Let me start this out by saying my fiance is a saint to deal with me everyday, believe me I know this! One of my least favorite parts of the wedding planning process has been the registry. We have two registries - one for our honeymoon at Sandals (this one was easy and fun) and one at Bed Bath and Beyond (this one was not easy). We struggled a bit in the beginning with the whole concept - we're not a young, just starting out couple, we both had places before we moved in and a lot of miss-matched items. It felt weird to ask for all new stuff, as I consulted my married friends, multiple blogs/articles, and the knot.com, it was unanamous - set up a registry because guests like it and you get discounts on anything on there not purchased just for having one.
We ventured to Bed Bath and Beyond on a snowing day after work to a small one in the city. Fun fact, every BB&B has different stuff and the small ones have less options. We met with a very chatty consultant who showed us the 5 china patterns they had and then sent us off to scan away. I would have never guessed it but my fiance LOVED scanning whatever he could find at the highest price. Half way through we had a serious, "let's think through what we really need/want" chat and continued on our way. We both left frustrated and ready to be out of there.
So let's talk china for a second. I never thought of myself as a fancy china wanting kind of person but the thought of china is intriguing to me. I love my mother's china that she has from Joe's grandma and I love Bart's mother's china. I love getting them out on holidays and using the fancy plates. I love being the only one who wraps them up so they are safe. I love the tradition of it all. I loved the thought of some day sitting around the table hosting holidays with our family using fancy china. What I don't love is the cost of china. I have gone back and forth and back and forth on this china concept. We agreed on a pattern and then a good friend of mine picked the exact same pattern for their wedding china so we started from scratch. We went in a second time to a much larger BB&B and spent over an hour mixing and matching and trying to find something we both liked. I was so overwhelmed by the sales lady, so was Bart, at some point I was ready to cry and he was walking out of the store... miserable!
Finally, last night I decided I no longer wanted china, if we got that china I would be reminded of this miserable process and really Bart could care less about china. We decided to go with the cheap, basic white everyday plates from BB&B. Yes all of that and we went with the cheapest most practical alternative. Will I regret not getting china? Maybe. Was this the right decision? Who knows. Does anyone give a crap anymore about china? Normally I would ask for opinions on this but ya know what, I don't care, I don't want them, I just want to be happy with my simple pratical classic white plates and never talk about this silly topic again.
I'm happy to say I feel good about this registry debacle coming to it's conclusion and if you want advice on how to enjoy the registery process, don't ask me because I have NO CLUE!
In other wedding news... things are moving along nicely, it's going to be here before we know it! My MOH and I started discussing the shower/bachelorette party which is SO EXCITING. It's going to be fun and low key and exactly how I want it! Our next big step is the engagement party that my family is throwing for us in Dubuque. Having a smaller wedding venue, I'm so excited to get to involve everyone in this party! My mother and sister-in-law are great planners and hosts, and I feel very lucky they want to do this for us! This will also be the place that our families meet for the first time.
Buckle up, this is going to be one crazy 6 months... almost 5 months... holy crap!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Six months and I'm a Sitarski!
I'm getting married in 6 months! SIX MONTHS! It is so crazy to think about a year ago and how much things can change in a year. I cannot wait for it to be December 7th, I cannot wait to see all of my family and friends and go through the experiences that I have seen so many friends and family members have on their wedding days. Most importantly I cannot wait to marry my best friend and make him legally bound to me for the rest of our lives. Today I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
I am also very lucky to be surrounded by couples who are willing to share what has worked and what has not worked for them. I am constantly asking people "what is your secret" to a happy marriage... I get answers that range from "communication" to "good sex" to "xanax." Through the gathering of these finding, I think about what our "secret" is or what makes our life together so happy... so I thought on the six month to our wedding date day, I would list some of these out. Who knows... it may be helpful to look back on one day.
1. Family is important! We are both extremely close to our families and both make our families a priority in our lives. Families are forever! I personally could not be with someone that my family didn't love and respect as much as I do because let's face it, the people in my family are some of the funnest people I know and hanging out with them is a total blast!! One piece of advice I was told along the way was to avoid family drama and be the "point person" for your own family - don't put each other in the middle. This may sound a little odd but it makes sense - we don't want to create any "bad guy" situations.
2. Laugh... a lot! We may act like 5 year olds half the time, but at least we are both acting like 5 year olds!
3. Thank each other! We make it a point to show our appreciation for even the simplest tasks. "Thanks for doing the laundry" "Thanks for putting away the dishes." The other night Bart made dinner, I thanked him for a fabulous dinner and then cleaned the kitchen (I mean he cooked... its only fair). After thanking me for cleaning up, he asked if we can stay this nice to each other and still thank each other when we're married... mental note... point taken :-).
4. Make each other feel important! We both do things to make each other feel important. We make a big deal out of birthdays and anniversary's. Bart is sooo good at buying me flowers. Sometimes even the littlest things make the biggest impact.
5. Communication is key! I know its sounds so unoriginal but let's be honest, its a fact. Unfortunately we have already encountered a couple of situations on the more difficult side and we have come out of them stronger because we talk about it. It's not rocket science, just tell the other person what's going on and what's pissing you off... its amazing how helpful that can be!
6. Me and You Against the World! It may sound kinda silly but we've said this statement so many times, whenever one of us is feeling like things aren't fair, or we're struggling with something, it reminds us that we have each other and we don't have to go through anything alone.
Now, make no mistake we are not perfect... well mostly I am not perfect, he's pretty freaking close! But hey maybe this will make someone thank their significant other more or buy a card on the way home.
Six months and I'm a Sitarski :-).
I am also very lucky to be surrounded by couples who are willing to share what has worked and what has not worked for them. I am constantly asking people "what is your secret" to a happy marriage... I get answers that range from "communication" to "good sex" to "xanax." Through the gathering of these finding, I think about what our "secret" is or what makes our life together so happy... so I thought on the six month to our wedding date day, I would list some of these out. Who knows... it may be helpful to look back on one day.
1. Family is important! We are both extremely close to our families and both make our families a priority in our lives. Families are forever! I personally could not be with someone that my family didn't love and respect as much as I do because let's face it, the people in my family are some of the funnest people I know and hanging out with them is a total blast!! One piece of advice I was told along the way was to avoid family drama and be the "point person" for your own family - don't put each other in the middle. This may sound a little odd but it makes sense - we don't want to create any "bad guy" situations.
2. Laugh... a lot! We may act like 5 year olds half the time, but at least we are both acting like 5 year olds!
3. Thank each other! We make it a point to show our appreciation for even the simplest tasks. "Thanks for doing the laundry" "Thanks for putting away the dishes." The other night Bart made dinner, I thanked him for a fabulous dinner and then cleaned the kitchen (I mean he cooked... its only fair). After thanking me for cleaning up, he asked if we can stay this nice to each other and still thank each other when we're married... mental note... point taken :-).
4. Make each other feel important! We both do things to make each other feel important. We make a big deal out of birthdays and anniversary's. Bart is sooo good at buying me flowers. Sometimes even the littlest things make the biggest impact.
5. Communication is key! I know its sounds so unoriginal but let's be honest, its a fact. Unfortunately we have already encountered a couple of situations on the more difficult side and we have come out of them stronger because we talk about it. It's not rocket science, just tell the other person what's going on and what's pissing you off... its amazing how helpful that can be!
6. Me and You Against the World! It may sound kinda silly but we've said this statement so many times, whenever one of us is feeling like things aren't fair, or we're struggling with something, it reminds us that we have each other and we don't have to go through anything alone.
Now, make no mistake we are not perfect... well mostly I am not perfect, he's pretty freaking close! But hey maybe this will make someone thank their significant other more or buy a card on the way home.
Six months and I'm a Sitarski :-).
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