Bride Diary: How sweet it is...
by Kelly Stewart
“How sweet it is to be loved by you” (a love song originally recorded by Marvin Gaye). I have rewritten that wonderful line for my current version of this song: “How sweet it is to have booked my last vendor!” Lame version, I know. But really, I’m not sure that I can express how good it feels to have booked my last vendor! I have a new sense of freedom to…breathe! ? Not only can I breathe easier, but now I can enjoy diving head-first into the detail work of the wedding.
For some, all the small details of the wedding are like nails on a chalkboard. For others, (like me!) we get excited to have the big decisions taken care of so the fun can begin. The details I’m talking about include some of the following:
- beauty accessories- shoes, veil, hair piece, purse, sashes for bridesmaids, jewelry, hair, skin care, make-up, lingerie, new clothes ?, tanning, working out, getting rest(!), etc;
- ceremony details- week of or day of coordinator, programs, music list, order of ceremony, guest book, candles, guest book and gift attendants, etc;
- reception details- schedule, transportation, directions, table centerpieces, food-tasting and menu confirmation, music list, order of reception, etc;
- gifts- for the groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen (his job thankfully!) shower hosts, flower girl(s), ring bearer(s), gift-baskets for out-of-town guests, etc;
- other- addressing and mailing invitations (recommended mailing: 2 months, or 6 to 8 weeks prior to wedding date), blocking hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, organizing belongings to prepare for move-out after marriage, plan ahead as a couple: pre-marital counseling, finances, housing, jobs, etc.
Oh how the lists go on!
A word of warning to the especially-easy overwhelmed bride: you can drown in details. Learn what works for you to stay afloat and stick to it! Procrastination only adds stress. That’s definitely a life-lesson learned, coming straight from the mouth of a procrastinating college student! Spreading the work out really works for me. The more I can get done in small doses, the more I delight in the wedding planning experience. Delegating jobs to close family and friends is also very helpful; it’s great to have the company and the support.
It is a breath of fresh air with every decision I finalize about the wedding. My excitement is steadily growing as the days pass by. I have less than 100 days now! How sweet it is!
