500 down and 100 days to go!
Just a mere 500 days ago I got engaged. It is actually crazy to think that it was that long ago that my fiancé asked me to marry him. And, what a LOOOOOOONG 500 days it has been. Let me tell you about my engagement journey.
Now, if you have been to Flair in the past year or so you might know that I was supposed to get married on October 1, 2011. We had set the perfect date and picked an amazing venue. We had started down the long road of hiring vendors, ordering dresses, tasting endless desserts, sending out save-the-dates, taking engagement pictures all over Boston and whittling down a guest list to a manageable number. We were on our way to having an amazing fall wedding in Boston!
After a particularly fun day of wedding planning, I came home with the perfect rehearsal dinner dress and shoes ready to show my fiancé, Zak. Before I could show him my fab finds, he proceeded to drop the most life changing news I would ever hear.
His doctor had called earlier in the day to tell him that a recent test had come back showing signs that he had cancer. After the shock and disbelief wore off, I realized what now really mattered in our life was for my fiance to be happy and healthy. Our lives were changed so radically in just a few days. We went from fabulous wedding tastings and vendor meetings to blood tests and chemotherapy treatments (sooooo not as fun).
It was a rough summer, especially for Zak who was taking all his treatments in stride. But, luckily we were able to spend quality time with family and friends who helped us every step of the way. After many long discussion with doctors and family we decided we had to postpone our perfect fall wedding. Although, I was disappointed and sad; when it rained on October 1st, we laughed and looked forward to our 2nd perfect wedding date in June.
It has been almost a year since that awful April day, and again Zak and I are back in full wedding planning mode, even more exciting, Zak is now in remission, and we can finally celebrate!
As I look back on the past year I am truly amazed and thankful for such an amazing group of family, friends, doctors, nurses and one fabulous co-worker (Lindsay) who truly supported both of us though a very tough and not fun time in our life. But I also realized what an important role all the brides and bridesmaids have played who have come into Flair in this past year and how they have helped me get through it on a daily basis without ever really knowing it. It felt so wonderful to have been a part of the wedding planning process for so many amazing women. To not have to think about test results and blood counts for even an hour was such a wonderful escape. So, to my amazing 2011-2012 brides & bridesmaids, I can’t thank you enough for the laughter and fun you brought to me every single day!
So, after a long 500 days of engagement what have I learned??
Well, the most important thing was to never sweat the small stuff. Corny but true. Although no one likes to think about worst case scenarios, things could always be worse. If you go into every situation calm, cool and collected you will certainly yield the best results!
Secondly, it was to to hire the most trusted, amazing and understanding vendors in the business. After Zak had been diagnosed and we realized we would not being having our Fall wedding, we had to make some seriously not fun phone calls. Understanding and caring is an understatement, I could not ask for a group of more professional and amazing vendors and friends in the wedding industry if I tried! I feel so so lucky to have picked such great people to work with.
Last but certainly not least, surround yourself with the people you care about the most. Your wedding should be about you and the person you are marrying, but it is also very important to involve your close family and friends. They will be the ones to help you when and if things ever get too overwhelming, they will be your sounding board when you can’t pick the perfect flowers, they will help you when you cant decide between the two perfect bridal gowns, and they will tell you nicely but firmly when you really are being a bride-zilla! Don’t forget in the midst of fighting over the perfect napkin color, what the BIG day is really all about. It is about the love shared between two people pledging to be together, through thick and thin, sickness and health, good times and bad, no matter what……..even if you decide to just go with plain white napkins!
Truly grateful,
Stacey xoxo
(I started this blog when I really had 100 days to go until the wedding …it took a little longer than expected to write it. I hope you understand that I did not change the title of the blog because it wouldn’t have sounded as cool, we only have 84 days to go now!) You are probably wondering who all those amazing vendors are that I was talking about, they really are awesome, TRUST ME!The Harvard Club on Commonwealth Avenue
Dear Stacey and Zak,
Thank you for sharing your ups and downs over the past 500 days. It will be a beautiful & truly memerable day this June 2012 when you finally say “I Do”. As a vendor, I was honored to be chosen last year and saddened when you call with the news on Zak’s health. Today, I am delighted to hear that you both are enjoying good health and I am so excited to be planning your honeymoon for this June. It has been my pleasure to be your honeymoon specialist. Thank you.
Marisa L. Cole, CTC
Owner of Sensational Travel