13 Weddings...

Not counting the ones for work, Mr. FJ and I were invited to 13 weddings this year (not including our own).  Last year, it was 12.  Maybe next year, it'll be 14, who knows?

At this going rate (and not to mention being a professional event planner), it's easy to think that I have seen it all and have become all too jaded by this 'wedding' business.  Truth be told, there is indeed a general formula and equation to the entire wedding process.  Some people can become so wrapped up in it all- the 'bling', the glitz, the glamour, the "different" ideas, the favors, the colors, the stationery... the list can go on forever and ever.  Basically, it becomes easy to forget the real meaning behind a wedding celebration.  A wedding, in it's core, is two people coming together to celebrate their union with the ones they love the most.  It's really just a big ol' party!

Regardless of all the weddings which I have attended, planned, and/or coordinated, there are still moments and universal elements about each wedding that still gets me all teary-eyed.  These elements, I believe, are also the simplest moments involved in a wedding.

In no particular order, these things include:
- The bride walking down the aisle to her groom
- The groom's face while watching his bride walking to him
- The exchange of vows
- Parents' faces and expressions during the ceremony
- The first dance b/w the bride and groom
- The father/daughter & mother/son dances
- Toasts and speeches

I was recently at a wedding, and there were a series of events that occurred which triggered some realizations in me.  As the host of a wedding celebration, it is such a precious feeling to know you are surrounded by people who are rooting for you in one of the most important moments in your life.  As the guest, it is incredibly special to be there for your loved ones as they take such a huge step as individuals and as a couple.

To all brides- & grooms-to-be: While it's important to make your wedding as special, memorable, and different than others, just remember that there has never been and will never be 2 other people who are just like you to get married.  Just relax and try to enjoy planning, because YOU ARE LOVED no matter what happens!

To all guests-to-be: This might be "just another" wedding you are attending, but please remember that you are very special and dear to the couple; so special that they want to remember you in their wedding photos and in one of the biggest days of their lives.  Enjoy and have a good time!

From Bride to Wife... and the Dresses in Between

38 days since becoming Mrs. FJ... What a milestone!

From planning to executing, and now from honeymooning to moving in together; the last 14 months have surely been a whirlwind. So much so that I haven't even blogged anything about it yet! From this point forth, I will try to recount all the details of planning, which eventually materialized to what I call, 'My Wedding'.

About 14 months ago, my then-boyfriend of 6 years-4 months-22 days (but who's counting?) asked me to be his wife. I excitedly said 'yes' and we embarked on a beautiful journey (otherwise known as, wedding planning). There were many sleepless nights and silly arguments. All-in-all, it was a good time (at least it was for me).

'How and where would a wedding planner begin her own wedding planning', you ask?

I didn't, actually! Unlike many brides, I tried really hard to savor every moment of being engaged without becoming too enthralled by wedding colors, flowers, vendors; the works. That is until I saw 6 words.... "SALE: ADDITIONAL 30% OFF + FREE SHIPPING" Ah! Good'ol J.Crew. How could a girl ever pass up on a good sale? I began browsing the sale section, as I always would. Then I found something which seemed too good to be true.

Behold...

This is the Sophia dress made in Blue Hazel silk chiffon. It caught my eye immediately. I can't say I'm a connoisseur in fashion, but I know that I love really classic looking pieces. I am especially drawn to the fashion trends of the early 1960's, where women's wardrobes were dawned with elegance, simplicity and symmetry. The icing on the cake was that this dress was on sale for $49.99 with an additional 30% off! I thought to myself, "If I bought this dress for my bridesmaids, I would only be paying $35 + taxes per dress. WHAT A STEAL!"

It is 9 days after my engagement. I haven't even begun looking at venues, choose a photographer, try on wedding gowns, or even decide on THE date. Part of me began to doubt whether I'd be making a huge mistake, because I knew bridesmaids' dresses are pivotal pieces to a wedding. The dresses are supposed to reflect the overarching theme and colors of the entire affair. After wrestling with myself for about 20 minutes, I followed my gut and decided to do it.

Since it was a sale, I knew the sizes and quantities of the dress were limited. I had to move fast. In about an hour's worth of time, I called/emailed/text'd 11 of the closest women in my life (yep, you read correctly... 11 is right) and asked them to be a part of my bridal party. With their blessings and dress sizes, I made the order over the phone. The sales representative congratulated me. That moment marked the beginning of the next 13 months of my life.

Allow Me to Introduce Myself....

My name is Sook. Some call me Sookie; others just stick to Sook. I live in the Lower East Side of NYC and I am an event planner.

"Why event planning?" you ask. Well, mainly because I am nothing short of an extrovert. I love people and I love parties. So why not make a career out of it? Currently, the main focus of my events are weddings. Thanks to my friends in love, I've been attending (on average) 12-13 weddings in the last couple of years. Talk about OD. All sarcasm aside, I do love me a good wedding.

Ironically, I am actually in the midst of planning my own (WHEEE!). The not-so-fun part is that it IS my own. During this process, I'm realizing that it's much harder to make decisions than it is to just like a bunch of stuff. Plus, my fiance (we'll call him Mr. FJ) is in the midst of grad school and not always readily available. Thankfully, my already-gathered resources from past wedding planning has been quite helpful.

I hope to use this blog in order to share with you some of my personal experiences planning my own big day; as well as shed light on how you can create your dream wedding.

Come back often...