This weekend was a lot of budget talk and wedding planning.
We opened a joint savings account at Navy Federal Credit Union (thanks T and your vet status). We have a pretty aggressive plan to help ease the the reality of a kitchen/bath gut job/remodel this summer/fall and a wedding next fall (we don’t expect any family financial contributions for the wedding). We’re meeting with a financial planning at the credit union on Tuesday.
My friend S is officially helping me wedding plan, but she’s been doing it part time for years in Charlotte. (Side note: a DC area wedding planner who specifies in destination I talked to sent me a contract – $6,500 lololololol).
S helped me feel good about our planning timeline. Most of my friends were married within a year of their engagement so I think that’s why I’ve felt so behind. We’ll have a ~19 month engagement, so I just need to calm down!! I can take my time getting the big things sorted for the next few months.
S also sent along a really helpful and useful wedding budgeting spreadsheet, way better than the ones I’ve seen in “those wedding planning site.” I now feel confident about how to make the most of our budget.
S has been doing research (along with my bridesmaid C) on venues/locations. I’m pretty narrowed in on Lisbon, Portugal and Malaga, Spain. I’m getting connected with some brides or people who live(d) in those places, so that’s helpful.
T & I are looking to scout venues and other local things this fall, so we’ll have a sense of the weather and tourism for next fall. We want to give our guests as must notice as possible so securing a venue is important and having the save the dates out 10-11 months in advance.
Once I get the venue locked in my next major focus will be the dress. I’ve actually never looked through wedding gowns in a store – I’ve only been to bridal shops for bridesmaid dresses. I have a better sense of what I don’t want (no to strapless, open back, ball gown, anything tooo white, or too heavy) verses what I want (to wear a normal style bra, a little tasteful cleavage, maybe a little sparkle).
I think getting a dress this fall will give me time to continue with Weight Watchers and have a buffer to maintain (summer is my busy season where I am eating mostly catered food) I’m hoping to stay on track, but at the very least not derail!! Ideally I’ll hit my goal weight or close to it this fall and then spend the next year maintaining and toning.
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