After the big moment of the engagement, it suddenly hit us that we were planning one of the most important days of our life.  NO PRESSURE!

The first point of business was picking the date. Something that Joe and I had to step back and do was stop listening to when other people wanted our wedding to be. So we went home sat down and thought: When do WE want to get married?

Our idea of how to narrow down the date was first just pick the season we wanted.  We both decided we really liked the fall.  I liked all the colors of the leaves, and the Big Guy was a huge fan that it wasn’t going to be so
hot outside.

So now that we eliminated all the other months, we had to figure out what would be a realistic time frame of how far in advance to plan.  We got engaged in November, so we went for exactly 1 year out the maximum.

Then started thinking about who we would want to be involved in the wedding and what would be a realistic time frame that they could all hopefully be there, knowing good and well that everyone won’t always be able to make it. We knew that Joe’s sister (who’s in the wedding) plays a college sport, so we would need to work around her game schedule.

Since we were both involved in college sports, we understand the hectic schedules.  Then we decided on the perfect time for us: Thanksgiving weekend.  Of course we had the family members that wondered, “Why on earth are you doing it then?”  We just had to not listen and go with our gut and remember that most everyone we know celebrates Thanksgiving on Thursday and then doesn’t work on that Friday, which would be beneficial for traveling.  Since Joe is not from this area, we needed to make it easier for his family to travel.

The stress of picking the date is over!

My advice for everyone else out there: Pick your favorite weekend!

— Laura Weber

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My name is Laura Weber, and I am here to share with you everything that has helped me, stressed me out, and simply made me laugh in my wedding planning process.

I was born and raised in Quincy.  I graduated from college with a degree in art, so you will be noticing that we are going to be “trying” to make anything and everything possible for the wedding.  (The key word being “trying.”)

Joe (my fiancé) and I met in college and have been going out for more than 5 years.  You will more than likely see me refer to Joe as “the big guy” in my blog, because he is 6-foot-8.

We recently moved back to Quincy.  Joe officially moved on a Friday and proposed the very next day! Needless to say I was surprised.

Most of my readers are females, so of course you want to know the details of “THE MOMENT.” Joe, not being from Quincy, decided that we should go to all of my favorite spots.  He then told me we would go to a nice dinner and he would even put on his “fancy pants.” The Big Guy and I normally wear T-shirt and jeans, so going to a nice dinner is out of the ordinary, which put up a red flag.  I decided I better dress nice just in case it was going to be the big night.

First we went to Riverview Park. I love sitting on the wall and looking out over the river. Typically when I get cold, I will put my hands into Joe’s sweatshirt pockets, but that night, he wouldn’t let me. It didn’t even dawn on me that there might be a ring in his pocket.

Finally after talking and sitting on the wall for more than a half hour, I asked if we could go because it was cold. (Might I add that it was November, I’m in a dress and it is FREEZING!)

We begin to walk back to the car, and he starts walking me to my car door, which I find incredibly strange since I’m driving.  He proceeds to say, “I know you might be expecting this.” And he gets down on his knee and tells me how much he loves me. Joe and I have dated for more than 5 years, and I was so ecstatic that I tackled him with a hug in a dress!  It was the happiest night of my life.

He asked me if I liked the ring, and I told him it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. At this point, it is pitch black outside, and I can barely see his face.

We get into the car getting ready to go to dinner, and he tells me I can only call 3 people before dinner. He knew I was so excited I would want to call everyone I knew.  We compromised and I called 5 numbers, which were actually 9 people.

We made a deal with each other that night that we would go spread the good news to our families and not do a single wedding plan the first week.  We would just “Enjoy The Moment.”

My advice is to try while planning to do just that — enjoy the moment and remember you are going to get to marry your very own “Big Guy.”

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