Summertime and the livin's easy

This blog would not be a truthful representation of this wedding process if I didn't honestly discuss how emotionally drained and overwhelmingly stressed I have been lately. I think a combination of focusing all my energy towards the other two weddings and coming to terms with how much work still needs to go into making our wedding a success, has really made this summer a trying time for Josh and I. Also, not having our annual camping trips, beach days, or other usual summertime activity is a bigger sacrifice than I thought it would be. I'm seeing now how important it is to maintain your normal non-wedding life's activities amidst all the wedding planning. So from here on out, the excitement and joy for our Big Day is what will keep us going. We can't sweat the small stuff. And we must remember that despite all the wedding craziness this year...everyday we wake up as the same Josh and Sheila (who happen to be exchanging vows in a couple months). Anyone want to go canoeing?

OCD

Maybe I should get it out there that I am a perfectionist and probably a little obsessive compulsive. It's to the point where I mostly never let anyone help me with anything, because I only want things done my way. That sounds so horrible in writing but it's true. We just had our 2nd annual Halloween Bash and this is one of the first times I've allowed other people to help me cook food and hang decorations for a party. I love being a hostess, but with that comes my urgent need for everything to be absolutely wonderful and impressive. I want the largest selection of food, the funnest atmosphere and an amazingly good time to be had by all...except for me. I always spend so much energy trying to make everything perfect that I stress way out and don't enjoy one minute of it. Even my own engagement party was spent watching a pot of water boil for corn because I was so busy trying to do everything myself that I forgot to turn the stove on for such a little thing.

So the Halloween party...I will say that I still went back and moved some decorations around, BUT there were many things I forced myself not to care about and just be grateful that people were wiling and able to help. And I had a blast! People were fed and fun was had by all including me! I desperately have to keep this experience in mind for our Big Day. It's perfectly fine to let go of my own image of how things need to be. We're getting married and nothing else matters, right?

I had sent out an email to our families and wedding party with a list of items we were hoping to obtain for our wedding. I tried to make little to no specifications on the items, forcing me to make do with what I'm given. After all beggars can't be choosers. I received the 1st items off my list the day of our Halloween party. Josh's mom had called earlier in the day asking me what type of blue vases I was looking for. In the midst of party preparation I had no time to return her call and when Josh's brother Nick showed up for the party with the vases, I got nervous about what they looked like. "what if they're not our style? the wrong shade of blue? too small? too big?" I opened the bag to find she had purchased vases that look identical to ones I had gotten on clearance months ago! It was a sign; If I can learn to let go, then I will be rewarded with beautiful blue vases. Er... I mean...don't worry, be happy.

system error

My laptop died. Postings may slow down for a few days until I can figure out how to get all my files off that hunk of junk. Thank you for your patience and continued support.

Josh loves Sheila...and Sheila said yes

Alright, so that first post was more of a "testing...one..two..." kind of entry. You may have read it and wondered to yourself-I thought this was supposed to be a blog about Josh and Sheila's wedding? Well it is, and I'll have you know that life as we know it does not stop for a wedding. It goes on.

Let me give you a Mission Statement:

I will strive to not allow this wedding consume our lives for the next 10 months. I'll embrace this period of engagement as an opportunity to enjoy the planning of this wedding with Josh and create beautiful memories along the way. I will encourage bonds of family and friendship to become even closer by involving others in the process as much as possible. I will fulfill this mission and maintain my role as photographer, receptionist, belly dancer, and bridesmaid(x2).

Basically, I am going to blog about the wedding, yes, and every other occurrences in my life whether it applies to the planning process or not. I'm going to write about how happy dancing makes me, because in the middle of all this prenuptial stress it's the one thing I look forward to the most. I'm going to write about the hours I'm putting in answering phones, greeting visitors, copying, faxing, filing, and organizing office supplies Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm, because it's what's paying for the wedding of our dreams. I'm going to write about my photo customers and their sessions because it's the #1 thing that get's my creative juices flowing (not to mention I'm getting great ideas from the weddings I shoot). I'm going to write about my two bridesmaids who live in town and I don't see or appreciate nearly as much as I should, my two bridesmaids who are also getting married and have kindly asked me to stand beside them on their big days, and my one bridesmaid in France who I miss so dearly, because I love them all so much. I''m going to write about every single thought and every little wish for our big day because in the end, we may not be able to execute or even apply all the wedding ideas to ours, but maybe someone else will get some use out of it.

So I do expect your input. Please tell me what you think. Give me your ideas. Help me out, people. And if along the way you see any hint of Bridezilla coming out, for god's sake, let me know.

Hello. I'm finally doing this

I'm writing this first post immediately after a disgustingly cute fall portrait session with two 1- year old twin boys. One with curly hair, one with straight, in overalls sitting on bales of hay...oh, and yeah, we did Halloween costume as well (Turkey and a Lion). It's been such a beautiful fall here in Michigan. This morning's first session was a family at Grand Ledge's Island Park and I am fully convinced by the reflections of red, orange and yellow in the water of the Grand River, that this is the most vibrant autumn season I can ever remember.

In the past 3 months I've had unbelievable changes in my life and as one who hates change, I need as much as possible to find some constant in my life...maybe writing a blog? A wedding/portrait photographer, full-time receptionist, belly dancer, bridesmaids to two other 2009 summer weddings, and bride to be of my own August 2009 wedding most certainly does not have enough time in the day to maintain a blog, but...I'm hard-headed and do whatever I want. Lucky you...

Enjoy! I'm off to buy groceries for dinner.