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In this installment, ide Alexandra dishes on her recent engagement and the enormity of planning a wedding.
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What's Up: What stage of the planning process are you currently in? How much time are you giving yourself to plan your wedding?
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Bride Alexandra: The beginning! Today marks two weeks of being engaged. Since it’s still settling in, I can’t think rationally about table numbers, first dance songs or flower arrangements until at least a month’s gone by. I still need to go visit my future-in-laws! I’ve reserved Labor Day weekend for that trip. They live in NY. But, to answer your question, I’d say about a year, maybe a little less.
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WU: What is first on your list of priorities at this point? What specific vendors, businesses, or websites are proving most helpful in your planning?
BA: My fiancé and I wanted to talk venues, but then, being the total numbers person, he made the argument that we should focus on the guest list first. It makes total sense since a party of 300 can’t squeeze into an inn that has a guest limit of 150. So we’re focused on our guests first. Of course, we got a little side tracked when I insisted on whipping out my copies of What's Up? Weddings and we scoured the list of regional venue. So far we’re drawn to a few locations on the Eastern Shore and one of my personal favorites, the gardens at the William Paca House.
WU: What has been your favorite part of the idal planning process so far?
BA: Letting my imagination run wild. One minute I’m focused on how many uncles I have on my dad’s side (sticking to the guest-list-comes-first plan, so to speak). The next, I’m phoning my future hubby to tell him that I think we need to have a crepe station at the reception to honor my French heritage. Oh and how ‘bout we have cedar tree rings with table numbers carved in them?! My grandmother lives on a 100 acre farm in upstate NY and I have fond memories of riding the tractor through the woods looking for cedars to cut down and use for fencing.
WU: What is the best piece of advice you've received from someone so far?
BA: Enjoy this time. It’s supposed to be one of the happiest times in your life. Do not go crazy trying to map out every little detail- at least in the beginning. Then, when you have had a moment to eath, focus on the immediate details. Guest count, venue, date. The rest will all fall into place and people will generally stop ‘bugging’ you once they’re aware of these details.
WU: What is the one aspect of idal planning that makes you want to pull your hair out?
BA: Since I’m still in the early planning stage, Id’ have to say that it’s determining the idal party. I’ve been blessed with many wonderful friends whom I share a wide variety of memories with; I mean huge, chunks of my life, be it, grade school, high school, college or my hometown/neighborhood. I do not want to exclude anyone, but then again, I’m not going to have a parade of 20 gals leading the way down the aisle.
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Are you a ide in the process of planning your wedding? Contact us at mperkins@whatsupmag.com to share your experiences and be featured on our website! You could win free tickets to the 2012 What's Up? Weddings Fall Bridal Showcase !
