So, I realize that I plan meetings and events for a living, so you would think that I would be a lot more motivated to plan my own wedding. But sadly, I am not. Mainly, because in my professional life, I get to spend other people's money (about 800,000 of them) and while (given the times) I am doing so much more frugally than I ever have, it still is not my money.
For example, today at worked I looked into renting classroom style tables and linens, instead of using the bigger tables that we have in inventory at our office, so that we could create a little more room in our meeting space for a large function we have coming up. almost $400 late, no big deal...but facing that figure (even that small) for my own wedding is daunting. BTW, we decided to rethink the plan and decided not to rent the tables, something I would have laughed at a year ago as we would have rented them on the spot.
I believe part of my issue is that I know what can be done and want it to be to that extreme. But, I do not want to go into debt...take that back, a lot of debt, to get married (unfortunately, the debt may be unavoidable. I really would be happy to drive down to the city county building and be done with it. Since that is the most important part of this whole process...the marriage, not the wedding.
So, it looks like it is going to be early November, but that is still in question. We have not settled on a location, but the largest percentage seems to be here in Indianapolis, closely followed by Coastal New England and Vegas.
I never thought I would be sentimental about getting married in my hometown, but as we have discussed more and more I find that I am more and more sentimental about it. Mainly, because I want our friends to all be included. We know that our families will travel whereever we go, but our friends have become a such a big part of our lives that I would hate for them not to be there.
There are some distince advantages to getting married later in life..though. When you are in your 20's (and your parents are the main financial source), you want to invite everyone and your parents everyone. We find ourselves limiting to only our really close friends and family (although, an Indy location would make the number a little bit bigger), sometimes probably being too picky.
So, now you see the whole avoidance issue. But, it is my goal to at least by the end of the week (or the end of our vacation) to have all of the numbers put together, have a date and a pretty good idea of where within the location it will be.
In the end, whether small or smaller, I know that at the end of the day it will be memorable, but getting there is the hard part!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Story
As many of you know, Nick and I were engaged over the weekend, so I thought that I would share our story, not only of our engagement but our journey together.
Flash back to the winter/spring of 2006 - We officially met in a bar, but really got to know each other through emails and im'ing. With that, I finally agreed to go out with him on March 17, 2006. We tried a couple of Irish Bars, but ultimately ended up at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritville. We spent the rest of that spring and summer getting to know each other.
However, as most summers end with me, my job was beginning to get really crazy and I just didn't see our relationship going much further. So, I abruptly ended things that July, went off to Salt Lake City in August. Upon my return from Convention, I realized that something was missing and had been missing for a while. I decided to take back my life from my employer and learn to live again.
Sadie then enters the picture and I spend the next few months dealing with the trials and tribulations of new puppies.
And, then I email Nick at Christmas-time...knowing that he would be preparing to go home to New England, but was really wondering how he was and what he was doing. My intentions were innocent - I swear.
So, we spend the next couple of months talking, emailing and getting to know each other again. By the time our schedules corresponded again, St. Patrick's day 2007 was upon us once again. So, our second-first date took place a year to the date of our first. This time something clicked - and clicked pretty quickly.
By the time, July and August had rolled around we had met the parents (mine) and friends (his). As I began to prepare yet another convention adventure, I knew that this one would be different then most. I had two somethings to come home to and to miss while I was gone. Leaving that morning for Reno, was the first time I realized that I couldn't do what I do forever and Nick was not going anywhere.
I went home with him that Christmas and we began making plans to move in together that spring (after yet another crazy event that I was working on). We both knew from that point that we were headed for a lifetime commitment (Sadie agreed as well).
We have had our periods of adjustment (we still are arguing over the size of the kitchen trash can), but realize that we really are meant to be together.
Of course, we had both been questions from everyone - when are you getting engaged, when are you getting married? I learned to ignore them for the most part and knew when the time was right that it would happen.
Which brings me to my birthday this year....
I knew that he was working hard on my gift (after the fantastic 40th birthday party I threw for him...he felt a little pressure) and knew that I love musicals and theatre. He has a love for ABBA, so when he saw that Mamma Mia was playing in Bloomington shortly after another one of my crazy meetings he thought that would be a great gift.
Little did I know, he had much more planned.
March 7 was a very un-March-like day in Indiana, so we dropped the dog at my mother's and headed for Bloomington. We stopped at Oliver Winery, which has been a favorite of both of ours for a while. I told him once that is where I first realized that I loved him. As we finish our tasting and buy a bottle of wine, we headed to the deck to enjoy the fresh air and spring warmth. We finish our glasses and I decide that we need to head a little farther south to eat. Nick asked that we head down to the bridge crossing the little pond....being practical (and protective of my shoes) say that I had three inch heels on and navigating down a hill on soft ground was not something I was willing to do. So, we finally decided on the deck....standing behind me, he whispered, marry me and handed me the ring.
It was perfect - just us and not a lot of fuss. I am not even sure the people who took our picture realized.
and, as St. Patrick's Day 2009 approaches, this is where the rest of our story begins....
Flash back to the winter/spring of 2006 - We officially met in a bar, but really got to know each other through emails and im'ing. With that, I finally agreed to go out with him on March 17, 2006. We tried a couple of Irish Bars, but ultimately ended up at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritville. We spent the rest of that spring and summer getting to know each other.
However, as most summers end with me, my job was beginning to get really crazy and I just didn't see our relationship going much further. So, I abruptly ended things that July, went off to Salt Lake City in August. Upon my return from Convention, I realized that something was missing and had been missing for a while. I decided to take back my life from my employer and learn to live again.
Sadie then enters the picture and I spend the next few months dealing with the trials and tribulations of new puppies.
And, then I email Nick at Christmas-time...knowing that he would be preparing to go home to New England, but was really wondering how he was and what he was doing. My intentions were innocent - I swear.
So, we spend the next couple of months talking, emailing and getting to know each other again. By the time our schedules corresponded again, St. Patrick's day 2007 was upon us once again. So, our second-first date took place a year to the date of our first. This time something clicked - and clicked pretty quickly.
By the time, July and August had rolled around we had met the parents (mine) and friends (his). As I began to prepare yet another convention adventure, I knew that this one would be different then most. I had two somethings to come home to and to miss while I was gone. Leaving that morning for Reno, was the first time I realized that I couldn't do what I do forever and Nick was not going anywhere.
I went home with him that Christmas and we began making plans to move in together that spring (after yet another crazy event that I was working on). We both knew from that point that we were headed for a lifetime commitment (Sadie agreed as well).
We have had our periods of adjustment (we still are arguing over the size of the kitchen trash can), but realize that we really are meant to be together.
Of course, we had both been questions from everyone - when are you getting engaged, when are you getting married? I learned to ignore them for the most part and knew when the time was right that it would happen.
Which brings me to my birthday this year....
I knew that he was working hard on my gift (after the fantastic 40th birthday party I threw for him...he felt a little pressure) and knew that I love musicals and theatre. He has a love for ABBA, so when he saw that Mamma Mia was playing in Bloomington shortly after another one of my crazy meetings he thought that would be a great gift.
Little did I know, he had much more planned.
March 7 was a very un-March-like day in Indiana, so we dropped the dog at my mother's and headed for Bloomington. We stopped at Oliver Winery, which has been a favorite of both of ours for a while. I told him once that is where I first realized that I loved him. As we finish our tasting and buy a bottle of wine, we headed to the deck to enjoy the fresh air and spring warmth. We finish our glasses and I decide that we need to head a little farther south to eat. Nick asked that we head down to the bridge crossing the little pond....being practical (and protective of my shoes) say that I had three inch heels on and navigating down a hill on soft ground was not something I was willing to do. So, we finally decided on the deck....standing behind me, he whispered, marry me and handed me the ring.
It was perfect - just us and not a lot of fuss. I am not even sure the people who took our picture realized.
and, as St. Patrick's Day 2009 approaches, this is where the rest of our story begins....
Friday, March 6, 2009
The first post
So, I have been contemplating stating a blog for a while. I am not one who has ever really journaled..in fact, it was painful when I had to do it in college for a class. But, now after following several other posts, I have discovered that I need an outlet for my thoughts and feelings without always saying them to someone else.
a few things right off of the bat...
1. My laptop lacks an "a" key...so forgive me at times, words may be missing that crucial letter (the story involves one hyper puppy and a glass of red wine). and I may forget to spell check.
2. I am in a committed relationship that I am truly happy with, but at times I get frustrated
3. My life over the last eight months has been turned upside down -- major professional changes that have led me to question my career and the organization that I still work for, a major illness diagnosis for my mother who is in the fight of her life while I sit on the sidelines, and the co joining of households with person mentioned in #2.
and with that just a few things that make me really happy -
1. Nick and the love that he shares with me everyday
2. Sadie - the puppy and her utter devotion to me (and to Nick)
3. Sunsets
4. the Ocean
So, with that I am off into the blogosphere.
a few things right off of the bat...
1. My laptop lacks an "a" key...so forgive me at times, words may be missing that crucial letter (the story involves one hyper puppy and a glass of red wine). and I may forget to spell check.
2. I am in a committed relationship that I am truly happy with, but at times I get frustrated
3. My life over the last eight months has been turned upside down -- major professional changes that have led me to question my career and the organization that I still work for, a major illness diagnosis for my mother who is in the fight of her life while I sit on the sidelines, and the co joining of households with person mentioned in #2.
and with that just a few things that make me really happy -
1. Nick and the love that he shares with me everyday
2. Sadie - the puppy and her utter devotion to me (and to Nick)
3. Sunsets
4. the Ocean
So, with that I am off into the blogosphere.
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