Finally....

Thanks to everyone for making our wedding day so special. We had a great time and nearly everything went perfect. All our family and friends were so incredibly supportive and for that, we cannot thank them enough. As the months progressed leading up to the day, I found our sense of humor seemed to slowly fade away and that everything in life, and on the website became almost all business. Even though we could not have primates, midget tossings, blue ruffled tuxedos and cheesesteaks, it was still an awesome day.

Liz can now look forward to a lifetime of people spelling her name wrong and cracking Seinfeld jokes.

Thanks again to everyone!

Mr. & Mrs. Joe DiCostanza
(yes, it's weird for us too to see it like that)

Well this is it, the home stretch, bottom of the ninth, the two minute warning. Before this past weekend, I thought that everything was going relatively smooth and now, three days later, I wonder what else could possibly go wrong.

What's wrong?

Rain. Lots of it planned for this weekend. Not that anyone can really be too surprised, it's Michigan. But Saturday is not looking too good and the festivities may have to be moved indoors. Luckily, we thought that might happen and have the room next to the reception open for the wedding. However, there is the pictures situation. We were supposed to go across the street to Kensington for pictures, but now we need to find an indoor substitute. Suggestions anyone?

(other hassles deleted at the request of the bride)

At least we just have to pay off the limo, the officiant and the DJ…and get some groomsmen gifts….and some parents gifts…and some other odds and ends. But, Liz is off as of right now and I'm off after tomorrow until after the honeymoon so stuff should get done.

See everyone on Saturday or Friday or Thursday depending on who you are. If not, we'll see you on the other side.

Eleven days, three hours and six minutes.

So much more to do, so little time. Just a few payments to make on some various details. (the hall, the cake, the musicians) Lizzie has three more days of work left as I have six and then we dedicate ourselves fulltime to putting together all the loose ends. I thought the task of putting together a program could take no more than an hour...it took six.

I think our final count that we are giving to Bakers is at 150, which is just about where we expected it to be. Most of the 150-count is Gumenick-related, as most of my family opted not to come. Some of which are excuses we found to be weak, some of which we could completely understand. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

We are both excited about our respective bachelor(ette) parties. Should be a wicked good time on both ends. Not sure what Liz is doing, but I think it involves going to Luckys. Mine is a barhop in Greektown with a late-night poker tourney in a hotel room at the Atheneum. I have no intentions of winning, just there to have some fun.

Hopefully, we will be able to update before the wedding. If not, see you there.

Four weeks, one day left. At this point, we just want to get this done. No one ever really knows how much goes into an eight-ten hour day until they actually go through it themselves. Part of me thinks that I've lost my sense of humor in the last few months going through all this.

We've received most of the RSVPs, except for a few key responses (cough*wedding party* cough). Again, if you are in the wedding (Minnow, Kev-O)you DO HAVE TO SEND SOMETHING IN. Most of the families have responded, a few people are coming that we didn't expect and a few are not coming that we would have really liked to have been there.

We sent out the "rehersal and brunch" itinerary letters today. We hashed out some key details with the wedding last night and think we have everything under control. We just have to get our license in the next couple weeks. The fun stuff happens soon when we have decide where to seat everybody.

Respond to this and let me know of any feuds I should know about so that I can sit people on opposite ends of the room, or right next to each other if I feel like being a scootch. I know of a few with some friends, some family, but if we don't know, we can't plan accordingly. (Matt--not sure how I'm handling Garr & his ex, any suggestions?)

No more to report.

JD

Five weeks and five days left.

If you haven't already, SEND IN YOUR RSVPs! It doesn't matter if you're family, friends, in the wedding, associated with the wedding or what. We need to know...

1) What you want to eat? (If you don't send it in, we will assign you with THE FISH OR THE KIDS MEAL)

2) You got a date? (if applicable)

3) You coming, or what?

We still have a lot to do. Between finals, work and the wedding, it's like there is no time for ourselves.

ATT'N OUT OF TOWNERS: We have officially booked the block of hotel rooms and morning after brunch. It is at the Wyndham Garden in Novi. 248-344-8513, ask for Sheree. Tell them that you're with the Gumenick-DiCostanza wedding. I don't know what other wedding you would tell them you were with. Liz will send something out in the next week for detailed information and such.

ALSO THE REHERSAL DINNER IS AT 7:30 (7:00 IF YOURE IN THE WEDDING yes, Ushers too) AT LONGACRE HOUSE IN FARMINGTON. (on Farmington Rd. between 10 & 11 mile--the stone wall house near Heritage Park). There will be an official invite sent out soon.

Nothing else to report.

ATTENTION OUT OF TOWN GUESTS: If you were told to book at the DoubleTree Hotel in Novi, cancel your reservation. We will send announcements as to where you should book instead. The DoubleTree cancelled our blocked reservation for a soccer tournament.

So Glynn is offically out as best man for the wedding. We're tired of his antics anyway. Liz and I discussed it and have asked Bruce Harkema to step in. I've known him for many many many years and should be able to handle the duties therein. Thus, the bachelor party is taking shape. The tentative plan is to go to Hazel Park Race Track, Greektown Casino and then back to a hotel suite for an all night poker game. Details to come.

To anyone who was told they need a tuxedo: Mens Wearhouse, 639379 is the code to give the clerk and he'll fix you right up to look like a penguin.

I think that's it.

Something like 10 weeks to go and all the cliches are finally happening. Not nervous about getting married, just nervous making sure everything goes right.

DETAILS KNOWN

My friends Matt and Kevin have accepted usher duties.

We booked a string trio and a DJ.

We have waiters walking around before the wedding, passing out booze so that everyone is good and soused all night. The arrival time of the wedding has been moved ahead one hour to 4:30.

I booked the limo. Although the necessity of it is questionable seeing as that we are getting married and having the reception ten feet from one another. But it's a wedding and what's a wedding without a limo? Just a fancy party.

We got killer invitations (the programs will match similarly) and even I was impressed with them.

Glynn has basically bailed as best man to persue a better life in England. Replacement TBA.

The first of two showers is this weekend. The second shower is April 9.

I don't think there is anything else.

REGISTRY INFORMATION/CHEAP SHILL

DIRECT LINK
Bed, Bath and Beyond
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/regGiftRegistry.asp?order_num=-1&wrn=%2D79564291
Marshall Fields
http://www.fields.com/brmfields/display/CoupleRegistry?RAND=1404815025


INDIRECT LINKS (if the ones above don't work)

www.marshallfields.com
www.bedbathandbeyond.com

Highlight the link, copy the link, go the address bar, paste the link, buy us stuff.

Sadly, the holidays are over. Hope your Kwanzaa as festive as ours!

Finally, I have something to say. Figure wait until I can say something instead of pure, mindless dribble. In the past five days, we have taken care of pretty much everything with the wedding. Photography, DJ, tuxes, primates, an officiant, registry, flowers. For the past two months, we have heard nothing but “how are the wedding plans coming?’, or as the parents like to say, “you better hurry up and do that.” So, with a few days off and a case of the flu, we decided to get everything done.

We're registered at Marshall Fields (china, goblins, formalware, etc.) and at Bed Bath & Beyond (everything else). Best Buy was apparently NOT an option for registry and was "out of the question." But they had a poker table at Bed Bath that I was allowed to register for. (cough cough)

I said I would ask people to stand in the wedding by December. So I waited until the about 11 PM New Years Eve and asked then. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I asked Glynn to be the best man and Ralph & Yaacov to be the groomsmen. Bobby was already asked to stand. I haven't asked anyone to be an usher yet or asked for anyone to handle other wedding assignments.

As far as other details…I know the bridemaids dresses are going to be pink. There will be flowers, lots of them apparently. The groomsmen are all wearing tuxedos, with silver/grey vests. Again, I was vetoed with the ruffled powder blue tuxes. As far as weddings go, retro 60s & 70s style is not considered “elegant” or “appropriate”, regardless of what pop culture may suggest. We got the only DJ we wanted. There is a wedding cake with some tiers. We’re getting a string quartet for the ceremony and our families have been more than supportive with everything.

Liz is getting two showers, one in Detroit and one in Philly. Sadly, I don’t get a shower, so I should really give off one nasty funk by the big day.

On to the real news...the rashes have cleared up and we are no longer infected! Yay! Oh, and Liz graduated and landed a great job working for Henry Ford Hospital, which is awesome. I got straight A's (!?!?!?), a promotion and will be working at Ford in Dearborn starting Jan 18. I’m perplexed as to why they would promote me, but I’ve learned, much with this wedding, don’t ask questions and just go with the flow.

How is it that we are both working at places with "Ford" in the title, but not actually working for Ford?

Finally and most importantly…the Eagles are in the playoffs…again. I fear the saying, “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I hope Andy Reid knows what he’s doing come January 16. No matter what happens, no matter how many NFC Championship losses they rack up…they’re not the Lions and thank god for that.

If I don’t update before, have a merry MLK day!

About seven months to go.

Things are actually starting to roll along. Liz and Mom (Gumenick) just got the flower arrangements together. She has been a tremendous help so far with everything and we can't thank her enough. The wedding shower has been planned by Liz's aunts. Liz and I are searching for someone to officiate the wedding. We'll take just about anyone who hasn't been ordained through the Universal Life Church. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but we want someone with a little more certification than just signing up on the internet.

What?!?! Ordained on the internet? Don't believe me? Go to www.ulc.org and print out your own free legal certification. Hey, you never know, we may get desperate at the last minute and ask for a volunteer from the audience. We may just ask for you!

There is so much to do when planning a wedding, I didn't quite realize. Unfortunately, my contact in the Congo told me that my order for 12 alcohol-tolerant monkeys and an orangutan (for decoration of course) would not be ready in time. Liz leaves me in charge of one thing....

Everyone remember to congratulate Liz on her "A" in her second-to-last semester of nursing school. We are proud of her.

Oh yeah, we're registered too. This posed an argument as she wanted Bed Bath & Beyond and I wanted Best Buy. We have a couple of adjustments to make on the list and then we'll make it public.

And the dirty birds are 6-0. Life is good. Bring on the Ravens.

Ok. This is another useless post. All three weddings we were involved with are done and we have learned so much on what to do and what not to do. There were multiple things we liked and disliked with each one and will be taking each one into consideration when planning our wedding. I (Joe) have still not decided who I am going to have on my side of the bridal party, but I will be asking all my close friends to be involved in some fashion by Christmas. I just don't want people getting upset that they are asked/not asked to stand. One option being tossed around is to not have a maid-of-honor/best man and only have bridesmaids & groomsmen amongst various other non-traditional ideas and themes. In fact, we are striving to have a wedding different than every other we've been to. I want a Jews vs. Italians fight-night theme wedding because having a Chinese vs. Japanese or U.S. vs. Canada theme would be slightly ridiculous. Liz is still mulling that one over. Hopefully, by next weekend we can start getting serious about it cause this weekend is out, being Eagles-Lions weekend and all. A Lions-Eagles theme?

Go Birds

Hope all five people who read this blog are having a good summ....er.....fall. I have found that many people don't know the date of the wedding. It's either May 28, 2005 or 5/28/05 or the 28th day of the fifth month of the year two-thousand and five. People seem to think they're not invited because they haven't received anything formal from us or our families. We are sending out the "save the date" notices after Sept. 18, the date of the last wedding of the summer for us.

As far as the wedding party goes, Liz has selected her maitron of honor and bridesmaids. Liana, Ashlee, Minnie and Kristin are in the wedding party. I have decided to wait a few more months until I decide my side, except for Bobby (Liz's brother). Anyone who knows me knows why. Ross and Haley, (Liz's cousins) are the ring-bearer and flower girl/Jr. Bridesmaid.

Will write again when we send out the 'STD' letters. Sorry for the lack of sarcasm.

JD

With three weddings we are involved in this summer, we have decided to treat each wedding as a learning experience. We had the first this past weekend. Everything went fine from our standpoint, but we found many things that we will and will not use in the wedding. As much as I pleaded with the couple about the necessity of a PNMT (pre-nup midget tossing), they had their own plans. To each his own.
 
Liz and I learned the fun and follies of planning and executing bachelor (ette) parties. We learned that no matter what role someone has in a wedding, they are expensive. We learned that monkeys do not like Jack Daniels in the slightest. We learned that "The Cha Cha Slide" is the funkiest synchronized dance we have ever done, while the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance still suck.
 
Nothing else to post. We are curious as to who knows about this site. So hit the comment button and leave your name...or don't. 

Just wanted to update everyone to say there are no updates, but you can leave comments now.

I know I haven't put up a post in awhile but theres no new information. I should probably make it clear that until Liz and I send out the "save the date" letters with this website on it, not to take our posts so seriously. Sure, we have the date, we have the hall, but we don't REALLY need any "midgets." Any person of small stature will do just fine. (Mom Mom, what do you say?)

As it stands, several of our friends are getting married within the next few months. We want to see what works and what doesn't work and then go from there. On top of that, we're moving to a new apartment, cramming for finals, going to Jersey, training monkeys to fight and planning other peoples wedding related parties, so personal wedding planning time is limited.

Will update this soon.

Joe

It's official....after a gruesome fight, Liz's mom won the battle royal, thus...the wedding is Saturday, May 28, 2005 at Bakers of Milford in...Milford. Follow the link at the top for details on this facility. The ceremony and the reception will be held here as well as the prenuptual midget tossing ritual. If anyone knows of any midgets who would be willing to volunteer their time, services and health, please let us know. More to come....

Welcome to the first post of our first website. We intend to put everything regarding our wedding on this site. Someday it may look like our good friends site, Ralph and Liana, which can be found in the links section. The only "newsworthy" thing I add to the site is that the date of the wedding is either May 21 or May 28, 2005. To determine the date we are going to do one of three things:

1) Old-fashioned coin toss
2) Old-fashioned over-the-top battle royal involving all four of our parents and the two of us. The winner gets to decide the date.
3) Talk it out rationally with all parties involved.

Personally, I am shooting for "talking rationally", but Liz and her folks insist on the battle royal. Anyway, keep checking back for updates.

--Joe