Wedding Planning Tools Overload!!

Step 1 - Get organized.

Step 2 - Get disorganized by accumulating all the planning tools you think you need to get organized.

Step 3 - Get organized again.

It was Christmas and I walked through an arts and crafts store for inspiration for handmade gifts. Amongst the glittering ornaments and pre-decorated wreaths I came upon a wedding section filled with elegant invitations in every color and simple yet aesthetically pleasing favors.

I couldn't resist.

And sadly enough, no one received handmade gifts from me this year. I'm sorry....

In the midst of my detour I stopped in awe at the potential a wedding could have if one really put thought and creativity into it. However, knowing myself, I knew I needed just a little (which approximately equals to a lot of) help. Could I ask others to assist in my endeavors to make my one special day, well, special? Sure thing. But apparently, according to experienced bride-to-be's, delegating a large portion of the planning to anyone other than yourself or your dog takes away from the fun (because watching a dog plan a wedding would, in fact, be very fun). Even if what they said logically either just leaves me with more work or is physically impossible, I'll take their word for it.

So the planning commences. Some of things to jump start my planning.

• Started a project on Microsoft Works





• I bought a cute wedding planner that could be read like a book but reminded me of a photo album. In addition to containing wedding planning advice, it had a lot of neat features like a grid for planning table seatings, spaces to glue in pictures that looked similar to what you wanted, an open fold budget sheet, and checklists... lots of checklists.





• Signed up for theweddingbee.com and theknot.com, which had checklists of its own





• Downloaded some free wedding apps on the iphone





• Knew I had to stop gathering planning tools and just start planning.

And so I did. The one main lesson I learned from all these great planning tools is that you need an ultimate checklist. I know everyone has differing methods, but checklists have got to be a bride-to-be's best friend. They are abundant in number in bookstores and on the internet. In short, there are a ton out there.

Right now I am trying to customize my own checklist. Your wedding is your own. Even in traditional weddings the personalities of the bride and groom shine through the customs. My checklist reflects that sense of uniqueness. For example, a major priority is the reception. I want to plan it down to the minute and fill it with entertainment and guest participation in addition to the traditional stuff. So part of my checklist will include choreographing dances, choosing songs for friends to sing, etc. I can only imagine what my dog's checklist would have looked like apart from the chew marks.

My goals regarding planning are to set my own deadlines and stick to them, delegate what I cannot handle, frequently read my checklist, and finally add to the checklist as I go along.

So overload and unload. Do what's best for you and have fun! What matters at the end of the day is that you are married to Mr. Darcy and there will be no turning back. Muahahaha!

Alright...that's a little too much fun.

Initial Thoughts

"Mommy, how are weddings made?


"You see, son. When a man and a woman really love one another..."




As I chew on a delicious bar of white chocolate and seek warmth under a fluffy comforter in my Las Vegas home, I turn over thought after thought on how I should begin this blog and what I should have for dinner. While everyone else updates their facebook statuses with their success on dieting and exercise, I pull out another chocolate bar. Hmm... I might ruin my dinner.

Oh! But I digress.

So let's start at the very beginning.

A very good place to start.

When you speak you begin with ABC. When you sing you begin with Do Re Mi.

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti...

Sorry...

I don't think I 've ever taken a bigger step than the one I am about to take. Everything about marriage seems so permanent. As far as I know, you commit to one person for the rest of your life. You buy a house that will take the rest of your life to pay off. You bear children who you will raise for years and years to come. Marriage will set the tone for the rest of your life.

For my fiance and I, the decision to marry was more gradual than your conventional exchange of a nervous "Will you?" and an emotional "I do!" We talked about it on many occasions and confirmed it with our utmost sincere feelings until we were comfortable scheduling a date.

I sometimes do yearn for that warm feathery feeling one experiences while your Mr. Darcy is down on bended knee offering a tiny but sparkly and expensive manifestation of his love (or tolerance, haha). Ah, Mr. Darcy. I highly recommend Jane Austen novels. She knew what lay in woman's heart. But regardless of whether or not you miss out on her well written novels, we took time making our decision.

Marriage...

I know of it but don't feel like I understand a lot of it. To best articulate my innermost concerns, I must write in several run on sentences. Ups and downs. Differences to overcome. Growth. Giving and receiving support. Fairness. Roles and responsibilities. Sharing dreams and expectations. Breaking expectations. Crying and Laughing. Victory and defeats. Love and maybe hate. Things about him I never knew before. Raising children. Being unselfish. Being selfish... Too much thinking.

Marriage is a long time. Marriage takes time. Marriage is bit overwhelming.

This blog is bit overwhelming.

I hope you're not too bored or amazingly peeved at all my grammatically incorrect sentences. So I shall end here. My initial thoughts on my own marriage are summarized in the facts that I am anxious but love him with all my heart.

So please allow me to share, vent, inspire as I take up more Internet space with Another Marriage/Wedding Blog and Then Some.