Wedding planning

When Andrew and I got engaged almost 5 months ago, I was so elated about planning and getting things done and making everything perfect. I became obsessed with wedding magazines and websites and bridal shows. We found our ceremony/reception sight within the first 2 months and soon after, I (or rather my parents:) bought my wedding gown and then we went cake tasting and tried out a caterer. We have already registered at 3 places and we (or rather my parents:) have bought most of the decorations for the reception (i.e. vases, bubbles, guest book and pen, flower girl basket, ect). But now I'm stuck....

I have been communicating with our officiant, who is also the same person who owns the place we are getting married, via email. And we have been going back and forth about prices for the caterer and florist that she sometimes uses for couples who don't want to have to plan everything on their own. We thought we were good on a caterer...but alas, this seems to be a total bust. Apparently Jeanne (our officiant) is concerned that the caterer we were thinking of using won't put on a good "presentation". (What does that mean exactly?....I haven't a clue!) But now she is recommending someone else who has a "great presentation"! and higher quality food and so on and so on. There is one catch however. This particular caterer wants to charge us (or rather my parents) $500 more than the other one....WHAT? I realize that Jeanne is trying to help but seriously? We're (or rather my parents:) running out of money fast.

So I got this information last night and upon waking up this morning, I thought to myself "maybe we should go a different route as far as catering?" But I, never having planned a wedding in my entire life, have no idea how to go about this. So now I have this on the wedding planning plate and I have yet to really find out about what's going on with our potential florist (who might be charging us a fee to speak with her in person...?...Is this customary you ask...again...NO IDEA!!!!).

OK OK. I know what you're thinking. I'm being a completely selfish "bridezilla" because only a couple of things have not gone according to plan. But here me out. About 2 months ago, Jenn (my matron of honor:) and I started looking for bridesmaids dresses. We went to the David's Bridal here in Raleigh and let me just say...so not impressed!!! The lady who "took care of us" was completely distracted the whole time and acted as though we were an inconvenience. Jenn tried on several dresses and yipee!!!! we found the right one! It was the perfect length and color and everything! The lady of course wanted to know what size we needed to order, blah blah blah but we wanted to wait it out. She seemed extremely annoyed and thrust-ed her business card in my face (that of which I tore up when we got back to the car and placed in my wedding planning scrapbook once we got back home). But it was all good. We had found the bridesmaids dresses! One more thing to check off of the list.

So all of this being said, in my excitement, I went online to admire the dress once again and send a picture out to all of the rest of my lovely bridesmaids, then I noticed one small, minor, but particularly important detail. The dress was not listed as being available in the color I wanted....."that can't be right?" I thought to myself. "I'll just call them tomorrow...."

I made the call on my lunch break the next day and immediately was put on hold after telling the person on the other line my dilemma. I was forced to listen to horrible R & B elevator music (who knew they made such a thing?) and was finally (5 minutes later) asked AGAIN what it was I was holding for. (I believe the second time someone got on the phone, it was a different person than the first time).

"So what did you need?"

I sighed. And told the second employee what I was inquiring about.

"Oh..." (LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG PAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE......) "Hold on a minute..."

More elevator music....but staying calm.

Five minutes later. "Yeah. We have that dress (this was the first girl I spoke with....).

"I know. But do you have it in that color?"

"Oh, let me go see..."

"Wait!"...but she was gone and I was talking to the horrid music.

Five more minutes pass and I'm about to hang up when the girl gets back on the line. "Yeah, we don't have that dress in that color."

Long pause. "OK then. Well I guess I won't be shopping at your store again!!!!!" And I hung up.....

Yes. I know I know. This was so completely immature but the bitch had it coming. That's all I have to say.....I mean seriously? Isn't it their job to make sure each of their potential shoppers have a good experience? I used to work in customer service and even though I couldn't always provide what the customer wanted, I at least tried to help them leave happy and satisfied. I swear, the words, "thank you" and "I apologize" really go a long way with most people. That's all I'm saying...that's all I was asking...but no. Everyone at the David's Bridal in Raleigh is a bitch. Fair and square.....but that's all I have to say about that.

So this was the beginning of what feels like a long streak of negatives in the wedding planning department. Jenn and I tried again to look at another boutique and at least they were nice but they didn't have what I wanted. (Who knew this would be so hard?)

And I went to order my wedding invitations this morning and found that they have been discontinued...(are. you. kidding. me?)

OK. Be calm. I have several months to get everything in order. But I'm really starting to wonder.....

Maybe we should elope.....?