And a sigh of relief.....

My last entry- "Nervous..." has been resolved- at least for now.  The individual who I struggled with how to deal with has turned a corner (much to my relief!)  We really don't need drama in wedding planning- it's supposed to be such a happy and exciting time!  Could everyone please keep their fingers crossed and pray that we don't back pedal??!! 

Nervous....

I've been really nervous about getting everything ready for the big day- it's been affecting how much I've been writing.  To be clear- I'm not nervous about getting married- I'm nervous about everything coming together, everything being taken care of, all the T's crossed and all the I's dotted....

There are so many expectations of what the big day should look like, what should be included- that it's tough.  You start to feel like if you cut a corner or leave something out or don't get the top of the line whatever-it-is you're going to disappoint someone.  My fiance and I have come to terms with not being able to have the biggest most elaborate wedding reception EVER.  At the end of the day,  I end up worrying that what isn't as important to us will wreak havoc on us from the external forces- which we have no control over. 

I'm constantly reminding myself that it's about what we want and what we are comfortable with.  It becomes difficult though with all of the wedding hype, the expectations- of what "HAS TO BE". 

I've started to become concerned, that while I don't feel like a Bridezilla, others that I interact with may shy away if there are too many cooks in the kitchen.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?  What did you do?  I've tried to talk to the individual but my attempts to talk reasonably seem to go unheard. *SIGH*

I read the book that I included above- it's a lot about how the big white wedding wasn't a big white wedding until after World War II.  Reading this book helped to keep me grounded and focused on the why of the big day- instead of the what and how much and can we push the envelope and the budget over the edge?

I can't justify spending outside of our means, and I can't justify spending money that is "anticipated".

My worst fear- above all others- is that if we do outdo ourselves (and our bank accounts!)  is that we won't be able to pay the balance of things when they are due.  A meal promised to attendees.... will end up with no food at all.  To me, that would be the most embarassing thing- to have said "yes we can" when no... no we couldn't....

Bridal Center.. new name new location...

Bridal Center.. I mean Diamond Bride... I mean....

Bridal Center has a new name and new location.  I haven't been there- but I received their postcard in the mail alerting me to their new location and name.  They have a press release with all the details.

I can't help but wonder... can you put lipstick on a pig?   My mom compaired the shop to "Ma and Pa Kettle"

The photos of the new store, on their website, look nice.  The lady who worked with me when I visited is not shown in the staff photo. 

While I had a less than satisfying experience at Bridal Center- 41 years in business doesn't just happen in the formal wear business.  Hopefully the changes are for the better.

Royal wedding: What will Kate Middleton wear????

With the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton so close to my own (just 1 month prior)-- I couldn't help but wonder.  What will the future princess wear???  There's so much speculation- will it be Bruce Oldfield?  Karl Lagerfeld? Vera Wang?  Elizabeth Emanuel designed Princess Diana's wedding gown with all of it's yards upon yards of fabric, big pouf sleeves, and a viel that wouldn't end. 

I imagine Kate in something much like what I have chosen- which is similar to that of Carolyn Besset Kennedy. Simple yet elegant, modern yet flowing.

We'll see!

I do have this secret fear that somehow she will have chosen the same dress I have.... even though her family is reportedly very well off (did you hear they want to help pay for Kate and William's wedding?)

What kind of dress do you think Kate will wear?

A Day off of work...

Tomorrow is MLK Day. No work- which is nice.  My fiance and I are hoping to spend some time together.  Our day care lady is open and we're hoping to get some school work done (him), house work (me) and maybe a mid-day date and wedding prep.  I made a wedding registry for us on the Crate and Barrel website over a year ago- they were having a $100,000 wedding sweepstakes and one of the caveats was that you had to have a crate and barrel wedding registry.  They do have great stuff- very clean and modern, to more traditional pieces.  Since it's been so long since we registered initially- many of those items may no longer be available.  So that is on our to-do list (along with so many OTHER things).  It seems like an easier task to accomplish given it's a holiday and we can just walk-in without an appointment. 

Life with kids is crazy.  It's so busy as it is- that planning a wedding on top of our plentiful day-to-day activities- I feel like many tasks get put aside (which makes me nervous).

I'm very fortunate though- I have great family and friends in my life who are supportive and let me know, when I'm not so sure about things, that everything will come together and it will be special.