So one of the things Brandon and I have had to do to prepare for our upcoming nuptials is premarital counseling. It's something that's required by the Episcopalian church, which is probably a good thing because it's been really beneficial but I don't think we would have done it otherwise.
While we've always been pretty open and honest with each other about future plans and expectations, counseling has provided us with an opportunity to address things we'd never thought much about. For instance, every couple needs to have a healthy fighting style. Some couples hide their emotions under the surface, never fighting with each other at all, while all of the anger and hurt builds like soda in a bottle. Then, when they eventually explode, they assume the relationship is over. Scary!
Brandon and I have never been like that, but counseling has provided us with great ways to communicate through disagreements rather than trying to argue semantics, fight just to win the argument rather than resolve an issue, or to perpetuate our own points of view without listening to the other person.
Our awesome counselor, Reverend Andrew, also asked one important task of us throughout our counseling: He wanted us to read a book on marriage together. He made the point that most people do more research before they buy a car than before they enter into a marriage, because we are raised to believe we all have some sort of innate ability to know how marriages are "supposed" to work. Not necessarily so. Brandon and I spent some time on Amazon.com and picked out this book (The 10 Conversations You Must Have Before Getting Married), which (admittedly) we need to pick up the pace on, but has been a great conversation starter so far. Excellent!
I highly recommend that anyone in a long-term relationship that is headed for marriage try premarital counseling. Even if you don't NEED it, it certainly won't hurt! And hey, you never know what you'll learn about yourself or your fiance.
TTFN!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Bad at Keeping Up
Alexis here! I'm terrible at keeping up with this thing.
Still maintaining my laissez-faire attitude about wedding planning, which has been both good and bad. I think things will turn out nicely, but there is still a lot left to do and not a whole lot of time to do it!
Our guest list keeps expanding, despite all our efforts not to let that happen. It's okay - it will still be a small shindig, and though our budget has not grown with the guest list, that just means smaller pieces of cake for each person. Or something like that. :)
So, here's what's worked out:
WEDDING AND RECEPTION LOCATION: Church of the Redeemer, Washington, GA
OFFICIANT: Rev. (Dr.) Denni Moss
DATE: August 1st, 2009
TIME: 3:30 PM
REHEARSAL DATE: July 31st, 2009
REHEARSAL TIME: Afternoon/early evening TBD
MAID OF HONOR: Hayley Colvard
BRIDESMAID: Katie Jones
BEST MAN: Evan Rhodes
GROOSMAN: Colin Rhodes
FLOWER GIRL: Millie Burke Stoller
PIANIST (Wedding March): Troy Colvard
PIANIST (All other music): A lady at the church I have not met/spoken with yet. Need to get on that!
PREMARITAL COUNSELOR: Rev. Andrew Mullins (2 sessions down, 1 to go!)
PASSAGES TO BE READ (from The Book of Common Prayer): Song of Solomon 2:10-13 and 8:6-7; Corinthians 3:12-17; John 15:9-12.
SAVE THE DATES: Sent!
INVITATIONS: Bought; Brandon is doing calligraphy
PHOTOGRAPHER: Miguel Pajares
DRESS, SHOES, VEIL: Ready!
TUXEDO: Brandon has one, but he is unhappy with the cut so he may buy or rent another one.
CAKE: Hayley Colvard
CATERING: Bones of Washington, GA (more details TBD)
ALCOHOL: TBD
FLOWERS: We're only doing bouquets for my girls and me, which we're going to get at a local store on the day of the wedding.
DECORATIONS: None bought just yet - Katie, Brandon, and I will be making a trip to find some the next time we hit Atlanta!
MUSIC: iPod playlist, buddy! Need to rent speakers.
HONEYMOON: Savannah, GA (details TBD)
...PHEW! There is a lot left to do, but all of the important parts are locked in place. We have a place to be married, the people we love coming, someone to marry us, and someone to capture the memories. Everything else is small potatoes! As long as we are married at the end of the day, it will have been successful.
More to come soon. Well, sooner than 6 months, like last time.
Still maintaining my laissez-faire attitude about wedding planning, which has been both good and bad. I think things will turn out nicely, but there is still a lot left to do and not a whole lot of time to do it!
Our guest list keeps expanding, despite all our efforts not to let that happen. It's okay - it will still be a small shindig, and though our budget has not grown with the guest list, that just means smaller pieces of cake for each person. Or something like that. :)
So, here's what's worked out:
WEDDING AND RECEPTION LOCATION: Church of the Redeemer, Washington, GA
OFFICIANT: Rev. (Dr.) Denni Moss
DATE: August 1st, 2009
TIME: 3:30 PM
REHEARSAL DATE: July 31st, 2009
REHEARSAL TIME: Afternoon/early evening TBD
MAID OF HONOR: Hayley Colvard
BRIDESMAID: Katie Jones
BEST MAN: Evan Rhodes
GROOSMAN: Colin Rhodes
FLOWER GIRL: Millie Burke Stoller
PIANIST (Wedding March): Troy Colvard
PIANIST (All other music): A lady at the church I have not met/spoken with yet. Need to get on that!
PREMARITAL COUNSELOR: Rev. Andrew Mullins (2 sessions down, 1 to go!)
PASSAGES TO BE READ (from The Book of Common Prayer): Song of Solomon 2:10-13 and 8:6-7; Corinthians 3:12-17; John 15:9-12.
SAVE THE DATES: Sent!
INVITATIONS: Bought; Brandon is doing calligraphy
PHOTOGRAPHER: Miguel Pajares
DRESS, SHOES, VEIL: Ready!
TUXEDO: Brandon has one, but he is unhappy with the cut so he may buy or rent another one.
CAKE: Hayley Colvard
CATERING: Bones of Washington, GA (more details TBD)
ALCOHOL: TBD
FLOWERS: We're only doing bouquets for my girls and me, which we're going to get at a local store on the day of the wedding.
DECORATIONS: None bought just yet - Katie, Brandon, and I will be making a trip to find some the next time we hit Atlanta!
MUSIC: iPod playlist, buddy! Need to rent speakers.
HONEYMOON: Savannah, GA (details TBD)
...PHEW! There is a lot left to do, but all of the important parts are locked in place. We have a place to be married, the people we love coming, someone to marry us, and someone to capture the memories. Everything else is small potatoes! As long as we are married at the end of the day, it will have been successful.
More to come soon. Well, sooner than 6 months, like last time.
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