John and I in Trondheim, Norway the day he proposed !!
~ ENGAGED ~
After being involved in wedding/event planning industry since I was in high school and then graduating into a wedding planner/event coordinator I am finally ready to take on my own journey as a bride !! After 3 years of dating my best friend John we headed off to Norway (where my ancestors originate) and became engaged on 3/30/2011 !! Whoop Whoop !!
I've starting this blog to document the differences of being IN the wedding industry (as a wedding planner) and being THE wedding industry (as the client/bride). So far I can only speak from my experience in the industry ...
Although my head has always been in the game of weddings ... it has never been on my wedding. I have always been focused on the task at hand remembering the bride is number one and doing everything in my powers to make her feel that way. Never once did I hold back an amazing idea I had for myself when a bride was in need knowing every wedding and bride differ within every season and trend.
That being said, the second the ring went on my finger I have been starting from scratch and the ideas have evolved (that's a nice way of saying changed) just like every other bride I have ever worked with ... and evolved and evolved !! I feel like I have lost my compass and need to find that one anchor that will launch this special day for Johnny and I into a memorable one !!
My question today ... Does working within the wedding industry make it easier to be a bride ?? After all we have hook ups within the industry and can save ourselves and family a ton of green, we know which local vendors will get the vision we're going for ... the first time and we have a realist outlook when it comes to the budget and overall event.
Or does working within the wedding industry hinder your experience as a bride ?? After all, the fairy tail aspect of your special day is mechanicalized into a simple step by step process we repeat on a weekly basis, excited new aspects wedding guests experience have been done by us over and over and lost all luster and on top of it all the special day takes place within our work environment.
With about 17 months until John and I say I DO there is no rush on anything yet ... good thing as this is as far as I have gotten after one month:
Ceremony:
- At John's family's ranch on a rocky knoll
- Take place around 5pm as it will be HOT in Sonoma during August !!
- Hay bails for ceremony seating with matching embroidered SR design on all and aisle runner
- Bridal Party is in between 5 or 8 bridesmaids and groomsmen on both sides
- When we kiss at the ceremony the guys and girls have a surprise for the guests
- Our dogs will be involved (we have 2 Boston Terriers, 1 Lab and 1 Australian Shepherd)
Cocktail Reception:
- At John's family's backyard swimming pool
- Taking place until 7pm
- Serving full bar and light apps
- flower balls, tall cocktail tables, small lounge area, lights hung over entire site
- Midwestern lawn games for kids and kids alike: ladderball, beanbags and horseshoes
- Lively music by a dj forcing people's energy up while bridal party are away taking pictures
Dinner Reception:
- At John's family's baseball diamond
- Taking place until 9pm
- Find natural wooden tables covered in newspapers and chairs with bibs
- Flowers and candles on the table as well as pretty serving dishes for the crawfish
- Guest will find their salads served prior to sitting and then it's a Crawfish styled dinner for all
- Dj to introduce bridal party and parents and then music to follow throughout dinner
Dancing Reception:
- Back to John's family's backyard swimming pool
- Taking place until midnight !!
- Light all candles and turn on twinkle lights and heaters around the pool
- Dance floor; photo booth; cigar, port and black/white slide show area; cake and dessert station
- Dj to spin a mixture of classic rock, country, pop and rock
- First dance at 9pm, cake cutting at 10pm, John and I to depart around 11pm
As a bride I am thinking," WOW !! Almost there !!"
As an industry planner I'm thinking this, "Good thing we have 17 more months !!"
For now this bride to be is focused on my June engagement party while the wedding planner in me is mapping out the three 2011 brides (June, Sept + Dec) while the event coordinator in me is getting together the summer line up of weekly events due to overwhelm every free minute from May to October !!
