Weddingbee Blog

Some time ago, over a small feast at my favorite Greek restaurant, I asked one of my oldest friends how his wedding planning was going. A thoughtful look crossed his face as he swallowed a bite of gyro. “You know,” he said, “I think planning a wedding is possibly the worst way I can think of to start a marriage.”

Like the insufferable know-it-all that I am, I took this opportunity to climb up on my high horse and gallop around the whole restaurant. You should have heard me. I was all, “Well, having a bad attitude about it doesn’t help…” and “Try to enjoy this time; it’s the only time you’ll ever be engaged!”

It’s not the only time I’ve gently chastised people who are engaged and grumbling. Now I am gobbling up my words, and they do not taste nearly as good as Mediterranean cuisine.

I thought we got away with all the stress people complain about by having a long engagement. At first, I was like…oh yes. We are so clever. When asked about the planning process, I’d give a trilling laugh—Oh that. Total breeze. Everyone should have a long engagement.

People, I am here to tell you: no matter how long you are engaged, you cannot avoid the crunch time before the wedding.

Unless you are somehow genetically engineered to be impervious to stress / adrenaline / vendor phone calls, etc. …it shall come. Whether it comes at month 13 out of 17 (me) or month 3 out of 6…it shall come. That’s when people really start asking logistical questions for which you largely do not have responses, when you realize the few details you have completely overlooked, and generally wonder how this whole thing is really going to shake out. Even for a relatively low maintenance fete like ours: it’s a lot of work on top of everyday life.

So true confessions? I’m embarrassed at how excited I am for the day after our wedding. I mean, I’m a wedding blogger. Shouldn’t I be clinging to these last days of planning? Nnnnope.

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve really enjoyed much of the process. It has been a lovely season of my life, but I feel the pull these days, the deep desire for the post-wedding stage of life. I’ve had my engagement; I’ve planned my plans. I’m half-past ready for my husband, my big party, and the rest of my life. Shutting my eye tightly, I can imagine my house with no wedding clutter. And y’all? It looks good.

So you know what? I’m GLAD I feel this way. I’m ready to burst out the gates with new challenges to conquer, some exciting career goals, and adventures with Mr. PD waiting on the horizon. Here we come, married life. We’ll probably still eat brownies for breakfast and do our grocery shopping at midnight, and it’s going to be so great.

Anyone else looking forward to their wedding day and the day after?