I started writing these posts back in July, when we still had a solid ten months of planning in front of us. Now, with the wedding less than a week away, I have my last installment of "Things I've Learned While Planning." It's so long to the checklists, meetings, and emails that I've had to manage for my own wedding, sometimes begrudgingly, and it's back to solely to work on these same things for other brides' weddings...which to me, is much more fun!
So, here we go: "Things I've Learned While Planning: It's (Almost) Wedding Time."
1. Airport Customs is like the weather - you can't plan for it and you have no control over it.
2. This wedding is the only thing that will make my older brother break his unwavering devotion to shoes that entirely cover his feet. Flip flops, here we come!
3. Being too lazy to throw out cardboard boxes from random wedding-related packages received in the mail proved beneficial for future re-packing of items to be moved to the venue.
4. It must've been impossible to sift through ceremony and reception music options before YouTube.
5. If a guy doesn't wear rings before his wedding band (check), and he has no idea what his ring size is (check), it makes it much more difficult to ensure that the wedding band he gets sized for is the one that will actually fit his finger (check check).
6. It took just over 27-1/2 years...but I actually grew tired of going to the mall. Gasp!
7. I am totally fine with never running a dishwasher full of vases ever again.
8. When going to Target right at opening time on a Saturday, it's a bizarre yet pleasant experience. No lines. The aisles are easily navigated. And it's actually...quiet.
Thanks again to all of you who have been reading, commenting on, and tweeting about these posts. See you on the post-wedding side!
Showing posts with label Things I've Learned. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Things I've Learned. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Things I've Learned While Planning: One Month To Go
On one hand it's hard to believe. On the other, it seems like it's been a long time coming. That's right. My year long walk in a bride-to-be's shoes is shortly coming to an end. Here we are with our penultimate installment of the Things I've Learned While Planning series. Aaaaand we're off.
1. A pair of suit pants can be "lost" in the very box in which they were delivered, and not be "found" until several weeks later even though they never left that same box.
2. Going for milkshakes after a successful coordination meeting with our officiant was the best and worst idea all rolled into one.
3. Philadelphia's City Hall, while having a mixed bag of employees in the marriage license office, is seriously lacking its own Leslie Knope.
4. There is a serious battle going on between my sister/maid of honor and our DJ for the title of "Most Excited For An All-Vegetarian Reception." Post-wedding results to follow.
5. The USPS has finally burned me with their recent penny increase on postcard postage. (But thanks to the postal service for still delivering my now-under stamped RSVP responses...at least for the time being.)
6. My seamstress is 1000 times more concerned with me ending up topless in my dress at some point during the reception than I am. Hopefully this doesn't become an item in the future post entitled "Things I Wish I Knew Before The Wedding."
7. Numbering the RSVP's was the best decision I have made to date. I was going back and forth on this one. I didn't know if I was being overly OCD. But the minute I got a blank postcard back...I knew I had made the right call.
8. Tastykakes do not have the same endless shelf life as Twinkies. If I was a Philly native, I would've already known this one.
Alright TWB faithful...only one more of these left now. Thanks, as always, for reading along!
1. A pair of suit pants can be "lost" in the very box in which they were delivered, and not be "found" until several weeks later even though they never left that same box.
2. Going for milkshakes after a successful coordination meeting with our officiant was the best and worst idea all rolled into one.
3. Philadelphia's City Hall, while having a mixed bag of employees in the marriage license office, is seriously lacking its own Leslie Knope.
4. There is a serious battle going on between my sister/maid of honor and our DJ for the title of "Most Excited For An All-Vegetarian Reception." Post-wedding results to follow.
5. The USPS has finally burned me with their recent penny increase on postcard postage. (But thanks to the postal service for still delivering my now-under stamped RSVP responses...at least for the time being.)
6. My seamstress is 1000 times more concerned with me ending up topless in my dress at some point during the reception than I am. Hopefully this doesn't become an item in the future post entitled "Things I Wish I Knew Before The Wedding."
7. Numbering the RSVP's was the best decision I have made to date. I was going back and forth on this one. I didn't know if I was being overly OCD. But the minute I got a blank postcard back...I knew I had made the right call.
8. Tastykakes do not have the same endless shelf life as Twinkies. If I was a Philly native, I would've already known this one.
Alright TWB faithful...only one more of these left now. Thanks, as always, for reading along!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Things I've Learned While Planning: 2 Months To Go
Today we're actually two months away exactly. So of course you know what that means...the invitations just went out the door and are currently on their merry way to our guests. Huge thing checked off the to-do list right there. For more of what I've learned in the last month of wedding planning, read on:
1. There is no way to segue from Phillies spring training to important church paperwork when you run into your priest right after he's just returned from Florida.
2. If anyone is looking to outfit the male half of their wedding party in suits instead of tuxes, Macy's should be your first stop. The service on their end has made it super easy to get 10 suits out to the guys.
3. I now get slightly disappointed if I don't see my "usual" lady at the post office. She is just so nice and helpful.
4. Never before would I have guessed that writing a thank you note required so much instruction.
5. I am 100% not a French bustle kind of girl. (I already knew this one going in, but dress fitting #1 just confirmed it.)
6. The items on our registry that my fiancé actually selected are the ones he's most confused by when they arrive.
7. The word "final" apparently has more than one definition...you know, as in "final" invitation proofs...?
Definitely in the home stretch now. May 29th doesn't seem too far away at all. Thanks for reading!
1. There is no way to segue from Phillies spring training to important church paperwork when you run into your priest right after he's just returned from Florida.
2. If anyone is looking to outfit the male half of their wedding party in suits instead of tuxes, Macy's should be your first stop. The service on their end has made it super easy to get 10 suits out to the guys.
3. I now get slightly disappointed if I don't see my "usual" lady at the post office. She is just so nice and helpful.
4. Never before would I have guessed that writing a thank you note required so much instruction.
5. I am 100% not a French bustle kind of girl. (I already knew this one going in, but dress fitting #1 just confirmed it.)
6. The items on our registry that my fiancé actually selected are the ones he's most confused by when they arrive.
7. The word "final" apparently has more than one definition...you know, as in "final" invitation proofs...?
Definitely in the home stretch now. May 29th doesn't seem too far away at all. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Things I've Learned While Planning: 3 Months To Go
Ah yes, three months to go. Seems like there is now more to do than less (how does that happen?), and it's almost seriously crunch time. Here is what I've learned since the last time:
1. Breaking up with a suit salesman is hard to do.
2. Badgley Mischka shoe designers must plan on outfitting giants because their shoes run SO big.
3. Eating a huge diner breakfast isn't the best call when you have your cake tasting 30 minutes later.
4. There is an old, fat horse named Teddy available for our wedding day. So of course we're now Teddy's biggest fans.
5. The best part of your food tasting is the massive amounts of leftovers you get to take with you.
6. I shouldn't have been spending so much time on our centerpieces - the venue's (gigantic) bread board will basically take up the whole table.
7. I must've really been off my game to not see the resemblance between the ceremony outfits for the bridesmaids and Disney's Princess Jasmine.
8. Not all post offices have boxes. I wish I would've known this one before that one rainy Saturday walking around Philly with both arms full of things to be shipped.
9. When you accidentally inhale a piece of floral foam, you're looking at a minimum of 10 straight minutes of choking and/or coughing.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Only a few more of these left to do and then, no more planning to do. Just marrying.
1. Breaking up with a suit salesman is hard to do.
2. Badgley Mischka shoe designers must plan on outfitting giants because their shoes run SO big.
3. Eating a huge diner breakfast isn't the best call when you have your cake tasting 30 minutes later.
4. There is an old, fat horse named Teddy available for our wedding day. So of course we're now Teddy's biggest fans.
5. The best part of your food tasting is the massive amounts of leftovers you get to take with you.
6. I shouldn't have been spending so much time on our centerpieces - the venue's (gigantic) bread board will basically take up the whole table.
7. I must've really been off my game to not see the resemblance between the ceremony outfits for the bridesmaids and Disney's Princess Jasmine.
8. Not all post offices have boxes. I wish I would've known this one before that one rainy Saturday walking around Philly with both arms full of things to be shipped.
9. When you accidentally inhale a piece of floral foam, you're looking at a minimum of 10 straight minutes of choking and/or coughing.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Only a few more of these left to do and then, no more planning to do. Just marrying.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Things I've Learned While Planning: 4 Months To Go
Wow, four months left...then what will I have to write about? Here we go...things I've learned while planning this shindig, the 'four months to go' edition:
1. Before securing the space for the morning-after breakfast, there is no limit to the number of questions we can be asked by the staff. We're hosting a casual breakfast, not the next G8 summit.
2. When I mention "the wedding" to my fiancé, he will usually respond by asking "Whose wedding?" And for whatever reason, he is seriously asking this question.
3. The salesperson at Priscilla of Boston wasn't at all prepared for me to spout off my credit card number in ten seconds flat when paying for the balance of my dress over the phone. I'm not the only one who has this memorized...am I?
4. My fiancé doesn't have my address, cell phone, or email memorized. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the address (I've moved a lot in the past few years), but my cell and email...I've had those longer than we've known each other.
5. Every time I go in to ask the tailor at my dry cleaner something new, I'm just waiting for him to say no to my request at this point. So far, so good. But I feel like I'm really pushing the limits.
6. Is it possible to stare at honeymoon itineraries saved in your email too much? I say no.
7. When the bridal shop can't find my dress for a nerve wracking 30 minutes even though it is supposed to be hanging on a rack somewhere, a self-edited montage of Say Yes To The Dress freak out moments will play on a continual loop in my mind, acting as my own personal calming mechanism.
8. Having our tasting rescheduled because of burst pipes in the ballroom and what sounded like a minor flood in the kitchen is not only a major bummer, but also totally throws off dinner plans for that night.
Until next month when I'm back with more...thanks for reading, as always, and be sure to check out TWB for all of our other features!
1. Before securing the space for the morning-after breakfast, there is no limit to the number of questions we can be asked by the staff. We're hosting a casual breakfast, not the next G8 summit.
2. When I mention "the wedding" to my fiancé, he will usually respond by asking "Whose wedding?" And for whatever reason, he is seriously asking this question.
3. The salesperson at Priscilla of Boston wasn't at all prepared for me to spout off my credit card number in ten seconds flat when paying for the balance of my dress over the phone. I'm not the only one who has this memorized...am I?
4. My fiancé doesn't have my address, cell phone, or email memorized. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the address (I've moved a lot in the past few years), but my cell and email...I've had those longer than we've known each other.
5. Every time I go in to ask the tailor at my dry cleaner something new, I'm just waiting for him to say no to my request at this point. So far, so good. But I feel like I'm really pushing the limits.
6. Is it possible to stare at honeymoon itineraries saved in your email too much? I say no.
7. When the bridal shop can't find my dress for a nerve wracking 30 minutes even though it is supposed to be hanging on a rack somewhere, a self-edited montage of Say Yes To The Dress freak out moments will play on a continual loop in my mind, acting as my own personal calming mechanism.
8. Having our tasting rescheduled because of burst pipes in the ballroom and what sounded like a minor flood in the kitchen is not only a major bummer, but also totally throws off dinner plans for that night.
Until next month when I'm back with more...thanks for reading, as always, and be sure to check out TWB for all of our other features!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Things I've Learned While Planning: 5 Months To Go
Yup, you can count with just one hand now. With only five months to go, here's what I've picked up in the last month or so.
1. Reviewing invitation proofs late on a Friday night on a whim is just not a good idea.
2. I thought I was serious about spreadsheets, but then planning for the India shopping trip commenced. And then I saw the spreadsheet big guns come out.
3. Tailors will refuse to measure you for a garment they aren't making...if you're trying to obtain said measurements in Stamford, CT. My sister/MOH and one bridesmaid got flat out rejected a few times.
4. If you look at enough grey suits, they all start to remind you of Pee Wee Herman at some point.
5. A 6x9 envelope doesn't just sound comically big...it is comically big.
6. I'm starting to loathe hearing nothing more than when, in response to when I should schedule our remaining appointments, I hear the words "after the Super Bowl."
7. If you need to buy more than 10 of the same item from Banana Republic, you have to be ready to go through the line more than once. (And doing so during the holiday season is a real commitment to your purchase.)
Almost through the holidays now, and after that May seems like it'll be here in a second. Should be a busy winter/beginning of spring, with lots more to discuss as we charge forward.
1. Reviewing invitation proofs late on a Friday night on a whim is just not a good idea.
2. I thought I was serious about spreadsheets, but then planning for the India shopping trip commenced. And then I saw the spreadsheet big guns come out.
3. Tailors will refuse to measure you for a garment they aren't making...if you're trying to obtain said measurements in Stamford, CT. My sister/MOH and one bridesmaid got flat out rejected a few times.
4. If you look at enough grey suits, they all start to remind you of Pee Wee Herman at some point.
5. A 6x9 envelope doesn't just sound comically big...it is comically big.
6. I'm starting to loathe hearing nothing more than when, in response to when I should schedule our remaining appointments, I hear the words "after the Super Bowl."
7. If you need to buy more than 10 of the same item from Banana Republic, you have to be ready to go through the line more than once. (And doing so during the holiday season is a real commitment to your purchase.)
Almost through the holidays now, and after that May seems like it'll be here in a second. Should be a busy winter/beginning of spring, with lots more to discuss as we charge forward.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Things I've Learned While Planning: 6 Months To Go
So we're only 6 months away and I'm at the point where I'm seriously getting antsy. Let's just get this show on the road already...ya know? Anyway, here is this month's list of things I've learned:
1. I'm gonna have to start some resistance training at the gym so I can make it down the aisle in Indian wedding clothes. The beading on those things is heavy.
2. Getting my random wedding deliveries sent to my fiancé's address (doorman building!) instead of my own (left on the doorstep!) did not go over as well as I'd anticipated. By the third trip to retrieve my packages, my fiancé was over it.
3. When asked about the look I want for our cake, my only answer is silence and confusion. I guess I'm really just worried about it being tasty...I guess?
4. Marriage prep class is best experienced when you first stop for milkshakes on the way.
5. As my dad was really pulling for me and Wills to be anniversary twins, he was personally insulted when he found out the Royal Wedding is going to be April 29th and not May 29th.
6. After looking at so many invitation options, I'm really excited to see the first round of ideas from the designer.
7. Florist quotes are all over the place. Which was surprising to me since they were all quoting the same exact product in this case (same flower and stem count).
8. My mom is disappointed that sloe gin fizzes won't be served at the wedding. Maybe if I were getting married in 1965...
9. My fiancé doesn't like to be excluded from these 'Things I Learned' posts. Hopefully #2 above appeases him this month.
1. I'm gonna have to start some resistance training at the gym so I can make it down the aisle in Indian wedding clothes. The beading on those things is heavy.
2. Getting my random wedding deliveries sent to my fiancé's address (doorman building!) instead of my own (left on the doorstep!) did not go over as well as I'd anticipated. By the third trip to retrieve my packages, my fiancé was over it.
3. When asked about the look I want for our cake, my only answer is silence and confusion. I guess I'm really just worried about it being tasty...I guess?
4. Marriage prep class is best experienced when you first stop for milkshakes on the way.
5. As my dad was really pulling for me and Wills to be anniversary twins, he was personally insulted when he found out the Royal Wedding is going to be April 29th and not May 29th.
6. After looking at so many invitation options, I'm really excited to see the first round of ideas from the designer.
7. Florist quotes are all over the place. Which was surprising to me since they were all quoting the same exact product in this case (same flower and stem count).
8. My mom is disappointed that sloe gin fizzes won't be served at the wedding. Maybe if I were getting married in 1965...
9. My fiancé doesn't like to be excluded from these 'Things I Learned' posts. Hopefully #2 above appeases him this month.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Things I've Learned While Planning: 7 Months To Go
For one reason or another, the 7 months-and-counting mark is the first one I've hit where I feel like I've turned the corner and can see the wedding at the end of the tunnel. Sure, there's still plenty of time and lots to do before the wedding is actually here, but for the first time it doesn't seem like it's really that far away. Anyway, here's what I've learned since last time.
1. I've officially become one of those crazy people you're usually stuck behind at the register at Michael's. You know, the one with a zillion coupons who asks for a price check on a $1 item because she swore the sign said it was half off. Yup, that's me.
2. As my Etsy bill continues to grow at a steady pace, I can see that I'm a custom order kind of girl. How do I know this? Well, I haven't yet ordered anything "off the rack."
3. My parents have become slightly obsessed with the topic of airport-to-hotel transportation.
4. If I lived closer to NYC, I would be in the Paper Presentation store alot. Like, multiple times per week. I'm sure the shop workers are appreciative of the 90 or so miles separating me from them.
5. Just when I thought I was done dealing with flighty catering people...enter the bridal shower venue search.
6. I should just download our first dance song as my ringtone, because when people ask what it is, most don't recognize it right off the bat. And for the sake of all involved, I don't want to just bust out in a completely off-tune rendition.
7. My mini hot glue gun had a life span of 16 years. (What, doesn't everyone get their first one when she's in 6th grade?)
Until we meet again (at 6 months to go!)...remember to keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. {I don't know, I feel like I need a cool send off like Casey Kasem, haha.}
1. I've officially become one of those crazy people you're usually stuck behind at the register at Michael's. You know, the one with a zillion coupons who asks for a price check on a $1 item because she swore the sign said it was half off. Yup, that's me.
2. As my Etsy bill continues to grow at a steady pace, I can see that I'm a custom order kind of girl. How do I know this? Well, I haven't yet ordered anything "off the rack."
3. My parents have become slightly obsessed with the topic of airport-to-hotel transportation.
4. If I lived closer to NYC, I would be in the Paper Presentation store alot. Like, multiple times per week. I'm sure the shop workers are appreciative of the 90 or so miles separating me from them.
5. Just when I thought I was done dealing with flighty catering people...enter the bridal shower venue search.
6. I should just download our first dance song as my ringtone, because when people ask what it is, most don't recognize it right off the bat. And for the sake of all involved, I don't want to just bust out in a completely off-tune rendition.
7. My mini hot glue gun had a life span of 16 years. (What, doesn't everyone get their first one when she's in 6th grade?)
Until we meet again (at 6 months to go!)...remember to keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. {I don't know, I feel like I need a cool send off like Casey Kasem, haha.}
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Things I've Learned While Planning: 8 Months To Go
Eight months 'til "I Do," and the milestone I had set for this one has been hit: save-the-dates have been sent. Success! Below are thoughts on the std's, and other tidbits of knowledge I've gained in the last month of wedding planning wonderment.
1. The terms 'place setting' and 'stand mixer' are not part of a guy's vocabulary. This I should've already known.
2. The post office only offers one postcard-priced stamp, and it has a polar bear on it. Shocked that ol' reliable USPS doesn't offer more variety here and even more shocked that I somehow missed the message boards where brides are GOING OFF about this. Don't mess with a bride and her postage. Yikes.
3. I'm oddly comforted by the fact that at-home printers are still just as temperamental now as they were when I used to rely on them back in high school.
4. It looks like I will end up changing my mind on bridesmaids' gifts at least 20 times before I finally settle on something. I'm a very decisive person, but there are just too many cute options out there.
5. Those scanning guns that stores give you when you set up your registry are way heavier than they look. I should've done extensive weight training in order to prepare.
6. It's difficult to determine the right amount to pay for the services of a horse. Absolutely no previous knowledge on this one. (Note: we are having a traditional Indian groom's entrance to kick off the wedding, so yes, I am currently horse hunting).
7. The easiest way to get melted wax/candle remnants out of glass holders is to pop those bad boys in the freezer for a few minutes. The cold makes them come right out without much effort at all. Big thanks to my fellow Belle for sharing this tip before I wasted hours of my life on this task.
8. My idle save the date-addressing mind tends to fill with thoughts of Seinfeld. Sure, I'm not licking the stamps (thank goodness) and the same goes for envelopes, but I still think of Susan and the fate that cheap envelope adhesive brings her. If you're not familiar with anything I'm talking about...well then you just don't watch enough Seinfeld.
9. Our 'do not play' list is definitely longer than our 'must play' list. Gotta work on this one.
1. The terms 'place setting' and 'stand mixer' are not part of a guy's vocabulary. This I should've already known.
2. The post office only offers one postcard-priced stamp, and it has a polar bear on it. Shocked that ol' reliable USPS doesn't offer more variety here and even more shocked that I somehow missed the message boards where brides are GOING OFF about this. Don't mess with a bride and her postage. Yikes.
3. I'm oddly comforted by the fact that at-home printers are still just as temperamental now as they were when I used to rely on them back in high school.
4. It looks like I will end up changing my mind on bridesmaids' gifts at least 20 times before I finally settle on something. I'm a very decisive person, but there are just too many cute options out there.
5. Those scanning guns that stores give you when you set up your registry are way heavier than they look. I should've done extensive weight training in order to prepare.
6. It's difficult to determine the right amount to pay for the services of a horse. Absolutely no previous knowledge on this one. (Note: we are having a traditional Indian groom's entrance to kick off the wedding, so yes, I am currently horse hunting).
7. The easiest way to get melted wax/candle remnants out of glass holders is to pop those bad boys in the freezer for a few minutes. The cold makes them come right out without much effort at all. Big thanks to my fellow Belle for sharing this tip before I wasted hours of my life on this task.
8. My idle save the date-addressing mind tends to fill with thoughts of Seinfeld. Sure, I'm not licking the stamps (thank goodness) and the same goes for envelopes, but I still think of Susan and the fate that cheap envelope adhesive brings her. If you're not familiar with anything I'm talking about...well then you just don't watch enough Seinfeld.
9. Our 'do not play' list is definitely longer than our 'must play' list. Gotta work on this one.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Things I've Learned While Planning: 9 Months To Go
Another page torn off the calendar means it's another month closer to the wedding. Here's what I've learned since last time.
1. I only need an hour to shop for a wedding dress.
2. Now that I've become part of the custom order Etsy community, I find myself thinking up the most random items, just to see what the sellers on there can create.
3. Researching honeymoon locations has been the undeniable best part of planning the wedding. And that's not even really part of the wedding. But Greek island getaways will always trump organizing address lists. That's just that.
4. There's something inside me that feels the need to set up vendor meetings at coffee shops, even though I don't drink coffee.
5. I have a love/hate relationship with Photoshop. Love it because it seems to let me do what I want in terms of layout and design, but hate it because I don't know it well enough to use it very easily or quickly.
6. I looked at more wedding magazines before I was engaged (professional wedding planning research!) than I do now that I am engaged.
7. It IS possible to find a DJ who doesn't want us blinded by a laser light show or engulfed in fog. Isn't playing good music enough anymore??
8. Vistaprint continues to please as my go-to quick printing source. (Yes, we printed our save the date postcards through them...more to come once we send those out to our guests.)
9. Floor length A-line dresses are not flattering on me. When trying this style on, I looked very much like I was wearing a colonial era nightgown.
10. In the epic battle between clothes and crafts going on right now in my one closet, crafts are starting to win. Seriously, my clothes are starting to suffocate under bags and bags of craftiness from Michael's.
Alright, that's it for now. Be sure to check in next month for my latest pearls of wedding planning wisdom, and in the meantime stop back to see what else we're working on here on the blog...!
1. I only need an hour to shop for a wedding dress.
2. Now that I've become part of the custom order Etsy community, I find myself thinking up the most random items, just to see what the sellers on there can create.
3. Researching honeymoon locations has been the undeniable best part of planning the wedding. And that's not even really part of the wedding. But Greek island getaways will always trump organizing address lists. That's just that.
4. There's something inside me that feels the need to set up vendor meetings at coffee shops, even though I don't drink coffee.
5. I have a love/hate relationship with Photoshop. Love it because it seems to let me do what I want in terms of layout and design, but hate it because I don't know it well enough to use it very easily or quickly.
6. I looked at more wedding magazines before I was engaged (professional wedding planning research!) than I do now that I am engaged.
7. It IS possible to find a DJ who doesn't want us blinded by a laser light show or engulfed in fog. Isn't playing good music enough anymore??
8. Vistaprint continues to please as my go-to quick printing source. (Yes, we printed our save the date postcards through them...more to come once we send those out to our guests.)
9. Floor length A-line dresses are not flattering on me. When trying this style on, I looked very much like I was wearing a colonial era nightgown.
10. In the epic battle between clothes and crafts going on right now in my one closet, crafts are starting to win. Seriously, my clothes are starting to suffocate under bags and bags of craftiness from Michael's.
Alright, that's it for now. Be sure to check in next month for my latest pearls of wedding planning wisdom, and in the meantime stop back to see what else we're working on here on the blog...!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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!
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