My girlfriends were beyond excited and I was happy to have them to help. We started a private group board...and within a few weeks there were SEVERAL hundred pins. Eeek! Overwhelmed and on a Pinterest Panic Attack, I started to purge the pins I wasn't interested in and, of course, deleted a picture of a dress that I was IN LOVE with. That caused my next meltdown, 8 hours of searching the internet and Pinterest. Luckily, I finally found it...stupid to have a meltdown over a dress. When the dust settled, I still have a few (as opposed to several) hundred pins. SPOILER ALERT: a week before my wedding I was down to 29 pins!
I guess I should back up for a second. My fiance and I were planning TWO weddings, yes two, and THREE receptions. Let me explain our ridiculous decision....
First, my family (20 of us that live in 7 different states: California, Utah, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, and North Carolina) were planning a family trip to Hawaii a year out. This would be ideal because my family wouldn't be able to make two big trips (most of them are just out of college, in college, or parents helping to pay college) to come to a wedding in another location. Also, Chris' dad's family resided in Australia, sister too! So this made sense if they wanted to join us....however, many of them are also in college, or just starting college... And finally, a destination wedding just fit us. We are travelers, in 4 years we have been to over a dozen countries. Chris loves warm weather, so a beach wedding was right up his alley. I'd get married in an ice castle in a heartbeat, opposites really do attract (thanks, Paula).
So it was set. Kauai. Wedding #1.
But then, we knew that we probably should have a church ceremony. Chris' mom, stepdad, and mom's family are religious, my family is mixed, and there is the fact that Chris' stepdad is a Deacon in the Catholic Church. Chris and I aren't the regular church goers, but we both have faith, morals, and our own understanding of religion. So it is important, just in our own ways. So we decided on a church wedding and we would invite the friends and family that couldn't make it to Hawaii. Wedding #2.
Then came my mom. My mom and dad live in Utah, where someone in the neighborhood is getting married every month. My mom is beyond gracious. She buys gifts for everyone, even if she has never met the couple. She is so generous. And she buys nice gifts...she loves to give. My dad is a member of the church (converted many moons ago) and is very active. My mom is also very supportive and is an active community member. So she finally added her two cents. A reception in Utah so she could invite everyone she has showered with gifts. And, I, too had friends in Utah and knew many of the neighbors would want to celebrate. Reception #3.
It was inevitable that the Pinterest fiasco occurred. Beach wedding. Church wedding. Backyard reception.
Next step, guest list. You have to know the size (the people that must be there) in order to figure out budget. Ugly. Luckily it came together. Next battle: theme, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and ceremony and reception sites....
