Wedding Planning is for the Birds

Val&Gio (11)

If anyone really knows me, they know one thing for sure: I sincerely don’t like being the center of attention. I’d much rather mingle through the crowd, getting to know people one-on-one. Honestly, I turn beet red every time someone sings “Happy Birthday” to me.

So what does that say about my experience becoming a bride?
Let’s just say… it’s been a ride.

Every time someone asks, “So how’s wedding planning going?” I feel a wave of anxiety. Don’t get me wrong—I’m a hustler. I work in operations for a living! I get stuff done. And yes, almost everything is already planned: venue booked, dress picked, details organized. All that’s left is the wedding cake, bridesmaids’ dresses, and a few tiny odds and ends.

But what’s been keeping me up at night isn’t the timeline—it’s the budget.

I’ve always been good at saving, but this kind of expense? It’s on another level. Our parents have helped out tremendously (thank you, thank you), but let’s be real: weddings are expensive. I didn’t realize flowers cost that much until I saved $100 by removing one rose from each centerpiece. One. Single. Rose. INSANE.

If I had all the money in the world, I’d cover the whole room in florals, hire flamenco dancers, and throw in a photo booth with props for days. But we’re just two middle-class Americans trying to make magic happen on a not-so-magical budget. And honestly? That’s okay.

downtown orlando, lake eola, engagement, photos

People keep telling me, “Just enjoy the process!” And I try. I really do. I love planning parties. I love organizing. But I also like knowing I can afford what I’m putting together. I think some people stress over the details because they want to please everyone. They want everything to be perfect. But I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that nothing ever goes exactly as planned. And that's not the point anyway.

Luckily, we've been blessed by generous friends and family doing us favors. That has meant everything. Now, my next task is building the wedding day timeline. Who knew every single detail needed to be mapped out? (Thanks, bridezillas. You've raised the bar for those of us just trying to keep it cool.)

On a brighter note—we got some of our engagement photos back! They turned out so sweet. Go ahead, take a peek and smile with us.

The Best Advice I Ever Got Wasn't About Love... It Was About Money

Ironically, the best advice I’ve ever received wasn’t about love, career paths, or what college to choose—it was about finances.

Growing up, I didn’t get much guidance from my parents when it came to money. Like many college students, I was suckered into credit card offers and lived the cliché broke student life. I never loved ramen, but I definitely remember my best friend and I scraping together change to hit up the dollar menu.

After graduation, things didn’t get much easier. I worked at a publishing company where I was sexually harassed by the owner. When I confided in a coworker that I planned to file a complaint, I was conveniently fired. Then came a stint at a company owned by Lou Pearlman (yes, that Lou Pearlman), and when he went bankrupt, I was once again out of a job.

Eventually, I landed at the company I work for now—a breath of fresh air after so many letdowns. But in the chaos of those early years, someone gave me a piece of advice that changed everything:

"My father was a wise man. He told me: never depend on money you don’t have."

A light bulb went off. That one sentence sparked a whole new way of thinking about my finances. I stopped living paycheck to paycheck and started paying my bills first—then saving for a rainy day. It may sound simple, but in my early 20s, it was revolutionary.

That one shift gave me freedom. I didn’t have to panic over the next bill or depend on a credit card to get through the month. And while I’m still not exactly where I want to be, I’ve come a long way. Just writing this blog, I’m declaring it: a year from now, I’ll be in an even better place financially. (Positive thinking = positive results, right?)

Big thanks to The WordPress Chick for inspiring this post—you’re awesome!