Things I've Learned While Planning: 10 Months To Go

This is the first of a new series here on the blog, written by the one Belle left to get hitched, yours truly, Jessica. But in true TWB fashion, this is the product of both Belles. Erin came up with the idea, and I'm going to milk it for all it's worth...wmahaha.

First, a little background on the concept. When we were in college (although we only graduated a little over 5 years ago, it often feels like an eternity), AIM was all the rage. Facebook was just catching on. Twitter was eons from taking over our smartphones. Actually, we didn't even have smartphones. But I'm digressing. And because I thought I was hilarious and my friends were even more so, I would often post a weekend recap AIM away message that started with "Things I Learned This Weekend..." Ridiculous nothingness ensued, mostly filled with random events and people that filled each college weekend. And believe me, I consider myself lucky that these words of wisdom were only temporarily posted online, and that they're not stashed somewhere permanently for all to see. I'm so much more mature now, you see, than I was back then.

Now, a little background on the wedding. My fiancé and I have been engaged just shy of three months now, ever since he took me to Philly's Boathouse Row, pulled out a ring, and finally convinced me after 10 minutes that the whole thing wasn't a joke. Even though I'm from Connecticut originally and not a Philly native (Go Yanks!), we're planning a Memorial Day Weekend 2011 wedding in the City of Brotherly Love.

So, without further ado, here are the things I've learned while planning so far:

1. Pretty much every wedding website template I see reminds me at least a little bit of 1994. The colors. The stock photos. The musak. Ugh.

2. Searching out day-of coordinators is purely bizarre. I'm used to being asked the questions and scribbling notes in my binder, not the other way around.

3. I have no shame when asking every caterer in this city if they can just give us what we really want for our meal: pizza.

4. My dad must secretly watch wedding shows on TV, because I can't imagine how else he knows about the Friday/Sunday venue discount.

5. Contact a DJ once, and they'll flood your inbox with reckless abandon forever.

6. It's not outside the realm of possibility that I'll have to find ways to legitimize a registry at a sneaker store filled with only size 9 men's footwear.

7. I don't really like venue shopping. Too much down time. I want to get in and get out, just like with clothes shopping.

8. If I ever need a dessert pick me up, the apple cobbler on the menu at Keating's in the Hyatt is exactly what I need. So delicious.

9. Caterers don't impress me/win me over by (in my opinion) undercharging for their food but then overcharging for their labor. If you're going to charge a lot, fine, but charge a lot right off the top instead of "hiding" the fees near the bottom line.

10. It will never end well when you tell your fiancé "We only have three wedding topics to discuss," and then you try to sneak in a 4th or 5th one. Trust. Me.

11. Okay, guys have tough wardrobe decisions to make too. Suit or tux? Pleated or flat front pants? To pocket square or not to pocket square?

12. You can in fact form an addiction to the Weddingbee classifieds, complete with spells of withdrawal where you think everyone you interact with is trying to negotiate the price of a set of gold chargers.

I'll be back next month with more. Until then, keep checking our blog for more TWB goodies!