It is a very sad day indeed.

On Saturday, Brother Eggplant gave me a Riso Print Gocco PG-11 as a surprise gift for designing his wedding stationery. I was so excited to start printing! I promptly began googling all articles Gocco related, until I came across a letter posted on Flickr from an a representative of NEHOC, an Australian Riso distributer:

Re: Print Lamps

As sad as it is to type we all have to move on (well eventually when stocks do run out), Print Lamps will not be remanufactured.

The main reason PRINT GOCCO has been discontinued is the overall problem with manufacturing a batch of Print Lamps, not just the initial $$ outlay (RISO have the $$) but the fact it will take 15-20 years get the return on investment as they have to manufacture so many. You are right in thinking it's a few million to make a batch, take the figure you are thinking, double it, then double it again.

No shareholder in their right mind would authorise tens of millions on a product that will take 15-20 years to become profitable. The board would be sacked. It's the fact it will take so long to recover costs that makes the Lamps unfeasible. Problem for us all is there's nothing else to use in the GOCCO.

There is now only one factory in Japan that lays dormant until Print Lamps are produced, then a few hundred people are employed (yep hundreds), to manufacture the batch, then the factory is closed again. The raw materials are now harder to get, more expensive and I feel the factory land is now more valuable than the product it produces.

The Print Lamp situation is a mess as (personally speaking here) I think RISO started running out much faster than expected (everyone else noticed PRINT GOCCO sales are ironically increasing!) leaving them short of time and lacking a plan to stop GOCCO so customers were prepared. Although I feel if we had known earlier we simply would have bought them out of stock quicker than we did. I have been rightly accused of making the US problems worse by taking RISO's Lamp stocks - sorry - but we saw it coming a few years ago and bought up big so we are OK for the next 8-10yrs, but after that . . . . . .

OK back to lurking for me but before I stop typing this 100 page essay, can I please request customers (and wholesalers) in the US to stop asking me for PRINT GOCCO supplies. NEHOC is currently under contact with RISO and will not supply to the US. Frustrating for me to see the situation you are in too as I have a warehouse full of lamps & GOCCO stock but I just can't supply you at this point in time - sorry.

Gocco is no good without lamps, and Riso is discontinuing production! It looks like nothing can save Gocco this time around. This has to be one of the most disappointing pieces of news I've heard all week, especially since Paper Source was selling brand new machines as recent as this year. I was lucky enough to stock up on a big stash of bulbs and screens through various online retailers, but for those who own a Gocco, I strongly recommend seeking out supplies (especially bulbs) if you don't want to be left with an unusable machine.

Gocco Supply Resources:

• Paper Source (I ordered from here yesterday). If Gocco supplies are out of stock, click the link to be notified via email when they're back in stock.
• Marlenewatson.com still has bulbs and screens in stock (I last checked on Wednesday, 10/28).
• Printaddict.net is selling the new packages of Riso supplies that come with two screens and four bulbs.
• If all the above options fail, you can purchase from Etchworld.com, but beware, the bulbs are nearly twice the price as other sites!
• The Yahoo Gocco Group (gocco@yahoogroups.com). Rumor has it that people are experimenting with alternatives for Gocco, and you'll get the info first hand here.

Long live Gocco!

Well, folks, as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." This is the final installment of the Eggplants' wedding recaps (*sob*). How fitting that today (10/20) is our one year wedding anniversary. It has been such a pleasure getting to know you all and sharing the most joyous period of my life with you.

But, an ended wedding can't keep this bee off the web. To follow my chronicles as a Mrs., you can find me at my personal blog, The Sunset House, where I write about my unhealthy obsession with rubber stamps and paper crafts (seriously, I have issues). And, of course I will continue to stop by to share all my wedding related projects with you guys. I'm helping Brother Eggplant with his 2009 wedding, so you know I'll be back soon! Once a bee, always a bee!

But, enough with the mushy stuff... onto the final recap!

Part I: Primped and Prettied | Part II: The Dashing Gents | Part III: The Wedding Duds + A Suite Switcheroo | Part IV: The Threads, and How They Unravel! | Part V: Meet ’n Greet | Part VI: Ceremoniously Wed | Part VII: Wedding Portraits | Part VIII: Down to the Details | Part IX: Dinner & Dancin'

All photos property of the fabulous Apertura Photography

My father/daughter dance was one of the most touching moments of the night. You'd have to know my relationship with my dad to understand. We're just not the mushy types.We rarely hug. I can't remember the last time we said, "I love you." We just know, by our acts of service, that we love each other. So, for me, this symbolic dance was more than a wedding tradition. It was a chance to step out of our comfort zone and show one another affection.

Mr. Eggplant and his mom joined us halfway through the song.

Kid-friendly weddings are not for everyone. For me, I wouldn't have had it any other way. The little ones brought so much energy, spunk, and innocence to our day, I couldn't imagine my wedding without them.

Although a well-planned wedding doesn't always equal a meaningful event, good planning enables the fun. However, I can't take all the credit for hosting a great party. Our DJ/MC, Kevin, ran the entire show. He was able to read the crowd, play all the right music at all the right times, and make people play cheesy games (and actually have fun doing it). If there's one piece of advice I hope to pass on to others, it would be to spend time selecting an MC. This person has an all access pass to running your event, so he (or she) deserves careful thought.

Here's another funny thing about weddings: No one ever tells a couple how a to properly cut a cake! It sounds silly, but if you can, give it a quick practice run through before your big day, so you're not left fumbling around like we were. Our photographers instructed us on how to cut our cake!

 
Another Eggplant tip: A cheesy game can be really enjoyable. We played the Shoe Game, a favorite of our MC's and one that had the crowd laughing hysterically. Mrs. Tomato also played this at her wedding.

Here's how the shoe game works: We both took off our shoes and traded one, so I had one of my shoes plus one of Mr. Eggplant's shoes. Then, Kevin (our MC) positioned us back-to-back, so that we could not see each other. Kevin instructed us that he would ask us questions about our relationship (for example, Who is more romantic?) and we were to respond by holding up the appropriate corresponding shoe: my white flip flop or Mr. Eggplant's tuxedo shoe.

If this game is played right and the questions are funny enough, the results can be hysterical. Questions like, who has more athletic ability? (I said me, Mr. Eggplant said himself), who is the better cook? (we both said me) or who controls the checkbook? (we both said Mr. Eggplant, but only after I paused for a minute) are sure to garner some entertaining results.

 
People often say that a wedding day passes quickly for a couple. This is, indeed, true. Our wedding day flew by in an instant. One minute, I was applying mascara, the next, I was tossing my bouquet. With so many activities pulling us from place to place, I wish Mr. Eggplant and I had a moment to reflect upon our day alone together. When all was said and done and we were engaging in pillow talk, all we could remember was how loved and happy we felt.

 
I know I've said this before: your wedding will probably be the only day when you will have so many loved ones, from both sides, in one room together. Friends and family aren't coming to be impressed by gobo lighting or matching favors + tablecloths + flowers; they're coming to support and celebrate you. So, regardless of the vendor that screwed up or the dress that got stained, no one will remember that little stuff in the end. All they'll remember is how beautiful and in love you looked, and how happy they were for you.

 
Another Eggplant wedding tip: Men are notorious for not participating in the garter toss. To get them excited, attach a token gift certificate in a small amount (e.g. $10). They'll be fighting for the goods and it'll make for a great photo op.  

Proof that bribing works!

I've always wondered, who said wedding ideas have to be original? Sometimes, the best ideas are tried and true. For example, our chocolate fountain, which has been done a thousand times. Although it wasn't a new idea, it was still a smashing hit.

 
Sometimes, the most inexpensive wedding ideas become the most meaningful. Making our guestbook pages was one of our best decisions. They cost the price of one pack of card stock, but they gave us a wonderful souvenir that will last a lifetime.

If there's one thing I regret about the wedding, it's that I wish I could have invited more people. We hosted 180 guests, which was the maximum people our venue could comfortably accommodate. But, knowing what I know now, I would have cut back expenses in some areas if I could add another table. I often think about the new friends I made while we were planning our guest list--friends that we have since become closer to--and I wish we invited them to our wedding. Flowers will die, but friendships and wedding memories live forever.

I used to be insanely jealous of destination weddings. The California bay area seems so boring compared to Maui or Mexico. But, as I reflect upon our wedding, it was a blessing that our parents forced us to have a wedding at home. With the failing health of some family members, they would not have made the long trek to a destination wedding, and we wouldn't have this picture of Mr. Eggplant's grandparents dancing to Justin Timberlake.

Although much of our wedding day was a blur, my emotions were crystal clear. In fact, I remember them even now--one full year later. I felt utterly grateful that I was marrying my best friend and surrounded by my most favorite people. For me, life is all about relationships, and our wedding was a celebration of each special person in our lives.

*Sigh.* Now that I'm at our last wedding picture, I'm reminded that that all good things must end.

Our wedding day is still engraved in my memory as one of the best days of my life. I'm deeply appreciative that I could write here and share it with you all! You've not only helped me in my planning, you've helped me forever preserve our memories. I wish everyone joy-filled weddings with love and laughter!

To my wonderful husband: Happy one year anniversary, honey! You are my favorite person in the world. I love you and I look forward to our relationship growing in depth and joy over the coming years.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Eggplant

Wedding receptions are often the most anticipated portion of a nuptial event, and it's no wonder why; it will probably be the only time that all of your closest friends and family from both sides will gather in one place. As Mr. Eggplant described, we had a captive audience, which he took full advantage of.

Part I: Primped and Prettied | Part II: The Dashing Gents | Part III: The Wedding Duds + A Suite Switcheroo | Part IV: The Threads, and How They Unravel! | Part V: Meet ’n Greet | Part VI: Ceremoniously Wed | Part VII: Wedding Portraits | Part VIII: Down to the Details

    
After cocktail hour, the guests were seated and the bridal party waited outside of the reception room to be introduced. Our best man planned a big entrance, which involved downing a beer and throwing a long pass. 

Tip for a setting the tone for a fun wedding: Get your bridal party into party mode! As the bridal party goes, so will the wedding reception. We were lucky that our bridal party was willing to dance their way into the room. Mr. Eggplant also wrote a quick blurb about each person so that our MC could introduce everyone with something fun and witty.

 
Our BM/MOH went long for their intro, with the football heading straight for our wedding cake!

  
Fortunately the cake was narrowly missed! *Phew*

  
We waited anxiously in the courtyard for our turn.

 
Then, Kevin (our MC) announced us, and we "danced" our way into the reception, if you could even call this dancing. Mr. Eggplant looks like he's pushing a shopping cart, while I'm preparing to place a fruit into it.

We went right into our first dance, a good opener, since guests won't dance at a reception until the bride and groom have done the honors.

 
After our first dance, everyone was seated and dinner was served.

    
In this jar were names of couples who had to kiss, should anyone dare to clink their glasses. No kissing unless you kiss first! 

 
Halfway through the salads, our MOH and BM gave their speeches. Christine (MOH) gave a wonderful, touching speech that required tissues.

Brian (our BM) gave the most hilarious BM speech ever. First, he shared how he and Mr. Eggplant would have nightly conversations on the phone until 3am, until he realized that it was abnormal for male buddies to chit chat that much. I guess it must've been guy love? Consequently, he also serenaded Mr. Eggplant with the song from Scrubs, Guy Love. HILARIOUS.

    
Brian brought the Scrubs video to accompany his serenade.

Next up: My dad! He wrote such a funny, touching speech! People told me it was the best father-of-the-bride toast ever. Papa Eggplant is a really good speaker. He used to be terrified of public speaking, until he joined Toastmasters. Eventually, conquered his fear and even won Toastmaster of the Year!

 
MIL Eggplant had the cutest mother-of-the-groom speech ever also.

  
Finally, Mr. Eggplant shared warm and funny words of joy and thanks.  

 
Once the main courses were almost done, our MC played our slideshow, on which Mr. Eggplant had spent many long hours arranging. He thought carefully about his captive audience while preparing the funny video.

 
The reaction was unanimous: our guests loved all the dorky pictures of the Eggplants' awkward adolescent phases. Tip for a successful slideshow: the more embarrasing the picture, the funnier the slideshow!

I, on the other hand, was regretting that I gave Mr. Eggplant access to my high school yearbooks.

But, I had no time to be shy; we had a cake to cut, a bouquet to toss, and dancing shoes to break in! Next up: the final Eggplant wedding recap!

The one project I unfortunately didn't get many photos of on W-Day was our ribbon board with our decorated place cards. I say unfortunately, because this baby took hours upon hours of grueling labor. We finished the project the night before our wedding rehearsal!

To make the board and cards, I needed the following materials:

• Martha Stewart border punch and EK Success flower punch
• Many spools of pink, green, white, and brown ribbon
• Six foam boards (to make three ribbon boards)
• Sewing pins
• Place cards from Paper Source
• Metal brads

First, the ribbon boards. My cousin came up with the idea to take a piece of foam board, layer the colored ribbon across it, and use pins to on the backside to keep the strands in place. It worked out well. I also think a staple gun would've done the trick.

Once we covered the entire board had been with ribbon, we took a second piece of foam board and pinned it to the back to cover up the unsightly ribbon ends. When pinning the board in place, we shoved the pins in place at varying angles. This kept the second board from slipping off.

If you're interested in creating a ribbon board for your wedding, I recently found this link with simple instructions on making one.

Here's our ribbon board, half completed.

My cousin, exhausted and wondering how she volunteered herself into this mess.

And here's a shot of the completed ribbon boards.

Next, the placecards. These were very easy, but very time consuming. To make the cards, I typed out our guests' names in a template I created in Adobe InDesign, and hand fed the cards one-by-one through my printer. Unfortunately, the printer kept eating our cards when I tried to let the unit feed automatically, so I had no other option than to hand feed.

After printing, I used my Martha Stewart border punch on the bottom edges of the card stock. Then, I adhered a small strip of ribbon and a colored flower with a brad. The flower colors were based on the guest's meal choice. Green = vegetarian, dark pink = beef, light pink = chicken.

(Above photo by Apertura Photography)

And here are the finished boards with the placecards.

(Above photo by Apertura Photography)

And here's a very, very tired bride.