Wedding Entertainment

I think Carly mentioned at one time (and I would agree) that the main thing people remember at a wedding is the food, the alcohol and the music. I've started to think about what kind of music I'd want at our wedding. Carly and I have already started debating on what the first dance song should be but we have a long time to decide on that. Apparently Freak Me by Silk isn't an option...just kidding :-P

After attending a number of weddings, I've seen the mix between live band and DJ. I'd say I'm somewhat of a music snob in terms of songs and play lists. If anyone's been to a Quoctail or Birthday Extravaganza, they know I take seriously what types of songs are played and in what order. I think that a live band is a way to go to really get the party started but there are certain songs that you need to hear the original for which is where it makes sense to have a DJ. The last thing I want is to have our first dance song covered by a live band and it sound like a Friday night karaoke version. I'm starting to think that doing both is the way to go. I technically don't even need a DJ...I'll just queue up the old laptop to fill in.

I have no idea what live band to pick (anyone have recommendations?) but I've joked all along that by the time Carly and I are married, it should be reasonable in price to have Boyz II Men sing at our wedding and just do Motown covers all night. Now that would be sweet!

Couples who work out together....

So as of yesterday I am officially the proud owner of a new road bike. I've been trying new things to get back into shape for awhile. This spring I began taking spinning classes and really got into it. For my birthday Quoc got me cycle shoes and I started getting more into my spin classes. Quoc got himself all geared up with a new road bike to train for his triathalons. The plan, now that we are both all geared up, is that we can start working out more together. I am not much of a runner at all and at least with a bike I have a fighting chance to keep up with Quoc. Haha.

Today I nervously took it out with my clips and made it down the steep hills of Conshy back to the bike trails. Everything went well and even ran into some friends along the trail. I really hope biking will be my new fitness niche. Got to get wedding ready! Haha. Anyone who wants to join along a couple of friends and I are doing the City to Shore Ride for MS. 

Bachelor Party

The posts have slowed down a bit. . .maybe because there's a little under two and a half years until the wedding on November 20, 2010. While Carly is thinking about some of the details for the wedding, I've already begun thinking about bachelor parties. Yes, plural. There will definitely be more than just one bachelor party.

The idea is to definitely do on in Erie and then probably an international destination. One of the main things I want to do is make the bachelor party unique. An unforgettable, guy bonding experience sans strippers but lots and lots of drinking.

The ideas so far:

1) Do a relay triathlon where we all split up into teams and tackle a different leg (swim, bike, run).

2) Jumping out of a plane aka Sky diving.



3) Half mile run for your life aka Running of the Bulls in Pampalona, Spain. Realistically, only 15 people have been killed since 1910 so its not as dangerous as people think it is. Interestingly, approximately 14 people are killed each year sky diving.



4) Biggest Food Fight. Ever. aka La Tomatina!



5) Mexico (blah, but an idea nonetheless)

Wedding Season

There comes a point in your lives when you stop going to 21st birthday bar nights and graduation parties from college and start going to Weddings, showers, and "gasp" baby showers. I think Quoc and I have about at least 6 weddings within a years span. I'm in 2 of those weddings, and have 4 wedding showers to go to. We have four neighbors we are friends with; one of our neighbors got married last november, another gets married this weekend. One just had a baby, another is due later this summer. And the last neighbor we are friends with got engaged the same week as we did. There must be something in the water haha. We're in one of those growing up transition periods in life. When do you stop going to all night binge fests and start going to couples dinners and kids birthday parties? I think the best thing to remember through all this is balance. We still go out and have fun but we also get up early and do house stuff and couples things. Well Quoc gets up early....

Weddings and showers are not only a part of an adult transition period. They can be a lot of fun, open bars, dancing, good food, and good people. Plus you get a lot of ideas for your own wedding. The fun does come with a price though. With shower gifts, bachelor/bachelorette parties, travel costs, and wedding gifts....and then multiply that by six you can really break bank. So we try to cut costs where we can. One thing that is nice about having your two older sisters getting married before you is that you get a lot of pass-me-downs. It is probably the one time pass-me-downs are good. Everything from votives, baskets, to veils, and corset bras haha. But one thing said, I haven't regretted any of the money or time spent for any of the weddings or baby showers I have been to. I feel like Katherine Heigel in 27 Dresses. You enjoy doing nice things for those being honored and feel good sharing their happy moment. And when it comes time for you to have your moment. Those people who you've helped will be there for you during your happy moment.

A Typical Vietnamese Wedding in Vietnam

According to Vi:

They had fireworks and a laser show. I feel to maximize wedding day you should do what Uncle 7 did with the church wedding in the morning and a reception at night. Carly then gets three dresses and if you do the whole vietnamese custom of getting the bride she gets 4 dresses! But at the reception at night, the bride and groom are there 2 hours before everyone gets there to take individual pictures, once thats over there is an announcement and the lights go off and theres lasers and music and then the lights come on and the couple walk down the aisle to the stage followed by people with umbrellas and fireworks go off on the side as you walk down. After that the bride changed her dresss and the couple went to every table to toast. What are your plans? Cause if they dont include lasers, fireworks, dancers and a live four piece band, youve been upstaged oh and the 7 course meal.

How It Happened - Letting the Secret Out

The night before we left for the Bahamas, I sent a cryptic email out to a select crowd modeled after the movie "Fight Club." Here's a copy:

Welcome to the Quocshow. . .

The old blog had to be filed away but I started a new one...mainly just pictures for now but it will serve its primary purpose over the next few days.

A few housekeeping items:

Rules of The Quoc Show

1st RULE: You do not talk about THE QUOC SHOW.

2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about THE QUOC SHOW.

3rd RULE: There shall be no public discussions about happenings in THE QUOC SHOW over facebook, myspace, etc

4th RULE: Secrets in THE QUOC SHOW stay in THE QUOC SHOW

5th RULE: Rule #4 means you do not expose secrets to anyone, even significant others. I cannot stress how CRITICAL this is.

6th RULE: Seriously, keep this to yourselves.

7th RULE: Follow along at the Quoc Show Blog

See attachment.

(attached was a file called, Sssh its a Secret.jpg which was a picture of me holding the engagement ring.)

The plan was then to send updates to my blog while I was in the Bahamas to keep people updated up until the big moment.

How it could have happened...

So Quoc mentioned all of the many ways he was thinking of proposing. I must admit the pressure is on the guy in the first part of the engagement to not only propose, but come up with a good way to propose, find an amazing ring, and drop a significant amount of $ for said amazing ring. Words can't describe what a great job Quoc did with the proposal and ring. Truly an unforgettable experience. 

Details about the actual proposal will have to wait for a later post. I did, however, come across ways not to propose in the June edition of Women's health. Hope any of my girls don't find themselves with these proposals.

Wedding Budget

As we plan for the wedding of the century...aka...can't miss party of 2010, part of it is figuring out the budget to start putting money towards. I found a sample budget and the breakdown looks like the following:

* Ceremony 3%
* Reception 48%
* Attire 10%
* Rings 3%
* Flowers 8%
* Music 8%
* Photography 12%
* Transportation 2%
* Stationary 3%
* Gifts 3%

How It Happened - Proposal Ideas

Aside from the ring, the other special memory of a proposal is how its done. I'll give the rundown on how it really happened in an upcoming post but below is run down of the different ideas I had kicking of how to do it. I wish I could've went through with some of the ideas but you only (hopefully) get one shot at proposing :-P

Who loves you?

Carly: "Who loves you?"

Quoc: "I do. No one loves me more than me, but you're a close second."