I started becoming a flower girl when I was just two. Then, almost every year I was being asked by family friends or relatives to be their flower girl. Back then, it was just kind of a plaything for me. I got to wear beautiful dresses and a new pair of nice shoes. The best part was my parents were going to bribe me to behave. It’s kind of fun.
When I was in my teen years, it was the time I looked at each wedding differently. I observed each and everyone. The guests were all excited, but there were some who wanted to show off. The discreet soft shouting and organizers walking to and fro showed how tense they were. The groom could not hide his nervousness while waiting for his bride. Some parents would try to hold back their tears, but there were those who just couldn’t contain it. But overall, despite the mixed emotions, I see each wedding as having its own character.
My Dream Wedding
It was in middle school that I had my first relationship. It was at that time that I began fantasizing about my dream wedding. My girlfriends and I would go around window shopping for wedding dresses on sale. We’d browse magazines (The Knots, Brides, Your London Wedding, and Chicago Bride to name a few) for wedding ideas. From those magazines, I sketched the gown I would want to wear on my big day.
There were days when I would set and see how my hair would look. And I would start practicing walking down the aisle. I bet it wasn’t just me. Most teenagers have their dream weddings painted purely from their imaginations.
I’m Engaged!
This time, my dream is to be made a reality. But it’s not as simple as I thought it would be. The dream has to compromise with the reality. (I’m sure many brides can relate to this.)
It’s very different when you are actually getting married. It’s months away, but every day you’re panicking. The stress level is always way high.
The Struggle Is Real
I can’t say that money doesn’t really matter. It does actually. Yes, we both have our careers. However, we have to be more practical. I now know the value of hard-earned money, not like when I was a teenager and used to dream about the fancy wedding. So I have to face it. Some things that I dreamt about this wedding is attainable but not practical.
Planning is a real struggle. We had little fights and arguments. Good thing we always practice give and take. I had my wedding gown custom made the way I doodled it (at least, I got that one). For the cake, we picked out his fave flavor. The color motif, flowers, decors, and all else were settled, except for the venue.
“Oh my!”
It’s Just One day, But Hey, It’s My Wedding Day
How important is the wedding venue?
For me, the significant contributor to the atmosphere created is the wedding venue. It is as important as the dress. It is going to bring into reality the fantasy feeling I wanted for my special day. I never thought that picking out a place would be the hardest part, and it’s stressing me out.
I heard my friends saying, “It’s just one day anyway.” “Just do it somewhere. It’s all the same. You just got to arrange it to look romantic.”
“Hey, that one day is my wedding day.” I need to feel some connection before I approve of the venue. As we went around looking at different ideas, we came across this heritage home wedding. We contacted the person in charge and visited the area. I entered the house and smelled the woods, “This is it!” The sweet smell of the wood instantly brought me back to my childhood. It felt nostalgic. We talked and booked the place.
It was a blessing we found that heritage house wedding venue. We may have changed some plans, but it came out handy. The house had rooms where we stayed overnight. There was no need to spend money to check in a hotel. We had a feminine touch garden wedding. The house was transformed into a grand wedding ballroom like in fairy tales.
We had an exceptional wedding. I’m glad we didn’t have to break a bank to achieve a wedding close enough to what we both liked. I never thought that old rustic house could give me the wedding any girl would dream to have.
Well-preserved old houses lessen the preparation and budget stress. It’s the whole package. It has the rustic look of a church, a romantic garden ambiance, and simple yet elegant ballroom for the reception. You just have to make those creative minds work, and you can make your wedding very momentous, yet inexpensive.
Take Away (The Stress)
Our dreams do not always become our reality. Lucky for those who can make it theirs. But for us who can’t, we can still find happiness in things we can afford. We sure have to make our wedding day special, but it is just the first day. There are more days we have to face as we continue on our journey to forever which is the reality of our ever after.
