Wedding Blog
Mr. Deviled Egg and I just passed the 7-month-to-go mark. Every time we reach one of these monthly milestones, I get an email from various planning sites I’ve subscribed to since our engagement reminding me of how much time is left and what they think needs to be done at this stage in our planning.
Email from The Knot
I log onto these sites only to find out that I’m behind on many aspects of the wedding plans according to their to-do lists, count-down charts and calendars.
I rebel against their suggestions to tackle tasks at the predetermined, ideal times. I have no shame in skipping forward to months ahead to work on, and check off, some of the tasks I find more enjoyable. Worse, I’ve completely ignored their warnings at 8 month-to-go point to sign contracts with a DJ and at 12 months to book our officiant. And it looks like I should have also taken care of bridesmaid dresses, booked ceremony musicians, registered for gifts and announced our engagement in the local paper already. The box next to these items remains blank as they continue to be a part of the growing list of tasks to complete. Make that 184 tasks, thanks to The Knot’s calculations.
Sometimes I fear that The Knot will add a box followed by “Admit you are behind in your planning” to the check list. These sites do have a way of scaring you into action, don’t they?
But let’s see what we do have. Rings? Check! Date? Check! Location? Dress? Caterer? Photographer? Check-ity, check, check check! Groom? (If he’s still willing to marry me and my procrastinating ways) Check! Panic? Nope! At least not yet, anyway.
Yes, I would have liked to have had some of the “must do” items already off the list, but I still feel like I have plenty of time. Sometimes I just look at those lists and think “Do I really need to have all of these things checked off this far out?” I’m sure the weight of it all will hit me sooner or later, but for now, I’m content with following my own plan of attack, which is to work on what I want, when I want.
Is anyone else out there not following the check lists provided for brides-to-be in every wedding magazine or planning Web site? Are any of these lists also making you feel like a slacker bride?
|
Share this post: Check List Rebellion
Amen sista, I am right with you!! 
So true! While useful, I think the wedding planning checklists can be more stressful than helpful! It will all get done, it always does!
I am so glad you posted about this, because I’ve been debating writing about how behind I feel when I read wedding blogs and notice that other brides have done so much more than I have — and our wedding dates are in the same month! My excuse is that because our shindig is at home, I have more time… but I’m not sure that’s true. I think I’m just a procrastinator. Anyway, thanks for being honest about this. It makes me feel better.
Hallelujah! I just received my 7 month update from theknot and I could almost hear Carly and the gang shaking their fingers at me shamefully! Hooray for gettin’ stuff done when YOU have time to do it, not when someone else says you MUST do it.
I definitely don’t worry about that Knot checklist as much of it does not apply to us since we are not really having a wedding party. Plus in general, while it is helpful, I think The Knot can be somewhat evil. It’s kind of like this weird wedding vortex trying to suck you in. At the same time, I do like the list because it is thorough. I think what freaks me out more is reading some of board there with brides who have all of these things done. They’ve literally planned their entire wedding in a month! Oh well! I try to remember that it’s not a race and that my wedding will be fine regardless.
i wonder what the knot does when someone registers who only has like, a two month engagement. do they send out a MASSIVE email of tasks that have already been missed? does the checklist function spontaneously combust?
I have been ignoring my Martha Stewart checklist items for about 2 months. According to Martha, I’m behind on like 20 tasks. Phooey to her.
I only used these lists to create a new list of my own on Remember the Milk, where I was able to set my own deadlines and redefine the tasks as I saw fit. I thought it worked much better for me.
Wha-what?? You should be done registering? In my (limited) experience, the farther out you register, the bigger the chance that one of your stores will stop carrying something you signed up for. I still have about 9 months to go, but I’m planning on registering for stuff about a month before each wedding “event” - bridal shower, Christmas (okay, not wedding related, but a good way to avoid getting another reindeer sweater from Aunt Lisa) - and then finishing the main registry about 2.5-3 months out. Is that psycho of me? I just don’t want to fall in love with the lemon zester of my dreams, only to find out that Macy’s decided to drop it!
Yep, feel like a slacker. Haven’t registered, haven’t sent out the save the dates (but Mr. Taffy has sent his out, eep!), haven’t blocked out hotels, haven’t picked a honeymoon location… eeesh.
So who does follow these lists?! There must be a legion of silent yet efficient brides-to-be lurking out there. I am not one of them, and being a procrastinator, will not start to be one in the next year before our wedding. I agree the lists are useful in making sure you don’t forget anything, but personally I re-prioritize them based on what’s most important to me down to least - that way even if I run out of steam, the bare essentials will be finished. Also why we went (window) shopping for wedding rings a month after our engagement - I didn’t want to get halfway into planning then realize my dream ring blew the budget because I spent $2k on flowers!
I think you’re right on with this! I’ve jumped ahead with a few things, but I’m also way behind on some others! I think these lists are out there to scare you into booking everything that’s absolutely (un)necessary for weddings. In my opinion weddings should be a reflection of the bride and groom - not what wedding conglomerations tell you it should be! A friend of mine planned a wedding in 6 months and another in 2 years (we are taking the “one year ahead” route). Both of their weddings were wonderful and I don’t think they would have changed a thing! Planning should be at your own pace, not the Knot’s!!
Sometimes I feel like a total slacker compared to my overly organized fiancé. I just want to do the fun stuff, who needs contracts and check lists when there are flower arrangements to be made, and jewelry to be bought! Thank god I have him to keep me in line. The only thing that gets me is, when we call a vendor to set up an appointment or get information they all say, “Don’t worry you have plenty of time.” The wedding is 7 months away, and according to the checklist I am 3 months behind! Is there any way to make a year just a bit longer for us procrastinator brides to be?
deep breaths, you are totally fine! I am doing my whole thing in 6 mos (7 if you count my “jump start” planning) while working full time and getting a weekend masters, and I only have 3.5 mos left, but I just simplify things if they stress me out, such as doing most of the printing ourselves & having an “invite assembly party” with friends, rather than losing sleep crafting & resenting my DIY projects
| Visit our sister sites | Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Fertile Thoughts Infertility Support |
Mrs. Deviled Egg, Pittsburgh
Age and Occupation: 27, Public Relations
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Accounting
Engagement Date: December 24, 2007
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: October 21, 2008
Venue: Historic auditorium and meeting hall in one of Pittsburgh's commuter cities
About Me: I am obsessed with all things crafty, especially scrapbooking, knitting, jewelry-making & cake decorating. I also love being an aunt, wrapping presents, watching football (Go Steelers!), shopping at yard sales and consignment stores, procrastinating, singing and learning to play the guitar. When it comes to wedding planning, I'm excited about working on DIY projects and finding creative ways to stay under budget. Of course, nothing is more exciting to me than knowing that the wonderful Mr. Deviled Egg will be my husband.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
Latest Gallery Pics