Of Weddings: The One Where I Explain My Devious Scheme to Swindle Bridal Magazine Editors Everywhere

Okay. So the title is a little misleading, admittedly.

I'm not actually going to swindle anyone. See, the thing is that going to prison for swindling some poor magazine editor would kind of be counter-productive. The whole point of planning a wedding is so you can attend it, right? Or at least, that's what they tell me. I've never actually been a bride at one of these things, so maybe I'm not the most reliable source on the subject. Anyway, the point is that I'm going to avoid any kind criminal activity (harmless or otherwise) at least until after I get married.

Glad we established that.

My fiancee and I, by the way, don't have a wedding date. It's mainly due to the fact that he hasn't met his commanding officer yet to find out when he can take leave. (He recently finished Basic Training and is en route to his final station.)

This makes wedding planning a bit difficult. Seriously - you try convincing a caterer to cater a wedding without a wedding date. Doesn't go well. Not that I've tried, but my incredibly astute imagination has convinced me it wouldn't end well.

Despite the fact I have no wedding date, I do have more than my fair share of wedding magazines. I've spent surprisingly little time browsing them, mostly because I've been planning since I was like seventeen. It's just one of the side affects of being an OCD planner/world-class worry-wart ( . . . but that's a whoooole different post).

However. I've glanced through them enough to be able to tell you this: a) apparently, almost all bridal magazine editors expect you to be willing to break the bank to get married b) I will be doing no such thing.

See, here's the thing, in all my frantic research (and I AM a disgustingly ardent researcher), I haven't found one magazine that consistently has practical tips for brides who want to spend under $25,000 on their weddings. And, my dear reader, I have every intention of spending below $25,000. Well below.

At the same time, I have expensive taste - I might as well admit that up front. I do. A certain bridal quiz pegged me as a "romantic traditionalist" which is sneaky-code for "your wedding will put you in debtor's prison." I want peonies and hydrangeas and amazing music and an out of this world cake.

At first glance, it seems like there's no hope of compromise between what I want and what my budget says I can have. (Anyone else out there hear me on that one??) Being a woman, however, I have a contingency plan.

I think, maybe, I can have a memorable wedding full of loveliness and stay within a budget. (This is the part where the swindling comes in.) My goal: to have a wedding that is every bit as classy and well done as anything in a magazine, but for a fraction of the cost.

How am I going to do that? Well, like any good philosophy major, I have a theory: I think it might have something to do with being creative and keeping things simple. And "simple", dear reader, does not always have to equal "boring". At least, that's the theory. :)

Anyway, y'all, that's the plan. We'll see how it goes!

Much love,

Andrea