Wedding Planning for Dummies

After I bought my house, I felt like I could write a book about everything I learned during the home-buying process. I feel the same way after planning a wedding.

I figure this is as good a place as any to record my thoughts, in case anyone can benefit from them in the future.

• The best piece of advice someone gave me: Plan a wedding that represents your style. For us that meant keeping things simple, yet nice.


• Decide where you want to spend money and where you want to save. Our priority was having outstanding food at our dinner, so that is where we spent a large portion of our budget. We saved money by printing our own invitations and borrowing a wedding dress.


• Wedding planning is a ton of work, even if you are keeping it small and simple.


• Use checklists and spreadsheets. I put together a timeline and budget at the beginning of the process assuming best case scenario. We adjusted the deadlines and budget as necessary.


• Use on-line registry. We didn't have to spend much time in the stores because I'd registered for most of what we needed online.


• Break the rules. Weddings no longer have to be traditional and cookie-cutter. We chose not to have attendants (although we did find ways to recognize and involve our closest friends and family). We registered for camping equipment and Wii games instead of china.


• Don't expect much help from your fiance. Most brides I know found it challenging just to get the groom's guest list.


• Realize upfront that you cannot please everyone. People will feel free to share their options, criticims, and advice. It's your wedding, and you can choose what you listen to and what you ignore.


• Another good piece of advice we received: keep the honeymoon simple. We wanted to take one immediately following the wedding, so we opted to spend a few days in Seattle. We had a great time but we didn't feel like we were missing out if we opted to take a nap instead of sightseeing.

The wedding planning process was grueling, but it was definitely worth it when we had the perfect wedding. Of course, there were a few little things that we may have done differently, but overall we still think it was perfect.

A New Blog

With marriage comes...

someone to share my blog with.

Of course, that means I'll be blogging, and darling Rob will forget we even have a blog.

Check us out:

http://robandjenlong.blogspot.com/

Four more weeks until the big day!!! We're excited!!!

Salt Lake City

Rob & I went to Salt Lake last weekend to work on wedding plans. We selected a bakery (cake tasting -- the best part of wedding planning, at least according to Rob), met with our florist, and Rob was a sport about being dragged to craft stores looking for candles for our centerpieces.

On Saturday we drove to Park City. The restaurant where we're having our reception was closed for the week for cleaning, but we were able to peek in the windows. I think it will be the perfect venue! They serve some of the best food in Park City, but the restaurant is not at all pretentious. It is very cozy with warm yellow walls and a big stone fireplace.

Saturday night we had our engagement party at Buca di Beppo. Rob's family and our Utah friends were there to celebrate with us. We now have plenty of games and things to keep us entertained!

Just five more weeks until the big day!!!

Mary Kay on ABC's Nightline

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7295022

I said YES!

It's official! Rob and I are getting married May 30!

Visit our wedding website for details:

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/JenniferDill&RobLong

February 14

For the last 15 or so years, I have worn all black on Valentine's Day. Mostly to be funny.

I am not opposed to Valentine's Day, in fact I love holidays, but I've always found it to be rather cheesy, over-commercialized, and definitely non-inclusive.

A few years ago, I found myself on a business trip in Monterrey, Mexico on February 14. I discovered two things about our neighbors to the south: 1) the men don't complain about Valentine's Day (my Mexican colleague explained it's because they're more romantic than American men), and 2) they call it the Day of Love & Friendship. Now that's inclusive!

Fortunately I've been successful at keeping myself busy on Valentine's Day by making treats for my friends and planning girls' night out. So hooray for love & friendship!

Speaking of love, props to BF for a memorable February 14th!

Introducing...Sydney

Sydney joined our little family on January 16. She and her puppy were rescued along with six other dogs from a backyard breeder in Missouri a few weeks ago. Sydney is around 4 years old and has spent her life knocked up in a crate. Spencer and I will have to teach her how to be a family dog.

Sydney has made a lot of progress in the last four days. She and Spencer are becoming friends and like to play. Spencer is doing a good job of teaching her our routine. Sydney is still extremely scared of humans. She follows me around the house at a distance and runs away as soon as I realize she's there. I regularly see flashes of brown and white in my peripheral vision. :o) But Syd is getting braver each day and is spending less and less time in her crate.

It will probably take about six months for her to be rehabilitated. There will be a lot to learn -- housebreaking, walking on a leash, etc. But I know that once she overcomes her fears, she'll enjoy being "in retirement" from her old profession and letting us spoil her.