Warren & Derrick Are Getting Married

Our New Addition

2011-05-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

Meet Dingo! Our mischief-prone Australian Cattle Dog/Shepherd mix puppy. He's been keeping us quite busy lately.

Catching Up

2011-05-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Whew! Has it really been more than a month since our last update? Time sure does fly when you're busy. Since we last spoke, I've started a new job which, obviously, has been my primary focus for the last several weeks. But that doesn't mean we haven't but taking care of wedding details in the meantime!

We have booked a venue for the wedding ceremony . . . yay! That's one major detail we can check off of our list. Now we just have to take care of finding a place for the reception. More on that later.

We also got copies of our first set of engagement pics back.

We're quite happy with the results. You can see more of our favorites in the second part of this post. And if any of you in the Austin area are in need of a photography session, you can also get a special deal from our photographer, Andrea Luyties. She is currently offering 1/2 price sessions to anyone who contacts her and mentions "friends of freebies".

Well, I guess that's all for now. We do have an adorable addition to our little family which we'll be blogging about soon. So check back in a few days to learn more about him! ~Warren

Third Time's the Charm

2011-03-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it took three attempts, but D & I finally have our first set of engagement pics taken care of. Yes, I said first set. We will be having the majority of our engagement photos taken in & around downtown Austin and the UT campus by a former co-worker of mine who just so happens to be an amazing photographer. But we also wanted some pics out by the Pennybacker Bridge (aka 360 Bridge), so when I found an ad on Craigslist from a photographer offering a free photo session in exchange for the right to use said photos on her newly-redesigned website, we jumped at the opportunity. And today was finally the day we got to complete the photo session. Our first appointment was set for two Sundays ago, but the day proved to be overcast and gloomy . . . not the most ideal lighting for engagement photos. So we rescheduled for this past Saturday, only to get rained out after only a few photos were snapped. Which brings us to today, which found D & I driving back out to the bridge and hiking up the bluffs around Lake Austin to finish what we'd started. Our photographer, Andrea of High Note Photography, could not have been sweeter or more professional. And we had a great time taking the photos, a few of which we'll be sure to share on here once we get them! ~Warren

Daily Rant: The Hypocrisy Behind DOMA

2011-03-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

So glad we're not the only ones who find the hypocrisy behind the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) so ironic. The men (both Republican and Democrat) who helped push this law through fifteen years ago have a history of adultery and divorce . . . yet it's the gays who threaten the sanctity of marriage? PUH-lease! When is some journalist going to have the balls to ask Newt Gingrich how he could have the audacity to champion this heinous legislature at the very same time he was having an extramarital affair with a congressional staffer??!!

While marriage ceremonies can indeed hold special religious meaning for many couples (including Derrick & I who plan to incorporate some religion into our own ceremony), it's completely insane for anyone to make an argument that marriage is still a "religious institution" in this country. If that were the case, those who REALLY want to defend marriage would stop trying to outlaw the union of same sex couples who truly love each other, and instead focus on outlawing divorce and making adultery punishable by law. But, no, that would, of course, be too extreme. Almost as absurd as allowing only "Christian" couples to wed . . . or making it mandatory that all wedded couples have children . . . you know, since our inability to naturally procreate with one another is another reason same sex couples are told we shouldn't be able to marry. Let's face it, marriage is now more a SOCIAL institution than a religious one . . . and the laws of our country need to recognize that.

The lifting of the ban on same sex marriage is inevitable . . . let's just hope it happens soon enough for loving couples such as ourselves to enjoy it!

Shedding for the Wedding

2011-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else seen the commercials for the new Sara Rue-hosted reality competition series, SHEDDING FOR THE WEDDING, which premieres on the CW tomorrow night?

So, yeah. While the concept itself is interesting, the show looks like it may be pretty cheesy. And I only really mention it because Derrick and I kind of have our own version of "shedding for the wedding" going on ourselves.

The two of us are, ashamedly, at our heaviest weights ever. And while, at under 200 lbs., neither one of us is anywhere near obese, we're both unhappy with the way we look and are determined to live a healthier lifestyle. We started a new fitness regime just before Christmas that includes getting up every weekday morning @ 6:00am to go to the gym combined with better eating habits . . . less eating out and then eating healthier when cooking at home. And now that we're officially engaged, we're even more determined to be in the best shape possible for the wedding . . . and hopefully shed several pounds in time for some official engagement photos in the spring as well.

The process won't be easy. We're both comfort food junkies with a tendency to disregard proper portion sizes. And I, for one, find it extremely difficult to wake up every morning at such an early hour. Thankfully we have one another for motivation. And we've just started attending the very aptly-named "Body Attack" classes at our local Gold's Gym, which are sure to help us reach our goals even faster. So keep your fingers crossed for us. And if anyone knows some healthy, flavorful recipes, please don't hesitate to pass them on our way! ~Warren

My Uncle's Wedding

2011-02-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

"This children's book is the perfect gift for any child who loves a good story and especially children with gay people in their family," said Molly McKay, National Media Director for Marriage Equality USA. "The author [Eric Ross] approaches the subject of same-sex marriage with a child's sensitivity and sensibility, and the beautiful illustrations are sure to be enjoyed by kids and parents alike." The message in the book is one of love and equality, but it is handled well and without being preachy. The protagonist observes the proceedings with childlike innocence, simply accepting that his two uncles love each other and should celebrate that. It's no different from any other wedding. And at no point does the story feel heavy-handed. [Source]

Such a great idea! My Uncle's Wedding may be purchased here or via Amazon.

Wish We Would Have Known

2011-02-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Same sex couples in Austin peacefully demonstrated for marriage equality yesterday by meeting up at the Travis County Clerk's Office to request marriage licenses. Full story here.

An Iowa Grandma Speaks Out for Same Sex Marriage

2011-02-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

While I'm not keeping my fingers crossed, I sure hope that I can post a video like this some day in the future featuring my mom! ~Warren

Our Valentine's Day Wish

2011-02-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

Since we already have each other, we have the best Valentine's Day gift either of us could ever ask for. But if any of you would like to send some additional love our way, we'd be very appreciative of your vote in Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest. With having to finance the ceremony and our honeymoon completely on our own, the $100,000 prize would be a true blessing!

Click here to vote for us. If the link doesn't take you straight to our page (sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't!), then just click on "Entries" and type "Warren Derrick" into the search box. That will do the trick.

Thanks so much, and Happy Valentine's Day!!

$70 Engagement Photo Session via Groupon

2011-02-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

If we didn't already have a fantastic photographer lined up to take our engagement photos this spring, we'd sure be tempted to snap up this great deal from Groupon:

$70 for an Engagement Photo Session from Eric Hegwer Photography ($250 Value)

Engagement photography offers a commemoration of love that is far more lasting than wedding rings carved from ice. Immortalize your devotion with today's Groupon: for $70, you get a 60-minute engagement photo session from Eric Hegwer Photography (a $250 value). Choose from three locations for your session, or choose your own location for an additional charge.

Just Saying . . .

2011-02-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does the wedding industry have more hidden and/or ridiculous fees than any other business field? From the mandatory service fees venues charge ON TOP OF their already inflated facility rental and menu fees to, and this is perhaps the most ridiculous, being charged to attend an event where wedding planners and other vendors are trying to sell their services to you. Seriously, why are engaged couples footing the cost for this? For example:

Seriously? The Driskill Hotel's upcoming "A Wedding Experience" is being billed as "the place to be if you have an upcoming date with destiny. Seven of Austin's most prestigious wedding planners are hosting a Bridal show, Sunday, February 20th featuring everything from dresses, to flowers, photography, even honeymoon ideas."

But I have to wonder why we should have to pay $40 as a couple to go to such an event just to meet vendors who are potentially going to end up with A LOT of our money for their services when the big day comes? Shouldn't THEY be going out of their way to court US? Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like couples should have to pay a dime to attend an event like this . . . just saying.

"I Do" by Colbie Caillat

2011-02-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows us well, but we pretty much already have all of our music picked out for the ceremony . . . even if it is still nearly a year away. And I think we've found a fresh addition for our event playlist in this brand-new Colbie Caillat wedding ditty. LUVS it!

Not the Reaction I Was Hoping For

2011-02-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

I spoke with my mom last night for the first time since D & I made our engagement official, and to say that she's less than thrilled would be an understatement. I think she's been trying to convince herself that my being gay is just a phase or something since I just came out to almost exactly a year ago. Finding out that her only son is now marrying another man kinda makes that unrealistic hope fly right out the window! I guess it may seem kind of quick to her as well, even though D & I have been together for over 5 years now. I have to remind myself sometimes that I, while never lying about or denying who I truly am, chose to keep my family in the dark about my sexuality for so long knowing that they would have a big struggle with it because of their religious beliefs. Anyway, it doesn't sound like my mom is going to be attending our wedding come January. She said she's going to pray about it, but that her love for her Lord takes precedence over everything else. :-(

On a much brighter note, it sounds like my sister WILL be attending. And she's even suggesting possible honeymoon locales!

Fingers crossed that my mom will come around! ~Warren

Let the Fun Begin! Creating Our Registry.

2011-02-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

Image via Huffington Post

While our upcoming nuptials may not prove to be the most traditional wedding ever, we decided to take part in one of the most tried and true events facing any engaged couple yesterday . . . creating the gift registry. Having decided to register at only one location to make it easier for our family and friends, we found ourselves skipping church yesterday morning to attend our local Crate & Barrel's "The Wedding Party" event.

We were just a wee bit trepidatious about attending such an event as a same sex couple in the great state of Texas, but we soon discovered we had absolutely nothing to worry about. Not sure if that was due to being in easy-going Austin, changing attitudes in general, or a combination of the two. The folks at C&B were gracious from the get-go, and we were very happy to find that they even included pictures of a gay couple in their registry literature that they passed out to everyone. And while we were the only same sex couple in attendance, none of our opposite sex counterparts seemed the least bit off put by our attendance.

Anyway, once the introductions were made and basic instructions were given, we were let loose upon the store with a portable scanner to pick out items for our wish list. I think it's very safe to say that Derrick & I already have nearly everything we need, but we still managed to do just fine! We initially picked out about 60 items (mostly kitchen items and serving pieces) that we'd be proud to have in our home . . . and have since added to that list online from the comfort of our home. And we think we may have set a new C&B record for the fastest turn-around time between creating a registry and having someone purchase a gift from said list, as we were barely home an hour, when our dear friends Shannon & Kenneth showed up on our front porch with a Crate & Barrel box in hand. Love them!

While editing our registry online, we also entered Crate & Barrel's "the Ultimate Wedding contest", where we're competing with hundreds of other couples to win $100,000 to create our dream ceremony. As one of only a current handful of same sex couples in the contest, we're honored to be taking part . . . and we're grateful to C&B's progressive policies which even allow us to compete in the first place!

And here's our shameless plug of the day . . . we'd be VERY appreciative of your voting for us in the contest! Just enter "Warren Derrick" in the search box of the website, and it will take you straight to our entry page where you can cast your vote.

We're getting married!

2011-02-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our little blog and our adventure of planning a not so traditional marriage.