How-To

In class right now I am having my students write a “How-To” essay. Many of them have gotten right into it and are shocked at how many words it takes to describe how to build a snowman, how to make a sandwich or how to set a table. I must say I look forward to reading these essays!
So here is my how-to: How To Plan a Wedding

I planned on having a long engagement, although at times I think I was a little crazy. So I thought, long engagement, less stress (makes sense right!?). Well I don’t work like that and really I create stress in my life in order to get things done. So right now I am in “let’s get this done” mode. I must say this week has been very productive on the wedding front. Here are instructions for how to get a wedding planned (of course the trick is find a great guy (sorry Jay is taken), on who can plan, and has access to a phone!):

Every night you should go to your favourite wedding forum (I love Canadian Bride). Find a post that interests you, discover you are not doing something that you should be doing and then freak out. If you are really lucky you loving, wonderful fiancée will be in the room and will witness freak out. Try not to freak out at him, this won’t help your problem, just let him see the stress level build (right now work is REALLY stressful so the stress level is well beyond normal so it doesn’t take much). I like the line, “aahhh we need to start thinking about ___________”. Hopefully this will start a conversation about that topic. Together create a plan. Then have the wonderful, loving, fiancée put plan into action. Yes, that is right I am so thankful that Jay is part of this wedding planning process because he has:
· Booked the church
· Booked the reception, figured out a good menu, talks to the hotel all the time, etc.
· Found, met with and booked the photographer
· Come up with decoration plans
· Come up with a good idea for rehearsal dinner location
· Booked premarital counselling
· Figured out musicians for the ceremony
· Booked engagement pictures
· And who knows what else I am forgetting
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You ask what have I done… well I have bought a dress! Remember that that took two attempts. I also went “shopping” for the bridesmaid dress. I like to think I am the one that lights the fire and pushes to get things done, and Jay is the “doer” Which makes me one lucky girl to have Jay help so much with this (thanks Jay!). So I guess the real trick to planning a wedding is not to have an absent groom; a marriage is a two-person job, and so to is the wedding planning process.

Here is a public thank you to Jay, who has done so much wedding planning!
Love you!

~S