Top 10 Things I've Learned From Wedding Planning That Could Help Plan Yours

As I am winding up my wedding planning, I can honestly say it has been a JOURNEY. I have learned a LOT about Wedding Planning. I have always loved weddings and I got my first taste of planning when I did Kim Starnes Blanton's wedding (which was a real success since we literally planned the whole thing in the cab of her Dodge truck). It was such a THRILL when it all came together and the Bride was happy with everything! I have had 2 years to plan mine and with that I have learned A LOT...some things I never thought to think of that if I could go back and do it again, I would do it differently. My hope is that if you are newly engaged, thinking about marriage someday, or an aspiring wedding planner---or just curious with my life in general lol---then read ahead for my Top Ten Things I Learned From Wedding Planning That Could Help Plan Yours Blog post :) Enjoy!!!

1) RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
With the internet, it is super easy to do this. People ask me all the time "Why are you getting married in Lexington?" Well for one, its Gamecock Country (woot woot!) and second, there's NOTHING in or near Gaffney that is as pretty or cool, or all-inclusive as Wintergreen Woods. Once I visited the place, I fell in LOVE with it and was hooked. It took me about 5 months to research and find this place, so the first thing you do when planning a wedding is to research the venue. And even then, you may be too late---places that are good BOOK UP FAST, so get it quick. This is the reason we are getting married on a Friday--all Saturdays were booked up 7+ months in advance!

2)SET A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
Originally, our budget was not big and we were going to have a small wedding with less than 80 people....however, its quickly ballooned because things cost a lot. And you HAVE to invite like every one you know! LOL But beware, simple things can add up quick. Sitting down and talking with parents, and your fiance is not the easiest or most awesome talk---but definitely needed.

3)KEEP YOUR ATTENDANTS IN MIND
Yes, I know that its YOUR wedding and YOU are the Bride which ultimately makes YOU the decision maker, but also be aware that your attendants are there for you and that they are sacrificing their time, money, and selves for your special day. When I started shopping for Bridesmaid dresses, I asked them what they wanted to wear...I mean they should have a say since they are the ones wearing it. I took their suggestions and with my pretty awesome taste have some pretty awesome Bridesmaid dresses!

4)POSTAGE IS EXPENSIVE
On the money issue, when you look for invitations, research some postage prices for the styles you like. Believe it or not, I learned that when you have a square envelope the price doubles for postage, and if it weighs more, it can cost even MORE...that's money you could use on your Honeymoon!

5)HONEYMOON
For me and Justin, this was the biggest issue that we both had inputs on. He wanted a cruise and I wanted a Sandals Resort of some sort. Choose your destination early and save up....lots of things like airfare and hotels add up quick. Look on Groupon for hotel deals on their Getaway page which can save a lot and COMPROMISE. For Justin and I, he got the cruise, but I got a plane ride there and a balcony. Win-Win. :)

6) DIY IS OK
There are LOTS of ideas on Pinterest and other blogs that can help you DIY your wedding--which can also cut cost! For me, I printed my own invitations and programs. The DIYing invitations can take a lot of time and effort, but its worth it. Plus, when people receive them and LOVE your invites--You can be all like "I totally did that myself....I'm awesome"

7) MUSIC
This is probably my favorite. The music of the wedding sets the tone. I like a good mix. With my venue, I was able to HANDPICK every song that will be played...even reception music. I am going with all 'canned music' as some people call it where they just press play and there are no musicians. This can save time and money because all your venue has to do is make a playlist and no one can mess up the songs!

8)FOOD
This is a HUGE deal. The time of your wedding determines what you should serve, believe it or not. If the ceremony is between 12-4 you are okay to serve light hors d'oeurves or a popular less-expensive alternative is a dessert only reception. If it is after 6, then your guests will expect REAL FOOD. This means HEAVY hors d'oeurves if your wedding is not super formal. If you are having a full formal wedding, you need to serve an actual sit down meal. Sit down meals can also be less expensive because you know exactly how much food to cook and what.

9)PERSONALIZE
This is your and your finace's wedding! OWN IT. Make it special. Do something different...do at least one thing that people can talk about later and be like "Wow, that was awesome."

10) ASK FOR HELP
You are only one person. I know through this whole process that it has been tiring and I have been literally ready for it to be over....but know that your attendants, parents, close friends, relatives can help you. Even if its just with ideas, or day-of stuff. This was especially hard for me because I am kind of a control freak and its hard to let people help. Letting people take over some stuff can actually free you up some time for other super important stuff.

So that's it. That's my list. Also, this is your wedding. If you want to do it, do it. Don't worry about what other people think---cause if they are there for the right reason, they will see that it is purely both of your personalities coming out in the ceremony and reception, and they will LOVE it. Because they LOVE you! :)

And if you are planning your own wedding and need help---I have successfully planned two weddings so far! Would love to do a third! :) :)

All in the Family

Coming back to my 'best friends' post I gotta say that two of my MAIN best friends are actually in my immediate family. These people have known me for 26 years, I have fought with them more than anyone in my life, cried with them, laughed with them, loved with them, and lived with them. I'm talking about my mother-who I hope to be half the wife she is to my father, and my sister-who has the most amazing soul of anyone I've ever met.
My cousin Hannah told me last week that I would not be the person I was today if I hadn't have been raised by my mom. My mom is known for being very easy going and funny. She can make me laugh most days (unless I'm grumpy in the morning) and she has the biggest heart. My mom is one of the few moms who actually parent the correct way...she put EVERYTHING on hold and everything else on the back burner when me and Jamie were born and put us first. She didn't buy clothes or jewelry or the fancier things in life. She did without so that me and Jamie had the nice things. She even made sure my dad had the stuff he needed before she got anything. My mom is also a very spiritual woman. She loves the Lord more than anything. She has a good moral compass and knows right from wrong. With her, there is very little grey. It was always black and white with her. Which, at the time when I was growing up wasn't all that good. And mama also believed in corporal punishment, which I also believe directly affected my way of life! My mama is the BIGGEST inspiration in my life. I have learned SO MUCH from her in 26 years--how to cook (almost lol), how to wash clothes, how to 'properly' clean, how to send Thank-You notes, southern hospitality and etiquette....all that I have learned from her. She is the one thing in my life that has stayed constant for 26 years--never changing, solid as a rock, and always had my back. She will be the reason that I have turned out that way I have, and I am pretty durn proud of that.

My sister has been dubbed by Katie Simmons as "one of the funniest people" she has ever met. (she gets that from my Mom) And, I have to agree. Some of the happiest times have happened in my life with my sister----and some of the worst times. But all that again makes me who I am today. She can sometimes be blonde but she is just a happy soul to be around. She has the heart of a child most days but can turn around and have the wisdom of veteran Christian woman in seconds. She baffles me and while our personalities, tastes, and likes are completely opposite, there is nothing I would trade or take back from our childhood...(except maybe for jumping that pool fence in the winter and Mama catching us---wow we got in trouble!) Jamie did go through a small change from high school to college and it was a very good change. She matured a lot and decided she was going to beat me to the altar! She picked an amazing guy to be her husband--I honestly couldn't have picked a better one myself. As I talk to Jamie about marriage now and what all that entails, I know that Jamie is doing it right. There are right and wrong reasons to get married and right and wrong ways to 'do' marriage. Just because you have a child with someone does not mean you should get married. I know that is NOT the reason my sister and Andrew got married (lol) but they actually got married for the right reason--Because you love someone, you date them, get to know them, and find out who that person is. That relationship should be based around Jesus and his plan for both of you as a unit. That is what Jamie and Andrew have. I see that when they look and talk and laugh with each other. That is definitely why I look forward to getting married so that I can share that with Justin.... and I do look at their relationship as a model. They are really an awesome pair.

So that rounds out why I am the way I am.....There is a song by Eric Church that says..."I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for those who I've loved along the way"....this is exactly why I've shared all this. Those people who have shaped me and molded me to the person that I am today. And while I have my moments, I think I turned out pretty good.

"Are ya'll twins?"

I wish I had a dollar for every time I have every heard that phrase come out of someone's mouth about me and my cousin. Seriously, I could almost retire....and have a Chanel wardrobe. They say cousins have a special place in your heart-especially if you are close. My Wood family is a pretty close bunch....and I don't have a childhood memory without Bailey. Whether it was at Nana's or school, me and Bai were usually attached at the hip. We are very close in age (she's older by 2 months and 4 days!) and we both have red hair, same height and body build (mostly), but when we were young, all of the people we met thought we were twins. It was honestly every day someone asked us. I remember I was so excited when Bai actually moved schools and came to Daniel Morgan and became a Patriot :). Even then, teachers and students all asked us, 'Are ya'll twins?" I remember saying no to one person and them asking 'are you sure?" YES, I am sure....weirdo. Anyways, Bai is considered one of my best friends/cousins. Not only have we been in the same grade all of our lives (and most of the same classes----HOLLER at AP Calculus!-best. class. ever.) But I even got to see her at Christmas and Thanksgiving, and Summer! We had a great group of friends in middle school and that was the best time. Bai, Me, Casey and Brittany had the best time in middle school and on into high school and the inside jokes and memories were countless! I still laugh about all kinds of things that we did---mostly stupid, but still fun. After high school, I thought me and Bai were done with being in the same grade together :(  She was planning on going to Winthrop and I was going to USC Upstate....BUT Bai received a scholarship to USC Upstate and decided to come with me! I was so relieved and soo excited because I KNEW someone my freshmen year! While apparently she was on the "Smart" 4th floor of the Palmetto house and I was on the 1st floor (which as Blake and Lee put it-the 'slow' floor), it was still awesome. That year, we spent MOST of our time "Studying" in the 4th floor lobby and laughing. I believe that first year, I laughed so much--probably more than I have ever! So, I got to spend 4 more years with Bai, at the same school and still see her on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Summers! It was great. We had so much fun together.
While the fun memories with Bai are what I like to remember all together, we have had some downs in 26 years of knowing each other. Yes, we've fought and got mad at each other, but we have always, always come back to love. I mean that's what it is. I love Bai as a friend, but it also goes deeper than that. I love her as family, too. Some of my favorite things about Bai is that she's different. She doesn't care if NO ONE else likes something, she'll like it cause she likes it. She's about the only person who had a camouflage purse and rocked it very classy :). She's stubborn and has a temper---which all red heads do! But she will stand up for her family and friends in a heartbeat, whether she thinks they are right or not. She LOVES her nephews and is probably the best aunt that anyone could ever ask for. She's hilarious and should definitely have her own TV show--I know I would watch. Bai is also one of the most thoughtful people in the world. I can't tell you how many times she has given me a "gift" for just the heck of it! So, maybe I'm not an actual 'TWIN" to Bailey---physically. But the inside would be what I would hope to copy. The loving, fearless, thoughtful, kind, and beautiful person that I know. :) Love you Bai.