Relationships

Ready, Set, Honeymoon!

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Getting ready for a trip, I’m reminded of all the planning that went in to our honeymoon even in the midst of wedding prep.  I remember packing and unpacking, realizing our suitcases were too heavy, trying on shoes for comfort, and buying special electrical converters. Somehow through the fog of dress fittings and table arrangements, we managed to spend some quality time packing for our adventure. And it was fun!

If possible, reclaim a little time to plan together for those unforeseen honeymoon moments: when someone catches a cold, or your elegant clothes are soaked by a sudden downpour. Traveling together as newlyweds is in many ways a microcosm of life – and it’s priceless to know that you’ve got a steadfast partner by your side, to hold your hand as you explore and discover new places both around the world and within yourselves.

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Live well and love well.

 

-Dinah

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My best friends hate me! I just know it! (psst – actually, you don’t know it).

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To-be-weds can get worked up, and wedding party drama is a common occurrence. I like to point out that if you listen to your own words, you can often hear wisdom.

An example:

“My friends hate me, I just know it!” Let’s play that back. You “just know it?” Chances are you’re making assumptions. So a friend didn’t show up for lunch, and hasn’t returned your call. You have no idea of their circumstances– a sick parent, a dead car battery. Try not to jump immediately to “my best friends hate me.”

Friends don’t pitch in at weddings for free booze– they’re in it for the joy of helping you find happiness. So if it turns out someone is upset, they don’t hate you, they are just hurt by something you said or did.2013-stice.jpg

Your job as a good friend is to find out what happened and work it out. Approaching these situations with grace and humility while planning your wedding is not only good for smoothing things over in the immediate, but will also cement these important friendships for life.

Be well, and love well.

-Dinah

When wedding planning, assume nothing.

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Planning your wedding? Or any special event? Good rule of thumb: Assume Nothing.

Really! Nothing. Always specify (in writing if possible) what you’ve planned for, asked for, paid for, hoped for and wished for.

Especially when it comes to hopes and wishes, please please please don’t expect partners, fiancées and vendors to read your minds. Much to my disappointment (what I wouldn’t give to see inside the minds of the Mother In Laws..) people do not acquire psychic powers during the wedding planning process. Here are some examples of assuming gone awry:

Don’t say to an honor attendant going to your wedding rehearsal: “I’ll see you there” and assume you actually will. In her mind (she’s the rowdy one) you’ll see her there…perhaps after the wedding, hung over from a night out clubbing.

Don’t say to your caterer: “I love beef, so just be creative”  and assume you’ll get a lovely beef entreé, just like you imagined. Your caterer really is creative, and has always harbored a wedding planning fantasy: a reproduction of the Venus De Milo made out of steak tartare.

Have a particular image in mind for your wedding? Let your vendors know.
Have a particular image in mind for your wedding? Let your vendors know.

Don’t say to your brother, “Yes! Make a toast! Funny childhood stories and such” and then be surprised when he tells the guests about you stuffing your bra, or pretending to be ringmaster of the circus. At nineteen.

So you catch my drift. Assume nothing! Make it all very clear, and then enjoy the result of your very-well-communicated labors: just the wedding you wanted.

Be well and love well.

Dinah

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