Have you read A Practical Wedding? Because it truly is amazing. And oh-so relevant to planning a real wedding in this day and age — straight talk, no bs, no long list of must-haves. I wish I had read it before this journey began. I’m not sure I would have done anything differently… but I might have found a little comfort in its honesty.
Then again, maybe now is the perfect time to read this book. This morning I laughed out loud while reading Kayce Hazelgrove’s “The Six Stages of Wedding Planning,” including #1. Euphoria: “Squeee,” #2. Discovery: “Ooooh, pretty,” #3. Panic: “How the hell?,” #4. Outrage/Depression: “What the eff,” “Eff me,” and #5. Rebellion: “Eff it.” In this fifth stage, “It is not uncommon to find yourself telling overzealous friends and family where to stick their ‘helpful suggestions.'”
Recently, I’ve found myself floating somewhere in between numbers four and five, feeling like a crazy person and a little alone in my insanity. My groom has an uncanny ability to be calm approximately 99.8 percent of the time… so that feeling that there might be a crazy person lurking somewhere in the house is particularly prominent when I’m off my rocker.
Thankfully, after breaking down a little, I was promptly reminded by a few fantastic friends that it would all be okay… my feelings were normal and my day would be beautiful. Sometimes, in the midst of a breakdown, all you need is to be told.
The stages end in #6: Zen: “It is what it is.”
Having progressed through the other five stages, you are left with a feeling of having done all you could do. Calmness sets in. You accept that things will go wrong but understand that they won’t take away from the beauty of the day. This stage is often followed by the drinking of copious amounts of alcohol and the shaking of your bottom.
It’s not that this concept is a foreign one. It’s the same reassurance my friends and family have steeped upon me in the past few weeks… but it’s good to hear, to have that reassurance that what you’re going through is normal and in the end, it will all be okay.
If you haven’t read the book, get it now… I’m loving it like crazy this week, along with these few other things…
Speaking of APW, I also love spreadsheets.
This lovely dahlia arrangement.
Everything about this awesome wedding, Part 1 and Part 2.
A letter from Johnny to June.
The gorgeous bridal shots, the morning of.
Things to worry about.
Valentines Day… which was perfect for a million reasons, including the amazing meal we had here.
Photo: Tec Petaja
