A few wedding planning tips for the newly engaged..

Ladies, we all know what it feels like to daydream about that moment your man gets down on one knee, pulls out a ring box and pops the biggest and most important question you will ever hear in your life.. "Will you marry me?"... And you may also dream about some sappy adorable other things he will add in there when asking you to be his wife.

We dream about the gorgeous dress, the beautiful flowers and decorations.. We dream about a totally blissful, problem free engagement.. The wonderful cake, the constant grinning and fairy-tale feeling.. Well I hate to burst your bubble, but speaking as a girl that's been engaged for getting close to 8 months now.. It isn't all frills, bubbly-ness.. It isn't every single thing you have ever dreamed of since you were 6.

Now don't freak out, being engaged is wonderful.. If you have found the right man of course (don't settle!). And that moment he gets down on one knee is absolute bliss. You will have butterflies throughout your engagement, and planning a wedding can be very fun, and that moment you find your dress is unforgettable. So no, I am not trying to make this sound bad. I have absolutely loved this time.. For the most part.. I'm just bringing a little reality to your door step.

Planning a wedding, while fun, is very stressful. You never realize how much work it entails when you're out there daydreaming about it. And the money, holy cow.. Ouch! Weddings truly are a multi-million dollar industry! It really smacks you in the face with perspective. 

Ladies.. Please do no let yourselves get caught up in going completely all out for your wedding.. Unless of course you really have the money to do so. Do keep certain things you have dreamed of, but definitely prioritize and figure out what means the most to you.. And budget! Don't just go into things blindly without setting certain amounts you want to spend on everything. 

Remember that your wedding day fades.. And after that is real life. A wonderful life that you get to create with your new husband. And that right there is the most important part. Not whether or not you have the absolute best caterer, not whether your dress is designer or off the rack.. All those things fade into memories of one day.

Your wedding day IS important, never let anyone tell you otherwise. Just don't let it all go to your head. Don't let your self get into thinking that it's the biggest and most important thing ever.. It's okay to give up some things in order to have a good life in the after math of your wedding day. Is it really worth going into debt to get that limo that'll drive you a block away from your venue to get to your own car? It it?

For a while it was hard for me to come to terms that my wedding needed to be a budget wedding, I wanted EVERYTHING I had dreamed of. And I was prepared to do anything to make it happen. But then I talked to my very wise fiance, and a very wise newly-wed.. And they made me see the light. 

Your wedding can be beautiful without squishing absolutely everything I found on Pinterest in there. 

For me though a good wedding photographer and a good videographer meant a lot to me. So I didn't give those up, but I did choose other things to give up in order to have those.. Such as having the best venue out there, and having a bunch of flower arrangements. Like I said, prioritize, choose a few things you can't give up, then decide what you will give up in order to make them happen. 

For me, keeping the memories of our wedding through video and pictures meant the most to me, it meant more than stuff and food that would disappear after on night.. I wanted something that would last forever..

So, what means the most to you?

Updates!

Well hello my lovely readers. Long time, no see. 

Life's been busy, and I'm sure you can all relate. Life is a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions, and events, all coupled with seemingly not enough time in the day.

A few months back I went from a not very much happening in my life to a million things at once! So here are some updates!

If you didn't already know, I'm engaged! And to the most amazing man a girl could ask for. I didn't at all plan on this happening at this point in my life, but it is so true that sometimes the best things are the things least expected. Kevin is my better half, and he proposed in my favorite place, Disneyland! This all happened back in April and our wedding is set for February 14th 2015.. Yes a long engagement, but it is starting to sneak up on us quickly with a long list of things to do still. It'll be here before we know it! And by the way.. If you are wanting an invitation now is the time to give me your address! Because the time to send out invites is quickly approaching! Get on that guys!

I have a new job. A security receptionist. Yes, yes you can all laugh at that. It is just as ridiculous as it sounds. Especially for me. But for as much as I complain about it, it really isn't a bad job. And for the most part I really enjoy the people I work with. So I can't complain much..

Kevin is all officially moved in with me! Haters gonna hate on that ;) but it seriously was the best decision we have made. Thanks to my lovely mom it has been made possible. He has been moved in for a while now, and I now seriously question how anyone could get married to someone without living with them for a while first.. It has been a great relief to know what it is like to live with him, before just jumping into cold water and not knowing at all what it would be like. And I am sure he feels the same knowing what it is like to live with me. Living together is something you can't avoid in marriage.. And what if you just jump into it without sampling it first and decide you drive each other completely crazy? That is just my take on the subject, do with it what you will. 

I have officially created a new blog! Yay! Go on over and look at it if your heart desires, though I will warn you it isn't going to be for everyone. You can find the link in my profile I'm sure. I am going to keep this blog about my life and it's quirky updates, and I am thinking I am going to make a third beauty blog.. I think that sounds fun! Hopefully it'll develop into something bigger!

Those are the biggest and most important updates! Life is moving fast! And sometimes I don't know what to do with myself! 

Until next time..

Yours truly,

Madison