I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that planning a wedding can be a daunting task. There are so many decisions to make, venues to tour, color and theme choices to consider, who to invite or not invite, etc. The checklist goes on and on. But did you know, planning together can actually be a fun and rewarding experience? Remember, the planning process is just that…a process. Before you know it, that time will be gone, so why not take the time to discover and enjoy each other throughout the process?
I had the opportunity to connect with six amazing couples who recently walked through the wedding planning process together. They shared a few nuggets in response to two questions.
#1 When planning your wedding, what did you discover about each other?
Jayah & Rachel
“Specifically for both of us, we discovered it was another confirmation that we were gaining a partner in life, not just a “spouse”. We were involved equally in all aspects of the planning process. It was important that we made decisions together and talked through things. Overall, it set some foundation to the start of our marriage.”
Kendrick & Tanisha
“We discovered we could find the balance and allow each other to shine in our individual areas of strength. I discovered that Ken is budget conscious and wanted to make sure we were being practical, but still wanted to ensure I got everything I wanted. It was a great balance. Ken discovered that I am very particular about what I want, so he allowed me creative control.”
Eric & Kelly
“We both learned to compromise with decision making and in doing life together in general. Eric learned that I am detail oriented (honestly, a little OCD and very particular lol). When it came to choosing items for the wedding (i.e. printed RSVP cards vs online RSVP), I was quite particular in what I wanted, and truth be told, so was Eric. We compromised and did both! It’s going to be an ongoing process of learning and loving each other, and we both look forward to doing that even when it gets tough.”
Thomas & Ashley
“I discovered that Thomas actually did want to have something to do with the planning. I did not expect him to want to participate because traditionally, most men just let the woman do everything lol. What a pleasant surprise. I am excited to make new discoveries that break tradition.”
Mark & DeAnna
“During the planning process, we learned the most about compromise. We learned how to make our wedding just that, OURS. We cut out what others found traditional and made our own tradition. We found what mattered to us and tailored our wedding to that.”
Willie & Shakaila
“We did not necessarily discover anything about each other that we didn’t already know, but the planning process taught us patience. There were times where one of us was ready to make decisions, while the other was hesitant or did not have the time to review everything thoroughly. There’s a quote that says, “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” This was a key take away from the process and even something that we try to practice in our marriage.”
#2 When planning your wedding, in what ways did you enjoy each other?
Jayah & Rachel
“We enjoyed getting into our creative side and also doing things that we normally wouldn’t do, like décor and floral arrangements. We did spend more time together, but also had to be intentional about not only wedding planning but taking time to continue to date each other.”
Kendrick & Tanisha
“We enjoyed going through the process together. We both love food, so visiting venues and sampling food was a big hit. I loved Ken’s openness and willingness to help.”
Eric & Kelly
“We both tried new things that perhaps we wouldn’t have normally done, and learned that we enjoyed those things because we were making new memories together. (Board and Brush was a huge success!!) This also carries over in our marriage because we find enjoyment as we explore what the other likes, as well as dislikes.”
Thomas & Ashley
“We enjoyed just getting to spend time together doing all the shopping for things. Taste testing was definitely a lot of fun!!!”
Mark & DeAnna
“We enjoyed being able to decide on the details together. We enjoyed learning what the other liked and disliked and how to merge those things together. We focused on each other and made sure we were each happy with the outcome. And it turned out to be the most perfect day ever!”
Willie & Shakaila
“We enjoyed making decisions together. We each were able to make compromises and agree on things we liked and didn’t like while making memories at the same time.”
Now It’s Your Turn
No matter how long your engagement period or how long you have been together, there are plenty of discoveries to make. Some may be easy to find, but the real finds are beneath the surface. Will you take the time to look for them as these couples did?
Discover!! Enjoy!!