* Emily, Website Manager & Matt, Writer *
I like to call myself a realist. I prepare myself for the worst-case scenarios of almost everything big I do in life (and some of the little things, too). Applying for a job? Likely won’t get it. (Happy surprise when you do!) Weird rash on your hand? Could be flesh-eating bacteria. (But no! It’s from good times drinking margaritas on the street in New Orleans! True story) The list goes on. Some (my now husband included) call this pessimism. Whatever. It mostly works for me.
What happens when a realist plans a wedding? Well, first of all, the expectation must be that your planned outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour will actually take place inside. It’s also likely that our full bar will—poof—magically vanish before our eyes as guests slurp down local ales, wines, and rye whiskey. This is not acceptable, so extra wine needs to be purchased at the last minute. The most obvious area for disaster is the two fifty-five-person buses hired to take guests the thirty minutes from the hotel to our vineyard venue. They could get lost! A tire could pop! Half the guests could be running late and miss the bus!
With all this in mind during the planning process, there were spreadsheets within spreadsheets and contingency plans galore. Somehow, in my mind, our “plan B” would always twist itself into “plan A.” And then, in the end, the plans all came together to make something that was absolutely perfect because it was us.
Maybe I am still basking in the afterglow of the amazing friends, family, and vendors that helped us to make our wedding a success. (Actually, I definitely am, with just over a week between us and the “big day.”) Getting ready was hectic and over beer, just like we normally do it. Matt and I laughed and smiled as we walked down the aisle hand in hand. Our ceremony both sped up and slowed time as we shared our vows with each other and with the most important people in our lives. I even managed to say “boob” and to drop Matt’s ring. We had an epic dance party and got to drink our favorite drinks. (They didn’t run out, thank you very much.) We got to soak in the love and happiness that surrounded us on all sides, and it was the most amazing way to mark us being married and joining each other’s families officially.
Pessimism. Realism. Cautious optimism. No matter what you plan for your wedding, isn’t it a good day to start accepting that maybe everything won’t turn out for the worse? That good (even great) things do happen? (Not always, but they do happen!) We prepared for everything we could think of—and then we sat back, watched everything unfold, and had a drink.
The Info—Photographer: Amber Wilkie / Location: Bluemont, Virginia / Venue: Bluemont Vineyard / Wedding Bands: Bario-Neal / Emily’s Dress: BHLDN / Emily’s Heels: Nine West / Emily’s Dancing Flats: J. Crew / Emily’s Necklace: Your Wishcake via Etsy / Emily’s Hair Piece: Hanging by a Thread via Etsy / Emily’s Hair: Stephanie Novak, Coppertop Salon / Emily’s Makeup: She did it herself, proudly / Matt’s Suit: Banana Republic / Matt’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds / Matt’s Tie and Pocket Square: Tie Bar / Flowers: From Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, done by Emily and her family / Caterer: Savoir Fare / Pies: Mom’s Apple Pie / DJ: Anthony Simpson from My DeeJay
