Will you.....let me borrow your keys?

The title of this post is a line that Mr. Avocado used on me just this week. He is rude.

My left ring finger is naked and always has been. Some of you may be thinking "She's a fake! A crazy fanatical psycho-bride planning a wedding without a groom." It's just not true, please believe me! As my wonderful mother pointed out to me when I was stressing about peoples perceptions, I am engaged, I just don't have a ring yet. If Weddingbee exists as a body of diversity, we should have all kinds of brides challenging the idea of how things "should" be done.

Correct me if I am wrong but I think I might be the first bee accepted to the hive without an engagement ring on her finger. Through this fantastical blogging universe I have learned that I am not the only bride who is planning her wedding this way though, and I bet there are a few of you Weddingbee readers who are going through the exact same thing I am!

I have allowed Mr. Avocado to do things in his own way since he always does such a great job of letting me doing the same. We believe this to be the key to our success as a couple, as it allows us to exist as two unique individuals working to create a functional unit. Sorry to get all deep and philosophical on you for a second, but it's really true!

I've found that any mention of the wedding causes people to immediately glance down at my hand and then judge me when they don't see a ring there. I even went so far as to buy a $10 stand-in from Wal-Mart.

I bought this big ropey black one in hopes that Mr. Avocado would think it was hideous enough to immediately propose. It didn't work.

Unfortunately this system has garnered a lot of confused questions from our family and friends. I have ALWAYS been a little crazy about weddings (you know the type, she already has her dress and flowers picked out, she just needs a groom to meet her at the altar), so I think a few of them might be thinking I am planning my wedding in that manner. Let's get one thing straight, I am not pressuring Mr. Avocado into anything he isn't ready for. We, plural, want to get married to each other.

So to prove, once and for all, that there is really a ring I will show it to you. Because it is currently sitting on his desk. Right now in plain sight. I can see it. A green bag. But I won't put it on my finger and wear it around the house anymore. I pinky swear.

Pictured in one of the now world famous Paloma's Nest bowls. This isn't mine. I had to give it away to some other stupid bride. It says "Love Conquers All" in Latin. And the bride isn't stupid. She's nice and will provide it a good home.

Haha, I got you. Yes, that is really my ring. But isn't it kind of ugly and blurry and mishapen? I decided that if you were going to be able to "experience" the proposal with me as it happens, it might be fun for you to have to wait to see the ring as well. So we will all be waiting breathlessly, praying for Mr. Avocado to get his act together and propose before I move home to central WA and get strange looks every day.

I'm not the only one with a dress, photographer, florist, venue, and much much more without something pretty sparkling on her left hand? Am I? Please hive, tell me it isn't true. A few of you have already stepped forward and I already feel so warm and cuddly inside knowing you are going through the same thing with me. What is your reason for being ringless?

Meet Miss Avocado-The Ringless Bride!

Czesc hive! I am thrilled to be the newest bee, Miss Avocado. I think when I got "the email" Mr. Avocado thought something terrible had happened. I was shaking and I just kept saying "Oh my, oh my." Mr. Avocado has labeled me as an extrovert who would run around naked if possible, so displaying my every wedding related action for the world to see is pretty much the best thing ever.

Before we begin there is one thing we should clear up. I'm currently still waiting for an official proposal. Miss Avocado is my name, but you can also call me "The Ringless Bride." (But I am not, repeat, not groomless.)

I'm assuming you would like to start by learning a little bit about this particular variety of Avocado. I grew up in a tiny farming town in Central Washington while on the other side of the world my future husband was unsuspectingly mushroom hunting his way around Poland.

One day I asked him to this little "prom" we were having and told him we either had to start dating or stop spending so much time together. And then he didn't answer me for three weeks. But that's another story for another post.

The night of the prom.

Mr. Avocado and I are the classic example of opposites attracting. He is the introvert I am the extrovert. His thrifty self helped me change my habits to pay off my debt when we first started dating. He once had a steady diet of Snickers and fast food, but I quickly taught him the meaning of the words saturated fat.

We have so much to learn from each other but we have more than enough in common to keep ourselves entertained. His introverted self has also sacrificed much allowing me to apply for Weddingbee knowing that it would mean his face would be plastered all over the internet for 1000's of people to see. I love him so much for being willing to compromise!

Photo by my darling sister, Shaylene Rene

Why Avocado? Mr. Avocado wanted something tough. Like ninja. Since that wasn't an option I decided to go with Avocado. When we were first dating and Mr. Avocado was trying to eat healthier, he did not understand how I could be putting avocados on everything. He had looked it up, and they were full of fat. Wasn't fat the very thing I was trying to avoid? He has since come a long way, and eating healthy has become a way of life for us, with plenty of room for all the avocados we can handle.

I know you're craving more of my rich and creamy goodness. There is a lot more of Miss Avocado coming your way as I attempt to wrap up all of my loose ends before my wedding roughly 100 days from now!