The Thing About Bridal Showers

In March, some of my closest friends and family gathered for bridal showers that I'll never forget. Here's why:

I've never been an Elizabeth Gilbert fan. I thought I would be at one point. I was eager to read Eat, Pray, Love, only to put it down after a few chapters. There's something about her voice that annoys me - the sarcasm, the constant attempt to be clever?  I'm not sure.

Despite this aversion, my curiosity was piqued when she published Committed last year. Maybe it was the shiny new ring I had on my left hand, or maybe it was the 20 hours I had in the car between Brattleboro and Atlanta. Either way, in that desperate moment when early radio programming fades to mid-morning oblivion, I found myself downloading it on my iPhone.

What I got was typical Gilbert paired with some fascinating information on infidelity studies and the gene that makes men good partners. Last month's showers left me thinking a lot about my favorite part of the book - the description of Laotian wedding customs. 

According to Gilbert, when one receives a wedding invitation in a Laotian village, he puts money in the envelope and later gives it to the couple on their wedding day. The bride and groom then carefully record each gift in a ledger that they will later use to see how much they should give that individual on her wedding day. The understanding is that you give that amount back - plus a little more (interest) if you can. So this wedding money isn't really a "gift" at all; it's an investment in the new couple's lives. It's a foundation that allows the couple to buy a home or start a business in a way that wouldn't have been possible without this community support. Gilbert elegantly describes it as "an exhaustively catalogued and ever-shifting loan, circulating from one family to the next as each new couple starts a life together." It says - we believe in you, and we want you to succeed.

After getting engaged, I felt a little weird about creating a registry. It seemed presumptuous and greedy to send the message that those invited to celebrate with us "should" give us a gift. I didn't want others to feel that I expected these things. I was convinced by our mothers that people appreciate the guidance, so off we went with scanners and checklists.

In March, I was overwhelmed by the generosity shown at our showers. My friends know me so well, and they are wonderful and fun and loving and kind. Their support makes the Maxwell-Concklin foundation feel even stronger than it already was. They are, like the little Laotian village, generously investing in not just our kitchen, but us. They are all pitching in to help get us on our feet. And now, for the rest of our lives, we will be able to do the same for young couples to come. What a lovely concept, and what an honor.

                                       xo,

                                          Lauren

P.S. This talk on nurturing creativity by Gilbert is wonderful.

P.P.S. Some photos of a shower in Greenville, given by my MOH, Ellen:

oldest friends and bridesmaids - Britt and Tara

Mom and Tara

An April Hello

John and I spent this past weekend with my family in Aiken celebrating my little brother's birthday and doing last minute wedding planning. Josh and John rode go-karts while Mom and I checked out Halo Salon, where we'll be having hair and makeup done on the 28th.

I've got lots to say about the wedding planning process, but lately I've been realizing something for which I'm especially grateful: my family is amazing!

They have been such a pleasure to work with during this time. Supportive and fun, John and I couldn't have made a wedding happen without them. We are so grateful!

                                                 xo,

                                                    LM

p.s. Only 19 days!!!!

This SUMMER and Sweet Impossible Blossoms

from Dallas Travel Guide

This recent switch to this gorgeous spring leaves me sososo excited for summer.

And this year....a real summer, with real sun, a real job, and real friends! I see walks downtown and happy hours with outdoor seating in my future. And please, don't squeeze the peaches.

xo!

  Lauren

From blossoms comes 

this brown paper bag of peaches

we bought from the boy

at the bend in the road where we turned toward

signs painted Peaches.

From laden boughs, from hands,

from sweet fellowship in the bins,

comes nectar at the roadside, succulent

peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,

comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,

to carry within us an orchard, to eat

not only the skin, but the shade,

not only the sugar, but the days, to hold

the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into

the round jubilance of peach.

There are days we live

as if death were nowhere

in the background; from joy

to joy to joy, from wing to wing,

from blossom to blossom to

impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossoms.

"From Blossoms," Li-Young Lee

Have I Told You Lately

Dear Friends,

I've neglected my blog! This was bound to happen pre-wedding. The past three weeks have been full of events and parties - with my college friends, my Aiken friends, and my soon to be mother-in-law's friends. I've said it before, but I can't say it enough: I am blown away by how much love and support we are being shown as we take this step to join our lives together. Thank you, everyone, for being so wonderful! We are truly grateful.

Lately - ribbon galore, pretty paper, little bro, and John.

xo,
          L

March!

It's no secret that I love March. March is for Spring, and March is for the birthdays of many of my favorite people. March is when John proposed (has it really been a year?).

We haven't had much time for decorating in the midst of new job, job hunts, wedding planning, and audition season, but I did recently order this print by Blanca Gomez for our house. It's exactly what I'd like to be doing today, on this pretty March 1st.