Tents, chairs, linens, porta-johns...check!

It has been snowing for several days and our backyard (see above) is beautifully blanketed with the powdery white stuff. Josh got me a new pair of x-c skis as an early holiday present and yesterday afternoon we went skied in the backyard. We got some exercise considering we had to break in some tracks. Then Josh got to try out his new snowshoes, which I got as a holiday gift for him. We are set for winter sports....Now on to wedding stuff.

Good news is that we worked out a contract and a price quote with Morris Tents and this morning I put down a deposit for tents, chairs, linens, tables, and porta-johns. Yes, I said porta johns. Given the state of my parent's house (under constant construction and renovation), we knew that the household plumbing could only handle a couple more people to the system. But we also knew we have friends and family who are okay with this arrangement since the birthday party, ceremony, and reception will be in the middle of a field on the farm. We promise to change up the decor of the porta-john for our guests.

My mother called me about a NY Times article on how the economy has affected wedding planning. See "Recession? Time to Slash the Flower Budget". It mentions couples who planned their ideal weddings (i.e. ostentatious...which spells out to early divorce) above the average amount spent on weddings (in this case$29,000). Brides had to "pair down" their budgets, some from $35,000 to $25,000, in order to pay for other real life expenses (i.e. loans, credit card bills...the stuff outside the one day of celebration). When I read this, I felt more sane because we have been planning this wedding rationally and bare bones while remaining in the black. I don't have any sympathy for these couples because even if we weren't in a recession...wouldn't it be better to put their money in better things (i.e. a down payment on a home, etc.)

On another note, Josh and I just joined a winter bread CSA called Good Companion Bakery about 10 miles from our home. The wheat is grown, harvested, and milled for flour on the farm/bakery. The owner makes the bread (including croissants and artisan breads) on the premises in a wood fired oven. To say the very least Josh and I feel spoiled, but definitely committed to buying local and organic.