on Tricia's bandwagon, why not a meme?

I confess that I wasn't familiar with this topic & practice (wasn't sure if it was okay to mimic another blogger's post even if the internal guts of the discussion are personalized and different). But when I started to look through the T.'s post and the links leading in, it looks to me like this is supposed to be a loose string of the same questions answered/mirrored across blogs. Sort of like a meta-conversation or something. Dunnoh. Anyway, many more wedding details to come but for now, I'm doing some lists o' five...

10 years ago I was:
1. living in Cambridge, Massachusetts with my roommate from college
2. driving a Honda Civic and loving it
3. struggling with the pathetic dial up internet service available at the time
4. participating in a fab women's book group run by my friend S.
5. planning my first (and, turns out, only) seasonal share - a ski house in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

5 things on today's to do list:
1. thank you notes
2. time outside - whether a run, a walk or reading in the park
3. cleaning, laundry, dishes, etc.
4. blogging
5. pining for more wedding photos

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. laughing cow cheese & high fiber crackers
2. any kind of cheese really, just all on own, or with a nice glass of red wine
3. a crisp yummy apple
4. chocolate chip walnut cookies from Tate's (clearly am now stopping to go get one with a cup of tea)
5. baby carrots with tangy lemon hummus

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. get a bigger apartment in Brooklyn
2. book a trip to Asia (wait a minute...)
3. give more money away to causes I care about
4. upgrade my camera (& several lenses) plus enroll in a Rocky Mountain School of Photography class
5. watch more plays

5 places I have lived:
1. Munich, Germany
2. McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
3. London, England
4. Cambridge, Massachusetts
5. Keene, New Hampshire

5 jobs I have had:
1. dishwasher
2. park ranger
3. research analyst
4. editor
5. operations project manager

Detail Drill-Down: Rehearsal Dinner at Le Petite Marche (w/accent aigue)

2008-10-23T23:45:00.002-04:00

IMG_0881, originally uploaded by Hal Close.

Am into the scene shot this evening!

We had so much fun on the Friday before the wedding. We ended up with a dinner of about 45 people at Le Petite Marche on Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights. M.'s family put the entire affair together and it was charming from the first note of the lovely accordian player stationed out front by the entrance, to the incredible wine and the delicious dinner!

Some highlights here so we don't forget them:

1.) M.'s father's welcome and toast.
2.) The indoor outdoor party with drinks and hors' d'oevres inside and out on the sidewalk.
3.) 30 Rock filming outside. At first I was annoyed to have set trailers blocking our view, then it just became part of the party.
4.) The gorgeous autumn flowers - beautiful oranges, reds and greens.
5.) Personalized M&M's! How great was that?
6.) Lovely, funny and heartfelt toasts from friends and family.
7.) FOOD: the apps - Apple Wood Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Walnuts & Gorgonzola; Garlic Croutons Topped with Petite Filet Mignon & Horseradish Cream; Hot House Cucumbers Topped with Salmon Tartar; Shrimp Cevice with Passion Fruit Mimosas; Cranberry Walnut Crisp Topped with Country Pate & Red Onion Marmalade
8.) Dinner: Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, Potato Gratinee & Jalapeno & Herb Crème Fraiche; or Seared Wild Striped Bass with Tomato Confit, Bouquet of Asparagus & Chive Oil; Or Grilled Filet Mignon, Sweet Potato Puree & Haricots Verts & Port Wine Reduction; Or Aged Goat Cheese Ravioli, Artichoke Hearts, Cherry Tomatoes & Lemon Brown Butter Broth (our table chose all Filet or Lamb, I guess we were just carnivores!).
9.) Dessert: Hawaiian Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Ice Cream (for her) and Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brule (for him)
10.) The amazing service - these guys did a seriously fantastic job on the dinner. Super friendly staff and a lovely night overall. I'd recommend this spot to anyone!

More pics were taken by our fab photog Magda - we'll include links as soon as available.

For more about the restaurant check out: http://www.bkbistro.com/

*Note: Somehow I managed to neglect to bring home a menu, if I've confused anything, please do correct here. Comment below as always.

Snapshot of the Day: Party in Full Swing

2008-10-23T21:42:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Sue for this snapshot - I love this image because there are about 20 different stories all converging in one image*... count the couples on the dance floor, the conversations at the bar and the tables, the look on the face of our beloved band leader... Click here to see more images!

Click on the image to see the detail.

Lovely Clip from Sue!

2008-10-21T21:49:00.001-04:00

Sigh... these images never get old. Why did the party have to end?

Thanks Sue!

Wired Article on How Blogging is Passe

2008-10-21T21:35:00.000-04:00

Please! You must be joking. Twitter cannot even come close... and personally I'm about to dump face book.

Dress & Outfit Details

2008-10-18T10:09:00.006-04:00

Photo courtesy of Mindy

Thank goodness for weekends. This one will be spent cleaning, writing thank-you notes and resting. And blogging, of course.

A couple of details about the dress (for brides looking to buy a dress, and dying for a look at a real person wearing the dress they are considering, rather than a model): It's from Watters & Watters (Style 1053B - I include this because I am willing to BET that I will get a surge in traffic based on the specificity of the make and number...). We actually purchased the dress from a big shop in New York City - what the shop lacked in elegance & polish it more than made up for by selection and heart!

My sash was from a great spot in Brooklyn called Kimera. The designer there Yvonne has made a few dresses for me over the years - she also made Mum's dress and the dress I wore to the rehearsal dinner. I really loved the sash, the big messy bow was exactly what I had in mind. I also picked up the silk flower that I wore in my hair at Kimera, but the designer is Anaia. My shoes were from J. Crew - and for those who never actually saw them, they were ivory satin ballet slippers with a mary-jane strap.

And a quick summary of the tradition:
Something Borrowed: M.'s mother's pearls - just lovely.
Something Blue: My earrings were blue topaz.
Something New: My dress!
Something Old: Me.

I had gotten a couple of things that I didn't use because the day was so warm, and because I freaked out at the last second. My mum had gotten a lovely white knit wrap that I am totally crazy about - and I plan to use all the time this winter. It is super soft and warm, and if the day had been colder, it would have looked quite elegant. I had also purchased a veil. I'd been having fun for months trying it on... sneaking it out when when M. was a way and trying to look sort of like a 60's type bride. But things change. Not sure what happened that day, but I just looked in the mirror and hated the way it looked. So I scrapped it.

I've heard that there are women who buy multiple wedding dresses because they can't decide - so if this is true my splurge on a never worn veil isn't so terrible. If anyone is interested in a veil, feel free to give me a shout or comment below.

Little Detail Drill-Down: Photo Booth Meditation

2008-10-16T23:01:00.002-04:00

photobooth4, originally uploaded by devtandon.

Okay, apologies to all who find these little details tedious. But seriously, if you haven't gotten the message, here it is: you have officially entered into my own personal scrapbooking project. Yep. That's right. So over the next few days I'll breakdown each detail of the day, bit by bit. Tonight it's the photo booth.

So, on this topic... one of the greatest details about the wedding was the fotobooth. This was a little something that Bubby's has all the time, so we thought, heck, let's give people the option to add photos to the guestbook. My dear friend P. picked up a guest book the day before, and I brought glue and pens and tape and scissors from home. The idea being: create a little arts & crafts corner at the reception.

Who knew it would take off so well?

So much fun - after the reception M. & I escaped for two days to The Hotel on Rivington (THOR, more on this later!) in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and I left EVERYTHING behind - my cell, wallet - even my keys. The one thing that got me excited about getting home: the guest/photo book. I'd given H. clear instructions to get that thing home after the reception (poor H., from the bird doo to the hair and the gazillion little errands, it's a wonder she had any fun at all, but miraculously, she seemed to just the same!) and she totally delivered.

So many wonderful photos! Such fantastic messages! Such love in these silly 4-piece photos (or 2 piece, we suggested people leave two and take two to remember), whether the many adorable, smootchie couple shots, the additional friends with friends, my sister with my godmother/aunt), the cousins dressed with ties as headdresses, or the simple shot of much pandemonium and body parts with the simple signature beside: "7!" It's been so much fun to review and remember the little party within a party that formed and really thrived through much of the night.

I'll take snapshots of a few of my favorite layouts but suffice it to say for right now: the lovely drawing of a snow covered slope with fresh cut tracks through lovely powder and the comment, "ski the trees!" Or the fantastic drawing of an old school letter with one of the photos as a stamp and the return address reading, "Ich hab meinen Mann in Alaska Getroffen..." (I met my husband in Alaska!)

In general the beauty wasn't just the awesome and living snapshots through the silly black and white machine, but the incredible thoughtfulness, creativity and genuine well-wishes that have come across in that little book.

Thanks to all who contributed! What a treasure we have forever!

One Aside: I keep wanting to hug people after meetings at work this week! Must chill out on the post wedding high! Am so full of love!

Snapshot of the Day: Signing the Papers

2008-10-15T23:34:00.002-04:00

IMG_0985, originally uploaded by Hal Close.

J. and D., our Maid of Honor and the Best Man, signed as our witnesses just after the ceremony on the steps leading up to the state in the garden. I'm not sure what I love so much about this image except that we are all intent on signing that document and making it official. I also love that the statue is facing out, while we are facing away.

And okay, I'll admit it: I love the way my dress looks in this picture.

Truth be told, I haven't had the heart to put the dress in for cleaning yet. I know I resisted the whole traditional white dress thing at first, but now am just so in love with that crazy dress, am convinced there is something wrong with me.

Pics from the FOTB

2008-10-14T23:26:00.002-04:00

Another round o' photos available courtesy of my Pop here.

If you have any trouble with the link, paste this URL into your browser:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hclose/sets/72157608024515838/

Cake Shot!

2008-10-14T23:15:00.000-04:00

IMG_1008, originally uploaded by Hal Close.

Our CAKE!

2008-10-14T23:00:00.000-04:00

Am so glad that Vati got a great shot of the cake! Am a little bit in love with the cake for several reasons:

1.) It was so delicious!
2.) It was gorgeous - three layers, and decorated with fresh flowers!
3.) It so far surpassed my expectations - YAY for Bubby's and Opalia - I knew it would taste great but I frankly had no idea that it would also LOOK like such a lovely cake.

Sounds sort of silly but I really was sort of blown away by it when we arrived at the reception. During planning I tried to keep our expenses down, so I backed off on micro-managing certain parts of the whole experience - the cake being a big one. No $12/piece fondant confection for us, I thought with a sigh... Little did I know that we didn't need any of that old sugar-coated stuff anyway! Bubby's and Opalia did a better job than I could have dreamed of from anywhere else!

As a result, during the cake cutting, M. and I didn't just feed each other one bite each... we ate the whole piece and then got another. T., a dear family friend, commented, "You guys did that cake cutting like grown-ups!" Which I took to mean, we savored every morsel and enjoyed ourselves throughout!

p.s., try to ignore the unflattering red eye - I'll remove it at a later date... no time tonight as I need a good night sleep because I go back to work tomorrow. Luckily we still have the Honeymoon to look forward to...

Traffic Update

2008-10-14T22:50:00.002-04:00

I take it as a great sign that we've had a record day for traffic on the blog! Nearly 70 people checked in on the post wedding chatter today. This is great news - and means it makes sense to keep chatting about the wedding and posting pics to keep the party alive just a little longer. I guess that means I've got reason to keep blogging here through the honeymoon at the end of this year.

p.s., The yellow is the visitors per day over the trailing 30 days, the orange is the number of pages viewed (i.e., 1 visitor could view many pages). The pop in page views from 10/4 was the day M.'s friends from grad school found out clurgel.blogspot.com - it's clear though that we've had more visitors after the wedding than before!

Photo Sharing

2008-10-14T10:18:00.003-04:00

Already we are seeing lovely photos being posted! So fun! For those who are so inclined, I started a flickr group if you'd like to submit. The address is here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/mattandamandagotmarried/

No pressure, I know people grow very attached to their own photo sharing tools, but flickr is great for making photos available to all... I'll be adding photos from Magda when they come in and I'll update the pool and the blog accordingly!

As always, feel free to write or call with any questions!

Photo from Mindy - isn't it lovely! Reminds me of one I posted way back when... in April when I was just at the beginning of all of the planning.

It's Official!

2008-10-13T13:28:00.001-04:00

amanda_wedding15, originally uploaded by devtandon.

We did it! And what an amazing weekend! INCREDIBLE! We are so thankful to our family and friends for coming out with all of their love and energy!

Our Announcement!

2008-10-13T12:17:00.001-04:00

FASHION & STYLE / WEDDINGS & CELEBRATIONS
Amanda Close, Matthew Gurgel
Published: October 12, 2008
Amanda Spitzer Close and Matthew Grant Gurgel were married Saturday in Brooklyn. The Rev. David Fisher, a Congregational minister, performed the ceremony at the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims.

Click here for our announcement!

Yes, I Love Electric Blue.

2008-10-08T00:16:00.005-04:00

I know, I know... what was I thinking?

Dunnoh... just love it.

Still do in fact.

Logistical Info - Just a Few Short Days Away!

2008-10-08T00:04:00.002-04:00

FRIDAY NIGHT: For those arriving on Friday, we've picked out a place for everyone to convene. It's a little spot called Low Bar and we like it a lot (and as luck would have it, so do the editors at New York Magazine). The entrance is actually inside a little restaurant called Rice. The closest subways are the F train (York Street stop) or the A and C trains (High Street/Brooklyn Bridge stop).

81 Washington St
between Front St. & York St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-222-1LOW

This will be a pretty casual affair, but look for the group in the back. We were thinking 9-ish, but earlier will work too. No need to RSVP, just come on by if you are in the neighborhood.

SATURDAY: Nothing planned until 4pm - but we seriously recommend a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for anyone who hasn't ever done that before. Just be careful to stay out of the bike lane! Seriously. Stay on the south west side. Those cyclists are ruthless. One other GREAT option is a trip to the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. A couple of years ago I took a photo of a red tailed hawk eating a rabbit there! Naturally, there is also all of Manhattan to enjoy...

WALKING: Look for my Aunt K. in front of the Marriott at 3:30pm on Saturday if you'd like to walk to the church in a group (it's about an 8 minute walk). She'll lead a group to be sure everyone finds their way. We will also walk as a group from the church to the park for the group photographs.

TRANSPORTATION: A van will ferry people who prefer not to walk between the church and the reception around 5:30. The van will depart from the front of the church. Also, a van will be available to Ferry people to the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott whenever needed. The van will be running from 5:30 until 11:30pm. Major subways run from the Marriott as well. Also, the restaurant can call a car service if needed.

PARKING: Several spots near the church and the reception. In DUMBO, there is parking at KWIK Park at 56 Adams Street and an underground garage at 45 Main Street between Main and Front Street (this is the closest). For the service there is also Central Parking Systems, 75 Henry Street (at Orange Street), one block from the church.

MAPS: My Aunt K. put the attached map together and I think it's great. Am happy to send if you haven't received it yet!

IF YOU GET LOST: Don't panic. Flag a taxi or call any, or all, of the following telephone numbers. Someone is bound to pick up! [Numbers have been omitted for the blog. Email me if you'd like these numbers and have not yet received my logistics email!]

SAFETY: Brooklyn is very safe, but we encourage everyone to use good sense and stick together. Walking around alone after dark is not advised. Also very important: stay out of the bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge as mentioned in previous section.

PHOTOS: It is a strong bridal wish (okay, it's fine - call me bridezilla) to have a group photograph of EVERYONE who attends our wedding in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We'll walk down from the church as a group after the ceremony. It's a gorgeous location and there are several spots where we could gather for Magda (our photographer - you'll love her) to shoot us as a group. So, if everyone could plan to go to Brooklyn Bridge Park after the ceremony and before the reception (which is just across the street from the park), it would be GREAT! We have about an hour after the church and before the reception begins, so we'll take some time to do a bunch of photos and greet everyone in the park by the water. Do bring a wrap as it may be chilly and or windy. If it's raining, we'll probably do this anyway. Rain makes for lovely photos...

Thanks so much for reading. As always if you have any questions, let us know... comment below or send me a sign!

Just One Week Left!

2008-10-04T09:28:00.003-04:00

... and, Dear Readers, I have so. much. to. do.
But that's okay! Because I am pretty sure that M. is still going to marry me whether I have gotten all the little details tied up or not...

One big step yesterday: I picked up up the dress and lugged it home on the subway (don't worry, it's wrapped in plastic and a garment bag). It's now hanging on the outside of my closet - and will be ready to go next week! So let's review all that we've got that going for us:
1.) M. & I are getting married.
2.) I have a white dress.

Pretty much all else is BONUS!

Have I Pushed My Bridesmaids Too Far?

2008-10-01T20:43:00.002-04:00

For those who don't know my sister, she is a graphic designer by profession and she shot over this fab image of her, not just understanding and purchasing and wearing the color I have selected for the bridesmaids. But really and truly BECOMING the color.

I recommend you study this image for a moment, then for those who are interested, here's a link to the original article in the Times. Great piece on people who dress monochromatically. Very funny!

I love how my MOH makes me laugh... and boy, she really internalized the color!!

Shout Out for Vati

2008-09-30T22:18:00.005-04:00

Without giving too much away, we've been tracking down some old photos - and this is without a doubt one of my favorites. It's of me and my father on a hiking trip in Switzerland and I am about 16. I particularly like the contrast with the image below which is from Montana much more recently... nearly 20 years later and we are still hiking together in glorious places.

I like the idea of giving everyone a glimpse of Vati before the big day so that everyone can recognize the father of the bride!!

Directions from Marriott to Everything

2008-09-30T22:11:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Mut for pulling this together!

Address for Church entrance is 57 Orange Street.

Directions
Link to Map

Start address: Marriott 333 Adams St Brooklyn, NY 11201
End address: Bubby's Brooklyn 1 Main St Brooklyn, NY 11201

Start at: Marriott 333 Adams St Brooklyn, NY 11201

1. Head north on Adams St - 82 ft
2. Turn left to stay on Adams St - 75 ft
3. Turn left at Adams St/Brooklyn Bridge Blvd - 394 ft
4. Turn right at Joralemon St - 0.3 mi
5. Turn right at Henry St - 0.4 mi
6. Turn left at Orange St - 335 ft

Arrive at: 57 Orange St Brooklyn, NY 11201

7. Head east on Orange St toward Henry St - 335 ft
8. Turn left at Henry St - 0.2 mi
9. Turn left at Cadman Plaza W/Old Fulton St - 0.1 mi
10. Turn right at Front St - 0.1 mi
11. Turn left at Main St - 495 ft

Arrive at: Bubby's Brooklyn 1 Main St Brooklyn, NY 11201

Brunch Recommendations in Brooklyn & New York

2008-09-30T20:19:00.003-04:00

Woops! Change of plans!

No brunch on Sunday on Smith Street. At least no organized brunch. So instead, here are a few recommendations for our favorite brunch spots over the years...

Cafe Habana - it's my all time fav. I went there for years every weekend by myself (because I lived across the street) and sat at the bar with a Cafe Con Leche and the Sunday paper. I do recommend a pre 10 a.m. arrival if you want to avoid a wait. Since M. entered my life, we've moved to a table instead of the bar...
Location: Nolita/Central Village - corner of Prince & Elizabeth.

Bar Bossa - Across from Habana should the line be too long. Secretly I sometimes think I prefer this place for the healthy food factor.
Location: Nolita/Central Village - corner of Prince & Elizabeth.

Jack the Horse Tavern - Around the corner from the church in Brooklyn Heights. Excellent, excellent food. Seriously great breakfast and neat old Brooklyn location. Have the crispy red potatoes!
Location: Brooklyn, v. close to Plymouth Church - we often go after the service.

Dumbo General Store - Very casual regular spot for us now. Across from our apartment building. Great pressed sandwiches and huevos with excellent guac. The restaurant moonlights as a Mexican place at night - Hecho in Dumbo and we love that too. Am off to do that now.
Location: Front Street in Brooklyn, between Washington and Adams.

Smith Street is also a fab spot - several french bistros and all sorts of great brunch options there - and just a short walk from the hotel.

GREAT News!

2008-09-29T23:42:00.001-04:00

My new printer just came into stock on Amazon!
I upgraded to overnight shipping for just $3.99!

Scanning our world is now within my grasp...

Looking Back at Our First October Together

2008-09-28T20:12:00.002-04:00

Since October is just a couple of days away, it's kind of fun to look back through the old pics. M. hadn't been in NY for very long so we decided to get dressed up and check out the Halloween Parade. Afterwards we stopped off for some Mexican food in Soho. We took this photo because some spanish tourists asked us if they could take a photo of us - so we figured we'd better take the same shot.

Proliferation of Dresses

2008-09-27T20:21:00.003-04:00

So far, this one is my absolute favorite.
Why have I waited so long to appreciate dresses in general?

Information Overload

2008-09-27T17:07:00.000-04:00

I had at least two conversations today (with two people that I love and under normal circumstances listen to very carefully), that apparently had already taken place, and I had no recollection of them whatsoever... M. was poking a little fun at me for being so absent minded, but I think it's really like this: I am sort of like an Apple laptop - a good one, not a cheapy, but not the MOST expensive either. I am really good at 3-4 things at once - you know like emailing while editing photos in photoshop, checking out stuff on the web and listening to music on iTunes, all through the same computer with all the applications open at once.

Like the laptop, most days I do pretty well with the limited multi-tasking that life requires (such as work, social stuff, basic hobbies, vacations, eating and sleeping). But lately, my head is functioning sort of like the same laptop but with 37 applications open all at once (seating charts, wedding party outfits, hair & make-up, people who haven't RSVP'd, should we send a reminder for guests at the Marriott to bring a bathing suit, flowers, food, etc., etc.) , and a machine that hasn't been rebooted in several weeks. So sometimes, things get gummed up in the gears... and I repeat myself, or ask the same question again. And then again. Or forget that there was an answer. Or suggestion. Or bit of lovely advice.

My most humble apologies dear friends - please do bear with me as we enter the final countdown!

So, am now shutting 'er down for the night. Because truth is, despite this here venting (and the earnest apology), I am totally an unabashedly excited about this crazy party, and about spending my life with M. All the rest will be resolved in just a few short weeks...

Quick Shout Out for Mut

2008-09-25T23:34:00.003-04:00

Some meanings of 'Mut': Mother, white vulture, courage.

Suffice it to say I've been a tad overwhelmed lately, and she is just a rock.

What would I do without base camp?

New York at Night

2008-09-24T22:41:00.002-04:00

Hen_Sept_08-66, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Another shot of the backdrop to last weekend. I just love this image - taken from Chelsea facing towards Madison Park. Could there be a better place to have a little gathering of friends? Just as the weather is turning towards fall?

Low Bar on Friday October 10th at 9pm!

2008-09-23T23:06:00.004-04:00

For out of town guests and local friends/family who are arriving on Friday, we've picked a spot where everyone can convene. We like Low Bar. It is located across the street from our apartment - and just a short walk from the hotel and several trains. It's a fairly mellow place - great for catching up with old friends, but still with lots of character.

It's a fun spot - quite new to the neighborhood but with a fun feel.
We've reserved space starting at 9 p.m. for everyone meet up and check in before the main event on Saturday.

Click here for a review in NY Magazine.

And here's the location info...

81 Washington St
between Front St. & York St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-222-1LOW

BY SUBWAY:

F to York St.
Right out of subway, immediate left on York, walk 3 blocks, right on Washington St. Enter through Rice (on your right) at 81 Washington St.
A/C to High St./Brooklyn Bridge
Exit from rear of the train (coming from Manhattan), walk down Cadman Plaza West, right at first light on to Prospect St., pass under the overpass, first left on Washington St. Cross York Street. RICE is on the right hand side, halfway down the block. Enter through Rice at 81 Washington St.

BY CAR from Manhattan:

Over Brooklyn Bridge - Take Cadman Plaza West Exit (stay in right lane). Right at light at end of exit ramp, bear right on to Prospect Street, drive under the bridge.Take first left on to Washington Street. Cross York Street. RICE is on the right hand side, halfway down the block. Enter Low through Rice at 81 Washington St.

Over Manhattan Bridge - Take right on to Tillary Street. Take to end. Make right on to Cadman Plaza West, make right on to Prospect Street, drive under the bridge. Take first left on to Washington Street. Cross York Street. RICE is on the right hand side, halfway down the block. Enter Low through Rice at 81 Washington St.

SEE YOU THERE!

This is What Wedding Planning Looks Like...

2008-09-21T21:55:00.000-04:00

Not so bad, ey?

And this one when people are there...

2008-09-21T21:45:00.002-04:00

Hen_Sept_08-16, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

I love the whole landscape here. The water towers, the skyline, the friends. Great stuff. Click here for more photos.

When Friends Are Just Plain Rock Stars!

2008-09-21T21:38:00.004-04:00

Hen_Sept_08-2, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Here is a little snapshot from the beginning of the party last evening. I must say I was simply blown away by my friends' generosity and hospitality last night! This is the roof of P.'s building and it is simply the ideal place for a relaxing gathering among friends. For the sake of posterity, I now record the highlights here...

The Set-Up:
* Roof deck in Chelsea (a very nice neighborhood in New York for you non-New Yorkers - located between 14th and 30th Streets roughly and west from 6th Ave.... great art there around 10th Ave).
* P. had collected many adirondack chairs into a large circle and added some cushions ot make it all more comfy.
* Great plants!
* Even better views, both south towards the financial district, and north towards the empire state building, chrysler building and the various met life and New York life buildings off of Madison Park.

The Food:
We made several dishes.
* A mixed salad with corn, tomato and a mustard vinaigrette.
* Shrimp cocktail.
* Breadsticks wrapped with prosciutto.
* Cucumber with Salmon, dill and a dollup of sour cream.
* Ordered gnocchi from Le Zie - one of our fav spot in Chelsea. Served with a light tomato sauce and mozzarella
* Mixed fruit salad with just about the BIGGEST grapes I've ever seen.
* Several additional desserts - death by chocolate brought by S., apple tart, all kinds of good stuff.
* The sole nod to a bachelorette was a collection of mini-pops in the shape of diamond rings. Adorable and CHARMING! I believe this was a recommendation from Mrs. S. and so appreciated!

The Drinks:
Despite the cool evening, we drank mostly wine. It was lovely. Mostly a crisp dry Sancerre. But that might have been just me - others definitely jumped into the reds, and a little beer. We avoided the usual bachelorette shenanigans - not a shot was had (thank you higher-power-than-myself) that I know of...

The Discussion:
There was, of course, a quiz. P. pulled it together and got responses ahead of time from M. He was not in attendance as he figured this was a night for me. To protect the innocent I will not disclose the entire quiz here, but I will share my favorite question and response.

The very first question was: What is Amanda's favorite food? To which I responded 'chopped salad' but Matt had answered ahead of time via email, "cheese? heirloom tomatoes? (do we get bonus points because I know that she pronounces the last word toe-MAH-toes?)" and it was then that I realized. Matty might know me better than I know myself.

The Activities:
The aforementioned quiz...
Lots of photography testing (trying to get exactly the right mix of foreground & background at night is sort of tricky but fun).
Lots of chatting and hanging around...

Thanks to all - again, if this is a sign of the fun we will have on October 11th, we are in for a GREAT day!!

XOXO
A

Patsy Walker

2008-09-21T14:35:00.000-04:00

More from the Engagement Party

2008-09-17T23:57:00.001-04:00

Engagement_Sept_08-39, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

I really like this one of Matty and me with some of his oldest friends... again the nostalgic black & white treatment.

Of Hen Nights, Bachelor Parties and Polter Abends

2008-09-17T23:11:00.005-04:00

Reluctantly at first, I have finally given in to a modified night out with the girls... and a handful of guys who have been important to me over the years.

Originally, I forbade it (I know, I know, how ungracious! PLEASE forgive me - am learning as we go along).

See, I've been a bit confused by the whole bachelorette thing. Maybe it's because I've been to several of these affairs, and I always seem to be the one left at the back of Hogs & Heifers holding a broad variety of jackets, suit coats and fancy handbags, while friends kick up their heels on the bar. Why am I always the one holding the coats? Yet I don't really want to be the one dancing on the bar, either. I think of myself as pretty outgoing, yet apparently I am somewhat shy in large group social situations (except for... a-hem... Karaoke perhaps).

Then there is the question of travel for two or more events - I want my friends to come to the wedding. This is an event to celebrate Matt and me together. As it is, it's a tough year to ask people to travel so far, so it seems good to concentrate the commitment on the ceremony and reception itself (do I overthink things?).

Yet a few friends have given me a healthy talking to - 'let us mark this occasion', 'we want to do this' they say. And I must say that I am starting to understand. I am also more frequently than not thinking to myself, 'What if I don't do this? Will I regret it later? This is my one shot!'

So you see my quandary.

Then there is Matty - and the several close guy friends who took off for New Orleans last weekend despite the storm. He strategically left his camera behind. But from what I hear there was great turn out, they got a great deal on the Four Seasons and they checked out Cochon, the best restaurant in New Orleans, thanks to the recommendation of some major foodie friends from New York. They had a blast. OF course I have no details, but there was mention of time at the spa (think steam room and fluffy white bathrobs) and I find this an encouraging sign for the future. Sign me up.

The bachelorette concept is probably one of my mum's only areas of disapproval in this whole wedding affair ("it's simply not in my vocabulary" said she a few months back and I get her thinking), but actually, now that I think of it, a dinner with dear friends to reflect on the years before and since I met Matty seems like a wonderful way to ramp up for the party. Quite simply, it sounds like tons of fun.

So a few local and very old friends have suggested a small thing-y this weekend, and wouldn't you know it... am totally, ridiculously excited. And by the way, it will be a 'hen plus men' affair... natch, there will be photos posted here v. soon. Stay tuned.

Does everyone celebrate their bachelorettes?
Is this a real right of passage?
What's the best bachelorette/bachelor party you's ever attended?
Were you happy with your own, if you had one?

Or is it a tradition as silly as that receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who tossed away the ball in celebration before he actually crossed into the end zone last Monday night?

p.s. Polter Abend is a german tradition where everyone has dinner together (men and women) and then they break the plates as a symbolic break from the past. The bride- and groom-to-be then clean them up and HOW they do it will predict how they will interact as man and wife. We briefly considered this one, but I don't think I could bear to shatter the chipped, old plates from my granny. Even if we box them up into storage in the short term, I couldn't possibly destroy them... so we stick with the American tradition.

25 Days Left!

2008-09-16T22:15:00.004-04:00

Here's a quick shot (staged by me because I totally neglected to take detail shots last Thursday - note to self for the future) of the napkins that Fred & Cynthia provided at the engagement party last week. I must say that these little details make a big difference.

Am actually beginning to understand why brides to be so often slim down before the big day... there is simply no time to eat (and I never skip a meal).

Glamping

2008-09-14T15:05:00.003-04:00

Great article in the travel section of the Times today. I'm just crazy about the concept of Glamping! I wonder if we could work this type of thing into the Honeymoon... hint, hint...

Party Photos!

2008-09-13T17:45:00.002-04:00

Engagement_Sept_08-70, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Some dear family friends threw a small cocktail party for our local friends & family last week. It was so GREAT! For you out of towners, here's a little preview of the fun you can expect at the wedding itself. Surf on over here for more photos.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Fred & Cynthia for such an incredible party!

Not sure what it is about black & white photos that I love so much, but it seems to match with the sentimental nature of weddings in general - and there is a timelessness that I love.

At the Risk of Making This Whole Affair Into A EuRail Backpacking Adventure...

2008-09-10T21:57:00.003-04:00

Does anyone need a roommate?

Am getting lots of information now about rooming and several on-own RSVPs - of course I assume that everyone is finding friends to stay with, but if you need a roommate for the wedding, send me a sign and I'll try to connect people!

Truth is, one of the best times of my LIFE was my semester away from college when I trekked around Europe on my own, crashing in various youth hostels along the way (which meant that I never had a minute to myself because I ALWAYS met people as soon as I arrived at the hostels), so bringing a bit of that outgoing spirit to this event is super fun!

Let me know!

October Average Temperatures

2008-09-08T23:30:00.003-04:00

Average temps in October in our neighborhood:

Average:
Hi: 65 degrees
Lo: 49 degrees

Record:
Hi: 83 degrees
Lo: 33 degrees

Directions from Church to Reception - 9 minute walk

2008-09-08T23:27:00.002-04:00

I prefer swinging a little more east to go through the park, or west to walk along the water, but this route is the most direct and shows how quickly we can get from the church to the reception if need be...

Customize or get detailed directions

Directions from Marriott to Church - 12 minute walk

2008-09-08T23:20:00.003-04:00

Customize or get detailed directions

These are a little misleading because the entrance is on Orange between Hicks and Henry but you get the idea.

Things I've Accomplished this Weekend.

2008-09-07T18:02:00.004-04:00

1.) Made a panini sandwich. It was delicious.
2.) Wrote about 10 thank-you notes.
3.) Went to a dinner party and was reminded how great dinner parties are - in fact, I might start a blog devoted to the art of the dinner party. After the wedding of course. The focus of the blog would be on several levels: guests, who is who, how you think about the seating; menus and meal debriefs - including apps, wines and desserts; themes, such as superbowl, al fresco/rooftop dining, election or content for discussion; plus many others.
4.) Made a really big to do list.
5.) Did a couple of loads of laundry.
6.) Chatted with a friend who recently got married!
7.) Bought a new printer (after destroying the old one).
8.) Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.
9.) Went to church.
10.) Plan to check out the spot where we are planning a small rehearsal dinner.

CRAZY gorgeous day outside! Amazing, beautiful clean September light.
Seems only to happen this time of year.

The Anti-Wedding

2008-09-05T22:39:00.004-04:00

Fun article in the Washington Post about the Anti-Wedding due out this weekend.

I actually liked the article better than the video clip because the write up includes all the angst of this thing - in essence it was the ultimate wedding! So much work to get it exactly right! Cute write up... I'll be tracking the series all week.

OMG, OPERATION "CLOSE CALL"

2008-09-05T22:16:00.004-04:00

I was completely taken by surprise today when my group orchestrated a wedding shower at work! It was so much a surprise that I neglected to have my camera at the ready! I was blown away by everyone's generosity and by the people willing to show up for a quick celebration at 4pm on a FRIDAY! It was lovely. Truly.

And I was COMPLETELY surprised.
Seriously.

I walked into the conference room and there were about a gazillion people there, each with a glass of champagne. This can't my meeting, I thought, and at that point I said, "wait, are you guys here for me?" It was amazing. I felt like a celebrity. And it was a great warm up for the day itself!

So for those who were part of this afternoon: thanks so much for being there, for the presents, and especially for toasting to our happiness! Also, thanks to all for officially kicking off the wedding ramp up with Operation "Close Call"!!!

Great News: Bargains to Be Found at the Jane Hotel!

2008-09-04T22:47:00.002-04:00

Keep me posted if you book here so that I can connect you with other guests for transportation (AND ONLY THE GREATEST FALAFEL EVA which happens to be located very close by).

Check availability here:
The Jane.

Pics for the Times (er, maybe)

2008-09-04T00:34:00.001-04:00

DSC_2867, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Managed to submit our marriage announcement tonight though no guarantee that it will run (we are already late *ack!* for the 6 week deadline!). If you click on this shot, you'll see some of the final choices on Flickr. We had fun taking these shots with a tripod and a self timer last weekend. And I've been having fun playing with converting the images to black and white.

Do you simply desaturate all color, or do you actually convert to gray-scale? Do any of you camera buffs know the best way to change from color to black and white?

WARNING SOMEWHAT DRY POST: Seating Charts and Data Hygiene

2008-09-03T23:26:00.003-04:00

Is it too soon to begin planning this? I've read that there are several tools online to help with this process, but I must say that I've finally found an area in which Martha Stewart does *not* excel - her online tool is a really heard to work with. You have to save in a .csv format with all kinds of formatting requirements. I like to think I am pretty digitally savvy but I was a FAILURE at this last night. And today my printer died.

Super!
Awesome!

What do all of you party planners out there recommend? Do you do post-it notes to plan dinner seating? Do you scribble with pencil on good old fashioned paper? What's your system? And how to ensure that you don't forget anyone?

p.s., I don't know why (am a total nerd perhaps?) but I adore the concept of data hygiene. "List hygiene" in particular is a wonderful concept... but attaining this good hygiene is far more difficult than flossing every night...

Zoinks!

2008-08-31T21:29:00.001-04:00

Just realized that I've got get cracking on THIS!

Lots of Logistical Updates on the Site

2008-08-31T17:31:00.003-04:00

Specifically updates on where to stay as I know that some are having a hard time finding deals in NY at the moment.

Feel free to check out the complete list at www.clurgel.com but also here's the summary of additions for those who don't want to leave the comfort of the blog...

THE JANE HOTEL
THE BEST DEAL ON THE LIST. Currently singles are at $129/night - I’ve not stayed here yet myself but I love the concept. It’s downtown (West Village) and it’s another pod-concept hotel... if anyone is staying here, please let me know. I think it is adorable!

Hotel Le Bleu
370 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel: 718.625.1500 Fax: 718.625.2600
Toll Free 866.427.6073

Great little hotel very close to Park slope. New and modern. A bit of a taxi ride to Brooklyn Heights, but a great option for those looking for something more affordable in Brooklyn.

The Pod Hotel
230 E 51st St. NYC, NY 10022
US Toll Free: 800.742.5945

Great bargain in Midtown Manhattan. Very close to subways that will drop you in our neighborhood in under 30 minutes. A great option for bargain hunters and a fun Euro-vibe spot.

Monadnock with my MOH.

2008-08-31T15:16:00.004-04:00

That'd be my Maid o' Honor. My sis and new favorite hiking buddy!

I always hike Monadnock before big transitions in my life so it was critical to get up the mountain during vacation this past week. Whether as a kid with my parents, as an awkward teenager to escape with the dog (dogs sadly no longer allowed now), even my wisdom teeth operation before college couldn't keep me away (I only made it 2/3s of the way that day - was feeling pretty crummy). This was most likely the last time before the wedding... and it was even better to climb with my sis rather than scrambling up on my own.
We went up the White Dot trail our of the State Park near Jaffrey. Afterwards we stopped in town for the BEST lobster roll EVA. And I am not kidding. And I know my lobster rolls from much time in Maine and around the fancy spots in NY like Pearl and Mermaid Inn...

Am back in NY now - and having fun catching up on many admin details before heading back to work on Tuesday. Has anyone else discovered Mint.com? I am normally quite reluctant to use these kinds of financial planning tools but I read about this one in Oprah or Real Simple on the train yesterday and it is super easy to use... it looks at all of our banking, credit cards, etc., and tells you how much money you could save (comparing your banking rates to other banks and actually telling you how much you would save/earn by making a switch). Not that I have time to act on this stuff, but, hey, it's good to know what I am missing, no?

Flying bride: Something You Won't See At Our Wedding

2008-08-28T12:49:00.001-04:00

Flying bride, originally uploaded by vasi v.

Forget about it... it's a fun shot though, no?

Brady and the Ducks

2008-08-28T12:41:00.000-04:00

New Hampshire slice of life...

Vacation!

2008-08-25T11:53:00.007-04:00

Or, how to get more done on the wedding. Plus, now that the Olympics have ended I can catch up on my blogging.

I'm writing in from New Hampshire this week as I take care of many details. Here's a quick summary of recent activities (i.e., things I should have blogged about last week):

1.) We got the invites out! Most of them anyway. Am still struggling to get a final few addresses. But, RSVPs are coming in to my parents and I LOVE the personal comments that people scribble into the response cards - whether a single "cute!" beside the stamp, or an "of course!" next to the "graciously accepts" line, these little details make it really fun to check the mail.

2.) Mum came down for my dress fitting. We had a blast. Hundreds of pics and I love them all! It's sort of fun to watch the dress transformation, as it's tailored and hemmed. Naturally, process shots will not be posted until after the wedding. But we really had fun.

3.) We went to see HAIR(!) in Central Park. How AMAZING! What a performance! And so appropriate for the venue. Mum brought me up singing along to this musical and she herself had seen the original version in New York with her mother before I was born. So bringing her to the show was the ideal way to thank her for all of her support during the wedding planning process and we had a blast. At the end, we jumped up on stage to dance with the cast - it was glorious! Where else in NYC would 200 women drop their bags under their chairs and think "heck with it, I'm not bringing my purse up there!" I guess we all did the same internal calculation: License and credit cards, replaceable; $100 cash in wallet, not as valuable as dancing on the stage of the Delacorte Theater! The music is SO great. Definitely one of the most satisfying theater experiences I've ever had.

4.) I've also determined that there is a name for people like me: DIY bride. That's right, "Do It Yourself," should have been obvious to me when I pulled together the bones of Clurgel.com and this blog, but it's only recently become clear to me that I fit in this category. More on that later.

5.) Matty has found a spot for a small rehearsal dinner - we are closing in on a location for for all out-of-towners to convene in the same spot after dinner...

New Hampshire looks beautiful to me - very lush and green. Plus Brady is simply the most wonderful creature in the whole world (er, aside from M., of course!). I confess that just about my only regret about having the wedding in Brooklyn is that Brady can't be involved. She's just a little too much of a country dog for her to feel comfortable in the big city - as photogenic as she may be...

My Only Complaint About the Olympics.

2008-08-17T22:37:00.003-04:00

It's cutting into my blog time.

And my sleep. Seriously. Am exhausted. Always staying up until 1 a.m. to see what happens next... anyone else experiencing this? How's a girl supposed to plan a wedding with all this excitement in the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest?

Wedding frenzy for 08/08/08

2008-08-09T22:26:00.003-04:00

Wedding frenzy for 08/08/08
09/08/2008 17:04 - (SA)
Couples wed on lucky day

Beijing - More than 300 000 Chinese couples registered Marriages on Friday as the opening of the Olympics added to the auspicious triple eight in the 08/08/2008 date, state media said on Saturday. The Ministry of Civil Affairs recorded 314 224 marriages nationwide, the highest number since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Olympic host city Beijing recorded 15 646 marriages on Friday, 23 times the daily average, the agency said. The previous record for marriages in a single day in Beijing was 4 452, while 3 390 couples wed on August 8, 2007, one year before the Olympics. Eight is the luckiest number in China partly because its pronunciation in Cantonese sounds similar to the word for wealth.

Car licence plates and mobile telephone numbers with multiple eights sell for many times the price of those with less appealing combinations. Local authorities said 6 418 couples wed in Shanghai on Friday and 4 841 in the central city of Wuhan. The ministry held a special meeting on Tuesday to ask local authorities to take on extra voluntary staff, work longer hours and open more offices to cope with the surge, the agency said. Some registration offices in Beijing and Tianjin worked around the clock to meet demand, it said. Beijing's Chaoyang district opened its main marriage registration for the Olympic as soon as the clock passed midnight on Thursday.

Uh oh... should we have gotten married yesterday?
oops!

Fascinating Tools Available to Us All.

2008-08-09T18:57:00.003-04:00

Check out what I was able to create on the InStyle Magazine web site?
I've been doing lots of research on hair stuff for the wedding - and I found this make-over tool where you can snag hairstyle from celebs and place them on your image to get a sense of how you would look! How ridiculous is this!

Don't worry I'm not giving anything away about October... this is too much fun... Can you guess the celeb for each shot?

Image A:
Image B:
Image C:
Image D:
The correct identification will follow later this week!

p.s., what do you think? should I grow my hair long and bleach it deep blond? note that I am not showing any of the short versions - they just looked weird to me...

p.p.s., there is a make up simulator on the Mary Kay site as well. These tools have come quite a long way since the late 90's virtual model from Lands End. At that time, you put your measurements in an the virtual model showed a computer design of what the clothes would look like on you. I think that is about the time I stopped buying stuff there... hmmm...

New York Times Science Book Shout Out for Family

2008-08-05T22:30:00.002-04:00

BOOKS ON SCIENCE
Inside Story of the Telescope That Nearly Wasn’t Built
By DENNIS OVERBYE
Published: August 5, 2008
“The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the Hubble Space Telescope and the Visionaries Who Built It” is a breezy behind-the-scenes account.

Uncle Lyman was featured in this book review - and I love this photo of him.

Off Beat Brides: Counterpoint

2008-08-03T20:48:00.001-04:00

Img_0230, originally uploaded by KevinBphoto.

Gotta love the climbing bride.
And why not?

Things to Do in DUMBO

2008-08-02T13:49:00.002-04:00

Great article on our neighborhood in today's travel section.

WEEKEND IN NEW YORK | THE EAST RIVER
In Brooklyn, Sharing a River but Not Much Else
By SETH KUGEL
Published: August 3, 2008
Three distinct neighborhoods along the Brooklyn waterfront make for a great walking tour.

Very Cool Collection of Wedding Polaroid Shots

2008-08-01T23:31:00.005-04:00

originally uploaded by sarahfortune.

This wedding (which I have now stalked completely on flickr) is just fantastic. I love the super casual concept. And the polaroids are simply wonderful. Click on the the image here to see more of the pics from this great event.

I don't know these people but I bet they are GREAT. We'd be friends, I think.

Tacky is Dead. Long Live Tacky.

2008-08-01T20:34:00.003-04:00

I just came across this declaration of the death of Tacky. And I like it.

The Meaning Behind Something Borrowed, etc.

2008-08-01T09:33:00.004-04:00

From Yahoo Answers:

Dear Yahoo!:
Where did the wedding custom of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" come from?
Maria
Irvine, California

Dear Maria:
The next line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

Critical information as I am getting into the countdown.
Are people sticklers on this thing?
Did anyone you know carry a dime in their shoe?
How do girls deal with strappy sandals?

Question of the Day: Should I Take His Name?

2008-07-30T21:57:00.003-04:00

Am a bit stumped on this one. And I get the question a lot. Totally understandable, by the way... I don't mind the question. In fact I like to talk to people about it because it helps me clarify my point of view (not unlike Obama refining his views in the classroom as covered in the Times today).

So let's discuss.

Naturally it is a bit of an administrative challenge (and let's not underestimate my utter inability to deal with admin stuff), but it is also symbolically important. Am I a weak feminist to give up my current name, under which I forged an identity for myself over many years? Is it disloyal to give up my parents name? But if I don't change it, isn't that a bit anti the whole idea of getting married in the first place? There is, after all, true symbolic value behind joining under one name. Yet, my friends who have kept their names appear to be doing great in the marriage department. So maybe a name is just a name - and not what really matters at all.

So, I perceive here a divided duty.
What do you think?

Should we scrap it all, and just pick a new name for both of us from scratch?
Like Bond, perhaps?

Bond, Amanda Bond.
Mr. & Mrs. Bond.

I'm not sure M. will go for that...

Oh, Oh, This Visual Clue Is Even Better.

2008-07-28T22:39:00.001-04:00

vespa asia 3, originally uploaded by mark robert allen.

I love the Vespa - I fantasize about tooling around on a Vespa from time to time. It would be such a great way to move about New York & Brooklyn. Plus what a fun get-away from the wedding?!

What's the best get-away vehicle you've witnessed at a wedding? Antique cars are lovely, but I'm hoping for a hybrid yellow cab... if I can't get a Vespa lined up, of course. Am a bit intimidated by the licensing process required for the Vespa - I don't think that Matt or I have any where near the time to make something like that happen. Cool as it might be.

Honeymoon Visual Clue #3

2008-07-28T22:34:00.001-04:00

street scene, originally uploaded by mark robert allen.

Haven't blogged a honeymoon hint in a while and I liked this shot from Flickr. Any guesses on our destination?

Experiencing the Ventura

2008-07-20T21:21:00.002-04:00

Friends took us out on a sail on the Ventura today to celebrate our engagement! The boat was lovely and nearly 100 years old.

Though a swelteringly hot day in the city, spending the day on the water was really lovely. Our friends brought a full picnic and we got a fantastic view of each of the Waterfall installations. Really fun to tool around the island on a sail boat. M. thinks I am crazy but I am definitely still feeling the roll of the swells as I sit at the computer now.

Naturally this was one of the best documented expeditions EVER.
How will I make it through my wedding day without a camera of my own?

Thanks guys for such a wonderful day!

8 a.m. Boot Camp

2008-07-19T15:38:00.002-04:00

Today I attended my second sesson of the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp. I've been trying to pick up the pace on my workouts a bit since we are in the final three month count down. And I'm feeling pretty good.

It is hot here in NYC though.
Crazy hot.

Hope that all are having a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend!

Wedding Announcements in the Newspaper

2008-07-13T18:47:00.003-04:00

Are they good to do? Do you enjoy reading people's announcements? I certainly appreciate documentation (see my flickr account, my journals, my email records of EVERYTHING, this blog), but sometimes I get a little worried about getting airtime in the Style section... though it might be fun to try.

I know it seems weird to post all of this personal stuff on this blog and then hesitate on the announcement in the paper, but let me put this in context. Here are the numbers:

See that button down on the bottom of the left navigation bar? That takes you to my little metrics package which confirms for me that I have roughly 25 people a day who visit this blog. Most of them I know. Several arrive because they are interested in something else I've referenced here and they find me through google. I have six RSS subscribers according to Google Reader... including me and Matt.

According to Wikipedia, the circulation of the New York Times is about 1.5 million people on a given Sunday.

Here is my parents' announcement - this was neat to track down among other treasures in the NY Times archive...
Don't they look wonderful!?

Blushing Bride Clip

2008-07-10T19:10:00.000-04:00

Another clip from last weekend! That is Martin's voice in the background.

Waterfalls Park

2008-07-09T22:48:00.002-04:00

IMG_1657, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Here's a quick shot of M. in the new park space near the Waterfalls exhibit. The park has a little cafe with Gazpacho and various other delightful surprises from Rice - one of our stand-by spots in NYC.

We stopped off to check out the sandbox, the cafe, the views of the Waterfalls project and to sit on the little but healthy patch of grass in the temporary park space. Click here to check out some more photos from the set up.

Though the exhibit is not quite as grand as Christo's Gates, the whole experience is pretty much fantastic on a lazy Sunday night.

Color Palette Stuff

2008-07-07T23:16:00.002-04:00

Ok, humor me here. I like this blog. It's silly, yes. But lovely images, and I love that these palettes are submitted by readers (like me! Hurray WEB! Yay, user generated content!).

Home Run!

2008-07-06T21:56:00.002-04:00

Special thanks to Martin for the video footage!

Engagement Party

2008-07-06T21:27:00.003-04:00

IMG_1541, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

We had a lovely day on Saturday - family came from all over New England and as far as Philadelphia to celebrate our engagement. We had so much fun - and it's all documented here. I'm working on the video bits (thanks to my uncle Martin - pictured here with my pop and Cooper!) but am having issues with Blogger uploads (I'll report back when I've posted a few).

Am a bit exhausted now, but just so thankful for Matty and for loving family who were more than game to meet up with us for a rousing game of softball, much wonderful conversation about travel (and food, and life and kids, and dogs, and what have you), a lot of great food and a glass of wine on a leisurely summer afternoon...

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-04T22:39:00.002-04:00

We are getting the families together up in my hometown this weekend so our celebrations won't stop this evening. We've got a full line up for tomorrow as well - more family is rolling into town around noon so we'll have a great lunch, a swim, and weather permitting, a game of soccer or baseball with the whole group.

We did take a break tonight though to catch some fireworks nearby... always mesmerizing. Hard to catch on film (or in my case digitally) though; this was my best shot. One of my favorite moments of the evening was when we all burst into a final round of the Star Spangled Banner on the way back to car...

Honeymoon Visual Clue #2: Name This Place!*

2008-07-03T21:55:00.002-04:00

Happy long weekend to all!

* Photo credit will be revealed upon solving the riddle! Photograph has been used with permission.

Snapshot of the Day

2008-07-01T22:11:00.003-04:00

On the way to Shelter Island!

Today's Visual Riddle: Can You Guess the Honeymoon Spot?

2008-06-30T21:48:00.004-04:00

M. has made some progress on the honeymoon destination idea. And here are some pics to start building some excitement...
Anyone care to take a stab on where this might be?
I encourage ideas, thoughts and the answer below!!
More clues to come.

p.s., am BESIDE myself with excitement (that should add clue as well)!

Cool Concept for a Thank You Card

2008-06-28T23:37:00.005-04:00

Photo from Daniel Krieger

Just found this on my weekly flickr check-in. Cool concept indeed. I love that this is in Brooklyn, and that the couple clearly planned to do this at the end of the night. I also love that the headlights are blurred, so there is action and stillness all in one image. Plus it would be so fun to have been at this event and then receive this Thank You!

The image has quite a few comments on the flickr detail page for those who are interested. I also like this guy's site. Worth a look.

Just Really Liked This Dress

2008-06-27T09:46:00.003-04:00

Vera Wang, of course.
A bit out o' my budget, but I can appreciate from afar...

Many, Many Things to Celebrate

2008-06-25T21:14:00.007-04:00

It is me? Or is there a ton of things to celebrate this year?

Let's count 'em up:
1.) KIDS! An old friend who I saw last week is about to have a baby any day - and I've just learned of another friend due at the end of the year!
2.) NEW HOUSES/APARTMENTS: I have a couple of friends (and my sis) currently moving into their very own new spaces and as such designing their new lives and routines. Though stressful, the fun part about a new place is the fresh start it provides. Rethink your old bedroom set up! Start fresh on an entirely new storage system! Are your knives cutting it?! Love to visualize the future and how you want your life to be through planning your home.
3.) OLD FRIENDS! Definitely fun to reconnect with old friends and this whole wedding planning process is certainly pushing me that way.
4.) SUMMER! Maybe past two weekends at the beach have gone to my head. But I've gotten a taste of sand, sun and outdoor dining and I am dying to get back to it as soon as possible.
5.) WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE! Don't get me wrong I love email and I adore blogging, but I also have to confess that I am really enjoying my return to paper and stamp forms of communication. I confess I've never been much good at thank you notes (I try, I really do - please accept my most humble apology if I have neglected to send you, dear reader, a hand-written paper-and-ink note of thanks in the past), but I truly believe that this whole experience is changing my thoughtless ways. And I've gotten a few really lovely postcards in the process...
6.) GREAT BOOKS! Just finished James Frey's latest about L.A. - Bright Shiny Morning. I confess that I really enjoyed it. Does anyone have similar type book recommendations that are true odes to the cities in which they take place? Why has no one done this kind of treatment for New York, Boston or Seattle? Or does L.A. have distinct properties that make it ideal for this sort of book? Discuss or comment below. There is a nice wedding scene in the book by the way - so while this one is clearly a tangent, it does tie back.
7.) TOMATOES! The heirloom season is just beginning - and I mean this completely in earnest. Despite the current scare, I still love the good old-fashioned sweet & fleshy tomato. I might remind all who are concerned that any tomato sold on the vine or cherry/grape tomatoes are still thought to be safe. I think my favorite food is caprese salad with a touch of balsamic.
8.) WEDDING! We are getting MARRIED! In OCTOBER! Crazy!

Registry: Check!

2008-06-24T22:27:00.004-04:00

As is custom, we've registered! For now at Williams Sonoma and Bloomingdales, though we will continue to adjust over the next couple of weeks. While I have struggled with the whole registry thing (feels very selfish on some level), I also have to admit that wandering around one of the greatest kitchen stores of all time, and daydreaming about the amazing and nourishing soups I might mix up with a state of the art hand-held blender, was pretty fun. It is fun to imagine the future - especially when it includes beautiful absorbent towels and entertaining with a full set of matching wine glasses.

We are also trying to figure out a good place to give in lieu of presents if guests so desire. Some ideas that we are currently kicking around include Kiva (cool micro lending organization that allow people to fund small entrepreneurs around the world in an effort to combat poverty; mentioned by both my friend P. and Bill Clinton in his recent book Giving), Habitat for Humanity, NOLS (M. and I met on a NOLS trip in Alaska in 2005), or a group that is very near to my heart The Student Conservation Association (I worked for this organization during the summer of 1991 in McKenzie Bridge Oregon, one of the best summers of my life). Is it weird that we seem to be having the most trouble agreeing on which non-profit to support?

If you were in our shoes, what non-profit (either mentioned above or something completely new) would you most want to support and why?

All Art is Derivative

2008-06-23T23:23:00.003-04:00

L1020080, taken by Josie Close, originally uploaded by margsclose.

And I, like any devoted younger sister, have gotten my grandest ideas from my big sister. This is a shot from J. when Mum visited her in LA earlier this year. I bring this iconic bicycle shot to your attention in order to set up for what follows...

IMG_1330, originally uploaded by mandaclose.

Bicycle shots from Southampton - click on the pic for more from our glorious weekend in the sun. I promise I'll get more done on the wedding front this weekend. Sometimes a nice break is just what the doctor ordered...

Photo of the Day: H/Y 2005

2008-06-20T00:04:00.003-04:00

Just a quick flashback to one of our early dates. We actually took off from New Haven after the game and went up to Vermont for a weekend of skiing... It is rather remarkable to look back on all of the fun things we have done together. And to think about the great adventures to come.

M. Goes to a Cheese Tasting

2008-06-19T23:27:00.003-04:00

At Murray's.

So awesome! With wine! I was feeling super sorry for myself for not being included (firm only event or some such nonsense) until he showed up at home with a little taster that he got to go... lovely, thoughtful fiancee! Cute too.

This Tomme Crayeuse was lovely...

Snapshot of the Day: Runyon Canyon Park

2008-06-18T22:05:00.003-04:00

Just a quick glance back to a glorious walk in Runyon Canyon Park with J. Who knew that a good hike was just a few blocks away from some of the best spots in LA?

What has this to do with wedding planning? Well, personal training, of course. And I like the photo. And J. will be my MOH. And just because this blog is really the things that I am thinking about in the year that I wed.

We also had a rousing game of Ping Pong, but alas, I was so caught up, that I took no snapshots whatsoever.

On another front, did I already tell you that the dress has arrived? "Try on" was Friday. Fittings begin in August (i.e., still time for diet and training before the tailoring begins).