When you get engaged, everyone will ask/tell you two things..
1. “When is the wedding??”
Followed by…
2. “Oh, honey, it’ll be here before you know it!”
If only we had a dollar for every time we heard those words.. Our wedding budget probably could have doubled!
But, really, from the day Blake proposed, everyone told me engaged life would fly by. Let me start by saying: we had an 11 month engagement. If you’re from Texas, that is basically a lifetime. If you’re from California, you’re probably wondering what’s the hurry?
It makes me laugh when I think about the major difference in cultures and ways of life, just 1,500 miles apart. I immediately picked up on the fact that good ol’ Texas folks don’t waste any time. From my experience, a long engagement, here, would be 6-8 months. But, having been born and raised in Cali, I’m used to engagements that last years (yes, often times, plural). I think this is partly due to the fact that venues/vendors are booked out so far in advance, not always by choice. In mine and Blake’s case, 11 months was a happy medium. Although, in both of our opinions, it was still a little long ;)
In the first few months of engagement, I was so excited to plan, celebrate, and plan some more. Let me also point out that I was planning a California wedding, while living in the state of Texas, which presents a unique set of challenges in itself. Months 1-4 were busy and involved a lot of research, contacting venues and vendors, traveling to and from CA, and event planning. Then, there was a lull, which was a much needed and well-earned break from everything relating to the wedding.
Luckily, my girl, Lauren, came in to save the day (AKA wedding) about halfway through the planning process. If you’re newly engaged and looking for assistance with the planning process, take a peak at Lauren’s services. She is AWESOME. I have complete faith in her abilities, judgement, and skills, which is such a relief. Lauren’s website is laurenmanitta.com. I highly recommend making room in the wedding budget and hiring a coordinator. You will thank me later, I promise.
Fast forward to month 9 and the wedding to-do’s swept me off my feet once more. I’d check off an array of to-do’s just before another bunch of tasks were added on. From decor items to guest lists and seating charts to coordinating with vendors, it was a whirlwind. I can happily say that, with 50 days to go, the checklist is dwindling down and I can catch my breath, again.
All this to say, engaged life is so short and temporary. It really does fly by. It feels like just yesterday when Blake and I were at the 100-day mark. So, if you’re currently living the engaged life or will be entering into this exciting season soon, enjoy it! You will only be engaged once (or that’s the idea). Make the most of it and soak it in. Every event, detail, and moment of preparation.
While I try (real hard) to practice what I preach, I’m also very ready for the arrival of August 18th. But, speaking from experience now, it will be here before I know it!
