Jameng: The Flickr Stream!

http://www.bellapop.com/jamie-and-mengmeng-historic-ywca-fort-worth-wedding/

http://www.bellapop.com/might-as-well-jump/

http://www.bellapop.com/jamie-and-mengmeng-fort-worth-bride-groom/

Enjoy!

First, the vows…

Mengmeng’s Vows
Jamie Elizabeth Brinkman, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I pledge my heart to you, though you already have it. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you in times of joy, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard. I promise to let you play on the XBox whenever you desire, and to support the Horned Frogs in all their endeavors (except when they’re up against my Longhorns). These things I give to you today, and all the days of my life.

Jamie’s Vows
Mengmeng Zhang, I love you. You’re my friend and confidant, and you understand me and support me like no other, which is something I treasure. (You also put up with my crazy dog, which is something I REALLY treasure!)
So from this day forward, I promise you these things:
I will laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow.
I will share in your dreams, and support you as you strive get every achievement on Burnout.
I will listen to you with compassion and understanding (so long as it’s not during Supernatural).
I will help you whenever you need it (and most likely offer up my own ideas on how you could do whatever it is better, which you should ignore at your own peril).
I will remain faithful to you for better or for worse, in times of sickness and health.
I will love and respect you always.

And now the readings…

Mengmeng’s reading (which was performed at the ceremony by Darlene Long)

It’s Only Time by Magnetic Fields

Why would I stop loving you
a hundred years from now?
It’s only time.
It’s only time.

What could stop this beating heart
once it’s made a vow?
It’s only time.
It’s only time.

If rain won’t change your mind,
let it fall.
The rain won’t change my heart
at all.

Lock this chain
around my hand,
throw away the key.
It’s only time.
It’s only time.

Years falling
like grains of sand
mean nothing to me.
It’s only time.
It’s only time.

If snow won’t change your mind
let it fall.
The snow won’t change my heart,
not at all.

(I’ll walk your lands)
I’ll walk your lands
(And swim your sea)
And swim your sea

Marry me.
Marry me.

(Then in your hands)
Then in your hands
(I will be free)
I will be free

Marry me.
Marry me.

Why would I stop loving you
a hundred years from now?

Jamie’s reading (performed at the ceremony by Lisa Lucik)

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond by E.E. Cummings

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands

Alternatively, some people are getting hotel rooms elsewhere. You don’t have to be downtown if you don’t want to be. (Outside of downtown will probably be cheaper, in fact.) However, downtown will be within walking distance of the wedding itself, which was why we picked a hotel there.

Right now I have a smallish block for Friday and Saturday night. If people need longer blocks, please let me know and I’ll tell the hotel. The rate is $90/night for up to 2 people. It’s $10 extra per night for each additional person up to 4.

Group Reservation Page

A few things to note: the hotel charges $18 for parking. There is street parking nearby, but there’s also a cheerleading competition nearby that weekend, so that might be limited. But it might still be ok. There’s also a $10 charge for Internet in the guest rooms, but the hotel’s guide recommended using the free Internet in the hotel lobby and bar areas.

Any other questions, please let me know!

Now, while I know all you savy people could probably look up our wedding registries yourselves, I decided to make it easier on you. Because I am helpful that way.

First, the Amazon.com registry: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wedding/1IJH7XHJPQJMI

And then, the Target registry, which is a tad more complex. Go to target.com, find their wedding registry section (”Club Wedd”), and look us up via our unique registry ID: 013399700205698. Alternatively, you should be able to search by our names and/or our location (Fort Worth), if you’d rather go that route. You should also be able to look us up in-store using the same information.

There are RSVP cards as a part of the invitations which are postcards that can be sent back to us. We have already stamped these, so all you should have to do is check off either yes or no and write down your name and number of guests in the appropriate slots, and then just drop it in the mail. No muss, no fuss!

However, for people who aren’t in the U.S., we obviously couldn’t stamp the postcards. So if those people would like to call/email either of us and RSVP, either verbally or electronically as the case may be, feel free.

For more info on downtown parking, check out this pdf (which is the org. map, complete with a key to all those other numbers). http://www.astc.org/conference/pdf/2009_Fort_Worth_Parking.pdf

http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=08c98e2a-4340-45ad-a9f9-72589d86968e&categoryID=bfff30be-a493-4315-880c-45a86ae342b8&pg=1

The girls on the bride’s side (Erin/Sandra/Angela/Cammy) will be wearing it in cherry, while the girls on the groom’s side (Denise/Laura/Amy) will be wearing it in black.

A note to those living here in DFW: Dresses need to be ordered at least 3 months prior to the date they are needed by. In this case, they are needed by January 16, 2010, so they will need to be ordered AT THE LATEST by October 16, 2009, though I would advise going to the AA store sooner than that to be safe. (I’d say your best bet is to try and go by the end of Sept. at the latest.)

Meanwhile, to those living out of state, remember that different stores could have different ordering times. Just because the one here in FW says 3 months, it might be more or less if you order somewhere else (i.e. Chicago, San Francisco, etc.), so I would call them fairly soon and find out the specific time frame your local AA retailer works under.

As far as shoes go, you can wear anything you want as long as it matches the dress and looks nice. It can be high heels or flats, whichever suits you. Just keep in mind that there are stairs at the venue. This is especially important to the bridesmaids and matron of honor, as they will have to walk down them in the processional, though everyone will have to go up and down them a few times throughout the night, I’d imagine.

And as for makeup, manicures, pedicures… you can do it yourself or pay for it or whatever. I know at least some of us will be DIYing those things, while others might not, so it’s totally up to you.

Mengmeng and I will be buying everyone matching wraps and jewelry and paying for hairstyles.

In other news, we have an officiant, centerpieces, wedding favors, and last, but certainly not least, I have MY dress! Yay! \o/