A Moment for Us: The Father-Daughter Dance

One of my favorite parts of any wedding reception is the father-daughter dance. I am undoubtedly a huge sap but there truly is something so revealing and special about this tradition. I love watching the interaction between the bride and her father while dissecting the lyrics of the song they've chosen—I weep. Every. Time.

So, when it came to figuring out how I'd approach the F/D dance at my own wedding, I wanted to make sure we chose something special and meaningful. I can be quite the ham, but I don't want to make people laugh with a choreographed father-daughter jig—I want big salty tears, people!

I'm sadistic, I know.

Image via Simpsons Wiki

Anyhow, I'm not purely evil. I just wanted to choose something that accurately reflects the kind of relationship I have with my father, and though we definitely make corny jokes and share lots of laughs, a silly dance just isn't our style.

So I started brainstorming and a couple of obvious options came to mind.

"Isn't She Lovely?"

Well I AM pretty lovely, and I love me some Stevie but it's a bit fast, a little narcissistic of a choice, and didn't invoke enough emotion for me. No go.

"Unforgettable?"

A definite contender and an obvious tear-jerker, but aside from its general sentimentality, it holds no special meaning to either Daddy Seal or I. So I nixed it.

I searched song after song and I started to feel a bit overwhelmed. I stopped trying so hard and started thinking about my dad. He's a musician and as such, music has played an extremely important role in my life—there had to be a song that meant something to us. So I kept thinking.

Little me and Daddio Seal after one of his shows:

As a result of his profession, my dad isn't physically around often and never has been. I've never ever felt deprived, but I have definitely learned to treasure all the times I share with my father. So it was then, when I started recalling my highlight reel of father-daughter moments, that it hit me.

Like a ton of bricks.

When I was little and when Dad wasn't touring, he sang me to sleep. This was something I greatly looked forward to because it was a moment just for us. I even recall a time in college when I was particularly stressed out and missing Daddy Seal—he, being ever clairvoyant, phoned to check in and unexpectedly decided to end the call with the familiar lullaby. I cried. (I told you I am sappy!)

I tracked down the song and discovered several different versions. Based on how daddio sang it to me, I was pretty certain I found the right rendition but decided to double-check anyhow.

Everyone told me to surprise him at the reception with my song choice. However, after reading his response to my email (simply asking for the artist of the song so I could add it to my collection), I knew he not only needed forewarning, but a choice.

His response:

"Hi Topo [his nickname for me],

There are a lot of different versions of the song that you've asked for but, this is the version that I remember.

I hope that you know that this is an extremely emotional song for me and that I cannot hear it without crying.

You are, and always will be, my one and only, little princess. 
I love you,
Dad"

After that reply, how could I not tell him? So I did. AND I gave him an out. If this song was going to be too emotional for us then we could surely choose something else. Heck, I'd even opt for a goofy boogie if he wanted.

Nevertheless, he decided against the latter option. In fact, he told me that no other song would do and that he would listen to the song repeatedly to practice maintaining his composure.

He's not the only one.

Here it is—it's not a very well-known song, but it's our song:

If you're fortunate enough to have your father in your life, will you partake in the father-daughter dance tradition? How did you choose your song?

With love,

Miss Seal

Baseball and Fog: A San Francisco Engagement Shoot, Part I

I absolutely love our photographer. I am so impatient and I mentally prepared myself for a month of agonizing waiting after our engagement shoot before we'd see any photos. Well surprisngly, he only took two days to edit. That, my friends, is what I like to refer to as: an ENGAGEMENT MIRACLE!

Thank you to Ramin of The Marin Studio for all of the following amazing photos. Despite a vicious lesson in Murphy's Law (complete with dense fog and lots of rain), we ended up with amazing photos that we will cherish a lifetime!

And another special thank you to my little cousin Christina for my hair and makeup :) She went through quite a bit (including being the victim of a hit-and-run) to make me feel beautiful all day long and I am so grateful. You are a total rockstar and I am a lucky girl.

The first set of photos that I am going to share were taken during a private tour of AT&T Park in San Francisco. As I'm sure you've all gathered by now, Mr. Seal and I are big on baseball and it seemed the perfect backdrop to our love story.

Enjoy:

I had a Yankees shirt under my jersey too ;) 

 

 

The cheesiest grin...ever:

Why did you choose your engagement shoot locale? Does your location say something special about you and your fiance?

Up Next: Baseball and Fog: A San Francisco Engagement Shoot, Part II

Celebratory Cigars: Classy or Nasty?

Disclaimer: I am not encouraging the use of tobacco nor am I attempting to glamorize smoking. I am very well aware of the terrifying statistics. These are just my opinions, take them for what they are worth: not much and all mine. I am not an advocate of smoking—just a silly woman getting married :)

Image via Couture Sapier/Photo by SarahQ

I'm not exactly sure when or why we started exploring the cigar bar idea—I'm not a smoker and Mr. Seal only occasionally indulges in a nice cigar. However, I do recall that the idea was met with much criticism by Mama Seal.

I really can't blame her for not thinking the idea is as classy as I do. I mean, cigars create smoke and, well, cigar smoke is kinda nasty and dangerous! So, when she immediately thrashed the idea, I was only a little hurt. We are both pretty stubborn ladies (I guess this apple didn't fall far from the tree), so I kept bringing the idea up...and the debates kept getting more heated. I could no longer understand what the issue was—the cigars would be smoked outside and away from guests and I wasn't asking her to pay for them, just to be super excited and LOVE the idea. Hehe.

Anyway, I never won that argument but the fact of the matter is, we are indeed having a station to enjoy cigars at our wedding (and I think Mama Seal is at least coming around to the idea).

For all of you critics, lemme explain why:

1. Historically speaking, cigars represent celebration—and what will we be doing at our wedding reception? Celebrating our marriage, of course!

2. Cigars give off that old-timey feel we are going for—in fact I think it helps put the "Old" in "Old San Francisco".

I've got some proof...George Clooney looks pret-ty debonair and mature, eh?:

Image via Listal

3. Some of the world's classiest and most interesting people in the world enjoy a recreational cigar:

 Image via Cool Spotters

Image via NYDailyNews

Okay, the last one was a joke, but I do stand by my point.

4. Daddio Seal smokes, and considering the amount of time and money he is investing into this wedding, why not repay him with a small token of appreciation? A designated location for him to enjoy a nice cigar with his buddies is a thought that brings me a lot of joy.

Anyhow, Brother Seal and his wonderful fiancee Maria thought the idea was so brilliant that they offered to pay for the cigar roller as a gift. I attempted to decline their generous offer, but they insisted (and seeing as how he is my eldest brother, it served me best not to argue any further).

We did some research and with little effort found a wonderful company (Oye Productions) that will provide the service and cigars we want for our reception.

Then I bought some custom matches to celebrate the occasion:

What's your stance on cigars at a wedding? Classy or Nasty? 

Lots of love,

Miss Seal

The Hitchhiking Bride and Her Genius Fiancé: Wedding-Day Transportation

Mr. Seal does a pretty fantastic job of not only letting me indulge in all of my unbridled wedding-day dreams, but of being just the right amount of involved. Without being controlling or, on the other end of the spectrum, mindlessly grinning and nodding, he gives his honest opinion —reason 3,476,301 why I love him.

I don't want to give away all of his amazing contributions right off the bat, but I'll at least introduce you to his unparalleled ingenuity.

Mr. S being a goofy/slightly creepy, creative genius:

Remember how our wedding party is 543 people large? Okay, I exaggerated a little bit, but I was close—25 (including us, our two flower girls and our ring bearer). I, in typical me fashion, started to get anxiety trying to imagine how we would affordably and comfortably transport all of us, plus our parents, to and from the ceremony. Crazy, I know, but I am ridiculous by nature.

Getting to the ceremony wouldn't be an issue—we'd obviously be making two trips anyhow, first to let the guys head over and then the girls. It was the getting to the reception that gave me a headache. Mr. S really wanted a vintage Rolls Royce to transport the two of us after the ceremony, and seeing as how he rarely requests anything, I was keen to oblige to his request (plus it fit the vintage feel we are going for). So this now meant that we could deduct two people (us, duh) from the group transport back to the reception but add in a whole new cost for the Rolls. Yikes.

The Rolls Royce he had in mind:

Image via Silver Lady Wedding Cars

Though at this point our wedding was still well over a year out, that didn't stop me from requesting quotes from just about every limousine company in the greater Bay Area. I'm fairly sure our wedding date is going to be a popular one and my competitive side really did not want to lose out on the best deal just because I waited too long.

Anyhow, after months of discouraging Rolls Royce quotes (3-hour minimums? $700?) and equally depressing limousine discoveries (even the stretch SUVs only held a max of about 16 people!), I was ready to throw in the towel and hitchhike to our ceremony and reception. It was just not in our budget to spend almost $2000 on transportation for a vintage car and an ugly limo bus.

Image via MixNews

Enter Mr. Seal's innovative savvy.

One day, while driving to who knows where, I was sideswiped—and no, not physically by another driver, but by the most wonderful idea EVER. The Sealman casually asked, "Why don't we rent a cable car for our transportation?" Ahh! Why hadn't I thought of that?! Iconic San Francisco-themed transportation that would likely fit our entire wedding party! He even said he'd be willing to forgo the Rolls if we managed to charter a trolley car.

I researched and requested quotes from a few different companies as soon as I got home. As fate would have it, the company (Events West) with the best reviews came back with the most affordable rate I could have ever hoped for. After improvising a couple of love songs for Shaun in light of his fantastic idea, I put down the deposit and signed the contract.

Events West's fleet of cable cars:

Images via Events West

The rates were so affordable and their seating capacity so generous that I am even considering (if my rapidly increasing budget allows for it) chartering a second car for the guests.

Is your ceremony in a different location? How will you get you and your wedding party to and from? Are you providing transportation for your guests as well?

Until next time!

Miss Seal

San Francisco, Let Me Count the Ways I Love Thee: Establishing the Theme

Image via Famous Wonders/Photo by David

“No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does. Arrival in San Francisco is an experience in living.” 
-American Writer, William Soroyan

In case you haven't gathered by now, I love San Francisco. I love the way the lights reflect off the water and twinkle at night. The competing sounds of honking cars and barking seals. The cold crisp air sweeping in from the bay.

My family's roots are in this city.

My father was born in his hometown of San Francisco to my grandparents Sayra, a Georgian transplant to the Bay Area and Albert, an immigrant from the Philippines of split German/Filipino heritage.

Nana and Papa Seal (all personal photos unless otherwise noted):

Young Daddy Seal:

Mama Seal and her five siblings were raised a short 20 minutes southwest of San Francisco in the coastal town of Pacifica by her Spanish-American parents Alfonso and Mary. She and her two sisters spent most of their weekends breaking hearts in San Francisco.

(L to R) Auntie Mary Ann, Mama Seal, Grandma Seal and Auntie Ali:

(L-R) Auntie Ali, Mama Seal and Auntie Mary Ann:

In 1971, in what would be a precursor to "The Thrilla in Manila", Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier. As it happened, there was another, lesser-known fight that evening. My mom and her sisters were at a club in SF called "The Nightlife" and got into a brawl with some envious girls from the Mission District. It was then that my father, a musician in the band that was playing there that evening, first laid eyes on my mother. I'm not sure what it was, but somewhere between my mom and her sisters throwing punches and my dad trying to break up the fight...a love was born. They married a couple of years later.

My young parents with Seal Jr.:

My team is in this city!

My brothers and I were raised San Francisco Giants fans and year after year we languished with no championship wins. Poor Daddy Seal had it worse: he was tortured by close calls and losing seasons for as many years as he is old, 56.

In 2009, the year Mr. S and I got engaged, his Yankees won the World Series. As the 2010 season opened Mr. Seal, demonstrating amazing compromise, told me that my team would win the championship —and boooy was he was right.

A collection of pictures taken throughout the winning 2010 season:

 Daddio Seal with Brother Seal

Mr. Seal (in Giants gear!) with Mama Seal

Brother Seal Jr (my eldest bro) with his bride-to-be, Maria

 Mama Seal with Brother Seal Jr. at the victory parade!

It only seemed fitting that the Seals would marry in the City by the Bay. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Seal is a New Yorker through and through, but he says San Francisco reminds him of home in a way—a smaller version of home and with nicer people (his words, not mine).

As the planning moved forward, San Francisco progressed from simply being the location of our wedding to the theme. My taste went from "Old Hollywood Glamour in the Winter" to simply...."Old San Francisco".

Now sit back and enjoy a little San Francisco-inspired Journey:

Lots of love,

Miss Seal

(all personal photos)

"The DiMaggio Difference": Choosing the Church

When it came time to decide what kind of ceremony we would have, the decision was not without thought. For a short breath we considered doing a "room flip" and having the reception and ceremony at the same locale, but it seemed like too much work, and extra work means extra room for error! (Extra room for error means extra anxiety for Miss Seal). Plus, Mr. S and I were both baptized Catholic and the traditional side of me really wanted to have that big church wedding like my parents had.

My parents' San Francisco wedding:

 

After a lengthy and thoughtful discussion with my Sealman we decided to also marry within the Church.

With the decision made to have a big church ceremony, the next step was to figure out which church would set the stage. Having the ceremony at the local parish in which I was baptized was not an option—I just wasn't comfortable asking my guests to drive 30+ minutes to get to the reception site. And seeing as how Mr. Seal was baptized in Brooklyn...well, you can understand why that was out of the question!

We looked into Mission Dolores in San Francisco, the beautiful location of my parents' ceremony, but they couldn't accommodate our Friday wedding. So that was that.

Then I remembered my cousin Sharla's wedding. In March of '09 I was a guest at her wedding in the North Beach area of San Francisco and I remember being blown away by the beautiful church in which she wed her husband.

I have no idea why this is the only picture I have from her ceremony, as it obviously does it no justice (you can kinda see the interior of the Church in the background, no?), but I thought I'd introduce you to the eldest Brother Seal anyhow:

Sooo, hive, meet Sts. Peter and Paul—as it so happens this is the same church where Joltin' Joe DiMaggio wed his first wife, Dorthy Arnold back in November of 1939 (he also posed for pictures on the Church's steps after marrying Marilyn Monroe at City Hall):

Image via Flickr

Image via Sts Peter and Paul

Personal photo

Now, this would be an incomplete post if I didn't explain why all of the aforementioned details are of extra importance.

I'd like to enter into evidence a little something I refer to as, "The DiMaggio difference". Okay, so that's kind of a big name for what I am about to explain, but whatever, let's roll with it.

The DiMaggio Difference:

Image via NY Daily News/Photo Credit: AP

1. Joe was born in the small town of Martinez, California—about 30 minutes east of San Francisco. As it so happens, I was also raised in this cozy town of 36,000. And being the birthplace of the Yankee Clipper is one of Martinez' most prized claims to fame.
2. As you know, Mr. Seal is THE biggest Yankees fan I know. Informing him that we had the possibility of marrying in the same church as Mr. DiMaggio was quite the delight. Though Joe is a native of the West Coast, he spent his career in New York as a Yankee and according to Mr. Seal...that makes him a New Yorker.
3. Joe and his first wife not only married in Sts. Peter and Paul, but they were married on November 19...only 8 days after our wedding date (albeit 72 years earlier...but you get the point)
4. Lastly, Joe was a SEAL! Prior to the baseball big leagues, Joe played in the minors for the San Francisco Seals. 

Young Joe as a Seal:

Image via ninety feet of perfection

In light of all of the obvious coincidences, we made contact with Sts Peter and Paul. And after some e-mail correspondence with one of the Fathers we decided to "accept fate", if you will, and send in our deposit. So now we will appropriately be following in the footsteps of a man that very much embodied both the East and the West—much like Mr. Seal and I.

Well, except we'll stay married, of course ;)

What made you decide on your ceremony location? Tradition? Convenience? Joe DiMaggio?

Lots of love,

Miss Seal