The magical week before the wedding ended a year of hard work, exhilaration, stress, laughter, tears and reflection. Around every corner was a new surprise, but none bigger than the excitement of THE day.
I would never want to relive that year again. I’m not sure I – or the people who lived through the chaos around me – would have the mental and emotional strength. But it was worth it to see that chaos come together into one amazing event that literally was the best day of my life.
Yet, here I am again, reliving those tough, hilarious and memorable moments of the past year with you.
Most of us are not wedding planning experts when we start out, and nearly all of us have no idea exactly what we’re getting into. This blog is intended to offer you insight into the challenges and experiences you’ll face along this roller-coaster journey. May it also be a place of ideas, inspiration and direction as you plan your wedding.
The Journey
My journey began with a white platter with the words written in chocolate: “Will you marry me?”
I had a gut feeling it was coming, but by the time Tony was on his knees, I couldn’t stop shaking, nor could I keep track of a word he was saying. Later, as we sipped one of the finest – and most expensive – champagnes on the menu and waited for our steak and salmon filets to arrive, I made him repeat his speech again. I wanted to somehow make that moment last forever.
I was impressed by the effort he went through to set up the evening, arriving at Joseph’s Steakhouse in West Des Moines that afternoon to pick out our table, which was tucked away in the farthest corner and set off by a curtain. The ring, which seemed to be the right mix between simplicity and elegance, the style I tried to exude at our wedding 10 months later. He even asked for my father’s permission earlier that week, to which my father responded, “Now we’ll have to make sure you’re on her car insurance.” (We were having a family argument over insurance costs the Sunday before.)
He proposed on my 24th birthday, and little did I know that a year later, I would not only have a husband, but a mortgage, a cat, and soon after, a dog. It was a fast year – a spiritual growth spurt in which I learned more about myself and my relationship with my fiancé, parents and friends than I ever would have imagined sitting at the table that cold, wintry night.
A month after the wine bottles had been emptied, the band’s instruments packed up and our bags unpacked from an unbelievable honeymoon, I received a letter from my maid of honor. She wrote:
I think it’s true that a huge life-changing event like getting married really brings out people’s true colors, and you should know that through the whole process, I really felt like I got to see your best qualities and the ones I love you for – your kindness, generosity, and genuineness of heart.
She is one of my closest friends, and still I question whether I showed my best.
There were those moments of panic, not knowing the week before the big day whether I wanted eight or nine round tables at the reception. Those moments of anger, when someone, usually my parents, tried to get involve in a decision I cared (maybe) a little too much about. But then I also had those moments of excitement, such as when I found THE dress I would marry my husband in. Those moments of integrity when we explained in our pre-marriage counseling sessions how we would spend the rest of our lives together, and those moments of pure love, when I saw Tony standing at the altar for the first time as I held my dad’s arm at the end of the aisle.
The lesson
Though I would never want to relieve the year again – minus that final magical week – I did learn some valuable lessons along the way that have forever changed who I am. The most important of which is to stay true to who you are. It’s not about the dress, the flavor of cake or who plays the music; it’s about your love for each other and how you express it.
Each week I plan on writing a new story that will offer insight in one of five categories: vision, essentials, style, logistics and celebrations. Leave comments or ask questions that may become the focus of a future posting.
But the underlying theme of all of this is to express yourself and, ultimately, to enjoy the adventure you’re about to begin.
I would never want to relive that year again. I’m not sure I – or the people who lived through the chaos around me – would have the mental and emotional strength. But it was worth it to see that chaos come together into one amazing event that literally was the best day of my life.
Yet, here I am again, reliving those tough, hilarious and memorable moments of the past year with you.
Most of us are not wedding planning experts when we start out, and nearly all of us have no idea exactly what we’re getting into. This blog is intended to offer you insight into the challenges and experiences you’ll face along this roller-coaster journey. May it also be a place of ideas, inspiration and direction as you plan your wedding.
The Journey
My journey began with a white platter with the words written in chocolate: “Will you marry me?”
I had a gut feeling it was coming, but by the time Tony was on his knees, I couldn’t stop shaking, nor could I keep track of a word he was saying. Later, as we sipped one of the finest – and most expensive – champagnes on the menu and waited for our steak and salmon filets to arrive, I made him repeat his speech again. I wanted to somehow make that moment last forever.
I was impressed by the effort he went through to set up the evening, arriving at Joseph’s Steakhouse in West Des Moines that afternoon to pick out our table, which was tucked away in the farthest corner and set off by a curtain. The ring, which seemed to be the right mix between simplicity and elegance, the style I tried to exude at our wedding 10 months later. He even asked for my father’s permission earlier that week, to which my father responded, “Now we’ll have to make sure you’re on her car insurance.” (We were having a family argument over insurance costs the Sunday before.)
He proposed on my 24th birthday, and little did I know that a year later, I would not only have a husband, but a mortgage, a cat, and soon after, a dog. It was a fast year – a spiritual growth spurt in which I learned more about myself and my relationship with my fiancé, parents and friends than I ever would have imagined sitting at the table that cold, wintry night.
A month after the wine bottles had been emptied, the band’s instruments packed up and our bags unpacked from an unbelievable honeymoon, I received a letter from my maid of honor. She wrote:
I think it’s true that a huge life-changing event like getting married really brings out people’s true colors, and you should know that through the whole process, I really felt like I got to see your best qualities and the ones I love you for – your kindness, generosity, and genuineness of heart.
She is one of my closest friends, and still I question whether I showed my best.
There were those moments of panic, not knowing the week before the big day whether I wanted eight or nine round tables at the reception. Those moments of anger, when someone, usually my parents, tried to get involve in a decision I cared (maybe) a little too much about. But then I also had those moments of excitement, such as when I found THE dress I would marry my husband in. Those moments of integrity when we explained in our pre-marriage counseling sessions how we would spend the rest of our lives together, and those moments of pure love, when I saw Tony standing at the altar for the first time as I held my dad’s arm at the end of the aisle.
The lesson
Though I would never want to relieve the year again – minus that final magical week – I did learn some valuable lessons along the way that have forever changed who I am. The most important of which is to stay true to who you are. It’s not about the dress, the flavor of cake or who plays the music; it’s about your love for each other and how you express it.
Each week I plan on writing a new story that will offer insight in one of five categories: vision, essentials, style, logistics and celebrations. Leave comments or ask questions that may become the focus of a future posting.
But the underlying theme of all of this is to express yourself and, ultimately, to enjoy the adventure you’re about to begin.
A new story will be posted every Monday by noon. Coming up next: creating a vision for the wedding.
