So here I am, staring at the computer screen as I have been intermittently for days, attempting to write my first wedding blog. I’ve been out of the game for a while now – married almost five years, out of “the industry” for several, and basically just fully immersed in motherhood these days. What business do I have writing a wedding blog? Well, I tend to think I have a little.

I love weddings. Who doesn’t?! Like many girls, I was planning my wedding long before any prospect of engagement was on the horizon. I ended up working in the wedding industry for a while, much to my delight – and also much to my horror some days! I was the catering manager at a local restaurant and had the joy of working with many brides-to-be…and their mothers. While some moments all I wanted to do was bury my head somewhere I couldn’t hear a DJ, smell minestrone soup, or see another wedding cake precariously make its way to the cake table, as soon as that wedding reception started, I honestly got excited. There’s just nothing better than watching two people celebrate one of the most important events they’ll ever have.

My own wedding was, if I do say so myself, somewhat creative and pretty elegant. My husband and I got married in an old, restored Victorian home, and let me tell you, making an entrance by walking down a grand staircase was pretty fantastic. We got married in the fall and capitalized on the season’s natural décor. We didn’t go wild with pumpkins or anything, but ivories, golds, browns, and some burnt oranges all made an appearance in the color scheme. We figured out a few great ways to save money during our wedding planning – and a few not-so-worth-it ways. So perhaps I’ll share a few of those opinions in the musings to come.

I’m lucky enough to get to be part of a wedding again this summer. My cousin is getting married on Labor Day weekend, and she graciously asked my sister and I to stand up in the wedding party. It’s going to be fabulous. She’s gone out of her way to plan an event that is fun, low-stress (um, for the guests – not necessarily for her!), and just all-around sweet. I’ll be sharing some of those experiences along the way, too. It’s nice to be back in wedding world again. In a way, it’s sad to think that I’ll never have the anticipation of my own wedding again – but in many ways, it’s so much better from the sidelines!