I have fond memories of yard sale shopping with my Mom. With a coffee, the folded up classifieds, a map and a plan in mind, we set out for hours. While the trunk got full of our finds, we would chat so much that the morning flew by. My Mom has since passed and these are such heartfelt memories. That is where the concept of this blog came about.
If I’m planning a party, a wedding or any event, I go crazy with every little detail. I try to find whatever I can secondhand because everything is a small fraction of the new price and the stuff is just fine to be used again. Flashback to when I hosted a “Royal Tea Party” for my daughter’s birthday….I was obsessed with stopping at every thrift/consignment store around for vintage tea pots, tea sets and anything that complimented the theme. I was on a mission. Now my mission is to learn and share. It’s been challenging as I knew nothing about creating a blog and my writing is nothing to write home about (so cliche). I cannot tell you how many times I have re-written this page over the years.
From my Mom, I learned to be humble and social. In addition to our Saturday yard sale mornings , we also hosted a bunch together. One vivid memory I have is drinking mimosas in the garage while shoppers perused the tables in the driveway. We were having a blast reading Trivial Pursuit cards and laughing with our shoppers. It was more of a social event than a time consuming task to make money – we had so much fun.
She had such style and class. Who knew that her designer accessories were sometimes under 5 bucks? Although, she was not a stranger to finer stores. It was fondly put at her services by my brother that “Talbot’s lost a very good customer and they may go out of business”.
Besides my Mom as an inspiration, a lot of who I am came from my Dad. While my Mom loved shopping, my Dad was (and still is) the exact opposite. He owned his own house and business at 18 years old and turned a small shop into a very successful retail operation with 3 locations. He is known for being one of the best retailers in the industry. You know how he got there? By being extremely driven and honest.
He is now on retired, but his no-BS opinion is still sought after. It is an understatement to say that he is “good with his money”. Although we grew up comfortable, he taught us to never take that for granted. Every single thing we had was earned. I paid for my own auto insurance and gas once I could drive because that was not a free privilege. I paid for my first car in cash, paid for college myself and was self-sufficient long before I left home. Isn’t that what we want for our children?
Last but not least, is the inspiration that came from within. I am a dreamer that never really discovered my niche until recently. Not long ago, I had a bad fall off a ladder and had some serious damage to my foot. A close friend, Lyndsey, found me on the floor after I fell and was so incredibly supportive through my recovery. She helped me through my Mom’s death, brushed my hair when I couldn’t, and “held my hand”.
Months later, she asked me to help plan her wedding. I was honored and eagerly jumped in. I was so overwhelmed with all the research, endless options, and just how expensive weddings have become. So, I just started putting my thoughts on “paper”. The more I wrote, the better I felt. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, living very sedentary due to my injury, I now had a purpose (and still do). It turns my scatter-brain thoughts into something constructive. Whether on Facebook, Pinterest, or on Instagram, my thoughts are all about what I love to do…..finding ways to make weddings unique and not cost so fucking much!
I planned my wedding down to every word of our vows. I was obsessed with everything about our wedding. We got engaged in September and got married the end of January. The wedding was originally going to be in March, but I moved it up to make it happen sooner because I’m so damn impatient. I loved every single second of the planning, aside from the mishaps that come along with it. Although I loved it, would I do it different? You bet your ass I would. The things I thought were important eighteen years ago, I realize are not as important now.
I would have spent less. It is so much money for one day that goes by like a whirlwind. People say that it goes by fast, they weren’t kidding. But, then again, I have an 18 year old now in the Air Force and it feels like yesterday when we did a “poop on the potty” song and dance. I have a different outlook now on the passage of time.
I’d have fewer guests and spend more time with closer loved ones. With one hundred guests, we barely were able to say hi to everyone. It’s hard to make the list smaller and smaller, but I sure wish I had.
I would have opted for candid photography vs. formal ones. Way too much was spent on those. I feel candid style photography better captures the whole vibe of the event and lets you relive them over and over. Half of my photo album is the standard family photos. While they are nice to have, I would rather see them laughing, dancing, eating, singing, and enjoying themselves.
I would have focused less on the material things and more on the new relationships, rekindling the old ones, and becoming closer with my loved ones. After all, a wedding IS about sharing LOVE and CELEBRATING. It’s not about the colors, the centerpieces, the food, the dress, but rather the MARRIAGE. BUT…this is all in HINDSIGHT.
“If I knew then what I know now….”
Every bride wants her dream day to be perfect. But, what is perfect? That is different for each of us.
So, there it is. My honesty. My unfiltered thoughts.
This is ME.
