Comments on: Wedding Graduate: Alyssa

By: Darcy

Darcy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:05:15 +0000

Absolutely love this post, which I just found via a link from another APW article. I count myself among the lucky few brides who have been pretty Zen all along the way, despite a couple of surges of mad Etsy buying and DIY dilemmas. I’m getting married this weekend, and I can’t wait!

The major factors making my blissful state possible have been:
* Steady participation of my fiance in planning and easy agreement between us about the nature of the event;
* A short (6-month) engagement and all of the automatic (freeing!) concessions that go along with it;
* Keeping the wedding small (60 of our closest family members and friends, though it has been a bit stressful to hem in the list and keep it contained, for fear of offending people not invited);
* Having the wedding during the Christmas season, when our venue will already be beautifully decorated, saving us from having to make or buy a bunch of flowers and decor;
* Choosing a venue that provides a skilled wedding planner, in-house catering/bar supplies and lodging (a historic hotel in the town where we live);
* Staying local, and focusing as much as possible on buying locally;
* Taking the high road when dealing with family members, making concessions to keep the peace (i.e., not having a rigid “vision”);
* Delegating to family members and being content with how they do whatever I’ve asked;
* Being happy with all of the elements I have been able to find, make or borrow, however unlike my original “vision” they may have been.
* And, finally, being a mature bride of 39 who simply knows she’s met her match. I’ve become much more low-key in my maturity, and I’m sure that’s served me well throughout this process. The only things that REALLY mattered to me were finding a great photographer and a beautiful venue. Everything else just fell into place.

What a beautiful thing it is, to put on a wedding, get all dressed up and just have fun with those we love, eh? I just can’t wait for Saturday, when I’ll focus on being present, taking it all in and having a wonderful time.

Good luck and happy planning to all! xo

By: sarah

sarah — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:17:45 +0000

Okay, I just read this today because I am way behind the times (or, just getting married in July and feeling DAMN LUCKY to have found APW and reading its backlogs obsessively), and GRRL, you are my FUGGING HERO.
Being myself totally obsessed (there’s that word again! I’m obsessive — Harry Potter series, anyone? Puma shoes? Beethoven string quartets?) with Not Being THAT Bride and Saving All the Money, I jumped headfirst into DIY blogs. You know what, though? I don’t have All the Time — I teach high school English, for chrissakes. But I do want to have All the Meaning and All the Love … and I’m starting to let go. And you, dearest heart, are my new bride-life coach. Whenever I need to chill. the. eff. out., I’m coming back to this post. No, I do not need to make fans for favors for my guests. (But if I do decide to do it, they will be awesome.) No, I do not need to do whatever else it is I’m sure I’ll come up with. All I need is to be a pretty, pretty princess, give The B a big ol’ kiss, and get married. Oh, and rock out at the party.
Alyssa, I don’t know you, but I love you. Thank you for being you.

By: Ake

Ake — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:46:13 +0000

LIFE ZEN. This I want.

By: Ris

Ris — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:39:13 +0000

Ahhh!!! Alyssa! You may never see this new comment buried down here in 2011 BUT!!!! I just found my wedding dress today at DB, was googling images of “real brides” wearing it, and saw you! (um, this is a little weird, cause I know you from APW stalking, but you don’t know me… unless you remember me from one of maybe five comments I’ve ever left here… this is getting awkward…). ANYWAY – I’m very excited about finding my dress, and feel like it’s some sort of sign that Alyssa of ATP fame liked it too :)

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:06:59 +0000

Oh this is a good one! I went from not giveing a shit about anything to, well, you said it already in your post. :)
So yeah, I’m two years late to this party, but I was wondering….I got the same dress and what on earth did you wear for spanx? it seems like all the ones i can find come up to your shoulderblades, which isn’t exactly the look I’m going for with a backless dress… :)

By: laurenha sent a spelling edit. | Editz

laurenha sent a spelling edit. | Editz — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:10:49 +0000

[...] http://apracticalwedding.com/2009/12 …PendingReport Abuse [...]

By: SamB

SamB — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:56:56 +0000

I know it’s a little off-topic, but – OMG, can I tell you how awesome it is to see a bride in glasses? I see real wedding pictures all the time, and the few brides I see in glasses are wearing dainty, blend-right-into-the-face glasses. I’m glad to see some beautiful pictures of a gorgeous woman, who happens to be wearing in your face, cooler-than-lisa-loeb, black-rimmed, balls-to-the-wall GLASSES! I’m printing. Next time someone in my family tells me I’ll regret not wearing contacts, instead of getting ENGRAGED, I’ll just calmly pull out the pic and say, “hmmmmm, do you think she regretted it? She looks like she had a really great time…”

By: More wedding planning

More wedding planning — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:01:25 +0000

[...] stressed about everything (that’s not to say I’m not at all stressed). Mostly, reading this pushed me towards reaching some sort of pre-wedding [...]

By: APW Meetup « Our $10,000 Windy City Wedding

APW Meetup « Our $10,000 Windy City Wedding — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:02:06 +0000

[...] Alyssa and Kristy were kind enough to bring some nifty-gifties, check it: [...]

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:08:04 +0000

Wedding Zen is my new mantra. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.