.i now pronounce you.

Something else that has been crossed off of the list: The Officiate. This was on my list to confirm and finalize back in June. Sure, that was a long time before our April nuptials, but it is something EVERYONE needs for a wedding so they do book up quickly. We were ready to meet with one and just as we were setting the appointment, another couple stole her away for the same date and almost the time. If we were willing to move our ceremony 30 minutes later, she was willing to perform the ceremony. Thanks but no thanks.

I then reached out to the father (dad) of one of my friends. He is a Rabbi here in town and while neither of us is Jewish, he performs a great Civil Ceremony. I could already see the uproar from the in-laws, who still think that somewhere, someway and somehow we will be married in a Catholic Church. Not only are we not, but we were almost married by a Rabbi. While not being completely ignorant to the wishes of the in-laws, I did try to find someone of the Catholic faith who would perform our ceremony. While most of us know, a Priest is forbidden to perform any Catholic wedding outside of a church. Well, we did hit a jackpot- we found someone of the Catholic faith who would marry us come April.

Immediately upon meeting him, we were won over by his calming demeanor and ability to crack jokes, which is important to me as someone who cried tears of laughter on a daily basis. A sigh of relief could not be loud enough once we left his office, it was fabulous to agree on an Officiate and have someone we think will make the ceremony memorable and touching.

As you know, I am a BIG proponent of planning for marriage as you plan your wedding. So we enlisted his help to pre-marital counsel us. No- there are NOT any underlying issues, as my dad was under the impression of, but we are smart- this is going to be our one and only marriage. This is going to be through better and worse…richer and poorer…and through my sickness which we hope turns to health. Anyway, he will be going through the Catholic pre-marital program without having to actually go through it! Double score.

And here we are, along with my niece. That couch was so swanky.

.results of my procrastination.

If I followed my checklists from various sites like Project Wedding, Wedding Wire, or The Knot, I would have completed this one task back in June. It is now October. What task is this? Finding an Officiant. Tisk-task.

I just figured that everyone would happen to be available on our wedding day at our wedding time. In April. On a Saturday. We attempted to make an appointment with one lovely option and she was booked. Yes, a "she". Her ceremony seemed fabu and her voice was soothing and calming. I could tell that the "she" part sent Mil into a tither but regardless, we are unable to book this lady.

My friend's father is a Rabbi with a great ceremony. No, I am not Jewish. Flo and I are both Catholic with weekly church going parents. I knew deep down that Flo really wanted a Catholic influenced ceremony. Me? Well I could take it or leave it. I want my ceremony outside and that is more important than having it be Catholic. More of my time is spent outside than in church. Or judjah as Ster and I would call it. ::Hi, Ster::

Anywho, Rabbi Craig reached out to several of his colleagues once he heard that we were both Catholic. As luck would have it, today, after I nearly had another- yes, another- breakdown he gave us the contact information of a former Priest who left the Priesthood for marriage. Wow- being married must be something fabu.

Our first appt with him is November 7th. Our initial convos were great and we are quite happy with this connection. Flo finally admitted that he wanted Catholicism to be a part of the ceremony to appease our parents. I can tell you that while, yes, this will make my parents happy, they never would have made mention of it being a non denominational ceremony performed by a Rabbi. This is one of those subjects that was more important to Flo and his family than to me and mine and is why I searched high and low to find something to closely resemble a religious ceremony! :) I knew that it was important to Flo without him having to say anything. Maybe my wifey sixth sense is already kicking in?!?