So there’s been so much going on these days! In the last 2 months, Mr. Oceanside lost his job but started a new business, all while planning this wedding! It’s been incredibly busy (and stressful). We just moved to Florida from Atlanta in March for his job. We think this move was just a blessing in disguise because although he’s no longer with the company we moved down here for, he was able to meet and network with some incredible people! We’re already getting business within weeks of launching so good things are happening. It’s still a hard adjustment being far away from my family and friends during the planning process, but I’m fortunate enough to have a good man by my side. We’re helping each other stay grounded, focused, and happy during these crazy times!
Archive for the Category »Challenges «
So I’ve totally been neglecting my wedding blog. I’ve been so busy launching our new business that every minute of every day for the past 2 weeks have been dedicated to that. Leaves little time to much of anything else. Sometimes I forget I’m planning a wedding! Certainly don’t want to put that on hold. 
But the business is doing great and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for it. We’re driving to Atlanta next weekend for my 10 year high school reunion and engagement photo session and I don’t feel ready for either!
So I got a call from my best friend Denise who had a Bridal Shower dilemma. She was recently asked to serve as a host for a friends wedding. Although not really close with the bride-to-be, she accepted the invitation nevertheless. With the role comes buying a new dress the bride has asked the hosts to wear and is splitting the costs with the other bridal party members for other upcoming bridal events. The bridal shower was one event Denise recently had to miss. Her question was whether or not it was proper etiquette to still buy the bride-to-be a shower gift or would buying a wedding gift be enough since she is helping to foot the costs of some other wedding related events/attire?
Here are a few different opinions posted on Askville:
“You are never required to give gifts. They are obviously a nice way to show thanks, or appreciation, or just simply “thinking of you” but one should never feel required in any event to give a gift.”
“It is acceptable to give a large gift at the shower as both a shower and wedding gift. If you want to give the couple something very special from their registry, this is OK to do. If your budget is modest, don’t feel obligated to spend more than you can on gifts or on giving a generous check. The amount you spend should be determined not only by the closeness you have with the bride, groom, or both, but also by your own budget. You’d probably want to do more for, say, your best friend on the planet than you would for a college friend you’ve only spoken to a few times in the past ten years.”
“Typically the shower gift would be for the bride. Something like lingere, a photo album, something personal. The wedding gift would be for the couple or it could be money. It is a lot but weddings are very expensive.”
I’ve never found a defined answer for this etiquette quesion, but how you feel about this issue?
So I’ve neglected my blog lately. 
I was only able to post once last week but in addition to wedding planning, we’re embarking on a new business venture. It’s been taking up a lot of time and probably will for a few more weeks to come. I find blogging is a “stress” reliever and am promising myself to at least post something new 3 times next week so I give myself a little “work/life balance”. Things will settle soon with the launch of the business and I can go back to wedding planning! Oh how I’ve missed it the last 2 weeks! :)
So I’ve returned from a very exhausting, but FUN trip to California. It was much needed because I HAD to see possible reception venues and hopefully book one soon. This living across the country from the location I’m getting married thing has been challenging! I’m waiting for final pricing and package options on one of them so unfortunately I still can’t make a decision for another 2-3 weeks. Oh well. In the meantime, I’ll feature the 5 I did tour for anyone else looking to get married in southern California. We toured the the Norris Pavillion, Queen Mary, Shade Hotel, Avia Hotel, and V20 and of course stopped by the beautiful chapel we have confirmed, the Wayfarers Chapel.
So I haven’t experienced my first wedding day dream just yet, but with me 2 days away from heading out to California to tour reception venues, I’m getting wedding planning anxiety already. In between my tossing and turning last night, I thought about my “thank you” speeches the day of, how thankful I am to have the mom, best girlfriends, sisters, and other family members I do in my life and what I want to say to them. I’ve started rethinking maybe I want to have more than just a MOH and have my best girlfriends by myside on my special day. I debated the idea about whether or not to have a Thursday wedding and what important people in my life might miss out if I do. So many decisions and I have the feeling I don’t have enough time to make them! I still have a year left so what am i worried about!?! Anyone else ever feel this way? I’m sure…this is how brides feel during the planning process isn’t it?
Clockwise: Jose Villa via Project Wedding, Jazmine Starr Photography, Christopher Robbins via Brides.com, April Smith Photography
I’m starting to collect pics of hairstyles I might like to try when the time comes. I’m considering a half up/half down look for the ceremony and after pics and maybe pinning up in a side bun for the reception. I’ve already bought my veil…medium length & lace trimmed. I have long wavy hair and I’ve never been satisfied with any professional hairstyle I’ve had done for prom, homecoming, or any wedding I’ve been in so this will be interesting. I hope this isn’t the one task that makes the bridezilla come out of me! I’ve never liked my hair. So yes, I’ll probably end up spending oodles of money on trial hairdo appointments just to make sure it’s perfect. The biggest stress of mine is that I live in Florida, but getting married in California so I won’t be there but a few days in advance to do trials with a salon I might want to use. Who knows what I’ll end up doing? Anyone have thoughts or suggestions when it comes to hair, but planning for a destination wedding?
So I’ve been having an internal debate with myself ever since we started looking at dates about whether or not to have our wedding on a Thursday. My dilemma might have been solved today when I found out that I might be required to travel for work next summer around the time of our Saturday option (Sat. 6/26). It actually has nothing to do with cost (although it definitely would be cheaper!), but more the significance of the date. With the 8 representing infinity (call us lame) we’ve termed our world Planet M8M (Mel & Mark of course)!! Ha! No doubt, we believe we’ll be together forever with or without the “8″ in our date, but the 8 seems to revolve around other special days and things in our lives. I know it will be causing an inconvenience for family who might not be able to take off or even have to go to work early the next day. By having a Thursday wedding, I’d almost be cutting my guest list in half! Decisions, decisions…anyone want to share their thoughts? Had a Thursday wedding? Been to one? Couldn’t make one? HELP!