Let’s be real. Between Pinterest, Facebook, and the infinite amount of other wedding-related websites out there, by the time the details start to fall in place for your own celebration you’ve seen about a million pictures of other people’s big day. And while you know your love is so unique and your day will be so, so special, you might start to wonder why your preparations are so disparate from the “DIY” wedding in the latest glossy bridal mag you picked up. If you’re like me you might be thinking, “How is everyone else affording this??”
Come on. I’m not alone, right? I can’t be the only one struggling to make my fantasy a reality on a set wedding budget. I mean, all I want is about a hundred topiaries. And maybe some chandeliers. Oh, and these champagne saucers for my guests. Easy, right?
I just got another email from another wedding website offering me “7 Designer Wedding Themes.” And I, being the weak woman I am, opened it despite the fact that there is no way on earth I can even begin to do a completely new theme (50 days and counting!).
And what do I find? The wedding of my freaking dreams. Lush greenery? Check. Bold linens? Check. Fabulous peonies? Double check. And of course it was designed by Kate Spade & Fete. Of course…
And just like that I’m back on wholesale flower website acting like peonies are the most ridiculously expensive flower ever. I thought I had a handle on my expectations, and then I relapsed.
It was then I knew I had to write this post, maybe more for myself than anyone else. My wedding budget is normal. And I will have a beautiful wedding on that budget. I’m not trying to be conceited- I’m saying it will be beautiful because it will be about love, and that’s always beautiful. So no, I may not have fortune cookies with adorable pink fortunes inside or towers and towers of macaroons. The Great Kate may not be my personal stylist. And that’s more than okay.
Sometimes I get so inundated with images of wedding shoots that weren’t actual weddings but were styled by professionals and shot by the best in the industry, I start to think that’s the standard. And then I go to a friend’s wedding and remember, “Wow, I don’t really need gold flatware to celebrate romance.” Funny, isn’t it?
So, yes, I will probably still continue to open those emails and have moments of dreaming I had some multimillionaire underwriting my wedding. But I’ll also snap back out of it and realize how blessed and beautiful real life is. And I might just have to add a few macaroons to my real-life dessert table.
All images courtesy of The Knot