Originally I started this blog as a way to chronicle my journey through wedding planning. Well, I realized today that I haven’t actually shared much of the plans we have in place yet! I figured now would be a good time to update you on where we stand:

Date: April 17, 2010

I knew I wanted to get married in my church, St. Vincent DePaul in Lincoln Park, but they book up so fast! When we called to see what was available, it was literally April or October of 2010. Given that my lease on my apartment is up in April and Luke and I didn’t want to wait too long, we decided to go with April.

I like the idea of an April wedding for several reasons:

1. The church will still be decorated with calla lilies from Easter
2. It’s not during the traditional wedding season (May-August) so our guests won’t be worn out of attending weddings yet
3. There’s not much going on in April sports-wise
4. People are looking for something fun to do coming out of Winter

Reception Venue: Maggianos Downtown

This year I went to a conference at Maggianos in downtown Chicago. It is the original Maggianos, so in addition to the restaurant they have a very pretty event space. Maggianos is one of Luke’s favorite restaurants when he is in the mood to impress me with his eating abilities- they serve amazing family-style Italian food.

During our visit with the banquet manager there, we were blown away. For a very reasonable per person price they offer:

• The entire event space from 6-midnight, which is very elegant with dark hardwood throughout
• Two full bars with two bartenders at each
• Two appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees, desserts per table…check out the menu options!
• Free wedding cake from a great local bakery
• An outdoor area (where the men in my family will be enjoying cigars, no doubt)
• All tables, linens, place settings, table numbers, menu cards

Once we saw all that Maggianos offered us, it was a no-brainer to have our reception there. We were also surprised to learn that The Knot named them “the best reception site in the midwest” two years in a row. Pretty cool.

Honeymoon: Hawaii (either Honolulu or Kauai)

Luke and I both love to travel. We’ve been on many trips together in the past two years: Yucatan Pennisula, London, Paris, Buenos Aires (Oct. 2009). When choosing our honeymoon destination, we both decided we wanted to go somewhere easy- where they spoke English, used dollars and had HBO so we could keep up on our shows.

While we want to be able to do a lot of relaxing – laying on the beach, reading, eating etc. – we also wanted a destination that offers action. We love that in Hawaii we can take surf lessons, bike down a volcano, and go cliff diving among other things.

So that’s all that we have nailed down right now! I’m planning to tackle buying my dress next and couldn’t be more excited. I’ll keep you all posted as more things fall into place.

Today a dear friend passed this column written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.  I really love all the advice shared in it, so I thought I’d share it with you (I bolded some of my favorites).

By Regina Brett, 90 years old:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will…Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24 The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles..

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s,we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

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When you’re throwing a wedding for 175 of your nearest and dearest family and friends, it’s easy to let yourself become completely engrossed in the planning. You want every detail to be perfect. Every guest to be on the dance floor. Every picture to turn out exquisite.

I’ve only just begun planning my wedding, but already I’m finding myself poring over wedding blogs for a unique favor idea, staring at a spreadsheet of guests and creating playlists of songs to play. Sometimes I feel like I could spend all day every day plotting out the perfect wedding!

But I can’t. And I won’t. Because when I take a step back from the situation, I realize it’s one day and although it’s a very very special day to ME and those closest to me, it’s probably not that big of a deal to the other 90% of my guests. So I’ve made a vow to do everything I can to keep perspective throughout this entire process.

I’m going to continue to make time for my hobbies like playing volleyball, reading and singing in the choir. I’ll lean on Luke, my bridesmaids and family for help and not try to control every aspect of the planning. And above all I’m really trying not to become one of those brides who talks constantly about “the wedding.” I’ve been on the other side of that and it gets old fast. Sure if someone asks how it’s going I’ll get them up to speed, but mostly I’m going to direct them to read this blog.

My goal is to spend my wedding day relaxed and enjoying every moment, even if things don’t go exactly as planned. I think that will be much more likely if over the next eight months, I don’t devote my whole life to planning every little thing about the day. I hope this will also help me escape the dreaded post-wedding depression I’ve heard so many brides go through when they no longer have anything to plan.

I’ve asked Luke to help keep me on track, but I also need help from my friends, family and you my readers! So I’m interested to hear how you guys keep yourself from getting wrapped up in your own life? Especially when you’re planning something major like a wedding or birthday party? Any tips you can share would be appreciated!

My mother has always said “you’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince.” Well in March of 2007, I was had just finished dating one heck of a frog! Just getting over my disappointment of another failed relationship, I was not looking to meet anyone new when I went to my friend’s birthday party at a local bar.

As I sipped my cocktail among my circle of girlfriends a tall, athletic guy caught my eye. “Who is that?” I asked the birthday girl. “Oh, that’s Batman.” Huh? “Yeah he works with me and his last name literally is Batman.”

Ok looking or not, I had to meet this guy with the super hero last name. My friend introduced us and there was immediate chemistry. Although we both were playing coy and working the room, we always eventually ended up “running into each other” and talking more.

After flirting outrageously for the last hour of the party, it was time to go. My friends were filing out of the bar and into a cab. Remembering the salty taste my last suitor had left in my mouth, I decided that I really didn’t need to start another romance and said goodbye to Luke.

As I scooted myself into the cab with my friends, they all looked at me with surprise. “What are you DOING?” they asked. I looked at them puzzled. “That guy is cute and he is into you! Get out of the cab now!” After being physically pushed out the cab door, I found Luke outside the bar.

“Do you want to go dancing?” he asked. Um YES! We found our own cab and began the short ride to a local late-night dance joint. Our conversation picked up effortlessly and our connection was sparking out of control.

 As I finished telling him about what I studied in college, the cab came to a stop at a red light. An awkward pause filled the backseat…eek! Suddenly, Luke locked eyes with me, leaned over and said “let’s just get this over with” before going in for the first kiss. Haha!

Who knew that funny first kiss would turn into an engagement? I just hope he doesn’t say “let’s just get this over with” during our wedding ceremony!