Less than a month ago, I got engaged. The week that followed my engagement was all things wonderful, sparkly, and new. After getting engaged I was caught up in the flurry of calling friends, and family, staring for hours on end at my ring, and looking at lots of pictures on Pinterest.
But then one day I realized, with dread, that this Big Huge Wedding Thing had to be planned. And that momentous task, coupled with heading back to college for my Senior year, made me want to crawl into a dark hole. Or elope. Whichever came first.
After a few days of nail biting anxiety, and overall fear concerning planning a A Wedding That Was Perfect In Every Way, I realized that, being a Theatre major, I am more than prepared to plan this crazy thing. Because I am used to planning, if not weddings, similar Momentous Occasions–namely–plays.
One of the fabulous things about being a Theatre major is that planning a wedding involves a lot of the same things as planning a musical or play! There are a lot of the same steps involved in both. Here are just a few…
Step #1: A director must choose a script.
This script will be the narrative that you will follow for the rest of the production. In wedding speak, you have already, basically, written your own script in terms of your history together, proposal story, and eventual wedding plans. You {without knowing it} have already penned your own story that you will follow for the rest of your time together. You write it every day through word, and deed.
Step #2: A director must set a date for the show.
Warrior Man, and I have decided upon July 25th. This will be a bit warm in Nebraska, but we are hoping for excellent weather. No tornadoes. Knock on wood.
Step #3: A director must cast the characters.
Somewhat selfishly, in a wedding, the bride has already cast herself as the lead, with her favorite guy as the male lead. However, there are a lot of minor characters that must be cast as well–the Maid of Honor, the Bridesmaids, the Best Man, the Groomsmen, the Ringbearer, and the Flowergirl. As is the case for many plays, the director of the show {the Bride} can choose whether she wants a big cast of characters, or a smaller cast. And she puts the best people in the roles that fit them.
Step #4: A director must costume the actors
Costuming in a show is all about balance, and effect. Who in the show do you want to stand out? What colors work with the overall feel of the set? What colors need to be onstage? All of these considerations must be taken into account in regards to either a wedding or a play.
Step #5: A director must procure a place to have the play (a theater, or a park, or a school)
There are many options when it comes to where to put on a play, and directors must decide what kind of a feel are they going for. Do they need a little, intimate black box theater for their small play? Or do they want a huge, grand theater. This is largely a matter of choice, and what fits into the script. In the same way, brides must decide what sort of a feel they are going for, and what will create the mood they are most looking for.
There are so many details to either planning a wedding or a play. These are just a few. Do you have any tips or hints as I head into the wedding planning process? I would love to hear about them!
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I might be a pinterest wedding addict, so of course I found this post 😉 I can’t imagine all the trouble of planning a wedding while in school! But hey, it could happen to me too. I’ve told my boyfriend I’d love to elope but he says we must face the music and show each other off 🙂
I love this! What a sweet way to compare theatre and planning! Best of luck in the process, I’m sure it will be lovely!
Thanks for stopping by, Mary! I love looking at your blog, so sweet!
It will be a great thing. You have help . . . always. Proud of you both!
Thanks, Dad! It WILL be a great thing. Just have to get going on planning all the details. Whew. Love you!
Don’t stress over making it perfect, sweet daught. It will be perfect in its own way, and so I’d agree with the other wise commenters above: keep it as simple as possible, delegate lots, and don’t let it stress you. You want it to be a joyful, fun day, and you don’t want anxiety over this or that not being just quite right robbing your joy, nor do you want to be exhausted on your wedding day! Make your plan, Director, brainstorm with some trusted older women (cough) and friends, get it all down on paper, and have fun!!
I really do need to sit down and brainstorm, and {at the very least} make a list of everything that absolutely needs to be done this fall. Maybe coffee some morning with my brainstorming team {you, Aunt Annie, Amalia}?
If the wedding ceremony is anything like your blogging style – analogy to a theatre production – love that! – than I say have it reflective of you and your partner to be as best you can in as simple yet elegant fashion. I’ve often heard that there is usually something unexpected that happens; however, hope for the best and aim for your heart’s desire or rather hearts’ desires! 😉 All the best and I look forward to the venue: your school, theater stage, ocean….? <3
Thank you so much for the sweet advice, Elly! A wedding is certainly a Big Occasion, but I am trying to break it down into smaller steps. I will keep updating the blog on wedding stuff as I continue to plan, so check back! Love having you here!
Keep it simple! The only thing that kept Andrew and me from eloping was that our families probably would not have appreciated it. Our wedding was very simple – flowers arranged by my mom, music by college friends and my former piano teacher, food by our families… we didn’t do favors or serve a full meal or have a DJ… we didn’t even rent a separate reception venue, yet, it was perfect! I still have people tell me, almost five years after our wedding, that we had the sweetest ceremony and best wedding food that they had experienced. So, basically, as long as you have the elements that are really special and important to both of you, it will be a lovely day! 🙂
You certainly had a gorgeous wedding. I remember it as being full of joy, and beauty. I do really want to have a dance, so we will see what we can do about that, but hopefully we ccan still keep it fairly simple. Miss you guys!
Bethany,
First of all, congratulations! What a wonderful comparison! I don’t have any advice except to plan your colors with ones you really enjoy because you’ll be looking at the photos for a long time to come! Happy planning!
Ant
Thanks for the congratulations, Amy! I am excited. 🙂 Good advice about the colors, I have been mulling over different combinations in my head, but haven’t settled on any yet. Here’s to future planning! Thanks for stopping by!
Oh Bethie, I always love your blog, or basically whatever you write on Facebook!
Yes dear just try to enjoy this season of your life (as there will only be one)! Lol!
You are an Amazing Woman and whether you elope or plan an eloborate wedding—it
is in the days that come after you say “i do” that are meant to be cherished as you grow together as a couple. Concentrating on the days and years together, instead of looking merely to the one day, is totally against what the
culture now-a-days says; but you’re a wise woman and it looks like you’re marrying a
wise man as well…So as i said enjoy this time. I’ve heard it said that the easiest part of
marriage is the planning for it…after that it becomes work. Maybe this will help you
see this as a passing season.
P.S again really liked this post. ;o)
Hey Nicci! You are just such a sweetheart, and you just shower encouragement on all those around you. That is one of your many, many gifts that God instilled in you. I hope you know that! Thank you for all the wise advice. You are so right, about the days following being the ones that matter. Hope to see you at church sometime soon!
I had a simple wedding in my best friend’s apartment in Brooklyn a little over 40 years ago – still happily married. Although you want your wedding day to be perfect, I’m here to tell you that it is all the days and years after that really count. My suggestion would be make the day simple – don’t stress over perfection (because it won’t be) – have that “small but intimate venue” – have one or more homemade elements (I didn’t, and I regret that) – perhaps a Saturday brunch like one of my cousins (now married almost 20 years) had.
I would have loved to have been at your wedding, Alana. It sounds simply marvelous, and beautifully simple. Perfection is something I always strive for, but thank you for bringing down my anxiety level a bit. I am taking your advice to heart. Thank you!
This was so cute! My best advice is to always put your future marriage first and just have fun during the planning process. 🙂
That is excellent advice, Gabby. Thank you!
No tornadoes….we don’t need a whirlwind romance in THAT way! 🙂
Ha ha! That is very true. I don’t want to be the couple that has a tornado in the background of my pictures, no matter how neat it looks. I don’t think it would be a very good omen. 😉
Have fun planning your wedding. I loved planning mine.
I am so glad you enjoyed the wedding planning process, Danni! I am beginning to really enjoy all the possibilities as well. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh jeez…I’d rather elope! The only thing I can say is to start early and have a back-up plan. Give yourself plenty of time and flexibility for change. Are you getting married in a church or on stage in an actual theater (now, that would be way cool!)? Good luck with all the prep work, and congratulations! I wish you all the best and a lifetime of happiness!!!
Stopping by from UBC.
Blessings.
Penny
Ha ha! I have had so many people tell me to elope, Penny! It just makes me smile. I know that it would save a lot of expense, but there is something so very special about a wedding…so I think we will go that direction. Thanks for all the sweet advice! I am thinking about getting married outside in the country {with a backup plan, of course}. I will keep putting up updates on the blog, so check back!