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I dreamed last night about the wedding.

It was completely unlike the plans we have for our ceremony: it was early summer (rather than September), in a tiny country church with only about 10 rows of pews (not the large, elegant Provincial Chapel we've actually booked). It was very pretty - the church doors were open, and I could see out into a field of golden wheat.

Apparently I had woken up late and in the rush to get ready, my hair hadn't been done, so I was trying to fluff it up a bit, and someone was telling me encouraging things about how good it looked, but I was dubious. We had hired a photographer who was sort of screwing up taking portraits of me. He was extremely close to my face, and i felt uncomfortable, especially since all the guests were there and were waiting for us to finish taking photos so the ceremony could get underway.

At some point, Will approached me and put a sizeable box in my hand, which I opened as he said, "It's another engagement ring!" It was a hideous tear-shaped purple monstrosity which covered half my hand when I put it on. I told him I didn't like it, but I think he wanted me to wear it anyway, that he would give me another ring after the ceremony, one I'd like better.

We started the procession into the chapel for the ceremony, but I realized I didn't know what I was doing and sort of fumbled to find my place, where I was supposed to stand, which wasn't the traditional spot in the center, next to the groom. It was off to the right, near this gazebo thing.

I didn't dream the vows, it simply skipped to the part where we were leaving the church, married, and somehow the purple ring had turned into a smaller, beautiful, multi-diamond ring like this:

I was surprised, because I hadn't wanted another ring (except the wedding band, which he also now gave me).

I guess this dream is just a jumble of wedding-related happy thoughts and worries. Kind of scary, isn't it, that 7 months out, I am already having wedding-unpreparedness dreams? :)

It's been about five months since I last updated, and about two weeks since the last big piece of news, and I thought today (Valentine's Day) would be a good time to break the news: I'm getting married. :) :)

Will proposed to me the morning of Friday, February 1. It was about 8:00 in the morning and there was a knock on the door, which Will answered as I continued to doze. He came back to bed and we started having a brief conversation about FDIC and the improbability of bank runs in the U.S., until there was a pause, and he said, "Becky, I have something I want to talk to you about."

I asked what it was, and he presented me with a small box, which I opened...

I looked at him, and he said, "Will you marry me?" I think I smiled at him and put the ring (originally his Gram's and then his mom's) on my finger and said yes and kissed him about one million times. We lay there in our PJs, all cozy and happy, and snuggled and enjoyed the moment for a few minutes, but then it was time to get up and start calling family to tell them the good news. Everyone was very happy for us, and then I went to teach my class at 10:30.

I was bursting with the news, and when I was using the document camera while teaching, I wondered to myself if any of my students were looking at my ring, but I think they were all busy learning accounting. :)

The next morning we (Will and Tyler and I) got up REALLY REALLY early to go to St. Louis to check out the chapel, where we decided to have the ceremony. Will was pretty pooped when we got there and while we were waiting for the coordinator to show up, but then he perked right up when we got inside the chapel. It's really so beautiful, with all this golden light, and .. I had been hoping for some time that Will would ask me to marry him, so the fact that he had asked me, and that we were starting the planning process.. it was all kind of moving and just lovely for me.

The next day (Sunday), Will and I trekked out to the 9th Street Abbey in Soulard, to see whether it would be a good place for a reception. We looked at it the day after a Mardi Gras party so it was a little cluttered, but here are some photos: (this is on a grey day so the light isn't the best)

So basically we thought it was beautiful. I went back and visited with my parents the next Friday and met with Susie from Patty Long Catering, and loved it, so we booked it. By the way, the wedding will be September 12, 2008, in the afternoon, with the reception in the evening. We're planning to have breakfast for dinner, but there will also be chicken in a white wine caper sauce for those people who are offended by the idea of breakfast in the PM. We're still setting the menu, but wouldn't mini-waffles just be an adorable 'horse doover' (as Grandpa K once called it)?

Then, last Saturday, Will and I went to The Enchanted Bride bridal shop, on Olive. People (Mom included) were scandalized that I brought him with me, since there's that superstition about it being bad luck for him to see me in the dress before the wedding day, but.. nevertheless, we found The One there. It was only the third dress I tried on, and it fit like a dream, and I felt like one million dollars in it, especially with Will looking at me with love and admiration in his eyes.

So those are the big things we've done so far. We've set the color palette as ivory, dark red (crimson/burgundy, not wine/purple), and gold. I've also basically designed the invitation. I also have found some ideas on flowers and stuff from theknot.com, and my favorite so far is:

Any other information you want about our wedding will (eventually) be found at www.willandbecky.org, which my dad bought for us so that we could share information and details about planning and the actual big day with all the guests. :) So go there and check back often.