The real/fake/actual/practice wedding

I've been having some issues with multiple blogger accounts (specifically with keeping them separate). So much for keeping anonymity with regards to the outside world. So I disposed of the outside world instead.

Down to business, because this post is already a week late: technically, I'm married. I don't feel married, but I'm pretty sure that's inconsequential in the eyes of the law. I don't really know where to start with regards to telling you about it all; I really wish I was one of those people who could say to her husband on her wedding night, "Not now honey, I have to post in my blog before life gets ahead of me and I forget all the details." I used to be one of those people, often described as anti-social (although really it should be asocial) because I would forego actually participating in events/conversations to write about them in my diary. Monica hated it, but I miss it. And I never had any shortage of things to write about, so I must have been doing something right. In any case, this time I didn't stave off my life with the tip of a pen, and so I find myself a little lost on how to describe the whole ordeal, especially now that it's already been put so eloquently by my witness and senior-year drinking buddy, known in these parts as C-List.

Lui and I drove up to Santa Barbara on Saturday, with a brief argument along the way due to his choosing to switch drivers by pulling off at - of all places - Mulholland Drive. After we finally found our way back to the freeway, we made good time on the 101 and headed straight for the florist who had asked us to get there before 4 to check out the shade of blue our roses would be painted, because once they sprayed them, the damage would be done. We got there just as they were spraying them anyway, but fortunately there was no problem. We stopped at Coffee Cat (my favorite coffee shop ever, but, now that Lui mentioned it, very geared toward and packed with college students), then headed over to Anabella, Elena, & Raul's house. The five of us then spent the afternoon wandering the city, making Elena try on a few flower girl dresses for the real/fake/actual/church wedding before meeting C-List, as well as Flower and her now fiance, for dinner at Pacific Crepes. (Our waitress therein looked very French, but did not sound very French, so, whether out of embarrassment or convenience, we chose not to speak any French.) After dinner, Lui and I went back to Anabella's where we watched Sideways with Anabella and Raul, then slept on the L-shaped couch.

I got to sleep in a little on my "wedding day," which I guess makes me atypical, but was nice, and I still had plenty of time to get ready for the 12:30 meeting time. We sent Lui out to get the flowers while I changed into my dress, then put my raincoat on over it, for what would be christened "the war bride look". The hairpiece from the florist came on a big chunky barrette, which C-List promptly dismantled and, in true Macgyver style, arranged the flowers in my hair using pipe cleaners and broken rubberbands. Our first stop was Scavenge, to take pictures in the black-and-white photo booth, because, well, I love those things, then it was off to the courthouse to meet Leslie.

I won't wax poetic on how fitting it was the Leslie perform the ceremony, because C-List has done it for me, but let it be known that I agree. And the ceremony was quick, it was meaningful, it was in the sun, and it included me pausing after the "Will you, Elle..." question to give Lui a last look up and down before shrugging and saying, "I will." I think that helped relieve some of the tension, which was present, but in no way obvious.

And then it was over, and our merry little band of seven (because Elena had begged and pleaded and pouted to come to the practice wedding too) went to Pascucci for lunch and an excellent bottle of Pinot Noir, all paid for by Daddy's Credit Card, and then Lui took me to the hotel he'd reserved for that night.

The suite was beautiful, with a patio, a fireplace, a giant bathtub, and a giant bed, all of which we utilised at some point in the 19 straight hours we spent in the room. (It's becoming a beautiful tradition that, when Lui and I stay in posh hotels, we get Chinese takeout brought to the room.) Perhaps the highlight of my night was when I was sitting in my bubble bath, sipping champagne and reading, and Monica called. I love Lui, but I'll let you all in on a not-so-well-kept secret: my friends are my true life partners.

It was great to spend a night doing nothing, between the chow mein, and the book (which I finished), and the self-pampering (I'd thought to bring a little tube of face mask), and the Grey's Anatomy reruns we watched on my computer via the hotel's free internet access. These are all things I've been vowing to incorporate more into my daily life - you know, me-time - and I'm hoping that now that I've had a taste of it, I'll hold myself to it a little better. I do, however, wish I'd thought to say, "Can't consommate now, honey; I need to tell my six adoring fans all about how great this is!"

There's always next time, though.