Took some time off late this afternoon to select the wedding gown and banquet dress for my upcoming wedding. I can't believe this, but it took me two hours. Thankfully the staff at the rental store was very nice and didn't mind working with my less than perfect Japanese. K-san was uber-helpful, and I was able to choose accessories, etc. to go with my dresses.

May got to see the pictures, and she really likes the wedding gown, although the banquet dress seems “meh” to her. I had a choice between a frou-frou red dress and a less frou-frou spaghetti strap white/sky-blue one, and chose the latter. I really can't do frou-frou well. I may if the rental shop allows me to revisit the banquet dress issue. Hmm.

Oh, and since May said I look “tiny, slender and pretty” in the pictures despite the fact that I only had powder and pale pink lipstick on my face, she's now officially my favorite person.

BTW — in case anyone's wondering why I'm not just buying a wedding gown — it costs over $1k to rent one in Japan. Now figure out how much it's going to cost to buy one.

I'm one year older now.

Received very nice notes from some of my friends & Mom called this morning. And of course, we discussed my wedding. I have the date, but I have yet to make the guest list or select the music, menu, dresses, etc. Since Hero Material and I are going to the States this summer for a couple of months, everything must be done before we leave so that at least the invitations can be sent out late May or early June.

I spent the most of the day revising and reading. Unfortunately no celebration today since I'm not feeling very well, but maybe Hero Material and I will go out this weekend or early next week. :)

Speaking of which…I just realized that I didn't get any cake…! Ack…!

*suddenly craving Mario's Dessert…*

Happy Friday the 13th!

Last night I spoke with a friend of mine in the States. I haven't talked to her in … forever, it seems. I wanted to tell her about the wedding over the phone and invite her. Other than my family, she's the only one from the States who I'd love to have at my wedding. Given the horrid economy in the States I'm not sure if she can come, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

And speaking of weddings — I had no idea how time consuming and expensive it is to have one in the first place. I've been to three wedding venues, and you can't do a banquet for less than $150 / person. It's uber-fancy 4 to 5 course French or French-Japanese fusion cuisine, but holy cow. (BTW — since this is Japan you get like two bites or so per course.) Of course you also have to pay for the thank-you-for-coming-to-my-wedding presents. Per one of my Japanese friends, you need to prepare three presents totaling $70-100 per person.

Mom is determined to buy ridiculously expensive and 100% impractical gifts for Hero Material's family. I told her it was completely unnecessary, and that it'd only make them uncomfortable. Mom of course insisted that's how you do things back home (meaning her native country), and I had to remind her that the wedding is in Japan, and Hero Material's family is 100% American. Hero Material is flabbergasted since he doesn't think it's necessary, so I'm going to have to contact her again and tell her to hold off on the gift buying spree.

I think the real reason for Mom wanting to give presents to everyone, including yours truly, is because she wants something back in return. The first thing she told me after I announced my engagement was:

Hero Material loves kids. I'm sure he wants two children. Preferably as soon as possible. You know, you guys aren't getting any younger.

BTW — do you have any tips for wedding planning and dealing with an overzealous (and overly excited) mother?

Hero Material and I are getting married.

Sorry, May, but there's no picture of the ring. Hero Material and I decided to skip it. I don't really wear rings, and I can't justify spending thousands of dollars on something that I'm going to wear for about a week at the most. Furthermore, with the economy the way it is and the expenses going up (thanks, IRS!) I'd rather not. But we're getting a nice set of wedding bands with sapphires. So I think that makes up for it. :)