The final stage

Well readers, I have officially began my transition into the last stage of engagement. I first thought about the stages reading this awesome post by a blogger on weddingbee, and it got me thinking about how my stages have gone.

Some people say I've had a whirlwind engagement, being that from start to finish it will be just over 7 months, which this day and age is nothing. Of course, don't tell this to my mom who planned her entire wedding in less than four, I believe! Anyways, when reading that blog I got to thinking about how I have dealt with it... and my stages have been slightly different. So I bestow upon you the stages of engagement in the life of Miss. Sunshine.

Stage One: The Engagement. This stage lasted about a month for me. I stared at my ring. I told everyone I knew that I was engaged when I saw them. I jumped up and down with excitement. I was so fricken happy I'm sure people began to want to wipe the smile off my face! But instead, I looked something like this for an entire month...

My jaws started to hurt after a bit. I swear.

Soon, the engagement turned to "holy sh*t, I need to plan!" which is where stage two came along.

Stage Two: Insanity. This is where wedding nightmares, venue disasters, searching for the perfect xyz and intense worries about the budget came in. Because I am a wedding planning hero, I actually transitioned through this phase from January to February, leaving everything done and decided before March Break. Trust me, that was well worth it. I believe stage two will kill any unsuspecting bride who does not realize the importance of choosing between venues, finding pastors and looking up every liquor law for the area.

Add in about 30 more post-its and that was me.

Stage Three: The DIY Excitement. After the vendors were picked, I, of course, realized I had tons of time! In fact, at the time I realized that I had, in fact, five more months until the big day! So what did I do? I became obsessed with Pinterest and DIY project. In five months I made my bridal jewellery, a hand beaded cathedral veil, a set of bridal flowers (now being used in vases), bridesmaid jewellery, bridesmaid canvas bags, glittered wine glasses, escort card holders (in my pile of garbage), an escort card board, 60 invitations, 120 envelopes (check the trash), card box sign (dogs ate it), decor, and, of course, I had at least 20 projects I started and then stopped for no apparent reason. Trust me when I warn you future brides that the DIY gets old after awhile.

I seriously looked like this at one point. If you require power tools, you are too much into DIY mode.

Stage Four: The Lull. After you finish yet another DIY and realize you need a break, you stop. Life happens, you get busy, things are pushed aside and then one day someone says, "Miss. Sunshine, do you realize you are getting married in ONE MONTH!?" and the lull ends. Seriously. It was like I went into a bridal coma and had to wake up.

Life was rainbows and unicorns. Sooooo nice.

Stage Five: Mass Panic. So, no matter how prepared you were (and I had NOTHING left on my to do list except seating chart, escort board, card box sign, gifts, limo and get my car tuned up), all of a sudden every vendor on your list will have a thousand questions that needed to be answered yesterday. Where are the tables going to be set up? What is the timeline? How many of each meal do you need? What is the final head count? What is the music list? What about photography shots? Is there still no special allergies? Can we have the money you owe us now that we are one month out? It sucks, and it is where I am.

Just tell me if you are actually going to show up, GODDAMNIT!!!!

I'm curious about stage six, but not there yet. I think it will be blissful ignorance and excitement will come back. It is in twinges, but not steadily. Too many other things on the go.

What were your stages? How is planning treating you?

Miss. Sunshine