Drew and I are sitting in Reston Town Center’s Cosi trying to finish up wedding plans before leaving Dodge tomorrow morning. Every one of my female friends who have planned their own weddings has said that it gets so busy the week preceding her big day.

We’re definitely feeling the busyness of these last days, but we’re also facing a blinding excitement. I literally have not slept for a few days. I lie awake with thoughts of Drew and of unfinished wedding plans and of our Paris honeymoon circling above my head, and I literally cannot get to sleep. And in talking to my now-married girlfriends, I’ve learned that the no-sleep phenomenon is very common.

I have some bittersweet news to share. Drew and I are leaving Washington and trading it for another, very different city that begins with a “W.” Because when we make life changes, we like to make them all at once: new marriage, new city, new job.

Let me explain. Drew was offered a job at Wichita magazine, located obviously in Wichita, Kansas. But it wasn’t just any job he was offered—he was offered the editor-in-chief position. At age 25, that’s such an amazing opportunity for him. And being the wonderful fiancé he is, Drew also thought of his future bride (me) and my future happiness, and he asked his would-be employers at Wichita magazine what jobs there might be for me. And they got back to him later with a job for me to write magazine departments and help plan the magazine’s special events. So we’re very excited . . . but it’s a lot all at once.

Drew is actually in Wichita right now, sitting at his editor’s desk and editing away at the October issue. We drove the 20-plus hours out there together a couple of weekends ago and got set up in our new apartment, and then he went to work in Wichita while I flew back to Washington. And that really stinks! Altogether, we’ll be away from each other for 17 days, the longest time we’ve been separated by far. And I just miss him so much! I know some couples have it much, much harder . . . men and women who are in the military, travel for business, etc., but I’m so happy that this distance thing doesn’t have to be a common thing for us.

Everyone who’s ever planned her own wedding or helped plan someone else’s has told me that it gets crazy near the end.

At the 15-day mark, we’re near the end. Following tradition, we’re also busy!

So it seems like there’s nothing to do for a while, but that peaceful lull is deceiving because in the flash of the old Batman TV show’s bam, pow, or wham, it gets crazy. All your big stuff is in place, but now all the little loose ends need tying up.

For example. . .
Last dress fitting, check!
Shower thank-you notes, un-check.
Finalized seating arrangements, un-check.
Presents to hand out at rehearsal dinner, almost check.
Cards and brief words to accompany the presents at the rehearsal dinner, un-check.
Photographer’s shot list, un-check.
Finalized playlist for reception, un-check.
Designed programs, check!
Printed, stamped, bow-tied programs, un-check.

. . . And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe. I did a little research, and that’s how the singsong poem actually ends. Surfacing sometime during Victorian England, the rhyme has endured as a group of four good-luck charms for brides on their wedding day.

Depending on which Web site you read:

“Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family, usually an item from her family.

“Something new” symbolizes the new union formed between husband and wife that will last forever. It’s a symbol brimming with optimism, excitement, and hope.

“Something borrowed” symbolizes a “borrowing” of happy marital relations, usually from a friend or family member.

“Something blue” is a color linked with weddings throughout history. It’s a symbol that denotes fidelity, modesty, and purity.

In-laws tend to get a bad rap. And unfortunately, I’ve heard stories that back up their reputation. One woman’s mother-in-law wore a white dress to her wedding, in hopes of overshadowing her daughter-in-law. Yikes. There are tales of in-laws who refuse to admit the bride or groom into the family, in-laws who are indifferent, mean, and even evil. Ever seen the movie Hush? There are those families who meddle excessively and fail to relinquish control over their son or daughter. Meet the Parents is a prime and incredibly awkward example.
 
Thank the Lord, mine are none of the above. In fact, they’re wonderful. This weekend, Drew and I flew to Nashville for another wedding and stayed with his parents. We ate lovely breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with his parents. We enjoyed lunch with his brother and uncle, visited with his grandparents, swam in his uncle’s pool, listened to his storyteller grandfather captivate with anecdotes of Purple Martin birds and Ireland, attended church with the whole family, and shared a spread of amazing desserts with them. They showered us with love, wedding gifts, and amazing Southern food. I feel so thankful for Drew’s family. I think I’d want to be close with them even sans Drew, because they’re so great.

The most important task for the maid of honor? Providing moral support, says Jen, left.

Being asked to stand next to your best friend as she says her wedding vows is truly an honor. But by accepting the role of maid of honor, you’re agreeing to more than just wearing a bridesmaid dress and giving a toast at the reception.

The biggest thing you’re responsible for is planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Emily blogged about this last week, but I’ll give you a few more details. The hardest part is coordinating with everyone who’s going to attend. Thank goodness for e-mail.

Emily wanted the event to be in New York City.  Thankfully, her bridesmaid, Natalie, and her friend, Maggie—both of whom live in New York—were the hosts for the weekend. In order to make the planning more manageable, it’s a good idea to delegate some things to other bridesmaids. I asked each girl to bring either a bottle of wine or an appetizer, and Maggie brought a veil and tiara for Emily to wear.

Each day, the idea of our wedding becomes less and less of this far-off fantasy and more and more of an immediate reality. Having my bachelorette party this past weekend was a huge indicator of the wedding’s nearness.

And, oh, what a night!

When Jen, my lovely maid of honor (and a bachelorette-party planner extraordinaire), started asking me what I wanted as far as a bachelorette party and bridal shower go, I had a couple of strong recommendations: no strippers and none of the typical male-body-part adornments and/or regalia. I think both are gross! I also wanted to have the shower and the party on the same date to make it easier for friends to make it to both and for Jen to plan it. And if possible, I thought it would be awesome to have it New York City.

So with those few thoughts, Jen—with the help of other good friends—organized my bachelorette party/lingerie shower (ooh la la!) this past Saturday in New York.