It’s #WeddingWednesday and we want to welcome Jessica and Greg to the Wedding Carnivals blog! We were thrilled to be able to sit down and learn about their engagement and wedding plans. Hearing about your upcoming wedding plans makes us so excited for your big day and every moment after. We wish you both eternal happiness and bliss! Enjoy the big day and every moment after! Be sure to leave a comment congratulating this adorable couple!
Tell us about the proposal!
My now fiancé, Greg, had been deployed for 11 months. When he came home we decided to spend one day a week together, just the two of us. On a Monday we woke up and he told me that this was going to be a special date day to make up for all of the holidays he had missed on deployment. He came in the kitchen for breakfast with an elf hat and Christmas music playing and a bag full of Christmas goodies. I got Hershey kisses for a midnight kiss on New Year’s. We went to go out for lunch to have roses and a box of chocolates for our anniversary and Valentines Day waiting on my seat in the car. We had a picnic in the park for Memorial Day. The day continued with thoughtful activities and cute gifts to match. He wanted to take me to dinner for missing my graduation, where he pulled out a gift bag with a stuffed dog, (our current place doesn’t allow pets.) It had a shirt on it that said “Jessica Diane Will You Marry Me?” and got down on one knee to pull out the most gorgeous ring in the middle of the restaurant.
What do you love most about your fiancé?
As cheesy as it is, his desire to make me happy. He will do anything to try and make me my day better or just to see me smile. The best part is that he doesn’t do it in traditional ways like buying flowers or chocolates, but he will put on one of my favorite movies, or dance around in a way that you can’t help but laugh or even just make silly puns.
When’s the big day and where is at?
We are getting married on March 21st . We wanted to pick a date that wouldn’t conflict with other holidays or special occasions. We realized we wanted a hotel to get married at just by looking at whom we wanted to invite. Almost all of our families and friends are from out of town and it would just make it easier for everyone. Having a venue that was fun and unique was also important to us. So many of our friends are also getting married and we wanted to feel that our wedding was special. When we found the Valley Forge Casino Resort and all that was not only within it but a short drive away it just seemed perfect. The ceremony could be classy and elegant in the grand ballroom, while the reception is in their Waterford room that’s modern and inviting. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.
What’s the best advice you can offer to someone just starting their wedding planning?
There are so many hidden costs. While some sites list several, there are still a bunch of things you don’t budge for, like a cake topper or preserving your gown after the wedding. Many of the budget planners you see also don’t include a rehearsal dinner or accessories for the day whether it is for you or the venue. All of these little things add up. I would suggest setting a firm budget before starting the planning. Knowing what to include in your budget is a huge part to sticking to it.
What was the easiest part of wedding planning so far? What about the most challenging?
The easiest part has probably been the picking of which we wanted involved. We decided to have those who have made an impact in our lives and have helped to bring us to where we are now. We realized that there were going to be several people who were hurt but felt that there are other ways to honor them. The hardest part has been figuring out what we want. We have so many friends and family members that give us their input and ideas that we loose track of what we even wanted. Some people have tried to push us against our own plans to have it fit with what they have in mind. It gets hard to stick to what you want when you feel that others disagree or will be unhappy with the way it turns out.
Do you think the groom should see the bride before the wedding? What’s your opinion?
Personally I don’t want my fiancé to see me before. I want the build up and the drama of seeing me walk down the isle. Although, I feel come the day of the wedding I may change my mind. I know seeing and talking to him before will calm me and ease the stress of all that’s going on around us. I tend to worry and over think everything and he has the ability to make me focus on what is truly important. As for him, he doesn’t want to know a single thing about what I will look like until I walk down the isle. He feels that having it be a surprise will only make him more blown away. He wants the image of me walking down the isle to be a moment when time stops to have that one perfect moment, the one image that will last a lifetime.
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