PRIORITIES

In the same way that nonprofit organizations have mission statements that guide every strategic decision they make, so too will I have a list of priorities for my wedding.

1. That my friends and family are all there. (Or as many as will reasonably fit in the venue)

2. That everyone who attends the wedding and reception has a truly memorable time, not just Michael and I. That we constantly surprise our guests with attention to detail and little touches of magic.

3. That I knock the wind out of Michael when he sees me in my gown.

4. That we have a band equally adept at playing "Happy Together," "Rosalita," and "Don't Stop Believin'"

5. That my mother and my bridesmaids look awesome in their gowns as well.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Who's It Gonna Be?

As I continue to explore and go to websites galore, I don't want to lose possible options that I find. So I'll store them here.

Bands

Ingredients

Now that I've decided to step back from the details and, like a good event planner, circle back around to "conceptualizing," I'm going to create a list of things I enjoy that could be folded into a wedding.

• Maxfield Parrish


• Alphonse Mucha


• Shel Silverstein


• Shakespeare


• Europe


• Irish/Celtic Traditions, Music, etc


• Alice in Wonderland


• The Elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)


• Fairies

At the beginning...

...there was a couple. And a ring. And then a circus.

Since M. proposed to me just 90 short hours ago, I have been on a steady binge diet of wedding conversations, wedding books, wedding websites, wedding magazines, , wedding emails, Facebook messages, text messages, and reality television shows. I won't deny that I love fantasizing about the bustle on my gown (there will be), the look on my face if I even hear the opening notes of the Electric Slide (there won't be), and the joys of tying little tiny bows around little tiny wedding favors over a bottle of wine with my best friends.

In the whirlwind of targeted marketing messages that have flown at me fast and furious, my daydreaming is becoming increasingly fragmented. It was a STAMP of all things (Do I want the stamps with the swans on the invitations? How about the stamp with the wedding cake? Love birds?) that brought me back to reality. There they were, the king and queen of hearts at the US Postal Service online store. I suddenly remembered "Wait a minute... I LOVE Alice in Wonderland." Then I remembered that I loved Shakespeare, and the painter Maxfield Parrish. I love swing dancing, and Europe, and old books. I got SO wrapped up in the fact that I had to plan a huge event for hundreds of people and forgot that, at the center of the event, is a couple. A couple of people who have varied and exciting interests and who are REALLY fond of each other, their friends, and having a good, unique experience.

So instead of going back to TheKnot.com (which IS a great website, for sure), I think I'm going to start a brainstorming list of ways to incorporate my interests back into my wedding.