It's 2008!

It's going to be an amazing year!

The date is set and we're already knee deep in the planning. Well, I'm knee deep. Alan, as willing as he is to help with anything I need in the planning process, is only putting one foot in at this point. It's completely understandable that he doesn't find it necessary to relate everything in our daily life to the wedding, but I find it incredibly hard not to. I actually believe it's impossible for me to not think about the wedding (or some aspect of it) for more than five minutes.

I promise I will not turn into bridezilla. And I understand that some women have the ability to remain calm in this process; I don't think I'm one of them.

I think it's fair to say that since becoming engaged my life has been consumed by "the wedding!"

This brings me to an article I read in Modern Bride. Yes, I'm quoting from a bridal magazine: my life is consumed by this remember?

The author states 10 things that have changed since getting engaged. When I first read this I had a good laugh, but now (almost 2 months into being engaged) I've realized they are TRUE. How can I not become a wedding crazed woman when these things were inevitably going to happen to me?

Here we go...

#1. I lift up plates in restaurants to see which brand they are.

We haven't even begun our registry, but I feel the need to look at every place setting and decide whether or not it would go in our house. Note: Alan and I don't actually have a house together. As of now the house is imaginary. Sad I know, but read on.

#2. My friends are now segmented in an Excel spreadsheet.
Sorry guys, it's true. And you have a nice little number by your name indicating whether or not you have a significant other so that we can get a total head count for the reception. Soon there will be additional columns for your addresses etc. I never thought I could be so computer savvy.

#3. No one asks me about my job.
I admit, when I moved back to Sacramento people were very curious about where I would be living and what I would do to occupy my time and make a living. Since the engagement people must have forgotten that I indeed did get a new job and not just the "job" of a bride to be. I do have a working life outside of planning (despite the fact that sometimes I wish I didn't) and it includes teaching little ones how to dance.

#4. I've realized how awful a bridesmaid I was.
This one doesn't exactly apply to me considering I've never been a bridesmaid. But I've realized I should cut my bridesmaids a little slack because this is the first time being a bridesmaid for most of them.

#5. I can't attend weddings without tearing apart every detail.
And they are probably the details that the rest of the guests don't even notice or remember. The font in the programs, napkin rings, chair cover colors, the list goes on. We are attending 3 weddings before our big day: Brides, you've been warned.

#6. People look at my hand, not my face.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I look at my ring constantly so why shouldn't you? But it does get a little old when my hand is taken from its comfortable resting place only to be twisted, turned and pulled so that the person I'm talking to can see the ring from every angle. Then again, I do that to my hand every day to get another look. Just remember to smile in the general direction of my face before going for the hand.

#7. I have a team of experts helping me look good.
Given the fact that I have yet to hire them, waiting in the wings are my hairdresser, makeup artist, spray tanner, manicurist, and waxer. And all of those non experts out there ready and willing to give me every little bit of advice. I would like to believe that Alan fell in love with me just the way I am and he would marry me regardless of my shade of eyeshadow. But it'll be nice to look my absolute best on that day right?

#8. I'm obsessed with why people divorce.
This one is troubling to me. I dissect the relationships of our friends and family to find answers. Plain and simple, I don't get it and hopefully never will.

#9. I can't stop drafting itineraries.
With so many details still unknown it's amazing how many times I've written out the time line for the wedding weekend. One thing I won't plan is the honeymoon; that's all up to Alan!

#10. My finace has morphed from lover to co-CEO.
He will probably be upset when he reads this, but it's true. Alan and I were out for a nice dinner and by the time the salad arrived I had my wedding notebook out on the table. We were in planning mode and we were getting things done. It's as if we're running a business together, and if we can get through this married life will be a breeze!