Wedding Prep Just Got Real – The Imperfect Bride’s Guide to a Near Perfect Wedding

If you follow me you may have noted that we are getting married this year, as I have mentioned perhaps a few too many times? It creeps into all aspects of our lives, but Michael and I don’t mind it at all as we are really looking forward to this celebration and both of us vowed not to get (too) stressed out, try to make everything perfect or go over the top. Our budget isn’t huge and we’re spending most of it on our shoes. Well almost of all it, food and drinks are really, really important too!

Suddenly though it’s just two months away and while there’s heaps of sites that give you the 9 months to 1 day count down, we’ve really just started to do all the wedding things and we are really quite confident we will be okay. Attitude is everything, right? Fortunately our wedding date, April 29, isn’t in prime wedding season, we did have the venue and caterer confirmed, and I’m blessed with a very organized and caring mother and father who are helping coordinate in Kelowna, where we are tying the knot.

I thought it’d be fun to share some of the trials and tribulations of the next few weeks and give some thanks to those who are helping us along the way. We can’t do anything alone, it take a village, as they say, or at least a small tribe, which we are so lucky to have. Think of this as the “Imperfect Bride’s Guide to a Near-Perfect Wedding”.

What follows is a 12 month rundown of where we should be according to the experts, it’s been a good checklist for us and will be for you, should you be lucky enough to need! This week we’ll review months twelve to seven, and follow up next week with the rest and where we’re at. Thanks to MagnetStreet for this pretty thorough list.

12 months to go! You’ll need…..

The Date – April 29^th, 2017, yep got that.

Budget – Roughly figured something out, being the whiz financial planner I am, and it’s going to be kept in check by keeping guest number down. We’ll look damn good, that’s for sure. Again, it’s the shoes.

Wedding Style –  Country vintage. If you’ve not heard of that, I’ve decided it’s a thing so it will be. We will have lots of flowers, some colourful pastels and nothing too flashy.

Wedding Party – We’re doing a small one so just us! I know my family and my gals are with me even if they’re not right by my side.

Website – I made one and then it didn’t really make sense so decided no for now, no, might change my mind eventually and do one for pictures. Probably on GLV.

Ring and wedding insurance – Ring, yes, but wedding no. The venues don’t require a deposit so not much at stake there.

Guest list – Difficult, but done. Keeping it small!

Venue – Spearhead Winery in Kelowna for a reception with a big thank you to Marina and Bill Knutson.  They don’t usually do weddings, but are making an exception as she’s a fellow Dame and we promise not to make a mess. Mom and Dad’s for reception and a million thanks to them.

Wedding Pros – Photographer, Christine McAvoy, and caterer, Chef Ross Derrick owner of the Table at Codfather’s, booked. I am doing most of the planning along with my mother who will handle decorating as she does have such great taste and talent. Music is up in the air, but likely just a play list that Michael is coordinating and a good speaker system. I told you we’re not getting too FANCY!

Wedding dress and veil – Dress yes, and it’s a secret to Michael, those close know I can’t help but showing them a photo. The veil I am still questioning, likely bird cage. Love the look above. Funny that my gal Maria was weighing in at the time of the screenshot!

Pinterest – Of course Pinterest is massively populated with all sorts of wild ideas.

Engagement photos – Didn’t do anything official, and we don’t feel we missed anything.

Save the date – Did verbally for most.

10-11 Months to go

Bridal party attire – As mentioned, it’s just us so we don’t have a party, but you can be sure we will have a PARTY!

Reserve ceremony and reception –  Spearhead Winery notified and Mom and Dad are aware the backyard is where it’s at.

Wedding caterer and photographer booked – Christine McAvoy, Chef Ross Derrick

Wedding dress, veil and undergarments to buy – Well dress is booked, but I’ve never needed underwear 10 months ahead of time. Really?

Fitness Routine – You know the bride is fully on this. I have been going to Dailey Method religiously, out for runs and workouts with Kate McNulty too.

Skin Care/Beauty Routine – Working with Alfa Renaissance Spa and using Apothekari Skin Care for soothing and skin tightening; more about that soon. Michael went for an initial 2 months to go facial at Alfa Renaissance too and will do one more a week before.

8-9 mos

Hotels – Well we did kind of screw this up as the main hotel we wanted was booked out, so that could have been handled better, by BOOKING OFF rooms and getting the invite out earlier! We are at the Manteo and many next door at the Eldorado (where we got engaged), more budget-minded can stay at the Sierra.

Gift Registry – More on that soon, but we don’t need much.

Wedding Invitations – Emailed. Hey, I’m in digital marketing so why would I waste paper?

Honeymoon – We are doing a pre-wedding Okanagan vacation and staying up there the week after. Heading to the Osoyoos Oysterfest to relax the weekend before.

Well that’s enough for you now, if you’ve hung in there till now you are either a friend or planning your own wedding, so thank you and good luck! I’ll review the 7-month tasks next week and keep you up to date on where we’re at along with getting into the nitty gritty of a few of the important things! For those into these wedding things. I didn’t think I’d be so excited myself, but I am truly thrilled and enjoying the journey.

Our to-do’s for now?

• #1!!! Wedding license, then Michael’s wedding band, then shoes (almost #1), music, welcome baskets, plan rehearsal dinner, and next day brunch, welcome gifts and wedding favours , jewelry (and underwear), keep the fitness and diet routine going, along with skincare and general self-care. Lots to think of, but we’re on it!

More soon and be sure to plan and marry well!