Wedding Zen

Well, we're off to RI this weekend to spend time with the fam and cross some wedding stuff off our list. I've hit a very Zen level of wedding-thinking lately. It may be short-lived; we'll see. As often detailed on A Practical Wedding, it is very easy in the planning process to simultaneously feel that you must conform to a "traditional" standard, and, depending on the crowd you run with, to pull off an event so hip and unique it could hardly be called a wedding. 

I am marrying the most wonderful man who puts much thought and care into wedding details, but I do think the woman ends up feeling more acutely the pressure to "pull it off" in a particular way—it's almost always assumed that the details are a reflection of her tastes and that the management of the event must have to do with her, too (does this date back to worrying if the lady can manage a household? Am I making this up?). This is why so many vendors prey on brides (I'll save that for another post). Anyway.

My new level of thinking: Event? What is this, the Oscars? In wanting the wedding to reflect us, I think it's easy to start feeling like it somehow defines us. Not so, of course. I like to break it down really simply: We dress up, get married, eat food, drink, dance. That all sounds really fun to me. And our family always has a good time partying...even when we do stupid stuff like have Lego car building contests or make Christmas ornaments out of Sculpey clay. 

So, simple. Happy. It ain't rocket science. In fact, I'm thinking of posting the wedding checklist I made when we first got engaged—simple, one-word, broad items to cross out. I've been using it this entire time. Stay tuned (and stay chill)!