Update!

We're tying the knot, getting hitched, getting married, and so on and so forth! But wait, you say, that's not a surprise at all! That's old news!

Well, I got a call back from my pastor today (left him a message yesterday). And our date is officially on the books. It's concrete! It's our day! No on else can take it! We have a day!

This is all very exciting and starting to feel realllll!

I know we're a year & a halfish out, but in my area things book up real real fast! In fact, our reception venue (hopefully, we love it) said that for a May 2011 wedding, we can't book in later than December 2009. I think it's because we're so close to Chicago where people pay big bucks for some big places. A lot of folks look outside Chi Town to save money.

In fact, I've been researching photographers and basing them around our list of wants and $1500 budget. I found a really nice affordable photographer and emailed them, saying our wedding is May 2011, but we're not looking to book until this May 2010, and asking if I could see a price list anyway. They were very nice, but turns out they're all ready booked through March 2011. Better get on it!

Either way! I'm excited! TB keeps getting on me to book the place we want for the reception, but I'm super hesitant. This place is absolutely perfect, and I know we'd never change out minds, but it's a scary thought to put so much money down when I'm unemployed. Granted, their rates aren't too bad by industry standards, but I'm worried about the idea if I don't get a full time job soon?

Regardless, our date is concrete at the church. Life is good!

May 2009

So it's officially May - this semester went by so fast I could barley keep up with it. More importantly, less than a week until graduation. It's one of the big days I've been waiting for.

Our original date - before Mr.TB decided to pick up another major to better his chances in the job market- was May 15, 2010. It's would've been just a year and a half from the engagement. Now we're planning for May 14, 2011. That means we're at 2 years folks.

But for all the May 2010 brides, you're a year out! I'll admit it, I'll a little jealous, but part of me is also relieved. I am in no way ready to get married. Well, that's not true - I'm completely ready to get married, my heart is completely devoted to TB and I cannot wait to start the rest of my life with him, but I am so not ready for a wedding. We know the church, reception venue, and colors. . . but that's it (hello photo, video, dj, favors, guests, invites, menu, bm dresses, etc). If my wedding was a year away, then I would have to be booking everything this month. At the same time as my college graduation? No thanks. I want to be able to enjoy graduation and my upcoming birthday (big 22!) without being stressed out.

We also planned on May 2010, because then I'd have a whole year to work after graduation to save money for the wedding & life after wedding. Well, good thing we pushed the date back! I have no job prospects and have applied for 17 jobs so far. I wish more people were hiring, and I think it would be way too hard to deal with the stress that comes from impending unemployment as well as planning a wedding on a "hypothetical budget" (we'll have a budget . . . when I get a job haha). It's hard enough to deal with filling out applications for Target and Michael's when I have a brand new shiney Bachelor's Degree, but I think it would be hard because I know I wouldn't be able to have the wedding I've always wanted.

I do just want to get married though. Part of me just thinks about going to the court house Carrie & Big style and just making it official that way. . .But that's not what I want :). I know a lot of people say "A wedding is only one day, you have the rest of your lives so don't spend all the money on the wedding" and I do agree with that. A wedding shouldn't put anyone into the poor house! I don't want our wedding to put us into debt (and it won't!), but I feel I can justify paying $$$ for it. I mean, we're going to keep it as budget friendly as possible, but - long story short - we only get one day like this, we only get one wedding, and I want our first day of the rest our life to be one of the best days of the rest of our life.

So here's to you brides of 2010 - I wish you luck this next year!

And as for me, I'll be waiting for 2011. And I'm more excited than I've been in my entire life.