Wedding Planning: ups and downs, all around…

Hey lovelies,

Sorry again for being MIA…

I’ve been one very busy lady.

Weddings took over my months, May and June. Many of you may already know this, but for those who have just started reading my blog… I am a Hair Stylist.

You may also know… I got engaged August 29, 2013 (read about the proposal here.) The minute I got engaged it felt like every client of mine did too. Literally, not exaggerating one bit. My client would ask, “What’s new?” I would answer, “I’m engaged.” My client would immediately squeal, “Omg, me too!”

I will admit – although there were many early mornings, and stressful wedding planning days, it was all worth it in the end. My wedding day was the best day ever.

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Yes, I was out of my element. I challenged myself to be as type A and as organized as I could be. Being and artist this didn’t come naturally. I never emailed so many people in my life. I never wrote so many checks. I never went to the post office that many times. I was glued to my phone, answering questions, booking plane tickets, making a wedding website, (check out my wedding website,)  registering. I have a slight obsessed personality, so weddings became my life.

This was not a bad thing though… Many of my newly engaged clients were going through the same thing I was… We were able to share stories with each other. For example, one of my bride clients used a lady for dress alterations, who was a total nightmare. I told her the lady sounds terribly familiar similar to one I was going to use, but ended up not using. We both had a good laugh when we found out it was the same lady.

Many of my bride clients needed my opinion and advice (beyond hair and makeup) and I equally needed theirs. I shared my mistakes.

I began telling them about my idea of eloping. Everyone thinks eloping is easy and inexpensive… Well not in all cases. My idea to elope while on vacation in Thailand ended up being cookie cutter and expensive. Thank God, I scratched that idea. Always listen to your instincts… I did not feel good about the idea, and was thankful that I planned Thailand as our pre-moon. My husband (fiancé at the time) and I really got to explore and enjoy the country instead of worrying about trying to get married.

Another good mistake I made which I shared with many of my clients is waiting too long to order invitations. I did not know it was going to take 3 weeks to print, and they were really expensive. Average wedding invite for a small wedding of 50 people is around $500.

When it came to hair and makeup, everyone would ask, “Well, what are you going to do with your hair?” I would answer, “Well, I’m going to do my own hair and just wing it that day.” Mouths would drop in shock. I would answer, “Hair is my thing, at this point, it is the least of my worries.”

However, I pinned a ton of wedding hair ideas on my secret, “Vow” pin board. (I just opened it to the public.)

This was a lifesaver for my bride clients who needed hair ideas. I just handed over my iPad and let them scroll down. I have nail ideas, and make up ideas too.

Anyway it was a very special time planning my wedding. There were times when I hated it and there were times when I loved it. But having clients going through the wedding process as well made it even more special. I could relate to them on a a whole different level.

From the hair stylist who never use to check her email, now I can’t go a day without checking. From the girl, who was always spur of the moment, let’s play it by ear kind of girl, who never dreamt up her own wedding… I am proud to say I planned my wedding and it came out exactly the way I imagined it to be. I am happy to say now I am the queen of wedding planning. I know everything about weddings. Woah… never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but they just did, and it is the truth. I only speak the truth.

Check back later this weekend to read…

  • On Saturday – enjoy reading a post on my Wedding Day Run!
  • On Sunday – enjoy reading a detailed post on the Wedding. It will be intimate, charming, and funny! Including tons of pictures.

© 2014 sweatdaily

Wedding Planning and Diet and Exercise Routine…

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So the count down has officially started. In 17 days my groom and I will make things official, and commit to each other for a life time. In 17 days we will celebrate our love, by having a wedding, sharing it with our closest family and friends.

I am very excited! I can’t wait to be married to Erik – what can I say, he is my favorite guy in the world. I am one lucky girl.20140611-174646.jpg

However, I will say this… there has been times during the wedding planning process when it hasn’t been fun. I am not a crazy planner girl, so I have been out of my element. I think the below photo expresses the way I feel about wedding planning more than any words could.

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However, I am very proud of myself though because I have planned most of this wedding by myself. I am now the QUEEN of weeding planning. I am soooo thankful for my Mom and Aunt Nina for being my side kicks – I couldn’t have done it with out them.

I will say this- I have been swamped with wedding stuff. When I am not busy planning my own, I have been doing tons of wedding hair and make up. It seems like every time I see a client and tell them I am engaged… They respond, “Me Too!!”

Being swamped with wedding hair and make up has actually been really fun. Because I am also a bride planning my own wedding, I can totally relate to my bride clients on a whole different level. We share stories with each other about the ups, downs, and drama of wedding planning. Plus, it is so special to me to be a part of such an exciting time in my clients’ life.

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When it comes to my wedding planning, at the moment, I have my checklist and I’m checking it twice. I also am still emailing vendors back and forth. I have never emailed so many people in my life. But my questions need to be answered and so do theirs. I am hoping by the start of next week my emailing will come to an end. It is coming down to the wire. So at this point I am trying to stay focused.

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Ask any of my friends, and they will tell you I am the type of person who always goes above and beyond. I am the type of person who totally gets wrapped up in what she is doing. (For example, I don’t just run, I run marathons.) Some may think I am obsessive and extreme, but I am just trying to be the best person I can be.

My advice to all brides to be…

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And that is exactly what I have been doing… Working on my wedding details everyday. I will admit I have never been so tired. It is a lot of work – now I understand why my best friend quit her job to plan her wedding. Wedding planning is like a job on its own.

On the other hand, I did not quit my job, but instead I am working more. I have never felt so busy. This type of stress is normal for all brides to be.

Alright, now that I have told you, I am excited, in love, exhausted, busy, and stressed. Let me talk to you about my stress reliever.

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Of course I have been running and lifting. Two weeks ago I finished another round of the Livefit trainer.

As for my…

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Along with running, I am now doing Ashley Conrad’s Clutch until I head out to California for my wedding. I am loving the intense circuit training. The one thing I need to stay on point with is the clean eating diet. I am eating clean but I need to eat more, and drink more water. Being so busy has made it difficult for me to meal prep and eat every 3 hours. I will say this though…

I am seeing awesome results. I am looking stronger and leaner. I can’t wait to be in my wedding dress! (I’ll post pics of me in my dress after the wedding.) But here are some progress pics.

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The Clutch programs make me sweaty. Running in the heat does too… And although, I am seeing great progress, I have been really sore lately. I am definitely taking rest days when needed. Marathon training starts in mid July so I want to feel refreshed, not burned out.

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So thats what I have for you guys today! I promise you, I will be updating more often. I awesome have an amazing green tea product to share with you! Look for that post by friday.

What work out do you use to relieve stress? Do you take regular rest days?

© sweatdaily 2014