I'm still alive...barely

So it's been a while.

I know, I know...when you commit to blogging, you've got to actually blog. And I'm committed I assure you. But you know how it goes...I was out of town one weekend, and going crazy the week before trying to get ready to go out of town, and then trying to catch up after being out of town, etc.

Where did I go you ask? To Boston and Maine for one of my best friends' weddings. The ceremony was on the coast of Maine (literally) over-looking the ocean. It was gorgeous, and so was my friend.

Now, it's funny how this happens (actually maybe not "funny" per se) but planning your own wedding makes you that much more aware of details at other people's weddings. For example, I would have never noticed how much time was spent making sure everyone had rides to and from places if I wasn't thinking in my head, Crap! That's something I'm going to have to spend a lot of time thinking about! And who knew that wearing a button down shirt would make it so much easier to change into your wedding dress after hair and makeup? I do now...

I almost feel like I cheated because now I know what to do better than I was planning on doing it. (I suppose I could have also learned what not to do, but there wasn't anything about her wedding that I wouldn't do...so it was a very positive learning experience.)

The only bad thing is that now I really have to get cracking on my wedding.

Tip: If you want to order designer bridesmaid dresses, make sure you do that at least 11-17 weeks before you need them. (Now, if you're nervous because your wedding is 14 weeks away and you don't want to risk the dresses not being there and your mom is mad because you should have done this earlier and you want them to fit your sisters and future sister-in-law well and yet still all look different but be the same color and made out of the same fabric, JCrew has some very pretty dresses from which you can pick and choose between styles and colors. Plus they deliver within a few weeks and you can return in-store...)

Tip: Pick some post-wedding thank you card stationary early. And believe me. Your fiance does not care about what the typographed initial on his note cards looks like. But your mom does. So go ahead and make the decision for him, only telling him how much your mom has thought about it if he needs a good laugh.

Tip: Don't wait until 3.5 months before the wedding to schedule all the wedding showers and bachelorette parties that different people are throwing you. There will not be enough weekends to go to them all, and to go down to Austin for food tasting, and to go down to Houston for dress fittings, etc.

Tip: Think about the wedding rings at some point before the wedding. Then, don't just think about them. Schedule a trip to the jewelers to go and GET THEM.

Tip: At some point, don't forget to buy plane tickets for your honeymoon, pick hotels for your guests to stay in, finalize flower orders, get all the addresses for invitations to various things, schedule run-through with your hairstylist and make-up person, and buy a wedding present for your beloved.

Oh, and keep going to pilates. Because nothing soothes you more when you're stressed than a large pepperoni, jalapeno, and pineapple pizza from Papa Johns and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia while you sit on your couch watching Legally Blonde, and you're not going to want to deal with that come November.

So, yes. Three and a half months to go...and I'm not any where close to being ready.

Tip: At crucial moments, stop and remember why you're doing this, drop everything and go watch a romatic comedy with your fiance. Share popcorn and a drink. Hold hands as you walk back to the car. Sigh. Smile. And take it one day at a time.

You're gonna make it, love. You're gonna make it.