My friend Sean recorded two snippets of video during our ceremony so I thought I would share them with you.

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

I'm happy to report that getting hitched went off without a hitch! I couldn't have planned it better myself ...

I've created a photo story to give those of you who couldn't attend an idea of what you missed.

11 a.m.
I arrive at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, not for some much needed R&R, but to have my hair and make up done. I recruited my hair stylist Kelly for the up do, my friend Cara for the make up, my soon to be sister-in-law for help with pictures, and of course my mom for moral support.

2 p.m.
It's time for Topher and I to meet up at a park over looking the ocean, but we can't help snapping a few in the room before we go.

2:45 p.m.
We are running late, but still have time for a few shots ...

4:30 p.m.
We rush to the country club for formal pictures, only to find the groomsmen aren't ready yet (I would have expected that from the ladies). Everyone is so stress free and happy to be carted out to the golf course for a photo shoot ... can't you tell :)

6 p.m.
It's show time and the shuttle bus with all our guests hasn't arrived. Luckily we only panic for a few minutes before it pulls into the driveway and the ceremony is underway.

6:45 p.m.
It's Official!

Next post ... the reception photos!

Photography by Sherri Diteman, Lesley Keefer, and Aaron Wolpert

Bridezilla: A woman who, in the course of planning her wedding, exercises or attempts to exercise a high degree of control over all or many minor details of the ceremony and reception. www.wiktionary.org

I have always rejected the notion that "bridezilla" would ever apply to me. I'm someone who rolls with the punches, stays grounded even in chaos, and warm even in the ugliest circumstances ... boy was I wrong.

It started with a few wedding related phone calls, each one more unsatisfying then the last. "I'm sorry, you were misinformed" or "No, it's going to be twice that expensive."

With each disappointing call I grew more impatient, my fuse just long enough to dial the next number (before throwing the phone at the wall). The whole time I wanted to scream "Just give me what I want!" Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it just wasn't me on the phone anymore.

There was nothing I could do but ground myself from making any wedding related calls for at least two days. I had to get my sanity back. Luckily it worked.

I can't promise bridezilla is gone for good, but I think I've beat the beast at her own game. Hah! If there's one thing that can keep her at bay, it's a happy bride. The secret is smiling (even when desperation starts to creep in). Now I pick up the phone, plaster a huge grin on my face and refuse to frown no matter what I hear. So far so good.

Wedding planning's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. With only 78 days to go here's where we're at:

Save the date: A useful exercise in collecting as many addresses as possible in the shortest amount of time, I am happy to report we sent out more than 80 "save the date" notices in the past few weeks. Our guest list is fast approaching 175 and we've had a positive verbal response from friends and family.

Ceremony: We are counting on our good friend Jeremy to perform the nuptials ... although we still need to get him licensed via the Internet. As you know we will wed at Braemar Country Club overlooking a the San Fernando Valley and a beautiful golf course. I am counting on misters, hand held fans, and ice water to keep my guests from over heating in the 90 degree weather.

Reception: Also at Braemar, we still need to firm up the menu, linens, centerpieces, etc.

Deejay: We found Danny, a native New Yorker with more than 15 years of experience, through A-Vision Productions, an entertainment booking agent. Get ready to brush up on the Electric Slide, YMCA, and the Chicken Dance ...

The Dress: On my latest shopping trip I stopped into One Night Affair, a rental shop in Los Angeles. I fell in love with a beautiful Max Chaquel gown and put down a deposit without getting a second opinion. It's a strapless, A-line with a layered organza skirt. I hope to have photos up soon!

Cake: Topher and I attended our first cake tasting today at Cuco's Bakery in Canoga Park. After trying the most delectable strawberry and rasperry jam, caramel, lemon mousse, and whipped cream, we changed our mind and decided we might opt for cupcakes instead. Not only can you choose multiple flavors, but they are also more cost effective. We hope to make a final decision this week.

Photographer: I have been admiring Sherri Diteman's photography for years and I was so pleased when she agreed to shoot our wedding. Check out her amazing work on her website.

Check out these photos of Braemar Country Club where Topher and I are getting married.

This may come as a shock to many of you (or not if you've been reading our blog), but Topher and I have changed our minds one more time. We promise this is the last time. We decided to get married in California.

At first we thought it would be too inconvenient for our guests, but it turned out having it in Seattle was too inconvenient for us. When we found out that Aug. 12 was still available at Braemar Country Club where Topher works, that sealed the deal.

I know I will be in good hands. Just think, I know the catering directors, executive chef, managers, servers, bartenders, and the rest of the staff.

Topher and I hope to marry in Malibu, CA overlooking the ocean or somewhere on the beach. If not, there is always an outdoor space at Braemar that we can use.

Here is a link to the club: http://www.braemarclub.com/index.htm

Here is an example of the view from the room we reserved:

As if the planets had all aligned ... or the cosmos was working in our favor ... or perhaps the hours, and hours, and hours, and hours of research finally paid off ... we settled on a date, Aug. 12. We found a church, reception location, and photographer all available that day. We checked with the wedding party and our parents, and again we got the thumbs up.

So what's the problem? Indecision. Libras have a hard enough time deciding what movie to rent on a Friday night, let alone a million wedding decisions. Laying down deposits, sight unseen, can leave an already anxious bride a little nervous if you know what I mean.

Alas, we are running out of time and unless we want to run out of choices all together we have to make a decision fast!

Topher and I recently headed to the beach for a relaxing breakfast and conversation quickly turned to wedding plans. Maybe it was the calming sound of the waves or the warm February sun, but somehow we were tricked into thinking that a Seattle wedding would be easier after all.

Uhhh ... fast forward a week and the sleepless nights and binge eating are making me wonder if we've made a mistake (and how the heck am I going to fit into my wedding dress?)

Giving up a Scotland wedding wasn't that hard, considering we still get to honeymoon there, but facing a full fledged traditional wedding in Seattle is everything I was trying to avoid. We're a bit behind the other couples who secured their summer wedding sites months ago. We are struggling to find anything available on a Saturday night and that doesn't include the photographers, musicians/DJs, and other vendors we will need.

After hours of research we found one restaurant on Lake Union that has Aug. 12 available and their rates are reasonable for the 120 guests we plan to invite, but still no luck with a ceremony venue.

More details to come ...

Filling out the wedding questionnaire provided by the planner proved to be much more difficult than I orginally thought. Thoughts like, I don't know, I don't care, and isn't that what you're supposed to help me with? kept coming to mind. Of course wedding planners don't double as mind readers and I was forced to get serious about things like hand tied bouquets and arriving at the ceremony by helicopter.

Before sending it off to the planner I wanted to go through it with Topher. It took us a half hour to get through the first question, "when is your prospective wedding date." I originally wrote summer or fall, then changed it to August. This sent Topher into a tizzy. What about work, what about vacation time, what about the higher travel costs during the summer months? My response ... why don't you get more involved in the planning!

For those enquiring minds out there ... it looks like late August 2006 could be our wedding month!

Topher and I are finally ready to take the next step toward holy matrimony ... hiring a wedding planner. Getting married in a foreign land sounds wonderfully romantic, but only if there is a guiding hand behind the scenes to make sure everything unfolds as planned.

The most promising company provides a planner in California and one in Scotland. They offer custom plans within our budget so I'm anxious to talk details with them. What are the details of my fantasy wedding you might ask.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

Location: Indoors. As a Seattle native I refuse to wed outdoors. A church or castle is preferable.

Attire: Forcing Topher to wear a kilt might be worth it, just for the hours of enjoyment we would get out of laughing at the photos. Unfortunately, I believe he's planning to wear a tux or suit.

Officiant: Topher and I don't care who marries us (although that guy from the Princess Bride would be cool), and have even discussed having a ceremony in Scotland and coming back and making it official in the states afterward.

Wedding Party: My sister Esther will be the maid of honor and Topher's sister Lesley will be my brides maid. I originally wanted them to wear black dresses of their choosing, but I think the photos would look better if they wore the same dress. Topher will have two groomsmen (not sure who yet).

Music: Pipers!

Decorations/Flowers: I know nothing about flowers or frilly things in general. I'm hoping to keep decorations to a minimum, although candles would be nice.

My hope is that the wedding planner will have plenty of recommendations for all of the above. Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments section. I love reading them.