We are gathered here today

We are gathered here today to…….?

From proposal to honeymoon your story is unique. There are countless decisions to be made in a limited amount of time. Set a date, make a guest list, find a reception venue, chose the wedding party, pick a dress, pick your friends dresses, will there be guests favors, what should be bought for Bridal party gifts, who’s the photographer, what about a band instead of a Sound system, a violinist or a Harpist the list goes on and on and on and on and on!!! The budget, if you set one, is in jeopardy of approaching national debt levels. Everything seems to be spinning out of control.

Stop, Step back, Breathe and keep it in perspective, Prioritize and don’t lose focus of the true mission, the point of it all, the reason you are doing this, the final goal……. You are getting married! Embrace the meaning of marriage, remember why you asked or why you said yes to get married, create your memories, look forward to your future together.

With everything that needs to be done don’t allow it to diminish the real reason for the celebration. All the choices you will be making together as a couple are made to create that magical day to leave a lasting impression on you and your guests. Without losing yourself in the whirlwind of wedding planning, surrender to it and enjoy it knowing that the purpose of it all is to express your love, commitment and trust to each other with all your loved ones as witness to this special occasion.

It’s normal to be excited and worried about the seemingly never ending list of obstacles to overcome. Surround yourself with family & friends who have your best interest at heart, hire professionals who are willing to listen to your vision and above all “To thine own self be true”.

Wedding Planning Stress

Wedding Planning Stress 

Stress:  a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.

One of our favorite questions to ask a newly engaged couple and parents of the Bride & Groom; on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being a walk in the park and 10 it’s time to elope, what are your expectations of  the planning process for the wedding? It is not always the answers we receive that are the most telling, often times it is the body signals of the person not answering in response to the person answering that tells us the stress level of the guests we are assisting.

Regardless of what you are anticipating this process to be like there are two core principles you should remind yourself of everyday.

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       Good Stress is still Stress!

·         The planning process is supposed to be FUN!!!

Good Stress is Still Stress! How we each handle stress is as unique as we are as individuals. Use your own best stress relieving techniques when needed, eliminate stress when you can and when it should be someone else’s stress let it be their stress not yours.

The planning process is supposed to be fun! Most, in the beginning phases will see this as easier said than done. There should be a methodical order to planning your wedding and this often times will rely on utilizing the expertise of the professionals you will be hiring. Many of the topics in past blogs have dealt with the same issues that impact the enjoyment you will or will not have planning your wedding.

Hiring quality, established, experience professionals is critical. These individuals will be the ones who provide you with information and answers to questions before you ask the questions. It is in the best interest of any qualified wedding vendor to be two steps ahead of their clients. Anticipating questions and concerns will more likely lead to a more fulfilled vision that a couple has for their wedding day. If you have to be the one always asking the questions it could be an indication that you have more knowledge about that particular service than the person you are interviewing. You may want to move along to someone else if that is the case.

Like your professionals! Seems pretty simple, but many couples are swayed into purchasing goods or services based solely on recommendations, prices, or reputation. These are critical to take into consideration when  hiring a company but you still have to enjoy working with the person providing the services to fully enjoy the final results. Personalities sometimes clash and it doesn’t mean that the vendor you are considering is poor quality but it does mean that you should consider other options.

Do it your way! The path that you and your fiancé have traveled to get to this point and time is unique exclusively to the two of you. Your wedding reception should be reflective of that uniqueness. The event planner you will be working with should be asking questions, listening to your dreams and molding an event to perfectly fit you.

The many months following the proposal will be filled with compromises, decisions and commitments as you begin to plan your new lives together. This life enriching experience, when done well, will provide volumes of cherished memories for you both to enjoy as you grow old together.