Do the words grilled vegetable tower mean anything to you?

Last night Robby and I had a meeting with Brenda from D'Amico catering. It was fantastic! Robby had spoken with her on the phone and through a couple emails and already knew that he liked her and he was right. It was so obvious that she knows what she is doing, she has considered things that would never cross my mind, and that they do a fantastic job. Plus, I found out she's from Milaca! No wonder I liked her. (Possibly because that information also won me a 20 minute back rub, but that's beside the point.)

The three of us sat down and talked about food, presentation, linens, glassware, more food, dessert, CUPCAKES and a lot of other stuff. Robby has both the benefit and the curse of having worked in restaurants/catering. He has good questions about how quickly the food is served but he also needs to be reigned in when he's close to asking which food vendors they use. Brenda sent us home with a mock-up price quote that she had created for us. When Robby checked his email later on in the evening, there was an updated quote from Brenda in his inbox, sent about thirty minutes after we'd left our meeting with her. Amazing service!

I have to admit I am already really looking forward to the tasting - I guess you don't do tastings with them until a contract is signed. But D'Amico is definitely first on my list, both because Brenda would be so great to work with but also because I just love their food.

It's my wedding, I'll wear Keds if I want to.

This will come as a huge surprise to all you when I tell you this: most wedding blogs/websites cater to people having quote-unquote traditional weddings.

It will also be surprising when I tell you this: Our wedding will not fit into that box.

I KNOW! Take a moment to digest this information. I am becoming more and more grateful for the advice that wavers from that well beaten path. On my Google Reader, I have 3 or 4 wedding websites that I read and a couple of them are proving to be wonderful sources of inspiration and support that we can do what we want-it's our wedding. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to read over and over again that you need to lose weight, grow out your hair, consider getting extensions, dye shoes for the bridesmaids, dance with your father to Butterfly Kisses, have a ring bearer, as well as not count on your groom to do anything except show up. In no way am I saying that any of these things are bad ideas--I've been to plenty of weddings with any/all of these decisions made and they've obviously been lovely. But I don't like being told that these are necessary. DON'T PUT THEM ON MY CHECKLIST, K.

One source for great ideas is this book: Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide. This book covers everything from engagement to receiving gifts. It describes 'the golden rules' of many aspects of the engagement and wedding as well as reasons for these traditions. Then it offers unique ways to break these rules, as well as suggestions for how to get out of sticky situations. Right now my absolute favorite source is Offbeat Bride. My friend Kerry introduced the site to me and I am in LOVE with it. The brides featured here really run the spectrum of women and have some of most creative weddings I've ever seen, including but not limited to a Peep centerpiece, a puppet wedding party, 29 year old male flower girl, and a ceremony on a pirate ship. I mean c'mon! How awesome is that?

The Wedding Party - short intros

Rob: Robby moved to the Twin Cities almost two years ago in pursuit of a magical quest and has slowly been fulfilling his plans for world dominion. To achieve that goal, Robby left the hospitality industry after 15 years of tireless service in order to pursue a path that would allow him to actually SEE the people he loves. He currently works as An Enrollment Specialist at Rasmussen College and happily spends his work day helping people go to college.

Robby can often be found in the company of his faithful companion of over 9 years, Winston, an 11 year old Black Lab who has made a significant contribution to the success of the relationship.

Now that he is able to have something resembling a normal life, Robby adores spending time with the friends that he missed too many years with and grills, reads, researches and writes. He has heard that there will be some kind of big ceremony that will require his participation in the near future.

Janna: Janna is living in Roseville, as she has for the last almost 9 years. Right now she works at Seward CSP, which is part of Mental Health Resources; the CSP is a drop-in center for adults with serious mental illnesses. She loves knowing that she's moving closer and closer to actually using that Master's Degree!

Janna spends her free time divided between seeing her friends, playing with her nephews, seeing the rest of her family, making Robby's friends her own friends, reading, watching movies, blogging, conquering nations and befriending woodland creatures. Oh, and sometimes planning a wedding.

Janna's Attendants:
Katie Isaza - Matron of Honor: Katie and I have been friends since pre-school, which is somewhat surprising since we didn't go to school together after kindergarten. We were able to keep in touch through church youth group and I couldn't ask for a better best friend. Katie is the stable to my crazy, the planner to by spontaneous, the loud laugh to my loud laugh. Right now Katie lives in Chicago with her husband Julio and son Samuel. Maybe someday we'll get to live in the same state again!

Rachel Verdoorn - Bridesmaid: I met Rachel during our first summer working at Covenant Pines in 1998 and luckily we were able to work together in 1999 as well because that's when we really got to be friends! Rachel and I lived together (with 2 other friends) the following year while she was planning her wedding to this goofball named Mike. Rachel has always been a great support to me: laughing at my strange jokes, listening to me complain or cry, sharing in my joys and excitements. It might sound kinda cheesy, but she's been a great example of how to be a wife but not forget about your friends; she does it simply by being herself.

Mary Kate Fretheim - Bridesmaid: I also met MK at Covenant Pines in 1998 and was able to work with her for two summers; then she moved in with me too! But we remained roommates up until... I forget, was it 2 years ago? Anyone who has ever spent more than 10 seconds with MK knows what a completely special, wonderful, caring, fun, and happy person she is. It's impossible to be with her and not get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm that she shows towards everything that she does and everyone that she meets. I consider myself very lucky to be her friend.

Rebecca Mason - Bridesmaid: I met Becca at Rachel's wedding--they're sisters! I was able to convince Becca that she needed to move up to Minnesota and take her sister's place at the townhouse for a year. We've stayed friends through the distance and have been mistaken for sisters more times than I can count. I am sure this is because we look similar (at least when our hair colors match) but I like to think it's also because I truly think of (and treat her) like a little sister.

Rob's Attendants:
Nicholas Galezewski , Best Man -- Robby's best friend in college and the Best Man at Nick's wedding where he delivered a Shakespeare-worthy toast. Nick & his wife Lucia asked Robby to be the Godfather to their son, Jack.

Eric Traband , Groomsman -- Eric brings years and years of professional Groomsman experience to the wedding party. Rob & Eric have shared more apartments than anyone except Winston. This, sadly, marks the end of a long and happy roomateship

Todd Weinkauf , Groomsman -- Rob has known Todd's family for most of his life and it was in High School and many nights at his parent's barn that they realized they were the only people in the world that found each other's jokes funny. Despite never agreeing on anything and a tendency to bring out each other's competitive nature, Todd & Rob have remained friends, mostly because they are still the only one's that find each other amusing.

Chris Hesselbein , Groomsman -- It is worth noting that Rob and Janna laugh pretty easily. Often times at nothing. When that seems to happen, it's usually because they're remembering that one time Chris did something funny. Chris brings his unique talents for being awesome everywhere he goes and the bride and groom hope that their friend will help liven up what is sure to be a stoic and stagnant reception.

Officiant: Dave Bergstrom, Janna's big brother.
Janna and Rob had no question when it came to who would be officiating their wedding. Dave has been supportive and excited about his sister's boyfriend through out their relationship and has had no problem becoming friends with Rob. Which isn't surprising considering they are the same age, have the same sense of humor, many of the same interests and hobbies and both have an insane ability to remember TV and movie quotes.

The proposal

We had tentative plans with Janna's cousin Sarah and her boyfriend John. Robby had prepped them to be conveniently busy when Janna called to finalize plans that evening. Robby then spun a tale of being invited to a preview night for a restaurant and for Janna to be home at a certain time. It was only after he met with her parents that evening to ask for their blessing that he called Janna and said , "I kind of need you to drop what you're doing and meet me at the rocket."

(At Central Park in Roseville, there is a piece of old playground equipment which is part climbing apparatus, part slide and is shaped like a rocket. Our 2nd date was at this park and has become a special place for us in the past year.)

Janna met Robby at the park, where they climbed the rocket. After some coy smiles and bashful foot shuffling, Janna may have mentioned that her heart was beating really fast. Robby got down on one knee and asked Janna to spend the rest of her life with him making him feel that way. She responded perfectly with a bit of flailing and an "Of course."

You know, once she was able to find her voice and talk through the sudden onslaught of tears in her eyes.