Happy Thanksgiving!
When you are planning a wedding, it can be easy to get swept up into the stresses of decision making and forget about the true reason behind planning your special day. There are endless amounts people contacting you, emails to sort through, decisions to make and, of course, things to pay for. BUT there are also a billion surprising reasons to be thankful you are planning a wedding.
1. You aren't alone at family gatherings.
Gone are the days of showing up to family events single and having your Great Aunt Thelma strictly warn you of becoming the "crazy cat lady". And you no longer have to endure the pressures of Grandma Phyllis begging you to pop out her great grandchildren. You can show up to Thanksgiving with your guy on your arm and a ring on your finger. You can proudly show off his good looks and be amazed at how easily he makes your Grandma Phyllis laugh or your Great Aunt Thelma feel at ease.
2. You don't have to force conversation with your awkward relatives.
You just got engaged and are planning a wedding; there are a billion things to talk about, from your proposal story to your venue ideas. And an easy ice breaker is showing off your new finger bling! It is also fun to ask other couples how they met or to tell their own wedding stories. These could entertain the whole family and bring back (hopefully) good memories for everyone to enjoy (just be sure to steer clear of the horrid divorce stories!).
3. You have another reason to go shopping on Black Friday.
With all the things you need to buy for your wedding, why not use the biggest savings event day of the year to stock up on wedding items? If you plan ahead, you can grab cute bridesmaids gifts for less or little decorations you haven't thought of yet. You could even buy your wedding dress on sale (gasp)! Check out my favorite deals and styles for bridesmaid dresses here:
http://www.weddingpartyapp.com/blog/2014/11/25/bride-bridesmaid-style-deals-best-black-friday-cyber-monday-steals-scoop-weekend/
4. You get to have a professional photo shoot with your man and send out real Christmas cards.
What's more fun than getting all dolled up and having your picture taken with your favorite guy? You get to be cheesy on camera, kiss each other, and laugh til your stomach hurts (and no one can judge). Capturing your love on film to remember forever is an exciting part of the wedding planning process. Even better, if you had fall engagement pictures taken, you get to use those to send Christmas cards to all your family and friends. And your family and friends will be thankful they don't get another Christmas card filled with your cat sleeping in different positions.
5. You can start new traditions.
You may have celebrated holidays as "boyfriend and girlfriend" before, but spending it as an engaged couple just feels different; its the ultimate symbol of love and commitment. You have a real man by your side who has shown you that he is ready to spend the rest of his life with you and only you. So why not start this new chapter in your life by starting your own holiday traditions? Whether is special ornament giving, discovering a new recipe to pass on or decorating your tree a certain way, you can be creative and make it uniquely yours.
6. You know who your best friends and family are.
Throughout the craziness of wedding planning, sometimes your relationships with other people may struggle. But you learn exactly who you can count on when times get tough. Your bridesmaids are there to help pick out your wedding dress or to remind you when you are being a bridezilla. Your family knows how important this day is to you so they are working extra hours to help pay for your photographer. They are all extremely happy to see you smiling from ear to ear when you talk about your guy and can't wait to watch you walk down the aisle.
7. You have a fiance!
Relax and take a moment to realize you have found the love of your life. You have found your ultimate best friend, your soul mate, your one and only. There is no one in the world who loves you more or who will put up with both your good and your bad (and all your animals). You can count on him to make you laugh when you are down and to laugh at you when you are being stupid. And best of all, you get to plan a special day to show the world your unconditional love for each other.
So while you are stuffing your face with turkey and potatoes, remember to be thankful. Don't let the frustrating details of wedding planning overshadow your happiness. Embrace every part of this special time in your life and remember to be thankful you found the love of your life.
Here is another reason I am thankful. My fiance brought me my very own Thanksgiving dinner at work tonight. So sweet.
