I had a lot of help getting ready for this wedding and reception, thank goodness.

I never realized how much there is to do and to take care of.  Especially all the shopping. Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop, but wow! There’s just so much to consider. Starting with finding the church for the ceremony and a place to hold the reception. Then you’ve got the invitations and guest list, seating arrangements, food and refreshments. It can all be very overwhelming.

   Just the brides ensemble alone includes everything from a dress to a wedding garter. There is just so much to do, I’m so grateful for my mom, she helped me out so much with all the little and big details.  I wasn’t even sure how to get started on all of this. But thanks to mom, things are coming together. We got all the answers from our invitations, and everyone except two people said they will be able to make it. So that brings the total of guests down to 134. Now we had to plan the menu and pick out my wedding cake and topper and everything else that goes with the reception tables. The centerpieces, silverware, glassware and wedding favors for each guest.

   My mom bought us a beautiful wedding album of satin with our monogram and the date of our wedding on the cover.  That was so sweet and thoughtful. It really is lovely. I didn’t know at the time, but my mom was not only helping me to plan my wedding and reception, but at the same time she was helping my fiance make the arrangements for our honeymoon too. I don’t know where she finds the time. She even took time out of her day to help me go shopping for wedding garters and shoes. I think I’d be lost without her. She really is a life saver.

   When we were shopping for garters, my mom was surprised at all the different styles and colors you were allowed to wear at weddings today.  In her day, white or cream color was the norm.  Now you can get black, red, blue and other colors as well as lacey or leathery. I think my mom was really turned off by the leather garter. She still likes the frilly, girly look. I also found a gorgeous wedding garter belt I thought it would be the perfect thing to take along on my honeymoon. In fact, I picked out two, a red one and a black one. But for my wedding I settled for a very lacey white garter, and that seemed to please my mom very much. As we were getting ready to leave my mom wanted to know where my other garter was.  I didn’t know what she was talking about, I only bought one for the wedding. She reminded me of the garter toss, and that I should have an extra for throwing, and the one to keep.  I totally had forgotten about throwing the garter to the bachelors. So I had to pick out another one. I picked out a very sexy black garter, which I decided to keep for me, and let my fiance throw the white one instead.  I really like the black one.

   Well, everything was a success, we were married, had a fantastic reception with all of our friends and family. I threw my bouquet, he threw my garter and the party began, and lasted very late as I understand.  We weren’t there too long, we rushed to the airport to start on our wonderful honeymoon.  Thanks Mom!