This morning Ian and I joined my parents for a nice brunch at Breadwinner’s followed up by the annual visit to the Dallas Arboretum. This time each year it is in full bloom: azaleas, tulips, rose bushes, wysteria, pansies, everything! It’s very nice. They continue to add new gardens, trails, water features and architectural elements.

Afterwards we decided to do a little wedding planning/shopping. I got Ian’s engagement ring at Times Square, a jeweler in the “gay-bhorhood” a few years ago, but they since closed. So many jewelers are very stuffy, traditional, and very heterosexual. Luckily Ian found in the local gay magazine an ad for Ice House Jewelers. If you’re in Dallas and need a gay friendly (gay owned, gay operated, gay everything I think) jeweler be sure to check them out in West Village. If you’re not gay and just like more modern styled jewelry they’re the place to go as well. We even managed to pick out the rings we like! This isn’t exactly it, but the closest I could find on the web: (picture of ring). Two tone white gold and black rhodium with a small inset sapphire.

Finally we stopped by Crate & Barrel and signed up for some nice plates and silverware we’d never get around to buying for ourselves on our wedding registry. C&B is very politically correct and with the times: you have a primary registrant and a secondary, not husband and wife! (Yes, this is a not so subtle hint we’re signed up there. We didn’t know how else to subtly get the word out, so there it is!)

We’ve got the house we’re staying at, the location, photographer and officiant, restaurant, cake and flowers, rings, and registry done. All that’s left are the clothes for the day of. Whew! Who knew wedding planning took so much work? (Ok, well most everybody)