something next to normal

Wedding trends: they’re everywhere. And they’re powerful. I find myself totally succumbing to some of the current wedding trends without explanation. Like, why am I so much more attracted to this instead of that? But I am. I don’t want that, I want this (I really do)!

this = mason jar : that = a regular vase

A trend right now in engagement shots seems to be signage. Evidence:

Now, Javs is not the keenest on the contrived photo. It was actually what we looked at most when selecting our photographer – we wanted someone who worked hard to catch the natural moments of the day. Now engagement photos lend themselves to a certain amount of illusion. (How often do you just sit around and smile at each other for that long anyways…) but I did think there were some elements that we could work on to help make our pictures more ‘natural’ (or as natural as they could be).

I think one thing to help was asking our photographers to come to our home to take some pictures. Outside of Cvent walls, its where I spend the majority of my time and certainly where we spend the majority of our time together. Maybe our at home (literally) setting will help put us at ease!

Now, I’ll admit that I may have fallen a bit for the engagement photo signage trend. I do think its kind of fun to put that little thought bubble or caption to a photo that helps deliver its message. You know, like those rare episodes were the coyote would hold up a sign (because he never spoke) to let you know what was on his mind. I loved those episodes - I momentary glimpse into the soul of an otherwise silent coyote. (okay – slightly dramatic, but you get it). But when I talked to Javs about ‘props’ for our session he was more than skeptical. (Maybe it was my use of the word ‘props’ that contradicted so clearly with his ‘non-contrived’ hopes.) But I kept thinking that if I could find something that was really us and really gave a glimpse into whatever it is we’re trying to say with our engagement pictures that he might be on board because it wouldn’t be contrived.

Enter Next to Normal.

Next to Normal is a musical that Javs and I went to see on one of our early dates. It was just getting started then and hadn’t made it to Broadway yet. We did get to see the ‘original’ cast because they were the only cast…it had just started traveling. I learned later that Javs was all nervous because it was a new show and he wanted it to be good (cause he was still trying to impress me) yatta, yatta. Well, it was better than good. We both came out at intermission bubbling over with excitement about how much we were loving it; the songs, the actors, the whole show = awesome. (Apparently critics agree b/c it went on to win three tonys).

The love song in the show (its played and reprised several times) is called ‘Perfect for you’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGeJTH7zN4 – Listen to it.

In one of the reprises there is a line (one of my favorites),

‘Cause crazy is perfect and f***ed up is perfect so I will be perfect, perfect for you’

I love it. It kind of says it all…and I’ve already expressed wanting this written somewhere at our wedding!…but agreed with Javs that having ‘f***ed up’ written (even if it is in a pretty frame) at your wedding is probably not the best idea. Instead, I suggested using some other lyrics to make a ‘sign’ for our engagement session – javs was in!

I think the song can have a myriad of meanings (probably different for different people). I won’t go into all the meanings it has for me, but its certainly something that makes me think of Javs and what we have been (and will be) for each other. And its something we often walk around our house singing to each other, “perfect for you…I could be perfect for youuuuu.’

***DIY Alert** (my first!)I used frames that I already had - just took the pictures and glass out. Then printed off the 'perfect for you' and 'i could be' in Bradly Hand ITC font (just good ole word font). I bought some awesome notecards from papyrus (because you can never have enough notecards from papyrus) and cause we haven't completely decided on our colors - so I didn't want to get a ton of orange paper (that we wouldn't end up using) where as with notecards - I knew I could use them no matter what (thank yous!). Then I traced (several times) the letters I had printed out until they were some what etched into the card. I went back over the etching with the pen to really darken it out, but I think they didn't turn out half bad. (Javs wanted me to just free hand them onto the cards...has he seen my handwriting? - NO)

And so were born – our signs :) So we’re taking the trend, but making it us. We’ll give em a try tomorrow and see. If you never spot them in the pictures I (hopefully) use from our session tomorrow....well then you know they were a bust. Here's hoping we're trendy enough to pull off the trend :)

Oh - and the chafing gel did not turn my face blue (sorry - those pictures would have been hilarious)