Marriage Meme (edited)

Stolen, of course, from Tense Teacher:

1. Where/How did you meet?

We were neighbors in an apartment building. I woke him one Sunday morning playing Mozart a little too loudly, and he came knocking on the door in his red, terrycloth bathrobe. We became friends not long after I slipped a note with an effusive apology under his door.

2. How long have you known each other?

A little more than 16 years

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

We started dating in 1992 - so ’round about a year.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

About three years.

5. How long was your engagement?

A little more than a year. We planned the wedding to happen after I graduated with my bachelor’s.

6. How long have you been married?

11 incredibly happy years.

7. When is your anniversary?

June 29th

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

I don’t really know. About sixty, maybe?

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

Tense thinks she had the best cake, but she’s wrong: we did. My sister worked for a cheesecake factory at the time, and her wedding gift to us was an assortment of cakes and pies. We served cholate torte, peanut butter fudge cheesecake, chaos pie, and about six or so other varieties. We had a little white cake with sugar flowers on top to cut for the pictures, but everyone else had cheesecake. As a tradition, I have that little white cake recreated every year for our anniversary - since the original was so small, we didn’t have anything to save for the first year, so I have them made fresh every year. Sure beats the hell out of freezer-burned leftovers!

10. Where was your wedding?

We were married in the church that Mr. Chili’s parents attend. Though neither of us is religious in ANY way, the church is very open and accepting of diversity (which was important to me) and the minister was just wonderful. It was a lovely day.

11. What did you serve for your meal?

As I recall, it was sort of picnic-y foods. There were cold cuts and macaroni salads and crudite and the like. We wanted to keep it light.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?

Six. My best friend at the time was the maid of honor, and the two roommates I had in college were bridesmaids. Mr. Chili’s twin was best man, and Dudley and a college friend were groomsmen.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

Sadly, no. I haven’t seen my honor maid in almost 8 years, and Mr. Chili has lost touch with the college friend. Everyone else, though, is still firmly and happily in our lives.

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

Yes. I managed to hold it mostly together, but Mr. Chili barely made it through his vows (he’s still mad that I go to go first; he says I made it harder for him). I love that about him, though; he’s sensitive like that.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

The binding. My mother-in-law is a weaver, and she wove a binding cloth for us. Since my heritage is mostly Scots, I wanted to have a kind of handfasting ceremony, and I really loved that part of our wedding service.

16. Any funny moments?

I remember looking out into the congregation for someone to look at to help me hold it together when Mr. Chili was about to break up, and seeing a friend of my in-laws, a big, boisterous woman with a fantastic laugh and a rock-solid personality. I thought for sure that she’d be an anchor for me, and she was easy to spot in a big hat and polka-dot dress. When I found her in the pews, she was bouncing she was sobbing so hard. No help there!

17. Any big disasters?

I wish I hadn’t invited my biological parents. Though my mother did everything she could to create drama and make scenes, we managed to keep her at bay, but it was still energy that I didn’t want to spend on that day.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We rented a cabin on a lake in New Hampshire and invited our friends to stay with us. We had a FANTASTIC time and have zero regrets about the unorthodox honeymoon arrangements.

19. How long were you gone?

One week.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

My parents wouldn’t come, I’d invite more people, and I’d make sure at least a few people were taking video.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

The side closest to the bathroom, which just happens to be the left side of the bed (this was Tense’s answer, too).

22. What size is your bed?

Full. A lot of people think that full sized beds are too small for two, but we make it work just fine.

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

We are each other’s best friends. We trust each other implicitly. We laugh all the time.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

I’m a “let’s get it done” kind of gal and Mr. Chili is a “wait a minute, let’s think it through and do some research” kind of guy. These do not always play well together.

25. Who literally pays the bills?

Please! I’m a teacher! Who do you think pulls down more dough? I write the actual checks, though, if that’s what’s meant by “literally.” He earns it, I redistribute it.

26. What is your song?

The Power of Two by the Indigo Girls and Native Melody as covered by Shawn Colvin.

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

See above.

28. Describe your wedding dress.

I had my gown made, because I wanted the neck off of that one and the bodice of that one and the train of that one… Off the shoulder, full skirt, chapel train done in raw ivory silk. I still fit into it.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

White roses and the most beautiful blue irises. There were wildflowers in baskets on tables at the reception.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

No. Our wedding bands are actually two bands soldered together. I love the symbolism of them.  (For all of you wise asses out there who wonder how Mr. Chili and I get anything done with our rings melted together - fused like marital Siamese twins - here are pictures of my set….