Budget, Check!

If you've been following this blog, you know My Guy popped the question back in February (about 7 months ago for anyone counting), and we've been basking in engagement bliss ever since.  After he popped the big question we immediately started talking about venues.  We knew we wanted something beautiful with a view (what bride doesn't?), and we knew it needed to be fairly large in size (with a guest list looming at 200 we knew we wanted elbow room).  Originally we had planned on a fall 2013 wedding day, and I was excited to have our photos with a foliage landscaped background.  We went to look at one venue, based on what it listed on line, it seemed right up our alley; affordable, large in size, outdoor, tented dance floor, indoor bar and cocktail area, overlooking an apple orchid I thought I was in love. We drove a little over an hour to the venue, and despite the drive I was still hoping this was our spot.  My Guy's family is traveling from Oregon to Boston for our big day, and thinking about asking them to travel even further from their hotel for a few hours seemed selfish, but on we went. 
So we get there, and it's as breathtaking as the pictures showed on line; though it was March, the trees and grounds were perfect.  It was everything I had hoped... then came the "between the lines."  On line the charge for the venue was about $4800 less than what we were told in person, we were also told that they did all the catering and no outside food would be allowed to be brought in- again, different from what it said on the website, and the real kicker; we had to evacuate the property by 10pm (all vendors included), which means our party would need to be over around 9pm. 
Needless to say, after making My Guy drive all the way to the western part of the state, suffering a little financial shock, and feeling like we got punched in the gut, we were a little more than discouraged. 
Months went by, we hemmed and hawed about what we were going to do.  He was pushing for a destination wedding, and I just wanted to be a princess for a day- surrounded by 200 of our nearest and dearest friends and family.  I dragged my feet in planning, bummed that it seemed as if we couldn't afford the wedding we (I) wanted.  Last month, someone asked how wedding planning was going, and I told her that it wasn't going well.  I hadn't done anything, I'd just been so busy.  Well, she almost exploded.  She was furious with me, telling me that this isn't something I should be putting off, this is the rest of my life, and there was a reason I wasn't moving forward, and it wasn't because I was too busy.  In my head I heard my little finance manager whispering "Put together a budget, and make it happen,"  Well, put together a budget I did... and as it turns out, we will be having the wedding WE want, and I couldn't be more excited!!
Stay tuned for updates on picking our venue, developing our budget, sacrifices we've made, and an introduction to my bridal party!

My Guy Meets His Future Family

I come from a ridiculously big family- my dad has about a million cousins, and my mother has five siblings (in addition to a handful of step siblings).  In the course of the last three years, I've given My Guy a free pass from family events- knowing how outrageous and overwhelming my family can be at times.  While he's been expected at holiday dinners, I haven't forced the issue with birthdays, graduation parties, or reunions; until this past weekend.  When I'm with my extended family I tend to get caught up in the excitement of seeing everyone and never want to leave.  I did warn him before hand, and encourage him to take a trip to the package store before he meets his future family. 
My father's cousins were having a family party, and I'd been looking forward to it for the last month; reminding My Guy about it a regular basis.  As wonderful as he is, he refuses to own a calendar, and if it's not work related, he won't add it to the planner in his phone; leaving me responsible for managing our social calendar.  So it was no surprise when Wednesday he texted me "Do we have plans for this weekend?"  Good grief.
So we get to the party and I couldn't be more excited to be reunited with my family.  After working for years in the restaurant industry, weekends didn't exist, so I sacrificed these types of parties.  Introducing My Guy to my family, and watching him interact with all the cousins, I felt so elated.  Listening to him talk about his previous life as a football coach, sharing his experiences in Oregon (how do you pronounce that state just south of Washington?), how passionate he is about his work and saying goodbye to everyone, and shaking hands or offering a hug made me wonder why I had waited so long.  I love my family to no end, and I love him just as much.  Since I love all of them, it should be only natural that they mesh as well as they did.  It was actually me, who after 8 hours said "We really should get home to let the dog out," and about an hour later we were saying our goodbyes. Despite the weather, it was a perfect day, and I can't wait for the next party!

Plan B

Ugh.  Back to the drawing board... maybe.  Being a bride is overwhelming, and when you're someone that hates to make decisions, all the options can be overwhelming.  After six long months of hemming and hawing, avoiding, and procrastinating we found a venue... or so we thought.  It seemed as if everything was coming together, and using an all inclusive venue was going to make my  life a whole lot easier.  The Event Coordinator offered us a few dates, and we looked at our calendar, we talked with our families, and we were moving forward- or so we thought.  As it turns out, our date is no longer available... sending us back to the drawing board.  I do have a hopeful other trick up my sleeve, it will require a few more decisions to be made on our part, and we will have a little more creative liberty. 
In the meantime, I'm selfishly hoping that there is a cancellation, or I come across something equally as excellent.

Sweet Moments with My Sweet Brother

Last night I gave My Guy a free pass to go out with the boys (my family is having a big party today, and he's going to be thrown to the wolves after three years of dating... I felt he deserved some time with the guys).  It looked like I was going to have the house to myself, just me and all my wedding magazines and blogs... well as it turned out, my baby brother (who is actually eighteen- not such a baby), wound up coming over. 
Little Brother has been nothing but supportive, and he's constantly asking about the wedding, my ideas, and offering suggestions.  So last night, I'm sitting on one couch and he's on the other.  I open up the iPad, while he's busy looking for something to watch on tv.  I click on the Knot Application- the cover is a beautiful bride and her beau, the dress is gorgeous, and absolutely something I would love, when my brother says "I like that dress."  I almost melted off the couch.  Here's this eighteen year old man, who is ridiculously talented when it comes to working with his hands (he can literally take anything apart and rebuild it), he's an avid action sports fan (loves dirt biking, motor cross, demolition derbies, and anything that could cause real bodily harm), he loves to pig out on ice cream, and has never been anything less than surprising with his responses to situations.  He loves a dress I love.  So I show him a petticoat dress that I like and he says "That doesn't seem wedding-y.  It doesn't go to the floor."  I completely agree, but for a casual daytime wedding, it would be fitting... I never thought I'd be taking fashion advice from my younger brother.   
When we first got engaged, it was so important for my sisters to be involved- we spent years as children playing "Bride," it never occurred to me how involved my brother would want to be, and become on his own.  He will be a groomsmen, and we are planning a special project for him to contribute to our special day. 
While he may be twelve years younger than me, and we didn't grow up in the same household, he's one of my favorite people, and someone I've always been able to count on for support and love.  My brother's heart is far too big for his body and I'm so lucky he's part of my family.

Back to Planning!

Yikes!  It's the middle of August... and my last entry was in May.  Holy Cow, where did the summer go??  A few months back (realistically, probably more like April or May), My Guy and I had a discussion about wedding planning.  Basically, I told him I had way too much going on, and wedding planning would have to wait... Running a business, searching to find a new apartment, trying to hold my title as a great fiance, and planning a wedding could not be balanced and something was bound to fail.  Well, as fate would have it, we've decided to stay put until we buy a house (hopefully just after the wedding), and as promised I'm ready to start planning our special day.  Originally, we had talked about really gearing up to start planning in September, but I'm ready to start planning now!
Look forward to lots of posts about the adventures we will be experiencing in the next few months, as well as ideas that I love, and things I'll need advice on!

Revealing Secrets

This reminds me of the Sex In The City episode where the girls talk about their "secret singular activity."  If I recall correctly, Carrie loves to stand over the sink and eat crackers- random, and probably not super secretive, but ok. 

Is there anything that you might be hiding from your guy?

Cheese, Anyone?

 
One of my oldest friends (I have two, and they are both bridesmaids), has been sending me daily inspiration via FaceBook and Pinterest- she's in Maryland, and I'm in Boston, so having social media platforms to share ideas is awesome.
Some of the ideas she's come up with are brilliant- actually most of them have been.  She has been married to her military man for years; and because she was so overwhelmed, they considered Vegas, but settled on a romantic boat ride to Niagara Falls- just her and her hubby.  So, she's loving helping me plan my wedding. 
She's very sentimental and traditional, she has unique ideas, but manages to twist them into romantic ties that she knows I will love.  I'm wondering what she will think of this idea...

TA-DA... I know My Guy will love it... what person wouldn't love a cheese fountain?!