Rain, Rain Go Away...

With the wedding coming up in 10 months, I can honestly say that there is only one thing that terrifies me. 

Rain.

Like I said I wouldn't, I have chosen to have my ceremony and reception outside.  Yes, I have rented a tent.  Yes, I am all over the farmer's almanac.  And yes, I have a necessary but much less fabulous back-up plan.

What I am learning about myself though is tremendous.

I always thought I was a "go-with-the-flow girl."  I am most comfortable in jeans and flip-flops.  Whenever I can actually let my hair grow out past my shoulders, it is in a ponytail.  I just have never been obsessed about some things... until now.

When Trey and I first talked about getting married, I was completely ready to pull a Carrie from Sex and the City and go to the courthouse.  As we talked though, I did start to want all of my family and friends there to support us on that special day.  I wanted to laugh, dance and celebrate with them.  But as "the wedding" turns to "wedding planning," it just seems like so much work.  Table linens, bands, china, rentals, dance floors, cakes, food, lighting, invitations, first dance songs, seating charts, aisle runners...

...and rain.

For someone who doesn't like to be controlling, the hardest thing to deal with is the uncontrollable.

If only I had been the girl who dreamed of my wedding day since I was 6.  But I wasn't.  Now that I am here, the options are staggering.  Many people keep asking me what I want.  I want my family there.  I want to stand in front of my best friend and tell him just how much I am in love with him forever.  That is it.  

So here I am, not knowing what in the world I want, but knowing the only thing I do not want... is rain.

~C

The Truth Hurts.

I woke up this morning and cried.  This is the not-so-pretty side of planning a wedding.

For those of you who do not know the events of the past week, I will inform you.  On Friday afternoon, after three months of planning, a friend of my fiance called him to tell him that he got engaged 5 days earlier and yesterday had booked a venue for his wedding... on the same day as ours.  I am assuming that this friend had no prior knowledge of our date.  

Because we both knew that having a wedding on the same day would severely inconvenience our close friends, both couples agreed to look into other date options.  In 10 minutes they called back to say their venue was booked from April - July and that they were absolutely not going to move their date and our friends would just have to choose.

At first, the fiery Italian in me exploded and defiantly said, "Fine!  We won't change our date either!" ...But then reality set in.  This is not fair for our guests.  I respect mine and Trey's friends and I do not want them to be in the middle of drama that should actually be a happy time for both couples.

I finally received word back from my venue Monday afternoon.  The only date even close to June 4th that is available is March 12.  I mean, talk about pushing something up!  That changes everything, seasons, photographers, honeymoons.  

And then my business sense kicked in.  So I called their venue.  I spoke with a lovely lady who is actually the Events Director for the space and she proceeded to tell me the Saturday dates still available for rent:

April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4, June 11, and June 18th.

Wow.  That is amazing.  The truth is absolutely amazing.

So here is the deal, either we keep our date and divide friends based on principle.  We have been honest from the start and we booked our venue 3 months before this other couple.  Or we change everything in the interest of our closest friends, putting a nail in the coffin to the phrase "Good guys always finish last."

Needless to say, I woke up this morning and cried.  I am so hurt and disappointed.

-Christina

The Groom Challenge!

I am so excited for this post, I just can't stand myself.  I wish you all could see the huge grin on my face. 

 

Meet my wonderful Trey

 Not only does he put up with my craziness but he absolutely brings me joy every single day and challenges me to be a better person.  It is with this in mind that this week I have decided to challenge him.

Let the challenge begin!

With all that goes into planning a wedding, I have started to get a little overwhelmed.  I feel like there are so many wonderful vendors in the Triad and so little time for me to visit all the ones I want to.  So, for the next week, I am turning over my baby... this blog... to Trey.  

The Task

Trey's task this week is to look up caterers in the Triad, call them, meet with them and then report back to you the findings!  We have decided on buffet style and an approximate budget... so here goes!

 To My Readers

I hope you enjoy this week with Trey as much as I will.  Show him some comment love and I will be back with you next week.  

~Christina :)

Changing from a Girlfriend to Fiance... and back to Me.

My advice for today is simple...

Be Yourself.

After only being engaged for a short time it is amazing to notice the changes that occurred when this girl went from being a "girlfriend" to a "fiancee."  As soon as this sparkly, gorgeous rock landed on my finger, along with it came so many expectations and uses of the word "proper."

"The Perfect Bride"

Very quickly I became overwhelmed with the idea of "The Perfect Bride."  We all see her.  She is on the cover of The Knot, she is blond and gorgeous with super-white teeth.  She carries bouquets of roses and baby's breath.  Honestly, she is the vision every girl has been fawning over since they were old enough play dress-up.

I wanted so much to be that ideal.  I thought it was almost my job, or responsibility to become the most like her I could possibly be.  But, in the effort to become this perfect version of what a bride should be, I started loosing the most important part of myself.  My identity.

Finding the "Me" in Engagement

I think back three years ago.  Back to that May afternoon, when without the perfect hair style, makeup, anything perfect for that matter Trey looked past every outward expression and saw me for me.  He fell in love with my personality, my humor and sincerity, not how I might look in a white gown.

You Are Fabulous.

So here is my new mission.  Not only will I have a completely local wedding, but I will have a wedding that completely embodies Trey and myself, who we are for real.  I hope that over these next few months, I can empower all of you readers out there to do the same in your life.  You are different, you are not perfect but guess what?  You are fabulous.  Be yourself and let others see you for you.


Love,
Christina

Happy Mother's Day!

This Mother's Day was just a little different for me because, with the wedding coming up, I think about four different mothers in my life.  

First and foremost, I think about my mother. I think about all the times we have spent together, the long conversations, fights when I was a rambunctious teenager, and the tears and smiles we have shared.  I don't know if anyone could ever really know me like my mom does. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to know so many of her facets, from the caregiver and nurturer to the teacher and now friend.

Next, I think about grandmother.  I try to imagine myself in her shoes 50 years ago, managing a home and four children.  Sometimes it is hard for me just to manage my checkbook.  How did she do all of that at such a young age and manage to come out on the other side with such a witty sense of humor?

Thirdly, I think of my fiance's mother.  I think about how she shaped him from a baby, instilling morals and knowledge in him that would eventually be the very things I fell in love with.  Showing her love for him, he learned how to be compassionate and caring, and I am so thankful to her for that.

Lastly, I think about myself as a mother.  I think about how I have changed and matured over the years and wonder what I will instill in my own children someday.  I try to examine my life experiences and think of how I will relate that to the growth of another human being.  It is such a calming and mind-blowing thought at the same time.

This Mother's Day was such a beautiful day to reflect and at the same time, look forward and I am very excited for the years to come.

The Road to "I do"

With a busy schedule at the store and kicking of a campaign to turn the wedding industry on its heels, I arrive at Saturday feeling a bit exhausted.  With everything that a modern girl has on her plate, how is it she finds the time to plan such an extensive fête?

This brings me to tonight's blog topic.

To know where one is going, he must remember where he has been.

My journey to "I do" started as a sleepy Monday nearly 4 years ago at Appalachian State.  After a summer internship in Hilton Head, I came back for my senior year of college to a new major.  After the first class, this young man followed me down the stairwell to introduce himself and welcome me to the Hospitality & Tourism department.  For a year we were in the same class, but sat on opposite ends of the room, never speaking much more than an occasional "hi."

Weeks faded into months which turned into semesters

and before I knew it, graduation day was upon me.  I enjoyed a wonderful day with my family and once they had returned home, I headed to a graduation party a classmate was holding across town.  About an hour into the celebration, in walked the same young man from the stairwell.  I walked up to him, fearless, and greeted him with hug.  We began talking, and continued even seven hours later as the sun was waking up the world.

The days that followed

were full of sunflowers, lilies, and daisies that adorned the small vase in my living room.  The days were light and full of smiles and excitement.  It was nine days after graduation, with a first kiss that we knew.

"I think you are going to be my wife."

"I think I am."

Nine days.

That was three years ago.  These three years have been a lifetime in a second.  We have together experienced birth, death, defeat and elation.  We have come through with a sense of humor and a deep respect for each other.

So when the week is long, and the planning seems daunting, you have to remember just how far you have come. Take the time in your planning to reflect on the memories that have gotten you to this point, and make some new ones. 

-Christina

a girl named christina

I grew up in a small town where I couldn’t go to the grocery store without running into at least 5 people I knew. I graduated with a semi-high rank from high school. Went to college where I changed my major, count them, three times and where I also met the man of dreams. After a few unfulfilling jobs I landed a career that many girls would kill for.

9 to 5

I am the manager of a new, local paper boutique in Greensboro, North Carolina. I work with two fabulous ladies, that are more like sisters than coworkers. I have, within the last 8 months designed invitations for an event sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, worked on invitations for a Maya Angelou event in New York and helped nearly 30 brides find the absolute perfect wedding invitations.

i do!

I am 25, on the verge of 26 and I am planning a wedding for next spring. It is through this experience I plan on changing the face of the wedding industry… one city at a time.

the wedding industry

The wedding industry is a $40 Billion per year industry. That is twelve 0′s folks. Okay, I just want to make sure you heard me correctly…

$40,000,000,000.00 PER YEAR!

Do me a favor and hang on to this figure in your head… and let me give you some reference.

The 3/50 Project

When you spend locally, the money stays local. $68 of every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores stays in the community in the form of payroll, taxes, etc. When you shop at a nation chain, the retained value goes down to $43 and when you shop online $0 return to the community. You do the math. It pays to shop local.

connect the dots

Let’s throw around some numbers here.

Say the average wedding costs $20,000. Say within the great city of Greensboro there are at least 2,000 couples that plan to be married this year.

If these brides bought their goods at national chains, they would spend $40 Million, of which $17.2 Million would stay in the city of Greensboro.

If these same brides used locally owned independent stores for their dress, cake, flowers, favors, invitations,etc. $25.2 Million that would stay in the city of Greensboro!

That is a difference of $8 Million that would stay in your community, fixing your roads, employing your neighbors, bettering your schools and making your community a better place to live and shop.

the aha moment

After three months of burning up the keys on my laptop searching for every fabulous wedding vendor in a 5 state radius a light bulb went off. Not one of those new led or what-cha-ma call it bulbs that are perfectly energy-efficient and glow a tinted blue hue. A huge, pull with a big long chain, hear it crackle when starts lighting up, honker of a light bulb came on in my head..

a completely local wedding.

…let the adventure begin…