Wedding Report: Let's Talk About Themes.

So, I've been perusing Offbeat Bride (OBB) to the point where it's almost an obsession. That site and The Knot are my wedding crack cocaine, and it's not a bad thing. The Knot keeps me organized and OBB keeps me inspired.

I've started re-working the models for the cake topper. I need to chat with the awesome Auntie J about the cake, though, and to get back in touch in general.

I've also realized that I need to pick a theme/concept and stick with it. We're doing a kinda modern take on beachy with the colors, decor, and flowers. But it doesn't feel like "Whoa! Awesome!" I mean, I see what people do with things on a budget and I can't help but think "How can I have that impact?"

Problem: We definitely are geeks of the gaming variety, but how do we turn it into a theme without it getting kitschy?

Solution: Uh, let's make a list.

Solution #1: Table Names, Not Numbers.

We originally wanted to name each table after a Horde location from WoW. Then I realized, it's too specific. People need to "get it" as my mom keeps telling me. She assumes no one will understand it, even if we go with something more generic, but still geeky. OK, maybe if I named a table "Brill" no one would get it. (For those non-WoW-players, Brill is an area in WoW where Undead do quests.) But I'm fairly confident that the only people who would be clueless if we named a table "Star Wars" would be elder relatives that never saw the movies.

So, what if we named tables for games that we play? So, instead of seating Dad, his date (if he has one), and a few other members of my family at the "Orgrimmar Table", they will sit, instead, at the "Fable Table". On the escort cards will be a picture of the game cover and, underneath that, the title of the game, based (kinda) on these album art cards. However, ours will be cards in envelopes. On the envelope will be the guest's name. This makes for easy last-minute seating changes. Oh, my friend brought a date, but RSVP'd for one? No problem, just add "and guest" to his envelope, and switch the Fable card out with my single friend's Halo card.

Solution #2: Subtle Invitation Inclusions

So, we've decided on the invitations. It'll be these in blue, with our initials only on the front (so, the band will just read "s + g"). How can we geek 'em up a little? I will be making a Pacman stamp for the RSVP card and the sheet with the verse on it. The sheet with the verse will have Pacman chasing his little white balls down the left edge of the invitation in opalescent ink. The RSVP card will simply read "RSVP online at bit.ly/shinnWed or by phone (number)", with a little Pacman ghost hiding in the corner, again, in opalescent ink.

Solution #3: In Case of Flower Girl or Ring Bearer

So, I don't know if I or Durok has a girl young enough to be a flower girl close to us. I know we have a bridesmaid with a young girl, and Durok has a couple good friends with younguns. But no one that we can point to and say "that's our flower girl". But, if we find ourselves with a sudden little girl in our midst, I have a plan. Within the basket of blue hydrangeas and white rhinoculous will be an old NES controller, just barely peeking out.

My nephew, Baby J, will be 1 year and three months old at the wedding, and we think he's going to be the ring bearer. I will be making the ringbearer's pillow, as it'll be easy. Two squares of black satin, one spool of light blue ribbon, and some embroidery supplies. What am I embroidering? "This is it. This is our story. It all begins here." (Quote from Final Fantasy X, in the beginning, Auron says "This is it. This...is your story. It all begins here.")

Solution #4: Photo Booth!

I found instructions on how to make your own photo booth for an event, and I'll be doing just that. I will make a modular, three-sided enclosure for it, and make sure one of the bridesmaids or groomsmen or my dad can set it up during cocktail hour. The kicker: I'll be decorating the inside with some classic 8-bit game characters: Mario, Pacman and his ghosts, the 1-Up mushroom, Space Invaders. On the outside? Just white, blue, and black to fit our color story.

Solution #5: Noms!

Okay, it should read "CAKE" and maybe "Cruise Snacks". So, the fabulous Auntie J has agreed to make my wedding cake. For me, this is a HUGE deal for a few reasons: 1) It's Auntie J's cake and icing recipes I turn to when looking to make most cakes, 2) I know she's really awesome at cake-making, and 3) It'll save me a ton of money. But where does the gaming geek come in? Well, that's simple: cake topper and cake design. The cake topper itself has undergone another design change: instead of fighting off hordes of baddies back-to-back, it'll be his Boomkin proposing to my warlock. The cake design is still being, uh, determined.

On the cruise snacks side of things, we're allowed to bring our own beverages and noms, and since it will be after the reception, after everyone has eaten and drank their fill (we hope not to the point of being sick or stumbling drunk), we're going to go light. I will be making (with my bridesmaids' help, perhaps), some little cookies in different geeky shapes: 8-bit hearts, Mario stars, more 1-Up mushrooms... Also, a couple weeks before, I'll be using silicon molds and a mix of white, milk, and dark chocolates to make some sweet chocolate pi and tetris blocks. Some will just be colored and plain white chocolate, others will be a bit of two kinds.

I hope this helps you, somehow, to plan a party or wedding. If not, it's been fun to share how I'm incorporating a theme that's not kitsch. At least, I hope it's not kitsch.