Time to Get Serious

Okay... so, in my very first blog entry I fessed up about my ultimate goal with this blog, to perhaps be lucky enough to be worthy of blogging on one of my favorite wedding websites EVER.

Buzz...

If I don't start putting all of my thoughts into blog form, I won't even be able to apply, so here I am!  I've neglected to post as often as I'd like to, so I'm modifying my new years resolutions to include BLOG MORE!  I even have a list going of topics I want to touch on... so at least I'm organized!

The above photo is one of the first images that came up in my Google Image search of "time to get serious" by the way.  Among the random images generated-- a few save the date photos, a wedding dress, and some rockin' bridal heels, so CLEARLY I'm not alone here... :)  

Anyone else dedicate time to a wedding blog while planning the big day?  Do you keep it on the DL or do your friends/family know?

The Year of the Wedding

Well helloooooooo 2012!!

2011 was a great year in so many ways... but 2012 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable years on the books, namely because we'll vow "to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, until death to us part" in front of our closest friends and family come October.  We've been engaged since June, so it feels great to actually be in "The Year of the Wedding" and I hope that means planning will kick into high gear.  We're making decent progress so far...

• Budget plan outlined (...still saving... and saving...)
• Rough guest list going (...so hard to figure out that A/B column)
• Church/officiant reserved (...he's very close to my fiance's family)
• Reception venue secured (...it's seriously amazing and sets the whole tone)
• Caterer contract signed (...a bit expensive, but is a package deal with the venue)
• Bridal party selected (...3 of 10 are out of state)
• Wedding dress found (...it's magical)
• Photographer contract signed (...we can't wait to work with her)

... but there is still SO much to do!

All bundled up to ring in the New Year!  Last photo of 2011 <3

At the time, I thought with such a long engagement it would feel like FOREVER before the big day finally arrived, but I'm already realizing how grateful I am for the extra time to make it all happen.  We need it!  I know the next 9 months will fly by, so here are a few of my 2012 resolutions:

• Remain focused on wedding plans and continue to chip away at them with a bit more tenacity
• Be more confident with the decisions we make & try not to second guess everything
• Get our wedding website up and ready to go
• Stay committed to eating right & making exercise a priority (...maybe I could lose that last 20lbs)
• Follow through and get some non-wedding related projects done, like organizing our apartment and clearing away the clutter (... this is a big one, as 2012 could bring about a move too)

I could go on, but perhaps putting just a few things out into cyberspace will help hold me accountable.  How is your own wedding planning going?  Does the to-do list dominate YOUR 2012 resolution list?  Here's to a great new year for all of us, especially those now in our wedding year! *cheers*

Allow myself to introduce... myself

Yea, that's right.... I quoted Austin Powers in the first 5 words of my new blog.  I couldn't resist... :)

As you've probably already guessed... I'm a blushing bride!  We've been engaged since June 4th, so about 4 months now... and we'll be getting married in October 2012, so just 11 months left to make it all happen!  Somewhere between researching for my own wedding and drooling over everyone else's... I fell in love with a site called Weddingbee.  The bloggers are down-to-earth brides going through the same phases as I am or newly wedded Mrs's sharing the details about their big day and I just LOVE the whole web-based community.

That being said... my motivation behind this personal blog, is to perhaps have a chance to be part of the hive.  So there you go, my ulterior motive!!  Honesty IS the best policy, right!?  Though that's the ultimate goal... along the way, I aim to document the highs and lows of the planning process with full honesty.  Honesty with myself and with my audience, though they'll intentionally remain unknown.  I want to be able to talk about the dress and the details of the day without my closest friends or Aunt Bertha or my co-workers knowing my inner most thoughts.  I want the majority of our guests to be left in the dark until that day... so they're seeing each personal detail we've added for the very first time.

So, reader... if you're even there... buckle your seat belt and join me for the ride of a lifetime!