I'm reorganizing my drop box, so the photos will be unavailable for a little while. They are safely backed up to disc, so don't worry!
Below are links to Dropbox, where I have uploaded the photos. All photos were taken by Kristy Bizdek and partner. Here's her flicker stream in case you need a photographer any time soon.
Prewedding Shenanigans
Outside and Setup
Entry into the Museum
Our lovely attendants
Vows and Stuff
After
Museum Decor
Reception
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Notes on unusual weddings
Firstly, we were very, very fortunate to be on the same page with our relatives. They were endlessly generous and helpful, and very open-minded. So we pretty much named our ticket in terms of decor and ceremony. Not everyone is so fortunate, but there's always ways to work in something different.
- Location - if you have an nontraditional location, nontraditional ceremonies tend to follow! We used university facilities, having the ceremony in a Geology museum that has been around since the 19th century. It wasn't a "normal" location, so our guests were ready for anything.
- Script - before our officiant started the ceremony, we had a little "nota bene", a small outline to the guests saying what he would say and when, what would happen in the course of our ceremony, etc. This took all of 30 seconds (this was a small ceremony), and reassured anyone who was put off by all the bones and specimens, and didn't know what to expect. Don't be afraid to let your folks know what's coming - try to look at your ceremony and other wedding/union stuff from an outsider's perspective.
- Research - comb libraries, trawl the net, and above all, look at documents first. Googling, say "humanist wedding ceremonies" or something similar can be a good starting point, but when I did it, I found a lot of repetition. There's a lot of texts that can be made weddingable. Who are your favorite writers, and how were they on the topics of love, trust, friendship, etc.? Look outside of the "first hits" on search engines or heavily anthologized works if you feel stalled.
- Examine everything: is there a religious spiritual tradition you like anyway? We really liked the unity candle and wine glass breaking. My personal feeling is that if you learn about the original tradition, and tell people you're aware of the origins and the way you've changed it, you may offset the issues of appropriation. But be sensitive. Our geode smashing ceremony was taken as charming and (of course) unusual. Again, we were lucky! Mileage varies, naturally, but communicate with people so they know you didn't just play cultural tourist.
Honeymoon photos
The first attraction we visited was the Crane Point museum and accompanying trails, which had a number of cool things from a butterfly garden, bird preserve, and the oldest house not in Key West. The museum was a small little nook, which I really liked, since small museums are often more personable - labors of love. The trails were packed with awesomeness, and had gorgeous views at the end, making the humidity worth it :)
Our Crane Point photos
Key West had to be divided into 2 days since there is just so much to see. So below is day one, with the Cemetary, the oldest house in the key, and various bits of prettiness. And there's day two with the Hemingway house and related stuff.
Another place we went was the Butterfly Conservatory in Key West, which now counts as one of my mental happy places. Exquisite! Just go look :)
We also went to the Dolphin Research center and the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, having a dorkily wonderful time (I like history and science with my vacations!)
There was also ample time for beach bumming, either just us or with Gobi!
Little known fact
The legal wedding was on the 11th of May, and while I treasure it, the "real" wedding was the 19th, with all y'alls :)
But, here's some pictures from our quickie City Hall do:
But, here's some pictures from our quickie City Hall do:
Fans, fans, fans
This is gonna be good!
My fan came today - ooooh la la!
Got my bead on at AC Moore - 50% off sale for this brand, so I stocked up for the bridesmaids fans...
And here are the bottles and sprockets for the "wunderkammer" boutonnieres:
Figured for those who don't like the froof of feather fans, they can have tiny glass jars with "specimens" (eg minerals, crystals, shells, bones, etc.) jazzed up with the necessary (for any steampunk affair) cogs'n'sprockets.
Also got paper for the invites - now to make and send them in the coming weeks! Very excited about those....I do need envelopes, though, but those can be found or made in a pinch!
That hat!
Wunderkammer Wedding Hat!
Wunderkammer Wedding Hat! Wunderkammer Wedding Hat! Wunderkammer Wedding Hat! try saying that several times fast.....I took an hour and a half away from the grading I should be doing to play with my new hat, taking it to heights (depths?) of weirdness and loveliness the store that sold it to me *never intended*!
Each piece, besides the hat and goggles, is from my private crafting stash. Many also have personal meanings, such as a repurposed costume jewelry ring of my mother's, or a watch part from my grandfather, or shells and bones James bought me, things we collected together....
I'm not quite done with it, but I'm pleased it came together so nicely so quickly.
(Wunderkammer Wedding Hat! Wunderkammer Wedding Hat! Wunderkammer Wedding Hat!)
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