Married

I will be married in October. I will point out that this eight months ahead of the date that we originally scheduled our wedding.

Before you ask, I do not have a bun in the oven. Thanks goes to my 92-year-old grandma, for reminding me that there was a practical reason for a quick wedding in the 1930s. Of course she did so with a wink and a laugh. This is the woman who reminded me that you never know where you'll meet your "special someone" since she met my grandfather in a pub. At the time, he was visiting Milwaukee from St. Louis. A few short years later, he moved her from Milwaukee to "Hell" as she affectionately called St. Louis in the dead of summer. Now that's a love story.

After a lot of soul-searching and some conversations about practical long-term plans, Shannon and I decided we'd much rather spend our money throwing a backyard BBQ reception for 200 of our closest friends and family than on a fancy wedding with bridesmaids and finery that would require us to cut people from our guest list.

Total wedding budget then? $4,000. Total wedding budget now? $1500. Happiness level then? Happy. Happiness level now? SUPER happy.

We'll get married in October. The first weekend in November, our guests will join us at my parents' rural home for a backyard BBQ and bonfire reception. The decor - fall foliage - and the attire - comfortable and causal - make me quite happy. The food makes me even more so. My mom and I will be cooking for our guests. I will be able to make my own cupcakes. My dad is going to build me a custom cupcake stand. My reception, in my head, is already perfect. Once the love of all our family and friends is added, it will outshine anything I'd imagined.

I am so excited.