Since starting my new job I feel like I'm surrounded by weddings, marriage, dresses, fabrics, and it all comes up in conversation at least five times a day. I'm not complaining, merely marveling at how much bridal is insinuating itself into my life. Yesterday was Easter and, as is traditional, my whole entire giant family gathered to stuff our faces after church. This year my boyfriend also attended, which was great. He entertained the kids, helped me up when I fell down the deck stairs (heels, I'm cursed), and my family loves him. He's practically been adopted. One of my nieces, who is five, is particularly taken with him. He and I were sitting on the deck, holding hands, when my niece plops herself into his lap.
Niece: (To boyfriend) I want you to be my uncle. When are you and Aunty getting married?
Boyfriend: (laughs) Why do you think we're getting married?
Niece: (ignores question) I'm going to be your flower girl!
Boyfriend: (handling this pressure very well) Tell you what. If we get married tomorrow you can be our flower girl.
Niece: Don't forget! I'll see you tomorrow!
And then she toddled off, telling everyone about our impending wedding, something that all of the under-eighteens present (I have 9 nephews and 4 nieces) were tremendously pleased with. He and I have been dating for three months, I didn't really know how to tell them that they're jumping the gun a little bit. Of course, he thought it was hysterical.
In other news, during my internet travels I came across a website that looked promising at first, but which after closer inspection actually really annoyed me. The sole purpose of this site is to generate wedding speeches for anyone who can't be arsed to write their own. You indicate what your part in the wedding is, answer a few leading questions (how did you meet the bride/groom, what's your favorite memory with the bride/groom, etc.) and then it gives birth to a slightly generic speech to give at the reception. If your Best Man or Maid of Honor can't write their own meaningful toast (it doesn't even have to be long, a simple congratulatory wish for happiness and great sex would do) maybe they shouldn't be holding that position in your wedding party. If you want to see it for yourself click here.
This is a pet peeve of mine, weddings should be happy, sincere events. In my opinion, a lack of enthusiasm on the part of anyone involved is unacceptable, especially from the bride. A young lady came into work a few days ago and I had just gotten off my shift. I asked her about what brought her to our salon, she looked absolutely miserable, as though being there was similar in sensation to shoving splinters under your fingernails. She told me she was wedding dress shopping (what a surprise) and when I asked about the fiance ( a topic most brides will gush on and on about) all she said to me was "You wouldn't know him." She threw me a dirty look and walked away. Clearly, I'm making a great first impression.
Quick treat: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5ONvkW/sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs189.ash2/45180_647719537997_30602709_36782063_2224084_n.jpg
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
FUBAR
If you're wondering about the title, it is an old (sort of) military acronym for "F-ed up beyond all recognition". For more information on that, google it like a good little child of the internet age.
Anywho, it's a good way to describe an event that I witnessed while at work last night. After finishing the first of many informational videos I went in search of my manager to please tell me what I should do next. I found her in the middle of what was clearly a stressful phone call. She indicated that I should wait there. What followed was ten minutes of standing awkwardly among the racks of prom dresses trying not to attract the attention of the customers coming into the salon. I found myself wishing that my new name tag wasn't quite so shiny or large. I kept having panic attacks thinking about what I would do if someone asked me a question. Refer them to the informational video I had just seen? Say I was only pretending to be an employee and then bolt?
In addition, it was nigh impossible not to eavesdrop on my manager's telephonic conversation which proved to be both entertaining and terrifying. The terrifying is because I did have to wonder how it boded for my future. What had happened is that two women had both purchased wedding dresses from the salon. They had separate wedding dates, tastes and bridesmaids. But they had the SAME name! Same first name same last name. The computer, when given this information, freaked out thinking that one woman had two wedding dates (crisis of identity "How can I have made such a mistake, two entries for the same woman?? WHAT KIND OF COMPUTER AM I!!! Delete the impostor!!!!!!") Which is what seems to have happened, one of the women had been deleted from the database. In time, all was made well, the bride appeased and the computer reprimanded and properly lashed.
Amazingly, my manager did not let this FUBAR affect her mood and directed me to the next informational video. As I was leaving later that night I overheard my new colleagues lamenting my fate that I should have to watch more videos the next time I come in. We'll seeeeeee.
Fun fact, there is photography company that does weddings called "Kum Photography". I'm sure that's pronounced something like "Koom" but seriously, what's the first thing you think of when you see the name Kum? That kind of photography seems better suited to the honeymoon than the ceremony to me ^o^
And for today's fun wedding related treat I found a fun little website that lets you dress up a paper doll in wedding dresses. Enjoy revisiting your childhood!
http://www.i-amour.com/Design_My_Wedding_Gowns.php
Anywho, it's a good way to describe an event that I witnessed while at work last night. After finishing the first of many informational videos I went in search of my manager to please tell me what I should do next. I found her in the middle of what was clearly a stressful phone call. She indicated that I should wait there. What followed was ten minutes of standing awkwardly among the racks of prom dresses trying not to attract the attention of the customers coming into the salon. I found myself wishing that my new name tag wasn't quite so shiny or large. I kept having panic attacks thinking about what I would do if someone asked me a question. Refer them to the informational video I had just seen? Say I was only pretending to be an employee and then bolt?
In addition, it was nigh impossible not to eavesdrop on my manager's telephonic conversation which proved to be both entertaining and terrifying. The terrifying is because I did have to wonder how it boded for my future. What had happened is that two women had both purchased wedding dresses from the salon. They had separate wedding dates, tastes and bridesmaids. But they had the SAME name! Same first name same last name. The computer, when given this information, freaked out thinking that one woman had two wedding dates (crisis of identity "How can I have made such a mistake, two entries for the same woman?? WHAT KIND OF COMPUTER AM I!!! Delete the impostor!!!!!!") Which is what seems to have happened, one of the women had been deleted from the database. In time, all was made well, the bride appeased and the computer reprimanded and properly lashed.
Amazingly, my manager did not let this FUBAR affect her mood and directed me to the next informational video. As I was leaving later that night I overheard my new colleagues lamenting my fate that I should have to watch more videos the next time I come in. We'll seeeeeee.
Fun fact, there is photography company that does weddings called "Kum Photography". I'm sure that's pronounced something like "Koom" but seriously, what's the first thing you think of when you see the name Kum? That kind of photography seems better suited to the honeymoon than the ceremony to me ^o^
And for today's fun wedding related treat I found a fun little website that lets you dress up a paper doll in wedding dresses. Enjoy revisiting your childhood!
http://www.i-amour.com/Design_My_Wedding_Gowns.php
Monday, April 18, 2011
Auspicious beginnings?
Tomorrow begins my training in my new position as a dress saleswoman (salesman? salesperson? does it matter?). What this entails, I'm still not entirely sure but I assume it will include watching some sort of promotional video and being told all of the ways in which I should not offend clients.
To be clear, I am brand new to fashion of any kind. I spent all of last summer sitting on my parent's couch watching reruns of Say Yes To The Dress and reading bridal magazines that my best friend dumped on me because she and her once-upon-a-time fiance are no longer on speaking terms. He's married now. We often pray for his unfortunate wife. Anyway. Because I had found myself newly single and depressed, all of that time I spent force feeding my brain happily ever afters and new bridal trends made me think that you know what? Working in the bridal industry would be awesome. It's all about love and happiness and beauty, and I love all those things! No matter that the entire business is based on capitalism and manipulating women's desires for the perfect day... detailsssssss. But seriously, what in America isn't based on those same principles? It's what sales are for :)
As a treat for reading my first post (oh god I hope people read this, I don't want to just be talking to myself for goodness sake) here is a link to a fun craft idea to save money on lighting decorations for an outdoor wedding, or even indoor. It's perfect engaged couple bonding time. And before you ask, yes, I did find this on Stumbleupon. It's only my favorite website ever.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2aCyWR/wednesdaycustomdesign.com/blog/messiest-merriest-and-whirliest-diy-balls
To be clear, I am brand new to fashion of any kind. I spent all of last summer sitting on my parent's couch watching reruns of Say Yes To The Dress and reading bridal magazines that my best friend dumped on me because she and her once-upon-a-time fiance are no longer on speaking terms. He's married now. We often pray for his unfortunate wife. Anyway. Because I had found myself newly single and depressed, all of that time I spent force feeding my brain happily ever afters and new bridal trends made me think that you know what? Working in the bridal industry would be awesome. It's all about love and happiness and beauty, and I love all those things! No matter that the entire business is based on capitalism and manipulating women's desires for the perfect day... detailsssssss. But seriously, what in America isn't based on those same principles? It's what sales are for :)
As a treat for reading my first post (oh god I hope people read this, I don't want to just be talking to myself for goodness sake) here is a link to a fun craft idea to save money on lighting decorations for an outdoor wedding, or even indoor. It's perfect engaged couple bonding time. And before you ask, yes, I did find this on Stumbleupon. It's only my favorite website ever.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2aCyWR/wednesdaycustomdesign.com/blog/messiest-merriest-and-whirliest-diy-balls
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