The Big 4-0: Forty Days to Our Wedding

There were two events that brought home how soon our upcoming wedding was and how much we still had to accomplish -- even for the simple, low-key affair we had planned.

The first was an email from Mike's mother regarding where we stood with the Welcome Shindig scheduled for the night before.  She said the last she heard we were contemplating the menu at the hotel and working on a budget.  Unfortunately, I reported that no progress had been made. 

The second was a discussion between Mike and I that went something like this:

Mike: "Well, other than writing our vows, we shouldn't have much left to do."

To which I smiled and pulled out THE NOTEBOOK with two full pages of items that still needed some attention, such as: welcome packages, finalize and printing programs, creating the iPod dance list, a shot list for the photog, menu options for the Welcome Shindig and finding something for him to wear for the big day.

Needless to say, neither one of us were smiling by the time I ran through the checklist. In fact, the two of us were left feeling a bit overwhelmed and . . . panicky may be the best word.  This kitchen pow-wow during breakfast in the end helped out greatly.   It also helped us put the whole event planning into perspective.

1) Together
For the past eight months, we have slowly accumulated boxes of wedding stuff.  For the most part, I have done a lot of the design work solo -- mostly due to my flexible work schedule.  However, it has been a partnership through out most of the process. While I was stitching runners together, Mike was painting flowers on the pots for the herb centerpieces. We still have a ways to go -- but the checklist is helping the two of us know what to do and where to go next.    Together. 

2) It Is What It Is
The two of us will work to accomplish what we can or what is most important.  It helped us weigh and measure each item. Obviously, printing out a banner for the donut table may not rank as high as finding the groom something to wear for the ceremony. We will do what we can and live without some of the details we may have discussed as "that's neat." There is nothing that we "have to have" . . . well, other than clothes for Mike.

As we enter into the final forty days before our wedding, I feel a sense of "wedding zen." We're communicating and functioning as a family unit -- which is really what the engagement process is really about.  That and the power of pancakes did a lot to sooth our planning jitters.