Bridal Party

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Eleni Engaged: I’ll Take One of Everything

Eleni goes crazy with the registry gun.

By Eleni Garbis Published Wednesday, October 01, 2008

It finally happened: Ron Burgundy and I registered! Remember how I said trying on wedding dresses was the most fun ever? I may have spoken too soon. Registering was so much fun. It’s like shopping, except even better because you can choose the things you want and other people will buy them for you!

I wanted to make sure we registered before the save-the-date cards were sent, so Ron and I went to Bloomingdale’s last week. We will also register at Crate & Barrel, but we decided to start at Bloomie’s. We met with Judy, the registry specialist, who helped us with the paperwork (free wedding magazines and Bloomie’s coupons? Yes, please!) and then walked us through the dining, kitchen, bed-and-bath, and home-decor areas.

The first thing we did was choose china. Judy was nice enough to lay out the four settings we liked so we could compare them with different types of crystal and flatware. This is the part where Ron started to get tired and bored.

We chose a china pattern and moved on to serving pieces. Because one of the only things I can cook is salad (please don’t judge me), this part really interested me. Judy gave me the scanning gun, and I went crazy. All you have to do is point the gun at the bar code, wait for a little beep, and then “Added to Eleni and Ron’s Wedding Registry” shows up. Ron stopped me after about 15 minutes and pointed out that I had registered for five different kinds of large serving bowls. So I cut back a little.

Then Ron wanted to look at pots and pans. This part really bored me, probably because I don’t like—or know how—to cook. I told Ron that we didn’t need to register for new pots and pans. He then asked me how he thinks I plan to serve anything on all the fancy dinnerware we had just chosen. I told him to stop sassing me. So we registered for some pots and pans.

The other thing I knew I wanted to register for was a KitchenAid mixer. My mom has this amazing recipe for koulouria (Greek butter cookies), and you definitely need a mixer to make them. I helped her make few batches at Christmas last year, and I really want to learn how to make them on my own. So I’m sure that once I have a mixer, I’ll be inclined to make the cookies, and I can add them to my list of “things Eleni can cook or bake.” Plus, I registered for the mixer in the dark-plum color, so it will look awesome on the kitchen counter even if I don’t use it all that often. Ron tried to argue with me about the color, but really, that issue was not up for discussion. I told him he could register for whatever knife set he wanted, so that seemed to appease him.

This whole process took about two hours. By the end, Ron was definitely checked out and even I was getting tired. It was time for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. We said goodbye to Judy and thanked her for being so helpful. She gave us our online password so we could add items to our registry directly from the Bloomingdale’s Web site. You can imagine how many hours I’ve spent perusing the site and staring at our registry, debating what to add and what to take off. So yes, registering has presented one more thing to obsess about!

Eleni, a local bride-to-be, writes every Wednesday about planning her wedding, which will be in Washington in the spring. To follow her adventures from the beginning, click here.

To read the latest Bridal Party blog posts, click here.

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Comments

i don’t know eleni but my mother always told me that if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all. why are you bothering to read and comment on a blog that you don’t enjoy reading?

Posted by: not a friend , Oct 06, 2008 08:37:32 AM

I have read all of Eleni’s blogs as well as the comments. I understand why she has gotten so many negative comments. Perhaps if she spent less time spewing dollar amounts she would not alienate people like she has? That groom has his work cut out for him, for sure!

Posted by: I understand, Oct 05, 2008 05:27:28 PM

Wow, there are quite a lot of comments about this post. As an outsider (and bride) myself, I find the blog entertaining. It is a wedding blog after all. If writing about wedding dresses and registering is considered materialistic and shallow, then what is Eleni supposed to write about?

Posted by: Reston Bride, Oct 03, 2008 02:09:56 PM

this bride has a pleasant enough writing style, but the attempt to weave in humor is obviously not working for her based on the combative comments she has evoked. some people are turned off by what comes across as materialistic and shallow. and then her family is chiming in to defend her. it’s great that she has so many cheerleaders in her family but step back and think about the fact that she needs to be defended. her family clearly knows her tone and sense of humor - and for that reason this bride needs to save the humor for personal correspondence with them. as for the blog, think about tightening it up.

Posted by: outsider, Oct 03, 2008 11:16:43 AM

It’s amazing how some people can’t see the humor and tone of Eleni’s post. I understand that sometimes it’s hard to derive tone from text, but it’s rather obvious that she is being humorous. Whether it’s actually funny or not, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. Eleni thinks she’s funnier than she really is (everyone knows I’m the funnier Garbis). ;)

And as for the comment "is this what Washingtonian is encouraging me to be?" I hope you don’t live your life by what’s in the Washingtonian! This isn’t a book by Dr. Phil, it’s a post that is supposed to be fun to read, and that’s all. If you are looking for ways to live your life, I’d suggest reading "The Missionary Position" by Mother Teresa. The tone is probably more suited towards what you are accustom to (read: boring). And yes, that’s actually a real book.

- Brick

P.S. - I love lamp.

P.P.S. - I don’t actually love lamp, that’s a joke (since some people in here have a hard time understanding humor).

Posted by: Brick Tamland, Oct 02, 2008 09:59:11 AM

I find your blogs very entertaining and easy to relate to. I have enjoyed your perspective and benefited from your insights. It is a shame people find the need to critcize your personal experiences and thoughts. I agree with Ron that good blogging requires good storytelling skills, and I think your skills are TOP NOTCH!!! I admire how freely you have shared your excitement for your big day. In fact, I find the genuine enthusiam conveyed in your blog addicting to read. I hope you and Ron get your entire registry and then some!!! I also hope the remainder of your wedding planning goes smoothly. MWAH!!

Posted by: Shash, Oct 01, 2008 08:55:10 PM

Skewed priorities?? I think not! I have worked long and hard to ensure that Eleni’s priorities are exactly where they should be - and I have done a darn good job.

Posted by: nouna, Oct 01, 2008 07:34:45 PM

Okay all -- it’s time for Ron Burgundy to weigh in here because some not so nice things have been said about my Veronica Corningstone. This is a blog people! How many bloggers do you know who don’t go for some sort of schtick to make their entries interesting? The point of Eleni writing is to share her experience but also make people want to read. Secondly, what does planning a wedding and registering have to do with our sagging economy? Clearly some people do not understand the basic fundamentals of the credit crisis and ensuing Wall Street Bailout.

Posted by: Ron Burgundy, Oct 01, 2008 04:15:04 PM

Aren’t you helping out the economy by holding a wedding at a venue with an employed staff, with a florist, a band, caterer, transportation company, a dress maker and my favorite part, a cake? Correct me if I am wrong, none of those services were provided for free. Trying times does not mean that nothing good can come from it...Especially if you have worked hard for what you want. Speaking of working hard, why are reading up on brides when we have yet to pass bail-out plan if that is your concern? If we cared to hear about the sagging economy, we could just watch Ron reporting about it on TV...

Posted by: Hot Pants, Oct 01, 2008 01:26:37 PM

Seriously? You are gonna throw down the economy? Seriously? This is a blog about a woman planning her wedding, not CNN.com. Have a bit of perspective monkeybride. If we do not have things to distract us in these troubled times, we would all go insane. I say "bravo" to Eleni and Ron and their Dark Plum Stand-Up Mixer!

Posted by: anon, Oct 01, 2008 12:51:44 PM

I hate to weigh in here, but I agree with monkeybride. Although I enjoy the stories just as much as the next bride, it does seem as though at times, there is too much focus on the "stuff" of weddings rather than the experience they BOTH go through. I don’t see the "tongue in cheek" as mentioned earlier, but rather, the bride getting sucked into the "industry." Just like to see more examples and here from brides (and grooms...imagine that) about the wedding experience.

Posted by: bride_:), Oct 01, 2008 12:43:02 PM

wow -- whoever posted that irate comment clearly doesn’t understand eleni’s fabulous tongue-in-cheek materialism.

a bride should register for anything she wants (it’s a WISH list); that is part of the wedding experience, and it’s fun.

it’s a lot more entertaining to read about dress shopping and save-the-date cards than it is to read romantic, sappy love stories. monkeybride, i propose (pun intended) that you get your priorities straight and let eleni have her fun.

Posted by: i caught the bouquet, Oct 01, 2008 12:22:41 PM

Dayyummm Monkeybride, I would hate to be your Ape of a husband. You obviously don’t see that her actions are exaggerated for a laugh. Maybe you should back up a moment and realize that in such trying times laughs are the only way to see this through. So take the stick out and smile. I bet you’ll get more presents that way. :)

Posted by: is this thing on, Oct 01, 2008 12:14:48 PM

In this economy, your priorities seem so skewed. Bullying the poor guy into proposing, rummaging through his luggage (trust, anyone?), and now with the registry caring less about your guests and your fiance and more about you and how much you can get -- is this what Washingtonian is encouraging me to be?

You ask: "I’ve been thinking and talking about the wedding pretty much every day. All brides-to-be do, right?" (Say yes. Please say yes.)

Nope.

Posted by: monkeybride, Oct 01, 2008 11:06:29 AM

Ooooo the KitchenAid in Dark Plum! What a lovely color. The butter cookies will go great with some hard cider. Heh.

Posted by: Carolyn, Oct 01, 2008 10:56:58 AM

You can tell right away that your registry is not at all about cooking. hahaha At least your woodchuck will look amazing served in such nice stemware.

Posted by: Jillian , Oct 01, 2008 09:22:05 AM

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Eleni Engaged: I’ll Take One of Everything

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