Wedding stress will be worth it in November
Published 10:01 pm Thursday, July 17, 2014
I can safely assume I’m not the first man to become thoroughly intimidated by the amount of time, money and planning that goes into a wedding.
We men are a simple breed; give us steak, sports and a snifter of scotch, and we’re set.
The day before Father’s Day, I dropped on my knee and asked my girlfriend to marry me.
For whatever reason — she heard me incorrectly, was confused by the question or had the sun in her eyes — she said yes.
With several generations of her family looking on, I was relieved to rise to my feet an engaged man.
Rachel and I had spoken for months about getting engaged, and we also agreed to enjoy the first week after I popped the question without worrying about wedding plans.
We actually made it two days, which is no small feat.
With a little more than four months to arrange every detail before the happiest day of our lives arrives Nov. 22, I’m beginning to think I should have started planning the occasion before we met early last year.
Over the past few weeks, Rachel and her mother have taken the lead on scouting locations, meeting potential caterers and planning for upcoming decisions.
Anyone who has gotten married knows about the unending list of decisions that must be made before the first look.
For me, marriage is something I had thought about before, but I didn’t think the odds were too great I would find a girl who could put up with me enough to want to spend forever by my side.
Thankfully, that changed.
While many girls grow up dreaming of the white dresses and the vows, I was among the majority of boys more interested in college football stars and riding my bike.
Thankfully, things have changed.
As I grew up and learned about love and relationships from friends, family and others I have met, one thing became clear — love can change you.
It can and it will.
Every morning when I get to work, I write a list of the things I need to do to have a successful day.
Now, those lists are dwarfed by a longer one that rests on my nightstand; my first honey-do list.
I need a suit, my groomsmen need to know what color tie to wear, and my family needs to know where they can find a hotel in rural Alabama.
Life and love have taught me the best things in this life are worth blood, sweat and tears. While she and I are losing sleep over wedding plans these days, I know it will all be worth it when the wedding bells ring and we walk the aisle together in November.