I’m sitting downstairs in the basement of our first baby, Massage Envy, wondering how much snow has fallen in the last few hours. I’m also thinking of all that has transpired in the last year. It’s been a wonderful, fast paced year which for some reason, has been broken up into 6 month milestones.  One year ago we were married on the beach in Hawaii, 6 months later we were married in Dallas immediately followed with the opening of Massage Envy. Six months after that little “E” is conceived.  Massage Envy is now 6 months old, we have over 500 members and 30 staffers.

Happiness exists in a space of no distance between Jacqueline and I.  In saying no distance I mean nothing hidden, no secrets, everything is said and even the unsaid is understood and communicated.    We are both looking forward to having a family while at the same time creating a life and lifestyle literally from scratch.  I go to bed with a smile on my face and wake up with the same.

I wonder how much snow has fallen.  If it snows more than 12 inches they may stop the LIRR.   I just checked and the train is still on schedule so Jacqueline will be home on time.  Must be about 8 inches or so.

Our roommate Ting sent us this video and said it reminded her of us.  We think so too.

THE CROSSING OF TWO CULTURES

Jacqueline grew up appreciating the two unique sides of her heritage.  It is important to Jacqueline to be bicultural and bilingual and have their wedding reflect both.

Jacqueline was born in Dallas, Texas after her parents fled to America during the Fall of Saigon. Jacqueline’s Vietnamese name is Hoai-Huong and her twin sister’s name is Hoai-Thanh. Hoai-Huong means “missing their homeland” and Hoai-Thanh means “peace in America”.

The bridal market is crazy and costly!

I never thought being a guy had so many advantages until I witnessed Jacqueline purchasing a wedding dress.  First of all any time you mention the word “wedding” the price automatically multiplies by 10.  Given the youthful appearance of Jacqueline, we should have gone the prom route.

While the bridal store sales people were relentlessly vying for our business, we ended up purchasing the exact same dress from another woman who wore it once for a fraction of the  price.  That’s better than purchasing a sample dress, another viable option, that had been worn 1000 times.  Yuck.  In the end we’ll probably sell this one back to another would be bride as well.  Go green baby!  We are also hoping that our daughter will get some of my genes and be a tad taller than her mom and not have to wonder where her mom’s prized, vacuum sealed wedding dress went.

I’m scared of my twin sister Thanh!  She is one my maiden-of-honor and official wedding planner. Thanh is a full time Director of Pharmay and mother of 2 beautiful rug rats. (Isabelle & Parker)

Thanh and my other little sister and bridemaid, Nicki are the planning my Dallas wedding for because I’m in NYC.

Thanh wakes up at 7am to write to-do lists for us.  In between getting the kids ready for school, feeding them and driving them around, she’s calling or emailing me about the wedding plans.  Talk about Major Multi-Tasking!  Dont mess with this HOT MAMA when she’s ON!

THANK YOU THANH AND NICKI!!!!

Here are are the daily emails I get from her:

Hey Girls,
I think we are more than half way done with the preparation:
Here are our accomplishment: We just need to set deadline.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE ON A WEEKLY BASIS ON OUR PROCESS. WE DON’T HAVE TIME.

Decoration:
Ceremony:
I also discussed with My Linh (the lady that does flower for St.Joseph every Sunday). She agree to do the church flowers for you. If there is no other wedding that day, then she will arrange the alter flowers our color(pink/green) and flower preference(hydrangea,spray roses,gladiolus,viburnum). She mention that we don’t have to purchase it because she have to arrange flowers for the church that day anyways. We just need to tell her which flower to use. I have an appt with her on Friday March 6 to discuss details of the flowers. At that appointment, I will also ask her to do the flowers for the pew(just hydrangea/spray roses). Maybe 6 to 8 arrangements in my PotteryBarn lantern. I will send you a picture of the lantern this afternoon for you to see. If she is cheap, then I will also ask her to do the two big flower arrangement for the church and to use for  the reception. You just need to send pictures of what you would like. Soon by Friday. My plan is to have her purchase the flowers. Less headache for us.
Deadline: By Friday I should ironed out the budget for the ceremony as well as alocating the ceremony decoration.
Reception:
I discussed to Linh about the flower arrangement. She agree to take care of ALL flower decoration at the reception. She will formularized a budget sheet for us sometime before the end of March. I gave her a $1500 budget but told we have an extra $500 dollar leg room to work with. (By donation to you… for the would-o- been wedding shower gift).
She agreed to purchase and arrange all the the above:
-flowers for the bride,bridesmaid(2),and flowergirl
-all 21 centerpieces. BTW, we decided to go with your original request…you happy Now!! Linh will be arranging the cylinder vases with orchids.She also have about 80 votives candles from her wedding. We will place about 3 to 4 votives candles on the table. Need to allocate sombody to do this on the day of the wedding. I am thinking Nhi/Ann?
-4 small flower arrangement to leave at the sweet heart table,signing table. I will purchased 4 square/rectangle vases and have her arrange: peonies,hydrangea,tulips,spray roses,viburnum. Linh mention 4 small flower arrangement is “managable” for her to do.
-tree branch on the placed card table. She will placed orchids and crystals on the branch. Your call to put hanging flowerball(carnation or roses) as an additional arrangement. Linh will not be doing this. We can allocate somebody for this..maybe ask Dieu? She has a marble vases to put the branch in. Not sure what it looks like. She will send pictures for us to look at. If we don’t like it , then we can always purchase this the at last minute. Nam, your job to purchse and decorate the vase just in case we decide to use Linh’s marble vase?
Huong,your job to call Zander’s house on the extra table (preferrable round table)? Ask them if they have it, we need to find table cloth to cover it the placed card table and signing table.
-Two big flower arrangement for the church/reception. I am still deciding who to use…either My Linh or Linh. When I meet up with My Linh on Friday, I will ask her on the pricing. If she is expensive, then I will ask Linh to do it. It’s just that I think Linh have a lot on her plate.
Deadline: By March 6–Huong, your job is to find a picture of what you want to the big flower arrangement to look like?
Nam–can you bring we the crystals to my house? We to decide to purchase more or not? Also, can you give the link to purchase crystal ball? We need to purchase soon. It’s online right?
Huong–you need to purchase the crystall strand, crystal ball,and candyball for the party favor. Do this soon to get it out of the way. Nam and I will start putting it together the end of April.

-Boutinneer: Linh will purchased the orchids…. since this what you want. Either Nam or Mom needs to come by Linh’s house 3 to 4 days prior to the wedding to see how to do it. We are allocating Mom ,Nam,and our aunts to do this on Friday the day before the wedding.Linh will purchased the flowers for us. We just need to pick it up from Linh and do it ourself. Roses or orchids looks good to me. Linh comment that roses may look to big and it may flop or welted early. I just have to see the cost to make the decision on what to use?

Chair covers- i already contact Kim Trang. She agree to do the chair covers. I will have to meet with her next week to choose the color sash (pink/green) and fabric(ivory or white).

Music-are you guys working on the music? Nam, you should help since she knows more up to beat music. The young one knows more Huong, you would have to call Zander’s house on the speakers and music set up? Do we need to rent anything?
BTW, Huong…did you arrange music for the church ceremony? My advice is pay somebody for St.Joseph to sing and play the piano. I did that for my wedding. I actually like it. Cheap but simple.

Bridesmaid/Flower girl
-Nam will decide and place an order on the dress by this week. Deadline Wednesday March 4.
-Flowergirl: still looking
-Ringboy/Issy’s partner: Still looking for Austin’s outfit. Might to use a Vietnamese rental place to rent his outfit.  BTW, I just purchased him the whole suit attire. He will be looking sleek as MacDaddy. Navy suit,pink shirt,and navy/pink tie. Even got him leather shoes!!!
Invitation
Nam will probably have this done by the begining of March. Let me know if you need me to help out with the rhinestone and ribbons. The actual mailout of the invitation should be mid March. It has to be at least 6 weeks prior to the wedding.
Nam will do the placed cards once we get some RSVP on the guest.

Party Favors
Once you purchase the candyballl, I can start putting it together. No hurry on this. But I just want to get a head start on this. NO Procrasnating on anything if we can avoid it.Nam, just need to the label ex: “Thank you for coming…..May 2…Huong and Chris”